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32 THE CHICAGOLAND COOPERATOR —FALL 2019 CHICAGOCOOPERATOR.COM HOLLINGER INSURANCE SERVICES YOUR COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION INSURANCE SPECIALISTS For over 35 years we have been meeting the insurance needs of Condominium, Townhome, and Homeowner associations. We work with the board and property manager to customize an insurance plan that has the coverages your association needs at the best prices available. For a review of your association’s insurance please contact George Thayer at (847) 437-2184 or gthayer@hollingerinsurance.com BUSINESS PARTNER Partnership for Success MAINTENANCE DIY/Y-Not How to Know What Maintenance Projects to Perform In-House and What to Outsource BY MIKE ODENTHAL Amid moments of economic uncertainty, a seasoned professional. condominium, cooperative, or homeowner’s association may instinctively want to pinch merly with Wesley Realty Group in Evanston, pennies when it can, especially in regard to Illinois, lays out categories of factors that a maintenance projects. Should an association board must consider when making a work- have a full-time, in-house maintenance staff – whether that consists of a super, multiple handymen, or any incarnation thereof – then the experience necessary to perform the task that’s all the better when it comes time to dol- ing out responsibility for fixing a creaky door work? Is there a possibility that their naivete or a squeaky step. But some projects will nec- essarily fall outside the purview of a building’s scenario where an association has limited staff stable of trusted workers, thus requiring a spe- cialized outside contractor. The ability to rec- ognize the line between small aesthetic quick fixes around the property and an endeavor the association have everything necessary to that requires specific training is essential for perform the maintenance and repair? Some board and management, lest an attempted maintenance or repair may require specific cost-saving operation open the association up tools that the association may not possess, in to serious losses due to liability issues. Manage Expectations A qualified property manager can act as the case that it will see repeated use). Should a board’s conscience when it’s considering the association procure said tool, is there an whether to allocate funds to a maintenance assurance that it will be used safely? project, or attempt a quicker fix in-house. The best sort of managing agent would have set and/or repair must be performed under li- criteria on hand as to the type of work that can cense. An association should review the re- be passably performed by staff, as opposed to quirements at both a state and municipal level. something on a larger scale that demands a If the in-house staff is not properly licensed, Nicolas Marin, a property manager for- order decision: • Personnel: Does the in-house staff have at hand? Who will supervise them during the may exacerbate the existing problem? In a in general, will attempting this task interfere with the daily operations of the property? • Tools, equipment, and supplies: Does which case it will have to review whether pur- chasing that tool could be an investment (in • Licenses/permits: Much maintenance See us at Booth 201