Contracts

Great contracts are the foundation of healthy relationships.

Your declaration / CC&Rs is special kind of contract called a covenant (a dedicatory instrument) between homeowners and the association that "runs with that land."  Covenants do not bind third party vendors!  This page is dedicated to relationships between your association and third party vendors.

Your association can, and in many cases should work closely with your vendors, but that does not make vendors your "colleagues" or "partners."  Whether formally incorporated or not, you should think of your community as a business.  Homeowners who share a vested interest via their mandatory assessments are like partners and/or shareholders of your corporation.  Alignment with a shared interest is the primary reason many associations require that Board members (volunteer directors) own real property within the community.  The vendors your association engages cannot and will not share the same interest in the overall nuances and success of governing and operating your community as your homeowners.  

While you should not need to consistently reference contractual provisions, contracts are intended to include specific deliverables and protections.

Contracts require 3 basic elements to be binding: 


Great contracts make all the difference, especially when things get tough...

Community associations that retain a management company (or intend to make a management transition) should read Great Expectations!: What to Expect from your Management Company.  Your association has a huge decision: include those expectations in your contract, or not.  View our Management Toolkit.

Indemnification, Liability, and More

YOUR ASSOCIATION can safeguard against wayward indemnity clauses by adopting a standard contract addendum (see below) that establishes fair and balanced terms that are relevant for almost all agreements with third party vendors and especially for vendors who will perform on-site services.

Certain state statutes, such as RCW 4.24.115, invalidate specific lopsided contractual provisions as a matter of public policy.

Example Contract Addendum

🛒 Purchase the Contract Addendum

> Don't sign away your association's rights!  Manage your vendor relationships with a contract addendum.

> Require a contract addendum for all vendors who engage in on-site maintenance, repair and replacement activities.

EXAMPLE Contract Addendum
Management Contract TEMPLATE (Part I)
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