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5 HOA smiling board members holding a closed meeting around a table
New Illinois Law Gives HOA Boards More Leeway in Holding Closed Meetings
Dec 12, 2016
Good news for board members of homeowners associations: Legislation effective January 1, 2017, makes it easier for association boards to hold closed (executive) sessions. What’s especially significant about the law is that it mitigates particular aspects of the First Appellate Court decision in Palm v. 2800 Lake Shore Drive that had left many board members frustrated.
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Property management company managers sitting at a desk delegating community tasks to one another
The Three Keys to Effectively Delegating to Your Property Management Company
Nov 21, 2016
One of the benefits of working with a property management company is being able to offload many tasks that you and the other board members would otherwise have to handle. However, that doesn’t mean that you are relieved of all responsibilities. There will always be some duties that lie entirely in the hands of board members. Read more for tips on how to successfully effectively delegate to your property management company.
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Low angle view of modern glass high rises surrounded by trees
How to Reduce Residential Development Costs with Professional Property Management
Nov 17, 2016
As the luxury residential market in Chicago grows ever more competitive, developers must take advantage of the wealth of knowledge professional property management teams can lend to their projects.
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Graphic on The Ins and Outs of Vacation Rentals in Associations
Vacation Rentals Part 1: The Sharing Economy’s Impact on Your Association
Nov 10, 2016
While traveling, the idea of staying where the locals live and experiencing the city from a new perspective is appealing to many. Vacationers have the chance to blend in and enjoy the comforts of home, away from home—that’s the luxury of the sharing economy. However, for condominium and homeowners associations, there are numerous issues to consider, including legal regulations. Read more about how the sharing economy may impact your building.
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One-story beige home with For Rent sign in front on lawn
Three Keys to Homeowners Association Rental Restrictions
Nov 04, 2016
Rentals can be a contentious topic when you live in a homeowners association. And as with most things, there are plusses and minuses when it comes to restricting rentals in your building or community. If your association is considering adopting rental restrictions, here are three things you need to do.
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Graphic of computer displaying graphs and a magnifying glass, with words, 5 budget busters
Five Mistakes that Can Ruin Your Budget
Oct 06, 2016
One of your most important duties as a board member is fiscal stewardship. And at the core of that duty is your annual budget. One thing you can do relatively easily is to make sure you avoid some common budget pitfalls. To help you recognize—and dodge—typical budget blunders, we’ve created a list of the five most common mistakes we have seen HOA boards make.
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Modern high rises on a bay
Go Local or Mega for Condo Management Services?
Jan 20, 2016
When looking for management services, there is often times the debate whether to go with a local company or a national management company. Read the Chicago Tribune’s article comparing hometown professional management companies to a mega-manager. Our very own CEO, Chuck Fallon, even weighs in on the subject.
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learn condo building security tips
Condo Security Tips for the Holiday Season
Nov 24, 2014
Building security is important year round for condo buildings, but the holidays pose additional issues and heightened traffic. Here are several tips for homeowners, residents, and management to ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday.
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FirstService Residential Community Association Manager of the Year, Pat Bialek
Patricia Bialek Receives Community Manager of the Year Award
Nov 24, 2014
Pat Bialek, VP Property Management, was named Community Association Manager of the Year at the Excellence Awards and Winter Gala hosted by the Community Associations Institute (CAI), Illinois Chapter. As the first-ever winner of this prestigious award, Pat was recognized for her exemplary knowledge, ethics, professionalism and skills in financial, administrative and facilities management.
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Older couple in gray and purple tops staring down at a document
To Self-Manage or Not? How to Get the Best Property Management Service
Nov 13, 2014
How can I get the best service for my property? That’s a question community associations wrestle with regularly. Some self-managed community associations believe they can’t afford to hire a professional property management company to manage and maintain their community’s operations, assets, finances, common areas and other day-to-day activities.