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Everything is bigger in Texas & sometimes even hurricanes. And during hurricane season, being a board member for a residential community in the Houston area can bring some big challenges, too. To help get you and your community ready and reduce the effects if a hurricane does strike, we've put together six important tips.

Summer time – the perfect season to hit the road, relax, spend time with family and friends, or embark on a new adventure. While you hope your residents have fun on their summer vacations, you also want to make sure that their homes stay safe and they fulfill their responsibilities to the association while away. Whether you live in a condominium, master-planned or single-family community, you want to make sure that your residents prepare their homes in a way that helps protect themselves and the community.

Summertime: It’s the perfect season to hit the road, relax, spend time with family and friends or embark on a new adventure. Although you hope that residents in your community have fun on their summer vacations, you also want to make sure that their homes stay safe and that they continue to fulfill their responsibilities to the association. Whether yours is a condominium, master-planned or single-family community, follow these tips to help your residents prepare their homes in a way that protects it and the community while they are away.

It’s often said that you should never judge a book by its cover. However, the front-line curb appeal of a community can make a difference in the value of every property in a neighborhood. This is one reason current and potential homeowners consider landscaping and common-area maintenance so important.

John Friedrichsen, Senior Vice President & CFO of FirstService Residential parent company FirstService Corporation, is quoted in USA Today about how HOAs benefit from the value-added services provided by leading professional management companies.

Handling day-to-day maintenance and making necessary improvements are critical responsibilities for any homeowners association (HOA). And when your serve on your association’s board of directors, they can quickly become overwhelming if you don’t have a good system in place to manage them. So how do you make sure that your maintenance staff is able to handle that long list of tasks that need to get done so that your community runs smoothly and retains its appeal?

At one time or another, every condominium corporation has to spend money on replacing equipment or making major repairs. Whether that means replacing a roof, installing a new ventilation system or any other big-ticket project, they are a necessity. But how should your condo corporation pay for them?

Self-managing your condominium property may seem like it saves money, but does it really? Why the cheapest property management option may not be the best.

It seems innocent, but a surprising number of balcony and backyard fires are unintentionally started by disposal of smoking material in a potted plant or planter box. In a condominium environment this can have, and has had, disastrous consequences. And it's not just a summertime problem.

We can all agree there are many important elements to a housing structure, but your roof is probably the most important. Changing temperatures, snow accumulation, large amounts of rain, ice dams and high winds can all cause major damage to condominiums, townhomes and single-family homes. These harsh weather conditions can create all sorts of problems, from minor leaks to major cave-ins that can cost a condominium corporation thousands to repair.

There are valid reasons to raise assessments, but in some cases, you may be able to go a different route. Here are four strategies to save your HOA money and keep assessments stable.

Healthy board communication is the key to enhancing your Arizona HOA’s reputation and property values. Use these 9 tips on how to improve communication to strengthen your HOA board.

Does your homeowners association have adequate staff for the services that you provide? Learn how to staff your community effectively.

Is your HOA reserving enough funds for the future? Go beyond the basics of reserve funds and learn how to maximize your investments.

So, you want to be an Arizona HOA board member. Read our article to learn five lesser-known tips for brand-new or seasoned board members.

Follow these three proven tips to improve your Arizona HOA board meetings and excel as an association.

What sets your association apart from other HOAs? Discover what types of support and training can help your manager (and association) excel.

What are your HOA leadership roles and duties? To fully develop and enhance your leadership journey, begin by taking these four essential steps.

A good spring-cleaning can do wonders for your community association. Here are some tips to get your started.

Insurance costs are rising, and budgeting for higher insurance premiums has become increasingly challenging for associations. Learn best practices for managing insurance premium increases.

It's the most wonderful time of the year but not if your holidays are cut short by a fire, an accident or a theft. Taking these 4 safety precautions can prevent such misfortunes.

As a community association board member, knowing the risks of self-managed associations and the rewards of working with a professional management partner are essential. Check out our list of the 7 top risks and rewards.

As a community association board member, knowing the risks of self-managed associations and the rewards of working with a professional management partner are essential. Check out our list of the 7 top risks and rewards.