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Habitat Magazine-Here Are Ways to Pay for Retrofits to Reduce Carbon Emissions
The Climate Mobilization Act, requires buildings 25,000 square feet and larger to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by certain target percentages in 2024, 2030, and beyond. -
Steps for Condo or Co-Op Hoarding Clean Up, NYC
Hoarding can be dangerous to every resident in your NYC condo or co-op building. Learn how to work with hoarders in your building today. -
How to Hold Your Next Board Meeting Through Video Conferencing
It goes without saying that how we communicate has drastically switched from in-person contact to user-friendly digital platforms since the COVID-19 pandemic began to spread. -
The Ins & Outs of NYC Building Energy Rating and Energy Grades
FirstService Residential and FirstService Energy are prepared to help boards and owners identify capital improvements or retrofits that improve a building's energy efficiency score and letter grade. -
Keeping Your Budget Healthy in the Age of COVID-19
As you begin to work on next year’s budget, it’s important to look for ways to save your building money to offset those unplanned expenses and potential revenue shortfalls. -
How to Keep Your Condo and Co-op Meeting on Track
With many meetings moving to telecommunications platforms like Zoom or GoToMeeting, it’s more important than ever to have a fine-tuned system for keeping your meetings organized and on track. There are steps you can take to ensure your upcoming meetings, whether they’re online or in person are effective and concise. -
Learn How To Achieve Strategic Alignment During A Crisis
It’s important that co-op and condo boards come together to achieve strategic alignment. -
Opening Considerations for Gyms and Fitness Centers in Residential Buildings
Following the release of Interim Guidelines for Reopening Gyms/Fitness Centers, there are a number of procedures boards will need to consider when reopening fitness centers in residential buildings. -
Technology at Home Part 2: Keeping Boards and Residents Safe Online
As board communications become increasingly reliant on web-based technologies, it’s more important than ever to take proactive steps to safeguard the way you share and save sensitive information. -
Technology at Home Part One – Choosing the Best Internet Package
In an effort to help our clients and their families stay safe during these difficult times, FirstService Residential’s in-house technology experts recently assembled a list of best practices and technology tips for working at home, improving password security, identifying potential scams and selecting personalized internet packages. -
What Should You Expect From Your Property Manager?
Not all property managers have what they need to provide you with great service. Learn what a great property manager looks like. -
How Can My Association Fund Capital Improvements?
Nothing lasts forever…and when it comes time to replace your high-rise roof, community pool or to add new amenities, your association will need to determine how to pay for it. All of these things – significant repairs and replacements, as well as new construction – are considered capital improvements. -
Why Your Condo or High-Rise Needs a Great Front Desk Team
Five seconds. Science tells us that’s how long it takes to form an initial judgement about a person or thing. First impressions are even faster – they happen in an instant. Given this limited time to make a positive impact, the need for a great front desk team is clearer than ever. -
Condominium Corporation Budgets: Creating a Road Map to Success
It’s budget season! Are you stressed? Concerned about a potential dues increase or a large capital project that’s looming in the future? The word “budget” can be scary, so thinking about creating next year’s budget is daunting for many homeowners boards. We’d like to change that. In fact, we don’t want you to view next year’s budget as a task at all. -
How a preventive maintenance plan can prepare your condo for all seasons
Cold weather will soon be upon us, so now is the time to make sure your condominium maintenance program is on track. As brutal as Ontario's winters can be, you certainly don't want to discover a leak in your roof during a heavy snowfall or have a boiler stop working during a record cold spell. -
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Saltwater Pools are the Future, and YES, They Have Chlorine!
Saltwater pools offer a variety of benefits ranging from greater comfort for swimmers -- say goodbye to burning eyes and dried out hair -- and also for the environment. This article explores why saltwater pools are gaining popularity in condominiums and communities here in the Greater Toronto area and around the world. -
Simple Energy Conservation Steps to Benefit Your Community This Winter
With the cold weather in the Ontario air we all would love to find ways to save money as condo owners. There are a lot of helpful tips that we as homeowners can start before winter arrives and continue during the remainder of the winter season. -
Smart Financial Planning
Safeguarding an Ontario condominium corporation’s operating and reserve funds is one of the main fiduciary duties of all board members, not just the treasurer. This means that boards must protect the financial interests of the corporation and its members by making sure all funds are properly managed, invested and protected. -
Talking the Talk: Communication with Your Property Management Company
Getting the most out of the relationship between your Condominium Corporation and your property management company comes down to many important factors and communication, as in any relationship, is essential. -
The Six Secrets to Building Your Condo’s Volunteer Pool
As a board member for your condominium corporation, you know that your community depends on volunteers to operate successfully. However, finding residents who are willing to be on your board of directors, join a committee or help at an event can be challenging. -
Tips For Generating Community Engagement In Your Condominium
What makes a community a great place to live? A lot goes into it, but it’s no secret that often depends on community engagement. -
Tis the Season…Will Your Holiday Packages Arrive Safely and on Time?
It’s that wonderful time of year! Many of us are shopping online to get that perfect gift for our loved ones. And, for those doing last-minute shopping, we don’t want to have to worry that something will go wrong with our deliveries. -
How Can My Association Fund Capital Improvements?
Nothing lasts forever…and when it comes time to replace your high-rise roof, community pool or to add new amenities, your association will need to determine how to pay for it. All of these things – significant repairs and replacements, as well as new construction – are considered capital improvements.