General Questions
🎯 Objective:
To educate homeowners' associations (HOAs), property managers, and board members on best practices for conducting and using reserve studies to ensure long-term financial stability and asset management.
🗓️ Agenda:
1. Welcome & Introductions (10 minutes)
• Moderator opens the session
• Quick intros from panelists and participants
2. Understanding Reserve Studies (15 minutes)
• What is a reserve study?
• Why it matters for community financial health
• Legal requirements and standards by state (brief overview)
3. Key Components of a Good Reserve Study (20 minutes)
• Physical analysis: Inventory, condition, and life cycles of components
• Financial analysis: Funding models (baseline, threshold, full funding)
• Frequency and update recommendations
4. Choosing the Right Professionals (15 minutes)
• Qualifications to look for in a reserve study provider
• Questions to ask before hiring
• When to do it in-house vs. outsourcing
5. Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them (15 minutes)
• Ignoring or underfunding the reserve
• Miscommunicating findings to homeowners
• Using outdated or incomplete data
6. Case Study: Real-World Application (20 minutes)
• A walkthrough of a successful reserve study process
• What went right, what went wrong, and lessons learned
7. Open Forum Q&A (20 minutes)
• Attendees ask questions
• Panelists respond with practical advice
8. Closing Remarks & Resources (5 minutes)
• Summary of key takeaways
• Links to templates, calculators, and further reading
• Contact info for experts or consultants
🎤 Suggested Panelists:
• Reserve study specialist / engineer
• HOA board president or treasurer
• Property management professional
• Legal expert in HOA law (optional)
🧩 Optional Add-ons:
• Handouts: Sample reserve study report, checklist, reserve funding calculators
• Recording & transcript for attendees
• Certificate of attendance (if professional credit applies)