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Getting Your Building's Spring Cleaning Started
As community managers begin property inspection, they note the necessary repairs for winter damage as they make their rounds through the community. T -
How a preventive maintenance plan can keep your condominium from walking on thin ice
Cold weather will soon be upon us, so now is the time to make sure your condominium maintenance program is on track. As brutal as Alberta winters can be, you certainly don't want to discover a leak in your roof during a heavy snowfall or have a boiler stop working during a record cold spell. -
Potted Plants are Not Ashtrays
It seems innocent, but a surprising number of balcony and backyard fires are unintentionally started by disposal of smoking material in a potted plant or planter box. In a condominium environment this can have, and has had, disastrous consequences. And it's not just a summertime problem. -
Preventative & Predictive Maintenance are Critical to Your Replacement Reserves
Reserve Fund Studies are based on the assumption that components will reach their maximum useful life. However, if a preventative maintenance plan doesn’t accompany your reserve study, it’s highly unlikely some components will ever reach their maximum useful life. -
Preventative Roof Maintenance is Crucial to the Sustainability and Longevity of Your Roof
We can all agree there are many important elements to a housing structure, but your roof is probably the most important. Changing temperatures, snow accumulation, large amounts of rain, ice dams and high winds can all cause major damage to condominiums, townhomes and single-family homes. These harsh weather conditions can create all sorts of problems, from minor leaks to major cave-ins that can cost a condominium corporation thousands to repair. -
Smart Financial Planning
Safeguarding a condominium corporation’s operating and reserve funds is one of the main fiduciary duties of all board members, not just the treasurer. This means that boards must protect the financial interests of the corporation and its members by making sure all funds are properly managed, invested and protected. -
Staying Ahead of Your Condo Corporation’s Maintenance and Improvement Projects
Continually maintaining and improving your property is crucial if you want to protect your condominium corporation’s financial health. To ensure that these important responsibilities are well managed requires a long-term plan and a means of effectively handling day-to-day projects. Here’s how you can make that happen. -
Protect Your Pipes: Avoid Catastrophe in Your Condo Association This Winter
When the temperature dips far below freezing, you'll want to be sure your pipes are well-insulated. -
Why a Roof Leaks After a Snowfall – and What Can Be Done
Your residents are calling on about water leaks after a snowfall. Could an ice dam on the roof be the culprit? -
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. -
Local Law 152: Updated Requirements for Boards and Buildings
Is your building prepared for Local Law 152 gas piping inspections? FirstService Residential recommends getting ahead of schedule to avoid unforeseen deficiencies and costly fines. -
Facade Inspection Safety Program (FISP): Understanding Cycle 9 Requirements
FirstService Residential has invested substantial resources to facilitate each of our managed properties with facade inspections and is here to help you navigate the many intricacies of FISP. -
4 HOA Strategies to Cut Costs and Maintain Assessments
There are valid reasons to raise assessments, but in some cases, you may be able to go a different route. Here are four strategies to save your HOA money and keep assessments stable. -
Reserve Fund? Special Assessment? Loan? 3 Ways to Fund Capital Improvements
Great capital improvements improve property values. Read on to see the three ways to pay for them and the pros and cons. -
Is Your HOA (Really) Prepared? 13 Questions to Assess Your Maintenance Plan
Avoid facing surprise HOA maintenance costs. Here are 13 questions to ask about your preventive maintenance plan. -
Delivering Value: FirstService Residential Energy Aggregation Purchasing Program
FirstService Residential has helped boards and building owners save millions of dollars in energy costs, in part, through our Energy Aggregation Purchasing Program. -
Market Trends & Best Practices: Property Insurance for Boards & Building Owners in 2021
Around the world, the property and casualty insurance industry experienced record losses from 2016 to 2019, and consumers are now feeling the effects on both a macro and micro scale. -
Mitigating Board Liability & Personal Exposure – Part One
A capable management company will enforce procedures and invest in technologies that help limit legal liability for the condo or co-op, and also mitigate board member personal exposure. -
Is Your HOA Maintenance Plan Proactive or Reactive? 12 Questions to Ask
Are you asking the right questions? A strong maintenance plan can be the difference between a well-run and run-down Arizona association. -
Automating Compliance & Inspections for Multifamily Buildings in NYC
Robust automation software can help boards and building owners in New York City satisfy local law compliance deadlines and inspection cycles. -
Mitigating Board Liability & Personal Exposure – Part Two
Policy exclusions introduce increased risk to the board and often render a contractor’s policy meaningless. Properly vetting a contractor’s insurance is critical. -
Local Law 97 Updates: Building Energy Grades & Emissions Compliance
Local Law 97 impacts roughly 50,000 buildings across the city, a majority of which are multifamily residential properties. -
Residential EV Charging Stations: Benefits & Incentives for Multifamily Buildings
FirstService Residential recommends that all boards and building owners consider the installation of EV charging stations and incentives available through NYSERDA and ConEd. -
Understanding Co-Op and Condo Reserve Funds & Strategic Budgeting
With an effective reserve-fund strategy, boards can properly plan for unplanned equipment replacements and repairs to building systems and facilities.