Articles

At FirstService Residential, our mission is to make a difference every day for communities like yours, serving as your partner in its management, evolution and enhancement. It’s rewarding work that is built on strong relationships, grounded in our deep local market knowledge and strong industry experience.

When your property begins the process of hiring a vendor, you want to ensure that you're making the best choice possible for your community's benefit. A good vendor will execute your vision on time and budget, whereas a not-so-good one can be the source of lousy quality, unexpected delays, inconvenience, and a whole lot of headaches!

Whether you have been newly elected to your Board or you have been a Board member for several years, you owe it to your residents to make sure that you are managed by the best property management company. Every condominium corporation differs in their needs, so you must take the proper time and ask the right questions when hiring a property management company.

As building managers begin property inspection, they note the necessary repairs for winter damage as they make their rounds through the community. The spring season is a time for renewal and a fresh look, so being able to properly landscape around the building is of utmost importance. 
 

Most people who join the board of their condominium corporation aren’t experts. Rather, they are well-intentioned, dedicated volunteer-leaders who want to protect property values and ensure their community continues to be a great place to live. If you’re a new board member – or even a seasoned one – it’s important to get the training you need to govern effectively and address the issues you may face.

Your role as a board member involves a lot of communications. Whether it’s speaking with a board member or drafting up and email, you may be looking to learn or refine some communications skills.

Effective communication fosters better relationships among board members, your residents and property management company, and keeps all parties well informed. Here are the 4 components of a successful communication plan that create effective outreach to all members of your community.

Condominium board members are an important part of the property management team, and play a vital role in the success of the community. If you serve as a condominium corporation board member, it is inevitable that you will run into conflicts with other board members at some point. Understanding how to avoid damaging conflict, work effectively with other board members and gain consensus on solutions to your community's issues will benefit everyone in your community.

At one time or another, every condominium corporation has to spend money on replacing equipment or making major repairs. Whether that means replacing a roof, installing a new ventilation system or any other big-ticket project, they are a necessity. But how should your condo corporation pay for them?

If your community is managed by a property management company, you probably have an after-hours number you can call for urgent issues. But what if you simply want to take care of day-to-day condo corporation business? “People don’t operate in normal business hours anymore,” says Rolando Hernandez, national customer care director at FirstService Residential. “Residents and board members need to be able to take care of condo business how and when it’s convenient for them.”