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Over the past eight years I have had the pleasure of working as the architect for the homeowners with Mr. Raymond Anderson on the successful reconstruction of the following projects:
· Pleasant Heights, Pleasant Hill, CA
· Bridgeview Heights, Benicia, CA
· Mariners Landing, Vallejo, CA
Mr. Anderson served as the owner's representative in managing the various design and construction contracts for these projects. His services are truly unique, both in nature and high quality, in my 37 years of experience in the practice of architecture on over $800 million of completed building projects.
He first assembled the entire project team of designers and builders for owner approval. He then managed that team, providing directives on behalf of the owner. He coordinated, scheduled and expedited the work of all parties involved to an early and successful conclusion.
He represents the owner and is a steward of the owner's best interest, with a dedication, energy and enthusiasm which is unique in my experience. He conducts his client's business with greater care and concern than most individuals conduct their own affairs. He is a team player whose knowledge of all the details and his follow up on them, gets the job done efficiently.
I highly recommend Mr. Raymond Anderson to manage the various design and construction contracts on reconstruction projects. I would be pleased to answer any questions in this regard.
- William R. Richardson
I should like to comment on your services from my observations during the Two Worlds Woodsworth Lane remedial work for which we were the architects.
Your project evaluation services are valuable, first, in bringing ill-defined aspects of planning and construction into such focus that objectives become clear and, then, giving competent guidance as to the necessary steps and their desirable sequence in addressing those objectives.
To me, however, your invaluable service is in taking charge. Either no one or too many are normally trying to run a remedial contract. Project managers become overloaded when running a construction program is added to their responsibilities; owners, themselves, become frustrated trying to cope with imagesers beyond their experience.
I should like to see you brag a bit about your ability to organize and administer projects with clear responsibility
for performance and strict accountability to the owners.
- Burton Rockwell, F.A.I.A
As treasurer for Two Worlds Phase Three, I have worked with Ray Anderson for approximately twelve years, During that time I have worked very closely with Ray dealing with budgets, cost control and re-construction.
All members of the Board think very highly of Ray. He is very competent in handling the day to day management problems of our Association.
Ray was particularly effective in directing our re-construction project. The project required coordinating major repair efforts on all 50 of our units. Ray coordinated the activities of subcontractors, architects and the Board of Directors. During the initial settlement phase, I think Ray the key to our winning an additional $100,00.00. It was his ability to define and present our requirements that made the difference.
I can recommend Ray Anderson, without reservations, for all matters regarding major re-construction and day-to -day operations for large condominium facilities.
Sincerely,
James A. Karr, Treasurer, Two Worlds Phase Three
In the mid-1980's, Two Worlds Pleasant Hill-Woodsworth Lane Owners' Association faced the prospect of suing the developer and others to correct construction defects discovered in our homes. The Association needed more capable management services to manage the effort successfully. After a thorough search, we contracted with Ray Anderson and Assured Management to provide the needed management services.
I served on the Board of Directors throughout the lawsuit and the reconstruction effort. During this time, I served in positions from Treasurer to President; and I worked closely with Ray and his staff. They provided our Association with outstanding service during this difficult time. Ray worked long hours overseeing the many phases of the work.
In the early stages, we needed special assessments to fund engineering studies to investigate and document the defects. Ray gave clear presentations to the members explaining the need for legal action and the assessments. Ray helped us find quality engineering firms to perform the studies. He was also constantly on vigil to find ways to reduce costs to preserve our limited budget. When Ray's staff could work with the engineers to lower costs, they did so. Ray also worked closely with our lawyers. This helped immeasurably since the officers of the Association had careers and could not devote full time to handling the volumes of material involved.
The parties that we sued made an acceptable offer to settle out of court. However, the Association was not the only party to the settlement; two other homeowners' associations were also suing the developer. They had more serious defects to correct, so we had difficult negotiations with them to gain an acceptable share of the settlement. Ray spent considerable time and effort to improve our share of the settlement. Due to Ray's efforts in these negotiations, we were able to secure a share that was $100,000 more than our lawyers had recommended.
This was only the first part of the work. Next, we had to hire architects and contractors to correct the defects. Here again, Ray and his staff proved invaluable to us. Ray helped us find quality firms to perform the work at reasonable costs. He spent many hours in meetings with the architects to review their designs and solutions. At one point, it appeared that we might not have funds to undertake all the repairs that were needed. Ray noticed that the architect's design called for the installation of custom greenhouse windows. Ray suggested a less expensive solution that the architect was able to implement. The resulting greenhouse windows looked great, worked as well as the original design, and saved the Association about $100,000.
Ray also worked closely with the contractor. Ray implemented a pilot project in which the contractor repaired a small number of homes. This helped the contractor learn more about the problems that he would have to correct. It also gave Ray and the Association a chance to evaluate the contractor. As a consequence, we were able to identify some of the best managers in the contractor's firm and insist that they be assigned to our project. Because of this, the main
reconstruction project was well managed, and all defects were corrected on time and within budget.
Ray helped our Association manage a successful $1,200,000 project to correct construction defects in our homes. We could easily have spent this budget without correcting our problems without careful management. Ray provided the management that kept the project on time and on budget.
I strongly recommend that any association that is facing such problems contract Ray and his team to help manage the process.
- Paul R. Gribik
During
the last quarter of 2002, a small puddle of water appeared on the
floor of the master bathroom at my unit. I called _______
Management, the HOA management at the time. _______ Management
sent a “repairman” who cut a section of drywall and found the
source to be a pipe within the wall. The repairman replaced and
sealed the leaking pipe. After a day of “drying out” the
original insulation and drywall was replaced, the wall re-taped,
plastered and repainted.
I
was not satisfied that an area that had been wet and damp was so
immediately closed up and that new materials (insulation and
drywall) had not been used. I contacted the new management
company, Assured Management Services. I outlined my concerns for
the integrity of the work done. Assured Management Services
contracted a licensed environmental specialist, who took probe
samples in the affected drywall area. The resulting report
indicated mold growth. A licensed professional HAZMAT company was
hired to reopen the wall, eradicate the mold and replace all
affected studs and surrounding woodwork. A mold-free clearance was
approved. New insulation and drywall were used for closure.
The
professionals utilized by Assured Management Services and the
resulting work met with all my expectations and satisfaction.
-
C.F.
October
14, 2003 Ray
Anderson Assured
Management Services 4861
Sunrise Drive, Suite 105 Martinez,
CA 94553 Dear
Mr. Anderson,
The
plight of Homeowners’ Associations Board Members seems to be
frequent complaints, some justified, many not. So, imagine my
delight when the residents of Units 10 & 11 had nothing but
praise for the alacrity and decisiveness with which you tackled
the miserable plumbing and water problem they experienced on
Monday, October 6. How nice to finally hear some real appreciation
for the important and fine job you do for all of us who live here
at Pleasant Heights.
These
residents added to my delight with their praise of Lisa Moore and
how professionally and tactfully she handled the situation on
site. They were most impressed, as was I when I got to experience
Lisa’s abilities first hand at the Board Meeting the following
evening. She is most personable, professional, and capable of
tremendous grace under fire. I only wish I could muster such grace
in the face of a difficult and potentially explosive situation.
You and we are most fortunate in having her assistance.
Thank
you both so very much for handling this particular situation and
for all that you do to assist us in maintaining the complex and in
facing difficult decisions and people.
Sincerely
Yours,
Kristen
Wick
President
Pleasant
Heights HOA
To
Whom It May Concern:
Ray
Anderson, of Assured Management Services, has made a significant
difference in the health and future of our Homeowners Association.
I am the current President of Cobblestone HOA in San Ramon. We
changed management companies almost a year ago and did not realize
how inadequate the representation was. The Board also did not
realize the impact of the current state of the Insurance industry.
Ray
has successfully navigated us through aging problems with our
15-year-old, 170 unit development. He established a protocol for
handling the problems in a timely, organized and cost effective
manner. The immediate costs an association must handle are only
the short term financial decisions a Board must make. Ray also has
avoided Insurance claims so that our development can not only keep
our insurance, but can keep it at a reasonable rate. In today’s
world these are the key ingredients to maintaining the value of
our homes.
Ray
Anderson knows the HOA management business. As a Real Estate
professional myself, for over 20 years, I am aware of most of the
management companies and their problems.
Any
association Mr. Anderson would consider managing is fortunate to
have the business opportunity.
I
can be reached at (925) 968-1150 for further information.
Respectfully,
Leslie
Holt
REMAX
Accord
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