Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Development Phase- early participants paying less

[R.N. Johnson (cohoranda]

We had a similar situation. We had agreed early on that the early birds would 
pay 5% less than the latecomers.  We ended up buying an already built apartment 
complex and needing to recruit buyers as fast as we could.  We let go of the 5% 
discount idea in order to sell all the units, although the early investors 
still got first pick of the units. A couple of  the later buyers ended up 
having more significant repairs to do in the units, and feel resentful because 
of the additional time and effort they put into their units.  I don't think 
they have any idea of how much work was put in during the six years it took to 
get the community formed, especially the last six months before the sale.  One 
of them is quite involved in the community, the other much less so.  Our 
community was lucky to recruit several latecomers who had been involved in 
other forming groups, so although they had not put in the time and effort on 
our project, they were very aware of
 the commitment it takes to start a community and appreciated the chance to 
join a community at the last minute. They were able to jump right into the work 
of making our new community function because they already knew  the drill, so 
to speak.  And the two households who have joined the community in the years 
since move-in movers and shakers deeply involved in vital committees and the 
daily work of the community. 
Randa Johnson
New Brighton Cohousing
Aptos, CA