The Hickory Woods Board of Directors is pleased to announce that we are forming a partnership with Harvard Management Solutions, Inc. We believe that they provide the most cost effective solution and that they will provide a level of service that will please the homeowners of Hickory Woods.
As the first step in this process, the Board of Directors signed a contract with the Harvard Management Solutions, Inc. for our property management services. The contract starts on 1 June 2016. Between now and then you will be receiving a letter from Hickory Woods LLC announcing the change in the management, and shortly after that you will receive a letter of introduction from Harvard Management Solutions. There are many preparations that need to be made between now and when Harvard Management Solutions takes over. We will keep you posted as the process progresses and you can expect to receive all of the information necessary between now and 1 June.
In other business, the Board agreed to discontinue the purchase of water for the exercise rooms in the clubhouse. Most people have been supplying their own water. This change will save about $800 per year.
We received, reviewed and approved a few requests for Additions, Alterations or Improvements that were related to plantings around homeowner units and for a vinyl window flower box. We are also investigating the costs associated with installing gutters over the front entrances to the clubhouse.
Finally, we discussed whether or not homeowners should be performing their own maintenance and repair on the sprinkler systems. Alliance provides the start-up and shut down of the irrigation systems as part of your HOA fee. During this they will repair parts broken by plowing and their own landscaping. Other than this you might want to do your own maintenance on the sprinklers. However, all homeowners should be aware that while the sprinklers are your responsibility and you can adjust or repair them if you would like, if a problem results and Alliance must repair your irrigation system, you will be charged at their repair rate of $55 per hour.
Sincerely,
The Hickory Woods Board of Directors
This is not the norm for communities like ours. I the Board retains Alliance or goes to someone else for sprinklers, the upkeep is all under beautification of the common areas.
Give this a little more thought, please. Residents will either be incapable of maintaining the sprinklers (particularly the heads) or choose to ignore which hurts us all.