It happens in business, government, and industry every day: employees learn the rules of a new job, and before long they start going around them or taking shortcuts. Rarely is this done with malicious intent. More often, it is simply a matt…
Association board members are charged with the all-important responsibility to make critical policy decisions that ensure the building, the property, and their neighbors' interests are cared for and protected. It's a job that requires looki…
With so many people leading busy, sometimes hectic lives that revolve around work, kids, social functions, and other obligations, it's often very difficult for condo association and HOA administrators to find residents willing and able to …
Communication is vital to running a successful condo association or building. So what happens when homeowners complain that board members are not listening, and—even worse —ignoring their complaints and problems? Well, you can bet it…
When it comes to the subject of meetings—specifically monthly board meetings or annual unit owner meetings in community associations and HOAs—there seem to be no neutral opinions. A few folks actually like these exchanges, but most dread t…
When buyers purchase condo units, they also purchase access to the condo association's shared amenities. Depending on the scale and financial demographics of a building or association, those amenities can be substantial; during the real es…
The headline of a recent Walpole, Massachusetts newspaper article read: “Fight between Walpole selectmen cuts meeting short.” The first sentence of the article stated, “Selectmen came to verbal blows on Tuesday night, prompting other board…
Most of us wouldn't know what to do with ourselves if we didn't have a smartphone or tablet to help us communicate, navigate, and otherwise organize our lives. Association managers throughout the country, whether they handle urban high-ris…
Big purchases come with big reams of paperwork...it’s frustrating, but a fact of life. For unit owners, that concept can equate to hundreds of pages of documents outlining everything from the financial status of their residential community…
Often, the best, most successful boards and communities share the same combination of habits and traits; all the while, the worst, most fleeting share similar qualities, as well. Case in point: there isn’t tremendous mystery in what action…