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Whether it’s showing favoritism to a homeowner, being forceful in an unnecessary situation, or causing a disruption during a meeting, board members may create potentially inappropriate or unethical situations within a community association. In a situation where a board member is causing friction within a community, does the manager have an obligation to take action?
[Read more…] about What is a Manager’s Role in Creating a Healthy Environment Within an Association?
It’s your home. You want it to reflect you and your personality. You have the freedom to do that on the inside walls of your dwelling. But what about when your religion, holiday practices or general aesthetics compel you to decorate the outside of your home seasonally?
[Read more…] about This Little Light of Mine — Should the Board Let It Shine
For some, one of the downsides of living in a condominium or homeowner association has always been close proximity to your neighbors. This can especially become a problem when your neighbors are loud and inconsiderate. But what if the rowdy family “next door” is a feral cat colony? What are your options when feline squatters settle in your community?
[Read more…] about Cats Are Moving In: Tips for Managing Feral Cat Colonies
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.
[Read more…] about Board Election Procedures – What Community Associations Need to Know
As the seasons change, there is more to think about than how early is too early to hang holiday lights on your roof. In fact, while you’re up there untangling them or digging through the attic for extra bulbs, you should also be checking your roof for ice dams. The forming of icicles on your gutters or roof may look pretty, but it could be an indication of a bigger problem.
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.
[Read more…] about Handling Insurance Claims Properly in Community Associations
All of us community association managers have attended a board or annual meeting where a homeowner stands up and questions the board or the manager with, “Why have you not started the landscaping project?” or “Why is it taking so long to get the paving project started?” The list of complaints grows, as questions go on and on.
[Read more…] about Manager’s Perspective: Get Them to Work for You!
Walls are vitally important to the safety of just about any building imaginable, but they’re particularly integral to ensuring the longevity of households and residences. We sat down with Steven Lang of The Falcon Group in Bridgewater, NJ to discuss some of the key characteristics of sound, safe walls, how to ensure your buildings are up to code, and the importance of snuffing out potential hazards before they create long-lasting safety issues.
Once the board has finished picking out the colors for the elevator renovation, signed the contract for the new landscaper, or taken their best guess as to how much snow will fall in the coming year, there is still an important question they need to ask themselves: How are we going to pay for all of this?
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.
[Read more…] about Using Best Email Practices Within Your Community Association