Leroy McDonald was killed by burglars in what was supposed to be a safe, gated community. The 33-year-old father of five was shot while checking up on his cousin’s home in the Briar Oak community in Orange Park, a Jacksonville suburb. The community advertised itself as secure — but those in charge let a broken […]
Security Technology: Keeping Buildings and Residents Safe
The most important aspect of managing a building is keeping it, its residents, and their property safe. In days past, ‘safety technology’ consisted mostly of well-lit exits, the installation of panic bars and glow-in-the-dark stripping on exit doors. Read the article………..
6 Ways To Keep Your Condo Safe and Sound While You Are Spreading Holiday Cheer
Peace on earth and peace of mind go hand in hand while you prepare for holiday cheer. As you get ready to visit family and friends this holiday season be sure to prepare your home even before you prepare your tree. Turning off the stove and drawing the curtains might seem like the way to […]
4 HOA Security Mishaps
Communities with HOAs like to boast about their security, but too many HOAs make common security mistakes that waste money or are just ineffective. If your HOA security isn’t up to snuff, check out these four common problems and how to avoid them. Read the article………….
What Does Condo Security Do For You?
No matter where we live, we want to feel safe and secure in our homes. The home is a respite from a world that is occasionally unpredictable, sometimes challenging, and often hurried. Read the article………
HOA Top Security Issues
Successful HOAs provide unparalleled security and safety for homeowners. Unfortunately, there are many security pitfalls that associations can fall into. Check out these four top HOA security issues and how to avoid them.
Tips from an HOA Board: 6 Ways Members Can Be Crime Stoppers
Everyone wants a safe place to call home, and your homeowners association should strive to make all residents feel secure. While the HOA board is diligent in your efforts to reduce possible dangers in your community, you cannot do it alone. It is up to everyone to pitch in to keep crime rates down. Thankfully, […]
Tips for Making Sure Your Community’s Gate System and Camera System are Working Properly
Tips for Gate Systems: 1. Check your batteries – Most current and older gate systems run on 12 VDC batteries which allow the gates to operate and also provide a battery backup system, which will open the gates within 10-15 seconds in the event of a power failure. These batteries should be checked every 3-6 […]
What Does Safety in a Homeowners Association Look Like?
When you think of staying safe in your neighborhood, what comes to mind? You probably lock your doors at night, keep a porch light on, communicate with neighbors if something or someone seems suspicious, maybe even have a guard dog to alert you of anything out of the ordinary. Generally, safety in a neighborhood means […]
3 Ways an HOA Board Can Keep the Association Safe
It’s the responsibility of the HOA board to protect the homeowner’s association community. When it comes to keeping the community safe, a Board is responsible for safety issues, general well-being of the members of the Association, and prevention. Read the article………
HOA Crime Prevention
Safety is one of the most important aspects of having a neighborhood that homeowners want to be a part of. Keeping crime and vandalism rates low or nonexistent should be a top priority for any HOA board, but accomplishing this may be more difficult in some neighborhoods than others. No matter the specific needs of […]
Do You Need a Security Guard at Your Gate? (FL)
Taking the right steps to prevent theft, vandalism, and violent crimes is essential for community leaders, and one of these potential measures is hiring a security guard for the gate. Before deciding whether or not to hire a security guard, take a look at some important factors. Give all of these issues honest consideration and […]
Don’t Fall for These 3 Security Mistakes
Successful HOAs promise security for the residents. However, protecting an entire neighborhood is difficult, and it can be easy to get caught by pitfalls. Check out these three common security mistakes for associations, and learn some tips on how to avoid them. Read the article………..
4 insurance issues arising from body cameras and private security
Recently, a broker e-mailed me with a question I had not yet heard. A homeowners’ association was seeking to equip security guards with body cameras. She asked, does this impact the guard firm’s liability and, if so, how? Body cameras have quickly become a hot-button issue for law enforcement and policymakers, and now they are […]
Security precautions for condo dwellers
Living in a condominium means sharing space, including a building’s entrances, elevators, hallways and parking lots. While those common spaces can be important for interactions between neighbours, they can also create security issues, as residents don’t always know who else is in their building. Read more……….
Think twice before installing security cameras in condominiums
Does your condominium building have security cameras that were installed by the developer? Have there been violations of the association’s security protocol, such as unauthorized use of key fobs and contractor access to the building without registering with the front desk? If the answer to both questions is “yes”, would you think that installing a […]
Tips for Effective Neighborhood Security
A pleasant HOA has effective neighborhood security to ensure residents and their belongings are kept safe and secure. Unfortunately, protecting an entire neighborhood takes a lot of work. If you want to improve your neighborhood security, consider these three tips. Read more………
Not All Thieves are Stupid
Not all thieves are stupid and here are some thoughts that we ALL should consider Read more………….
Background checks can protect your community, but the landscape is filled with legal and regulatory land mines
Background checks can be complex, precarious and occasionally contradictory. But many community associations conduct a variety of investigations when hiring employees, considering prospective tenants and even vetting board members. Associations can obtain information about criminal convictions, credit history, licensing status, previous employment and educational credentials. But should they? Read more………
How to Start a Neighborhood Watch in Your Homeowners Association
Does your homeowners association have a neighborhood watch in effect? A common concern in any neighborhood is safety. Association members in general tend to look out for each other and there are things you should pay attention to as an HOA board member that signal it’s time to take action Read more………
Security vs. Privacy: Striking the Balance in Co-ops and Condos
From time immemorial, the home has been synonymous with warmth, comfort and, most importantly, safety. The boards and managers who oversee condominium communities are aiming to preserve this image by ensuring that safety is their top priority, and that residents should harbor no fear in regard to their well-being, or the well-being of their families […]
Neighborhood Watch Groups: Looking Out for Each Other
All homeowners worry about adequate security, but many HOAs and condo associations overspend on guards, surveillance cameras, and electronic security systems. There are low-tech, more cost-effective solutions for suburban associations, though, like neighborhood watch programs, where involved residents organize themselves to observe and report important concerns. Read more……..
Eyes in the sky: Should the use of drones be restricted?
Drones have been the topic of conversation for the past several years sparking privacy concerns amongst residential communities. In the state of Florida, Governor Rick Scott signed a bill that limits law enforcement’s use of drone aircraft; however, that bill does not pertain to or restrict the commercial and private use of drones. Read more……….
Security vs. Scrutiny: Does Security Trump Privacy for Condo Residents?
Providing safety and security is important, but condominium security providers consider each location a unique challenge. Without caution, an attempt to provide security can backfire, producing anger and anxiety instead. Responsive management helps forestall most worrisome situations. Read more………
Should Our HOA Install Surveillance Cameras?
We have had several recent incidents of vandalism in our otherwise quiet and well-maintained subdivision. It has a single entrance, and our board is considering the installation of surveillance cameras to capture the image of vehicles coming and going from the neighborhood, particularly those vehicles that enter the community late at night. What are the […]
3 Things to Do if Crime is a Problem in Your Homeowners Association
As an HOA property manager you never want to see a rise in crime at a homeowners association you oversee, and that is exactly what I am experiencing at one of the properties I manage. It is no fault of the Association, but the fault of the individuals who make bad choices and seek a […]
Voyeurs, Exhibitionists, and Sex Offenders in Community Associations
Does an association have the right to restrict registered sex offenders? Several communities throughout the country have amended their documents to prohibit violent sex offenders from residing within their planned communities.
The Guide to HOA Community Safety
Safety is every community association’s priority. Although homeowners associations were not created or designed to provide security for the neighborhood, HOAs typically do use lighting, security cameras, gate locks and electronic access cards to help keep their communities safe. However, there are additional precautions that an HOA can take that may sometimes be overlooked. Below, […]
When Security Clashes with Aesthetics
Most association-governed condominium communities have strict rules concerning the appearance of residences, common grounds, and common buildings. These rules help to preserve real estate value by maintaining and enhance the aesthetics of the community. Read more…….
Accuracy Essential – Caution Advisable – for Condominium Boards Delivering Sexual Predator Warnings
What’s in a name? When it comes to warning condominium owners about sexual predators living in their community, the answer is: The potential for huge liability and immense damage awards if the individual identified as a predator turns out not to be one. Read more……..
State of Surveillance: Being Safe in Your Own Condo
There are many different factors that prospective condominium owners contemplate when looking to buy a unit. Aesthetics, price, and location are important, for sure. But perhaps the most critical factors of all are the safety of the building and the neighborhood it’s in. Read more…….
Insecurity Cameras
Homeowner associations have security issues from time to time like car break-ins. And there is an occasional issue with a violent resident. Particularly after a security “event”, discussions ensue about the need for the HOA to beef up security with things like better gates, better fences and security cameras. Read more…..
Reducing the Risk of Break-ins While Away on Summer Vacation
Hopefully, an owner within your association will never have the misfortune to be a victim of a burglary. Burglaries not only result in damage to the home, but more importantly, result in the loss of peace of mind. Criminals everywhere look forward to summer-time because during the time an owner is basking in the sun […]
HOA’s Settlement with Trayvon Martin Family Illustrates Liability Issues Involving Neighborhood Watch Programs
Last year I participated in a discussion with an Associated Press reporter and wrote about a central Florida community association’s apparent endorsement of George Zimmerman as its neighborhood watch captain and his involvement in a tragic incident that took the life of the 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. Read More……
Illinois Supreme Court rules subdivision police can detain drivers
The homeowners associations responsible for managing subdivisions across the state have the power to enforce their own traffic rules through a private security force, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled Friday, overturning a lower-court ruling that found they could be unlawful. Read More……
A Private Matter: Communities Must Balance Privacy and Security
The issue of intellectual property and an individual’s right to privacy has become a greater concern since more and more people conduct their lives online—whether for banking, social media or dating. While the aforementioned generally have security features encrypted in programming platforms, there remain justifiable concerns as to what is actually protected. This heightened sense […]
Are Board Members Safe?
Last week, a gunman who had a long-standing dispute with his association over deed restrictions, shot and killed one person and critically wounded a second at his association’s meeting in Louisville, Kentucky. The incident occured during an association meeting being held in a community church. This, as well as the other violence we’ve seen occuring […]
Gated Communities – Are They Any Safer?
Increasingly, many Americans turn to gated neighborhoods in an attempt to live in a place where they feel safe and secure. The concept of walls, gates and security cameras keeping out invaders and capturing attempted crime before it starts is very appealing to many who are willing to pay more for that privilege. Logically, it […]