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Emergency Preparedness: Is Your Building Staff Ready?
Jul 12, 2017
In Philadelphia, building emergencies present themselves in various forms – from power outages and gas leaks, to floods and fires and even security risks. The one thing that links all these together? They happen when you least expect it. It is essential for your building’s management team to prepare for the unexpected through continuous education and training. Is your building staff ready?
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Community disasters: Why Pennsylvania HOA insurance is essential
Jul 05, 2017
Mother 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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How Should You Enable Board Member Succession?
Jun 19, 2017
Every successful business organization plans for succession: who comes next as far as leadership? Succession needs to be an integral part of corporate strategy, and great leaders know that. They look for team members who have the potential to lead and encourage and mentor them toward those leadership positions. This is just as important for your community association board as it is for a Fortune 500 company.
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Choosing a New Management Company: Look for a Team Approach
Jun 19, 2017
What 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.
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Six Essential Tips For New HOA Board Members
Jun 19, 2017
Congratulations 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.
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The Best Service from Your Management Team Starts Before You Ask
Jun 15, 2017
You 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.
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Beyond the Manager: Discover the Value in Your Management Company
Jun 15, 2017
We 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.
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The Importance of Preventative Maintenance in Your High-Rise
Jun 05, 2017
Protecting 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 Pennsylvania high-rise on the right track when it comes to preventative maintenance.
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Four Secrets to Great Communication in Your Association
Four Secrets to Great Communication in Your Association
Feb 06, 2017
There’s one challenge that plagues all board members, regardless of experience: communication. Part art and part science, communication is the key to building strong relationships and effectively meeting your obligations as a board member for your community association. Here are a few quick tips to ensure communication is flowing in your association.
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Cyber Security: How Community Residents Can Protect Their Tech
Cyber Security: How Community Residents Can Protect Their Tech
Feb 06, 2017
Why should cyber security be so important to community associations? Do you know what important steps residents in your community can take to protect their technology so that sensitive information doesn’t fall into the wrong hands? This article provides guidelines on how to prevent cyber attacks and tips on increasing cyber security.