Typical fees by size
| Community | Full study | Typical make-up |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 49 homes | $1,500 to $5,000 | Townhome POAs and small condo buildings with few shared amenities |
| 50 to 149 homes | $2,000 to $8,000 | Most suburban HOAs with a pool, clubhouse and private streets |
| 150 to 299 homes | $5,000 to $20,000 | Larger master-planned communities, or several buildings |
| Mid-rise and high-rise condos | $7,000 to $15,000+ | Elevators, garages, roofs, facades and building systems |
These ranges come from firm price pages and published cost guides; no trade body or Georgia agency publishes fee figures. The overall span we see is $1,500 to $20,000 for a full study, with complex communities above it.
Three levels of study
CAI's reserve study standards describe three levels. The level you need decides most of the price.
| Study | CAI name | Typical fee | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full study, with a site visit | Level I | The ranges above | Every component counted and measured, then a 30-year funding plan |
| Update, with a site visit | Level II | Often 50% to 80% of a full study | The component list is kept; conditions and costs are reassessed on site |
| Update, no site visit | Level III | Often under $1,000 | Costs, balances and the plan refreshed from the desk |
What moves the price in Georgia
- Building type. A tower with elevators, a parking deck and a facade takes longer to survey than a subdivision with streets and a pool.
- Component count. Each roof, pool, court, gate and clubhouse system is measured and costed separately.
- Who visits. An engineer's time costs more than a reserve specialist's. Buildings with structural concerns may need both.
- Distance. Communities far from a firm's office, on the coast or in rural counties, can carry travel costs.
- Deadline. A lender questionnaire due next week can mean a rush fee.
Set against what it protects
A study costing a few thousand dollars sets the figure in a budget that may run to hundreds of thousands, and it is the document lenders now rely on. Run your own numbers in the special assessment calculator to see what a single unplanned roof costs each owner.