I would like start out by personally expressing many thanks to Cheryl Murphy and her team at CAI IL for spearheading and organizing the recent event on social media and the impact on community associations. In addition, I would like to thank John Sebert and his team at Sebert Landscaping for hosting the event at […]
Trusted by thousands, The Chicagoland Condo, HOA, Co-op & Apt. Expo is the leading real estate trade show in Chicago. Join board and association members, property managers, homeowners and apartment building owners, meet building service companies, attend educational seminars and get your questions answered. Don’t miss this very special event specifically for board members and […]
1. Statistics show there is high percentage of associations who plan their budget only one year in advance. Is your association part of that group? Best run associations have a 5 year capital plan, which allows for better planning, better budgeting and lesser reliance on special assessments to fund capital improvements and replacements. This results in less […]
A growing question within the community association industry is whether or not community associations should have a presence within social media. Today I will discuss the pros and cons. Pros: 1. Easy access to building and community updates by board members and homeowners 2. Easy systems to learn, no expensive or lengthy training needed for […]
Smoke alarms are one of the most fundamental elements of a building’s defense to a life/safety event. Preparedness is key! My friends at Community Association Underwriters of America (CAU) have created this very useful overview on the importance of smoke alarms. Here is the link to the smoke alarm document: CAUsmokealarm I encourage all homeowners and […]
I get it. You have so many things to take care of and so little time. And there is never enough time to take care of everything. And to add further insult to injury, life keeps getting more complex and more demanding especially due to the new technologies that make it easier and easier to […]
Now that the fall season is upon us, that can only mean one thing. Old Man Winter is right around the corner! And the good news is that many associations have enjoyed savings over the past few years due to the mild winters that we have experienced around the Chicago area. The question is are […]
Over the years that I have spent in the community association industry as a CEO of a community management company, I have gone on quite a few sales calls with board of directors shopping for new management services. Somewhat surprisingly, the feedback that I have gotten typically focuses on all the mistakes and shortcomings of […]
The time has arrived to start focusing on the preparation and approval of the 2014 budget for your community association. In order for community associations to create and maintain healthy reserves and to have financial stability, it is critical for associations to budget properly. This means not only preparing and approving an annual operating budget […]