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Living in a high-rise can be an exciting experience, but it's also vital to keep fire safety in mind. Discover 5 fire safety tips that will help keep residents safe.

For most people, buying a home is the largest investment they make. We all know there’s a lot of paperwork that comes with buying a home, and although it can seem overwhelming, that paperwork is vital for the protection of the buyer, the seller and the community in which the home is located. If you are buying or selling a home in managed community, a resale package is a critical part of that. What is a resale package and why is it important? How do you get one and when do you need it? We sat down with our Director of Resale to get the answers to these and other important questions.

In this guide, we’ll break down how Minnesota squatters’ rights work, what steps you can take to protect your property, and how a Minnesota property management company like FirstService Residential can help you safeguard your investment.

Cold weather will soon be upon us, so now is the time for your homeowner association (HOA) to make sure your maintenance program is on track. As brutal as Chicago 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. Don't get caught in the cold!

It’s no secret that the housing market in New York is competitive. So to truly set your high-rise apart, we suggest one thing: start at the top. Your rooftop is an opportunity to bring neighbors together, enhance the visual appeal of your property, and – if activated correctly – a potential revenue source that can bring added income to your association. There are always opportunities to enhance the amenities throughout your building but here are a few ideas that focus on the roof.

Nothing lasts forever…and when it comes time to replace your high-rise roof, community pool or to add new amenities, your association will need to determine how to pay for it. All of these things – significant repairs and replacements, as well as new construction – are considered capital improvements.

At one time or another, every condominium corporation has to spend money on replacing equipment or making major repairs. Whether that means replacing a roof, installing a new ventilation system or any other big-ticket project, they are a necessity. But how should your condo corporation pay for them?

Remember when you last painted your living or dining room, your entrance hallway, den, kitchen, or another room in your home? It felt so great just looking at the finished work, even before the furniture was moved back into place. That new colour scheme you selected – the clean, unmarred baseboard and molding that set off that room so well? The bright white ceiling that highlighted the whole space? But it’s been a few years. How do you know when it’s time to repaint?

The greatest strength of your board is the diverse perspectives of its members, but this can also present the biggest challenges. Creating the right dynamics will help your association board conduct business smoothly and efficiently.

Landscaping makes an immediate statement about the brand of your community. The right landscaping can set your community apart from others and enhance property values. Here our four landscaping considerations.

As a board member, one of your top responsibilities is to maintain and improve your community’s physical property. But it can be tricky to budget for new amenities like a dog park or gate houses, or shared, common-area assets that will need to be replaced or upgraded years down the line such as roofing or building facades.

You've gone from a fully functioning homeowners association (HOA) board to a leadership group with a gaping vacancy. This hampers productivity, causes confusion, and at its worst, may create worry amongst your association members. But not to fret. HOA Board turnover happens. And if managed correctly, you can fill the opening and get back to business in short order. Below are some tips to help you through the process of filling an HOA Board vacancy.

Some owners are reluctant to volunteer to be a condominium board member because they’ve never done it before. That’s why we developed these six essential tips for new board members to help them get up-to-speed quickly. If you consider these points as you get down to condo business, you will be successful in your new role ─ one in which you really can make a difference.

What can you do to ensure that your board meetings are well run? Follow these best practices to keep your board meetings on track.