I am a new condo owner at Parkridge and I am already frustrated with the HOA. I have contacted Julie 3 times regarding plumbing work in my new condo. The first time I talked to her, she said that she was going to call the plumber and then schedule a time for him to come out, I never heard from her or the plumber. The second time I left her a message on her phone. The third time I sent her an email. To date, I have gotten no response from Julie or the plumber. Can I use any of the vendors listed on this blog? Are they authorized to turn water on/off to fix plumbing issues in our condos? Thanks!
Mary
19 comments:
Mary,
Todd may know better than I do about the rules but I can tell you that I have used other plumbers for work on my place and they were able to shut off the water. From what I was told, all you need to do is post signs by the mailboxes to let people know when the shutoff will occur (2 days notice minimum).
Tim in #40
You didn't say what your specific problem is, but everything from the angle stops (the little valves coming out of the wall), the faucets and shower fixtures are the responsibility of the owner. Perhaps that's why Julie isn't getting back to you.
Ed John the plumber is very good at determining what is the redponsibility of the owner versus the Association. The others are slightly less so.
My personal favorite is A 2 Z, I use them when I know I've got to pay. They are very good, quick, and keep their appointments. Their number is buried in this blog somewhere.
Good Luck !!
Todd in 122
Thanks to Todd and Tim for responding. My specific issue is that the shower does not get hot water consistently. It's very tempermental. Is this something that the HOA should pay for?
I've contacted Ed John and his voicemail says that he's not accepting any new work.
As for posting the signs, is this true? It seems that the HOA loves to fine people....
Unfortunately Mary, the temperamental hot water is an issue here, and Julie should have mentioned that when you called her, AND she should have called you back even though it is an issue here with everyone's units. (I don't care if she was taking a trip to Afghanistan, Todd, she still needs to call people back. No this isn't Rene...) I have had ProServ come out (Number is in your newsletter) before, and they seem to do a good job.
Second, no, the HOA doesn't live to fine people. I've lived here a while now and can tell you it's a nice community. We do have rules though. Todd made the CHOICE to enforce some (like towing of cars) and not the others while this administration has made the choice to enforce the rules. You got a booklet when in escrow telling about the rules and regulations of the community, and you had to sign off on them before escrow closed. If you didn't read them and you signed on to live here, that's your problem. If you read them and still signed off, awesome. I personally am glad that this administration chooses to enforce the rules.
This is just the rant of a fellow homeowner who isn't a board member. Good luck with your plumbing problem!
I appreciate all of the information. I have not closed escrow yet, but I am doing so next week. Therefore, I have not received the rules booklet yet. I have been trying to work with Julie to get the hot water fixed BEFORE I move in. The seller is also working on this.
When I said that the HOA seems to love to fine people, it was just in reference to what others have said. Personally, I believe in following rules, whether or not I agree with them. My comment was because I don't want to do something that will result in me getting fined. That's all.
I think that I'm finally making some headway on my plumbing situation, and it should be fixed before I move in.
I appreciate all of the assistance!
I don't know about everyone else, but I am downright excited for the new feature in the monthly newsletter: "rule of the month!" With this replacing the old "tree of the month" column, we are virtually guaranteed that the entire newsletter will be about rules! Every month it is such a pleasure to unfold my one-sided (reduced from a two-sided gazette as an inexplicable means to save money) newsletter and receive more instructions on how to be a better Parkridge resident. I can't get enough! Maybe we could include a "Fullerton Law of the Month" as well, so we can increase our good citizenship to include the overall city as well.
P.S. I think we should start a pool for which rule will fill the inagural place in the first ever "Rule of the Month" column. Parking on red curbs, anybody? Mats over gates, pets on leashes, keeping pool gates locked? It's a tough call...
Mary, Welcome to the community,It is very nice here ,great neighborhood.I'm glad that Todd and Tim are responding with positive comments. John and Golda Norton in #126
Mary:
There is a valve inside your shower faucet that can be easily replaced by a plumber. That should help out a lot. Pro-Serv should be able to handle that without sending 3 trucks. And that particular repair is the responsibility of the homeowner.
Todd in 122
PS. The message from the guy above IS from Rene, our new emperor. You can tell because he mentions the rules, which he enforces with a vengeance, the newsletter, which he writes himself, and because he hasn't got the guts to sign his name.
I'm all for following the rules. My problem is that the new Board has their own interpretation of the rules that are different from what the Management Co. and previous Board had informed me. I am being fined for things that, in the past, I was told were okay. They need to make it clear to everyone how the rules are being interpreted BEFORE fining people.
The Board members need to follow the rules themselves. If I see a Board member with their car stopped in a Fire Lane while they unload groceries, I'm going to assume that it is okay for everyone to stop in the Fire Lane to unload groceries. I know of one Board member that breaks rules on a nearly daily basis an then voted to fine people for doing the same thing. NOT FAIR!!! That is why I have a problem.
Tim in #40
PS--the "you're getting fined no matter what you say at your hearing" mentality leads me to believe that the Board does live to fine us.
Last comment may have seemed negative but it wasn't meant to be
Mary, welcome to Park Ridge. Despite the complaining, I think its a great place to live. There are a few bad apples here but that shouldn't ruin the bunch. I've only come across four of the residents that I'd rather not deal with (unfortunately two are on the Board), everyone else has been really nice.
Tim in #40
PS--John and Golda, thanks you for the positive comment.
Oh for heaven's sake, Todd! I AM NOT RENE. The reason why I don't identify myself is because I don't want anyone knocking on my door. Call me paranoid, but that's what I choose to do.
I have been to the HOA meetings and read that Welcome Package that you called a "single space nightmare." My gosh, I would have LOVED to have gotten that when I moved in here! That thing is packed with more useful information than I could have ever imagined!
And you made a choice when you were HOA President Todd to enforce some of the rules. That was your decision, which is fine. Don't get on someone else though because he chooses to keep our property values high. When I was looking at condos in here I would see people storing their crap right outside their patio area and thought that I wouldn't want to live in a place like this (that is, until I saw my home). Now I see Rene picking up trash sometimes when I walk my dog. Granted I'd never pick up some of that stuff that he touches, but I have to hand it to him that he's trying to make a difference in his community.
I agree. Even if Julie is SERVING in Afghanistan, she should call people back. People I talk to who live in other HOA's are appalled at the stories I have to tell about Julie. I can't get a return call to save my life. So my question is: why are we paying someone who is NOT doing their job???
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We have enough concerns about this company (for example, their offer, customer complaints, advertising, etc.) that we recommend caution in doing business with it.
There are 9 rankings ABOVE a "D" score, and only 1 BELOW.
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This is to the person who is not Rene.
The lady on this blog, Mary, asked about resolving a plumbing problem she was having. Then Tim in 40 and Todd in 122 responded with somewhat positive information.
Then you jump in with an unprovoked, un-signed, vicious, personal attack against Todd which added absolutely nothing to the discussion of her water problem. I'll bet you're a lot of fun to be with.
You should be ashamed of yourself.
I think that the person who is "Not Rene" has issues with Julie, not Todd and needs to re-direct their energy. Rene's been on the board eight months now and it's time to move on from blaming Todd.
Besides,if Julie and the current board were doing a good job, this blog wouldn't be here, No ??
The blog was NOT developed from frustration with the board or management company. It is simply what the title says..."neighbors sharing information". I should not have been surprised at how much whining people do but I was/am. I had no idea that the comments would need to be moderated but will take this moment to point out a couple of things. Things happen and do not need to be the fault of a person, company or organization. Sometimes we have to simply work through a process and spend a couple of dollars to get where we are going. When you know or learn something that might be helpful to everyone else in the complex, post a comment! Your Blogger
Thank you very much for your insight, Blogger. Since you are now editing comments, how about this for a guideline:
If someone comments on a general subject, like real estate values or something like that, they should be allowed to remain anonymous.
But, if someone is soliciting advice for a problem with their unit, the management company, or, they're just complaining, they should be required to sign their name and unit number. The same goes for people who respond to such. If they don't, then don't post their comment. In other words, the minute someone's name gets mentioned, the author should be required to sign their work
On a couple of occasions, I've been asked for advice, and ended up having to respond to some anonymous jerk who insists on getting personal. I can take critism (obviously), I just want to know who I'm responding to. I think that this guideline will result in a much more civilized, although possibly more boring, blog.
Todd in 122
Point taken Todd. I have considered that but you cut right to the quick. People may withhold sharing their information or ideas from concern of retaliation. Moderating the comments simply allows for screening out mean spirited or useless comments. Admittedly, if those comments are dressed up well, funny, interesting or include some effort, up they go.
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