Successful homeowners associations function smoothly by basing community operations on transparency, accountability and communication. This requires exhibiting these values at every level, for issues big and small. Transparency is a long-term strategy that helps ensure the smooth operation of your HOA. When residents feel involved and informed, they report higher levels of satisfaction with the […]
Building a Supportive HOA Community
With recent tragedies like the Orlando mass shooting, it’s more important than ever to focus on community in your HOA community. Every homeowners association should strive to make their community a place where neighbors are friendly and peaceful. Read the article…………..
6 Must-Haves in a Condominium Welcome Package
It’s the condo board’s job to ensure that newcomers to the building feel welcome. For the sake of both the newcomer and the community-based atmosphere of a condo building, condo boards are responsible for ensuring that new residents are well-settled and aware of the buildings rules and regulations. A great way to receive new residents […]
Managing Tough Situations: When Neighbors Are Struggling
Condos and co-ops are called communities for a reason—families and individuals live side by side with one another, sometimes for years or even decades. Although residents may not exchange much more than a “hello” or “nice day” with their neighbors, there is still a human connection. So when a neighbor displays unusual or changed behavior, […]
How to Get Rid of Apathy in Your HOA
A big challenge faced by HOA boards is getting residents to be more engaged and involved. Resident apathy can be pretty common in homeowners associations. While this can sometimes be normal, it may not always mean that everyone is content and happy. Residents may not speak up because they don’t feel they have the opportunity […]
3 Tips for Friendly Neighbor Relationships
One of the best ways to promote a happy, friendly community is to boost neighborhood relationships. In a community where neighbors know each other, you’ll see less problems because everyone is watching out for each other instead of just themselves. However, in this day and age, it can be difficult to create these friendly neighbor […]
Forming a Consensus in Your Homeowner Association
When it comes to decision making in homeowner associations, parliamentary procedure (Roberts Rules) is often the basis for making them. It provides a systematic and efficient way to get business done. However, parliamentary procedure is based on the democratic notion of “majority rules”. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. While the system works pretty […]
You are all Neighbors!
The first thing to remember when living in an association is that you are a neighbor to someone. If nothing else, your neighbors all likely share at least one common desire: to live in your community. Owners may have bought in the community for its location to certain schools, the layout of the homes, its […]
Consensus Building for Community Associations
Community Associations, their board members and managers are responsible for carrying out business that protects literally hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars worth of real estate. Daily problems arise that range in magnitude and importance, but all require sound business judgment to resolve. Many times what is also desired or required is the cooperation […]
How Defining Residents’ Rights and Responsibilities Creates Happy HOA Communities
“When a community’s residents and HOA leaders understand their roles and responsibilities, it creates a clarity that leads to cohesiveness,” says Lisa Leidy, a community association manager for FirstService Residential, a leading property management company in Maryland. “If you’re a resident, knowing your responsibilities, as well as what you can expect your community management team […]
Make HOA New Year’s Resolutions Stick
As one year ends and a new year begins, almost 40 percent of Americans will make resolutions. However, just 8 percent of these people achieve their goals according to University of Scranton research. The New Year is a perfect time for positive changes in your homeowner association. Here’s how to add sticking power to three […]
Resident Retention Ideas To Share With Your Management Team
Empty condos cost money. If you’re managing several properties, you’re also looking for resident retention ideas. Read the article…………
Can’t We All Just Get Along?
There are certain situations in life that tend to bring out the worst in people, and one of those is when neighbors just cannot seem to get along. Whether at an HOA or condominium, when people of diverse personalities and interests, who would otherwise not be connected in any way, are forced to live in […]
Enhancing the Homeowners Association is More Than Maintenance
To enhance something means “to increase or improve in value, quality, desirability, or attractiveness.” In a homeowners association the property can be physically enhanced or maintained, but enhancing can also refer to building community among the HOA board and members of the Association. Read the article………….
Eye on the Elderly
Associations are being forced to learn how to handle aging residents who can no longer care for themselves and may be a danger to others. At what point should a community step in to help? Read the article……….
9 Ideas for Resident Events That Build Happy Condo Communities
No matter where you live, a bonded community is the backbone of a good neighborhood, and it’s an essential part of running great condo communities. Read the article…………..
How to Build Community
Pamela Britton of River Valley Ranch Community spoke at the CAI Mountain Conference about creating community in associations. Her 3 broad recommendations are right on and work for any community no matter what size or location. Read the article……………
Outside Safety Tips for Kids at Play in Your Homeowners Association
Even though school is in full swing, the warm weather and longer daylight hours will still be with us for a while. For many of the youngest residents that means they have the freedom to play outside to their heart’s content (or at least until mom or dad call them back inside). While homeowners associations […]
Leading Change in Your Community
We’ve all done it. We walk through our community and see something that we’d like to change: a rule regarding hours of trash collection or maintenance, or a change to the facilities in a common area like the addition of a playground or swimming pool. So, how do we make change happen? Read […]
5 Benefits to Organized Community Events
One of the great reasons to live in a community with a homeowners association is the community events that the HOA coordinates. These events aren’t just about having fun either, there is a greater purpose: they create a community feeling that lasts long after the event is over. So check out these five benefits from […]
Need Some Community Event Ideas?
The best part of living in a community association is that it is a community. Hosting events is a great way to help promote that community feel. It lets residents get to know each other, and even generates some money for the association. Read the article…………….
What Do Residents Say About Living in a Homeowners Association?
Americans who live in community associations are overwhelmingly pleased with their communities. They are expressing strong satisfaction with the HOA board members who govern their homeowners associations and the community managers who provide professional support. Read the article…………
Always Connected, But Never Connecting
How is the the “now” culture impacting your community? Ahhh, technology. We love it — and for good reason. It makes life easier, gives us instant access to information, and it keeps us connected… at least in theory. Read the article……….
4 Tips for Homeowner Participation in your HOA
We often come across HOAs that are struggling to handle disagreements, complaints, or controversial topics that are voiced by homeowners. This is normal. Just like a big family, there are going to be disagreements – many of them, in fact. Read the article………………………………….
Surviving Each Other in an HOA
Communication is a lost art in some HOAs due to lack of basic people skills. Board members often get more criticism than praise and then along comes an abusive owner who makes unreasonable demands. But it works both ways. Sometimes it’s an owner that suffers at the hands of a domineering board. Read the […]
Unique Amenities: What’s New in Today’s Market?
The latest boom of luxury real estate development in New York City seems to have sent seismic waves across the Northeast. In the past five years, luxury buildings in Boston and other East Coast cities have installed almost any amenity they can think of, from rock-climbing walls to driving ranges and pet concierges. Read the […]
Creating a Sense of Community in Your HOA
If you don’t know your neighbors, you are missing out. A community can be a great source of friendships, networking and referrals for personal and professional opportunities. And when issues arise, your community’s connection will be invaluable. Read the article……….
Programming for Every Age – Recreational and Social Programming
When it comes to offering social programs and amenities to a community, residents’ wants, needs and preferences can run the gamut. For board members and property managers, having programs in place that cater to the collective—toddlers to octogenarians and those in between and beyond—can be a challenge. Read the article……….
As a homeowner in a community association, there is much that you can do to ensure everyone in your community enjoys a great neighborhood.
By understanding your rights and responsibilities, you will help maintain property values, preserve a sense of community, and bring top-quality leadership to your association. Let’s take a look at what you, the homeowner, need to know about your rights as well as your responsibilities. Read the article…………
How to Create A Sense Of Community In Your HOA
Many homeowners don’t feel a sense of community in their Neighborhoods or see the value their HOA provides. They know have to pay extra money on top of their mortgage to the community, but what value do they receive? This confusion and sense of isolation doesn’t have to exist in your community if your board […]
Home Sweet Home: Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
In densely-packed urban environments and sprawling suburban developments, people can often feel isolated despite living in close proximity to their neighbors. Read more…….
How a Community changed the Homeowner’s Association.
Because of the negative, and very public way the HOA Board opposed the swim team, the parents got together and decided to start a grass roots movement to unseat the board and oust the negative board members who had been on the board for at many years with no opposition. Read more………
Foundation Problems – Not In Your House But In Your Community
Your community is like your house. If you lose a homeowner’s trust or belief in your community’s leadership it’s like a small crack in the foundation of your house. And, if you continue to lose trust, sooner or later floors will start to sink, cracks will appear in the walls, and before you know it […]
Multiculturalism and your Community Association
Many communities around the country have foreign members who are not proficient English speakers. Others have members who are fluent in English but would prefer to converse in their native tongue. I have attended Board and Membership meetings in Florida where residents (and some directors) spoke Spanish, French, Creole, Portuguese, Chinese, Greek, Italian and Russian. […]
Tips for a Safe Halloween in Your Homeowners Association
Halloween is a kid’s delight. It’s a blast to dress up in costumes, go trick-or-treating, attend parties and most of all, eat a lot of candy. At the same time, Halloween can be scary for parents. Costumes can be dangerous, too much candy can be sickening and walking around at night can be risky, even […]
The end of neighbours
It’s a new day in the neighbourhood all across the Western world. More than 30 per cent of Canadians now say they feel disconnected from their neighbours, while half of Americans admit they don’t know the names of theirs. An Australian sociologist investigating community responses in the wake of the 2011 floods in Queensland found […]
3 Ways to Increase Team Work In Your HOA
Legendary football coach Vince Lombardi once said “Individual commitment to a group effort — that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” Simply put, Team Work is the key to a successful organization. Read more……….
HOA and Community Gardens Take Root
Setting up a garden club within your community association provides for resident engagement. Having a group with a shared interest builds community and provides opportunities to grow future leaders. Read more………
Consensus Building for Community Associations
Community association board members and managers are responsible for carrying out business that protects literally millions of dollars worth of real estate. Daily problems arise that range in magnitude and importance, but all require sound business judgment to resolve. Many times what is also required is the cooperation or consensus of association residents comprised of […]
Howdy, Neighbor: Cultivating a Sense of Community
The word community, like many words in the English language, has more than one interpretation. A community can be identified as a geographical location—a physical infrastructure of streets, parks and buildings, defined by tangible brick and mortar structures. But a sense of community is often emotional, intangible and much more difficult to define; it is […]
Cultivating Community: Social Functions Help Create a Sense of Belonging
The ethos of a homeowners association—to be open and welcoming—furthers the collective strength of a community. Therefore, it’s incumbent on trustees, board members and managers to foster a stronger, more cohesive sense of community. This is often achieved by holding social functions in addition to regular meetings, such as sponsoring activities outside the building or […]
From Good to Great: Principles for Community Association Success
Every community has its own history, personality, attributes and challenges, but all associations share common characteristics and core principles. Good associations preserve the character of their communities, protect property values and meet the established expectations of homeowners. Great associations also cultivate a true sense of community, promote active homeowner involvement and create a culture of […]
Aging In Place: How Co-ops and Condos Can Address Their Aging Communities
When we think of the challenges of overseeing co-ops and condominium associations, we might think of late payments and aggressive pets. But another challenge has been waiting in the wings: the aging of America’s baby-boomer generation, many of whom are choosing to live out their golden years in their homes. There’s even a term for […]
Staying Close to Nature, and to Neighbors
There’s an unexpected bonus tucked within the Pinewood Lake community, just a few blocks from bustling Route 1 north of Fort Belvoir. Read More……
15 Ways to Make Your Neighborhood Better
We all want to be better neighbors — or at least have better neighbors. But what can we do? How do you build a better community for yourself and your family? The answer is actually quite simple: Get to know your neighbors. Just interacting with the people you live near can significantly strengthen your community […]
Voter Apathy — It is not Just a Community Association Problem
Many California community associations have a difficult time achieving a quorum to hold board elections or to vote on other important association matters. Some condo and planned development homeowner associations have not been able to hold a vote for a new Board of Directors for many years because they require a quorum of at least […]
Creating Community: The Art of Empowerment in Community Association Living
Creating Community: The Art of Empowerment in Community Association Living is quickly becoming one of the most popular educational resources in the HOA/condo industry for homeowners, board members, managers and business partners. Utilizing proven strategies for creating community unity based on the principles of empowerment, Creating Community is being widely used in board orientation programs, […]