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Eight Easy Steps to Preparing a Budget that Works
Your budget should be a tool to move your community to action, and as such, it is important to follow some guidelines. Below are eight tips for preparing a budget that works. -
HOA Parking Rules: 6 Questions to Assess Your Policy
How can you ensure that your association’s parking rules are fair and easy to understand and follow? Here are 6 essential questions to ask before you create or enforce parking policies. -
3 ways to pay for capital improvement plans
When your association has to invest in its property, whether for repairs or a new construction project, the financing for that work must be considered as carefully as the work itself. -
Five Simple Ways Your Board Can Influence Public Policy
As a Board member, you are familiar with the great things your association does for your community. Some times legislators charged with creating policies and laws that directly affect associations have very little knowledge of their inner workings. -
How Good Policy Enforcement Can Improve Your Community
Your board took the time to create a vision for your community. You’ve gotten buy-in from your residents and crafted policies that support it. Now, how do you enforce those policies to ensure that the vision is supported? -
How to Keep Holiday Spirit While Maintaining Holiday Decor Standards
It can be tough to balance festive and tasteful, when it comes to holiday décor. Setting policies for decorating will help maintain peace and goodwill for all within your association. -
How to Set Pet Policies for Your Community
Very few issues and problems that come up seem to have anything to do with pets. However, here are tips to help resolve any pet-related issues. -
Keeping Your Budget Healthy in the Age of COVID-19
Learn ways your association can offset the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. -
Part 1: Electric Cars and Charging Stations - Is Your Community Ready?
Ready to trade in your gas card for some time at the charging station? If so, you'll join those who have made the switch from gasoline-powered vehicles to plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs). -
Part 2: Installing Charging Stations for Electric Cars in Your Community
Electric cars have arrived and there has been a surge of plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) purchases driving the need for charging stations. What does this mean for your association? -
Reopening Amenities: Creating New High-Rise and HOA Swimming Pool Rules
As the weather heats up and stay-at-home orders surrounding COVID-19 are lifted, it's important to remember the social distancing guidelines in place. -
5 Steps to the Best Reserve Study Firm
Nothing lasts forever and you need to have a plan to replace major items and systems before their lifespans end. How do you create that plan? Start with a quality reserve study. -
Rule Enforcement During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Whether your board is dealing with emergency rules or general community policies, here are some things to consider when addressing change in your community. -
Seven Tips for Comparing and Finding a Reserve Study Firm in Georgia
Reserve studies are vital to the success of your association, which is why partnering with the right reserve study firm is critical. Here are some tips to help you find a reserve study firm. -
The Surprising Way to Make the Most of Your Association’s Budget
Discover some things that your management company should be doing to maximize your operating budget and keep your association fiscally fit. -
Association Policy 101: How to Make Rules Without Making Enemies
As a board member, you know the importance of making rules and establishing policy; these must be clear and sensible. The process for creating and enforcing rules successfully is the same. -
Upgrading Your High-Rise Amenities without Busting Your Budget
High-rise living has many perks, and high on that list is the amenities. For many home buyers, amenities can be the deciding factor when determining to buy a unit in one building over another. -
Want to Make Your Community Smoke-Free? Four Tips to Help
The dangers of smoking and secondhand smoke have been highlighted in recent years. Smoking also affects our physical environment by increasing risks of fire and property damage, raising insurance rates and increasing legal liability. -
Slow and Steady: 5 Surprising Benefits of Raising Your Dues
It’s that time of year again – budget season is upon us. You know the things to consider when creating your budget, but what drives your process? Are you focused on achieving a particular vision for your community? Avoiding conflict in the community? Solely looking to avoid increasing dues? -
How preventive maintenance can keep your HOA ready for all seasons
Cold weather will soon be upon us, so now is the time for your homeowner association (HOA) to make sure your maintenance program is on track. As brutal as Chicago 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. Don't get caught in the cold! -
Is Energy Taking a Big Bite Out of Your HOA’s Operating Budget?
You may not be able to control rising utility rates, but your condo or homeowners association (HOA) can take measures to make your energy budget go a lot further. Just follow the four strategies described in this article. They’ve already worked for many Illinois properties managed by FirstService Residential. -
LED Lighting Offers a Bright Way for Condo Associations to Save
Has your condo association been looking high and low for ways to save energy and money? The answer may be right over your head. Switching to LED bulbs can reduce your lighting costs by up to 75 percent. In this article, we answer common questions and shed some light on the benefits of LED lighting. -
Planning Your High-Rise Maintenance and Capital Improvements
Your association should never have to rely on a special assessment for a capital expense that could have been foreseen – or even prevented. Here are five tips to keep your Chicago high-rise condominium association's budget in the black and keep up with maintenance and capital improvements.