Category: Association Operations

Security Too Hot to Handle!
Too Hot to Handle!

The discovery of fire is considered a major turning point in man's evolution  from cave dweller to outer space explorer. Control of fire allowed early man  warmth for his habitat, a way to cook his meals, and light for his  surroundings. Fi…

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Management The Tipping Point
The Tipping Point

 According to some sources, the word “tips” is actually an acronym—it's short for “to insure prompt service,” and the list of people who are commonly tipped—at least in the United States—includes everyone from hair and nail salon workers t…

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Management That's Capital!
That's Capital!

Sooner or later, every resident living in a condo association ot HOA community will  have to deal with the inconvenience of living through a major capital  improvement project—a roof replacement, an elevator rehab, serious exterior work, or…

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Finance Flush with Cash
Flush with Cash

 In December 2008, the National Bureau of Economic Research announced that the United States was in a recession that had started back in December 2007. The  official announcement was old news for most Americans.    Most financially …

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Finance What's in Your Wallet?
What's in Your Wallet?

Unless it's a thoughtful gift or a party in their honor, nobody likes surprises.  That's especially true when it comes to sudden, serious, or non-negotiable  repairs to a condo building or HOA. A community must have enough money saved to  d…

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Finance The Nuclear Option
The Nuclear Option

 “We have 500 condo accounts and I can count on one or two hands the number of the ones that are not having issues with arrears,” reports Karen Sackstein, CPA, whose accounting firm, The Condo Queens, is based  in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. “A…

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Management Managing Diverse Communities
Managing Diverse Communities

In any sizable community, people from a broad array of ethnic and sociological backgrounds live in close proximity, sometimes under the same association roof. Managing a community association that’s home to a diverse population poses some…

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Management Under New Management
Under New Management

For the most part, human nature is fearful of change, and that’s why people are more likely to stick with what they have and what they know, rather than explore new possibilities. That’s definitely the case with community assoc…

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Insurance How Much is Enough?
How Much is Enough?

 Legendary funny man Benny Goodman once said, “I don’t want to tell you how much insurance I carry with the Prudential, but all I can  say is: when I go, they go too!” The comedian hits on all-important issue: how much insurance is too muc…

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Finance Arrow with dollar bills pointing up. Concept shot for currency exchange rate going up, inflation, economic boom
As Costs Rise, So Do Carrying Charges

The Community Associations Institute (CAI) estimates that 74 million Americans live in communities managed by homeowners associations, of which condos account for 35% to 40%. That’s a lot of people - many of whom may be in for a nasty shock…

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