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community emergency preparedness
Is your Maryland HOA prepared for disasters? 6 emergency preparedness tips to know
Jul 05, 2017Mother Nature has quite the surprises to throw at us! Sometimes, there’s some notice and time to prepare. But often, there’s no warning at all. That’s why it is critical to the financial health of your community association that you have the correct insurance coverage in place. What can happen if your high-rise building or community association common areas aren’t properly covered? Unfortunately, nothing good. That's why it is important to make sure your Association is covered with insurance.
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Graphic of clipboard with words, How to Prepare for an Emergency
Emergency Preparedness: What You Need to Know, and How Your Property Management Company Can Help
Jun 29, 2017Although you can’t predict emergencies, you can prepare for them. The most important thing that both board members and management can do to ready themselves for the unexpected is to create a customized emergency preparedness plan. A quality community association management company will have the experience, resources and knowledge to help you develop a plan that fits your specific situation. -
your management company should be a team
Choosing a New Management Company: Look for a Team Approach
Jun 19, 2017What should you look for in a prospective community association management company to help avoid a rough transition? How can your association avoid financial missteps and pitfalls when switching from one management company to another? Make sure that the management company you are considering has the resources you need in every aspect. Transitioning to a new company is simply too large a task for one manager to handle! A team approach is the best way for a professional community association management company to handle a transition. -
Board members sitting in a row at a slightly cluttered desk, engaged by an out-of-frame speaker
How Should You Enable Board Member Succession?
Jun 19, 2017Thriving business organizations plan for succession. It’s built into their corporate strategy – team members with potential are identified early on, and then groomed for the leadership positions they’ll someday hold. -
Low angle view of modern high rises with bushes in front
Planning Your High-Rise Maintenance and Capital Improvements
Jun 19, 2017Maybe this has happened to your high-rise association: An unexpected capital expense finds your condominium’s board of directors needing to impose a special assessment. Establishing a plan for your building’s maintenance and capital improvements is not only important for your budget. It can also prevent life-threatening catastrophes. So what does it take to put together a program that protects both the health of your association’s finances and the safety and lifestyle of your residents? Find out in our interview with Phil Pool, vice president at FirstService Residential. -
Maryland HOA board members
6 essential tips for new Maryland HOA board members
Jun 19, 2017Congratulations are in order – you’ve just been elected to the board. So now the big question: What’s next? “The great thing about associations that are helmed by owners is that they have a vested interest in doing right by their community,” said Kirk Kowieski, CMCA, AMS, vice president of FirstService Residential. “But that also comes with challenges...many board members find themselves in this kind of position for the first time, so there’s a little bit of a learning curve.” Fortunately, FirstService Residential is here to help. Follow these new board member basics and you’ll soon be governing like a pro. -
Close up of female manager in black at a laptop with others behind her, blurred
The Best Service from Your Management Team Starts Before You Ask
Jun 15, 2017You want your community association management company to respond when you need them. Shouldn’t a good management company be able to foresee some of your association’s needs and meet them before you ask? That’s the principle at the heart of proactive service, when emergencies are prevented rather than responded to. The best service is proactive, but its very nature – preventing problems before they arise – means that it can be hard to spot. So how do you know that your community association management company is being proactive on your behalf? Read on for some ways you can tell if your management company is behaving proactively. -
Beyond the Manager: Discover the Value in Your Management Company
Beyond the Manager: Discover the Value in Your Management Company
Jun 15, 2017We all want to get the most for our money, and your community association is no different. When hiring a management company, it’s easy to focus on the bottom-line price and not understand the differences in real value among the proposals you see. The right community association management company will provide you with so much more than a good manager. -
Male maintenance worker in a navy blue jumpsuit standing with a clipboard with brass pipes behind him
The Importance of Preventative Maintenance in Your High-Rise
Jun 06, 2017Protecting your high-rise with a solid preventative maintenance program will also protect the lifestyle you love and your community association’s budget. Preventative maintenance programs have countless benefits, including extending the life of almost every component and system in your building. A well-executed plan can also help your community optimize its operating budget by predicting when repairs or replacements are most likely to be needed and allowing your community to set aside money for them. How can you get started on a preventative maintenance plan? Check out our advice to get your high-rise on the right track when it comes to preventative maintenance. -
Male maintenance worker in a dark blue jumpsuit holding a clipboard with brass pipes behind him
Maintenance Styles: Which One Fits You Best?
May 23, 2017If you’re part of your community association’s board, you know that it’s important to budget for regular upkeep of landscaping and grounds, common areas, By budgeting for routine maintenance and upkeep, you can extend the life of almost everything in your community. Read more on which preventative maintenance style you are.