Trees

FAQFREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

 

  1. Where does our money go?
  2. Why Aren't the Waterways Working?
  3. Who Pays for the Utilities (electric, water, Internet, waste, recycling)?
  4. What Do I Do If I Find Something Damaged?
  5. Why Can't People Park in the Red Zones?
  6. What's Happening to the Pine Trees?
  7. What Can I Do About Crime in the Village?
  8. Where Can I Find Answers About Condominiums in General?
  9. Why Can't People Honk Their Horns on Philip Drive?
  10. What Do I Need to Know About the Plumbing?
  11. What is Megan's Law?
  12. Are There Any Parking Spaces for Rent?
  13. Can I Barbecue or Otherwise Cook on my Balcony?
  14. What's the Difference Between My Insurance and the Association's?
  15. What kind of batteries should I get for my gate remotes?

1. Where does our money go?

Each year, every homeowner gets a copy of the financial reports, audits, and explanations of where our money goes. If you have questions about it, you can come to a board meeting and ask your questions during the "homeowners concerns" portion of the meeting, call the management company and ask them, or ask your own accountant to help you understand the documents.

2. Why Aren't the Waterways Working?

During the last drought, the county made us close down the waterways. When the drought was over and we could turn them back on, it was discovered that they had sprung leaks and that the pumps and plumbing needed work. Repairs and sealing were tried, without success. It is believed that the waterways need to be replaced; but it is unclear what impact the replacement will have on the water bill, and whether water rationing in the near future might mean turning them off again. A recent poll indicates that most residents would like recirculating fountains to replace the waterways; but the budget doesn't allow for it this year.

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3. Who Pays for the Utilities?

This depends on whether you live in a condo or a townhouse. For more complete information on this, go see the "Utilities" section of the website by clicking here.

4. What Do I Do If I Find Something Damaged?

If you see something broken, damaged, or not operating properly, please call the management company, mail one of the forms available in lobbies and by bulletin boards, or fill out the service request on this site. Although our onsite maintenance guy is here every day during the week, it's not always easy for him to see everywhere, every day. This includes discovering bad stains on the carpeting, locks that stick (on building and fire doors), damaged carpeting on the walls of elevators, intercoms, light fixtures, and anything else you think is important. If you don't report it, it can't get fixed as quickly as you might like.

5. Why Can't People Park in the Red Zones?

The reason for the red zones and no parking zones is that fire and emergency medical vehicles need to be able to have access to the whole complex. No one wants to prevent their neighbors from receiving timely emergency medical care or prevent fire trucks from access, either. Please try to be understanding of these very necessary rules. The towing company named by the association has permission from the association to tow anyone parked in the red zones. If your car gets towed, it's your responsibility to pay to get it back.

6. What's Happening to the Pine Trees?

The Monterey pine trees on the property are all infected by the same disease that's killed many of them along Juniperro Serra Blvd., and indeed, all over Northern California. When they get very infected, they need to be removed to prevent them from falling on buildings and residents. There is no known cure for the disease.

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7. What Can I Do About Crime in the Village?

To join neighborhood watch or to report vandalism or other crimes in the Village, call the management company.

Here are some tips from the Daly City Police Department and the Village Board on how you can minimize crime:

  • Don't leave anything of value in your car, especially if it's visible from the windows.
  • Report all vandalism and theft to the Daly City Police. They tell us that the more crimes that get reported to them, the more patrols they will assign to the Village.
  • Install a car alarm - Most of the break-ins happen to cars without alarms. If you have an alarm with a blinking red light and stickers on the windows, vandals are much less likely to break into it.
  • Use locking bolts on your wheels - These are inexpensive, pretty easy to install, and will keep the wheels from being stolen off your car.
  • Neighborhood Watch - Join the Neighborhood Watch committee! The Daly City Police have told us that a strong community effort can greatly decrease the amount of crime.

8. Where Can I Find Answers About Condominiums in General?

Frequently Asked Questions About Common Interest Developments - Published by the State of California, Department of Real Estate -- Always had questions about what it means to be a member of our association? Get your answers here.

9. Why Can't People Honk Their Horns on Philip Drive?

California law says that horns may only be honked to warn of danger. Be sure to tell your friends who come to pick you up not to use their horns to let you know they're outside your building. When someone honks their horn, the whole Village can hear it, especially in the middle of the night.

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10. What Do I Need to Know About the Plumbing?

In a complex as large as ours, there are many possibilities for plumbing problems. There are also many problems that can be prevented with just a little care. Please read the Plumbing Policy in the Documents section to get a clear idea of what you can do to prevent problems and who is responsible for what kinds of repairs.

PLEASE DO NOT PUT RICE OR GREASE DOWN ANY DRAIN! Residents' units get flooded due to drains being packed with rice and/or grease. This is a very preventable problem, but it happens very frequently, and costs homeowners needlessly.

Another plumbing problem for which residents are responsible is leaking ice maker lines, since they are not part of the original plumbing. If you have a water line going to your refrigerator for making ice, it is recommended that you have it removed.

11. What is Megan's Law?

Please click here to see a letter about this law from the association's attorney on this subject. If you don't already have Adobe Reader, you can get it here for free.

12. Are There Any Parking Spaces for Rent?

The association has a few spaces for rent at a cost of $100 - $125 per month. If you're interested, please call CIMS at (650) 286-0292.

13. Can I Barbecue or Otherwise Cook on my Balcony?

No. Cooking or burning anything on balconies is not allowed due to fire danger.

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 14. What's the Difference Between My Insurance and the Association's?

The Association maintains a master property and casualty insurance for the entire Project, which includes coverage for the building structure, common areas, and any standard fixtures installed within individual Units at the time of original construction by the developer. This master policy provides coverage only for the sudden AND accidental discharge of water (i.e., flooding from a broken pipe or sink overflow), and does not provide coverage for a water leak that has occurred slowly over time, nor the ensuing mold that may have developed as the result of a slow water leak. Water damage from slow, pernicious leaks are considered a maintenance issue and wear-and-tear, not a sudden loss, and so are exclusions in the policy. Where it is determined that there is coverage, the master policy insurance only covers the cost of restoring a water-damaged Unit to the condition it was in at the time of original construction by developer or comparable costs thereof. Owner upgrades and improvements to Units are not covered by the Association’s insurance, Owner-purchased supplemental insurance is necessary for that. Specific amounts and types of insurance maintained by the Association and the deductible amounts for its policies are described in a document annually distributed to Members in conjunction with the annual budget.

15. What kind of batteries should I get for my gate remotes?

The replacement batteries for the remotes are 23A.

 

Quote from Realty Times:

By definition, when you buy a condominium, you're buying all the space contained within the walls. The condo unit may be in the form of a townhouse, apartment flat, or even a detached structure. The exterior of the building, the landscaping, surrounding roads and driveways, and common areas are all owned by an association, a group made up of all unit owners.

 

 

Village Serramonte HOA