Monday, January 26, 2009

Ways for a Condo Associations to lower costs in a down economy

By Chris Lim

Amenities - Many amenities are only used during part of the year such as the pool and tennis court. Also evaluate the hours of operation. If people are not using the service they will understand pairing it back.

Quest Fees - If you complex is attractive you may be able to sell memberships to the gym, swimming pool and and tennis courts. You can also charge a small fee for quests.

Advertising - Sell advertising to local business. They may be willing to pay for advertising in the newsletter or common areas. You can also allow Google to place ads on your website through adsense. You can find out more about adsense by going to Google and clicking on advertising programs.

Lower Maintenance Landscaping. Many developers only think of initial costs when landscaping. Many times there is little thought put into long term landscaping costs. Roses and Hydrogena take much more care than bulbs and ornamental grasses.

Collect Monies Owed. Past Due fees can hamper a condo association. You can often hire an attorney to handle collections for a percentage of what is collected. Attorneys may even be able to recover attorney fees.

Insurance Claims - If in the last five years your association had to get a loan (like those from SBA or FEMA) for repairs (Storm, Hurricane, Natural Disaster, Tornado or any accident) your regular condo lawyer many not be enough. Contact an attorney at law who focuses on insurance claims. Many insurance companies deny underpay insurance claims. The law may state that the insurance company has to pay the legal fees. Also many attorneys will handle insurance claims in a way that no funds will be out of pocket.

Rehabilitate instead of Replace. Copper pipes can be restored to better than new condition with epoxy pipe lining from CuraFlo. It is generally 30% cheaper than re piping and is much less obtrusive. RLS Solutions offers sewer rehabilitation which can increase their life and save on costs.

Property Manager - employ a property manager who is experienced in cutting costs. A PM with experience will also know which contractors come in on budget and which ones have a history of completing jobs late.

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