Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Reserve Study Redux...

[Lyle Scheer (wonko]

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Sharon Villines wrote:
> The problem is that the item's life and cost of replacement varies 
> widely from one geographic location to another and in specific periods 
> of time. A professional reserve study firm ( a good one ) should be in 
> touch with these price fluctuations on a regular basis because they are 
> looking at the every day.

Good to point out... that means we need to requote replacement for major
items occasionally to verify that our cost model is accurate.

Still, we want the examples not necessarily for the accuracy of the
prices (or indeed the prices at all), but as a list of items to make
sure we cover if they are part of our project as well.  For example,
understanding how an irrigation system is accounted for.  It would save
us much work if we didn't have to re-invent the wheel for much of the
stuff that *is* common.

> I notice that you are still under construction. Much of this data might 
> be more available to you since you MAY be able to get it from your 
> plans. But not all plans are very accurate, and as built drawings hard 
> if not impossible to get. Having a building engineer looking things 
> over during construction is a very good idea.

Actually, we're looking for that too.  We'd love to have someone come
occasionally to look over construction as it's ongoing and catch
gotcha's before they're covered over, but we have not been able to find
the right person.

Having a reserve study done by an expert would provide that once, but at
what stage of construction?  I'd personally want a concrete "expert" to
look over the slabs the day they are poured for things that can be
addressed before it sets, framing expert to look over exposed framing
before it gets covered, etc.

Unfortunately, for the small and frequent amount of times this would
take, we haven't found anyone within our budget willing to do this sort
of thing (it's too small compared to a full time job, too frequent to be
a one time consultant sort of thing).

Budget is the other reason why we want to do the reserve study ourselves.

- - Lyle
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