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Reserve Fund, Assessment or Loan: How to Pay for Capital Improvements
Great capital improvements improve property values. Read on to see the three ways to pay for them and the pros and cons. -
Condo Capital Improvements: Lending Solutions for Condominium and Co-op Boards
FirstService Residential and FirstService Financial work in tandem to help our clients successfully finance capital improvement projects and save money without compromising quality of service. -
Hosting an Annual Meeting That Homeowners Will Want to Attend
The number one reason associations fail to meet quorum is the lack of participation by their homeowners. Knowing this, we’ve put together a list of practical ideas to help increase homeowner participation and alleviate the worry about whether or not you will have enough attendance to hold your meeting. -
Five Tips for Creating a Condo Maintenance Checklist
Designing and executing a comprehensive plan for preventative maintenance must be a top priority for your building -
Simple Landscaping Tips To Help You Prepare for Storm Season
For most of us, storm season means prepping our residences to mitigate potential damage caused by high winds and heavy rains. But there’s a part of our homes and neighborhoods we often overlook – sometimes with disastrous results. That often-forgotten place is right outside your front door: it’s your landscaping. -
Rules are Rules: How to Enforce Neighborhood Covenants
Managing association covenant enforcement can be difficult in any community. Restrictions for every community can be different, and it can be a challenge to keep the rules fair, reasonable and equally applied to all homeowners. Read on for some basic guidelines that will make navigating through these issues a little easier. -
HOA pool rules and safety: 6 things your association should do
Summertime is swim time, and for the most part, it’s a plunge into carefree fun. But without the right swimming pool safety practices, your residents and association could be at risk. -
6 Types of Insurance Policies Your Board Should Know
Learn the 6 types of insurance policies your board should know - we asked our insurance insiders. -
5 common HOA problems & board mistakes to avoid
We’ve highlighted four common board blunders and included some practical tips for avoiding them. It’s important to identify these potential blunders early to save yourself and your board time and frustration. -
6 Questions for Self-Managed Associations to Consider
As a self-managed association, do you need a management partner? Before making that choice, ask these 6 questions. -
Choosing the Right Community Management Company to Manage Amenities
A big part of what sets your community apart is the amenities it offers. This goes beyond a pool, a fitness area or a place for a rooftop party – your amenities help create a lifestyle, and that’s the most important thing to residents and association members. -
Can Your HOA Handle a Crisis? 8-Step Emergency Preparedness Plan
Is your HOA ready for a crisis, or does your emergency plan need improvement? Download a complimentary guide, HOA Emergency Preparedness Guide: 8 Questions to Ask . -
5 Myths About HOA Board Decision Making
Solving for these 5 common myths can help you improve your decision-making process and align as a board. Read on to learn more. -
5 Surprising Reasons to Raise Your HOA Assessments
If your main concern is to avoid increasing assessments, you may want to reconsider. As a board member, one of your primary fiduciary responsibilities is to protect property values, and assessments are an investment that helps do just that. -
Your HOA Board and Coronavirus: 5 Questions to Discuss
How should your HOA board handle a pandemic like COVID-19? Start by tackling these 5 questions -
Can Your HOA Handle a Crisis? 8-Step Emergency Preparedness Plan
Is your HOA ready for a crisis, or does your emergency plan need improvement? Download a complimentary guide, HOA Emergency Preparedness. -
Maintenance, Capital Improvements, Useful Life: Is Your HOA Prepared?
Not sure which components you should fix and which you should replace entirely? You're not alone. Get the answers to some of your top questions about maintenance, capital improvements, and useful life. -
Is Your Association Manager Equipped for Success? 3 Questions to Ask
Does your association manager have the right tools, resources and support to take your association to the next level? -
Seven High-Rise Insurance Tips for Associations and Unit Owners
Many people who live in cities like Phoenix and Scottsdale appreciate the rewards that come with living in a high-rise building. Some of the unique advantages include great amenities, security and even concierge services. High-rise buildings are also unique when it comes to insurance coverage. Besides the individual policies that unit owners need to have, the building and common areas must be covered as well. -
6 Questions for Self-Managed Associations to Consider
As a self-managed association, do you need a management partner? Before making that choice, ask these 6 questions. -
6 Ways Your Board Can Improve HOA Meetings
Having a diverse group of opinions and perspectives on your HOA board can be a great thing, but it can also lead to challenges because of conflicting personalities. To set you and your association up for success, here are 6 tips to improve board meeting dynamics. -
3 Strategies to Keep HOA Assessments Stable and Add Value
There are often valid reasons to raise assessments, but in some cases, you may want to take a different route. Here are three cost-saving strategies. -
React, Outsource, or Prevent? Find Your Association’s Maintenance Style
How does your Arizona association handle maintenance? Discover your association's unique maintenance style. -
An Ounce of Prevention
Like changing the oil in your car, regular maintenance on a building helps keeps everything working properly and safely. For stratas, some tasks are not optional, they are mandatory.