Seven tips for creating a sound budget in your association

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.

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. 
 

As a board member of a South Carolina condominium, you understand how the coastal Myrtle Beach area can be impacted by large storms.  Complete tropical storm/hurricane preparedness goes beyond your typical checklists related to securing physical structures before a storm’s landfall. A truly thorough plan will take into account all aspects of your property – structural, financial, digital, and more. To help you and your property achieve the best community management service before, during and even after hurricane season, here are some helpful tips.

Michael Mendillo, president of FirstService Residential's Mid-Atlantic region, returned to William Patterson University, his alma mater, to inspire students with real-life lessons about leadership and success.  

Your relationship with your property management company is exactly that: a relationship. And as with any relationship, it’s a good idea to take stock every once in awhile to make sure it’s as healthy as possible.