Articles

We are all concerned about safety. High Rise management companies and Board members, who have a responsibility to protect the common property, must pay particular attention to security at their properties. A secure condominium means a happier and safer community, and that is what is most important to owners and residents.

The foundation of any good relationship is communication. And that also holds true for HOAs and community management companies, regardless of whether we’re talking about a townhome community, high-rise or a master-planned community.

Life in a high-rise building has a lot of advantages. Besides being convenient to energetic downtown cultural and business districts, high-rises offer great amenities, good security, and even personal concierge services. High-rises also have their own requirements and challenges when it comes to insurance, as well as other unique needs. Insurance must adequately cover the shared common areas such as lobbies, mail rooms and pool decks. Each owner must also have the right coverage for each individual unit.

Community association rules are put in place for the benefit of everyone who lives in the community. It’s not the easiest task to make rules for a diverse community! The most important factors in association policy making, regardless of the type of community association, are clarity and sensibility. The board must be united on the policy being created and then must communicate that policy clearly to all residents. No matter what the policy is about, the basic guidelines to successful policy making and compliance remain the same.
 

Your reserve fund is what helps your association anticipate its future – and budget for it, too.  The reserve fund gives you the power to maintain the quality of your community by allowing for projects that are both necessary and expensive, including capital improvements such as a future roofing or paving project. Keep in mind that, in Maryland,  a community association’s annual budget is required to provide for reserves. Needless to say, establishing your reserve fund can be a complex task. You don’t have to go it alone -- you simply need a good reserve study firm to help. Check out our seven tips to finding the right reserve study firm for your community.

Summer is ending faster than we want it to – many schools in Maryland start at the end of August! As a parent, you know what back to school means. Not just a change in schedule, it’s a change in your whole world: making everyone get up in the morning after a summer of sleeping in, rushing out the door, speeding through homework, running back home for forgotten lunches, permission slips and gym clothes. A little organization and planning can go a long way toward making this time of year easier on everyone and minimizing back to school insanity for arranging your household to be more school-friendly, and your first day back will earn an A! 

FirstService Residential is proud to announce L.E.A.D.S. 2016 will take place on Thursday, September 22^nd at the Convention Hall in Asbury Park, New Jersey.  This biennial educational, networking event is focused and shaped on the attributes of Learn, Evolve, Achieve, Deliver, and Succeed.

Summertime and the living is easy…  With gorgeous weather, a break from school until the end of August and lighter schedules for many, it’s the perfect chance to go to the beach, camping, on cruises and more. Whether you’re road tripping from Baltimore to Ocean City or the Jersey Shore, or hopping a plane across the country, summer vacation offers a breather for everyone.

While fun in the sun and sand might be on your mind, it’s just as important to think about the safety and security of the home you’ll be leaving behind. Whether you live in a high-rise or in a master-planned community, it’s important to know how to prepare your home for your trip. No matter where you live, here are some simple tips to help ensure your home is safe and well maintained while you are off enjoying the summer sun.

Preparing your association’s annual budget can be challenging, but that doesn’t mean it has to be a negative experience. With a few pointers, you can take away some of the hassle and end up with a more workable budget in the process. Let’s take a look at a few tips to help you prepare an actionable budget for your association.

Electric cars are now a reality.  As we discussed in our previous article, the number of PEVs (plug-in electric vehicles) on the road has escalated. With the universal desire to protect the environment combined with Maryland’s new incentives aimed towards owners of PEVs, the number of future owners are estimated to further escalate. The Maryland state website offers information on multiple attractive incentives such as Federal Income Tax Credit, and rebates available for current and future consumers. With the escalation of demand on electric cars and its purchases in Maryland, this is a hot topic that needs to be addressed for many homeowners associations (HOAs), community associations and condo boards across the country.