Category: Association Operations

 How can you tell whether an on-site association manager is doing a good job? And what is a 'good job'  anyway? Whether a manager is well-liked and whether he or she manages well may  not be the same thing. How do you distinguish one from …

With busy lives and what seems like an ever-dwindling number of hours in the  day, why would a community association choose to take on the extra work of self-managing  their property? Convenience and saving money are just a couple of compel…

 Media room, game room, common room, party room—regardless of what you call them, the purpose of these shared spaces in associations  is to give residents a place to gather; to hold an in-house meeting,  throw a graduation party or screen …

Back in the 1980s, McGruff the Crime Dog taught children and parents alike to “Take a bite out of crime.” The tough but affable, anthropomorphic bloodhound was created by the Ad Council  for the National Crime Prevention Council and used by…

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  hav…

For most people, nothing is more important than knowing that they and their  families are safe and secure in the place they call home. Boards, management  and security firms all must work together seamlessly and cohesively to create  that s…

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…

 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…

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…

 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 …