Question 1

What is a reserve study and why does my HOA need one?

Accepted Answer

A reserve study inventories every major component your HOA is responsible for replacing, estimates its remaining useful life and cost, then projects whether your current contributions will cover those replacements. Without one, special assessments are the only fallback when something breaks.

Question 2

Is this a replacement for a professional reserve study firm?

Accepted Answer

No. The modeler reads your existing reserve study PDF and turns it into a live, interactive model your board can explore. It supports planning and what-if analysis; it does not replace an independent professional study or engineering audit.

Question 3

How long does it take to upload and model my PDF?

Accepted Answer

Most PDFs finish extraction in under a minute. Larger studies (100+ pages) can take up to two minutes. You will see a live progress indicator with an estimated time remaining while the AI reads the document.

Question 4

Do I need to create an account to try it?

Accepted Answer

No. The Visual Demo lets you explore the full dashboard with sample data, no account or credit card required. When you are ready to upload your own study, sign up free.

Question 5

What is the Visual Demo and what can I do in it?

Accepted Answer

The Visual Demo loads a sample HOA with realistic reserve items. You can adjust sliders, edit line items, try all the charts in fullscreen, and export reports. Uploads and saved settings are not available in the demo.

Question 6

How is this different from using Excel for reserve planning?

Accepted Answer

Excel requires you to manually type every component, cost, and replacement year, then build your own formulas. The modeler extracts everything from your PDF automatically, runs compound interest and inflation calculations, and gives you interactive charts you can adjust in real time.

Question 7

How much does it cost?

Accepted Answer

Pro is $99 per year. There is no free trial; you are charged immediately and get instant access. The free tier covers one lifetime PDF extraction with limited features.

Question 8

Is there a free trial?

Accepted Answer

No. Instead of a trial, the free plan gives you one real PDF upload so you can evaluate the full workflow with your own data. The Visual Demo is also available with no account at all.

Question 9

What is included in the free tier vs Pro?

Accepted Answer

Free: one PDF extraction, 30-year projection, PDF report export, dashboard access. Pro: unlimited PDF uploads, 75-year projections, CSV and Excel exports, up to 50 member seats, preset publishing, and the audit log.

Question 10

Can I cancel my Pro subscription at any time?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Cancel from the Pricing page inside the app. You keep Pro access until the end of your billing year, then drop to the free plan automatically.

Question 11

Do I keep Pro access if I cancel mid-year?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Cancelling stops the next renewal but does not remove your current access. You stay Pro until the subscription period ends.

Question 12

What payment methods do you accept?

Accepted Answer

Checkout is handled by Dodo Payments. They accept major credit and debit cards. The checkout page shows the full list of accepted methods for your region.

Question 13

What file formats can I upload?

Accepted Answer

PDF only. If your reserve study is in Word or Excel, export it to PDF first. CSV bulk import of individual line items is available on the dashboard once you have a report.

Question 14

Is there a file size limit?

Accepted Answer

Yes, 50 MB per PDF. Most reserve studies are well under this. If yours is larger, split it into volumes and upload each as a separate report.

Question 15

How accurate is the AI extraction?

Accepted Answer

The AI reads every line item, cost, and replacement schedule it can find in the PDF. After extraction you can review and edit every field in the line items table before trusting the model. Always verify against your source document.

Question 16

Can I edit the extracted components after upload?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every line item is editable in the dashboard table. You can change the name, cost, useful life, remaining life, and year of replacement. Changes update the model in real time.

Question 17

Can I add components manually that were not in the PDF?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Use Add Component and pick from the 75-item curated library, or enter a custom component from scratch. You can also bulk import components via a CSV file.

Question 18

Can I import components from a CSV file?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Import CSV button on the dashboard lets you upload a spreadsheet of reserve items. A template is available for download so your column headers match what the importer expects.

Question 19

Is there a library of common HOA reserve components?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Add Component dialog has a From Library tab with 75 common HOA reserve items across four categories: Exterior and Building Envelope, Mechanical and Electrical, Amenities and Grounds, and General Reserves. Each comes with a typical lifespan and cost range.

Question 20

What financial assumptions does the model make?

Accepted Answer

The model compounds interest on your reserve balance monthly, escalates repair costs by your inflation rate, and projects outflows based on each component's replacement year and useful life cycle. You control the starting balance, monthly contribution, inflation rate, interest rate, and projection length.

Question 21

What is the difference between Fixed Contribution and Straight-Line funding?

Accepted Answer

Fixed Contribution uses the monthly contribution you set and shows where the balance ends up. Straight-Line lets you set a target percent funded and the modeler solves for the monthly contribution needed to hit that target over the projection horizon.

Question 22

What is Percent Funded and why does it matter?

Accepted Answer

Percent Funded is your current reserve balance divided by the Fully Funded Balance. Below 30% is Weak, 30 to 70% is Fair, above 70% is Strong. It is the single most common metric lenders and insurers use to assess HOA fiscal health.

Question 23

What is the Fully Funded Balance (FFB)?

Accepted Answer

FFB is the amount you would have in reserves today if every component had been funded on schedule since installation. The dashed target line on the cash flow chart shows this; staying above it means you are ahead of schedule.

Question 24

How far into the future can I project?

Accepted Answer

Free plan: 30 years. Pro plan: up to 75 years. The slider on the dashboard controls this. Longer horizons show more replacement cycles but are less certain.

Question 25

Can I compare different funding scenarios side by side?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Use Snapshot Current to save the model as it stands, or Add from Preset to load a published preset. Up to three scenarios overlay on the comparison chart with a summary table of monthly contribution, total outflow, ending balance, and deficit year.

Question 26

Can I save and publish my model settings as a preset for others?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Publish Preset saves your current slider configuration with an auto-generated name (Treasurer(HOA Name) N or Role(Name) N for members). Everyone in your HOA can load it from the preset dropdown. Members can publish their own presets too.

Question 27

Can I see which components drive my contribution the most?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Significance chart ranks components by annualized cost (cost divided by useful life). The longest bars are the ones that matter most for your contribution rate.

Question 28

Can I view the charts in fullscreen for a board presentation?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every chart has an expand button in its header. Click it to enter fullscreen with larger type and the chart filling the screen. Press Esc or click the minimize button to exit.

Question 29

How do I invite board members or residents to view the model?

Accepted Answer

Open the Share page from the sidebar. You will see your HOA passcode and a shareable link. Members use that link to sign up; if you require approval, you approve them from the Manage Members tab.

Question 30

Do members need to create an account?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Members sign up with a username, password, and three security questions at the /join portal. This gives them their own login; they do not need a treasurer account or Supabase email.

Question 31

What can members see and do vs the treasurer?

Accepted Answer

Members see the same dashboard with the treasurer's current model. They can adjust sliders locally (changes are not saved), publish their own presets, ask questions about specific components, and view all charts. They cannot upload PDFs, edit line items, or change saved settings.

Question 32

Can members ask questions about specific reserve components?

Accepted Answer

Yes. On the dashboard, members click any line item and use the Ask dialog. Their question posts to the Community hub with an item-name flair so the treasurer can answer in context.

Question 33

How many members can I invite on the free tier vs Pro?

Accepted Answer

Free plan: zero member seats (members are a Pro feature). Pro plan: 50 member seats included, with additional seats available as an add-on.

Question 34

Can I export the model to PDF?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Download PDF Report button generates a print-ready document with an executive summary, cash flow and expenditure charts, grouped component inventory, and a year-by-year financial schedule. Branded with your HOA name.

Question 35

Can I export to CSV?

Accepted Answer

Yes, on the Pro plan. The Export CSV button downloads the year-by-year financial schedule as a spreadsheet file.

Question 36

Can I export to Excel?

Accepted Answer

Yes, on the Pro plan. The Export Excel button downloads a workbook with three sheets: Reserve Items, Cash Flow Forecast, and Model Settings.

Question 37

What is included in the PDF report?

Accepted Answer

Page 1: executive summary with KPIs (percent funded, current balance, recommended contribution) and a narrative. Page 2: cash flow and expenditure charts. Page 3+: component inventory grouped by category. Page 4+: year-by-year financial schedule. Uses serif body text and mono figures for a professional look.

Question 38

Does my state require a reserve study by law?

Accepted Answer

Nine states mandate reserve studies: California, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, and Washington. Colorado requires them for new communities from August 2026. See the Compliance Guide for full details.

Question 39

How often does my state require a reserve study?

Accepted Answer

Cycles vary by state: California every 3 years, Florida every 10 years (SIRS cycle), Nevada every 5 years, Oregon annually, Utah every 6 years, Virginia every 5 years, Washington every 3 years. The Compliance Guide lists every state's cycle and statute citation.

Question 40

Does the app track changes to state statutes?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Compliance Guide has a source monitor that fetches official statute pages and flags when the text changes, so you know to verify manually. It checks up to four sources per run.

Question 41

Is the compliance guide legal advice?

Accepted Answer

No. The guide is informational only. We monitor official sources for changes but you should confirm with your attorney or association manager for your specific situation.

Question 42

Is my HOA financial data encrypted?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Data is encrypted in transit (HTTPS with TLS) and at rest in the Supabase Postgres database. Row-level security ensures each HOA can only access its own data.

Question 43

Who can see my data?

Accepted Answer

Only you (the treasurer) and the members you invite. No other HOA, no admin, and no third party can see your reports, line items, or settings. Each query is scoped by your authenticated user ID.

Question 44

Can I delete my account and all my data?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Settings has a Delete Account option that removes your reports, reserve items, settings, and member records. This cannot be undone.

Question 45

Is there an audit trail of who changed what?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Pro plan includes an Audit Log accessible from the sidebar. It records every report upload, item edit, settings change, member approval, preset publication, and export, with timestamps.

Question 46

How do I sign in? Is there a password?

Accepted Answer

Treasurers sign in with a one-time email code (magic link). Enter your email, receive a 6-digit code, and you are in. No password to remember. A Cloudflare CAPTCHA protects the login form.

Question 47

I am a member, not a treasurer. How do I log in?

Accepted Answer

Members log in with a username and password set during signup at the /join portal. Use the Member Login button on the landing page or the /join page directly.

Question 48

What if I forgot my member password?

Accepted Answer

Use the Forgot Password link on the member login form. Answer your three security questions, set a new password, and you are back in. Your treasurer is notified of the change. No treasurer approval needed.

Question 49

Why do I see a security check (CAPTCHA) on the login form?

Accepted Answer

Every authentication form is protected by Cloudflare Turnstile to prevent automated abuse. Complete the checkbox before submitting the form.

Questions and answers

Getting started

Pricing and plans

PDF upload and extraction

Modeling and the dashboard

Member access and collaboration

Exports and reports

State compliance

Security and data

Account and authentication

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