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Reserve Study Companies in Los Angeles

Los Angeles County has a very large stock of condominiums built from the 1960s to the 1980s, and two local rules beyond the reserve study law shape their capital plans. 2 firms are based in the Los Angeles area, 15 more work in California, and 7 national firms cover it.

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Associations in the Los Angeles area

Wood-frame condominium buildings over tuck-under or subterranean parking fill the Westside, the San Fernando Valley and the South Bay, many converted from apartments or built in the 1970s and 1980s. Downtown, Koreatown and Century City add towers, and the Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys add planned developments and townhome HOAs with long private street and slope obligations.

Balcony inspections and seismic retrofits

California Civil Code section 5551 requires associations with buildings of three or more units to have balconies, decks, stairways and other exterior elevated elements inspected by a licensed structural engineer or architect at least every nine years. That inspection is separate from the reserve study, but its findings belong in it. In the City of Los Angeles, the mandatory retrofit program for older wood-frame soft-story buildings, the ones with parking tucked under the living space, has added seismic work to many associations’ capital plans as well.

2

firms on our list with an office in the Los Angeles area.

24

firms on our list state that they work in California, national firms included.

every 3 years

is the California study cycle in statute.

Firms based in the Los Angeles area

Facts read from each firm's website or a public register. No ratings, no paid placements.

Reserve study firms based in the Los Angeles area
FirmBased inWorks inCredentials statedServices
Apex Reserve Studyapexreservestudy.comSherman Oaks, CACaliforniaNot statedreserve study
Reserve Studies Inc.reservestudiesinc.comCerritos, CACaliforniaNot statedreserve study

Other firms working in California

Based elsewhere, and stating on their own sites that they work in California.

Reserve study firms serving California
FirmBased inWorks inCredentials statedServices
A Reserve Consulting Companyareservecompany.comSan Diego, CA6 states, including CaliforniaNot statedreserve study, capital planning
Advanced Reserve Solutionsarsinc.comLaguna Hills, CACalifornia, Idaho, Washington, MontanaRSreserve study
Bicksler & Associateshoaconsulting.comEugene, OROregon, CaliforniaNot statedreserve study, transition study
Browning Reserve Groupbrowningrg.comSacramento, CACalifornia, NevadaNot statedreserve study
California Builder Servicescabuilderservices.comNot statedCaliforniaRSreserve study
Capital Reserve Analystsazreserveanalysts.comChandler, AZArizona, New Mexico, California, TexasCAI memberreserve study
Complex Solutions, Ltd.complexsolutionsltd.comLas Vegas, NVNevada, Utah, CaliforniaNot statedreserve study
LCAM Resourceslcamresources.comOrlando, FLFlorida, CaliforniaNot statedreserve study, insurance appraisal
McCaffery Reserve Consultingmccafferyreserveconsulting.comNot statedCalifornia, Colorado, Nevada, HawaiiNot statedreserve study
Pacific Reserve Studiespacificreservestudies.comCACaliforniaNot statedreserve study
Reserve Analysis Consultingreserveanalysis.comSausalito, CACaliforniaNot statedreserve study, capital needs assessment
Reserve Data Analystreservedataanalyst.comNot stated7 states, including CaliforniaRSreserve study
SCT Reserve Consultantssctreserve.comTemecula, CACaliforniaCAI memberreserve study
SMA Reservessmareserves.comSan Jose, CACaliforniaNot statedreserve study
The Helsing Grouphelsing.comNot statedCaliforniaRS, PRAreserve study

National firms

Each states on its own site that it works in all fifty states.

National reserve study firms serving Los Angeles
FirmBased inWorks inCredentials statedServices
Apex Reserve Groupapexreservegroup.comIrvine, CAAll 50 statesNot statedreserve study
Association Reservesreservestudy.comNot statedAll 50 statesRS, PEreserve study
Global Solution Partnersglobalsolutionpartners.comNot statedAll 50 statesRS, PEreserve study, SIRS, insurance appraisal, transition study, capital planning
MillerDodson Associatesmillerdodson.comAnnapolis, MDAll 50 statesNot statedreserve study, transition study
Reserve Advisorsreserveadvisors.comMilwaukee, WIAll 50 statesNot statedreserve study, SIRS, insurance appraisal
Reserve Data Analysisreservedataanalysis.comNot statedAll 50 statesNot statedreserve study, SIRS
The Falcon Groupthefalcongroup.usWarren, NJAll 50 statesRS, PRAreserve study, SIRS, transition study, capital planning

Distance and the fee in Los Angeles

Many of the California firms on our list are based in Southern California, so a Los Angeles association can usually collect proposals from firms within driving distance. Traffic is the travel cost here, not miles: a firm may price a full day for a site an hour away at rush hour, and a large Valley or South Bay portfolio is often cheaper to study in one trip.

Proposals from firms in different cities will differ on the level of service and the travel line before they differ on the fee. Comparing proposals sets out what to read first, and the firms near you page explains how distance is priced.

Other metro areas in California

Tell us the association's ZIP code and size and we will find a firm that works in Los Angeles.

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What California law says

California is one of the states that writes a reserve study into law. Under Cal. Civ. Code 5550 (study); 5300 (annual budget report); 5570 (reserve disclosure form), associations must have a study visual inspection at least every 3 years; reviewed annually; the rule applies to common interest developments (condos and HOAs) under the Davis-Stirling Act, where replacement cost of major components is at least half the gross budget excluding reserves.

On disclosure: Annual budget report includes a reserve summary, reserve funding plan and the assessment and reserve funding disclosure form (Civ. Code 5300 and 5570).

General information checked against the statute, not legal advice. Governing documents can require more than the law does.

Questions from boards in Los Angeles

Does the balcony inspection replace the reserve study?

No. The Civil Code 5551 inspection checks whether exterior elevated elements are safe; the reserve study under Civil Code 5550 plans the money to repair and replace major components. Some firms do both, but they are separate reports with different signers.

How often does California require a reserve study?

Civil Code 5550 requires a visual inspection of the major components at least every three years and a review of the study every year, in associations where the replacement cost of those components is at least half the gross budget, excluding reserves.

Is a reserve study required in California?

California law requires a reserve study: visual inspection at least every 3 years; reviewed annually (Cal. Civ. Code 5550 (study); 5300 (annual budget report); 5570 (reserve disclosure form)). The text is on the legislature's site.

What does a reserve study cost in Los Angeles?

Firms price each association by the work, not the city: buildings, component count, level of service and travel. A community of 50 to 150 units usually pays $2,000 to $8,000 for a full study with a site visit, and an update with a visit is about 50 to 80 percent of a full study. The cost page has the estimator.

Where this information comes from

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This is a free introduction service, not a reserve study provider. We find one firm that works in your state and tell you its name before anything is shared. Nobody contacts you until you say yes.

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