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  • How to handle mold in your association

    No one wants to find mold in their home or any association building. Unfortunately, mold is ubiquitous – it’s in the air and in the water, and when given the chance, it spreads like crazy. Learn steps to prevent mold or to have it assessed and properly treated, preserving your buildings and the health of your residents.
  • Pros and Cons of Do It Yourself Repairs and Maintenance

    FirstService Residential's Bill Worrall discusses the hidden costs of DIY maintenance and repairs and provides great insight into how boards can determine what can be done in house and what should be subbed out to appropriate contractors.
  • Hiring a reserve study company: Five things to know

    In our guide to capital improvements , reserve studies and their relationship to capital improvements and preventive maintenance were discussed at length.
  • Handling vendor contract disputes and conflicts: A step-by-step guide

    You’ve been there before. You meet with a vendor, they seem like a great choice, and then after a month or so, you find yourself in a dispute.
  • Fighting mold in your condo or HOA: A step-by-step guide

    It’s the scourge of households everywhere: the unsightly, unsanitary, unbecoming sight of mold. But waging war on mold means more than launching a full-scale assault when you see it (though that can be part of the battle plan). Instead, consider a comprehensive strategy – here are some tips to help you get started and steer clear of mold.
  • What is a fire hydrant? What to know about community fire hydrants

    Aside from knowing to not park next to one, how deep is your knowledge of fire hydrants? Unless you’re a firefighter, it’s probably not that extensive. This may not be a problem... until the unthinkable happens and you need to be confident that your fire hydrants are in good working order. But like any equipment in your community, fire hydrants need to be maintained.
  • Three residential drainage problems and their solutions

    Unless you live in an area where it hardly ever rains (in which case you have a whole other set of problems), drainage will be an issue in your community. Proper drainage is, of course, the answer, but getting there means you have to meet stringent requirements throughout different areas of your community.
  • How to winterize a home in your HOA community

    It’s that time of year again – there’s a noticeable nip in the air, trees are losing their leaves and stores are starting to display their holiday swag. That can only mean one thing – winter is right around the corner. If your HOA is located in an area affected by wintry weather, we probably don’t need to remind you about last year’s Arctic-level freeze. Some of the coldest-ever temperatures were recorded in many parts of the country – and if you heed the predictions in the Old Farmer’s Almanac , you know that this year promises to be even more frigid. Is your community prepared to handle the upcoming chill? Here are some tips to help your homeowners association winterize your community, no matter what surprises the season may bring.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • The three types of maintenance in your HOA

    Nothing bites into your budget like maintenance issues. Whether it’s the grounds keeping and upkeep that you pay for on a regular basis or those surprise projects (natural disasters, anyone?) that sneak up on you, maintenance can account for an average of 25% or more of your overall expenditures.
  • What to do to keep pipes from freezing: Winter safety guidelines

    In this piece, we’ll take a look at some overall winter pipe safety measures, along with some steps you can take for overall plumbing wellbeing.
  • 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.
  • How to Get Rid of Millipedes and How to Prevent Their Invasion

    Ah, Florida nights. Perfect temperatures. And...a disgusting mass of undulating insects climbing up the side of your building? Learn how to get rid of millipedes.
  • Avoid maintenance surprises with a property maintenance plan

    There is no way to avoid surprises when it comes to the maintenance of your community. Preventative maintenance ensures that your systems are keeping future problems at bay; predictive maintenance is also effective.
  • 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.
  • Can You Go After HOA Owners for Their Guests’ Damages?

    Every community can expect to experience negligent or careless guests who will either cause a ruckus, or worse, damage association property. When that happens, deciding who should be held responsible for their actions can create a delicate – and potentially volatile – situation. Oftentimes, Boards may go after the owner, but they shouldn’t forge full-steam ahead without some sort of ammunition.
  • 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 Tips for Creating a Condo Maintenance Checklist

    Designing and executing a comprehensive plan for preventative maintenance must be a top priority for your building
  • 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.
  • Four Ways to Get Mosquitoes to Buzz Off

    Ah, summertime in Florida. Backyard barbecues. Long days at the beach. And endless mosquito bites.
  • Good Management – The Key to Florida Active Adult Community Success

    Today’s active adult communities are growing in popularity in Florida and across the country, spurred in great part by the maturing U.S. population. As interest in activity-rich, amenity-driven lifestyles increases for the 55-plus group, existing age-restricted communities are working hard to adapt their facilities and programming in order to compete in the changing Florida active adult community marketplace. At the same time, developers and builders are searching for the best strategies to make new ventures stand out from the crowd.
  • 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.
  • Protect Your Investment: Tips for Hiring a Contractor

    Often, expectations are not met when dealing with vendors. These tips will help you get the most from your contractor.
Showing 25 - 48 of 146