A Day in the Life of a Manager: Part Two

Most association management companies can break down their duties into three main categories . . . to read more of this article from Kevin Ducotey, CMCA, AMS, PCAM click here.

Budgets: Creating a Road Map for the Year

"I love budgets," admits Julianne Rossiter, CMCA, Pricipal, Trestle Community Management, "In fact," she said, "I even love Excel spreadsheets." Well, there you go. For all of us who hope we never have to face a spreadsheet alone, there are professionals available, such as community association managers and public accountants, who not only get us through the budget process - they also enjoy doing it. A budget is your association's financial plan. It provides an . . . to read more of this article from Margo Keller click here.

Legally Speaking: A Primer of the Law Behind the Annual Meeting

This time of year most board members of common-interest communities across the state of Washington, whether legally organized as condominiums or planned communities such as homeowner associations (HOA's) are thinking about their legal obligation to hold the annual meeting of the association. If you are a seasoned board member or community association manager, undoubtedly you already have your plan of action in place. However, if you are newer to the process . . . to read more of this article from Cynthia B. Jones click here.

Preventive Maintenance and Community Associations

The dollars invested in a good preventive maintenance program are paid back many times over, not only in the maximized life of the component, but also in reduced downtime from equipment malfunctions. Preventive maintenance is a proactive approach to managing and protecting your community's assets. Without it, one poorly maintained component that fails could trigger a chain reaction, creating much larger problems. Communities often fail to realize . . . to read more of this article from Sherrie Moore, CMCA, AMS, PCAM click here.

Special Assessments - A Supplemental Budget

I had a conversation with a seasoned manager (one of the good ones I think - so if you fall in that class do not stop reading now). The manager had recently passed a special assessment without a budget ratification meeting. It came out in that conversation that, in my opinion (yes blurted without solicitation), in a New Act condominium, a special assessment must go through the budget ratification process. The good manager, horrified at being misinformed on a basic procedure, took an informal survey of colleagues and found mixed information on this subject around our community. Hence, the request to write this . . . to read more of this article from Jo Flannery click here.