Where co-op and condo boards once thought of e-mail and Skype as strange and exotic, members today regularly use online file-sharing, scheduling apps, automated message systems, and resident-only computer forums. Some are low-cost, some are even free, and this technology is saving boards time, trouble and some serious money. Read the article…………
Associations and Mobile Apps
From time to time we hear from an association that they would like a mobile app. Regardless of the reasoning for the request, there needs to be some questions answered by the association before going any further in the process: Read the article………….
Addressing Concerns With Electronic Voting (FL)
The passing of HB 791 has ushered community associations into the future by allowing investors and owners to vote electronically; however, this change has not come without challenges. Vetting vendors, whose services comply with the new law, will not be an easy process for Association Managers. Read the article………..
Use of Technology by Community Associations
Technology makes most of our lives easier, and so it makes sense that community associations would choose to employ certain technological advances in the performance of their obligations. There are many possibilities for the use of technology in community associations. Two of the most common uses are community websites and electronic voting, both of which […]
Five trends in digital notice boards in condos
Long gone are the fear of technology, the ups and downs (pun intended) of elevator installations and the quest for an affordable solution specific to condos that were common to digital notice boards in their infancy. As the industry has overcome many of these initial challenges, the trend of condo boards swapping out cork bulletin […]
Smart Condos: The Simple Secret to a Better Condo Life
In the early 1960s, The Jetsons lived in a state-of-the-art home – what we would now call smart condos. This high-tech family could control their entire living environment with voice commands, and they even had a robot-maid that took care of anything came up in running the household. We may not have flying cars just […]
Reconsider Videotaping Meetings
To video or not to video? Just like with running a business, managing an HOA, includes keeping detailed records. Traditionally, taking minutes of HOA meetings are one of the most common ways to record what was discussed or agreed upon. But recently, some HOAs have started to videotape meetings in place of conventional minutes. As […]
Drones present opportunity, challenge for community associations
In the not-too-distant future, community associations could launch camera-equipped, unmanned aerial vehicles, also known as drones, for many routine tasks. They will be able to examine buildings for leaks and damage, check on the performances of contractors and find illegal barbecue grills on upper balconies. 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 […]
Pros and Cons of Videotaping an HOA Meeting
In some states, such as Florida, it is legal for residents to film community association meetings. While there are many benefits to this, there are also some disadvantages as well. Consider the pros and cons of having your association meetings recorded and create regulations to help prevent misuse of recordings. Read more………
Board Meeting Participation and the Evolution of Being ‘Present’
Serving on a board, not even necessarily as its president, requires a lot of time and work. Because it can be a very demanding role, you often, though not exclusively, see board members who have retired from their fields and can dedicate themselves to the smooth running of their buildings. Read more……….
Lawmakers struggle with Ubers, Airbnbs of the world (FL)
The cost of hailing a ride with your cellphone or booking a private-home room for the night could rise under bills pending in the Legislature this year, even as lawmakers struggle to adapt state laws to new business technologies and innovations. Read more……..
Preparing your association for electronic communications
Illinois community associations may now communicate electronically with their owners, but that doesn’t mean they can cut their paper and postage budgets. Many practical details must be worked out before any savings are realized. Read more……
The Future is Now: Is Your Condominium Association Prepared to Handle these 6 Technological Advances?
The last significant revisions to the Michigan Condominium Act took place in 2001 and 2002. While many Michigan condominium associations have amended their governing documents to address the 2001 and 2002 amendments to the Michigan Condominium Act, those amendments often fail to account for the numerous, recent technological advances which have arisen after those revisions. […]
Eyes in the Sky
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 […]
Spy Drones: The Next Challenge for Private Communities
There seems to be a proliferation of drone sightings these days and not simply of the military variety. OpenSky Drones LLC, a South Florida company, recently launched with a promise to offer engineers, architects and government agencies a less-risky way to inspect real property. In addition to their uses for the military and the real […]
Airspace in an Age of Drones (Research Paper)
The growing interest in domestic drones is drawing new attention to unresolved questions regarding the scope of landowners’ rights in the airspace above their land. Domestic drones are small, unmanned aircraft capable of delivering packages or capturing photos. Existing aerial trespass and takings laws, which were formulated prior to the advent of modern drone technologies, […]
What the Internet Can Do for You
When it comes to technology, many HOAs are stuck squarely in the past. Though there is so much out there that can make a board’s life easier, from online payment portals to automated complaint request forms, few boards take advantage, and even fewer reap the benefits that can come from these technical elements. Read […]
Should Associations Ban Google Glass in Common Areas?
Just when you were getting used to your iPhones, it is time to get ready for the next wave. Smart phones may soon be replaced with smart glasses. Google Glass allows the user to view images called up in the glass through voice activation or by touching the rims of the glasses. The product has […]
Community associations – using tools of technology: a cautionary tale
It comes as no surprise that some tools of technology and communication have made our lives easier in many respects. However, the use of blogs, e-bulletin boards, group e-mail accounts, etc., by homeowners associations can also pose certain risks that may well outweigh the benefits of their use. Knowing some of those risks can help […]
In OpenBand lawsuit, stage set for complex case
A $50 million lawsuit filed by telecommunications provider OpenBand will head to court in February, marking a new escalation in a years-long, increasingly litigious battle involving the Dulles-based company, its eastern Loudoun customers and county supervisors. Read More……
Smart Buildings, Smart Boards: If Phones Can be Smart, Why Not Buildings?
If phones can be “smart,” why not buildings? With the ever-expanding array of consumer technology available today, it should come as no surprise that residential buildings are able to incorporate more and more cutting-edge technology into their communications, security, and operations systems than ever before, and to unify building operating systems so they can be […]
Drones: A Controversial Eye in the Sky for Property Managers
Ashley Halligan writes: “The FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act, passed earlier this year, will authorize funds exceeding $60 billion for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through 2015. The bill, intended to accelerate modernization in U.S. aviation, includes a rather controversial component: drones.” Read More……
Electronic Communication (Emails) Are Discoverable in Litigation
Our firm philosophy has long been “Communication not Litigation.” This philosophy is based on the belief that disputes are best resolved in a voluntary and reasonable manner rather than through the time, expense and aggravation of a lawsuit. Recent developments in the law, however, may require Association boards to pay much more attention to how […]
How Can Community Associations be Smart with Smart Phones?
As smart phones are being used for a multitude of things, how can they be used in the community association context? One way is to access information quickly. In the middle of a meeting once, I had to get the specific language of a statute. A quick Google on my phone, and I had the […]