CAI-NJ February 2021

REGARDING VENDORS... from page 32.

leak, or fire, quick decisive action by a manager can pre- vent further damage and help ease the minds and emotions of our affected residents. Even for items that are unit owner responsibility, our knowledge and recommendations can go a long way in assisting to resolve an issue. For those emergencies which are an association’s respon- sibility, we rely greatly on our vendors. The information we gather initially will allow us to not only determine the vendor needed but to provide directive for action required. Managers are not always available to be onsite during an emergency making communication with the vendor paramount in the evaluation of next steps. As your vendor confirms their findings, determination on how they are to proceed will need to be made clear. This could be a completion of repair, a temporary repair or requirement of proposal. Ensuring an open line of communication with your vendor will further assist in the ability to follow up with the affected unit owners. As managers we tend to be a “Jack of all trades but a master of none” making our ability to draw on our vendors mastery of a given trade, delegate needs, and communi- cate clearly all the more necessary. n

creating detailed specifications to be issued to vendors. We have now engaged our engineer, who has prepared the proj- ect’s specifications, sent request for proposals to contractors, and we have verified or secured our funding. Our project is ready to begin, so what’s next? A walkthrough with the con- tractor is a great start. There are many things you will need to review and determine, such as common area staging, project phasing, continued access for residents or alternate access, timelines in which each stage of the project will be completed, and communication to be shared with the association’s own- ers. Each item is vital to the success of the project for both the contractor and community. Clearly defining expectations, loca- tions, and procedures ensures everyone is on the same page. Emergency Response One of the most challenging calls a property manager can receive is for an emergency, whether it happens during or after business hours. Emergency calls test our ability to assess a situation, determine a course of action, and dele- gate needs to a vendor. Whether it be a busted pipe, roof

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