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Be honest: As a board member for your homeowners association (HOA), how much do you think about cyber security? More and more, hackers are targeting small businesses – and remember, your HOA is a small business. In part two of this three-part series, we offer tips that your board should take to keep your community safe from hackers.

You’ve probably seen stories about drones in the news. Or, you might be the owner of a drone yourself. Either way, you know that these unmanned, remote-piloted flight vehicles have come under scrutiny because of safety and privacy concerns. Is there a way your HOA can manage the use of drones in your community?

Your board took the time to create a solid budget your association can stick to. Now how do you regularly measure your success at doing so? Regularly generated financial statements are the best tool for keeping an eye on the fiscal fitness of your association.

Without a doubt, beautiful landscaping makes life in your community more enjoyable. But did you also know that it can play a crucial role in boosting your community’s reputation in the marketplace, and consequently enhancing property values?

Transitioning a community from control by the property developer to control by a homeowners association (HOA) can be a scary time for residents and a challenging process for HOA board members.

While some surprises (birthday parties, a promotion or a new puppy) are good, many surprises such as a flat tire or an IRS audit are not. One particularly nasty surprise is finding out that someone has broken into your vacant property and moved in. Thankfully, during the last legislative session, new laws were passed to deal with “squatters” which allow you to (relatively) quickly and legally remove squatters from your property.

More and more landlords these days are experiencing a very troubling magic trick: one day their property is empty and the next – ta-da—a squatter. Read up on the Nevada squatters law and learn how to legally remove unauthorized occupants.

One of the defining characteristics of HOAs is the use of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs). Although you might be familiar with the term, do you know how it really affects Nevada associations? Here’s a look at what they mean to you and how they affect you as a member of your community.

As of January 1, 2018, marijuana sale for recreational use will be legal in Nevada. However, on December 31, 2020, the sales of both medical and recreational marijuana have been made legal throughout America. What, exactly, does the new law mean for your HOA?

Vendor relationships are a large part of serving on the board of a managed community. Every community has outside partners for services like landscaping, sanitation, cable and Internet service, pool maintenance, valet services and more. Open, effective communication with the people who service your community and residents is crucial for maintaining the lifestyle your residents expect and deserve.

Following the temporary closure of fitness centers, interior lounges and other amenity spaces, boards and building owners may want to consider offering alternative programming for residents.

Apartment landlords and property managers are increasingly offering an amenity that’s become a necessity for some tenants, particularly during the holiday season: package delivery management.

Here are some email communication best practices for your building to use when sending out communications regarding the current pandemic.

How can you ensure that shareholders/unit owners comply with the established rules without your board becoming the "building bad guys"?

For New York City residents who call a high-rise building their home, nothing compares to vertical living. But what about safety features? Specifically speaking, in a condominium or cooperative building, fire safety education is crucial. As a unit owner, shareholder, board member or building staff member, are you educated on how to prepare for the possibility of a fire inside your building or your unit? To help educate you on this topic, we’ve compiled some important tips on fire safety and prevention that every single member in your community needs to be aware of.

Living in close proximity to other people can come with challenges, especially during cold and flu season.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The holiday season is upon us, and nothing puts you in a festive mood than pulling your holiday decorations out of storage. Many people derive a sense of community and comfort from seeing familiar decorations at the same time each year.

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.

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.