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HOA Vendors: Vendor management tips for great results
Here are some tips to manage your HOA vendors more effectively & and get the results you're looking for. -
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. -
5 ways to reduce energy costs in your condo or coop
No matter where your high-rise building is located, rising energy costs can have a drastic impact on your community association’s budget. Implementing methods to conserve energy can help your association reduce energy costs and optimize your high-rise’s annual budget. -
Why association boards chose FirstService Residential
Finding a property management company to partner with your board isn’t easy. Find out how we can help you. -
HOA resale certificates: What is a resale certificate?
We all know that there's a lot of paperwork in the home buying process. If the home you want to buy is in a managed community of any kind, a resale package, including your resale certificate and governing documents, is part of that paperwork. Resale certificates and packages offer transparency about the community and whether or not the sellers are current in their financial obligations to the association. -
Can an HOA deny an emotional support or service animal?
Service dogs can help individuals with a variety of disabilities enjoy a greater quality of life and assist in performing daily tasks. What happens when your association’s policies and the need for a service animal conflict? The short answer is, if a service animal is needed and used as outlined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the community cannot prohibit it. -
6 tips for getting to know your neighbors during the holidays
For many of us, the holiday season can feel like a continuous run on a treadmill of work/shop/repeat – with a few parties and social engagements sprinkled in just to spice things up – and complicate your schedule. -
Promoting Fire Safety in Your Community Association
Part of your job as a board member is ensuring the safety of residents in your community association. To that end, it’s important to educate homeowners about possible fire risks and the steps they can take to prevent fire hazards in their homes. Chances are that fire safety isn’t top of mind for residents. However, home fires are more common than most people realize. -
12 to-do’s for ultimate HOA landscaping maintenance
A good spring-cleaning can do wonders for your community association. Here are some tips to get your started. -
What is The Best Pool Heater for Florida Communities?
Even in the sunny warmth of Florida, water in a swimming pool isn't usually warm enough. Solution? A pool heater. There are several options, each with pros and cons, according to Chris Normandeau, director of FirstService Energy. -
3 Cost Containment Strategies to Minimize Assessment Hikes
Your fiduciary responsibility is the most important commitment to fellow homeowners. Learn cost containment strategies that can save your association money. -
Energy Efficiency for Community Associations
Many community association boards and residents would like to implement energy efficiency measures in their communities. But what about the cost to get started? -
Five Simple Tips for Marketing Your Association
Nothing says a healthy community like full homes/units and bustling activity in common areas. Painting a pretty picture of a dynamic community to potential buyers takes minimal effort on the part of the board. -
Five Ways to Get Ready for a Pool Inspection
A pool inspection can be a major source of anxiety for board members and residents. Don't throw in the towel; there are steps you can take to make sure your inspection goes...well, swimmingly. -
Tips for Reducing Energy Consumption and Costs in Your Community
Get helpful tips that your HOA or condo association can do to reduce energy consumption and lower your community’s electric bills. Learn more! -
Four Ways to Get Mosquitoes to Buzz Off
Ah, summertime in Florida. Backyard barbecues. Long days at the beach. And endless mosquito bites. -
Vendor Communication Best Practices: The Do’s and Don’ts
Open and effective communication among the board, management company and vendors is an important part of any community's operating budget and for improving residents' lifestyles. -
Hurricane Season is Here: Have You Talked to Your Vendors?
Your vendors are a critical part of your community’s emergency planning for any kind of hurricane or storm. Are you on the same page before, during and after a storm? -
Is Installing Electric Vehicles Charging Stations the Right Choice for Your Community?
The number of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) on the road is quickly growing, which means the need for conveniently located battery charging stations is also on the rise. What does this mean for your association? -
Is Your Community Ready for Plug-In Electric Cars (PEVs) and Charging Stations?
The Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt made their debut as the first US mass-market plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) more than five years ago. Nearly half a million have jumped on the PEV bandwagon. What does this mean for community associations? -
Nine Steps to Building the Spirit of the Community
Association boards strive for a property of residents brimming with community spirit. A tightly knit community can be the product of following just a few simple steps. -
Property Management: The Best-Kept Hospitality Career Secret
Property management may be in your future. Take a look into the crystal ball to help you narrow down your options. If you like what you see, we've got an industry for you! -
Reasons Why You Should Use High Quality Vendors
Choosing a vendor is a decision that should only be made once you're re sure you've done your research. Here's a list of reasons why it makes more sense to go with a top-level vendor...even if it costs a little more. -
Seven Tips to Finding the Right Reserve Study Firm
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.