Effective communication for community engagement

If your community is managed by a property management company, you probably have an after-hours number you can call for urgent issues. But what if you simply want to take care of day-to-day association business? “People don’t operate in normal business hours anymore,” says Rolando Hernandez, national customer care director at FirstService Residential. “Residents and board members need to be able to take care of community business how and when it’s convenient for them.”

Some self-managed associations believe they can't afford to hire a professional property management company to manage and maintain their community's operations, assets, finances, common areas and other day-to-day activities. However, as you'll learn in this article, a professional property management company is one thing many communities can't afford to be without.

Have you been elected to your association board? We put together some vocab you will want to be familiar with. We also recommend asking your property management company if additional specific terms might apply to your association.

Radon can be a very dangerous risk and threat. Even more so because many people are not familiar with it or the long-term effect it can have on your family. Learn more about what radon is and how you can mitigate the problem.

Reserve studies are based on the assumption that components will reach their maximum useful life. However, if your preventative maintenance plan is not aligned with your reserve study, it is highly unlikely they will ever reach their maximum useful life. 

When you think of the kinds of organizations being the target of a cyberattack, you probably don’t think of your homeowners association (HOA). But as a small businesses, your HOA faces a growing risk. In its annual study, the Ponemon institute reported that more small and medium-sized businesses had been the victim of a data breach in 2017: 61% of respondents as compared to 55% in 2016.  

 

When your community considers a new manager, having the right experts on your management team can make for a smooth transition.

We can all agree there are many important elements to a housing structure, but your roof is probably the most important. Changing temperatures, snow accumulation, large amounts of rain, ice dams and high winds can all cause major damage to condominiums, townhomes and single-family homes throughout Minnesota. 

Your association’s insurance renewal can be lengthy, drawn out, time consuming and always seems to come down to the wire. Having a clear, laid out plan to help steer the process will keep you, the entire board, and most importantly your association in the best position to obtain quality proposals in a timely manner for a job well done.

The bane of every homeowner: unsightly, unsanitary, and unbecoming sight of mold. As Minnesotans, we experience intense rain in summer months and fast thaws in the spring, both of which can lead to extra moisture in and around our homes. If you suspect mold in or near your home take into consideration a comprehensive strategy rather than jumping right into the battle. We’ve got the tips you’ll need to get rid and keep mold away.