Contractor transition

The landscaping contract has been transitioned to Franklin Landscaping and they will be on site next week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons as long as necessary to complete routine landscaping services throughout the entire community.  

Josh has several years experience working with a large professional landscaping firm.  He has decided to strike out on his own and is being supported by his Dad and others in that effort. Although he has been performing side landscaping work for some time, we are his first large client.  Our intent is to encourage and support his efforts hoping that he will be a long term solution for us as Jason and Austin have been.  The new contractor will cost us more than we were paying Jason and Austin, but we were able to negotiate with him to reduce the price he originally quoted during the bid process.  Even so, what we will be paying is substantially less than the alternatives, so it is in our mutual interest that they find success in serving Ridgeview.

Ridgeview is challenging for landscaping.  Only the two front lots at the entrance and behind the pool are open spaces, most of the nearly 8 acres is filled with lots of nooks and crannies around 21 buildings that are difficult to service.  Large landscaping companies, like the one Josh used to work for, charge far more than we can afford to pay.  We have a lot more land per condo to maintain than is typical in condo communities.  It will likely take the new landscaper time to sort out the most efficient way to perform routine weekly services.  Since the consensus of the community is to keep dues as low as possible, we all have a vested interest in their success and should be as encouraging as possible.  

Even as we hope for a successful long term relationship with our new landscaper, all of the other work that Jason performed throughout the community will be more challenging.  Jason is exceptionally skilled and talented and performed work for us in a timely manner and at costs that even far less skilled contractors would not.  Fortunately, Ridgeview is currently up to date on long term preventive maintenance, so absent acts of nature, we hope to face no urgent repair challenges.  That said, should the unexpected arise, please be patient as we try to source solutions that best serve the overall interests of the community.  Finding another Jason would be like finding a needle in a haystack – so sadly, we will all need to adjust our expectations accordingly.  It is important for us to acknowledge that FAST often runs counter to other desirable qualities like AFFORDABILITY and QUALITY.  We will do our best to manage tasks based on priority and available resources always bearing in mind that the community wishes us to prioritize keeping dues as low as practical.

Ridgeview is best served by its contractors and those managing them when relationships are nurtured from mutual respect and efforts to understand the challenges that the contractors face as well as those that have the assigned role of managing them.  Only through time and effort expended to understand and temper, when necessary, expectations of both parties to a contract is a foundation for a long term mutually beneficial relationship built. 

Contractors can become very frustrated very quickly when they first contract with HOAs due to individual homeowners attempting to direct or manage their work.  Please do not do this.  It is important to recognize that even though they are performing work on behalf all of us, they do not work directly for all of us.  There are potential legal, liability and financial issues that may come into play when contractors receive directions from those that are not officially tasked with managing work they are contracted to perform.

If you have something nice to say to them, please do.  Compliments are always welcome.  But please do not complain to them directly or ask them to perform “special” tasks around your home.  Contractor concerns or comments for the good of the community should be directed to our official email address: email@ridgeview.fyi. For easy reference, this email address is located on the bottom left of every page of our website.  For consideration of specific work requests, those requests should be made directly on the website using the WORK REQUEST FORM located under the RESOURCES tab at www.ridgeview.fyi  This form has a few simple fields and drop down boxes that make it quick and easy to complete and submit.

Our board has an excellent working relationship and maintains focus on managing costs for all of our mutual benefit to keep dues as low as possible. Finding affordable contractors and ways to schedule and perform work in a manner that is most efficient and economical is always a priority.  

Thanks to everyone for your support and understanding and best wishes that everyone has a fun and safe summer.