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Smart Financial Planning
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. -
Things to Consider When Creating Your Strata’s 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. -
What Goes Into Strata Fees?
Condo living has its perks: amazing urban locations close to public transportation, being part of a community without having to do yard work or home maintenance, enjoying amenities like fitness centres, party lounges and pools at your doorstep. Just don’t forget that those perks come at a price – a monthly strata fee. What are strata fees and how are they determined? -
What Should you Expect from a Strata Manager
Not all strata managers have what they need to give you great service. Learn what it takes to be a great strata manager. -
5 HOA Board Blunders to Avoid
To set you and your association up for success, we’ve pulled together a list of common board blunders and included some practical tips for avoiding them. If you can identify these early, you may save yourself (and your board) from a lot of frustration. -
Association Management 101: Best Practices for Board Members
If you are an HOA or community association board member, the task in front of you might seem a little overwhelming. Consider the following 10 helpful hints for new and current board members to help make your term fruitful, rewarding and, most of all, effective. Use these tips to become a trusted, reliable member of your community. -
Avoiding the Four Most Common Mistakes HOA Board Members Make
As a board member you invest your time, talent and passion to make decisions for the betterment of your community. While we all strive for perfection in our roles, mistakes are bound to happen. A good community association management company works closely with thousands of board members and has seen it all. Here are four common mistakes and suggestions on avoiding them. -
Mediation? Arbitration? Avoidance?! Best HOA Practices for Resolving Conflict
How do you resolve community conflict, avoid costly and time-intensive litigation and maintain a great resident experience? Use these three methods of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) to keep the peace. -
Beware of These Five Budget Busters
As a board member, one of your principal responsibilities is stewardship of the association’s finances. A lot of that boils down to one thing: the annual budget. Unfortunately, for many board members, “annual budget” is just another term for “big headache.” It doesn’t have to be that way. By staying aware of common budgeting pitfalls, you can make the creation of your annual budget less of a hassle – and ensure an entire year of minimal money woes while you’re at it. -
Beyond Board 101: Five Topics HOA Members Should Know
Did you know that your level of knowledge as an association board member can have a direct impact on your community’s property values? Learn how your education can help you excel at your role and enhance your community. -
Can Your HOA Handle a Crisis? 8-Step Emergency Preparedness Plan
Is your association really prepared for an emergency? Learn how to develop an HOA emergency preparedness plan in 8 steps. -
React, Outsource, or Prevent? Find Your Association’s Maintenance Style
How does your California association handle maintenance? Discover your association's unique maintenance style. -
Five Qualities of an HOA Treasurer
The HOA board members of your community association serve many important leadership functions. This article will discuss the role of treasurer and the impact they have on the health and future growth of your community. -
5 surprising reasons for increasing HOA assessment fees
The concept of raising HOA assessment fees can be a sensitive issue. Read our article to learn how to do so without stepping on people's toes. -
Five Ways to Enhance Your Community Association’s Brand
Have you ever thought about your community association’s brand and the effect it has on your investment? It’s important and can have a significant impact on attracting new owners and property values. Here are some best practices to help your community stand out. -
Four Financial Questions to Ask Your Community Management Company
Financial stewardship ranks near the top of the list of responsibilities for HOA board members. This requires proper allocation of association funds to ensure they are protected and FDIC insured, while earning the best possible rates. Adequate insurance coverage also factors into the equation. It’s a challenging balancing act, but asking the right questions can help. -
From HOA Board Volunteer to Community Leader in Five Steps
What tactics do you need to take to go from volunteer to community leader? Take these five steps, which can make a big impact on how you fulfill your duties and affect how residents and other board members perceive you. -
HOA Annual Meetings and Special Meetings FAQs
Meetings serve an important oversight function in developing and maintaining well-run homeowners associations. Confusion can occur in why meetings are called, the types of meetings and the requirements. Read our annual and special meetings FAQs for more details. -
HOA Agreement: 4 Tips to Promote a Functional Board
How do you tackle alignment as a group of diverse individuals with unique values? Follow these four tips on HOA agreement to find out. -
HOA Maintenance Responsibilities, Capital Improvements, and Useful Life: Is Your HOA Prepared?
Is your maintenance job turning into a capital improvement? Are you ready for a big capital improvement expenditure? Read on to get answers to your top questions about maintenance, capital improvements and useful life. -
8 Tips for Great HOA Committees and Volunteers
A healthy and effective California homeowners association will not only find great volunteers and committee members, but will empower them to drive positive change in the community. How can your association make this happen? -
How to Future-Proof Your Association’s Finances
Whether your HOA is an amenity-driven active adult community or an emerging single-family home community, future financial stability is always a top-of-mind concern. And while it may seem like your everyday operating budget is the ultimate priority, a well-funded reserve is the key to helping your community thrive well into the future. -
Investing HOA Reserve Funds: 6 Tips to Improve Your Returns
Are you getting the best returns on your reserve funds? Most California board members are not sure. Here are six ways to improve your reserve fund returns and create an HOA investment policy. -
How Well Does Your Community Management Company Communicate?
How well does your community management company communicate? The answer to this question is at the heart of client satisfaction. A good community management company will engage you using a variety of tools and communication channels. Here are some ways your property management company should be connecting with you.