Here’s where you’ll find recent articles about FirstService Residential, as well as our impact on the areas we serve.
Board members, among all the other things they do, must make sure that residents are properly informed about happenings in the community, upcoming events, policy changes and more. Community residents rely on that information and it needs to be clear and consistent. Consider these questions as a roadmap to great communication that will keep everyone on the same path.
Having a swimming pool, a fitness area, or a clubhouse for residents are perks that can make any community stand out. A good management company has people with many years of experience operating and maintaining these types of features, and they can offer many helpful ways for you to get the most for your community. Here are some ways your community can benefit from the experience of a community association management company, and make your job as a board member a little easier.
You’ve done all the homework. Crunched the numbers. Your reserve study is complete, your vendor agreements have been checked and your budget is done! Now what? There’s an entire process to creating the budget, followed by implementing it, and clear communication to homeowners, through every step of the process, is the best way to avoid problems.
We are all concerned about safety. High Rise management companies and Board members, who have a responsibility to protect the common property, must pay particular attention to security at their properties. A secure condominium means a happier and safer community, and that is what is most important to owners and residents.
The foundation of any good relationship is communication. And that also holds true for HOAs and community management companies, regardless of whether we’re talking about a townhome community, high-rise or a master-planned community.
Good rules are essential to a great community. The most important ingredients in creating community association policy are clarity and sensibility. The board must be clear on the policy being crafted and then must communicate that policy to all residents. Regardless of the subject matter of the policy, the basic steps to creating a good policy and enforcing it successfully are the same.
Your association’s reserve fund helps your board anticipate its future – and budget for it, too. This fund gives you the power to maintain the quality and curb appeal of your community by funding projects that are both necessary and expensive, such as roofing, paving and remodeling or updating common areas. Although establishing and managing this fund can get a little complex, you don’t need a crystal ball to see the future of your association...you just need the right reserve study firm to help. Follow the tips below to help your association find the right firm.
Working on the annual budget for your association can be a source of tension or stress, but it also provides the best opportunity to protect the financial health of both your association and your homeowners. Proper community association management relies on this financial tool for both short-term and long-term planning, so it’s important to follow some guidelines and best practices.
The lazy days of August are slipping by far too quickly; school will start in South Carolina by the end of the month! As a parent, you know what back to school is all about. The most obvious: it’s a change in schedule for the kids. It also requires adjustments in your entire world: getting everyone out the door in the morning, speeding through homework and last-minute projects, running back home for left-behind gym clothes, permission slips and backpacks. The good news is that back to school doesn’t have to mean back to insanity. A little planning and organization can help immensely with lowering back to school stress – and even make this time of year a little more fun for everyone.
Summer is the time to hit the road! With school out and beautiful weather, it’s a great opportunity to go to beaches, camp, board a cruise and more. There are tons of options to choose from and lots of details to plan for a great summer vacation for everyone. Even if you live in a resort community in Hilton Head or Myrtle Beach, you may still want to get away for a vacation; maybe a road trip to historic Charleston or up to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville. Whether you live in a high-rise, condo or master-planned community, it’s important to know how to prepare your home for an extended time away. No matter where you live, here are some simple tips to help ensure your home is safe and well maintained while you are off enjoying the summer sun.
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