Search

Showing 121 - 144 of 776
  • FirstService Residential Executive Discusses Offbeat Second Home Investment Locations and Trends

    While exclusive communities like the Hamptons or Malibu will always be attractive locations for affluent vacation home buyers, several new trends are emerging in the growing second home market.
  • Property management duties: How your management company can make staff changes easier

    Sooner or later, most community associations face some kind of management change. If your community has a great manager, you probably want them to stay forever. But how realistic is that?
  • 5 steps to choosing the best reserve study specialists

    In our guide to capital improvements , reserve studies and their relationship to capital improvements and preventive maintenance were discussed at length.
  • Seven tips to finding a reserve study company

    Your reserve fund is what helps your association anticipate its future– and budget for it, too. This fund gives you the power to maintain the quality of your community by allowing for projects that are both necessary and expensive (like a future roofing or paving project, for instance).
  • Seven Trends for Amenities in 2015

    2014 was a year of change for a lot of associations. And in many ways, 2015 promises to be no different – especially when it comes to the types of amenities that will be offered by communities.
  • 5 energy conservation strategies for community associations

    In this article, we delve into the significance of energy conservation within community associations, exploring its benefits and strategies for effective implementation.
  • HOA summer safety tips: Protecting your home and community

    As a resident or HOA board member, summer safety tips are key to prepare for summer vacation. Discover tips for home security, utility savings, & more during the summer season!
  • Six Steps to Putting a Park or Playground in Your Neighborhood

    Enhance your community by putting more play in your community - learn more about how to put a park or playground in your neighborhood.
  • Can an HOA Raise Dues Without Notice? 5 benefits of raising HOA dues

    What exactly are HOA dues, and can an HOA raise dues without notice? In this article, we’ll explain what HOA dues are, HOA fee increase limits, and five benefits of small, regular increases.
  • Socially Distant Celebration During COVID-19

    Learn how community members are making a difference in their communities with socially distant celebrations during COVID-19 spring holidays.
  • HOA committee guidelines to avoid chaos

    Community committees are a great way to involve more residents in the activities of their homeowner association, help ensure the rules and regulations of the association are followed, and help lighten the workload of volunteer board members. Some common committees include beautification, architectural, landscaping and grievance committee. At their best, committees are finely tuned engines for getting things done in your community. When there is a breakdown or discord, they’re agents of confusion, wreaking havoc on progress and operating as the figurative wrecking balls for a few overbearing committee members.
  • The Six Secrets to Building Your HOA Volunteer Pool

    Whether you’re on the board of a single-family homeowners association (HOA) or a high-rise condo association, 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.
  • The Surprising Way to Stretch Your Association's Dollars

    If you’re on the board of a condo, co-op, high-rise or HOA, you know that managing your community’s budget is a major priority. You’ve likely explored many ways to save money and get the best deals, while still maintaining a high level of service.
  • Tips for getting a mortgage

    We’ve got the scoop on how to get a mortgage loan, so read on for our top six tips to increase your chances.
  • Tips to make your rooftop amenities rock

    By leveraging this space to offer creative and imaginative amenities, you’ll not only increase property values, but you’ll also provide a gathering place for residents to relax and connect. Great rooftop spaces also have a way of infusing more resort style living into your high-rise.
  • Trends in Amenity Planning and Design for Lifestyle Communities

    Amenities continue to rank among one of the most important considerations for prospective buyers at both active adult and multi-generational lifestyle communities across the country. Amenities are highly influential in motivating a homebuyer’s decision about where they ultimately choose to live and also contribute to the overall level of satisfaction among current homeowners. Communities that fall short in meeting buyer expectations or that fail to plan amenities around consumer interests can be negatively impacted in terms of sales, referrals, profitability and reputation of their brand. Homeowner associations, tasked with planning for new amenities and implementation of supporting programming, will have influence on these important variables.
  • Updating Your Community Emergency Preparedness Plan for Pandemics

    In the past, when planning for emergencies, a global pandemic was likely not on your list. While most board members did not anticipate a pandemic as something that needed a plan before COVID-19, it's now clear that communities need to develop a plan to address this and any future pandemics. Read on to learn how to build a community emergency preparedness plan with a possible resurgence of coronavirus and other potential pandemics in mind.
  • Virtual Programs for Healthy and Happy Active Lifestyle Communities

    Chances are, you joined the board at your HOA or condo because you’re extremely passionate about the community and want to improve the experience of the other residents within it. Part of adding value to residents in your community is offering classes and programs for them to participate in to get to know their neighbors and offer opportunities for them to stay happy and healthy. Read on to find some suggestions for great virtual programs for communities like yours.
  • What is an HOA fee? And what do HOA fees cover?

    Congratulations! You just bought a new home and it’s perfect for your family – just the right size, condition, location and neighborhood to meet your needs. Your new home is part of a homeowners’ association (HOA), which means you will pay HOA fees. What is an HOA fee? What do they pay for?
  • Board communication tools: Improve board member communication

    You want your community association to be successful. All board members do. You know that means watching the finances carefully and maintaining the property. But do you think about effective board communication as an ingredient in your recipe for success? It is!
  • What do HOA Board Members Really Want? 7 Top Service Issues

    Whether you're on the board of a high-rise or community association. you want to hire a property management company that will provide the best service for their community. What does that really mean?
  • What are condo and HOA fees?

    Congratulations! You just bought a new home and it';s perfect for your family – just the right size and condition and in a location and neighborhood to meet your needs. Your new home is part of a homeowners’ association (HOA), so the landscaping, entrance and common areas always look beautiful and well-maintained.
  • HOA Balance Sheet Explained: Why you should understand them

    The chief responsibility of a community association board member is to preserve, protect and enhance the community. That includes, above all else, its financial health. But you can’t affect the financial health of your community if you don’t understand where it is when you join the board. Balance sheets are the best tool for gaining that basic understanding.
  • What to consider when planning an association budget

    Read on for more about how to best complete your next annual association budget, a budget that will enhance your property values and improve your residents’ lives.
Showing 121 - 144 of 776