Understand replacement or repairs reserve

When we are talking about replacement or repairs reserve, we are referring to funds put aside from a property's normal operational cash flow to cover the future replacement of building components that need to be repaired or replaced. A sufficient reserve is vital because it provides the capital required to keep a property in excellent functioning condition.

How does the reserve fund work

The reserve fund is built over time through monthly contributions from each co-owner, which should be approved in advance through the annual budget. This fund is destined to cover unexpected expenses such as repairs, replacements, and improvements. 

Having an emergency fund built into your savings strategy gives you peace of mind. Imagine that there is a hurricane and your home had major damages, here is where a replacement fund comes into play. Having some extra budget aside allows us to pay such exceptional costs without having to ask you for additional payments throughout the year.
 

Takeaways

In simple terms reserve funds are:

• Long-term funds to cover unexpected expenses
• Monthly contributions by each co-owner
• The budget is approved in advance by property owners
• The annual budget is subject to change depending on property needs. 
   

Frequently Asked Questions

Who gets to determine when a reserve fund is spent?

Repair and replacement reserves are only used in extreme cases. The fund is inaccessible until property management provides permission to release funds to repair anything. This permission comes down to co-owners' votes.

What are long-term repairs? What else are reserve funds used for?

The term "long-term repairs" refers to all planned property renovations. Long-term repairs include painting walls and upgrading the skylight. Property owners are aware that they will have to invest in them at some point, and the reserve money provides for essential maintenance and renovations. Reserve money is often used to reclaim unexpected catastrophe expenses, such as destruction from extreme weather.
 

How much money is usually in a reserve fund?

It is determined by the number of expected repairs and projects for the property. Location is also important; for instance, coastal areas may include expenditures for hurricane or cyclone restorations. Repair and replacement reserves are frequently used as savings accounts.
 

What can cause reserve fund fees to go up?

The balances of reserve funds fluctuate from one property to another. When the property manager doesn't have enough money to cover the expense of construction, such as rebuilding a roof after hurricane damage, they will increase monthly payments or charge a special fee. This involves a vote of all co-owners. 

Does Dalima use a repair and replacement reserve?

As manager of the property's legal entity, Dalima acts a neutral party against third parties on behalf of the co-owner group. We aim to make the property management simple, so minor decisions such as small repairs, routine maintenance, and so forth are made directly by Dalima to minimize the back and forth with every co-owner and save you the trouble.

But major decisions, such as relevant repairs or improvements, are subjected to the co-owners' vote. The idea behind this is to make co-ownership as convenient as possible.