For those who live in Co-ops.. updated with new question (sorry long)

I am having 2 guys come tomorrow to repair/ spackle, paint a wall that was caused by a water leak. I can see the wall bubbling a little because of the leak so I am thinking it might be a big job but I have no idea.

Would you tip? How much?


Update #1 ... so when DH came home tonight, he noticed mold inside the drywall on the studs from where the water was dripping onto. My question is, I know that by owning the co-op, we are responsible for any repairs within our apt but what if it was caused by outside causes? Basically the seal was broken and rotted around the wall AC unit & that's how the water came in.

I ran out & got a mold test kit & will mail it to the lab tomorrow for confirmation but the petri dish is growing mold spores in it right now so there is no denying it.

I want the co-op to replace the moldy studs but if they are going to give us a problem, who can I contact about this? Is there a city building inspection dept or something I can contact?

Message edited 6/16/2010 10:14:07 PM.

Re: For those who live in Co-ops, do you tip the maint workers if they do something in your home?

we have only had them come once and yes we did

maybe $10 we tipped him

Re: For those who live in Co-ops, do you tip the maint workers if they do something in your home?

No. I pay over $800/mo in maintenance fees, so I think having them come once a year to do something small is more than covered by this. Plus I give them a tip around the holidays.

Re: For those who live in Co-ops, do you tip the maint workers if they do something in your home?

I tip my maintenance guys when they do a job for me, and they do appreciate it.
Tip depends upon the job, usually $5 to $10. I've never had them have to do something really big.
For your job, I'd probably give them $10 each.

The holiday tip goes into a general fund that is also split amongst the office workers.

Re: For those who live in Co-ops, do you tip the maint workers if they do something in your home?

If its something thats the buildings fault, I wouldn't tip. If its something thats your doing, I'd tip.

Re: For those who live in Co-ops, do you tip the maint workers if they do something in your home?

If they are in the union, they are NOT required to repair any taping/spackling job bigger than 12 X12 inches. Believe it or not, they are there to maintain,not create "new"..I know,crazy. They could argue to have a pro come & fix the problem,which if the leak was your fault- its gonna cost you $$. I would def tip them more like 20-30 bucks. You never know when you're gonna need them in an emergency & believe me as a person who used to work in an office in the industry,they DO remember the good tippers & sometimes react accordingly.

Re: For those who live in Co-ops, do you tip the maint workers if they do something in your home?

It's not our fault.. the leak is coming in through the outside.

Re: For those who live in Co-ops, do you tip the maint workers if they do something in your home?

My friend lives in a co-op and has told us that she tips them (nothing crazy) when they fix something in her apt.

Re: For those who live in Co-ops, do you tip the maint workers if they do something in your home?

Re: For those who live in Co-ops, do you tip the maint workers if they do something in your home?

I don't. I would if it was something extra they were doing as a favor to me.

I live in a big complex & we have a super & assistant super but they usually send one of two handy men to fix things inside apartments.

I should probably tip the handymen, since I don't tip them at the end of th eyear, sicen I rarely see them & they obnly do occassion work for us. ( I do tip the supers & the porters)

Message edited 6/16/2010 2:48:18 PM.

Re: For those who live in Co-ops.. updated with new question (sorry long)

bumping because I have added a new question to the original post. tia

Re: For those who live in Co-ops.. updated with new question (sorry long)

Re: For those who live in Co-ops.. updated with new question (sorry long)

I use to live in co-op and would tip $10 or $20 if one of the guys helped out. I am actually moving to a new co-op and the maintenance is $1000 a month!

Not sure about the second question...but I believe they are responsible for the studs in the wall. The way it was explained to me was.....turn your place upside down and whatever falls is your responsibility. The person above me had a leak which caved in my ceiling...they fixed it and painted at no charge.

Good Luck!

Re: For those who live in Co-ops.. updated with new question (sorry long)

I just sold my co-op, but from my understanding everything inside the walls if the responsibility of the co-op to fix. If they give you a hard time I would contact the property manager and the board president. Sometimes that takes time and in if you don't want to wait maybe you can get it fixed and they will reimburse you.

If the property manager and the board don't help I would contact the managing company and go over their heads. I had to do that with a problem that I had in my apartment.

Re: For those who live in Co-ops.. updated with new question (sorry long)

Is the air conditioner their responsibility? (mine are not, b/c they are window units left by the previous owner)

If it is, then the studs are also theirs, since their lack of maintance caused it.

When the radiator above me leaked, the co-op fixed the ceiling.

Anything inside the walls is usually co-op territory, but if you cuased it to happen, then I believe you are responsible for it.

Message edited 6/18/2010 10:37:58 AM.

Re: For those who live in Co-ops.. updated with new question (sorry long)

If the seal is on the outside of the building along your A/C, I would say, yes it is their responsibility.

Contact your Board of Directors.

Re: For those who live in Co-ops.. updated with new question (sorry long)

thanks everyone.
I should get the lab results in a few days.

Re: For those who live in Co-ops.. updated with new question (sorry long)

We are not responsible for anything beyond the drywall. I would think they'd WANT to do the stud replacement themselves as that is a pretty major structural repair, no?

Re: For those who live in Co-ops.. updated with new question (sorry long)

I've never tipped the maintenance guys, they're really friendly and are always helping out so I dont think are looking for it either

Re: For those who live in Co-ops.. updated with new question (sorry long)

Mold is def their responsibility!

Re: For those who live in Co-ops.. updated with new question (sorry long)

We are in a co-op and we are responsible for the sheetrock on in. We are absolutely responsible to replace sheet rock damaged from a water leak but not responsible for fixing the source of the leak itself or any damage behind the sheet rock itself. Once you hit the sheet rock, it is treated as you are a regular home owner who needs to do repairs to their home.

They replaced our front doors, repaired the moulding/trim on the outside, but we had to replace the molding around the doors internally.

ETA: we are also responsible for our own air conditioners.

Message edited 6/18/2010 9:57:13 AM.