Answers to Reserve Study Questions

Take advantage of our experience and expertise by getting answers to a few of the most common questions we are asked… Take a look from a few of the articles we've written or lectures we've delivered on the subject of Reserves. If you don't see what you need, simply call or e-mail ariteam@reservestudy.com . We're here to provide advice to make your life easier, not just information.

General

• What is a Reserve Study?

• Why Perform a Reserve Study?

• Levels of Service Selection Guide

• How Much Does a Reserve Study Cost?

• How Often Should You Update your Reserve Study?

• What do I get from a Reserve Study?

• What is Percent Funded (and Why Should I Care?)

• Which Components are (and aren't) included?

• Which Components Belong in the Reserve Study?

• Four Ways to Pay for Reserve Expenses

• Two Parts of a Reserve Study

• Are your Reserves Adequate?

• What are the Four Funding Principles?

• What are Full Funding and Baseline Funding?

• Special Assessments vs. Ongoing Contributions

• What Time of Year do you do a Reserve Study?

• How Much Should our Reserve Contributions Be?

• What is a Special Assessment?

• Do we make Contributions if our Reserves are Surplus?

• Planning your Reserves to avoid Disasters

• Do we Reserve for Domestic Water Lines in the Ground?

• Capital Improvements vs Reserve Expenses

• Reserve Planning for Extended Life Components

• Is it Common to Reserve for Homeowners Fences?

• What to do when a Component Fails Early?

• Why is Interest and Inflation Important?

• Loans: Paying $357,199 to get $250,000!

• Reserve Component Failure Modes

• Where do we get our Life and Cost Information?

• How can we compare our Reserves to another association?

• Why Reserve for Expenses 30 Years Away?

• Are Common Area Infrastructure Assets Included?

• Should we Reserve for Tile Roof Replacement?

• Why "Straight Line" or "Cash Flow" is the Wrong Question

• Funding your Reserves – Making Strategic Choices

• FHA Approval Issues

• How does your Reserve Fund Compare to Others

California Specific

• Complying with the Reserve Disclosure Law, CC 1365.2.5

• Complying with the 2009 Funding Plan Requirement

Florida Specific

• Florida Budget Process Summary

Hawaii Specific

• Deciding between "Cash Flow" and "Percent Funding" your Reserves

• Computing "Fully Funded" Reserves using Current or Future Costs

Accounting/Tax/Insurance Issues

• Capital Replacement Fund: When to use it?

• Can Painting and Tree Trimming be paid from Reserves?

• Does the Association Owe Taxes on Reserve Interest?

• Are Replacement Reserve costs the "Total Insurable Value"?

• "Can an Association move Surplus Funds to Reserves?"

• "Should we Reserve for Insurance Deductibles?"

E-Newsletter articles

• California Client Reminder

• FHA Update - May 2010

• Florida Association Update 6-2010