It’s mid-June—exactly why now is the time to lock in your winter snow and ice contract. Massachusetts boards that wait until October negotiate from a position of weakness: routes fill up, prices skyrocket, and you’re forced to pick from whoever is left. Summer movers get better pricing, priority scheduling, and actual time to review the fine print before the New England winter hits. Under MA case law (Papadopoulos v. Target), boards have a strict legal duty to clear snow and ice reasonably. When reviewing your options, look past just the headline price to protect your association: - 💰 Pricing Structure: Per-push vs. seasonal flat vs. per-inch. Know which financial risk your board is legally comfortable carrying. - 📏 Trigger Depth: 1", 2", or 3"? A 3" trigger is cheaper up front, but in MA, that delay allows hazardous ice crusts to form before plows even launch. - 🧊 Ice Management / Salting: Ice causes far more slip-and-falls than snow in Massachusetts. Ensure your contract explicitly dictates automatic salting protocols. - 🛡️ Insurance & Indemnification: Ensure you get a current COI (Certificate of Insurance) naming your specific MA association as additionally insured to shield you from liability. - 🚜 Snow Storage & Hauling: Where does it go when the property hits capacity? Look for clauses detailing municipal code compliance for snow piles. - ⏱️ Response Time: Where exactly does your property fall in line during a major Nor'easter? 📋 TRUSTEE ACTION ITEM Request your current vendor’s renewal terms plus one competing bid this week. Compare the structural terms, confirm the COI, and sign before Labor Day to secure priority route placement. 💬 DISCUSSION QUESTION Does your MA board currently use per-push, seasonal, or per-inch pricing—and has that structure ever burned your budget during a weirdly mild or severe winter? Let’s talk strategy below.

Many Massachusetts trustees assume they're in good shape because they have a reserve study. The problem? A reserve study is only accurate on the day it's completed. A study that showed your association was 70% funded five years ago may be significantly outdated today. Here's why: Construction costs changed. A roof projected to cost $80,000 may cost $115,000 or more today. Massachusetts weather is tough on buildings. Freeze-thaw cycles, ice dams, and coastal conditions can shorten the life of major components. Lender expectations are changing. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac continue to place greater emphasis on reserve funding and long-term capital planning. Massachusetts doesn't require a reserve study, but Chapter 183A requires associations to maintain an "adequate replacement reserve fund." The challenge is that "adequate" isn't defined by your reserve balance alone. It's measured against the actual cost of replacing the components your association is responsible for maintaining. Quick Reserve Health Check - When was your last reserve study completed? - What is your current percent funded? - What percentage of your annual budget is contributed to reserves? - Could your association replace its largest component at today's pricing? When was your last reserve study, and does your board know its current percent-funded number? Most trustees know their reserve balance. Far fewer know whether it's enough.

Most boards are focused on budgets, insurance renewals, and maintenance projects. Few are paying attention to a change that could affect every owner's ability to sell their unit. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac recently announced updates to condominium lending requirements, including: 📅 July 1, 2026 Master policy per-unit deductibles will generally be capped at $50,000. If your association's deductible exceeds that amount, it could create financing issues for future buyers. 📅 August 3, 2026 The "baseline" reserve funding option is being phased out for condo warrantability reviews. 📅 January 4, 2027 Reserve funding expectations increase from 10% to 15% of annual assessment income. Why does this matter? Because these aren't just lender rules—they affect whether buyers can obtain conventional financing. If a condominium becomes non-warrantable, financing options shrink, buyer demand drops, and property values can suffer. Trustee Action Items: ◦ Pull your master insurance declarations page ◦ Confirm your per-unit deductible amount ◦ Review your reserve funding strategy ◦ Discuss warrantability with your insurance agent and property manager Does your board know your current per-unit deductible? If not, who's responsible for pulling the declarations page this week?