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As a resident in a homeowners association (HOA), it’s important for you to know what you have a right to expect from your association and from your community management team, as well as your responsibilities to the HOA. Being aware of your rights and responsibilities creates clarity, helps you set realistic expectations and leads to more cohesiveness throughout the community. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of community residents’ rights and responsibilities. Remember that these apply equally to homeowners and renters.

Many people who live in cities like Phoenix and Scottsdale appreciate the rewards that come with living in a high-rise building. Some of the unique advantages include great amenities, security and even concierge services. High-rise buildings are also unique when it comes to insurance coverage. Besides the individual policies that unit owners need to have, the building and common areas must be covered as well.

Do you dread preparing your HOA’s annual budget as much as you dread stepping outside of your Arizona home on a summer afternoon? You’re not alone. For many HOA boards, it’s their least-favorite task. But look at it this way: You’re making sure that your HOA remains financially stable, and that’s an important job.

There are often valid reasons to raise assessments, but in some cases, you may want to take a different route. Here are three cost-saving strategies.

Have you considered the importance of effective board communication in your recipe for success? Follow these HOA communication tools and tips for a path to effective communication.

Like changing the oil in your car, regular maintenance on a building helps keeps everything working properly and safely. For stratas, some tasks are not optional, they are mandatory.

Security risks increase exponentially during the holiday seasons for high-rise buildings. Many residents travel for the holidays, move to warmer weather during the winter months, or have an influx of guests and family members in and out. These factors make it easy for intruders to make it into the building, especially if there are no procedures in place to track the many people and deliveries in and out of the building.

A strata management company never wants to find itself in the midst of an emergency, but it can happen anytime and anywhere. Whether you face an outbreak of illness, earthquake, or a flood, the impact of any devastating event can be minimized if your council has prepared for it. No doubt, your council meetings are already chock full of agenda items, but it’s important to make emergency preparedness planning a priority.

Up to 60 percent of strata home owners in the Greater Vancouver Regional District lack insurance. A good policy will protect your biggest asset and help you keep your head above water.

If your community is managed by a strata 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 strata business? “People don’t operate in normal business hours anymore,” says Rolando Hernandez, national customer care director at FirstService Residential. “Residents and council members need to be able to take care of strata business how and when it’s convenient for them.”

We will all need a measure of patience as we navigate changes related to the pandemic. Communications may move at a pace that’s different than we’re used to. As always, the best policy is to assume positive intentions from others, listen carefully and respond professionally.

Lights, candles and wreaths, oh my! The most decorated season of the year is arriving, with celebrations from many cultures and faiths coinciding in the next few months. For condo communities, the desire to deck the halls can clash with the rules of the corporation. Follow these tips to maintain a festive community without décor running amok.

As strata managers begin their inspection, they note the necessary repairs for winter damage as they make their rounds through the community.

You want your strata to be successful. All council members do. You know that means watching the finances carefully and maintaining the property. But do you think about effective strata council communication as an ingredient in your recipe for success? It is!

If you think hackers have little interest in your strata corporation’s data, think again. As a small business, your strata may actually be at greater risk of a cyberattack than ever before.

2020 events are continuing to affect corporation budgets. Increased expenses, late corporation dues and other issues are impacting a lot of communities. Has it affected your budget?

While every strata corporation has its own unique needs, and every strata management company has a unique way of serving them, there are a handful of qualities that any great company should have. And if they don’t, steer clear.

Safeguarding a strata corporation’s operating and reserve funds is one of the main fiduciary duties of all board members, not just the treasurer. This means strata councils must protect the financial interests of the strata corporation and its members.

Your strata council is working on next year’s budget. You know how important the budget is, what it means to the future of your strata. You know that your fiduciary responsibility is the most important commitment you make to your fellow homeowners. And you’ve planned , and figured, and followed all the budgeting steps , but you’re still staring at the one thing NO strata council wants to do: an increase in strata fees. Before finalizing that increase, take a long, hard look at cost containment strategies that can save your strata money and help optimize your operating budget.

As a homeowner, you want to live in a place that accentuates your style – from a beautiful sense of arrival or exquisitely decorated building lobby, complete with freshly pruned trees and lush landscaping – but unless your strata council has strategically planned out your strata’s budget, you can forget all of that.

It takes a lot to build a great community. You need committed residents, a dedicated strata council, and a clear understanding of everybody's roles and responsibilities.

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.

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.