Adding to the long list of items required for a co-op (and sometimes condo) board application, reference letters, both professional and personal, can sometimes cause the most stress. For sure, the reference letters are one of the most important parts of the board application. After the financial statement and employment information, the letters will garner the most attention from the board members. It is important to choose the authors carefully. Consider those who will take the time to write a “glowing recommendation.” For personal letters, friends, neighbors, and mentors are best (no family members). Choosing references who also happen to be co-op owners is a bonus. For professional letters, authors should be current or past colleagues or superiors.
FORMAT
The letters, both professional and personal, MUST be on
letterhead. For professional references,
company letterhead should be used. In
the case that the company does not allow letterhead used for this purpose, the
letter should be on the personal letterhead of the author. Most people do not have pre-printed
letterhead anymore, so the letter should just have a “header” including their
name, address, and phone number. The
letters MUST be addressed to the Co-op board of directors, and start with “Dear
Members of the Board,” Example:
Board of Directors
99 East 99 Owners Corp, Inc.
Dear Members of the Board,
***All reference letters MUST be signed by the author!
CONTENT
Personal letters should tell a story about how the author knows the
applicant and what are the qualities that would make them a good neighbor. The more personal and in-depth the better,
this is the chance for the board members to get a good sense of who the
applicant is.
Professional letters should say in what capacity the author and applicant work(ed) together and discuss the working relationship; highlighting the qualities in the applicant that make them successful and a dependable and trustworthy colleague.
ORIGINALS/SCANS
It is best to include the original letter in the package,
but good quality color scans will suffice in most cases.
MARRIED COUPLES
In many cases combined personal letters can be used for
married couples. This is specific to
each board application.
LISTING BROKER REVIEW
The Listing agent always has final say on the package before
it goes to the board. The theory here is
that they have the “pulse” of the board members, and are also just another set
of eyes to check for errors/omissions/additions. *Keep an open mind for suggestions and
feedback on the letters. Sometimes
changes or tweaks will be recommended!
Whereas much of a typical board application requires filling in basic information, and collecting forms/statements/etc, the letters are one area that require this careful personal attention. If you are not sure who will write the best letters, get a few extra and pick and choose. This is a great opportunity to impress the board through your references' kind words. Take full advantage!
For sample letters, please email me.
Coming soon:
Letters of Introducion
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