"National Night Out"

You have probably seen community signs each summer advertising “National Night Out”.  But maybe you have wondered, what is it?  And why should my community participate? National Night Out, started in 1984, is a nationally recognized day to raise community awareness of crime prevention, drug prevention, Neighborhood Watch and more.  It is an opportunity for residents to get together with the common goal of getting to know one another and fostering a sense of community.  As the event has grown, many communities now host annual events such as . . . to read more of this article from Karen Oliver, CMCA, AMS, Yalnes, Inc., click here.

"The Importance of Site Visits"

Imagine for a moment you arrive in Chicago and you have been asked to find a pink mailbox in the North part of town behind a blue building. Besides being extremely frustrated, how would you even know where to begin? To further complicate the matter, the person giving you directions has not ever been to Chicago and has no idea where the mailbox is located. Often times this is how the vendors feel receiving direction from a manager that has no firsthand knowledge of the property. Manager’s schedules are . . . to read more of this article from Sherrie Moore, CMCA, AMS, PCAM & Alice Thannisch, Compass Management, click here.

"FHA Certification: Must? Should? Pass? How?"

If FHA certification is a topic of discussion at your association (possibly a lively one) you may have wondered: is an association required to seek certification; is it a good idea; what happens if you missed the deadline to be “re-certified”; and other sometimes heated musings.  This article seeks to put FHA into perspective and provide . . . to read more of this article from Jo Flannery, Ryan Swanson & Cleveland, click here.

"Association Budgeting in Tough Economic Times"

Every person should have a budget…and few do. A budget helps smooth out the ups and downs of short term and long term financial goals.  However, we, as individuals, have options when financial upheavals strike – options such as taking on another job, changing our lifestyle, increasing credit card debt or even walking away from financial obligations through bankruptcy and foreclosure. Most of these options are not available to an Association. Associations are communities of individuals who are pooling their financial resources to protect their real estate investment, maintain a lifestyle and share . . . to read more of this article from Gayle Cagianut, CPA, Cagianut & Company, click here.

"Exterior Painting: More to it than Just Watching Paint Dry"

Whether you are a community manager, board member, or a vendor, we all have the same goal when preparing to start a big maintenance project; to have a successful project from start to finish.  Nothing else can cause more headaches and wasted time than a maintenance project gone badly. Experts are hired for more technical projects to assist in preparing the scope of work and monitoring the work while it is in progress.  While hiring a consultant does add to the cost of the project, the benefits of a project done right outweighs the cost.  What if . . . to read more of this article from Kevin Ducotey, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, Condominium Management, AAMC, click here.

"Breaking Down Mixed-Use"

Mixed-use condominium associations have become increasingly common in cities across the country.   Over the last decade these types of developments have helped redefine the changing tapestry of our urban centers.  These communities have impacted not only upon how we live and work, but also how many within the industry manage and respond to the needs of . . . to read more of this article from Stuart Wilkinson, RS, The Reserve Study Group, click here.

"Financial Committees: An Invaluable Resource"

Being a Board member can be challenging with all of the day to day items that arise. As a Board member or manager, we are trusted with ensuring that the Association runs smoothly. This includes overseeing financial matters such as review of the monthly expenses and financial statements, and preparation of the Association’s annual budget. As an owner paying monthly assessments, Association invoices and expenses aren’t always seen on a regular basis and therefore can result in . . . to read more of this article by Sandy Cobb, CMCA, AMS, CWD Group, Inc., AAMC & Karen Oliver, CMCA, AMS, Yalnes, Inc., click here.