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Summer safety tips for your HOA community
As a resident or HOA board member, summer safety tips are key to prepare for summer vacation. Discover tips for home security, utility savings, & more during the summer season! -
Six Ways to Love Thy Neighbor
In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, it’s time to take a look at a different kind of love: the kind you extend toward your neighbor. -
Starting a neighborhood watch program? Understanding neighborhood watch rules and duties
Neighborhood Watch programs can provide significant benefits to communities – after all, they boost community awareness, communication and involvement, while reducing opportunities for neighborhood crimes to occur. But if you’re interested in getting started, there are many important factors to consider. Here’s an overview. -
Tips for getting a mortgage: 6 simple mortgage loan tips
We’ve got the scoop on how to get a mortgage loan, so read on for our top six tips to increase your chances. -
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. -
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. -
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. -
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? -
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. -
The Risks and Rewards of Self-Managed Community Associations
Are you doing all you can to make sure your self-managed community meets its goals? -
Top 10 Socially Distant Activities to Keep Your Community Healthy
As the days and weeks pass, and residents of your condominium or HOA are asked to stay home, it's more important than ever to help your community stay fit and active! -
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. -
The Risks and Rewards of Self-Managed Community Associations
Are you doing all you can to make sure your self-managed community meets its goals? -
Top 10 Socially Distant Activities to Keep Your Community Healthy
As the days and weeks pass, and residents of your condominium or HOA are asked to stay home, it's more important than ever to help your community stay fit and active! -
6 Ways HOAs Partner with Management Companies
The distinct roles of the board and manager can shed some light on the ways the board can develop an effective partnership. -
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? -
Community Association Terms That Every Board Member Should Know
New to a condo or homeowners association, or need a refresher? We put together some vocabulary you will want to be familiar with.