How should an apartment association deal with builders?
Apartment owners association:
An apartment owners association is a vital part of a community living. It is the association where all the apartment owners are the members of the association and it maintains the facilities and amenities available in the apartment. Apartment owners association works for the welfare of the residents in an apartment, conducts events or awareness programs and protects apartment owners’ rights.
Apartment owners association is not only responsible for maintaining facilities available in the apartment but also has legal powers to protect its members and defend legal action raised against association.
Dealing with the builders:
There are few do’s and don’ts which an apartment owners association should follow while dealing with a builder;
Research
Before dealing with a builder the AOA should do a detailed research about the particular builder. The members of the association should talk to their acquaintances and get to know about the history and the work quality of the builders. The AOA should check for the builders authentication and credentials before appointing him for a task.
Make an agreement:
It is very important that an apartment association should make an agreement of the contract with the builder. Clarity is the key to every business and one should agree with the timetable and work accordingly.
An AOA should be aware of all the regulations:
The members from an AOA should be aware of the legal requirements while dealing with a builder. In case you are not aware about the legalities involved, you can consult a qualified architect or a surveyor.
Proper communication:
It is very important that the association members should communicate regularly with the builder. Interact with the builder and understand all the requirements needed. Ensure that you do not get tricked by the builder’s manipulative talks and the cost of expenses.
Honesty:
The association members should be honest and explain the financial situation and based on that get the project done. Talk to the builder about your budget and request him to trim down the additional expenses without cutting the quality.
Avoid paying the builder up-front:
Do not go in for builders who are offering you cheap prices and instead look for a reputable builder who works on a contractual basis. A builder who opts for cash in hand shouldn’t be opted and the concept of VAT should be looked in to carefully.
Avoid changing plans midway:
Changing the project midway will create a mess. This will also lead to extra budget and delay in completion.
