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Sherri Hall

Tips for Creating an Association Budget

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By Sherri Hall

Depending on whether your association runs on a calendar or fiscal year schedule, you may be in the midst of working on your budget, just about to start or several months away from beginning the process. Either way, it’s important to ensure that you’re taking the steps necessary to complete the task timely and effectively. We spoke to Michael Pesce, President of Associa Community Management Corp, to obtain some tips for creating an association budget. [Read more…] about Tips for Creating an Association Budget

Best Practices for Conducting a Homeowner Forum as Part of your Board Meeting

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By Sherri Hall

Although not required in every state, many community associations choose to have homeowner forums, or member question and answer (Q&A) sessions, in addition to or as part of their open board meetings. Such a forum is usually held either at the end of an open board meeting or in a separate meeting specifically scheduled to allow homeowners to ask questions or raise concerns regarding community matters. 

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Board Election Procedures – What Community Associations Need to Know

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Annual board elections are an important part of every condominium and community association. We spoke with Stefan Richter, Esq. of Clemons Richter & Reiss, P.C. in Doylestown, Pennsylvania to learn more about the procedures an association should follow when holding an election.

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Handling Insurance Claims Properly in Community Associations

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Whether prompted by a slip and fall injury or the result of property damage, community associations often face dealing with insurance claims. In some cases, these claims cannot be avoided and therefore, associations should be prepared to properly handle such situations. We spoke with Stephannie Ciantro, Property Claims Manager at Mackoul Risk Solutions, to learn about the best practices for handling insurance claims.

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Using Best Email Practices Within Your Community Association

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With email often being the primary method of communication today, it’s important for community association board members and property managers to stay informed of best practices when it comes to email transmissions. If a lawsuit arises, related emails may need to be disclosed and therefore, associations must be aware of proper protocol. We spoke to Attorney Sara A. Austin of Austin Law Firm LLC in York, Pennsylvania to gain some insight into these best practices regarding association emails. 

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Recognizing and Preventing Discriminatory Acts in Community Associations

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Discrimination is a prominent issue in today’s society. Instances of discrimination must be handled properly, not only in the workplace, but also within community associations. But what exactly constitutes as a discriminatory action, and how can associations ensure they are taking the right steps to rectify such situations? We spoke to A. Christopher Florio, Shareholder at Stark & Stark Attorneys at Law in Lawrenceville, New Jersey to answer these questions and more. [Read more…] about Recognizing and Preventing Discriminatory Acts in Community Associations

Choosing the Right Security Technology & Techniques for Your Community Association

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In today’s ever-changing world of technology, it can be hard to select a security system for your community. With so many options, how can an association be sure to find the right fit? Scott Roether, Principal of TEM Systems LLC in Murrells Inlet, SC, shared his knowledge on the subject and offered some suggestions to streamline the process.

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Manager’s Perspective: Tips for Keeping Board Meetings from Going on Too Long

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As the days get longer and the temperatures rise, people want to spend more time outdoors and less time indoors. That includes property managers, board members and homeowners, who especially don’t want to find themselves part of a board meeting that’s going on for way too long. However, with a wide variety of spring and summer projects underway, how can boards keep their meetings running efficiently? [Read more…] about Manager’s Perspective: Tips for Keeping Board Meetings from Going on Too Long

“I Can’t Get No Satisfaction”…or Can I? – Uncovering the Key to Keeping Managers Satisfied

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The Rolling Stones probably didn’t have the community association industry on their minds when they recorded this famous tune. However, there is a common theme between the song’s lyrics and the daily life of property managers – complaints. In the song, Mick Jagger complains about useless information on the radio, TV commercials and his bad luck with love just as unit owners complain about leaky roofs, noisy neighbors and potholes. So, with that being said, is there any way to stay satisfied when all one hears are complaints? We spoke to Thomas Engblom, Vice President/Regional Account Executive of Mutual of Omaha’s Midwest region, to find out. [Read more…] about “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction”…or Can I? – Uncovering the Key to Keeping Managers Satisfied