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Security risks increase exponentially during the holiday seasons for high-rise buildings. Many residents travel for the holidays, move to warmer weather during the winter months, or have an influx of guests and family members in and out. These factors make it easy for intruders to make it into the building, especially if there are no procedures in place to track the many people and deliveries in and out of the building.

Don’t make it easy for criminals to get into your home. These 11 common sense tips will help homeowners improve the security of their property and make it safer for their families.

How do you manage collections and HOA funds after a crisis? Get 3 tips to help you plan for the future

Considering synthetic turf for your community common areas? Understanding the facts on what it's made of, benefits and disadvantages, and how it will affect children or pets will make all the difference when determining if synthetic turf is the right choice for your community!

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.

It’s that wonderful time of year! Many of us are shopping online to get that perfect gift for our loved ones. And, for those doing last-minute shopping, we don’t want to have to worry that something will go wrong with our deliveries.

Not all strata managers have what they need to give you great service. Learn what it takes to be a great strata manager.

When you hire a contractor, it could either be the best decision you ever made, or the worst. The stakes are high; a good contractor will execute your vision on time and on budget, whereas a not-so-good one will be the source of bad workmanship, unexpected delays, inconvenience and a whole lot of headaches.

Picture this: your homeowners association has a big job that needs to be done, so you’ve got to find a qualified contractor to do it. How do you manage your vendor selection process to make sure you find the best one to fill your needs?

When you have a large-scale project slated for your community, it’s tempting to select a vendor based on price. After all, what’s more important than saving your association money?

Vendor management is a large part of serving on the board of a managed community. Every community has outside partners for services like landscaping, sanitation, cable and Internet provision, pool maintenance, valet services and more. Open and effective communication among the board, the management company and the vendors employed by the association is an important part of making the most of any community’s operating budget and improving the lifestyles of its residents.

Your Board of Directors oversees the many day-to-day tasks required to operate and maintain your community… but they can’t do it alone. Over the course of the year, your homeowners association will hire vendors to provide a variety of services to keep your community running smoothly, such as exterior painting, plumbing, electrical, landscaping, tree trimming, equipment repair, exterminating, pool maintenance, street repair, and more. And then there are capital improvements, unforeseen events or emergency repairs — yeah, you’ll need vendors to take care of those, too.

During these unprecedented times, residents are spending the majority of their time at home to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect themselves and their loved ones from infection. One of their primary contact points with the outside world is in your HOA or condo common areas, where they can be at risk of contact with lingering coronavirus or even spread existing virus to other areas of the property. Read on for a comprehensive list of places to clean and how to clean them.

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.

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.

In the past, when planning for emergencies, a global pandemic was likely not on your list. While most board members did not anticipate a pandemic as something that needed a plan before COVID-19, it's now clear that communities need to develop a plan to address this and any future pandemics. Read on to learn how to build a community emergency preparedness plan with a possible resurgence of coronavirus and other potential pandemics in mind.

If you’re a community association Board member, you know that keeping your community running smoothly, operating effectively and looking aesthetically pleasing is a team effort. And for most homeowners associations, that team consists of trusted vendors and service providers to help you get those jobs done – and get them done right. But part of that process includes managing the vendors you’ve hired – and if your HOA has hired multiple vendors to provide a variety of services, it can be hard to juggle multiple contracts, timelines, payment obligations, contacts and other important details at the same time. Need some help to keep all of those balls in the air? Here are some tips to manage your community’s vendors more effectively – and get the results you’re looking for.

Finding a property management company to partner with your board isn’t easy. Find out how we can help you.

Insurance is one of the most important line items on your association's budget, but it is oftentimes the most expensive. Do you know how to select the right agent?

Ah, fall. Cooler temperatures. Early evenings. And...a disgusting mass of undulating insects climbing up the side of your building?

Your fiduciary responsibility is the most important commitment to fellow homeowners. Learn cost containment strategies that can save your association money.

It's hurricane season again. As soon as June 1st rolls around, we are assaulted with hurricane preparedness pamphlets and emergency information at every turn.

Estoppel certificates are a critical part of any real estate transaction and can be confusing. What's included, how are they created, what does it all mean? Learn more here.