Don’t Drink the Sand

A lesson in condo HOA leadership and seeking educational resources you can trust.

“They want leadership. They're so thirsty for it they'll crawl through the desert toward a mirage, and when they discover there's no water, they'll drink the sand.”

Like many of the amazing Board members I speak to daily, I consider myself to be a lifelong learner. I love to learn new things or expand on my knowledge of things I’m deeply passionate about. When I made the move from the corporate machine to the world of building science, I found that I had – much to my surprise – moved to an entirely new planet with rules, codes, procedures, and even words I had never even heard.

Reserve?? No problem! How big of a table will we need? Should I pre order appetizers?

Building Envelope?? Do I lick it?

Below Grade? That was the result of every math class I took in college.

Scuppers? I thought that was the name of my neighbor’s dog

Flashing?? How dare you sir, I AM A LADY!

I’ll be the first to admit - I’m not a Building Doctor (I just play one on TV 😉), and I discovered that knowing how and where to find the best resources for education, or just clarity in general, can be overwhelming. In the wild and untamed world of the internet, how can you know that the information you’re getting is good information and not just, to put it plainly, crap?

With a CRAAP test, of course!

When viewing educational resources, ask yourself the following:

Current: When was the information published or posted? Have laws or policies changed since then?

We like our information like we like our veggies: fresh! If you’re in Washington and you’re reading a blog post that was reposted today, but originally published in 2005, that means it was written before RCW 64.55 became effective, and therefore likely overlooks vital (and legally required) steps in the process for starting a major renovation to your building. (For more information about RCW 64.55 check out the Washington State Legislature here). The easiest and best place to start in your pursuit of building and condo board knowledge is at the date. Keep it fresh!

Relevance: Is the information relevant and applicable to HOAs and/or Condos?

Maintenance and remediation of occupied spaces is not your garden variety construction. When we add to that the individual codes and policies of Homeowner’s Associations, we’re in a very unique field with its own unique playbook. You may not have any trouble finding home repair shows and articles about patching roofs, but you’re not likely to find a wealth of information about why those targeted repairs may not be advisable for an entire condo community given the logistical and financial ramifications. A video or article aimed at owners of single family residences might not recommend you repair your building all at once, but we can give you 16 Reasons Why you should. Don’t settle for just any information – look for resources that apply to you and your specific situation.

Authority: Who is the author or presenter? Are they considered and reputable and trustworthy source with direct experience?

Recently, I came across an educational blog for HOA’s full of articles that seemed to have many words yet said nothing at all. Worse yet, subscribers were required to pay $100 a month just to read it. After doing some digging, I found that it was a “pay to play” endeavor for content providers, meaning all of the articles were written by someone with no expertise in the building field and were rather contracted freelance writers getting paid for every article they provided, regardless of quality (translation: NOT Building Doctors). From Management to Consultant, your home and your community deserve expert opinions from professionals who can stand behind what they tell you. And if you’re not sure how to identify those experts, this guide for community manager interview questions and this information about hiring a building doctor can help get you started.

Accuracy: Is the information supported with evidence, examples, and correct information?

I’m a big fan of true crime. And if Keith Morrison from Dateline has taught me anything, it’s that evidence is everything. Without photos, examples, and explanations for the “Why” of it all, how do you know that what you’re being told is accurate? There is a reason our consultants take hundreds and sometimes thousands of photos when doing inspections, and it isn’t just to make sure our reports looks pretty (but they do as well). It’s so we can show you exactly what we found that drives our recommendations down to the smallest details. And when we present those reports and recommendations, we speak to building science, codes, years of experience, and historical data. Vague wording and guessing and a lack of transparency are ingredients in the recipe for disaster. Evidence, like the symptoms of damage found here, is everything.

Purpose: What is the intention of the presenter? What’s in it for them?

Going back to that “educational” blog I mentioned, the purpose seemed pretty clear to me right away – the almighty dollar. When seeking education about boards and buildings, it’s pretty easy to answer the question “Why am I here?” but don’t forget to ask also “Why are they here presenting or providing this information to me?” Recently, after one of our free monthly webinars, The Building Doctor Show, a Board President and attendee of the show asked me, “If it’s always free, then what’s in it for J2?” and I applaud this Board member. In the pursuit of good information, we should always be willing to ask those questions. If the source is coming from a place of integrity, it will be no problem to answer that question. Here is how I answered it:

“I'm so glad you found it all helpful! That's what we are all about at J2 – bringing the help, hope and happiness! We believe that everyone benefits from these opportunities, including us! It's helpful for us to get your perspective and insight so that we can be sure that we are hearing and serving our community in the best way, and in that process, we want to help empower our clients. The most stressed people I speak to in the day are the ones who don't know what they don't know, and therefore feel overwhelmed with knowing "where to start." I don't have to tell you that there are so many moving parts to condo ownership, board work, and property management. We just do what we can to help make sure those moving parts are all working well together, and our educational resources are there to help provide clarity on the more general questions and so that we can reach as many as possible at once.”

And for the team at J2, it really is as simple as that. When we all know more, we can all do more together.

So don’t let yourself drown in misinformation (or, dare I say again, crap). You deserve to drink from the cleanest, clearest, and most reputable waterfalls of wisdom. If it feels like you’re in a desert of information, schedule a free consult call with us. We want to quench that thirst! But whatever you do- please, don’t drink the sand.