The 2024 Board Planning Guide for Community Associations. A Best Practices Guide for Board Members and Community Managers.

black and white chicago skyline

Over the past 20 years, community associations have become an essential part of modern living. They provide homeowners a sense of community and help maintain an enjoyable quality of life for homeowners and residents. However, managing and operating a  community association can be challenging, especially when it comes to planning for an entire fiscal year. […]

Don’t let Old Man Winter Put Your Association In a Deep Freeze – Best Practices for Community Association Winterization Techniques

ice damming on older brick apartment building

2023 Winterization Techniques  Old Man Winter is around the corner.  Is your association winterized and ready for another unpredictable Chicago winter season? Let Chicago Property Services help you prepare your association, so you are ready for whatever comes your way during this upcoming Winter season. Snow Removal Vendor/Plan – Do you have a vendor in […]

The 2023 Spring Season Checklist to Help Things Run Smoothly – Best Practices for Condo Association Board Members

landscaping along curb and black residential fence

A Seasonal Checklist to Help Things Run Smoothly By Salvatore J. Sciacca – Chicago Property Services The Spring season has finally arrived for 2023 and it is indeed is a welcome sight for sore eyes.  After having to deal with Covid19 issues, rising interest rates, banking industry uncertainty and political turmoil, community associations across the […]

Proactive Capital Repair Planning Prevents Community Association Disasters: A Primer for Community Association Board Members and Property Management Professionals

brick residential building and fence

Proactively Plan Capital Improvements Or Deal with Deferred Maintenance Disasters  A Primer for Community Association Board Members and Property Management Professionals One of the most typical scenarios that board members face while serving on the board is the issue of deferred maintenance and capital repairs.  Since capital repairs often cost large sums of money, it […]

The High Cost of Deferred Capital Repairs – A Primer for Community Association Board Members of Condos, Townhomes, HOA’s and Cooperatives

building preservation work truck in front of old brick building

In the book “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance”, author Robert M. Pirsig writes about the “romantic” and the “classical” approach to motorcycle maintenance.  The romantic approach involves living in the moment and essentially boils down to the following adage: “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it”.   On the other hand, the classical approach […]

Community Association Best Practices – Fiduciary Responsibilities for Board Members of Condo, Townhome and Homeowner Associations

corner upwards view of residential building

Volunteering to serve on the board of a community association is an opportunity to help in a way that can significantly improve the quality of life of all the homeowners.  Board members have a significant amount of authority and can raise assessments, approve special assessments, improve the grounds and curb appeal of the association as […]

How to Run a Successful Capital Improvement Project for Community Associations – A Best Practices Primer for Board Members and Property Managers

old building exterior in need of repair

Now that Spring is come it is time to switch gears from hunkering down and weathering Old Man Winter to planning for successful capital improvement projects. Capital improvement projects are the most expensive undertakings for a community association.  As a result, associations must ensure that there is professional oversight every step of the way from […]

Best Practices: Hiring the Right Landscaping & Tree Care Service for Your Community Association

landscaping along black residential fence

By Salvatore Sciacca – Chicago Property Services Now that the winter season is in full swing, it is the right time to look a few months ahead and start considering vendors to handle your 2022 community association landscaping needs.  Whether you live in a condo, townhome or HOA association, having the right landscaper is crucial […]

Best Practices to Ensure a Fiscally Sound 2022 Community Association Budget – A Primer for Board Members

older corner residential building above storefront

Although temperatures are still very warm out there, the 2022 budget season is quickly approaching.  And with all the uncertainty around Covid-19 and variants, the job market and work-wide supply chains, it is extremely important to ensure community association board members approve fiscally responsible 2022 budgets.  Which leads to the following question: What exact is […]

Top 10 Tips for 1st Time Community Association Board Members – A Primer for the Board President, Secretary and Treasurer

flower boxes lining apartment building's windows

And the board of directors of each community association have a vast amount of decision-making authority.  Furthermore, a homeowner’s community living experience is mostly dictated by the actions of the board of directors.  As a result, it is ideal that the homeowners that volunteer have some prior experience serving on a community association board and […]