Homeowners associations frequently require the assistance of different kinds of vendors. Landscaping companies may be required to clean up a property’s backyard or front lawn or rebuild falling stone walls. Other common types of vendors are pool maintenance crews, electricians, roofing crews, and asphalt workers.
Some Hoas consider hiring vendors unnecessary because HOA board members may feel capable of doing property maintenance independently. While this might be true in some circumstances, it’s generally more desirable to work with experienced experts with a strong background in their industry and a track record of success.
While amateur landscapers or hobby carpenters may have some insight into a project, there are numerous established differences between true experts in a field. That difference almost always shows in the quality of the work.
The vendor selection process is not as simple as you might think. The Board of Directors does not just call the first lawn mowing service that pops up on Google and offers them the job.
In finding the ideal HOA vendor, the board’s ultimate goal is to hire a vendor who can satisfactorily provide the services to the neighborhood association. Here are some suggestions to help you make wise judgments as you are ready to collaborate with your HOA management business on vendor selection.
Set Your Criteria
It would be best if you first determined which services are necessary. What repairs need to be made? Are you in need of regular landscaping? Pool maintenance? The duration of the service should also be determined. Is this a one-time or ongoing service? Finding out the details can aid in focusing your search for businesses and contractors.
Make a Work Scope
Before beginning your vendor search, use your criteria to determine which vendor contract best meets the needs of your community. Discover information about requirement quality, resource quantity, and labor frequency. How will the work be finished? When does the contract expire? Look for the collection schedule, whether collecting bins are included (and, if so, will they provide both waste and recycling), and the frequency of bulk pick-ups in a waste collection contract, for example. Take note of the contract’s length and the specifics that are included.
Determine the Best Vendor
After you’ve determined your criteria and scope of work, you can look through online directories or ask for recommendations from people you know. Your property manager can be valuable if you work with a reputable HOA management company. Using a third-party management catalog may help you find the right match. These tools can assist you in avoiding the risk of dealing with uninsured vendors.
Request for Multiple Bids
Following that, it is critical to consider multiple options. Request bids from the vendors you researched in the previous step. Ideally, an association should not solicit fewer than three bids. If one bid does not meet your requirements or another falls through, it is critical to have backup plans.
Explore the Benefits
After the bids, identify the value each vendor is providing and discuss the criteria you defined with the invited suppliers. Is there a bid that is more expensive but has excellent reviews? Another offer might be within your price range, but they might lack the other bidders’ level of expertise. Review the proposal request and consider each bid’s cost-to-quality ratios in this step. Value is a crucial quality, but the price is also a strong aspect.
Examine Every Aspect and Select Two
The next step is to narrow your pool of potential bids to a select group of serious competitors. Consider making your top two offers out of four possible ones. Reduce the number of options available to you to lower the weight of your final decision.
Decide and Take Necessary Action
The board can consult current clients for recommendations and, if you have a management business, rely on them for counsel. The board should, however, have the final say in the matter.
Selecting the ideal vendor for your association should be more straightforward than it first seems when you consider the many aspects and stages involved. With this in mind, be careful when selecting an independent contractor or maintenance employee. You will save time and hassle later on if you take the time upfront to ensure you have covered all the bases.
