Help for Homeowners New to Association Living

It is often apparent, albeit after the fact, that new homeowners had no idea what they were getting into when they purchased property in a common interest development. They receive violation notices from management about the lawn ornaments they’ve installed in the common area, or they begin a renovation project without going through the architectural approval process, or they are parking one of their many extra vehicles in guest parking.
by Sharon Massingham
CCAM®

Community associations (condominiums, cooperatives and planned unit developments such as homeowner associations) each has its own unique set of  governing documents. However, one tie that binds them all together are House Rules also known as Rules and Regulations. House rules provide an invaluable mechanism in which to convey specific requirements of the association to owners, tenants and guests.
by Kathy Cooley
CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®

Dynamic Strategies for Tough Times

Making ends meet is not an easy task for community association boards and managers facing the uncertainty of these economic times. Dealing with high delinquencies rates, bankruptcies, foreclosures, properties falling into disrepair and home values plummeting, boards are looking to their professionals to think of creative solutions in dealing with their financial woes. The pressure is on to think out of the box and develop a strategic plan to stay afloat. Homeowners want their board to wave their magic wand to instantly make things better. So where do you begin?
by Barbara E. Daoust
CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®

The word “environment” is a scientific term referring to all living and non-living things on earth. The earth has many cycles that keep things in balance, but it also changes over time as a result of natural occurrences. With over 6 billion people on earth, our activities are also changing this environment. Unfortunately, we may be causing changes that are harmful to the future of earth.
by Susan Nichols-Afuso
CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®

Communication is Key

“Community” and “Communication” have the same root word, which means a coming together. So it makes sense that good communications can lead to good communities, especially when boards provide so many ways to facilitate good communication, both to and from the client associations that we serve.
by Association Times Staff Writer

What Makes a Good Board of Directors

Within any community association, the board of directors can make the difference between that community’s success or failure by providing the very best quality of life for all residents. Volunteers who serve the community without benefit of compensation truly care and strive for a strongly united, cohesive community.

Managing the association’s affairs and taking responsibility for running a community is no small matter.
by Cheryl Jepsen
CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®

Let’s face it; the media loves to paint homeowners associations as evil, out-of-control miniature governments run by dictatorial boards of directors intent on destroying the lives of the innocent homeowners living in the community. Virtually every news story on this topic, be it newspaper or television, portrays the homeowners association in a negative light, and seldom does the coverage ever present the many positive aspects provided by the homeowners association in helping to maintain the quality of life and home values for those living in the community.
by Mark Southall
CMCA®, AMS®, COS®, PCAM®

El Nino is on its Way!!

The Climate Prediction Center of the National Weather Service issued an El Nino Advisory July 9, 2009 for the winter of 2009-2010. El Nino occurs when there are warmer than normal ocean surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean. Changes in the ocean affect atmosphere and climate patterns and atmosphere changes affect ocean temperatures. It means that this coming winter is predicted to be a rainy one.
by Lucinda Hoe

It is always a challenge to hire and retain entry-level employees in addition to recruiting and keeping quality workers. Attracting, motivating and retaining entry-level employees can present a challenge to associations of all sizes. The wide age range of such workers, which includes inexperienced beginners in their late teens to older workers with extensive job experience, complicates the matter. The association must remember that entry level positions should not translate into unimportant roles but, rather, these employees should be encouraged and recognized in order to retain them.
by Jeanette Catellier
CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®

High Tech/High Touch for Community Associations and Management Companies

In 1982, I was a seminary student in Louisville, Kentucky and one of the books for required reading was John Naisbitt’s Megatrends. The author discussed the computer age and the ongoi

ng need for a balance between high tech and high touch. I remember reading the book, noting this issue in particular, and thinking the simple answer was to stay in touch with people and not delegate communication to machines.

Here we are twenty seven years later, and interestingly enough, John Naisbitt has felt the need to re-visit high tech/high touch philosophy.
by Philip Adams
CMCA®, PCAM®

Mind Your “PPPPs”

Ask any association volunteer or manager about the most commonly-received complaints and they will easily agree that the short list starts and stops at ‘P’. In particular, the majority of frustrations reported by residents is caused by from Pets, Parking, Plants and People!

Although trivial-sounding, such issues dramatically affect the residents’ quality of life and inevitably leave the manager in a quandary because such issues are rarely easy to resolve and leave a wake of bruised feelings and diminished community spirit.
by Cathy Wade
CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®

Experience has told us that what you don't fix today will still break tomorrow. In some associations, past boards have deferred the funding for necessary repairs and kept maintenance fees artificially low, but sure enough, something broke or worse, shook loose during an earthquake or hurricane. The unfortunate part of this is that, with deferred maintenance also comes deferred maintenance fee increases, so not only is the community stuck with broken buildings and equipment, they are also stuck picking up the tab for the past error of underfunding reserves. It sure is not what we would call an attractive investment.
by Linda Morabito
AMS®, PCAM®

Effective Board Meetings

To understand what an effective board meeting is, one must first define “effective”. Webster’s II New Riverside Dictionary defines “effective” as “producing or designed to produce a desired effect”. Before a board of directors can operate effectively, they must garner an understanding of what is keeping them from their goal. Therefore, before we delve into how to conduct an effective board meeting, it might be helpful to understand some of the issues that make them ineffective. Eliminating these common problems will certainly lead to more productive and shorter meetings.
by Ken Bade
CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®

Do the words, “my ceiling’s collapsed” and “water is pouring in” strike fear into your heart? Does the thought of dialing the insurance claim hotline for yet another claim give you a sinking feeling? Well, fear not. Take it from a condo manager who has been through that drill a few times: disasters that are handled with a clear head and knowledge of the claim process can be turned into a success story for you and your association.

What is the first thing you do when you get that call about the water heater that burst on the third floor and flooded the two units below? Have a panic attack? Start frantically calling the other board members?
by Margie Langston
CMCA®

Oh, My Aching Asphalt: Managing the Aging Community

A community is much like the human body – as it ages, there are aches and pains that need to be “treated”. Some of the issues faced as a community gets older are relatively minor. However, others are more serious. So, how do we manage our aging communities?

Is your community approaching that threshold that a community reaches after over a decade of wear and tear? Is the asphalt beginning to show the effects of years of use with large areas of alligator cracking and numerous potholes, wood trim showing signs of rot, brick entrance monuments no longer proudly announcing your community, and the pool plaster showing discoloration?
by Hilary Lape
CMCA®, AMS®

The Need for a Solid Investment Policy

Community associations often have a strong and steady source of assessment cash flow to fund both their operating and reserves accounts. One area that board members seldom have time to focus on is the best way to invest and protect these assets. This article looks at the various investment avenues as well as ideas on how to develop an investment policy for the association.
by Patti Jo Lewis
CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®

Vandalism Speaks

For any community, the regular wear and tear on its common areas can speak loudly to its members and prospective members, especially when they are not properly maintained. What speaks even louder, though, is vandalism. When vandalism occurs, whether to private or public property, it causes a variety of emotional reactions. It’s a personal invasion and those affected can feel mad, sad and even scared. And besides the physical damage, vandalism comes with a stigma, one that says that the community and its residents are undesirable, affecting property values and possibly making resales more difficult.
by Kim M. DiStefano
CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®

The Changing Role of Board Members

There was a time when all that was necessary for a volunteer to become a board member was to be interested in serving the community, fill out a biographical form and get a few friends to vote for him. Not so, anymore. Condominium and community association boards need to be sophisticated and capable of running small municipalities. After all, our associations are just that - mini governments with an executive branch (the board), taxes (annual assessments), and laws (documents, rules, regulations, and resolutions).
by Gail VanDyke
PCAM®

Improving Your Community’s Marketability

Owners often forget that their community is a business, their home a product of the business, and that they have the power to affect the value of their property, not just by paying to maintain it but by how they interact with their neighbors. Experts say that most people buy from an emotional perspective. That is why the environment of a community is so often a factor when buying a home. Buyers want to like their community, no matter if their community is a series of single family homes, attached homes or condominiums. This is one of the reasons it’s so important to help build a strong and positive community - it helps owners market and sell their home!
by Linda Morabito
AMS®, PCAM®

Saving Money, the Lawn and the Environment As Well

Yes, it is possible to have beautiful lawns while saving both money and the earth. Here are some suggested steps:

1. Have a soil sample done. A soil test can easily be obtained by your local University Extension Service.

by Meg Kitchen
AMS®, PCAM®

How Boards Get In Trouble

So you volunteered to serve on your community board of directors. Well, maybe you didn’t volunteer but were coerced. Or maybe you were voted in and you weren’t even at the annual meeting! However you “earned” your seat on the board, it certainly comes with its share of challenges.

As a director you will need to “agree to disagree” with your fellow board members and still remain neighbors. And you will need to be able to reasonably satisfy those owners that voted for you. After all, these folks are “counting on you”, right?
by Susan Gregg
CMCA®, PCAM®

It’s Outdoor Play Time!

It’s that time of year when we hear the laughter and noise of neighborhood children running and playing outdoors, carefree and full of life. Once children ourselves, we realize the importance of childhood play; every child deserves a safe place to have fun. Outdoor recreation environments allow children that special area to be with friends, to grow physically, socially, emotionally, and intellectually and just to have fun being a kid! It is important that when community associations provide outdoor play areas for children, such environments are safe for everyone.
by Vicki Ward
CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®

Look It Up

In High School, my chemistry instructor advised me, “Never memorize something that you can look up; however, you still need to learn your periodic table of elements.” In college I worked as an assistant to the reference librarian continuing the discipline of “looking things up.” It was a wonderful lesson and it is one that I encourage others to pursue.

There is a wealth of information available to anyone willing to “look things up”. The reference librarian is still an option, but the average person has several other alternatives available from the comfort and convenience of their home.
by Kimberly Holmstrom
CPM®, PCAM®, MS

How the Fair Housing Act Affects Community Associations

We should begin by looking at compliance with these federal laws with the premise that anyone who is a party to a real estate transaction can violate the Fair Housing Act. The purpose of the Fair Housing law, which was first implemented in 1968, is to protect a person's right to own, sell, purchase, or rent housing of his or her choice without fear of unlawful discrimination. The Fair Housing laws are intended to allow everyone equal access to housing.
by Jim Heck
CMCA®, PCAM®

The Care and Maintenance of Trees

If you were to ask what is one of the greatest assets in a community, you would hear many different answers, but when you add up their worth, trees stand alone. They provide protection against the elements and improve the community’s aesthetic appeal, and are one of the items that no community can do without.

Trees are beautiful with their different colors, sizes, and shapes. Often, the overall view is to leave them alone, let them grow and they’ll take care of themselves. But trees need to be on a proper maintenance and care program, like many other physical components in an association.
by Paula Santangelo
CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®

Volunteerism – A Great Community Resource

Just like you nurture plants and flowers so they become a vibrant, vigorous enhancement to your home, community managers and board members are wise to nurture community members so they become vibrant, vigorous community volunteers. You’ll be pleased with the enhancement to the community.

The strength of a community is in its members. There’s no better way to create a sense of community than for the members to be actively involved as volunteers in committees. The way to do this in a new community is to have the Board establish committees and clubs.
by Donna Cawthorne
AMS®, LSM®, PCAM®

Building Neighborhoods…

Do you live “on” a street or “in” a neighborhood? It’s hard to define, but you know it when you see it. It’s what makes a house a home and a subdivision a neighborhood. Neighbors talking in front yards, children playing ball, families taking a walk, people walking their pet, people waving to their neighbors, and the sound of laughter. Many people today are focused on the governance and financial aspects of the community and totally forget the social aspect. The “feel” of the neighborhood plays a big role in a person’s decision, or desire, to purchase a home. So, look around, are people smiling? Do you have committees composed of eager volunteers? Do you have a social calendar? Do you have a program to welcome new neighbors?
by Judy Rose
CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®

Burger King or Ruth’s Chris?

In an economic time such as the one we are in now, we are conscious of where every dollar goes and how well it is put to use. We clip coupons for the grocery store and if we go out to eat at a restaurant where there are specials for $7.99 - three course meals with an appetizer, entree, and dessert. When all else fails there's a dollar menu at every local fast food chain and store brand paper products. So why, in these economic times, is it reasonable to spend hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of dollars a year on a community association and/or a community association management company?
by Aly L. Long
CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®

Real Money Saving Ideas for Real Community Associations

Everyone is talking about saving money and cutting expenses in these hard economic times. But what does that really mean to you and your association? How does an association cut expenses? I don’t know very many associations that have extra money to spend; most struggle just to pay the basic operating expenses. With assessment income down and operating expenses up, many associations are finding it hard to pay vendors and continue services.

Here are a few real, inexpensive ways to save a little – and perhaps a lot of - money.
by Association Times' Staff Writer

Communication is the Key

According to Merriam-Webster, communication is “sending, giving, or exchanging information and ideas”. The Community Associations Institute (CAI) defines persons who are good communicators as having the “knowledge and experience to produce positive relationships, to help create a pleasant social environment and to establish a firm basis for problem solving”.

Effective communication may be the single most important tool available to the board of directors and the manager to promote a positive and cooperative spirit in the association.
by Linda Bartel
PCAM®

Removing a Board Member

It may come as a surprise to you, but occasionally a board member needs to be removed from the board.

In some cases, a conflict of interest or unethical behavior may be grounds to remove an individual from the board. In other cases, the behavior of a board member may become so obstructive that the board is prevented from functioning effectively.
by Linda Bartel
AMS®, LSM®, PCAM®

The Benefits of Deed Restriction Variances

Associations face an interesting decision when it comes to allowing owners to modify their properties in ways that are out of the norm or in some other way might “open Pandora’s Box.” As every professional community association manager, board member and architectural committee member knows, the easiest and safest thing to do is simple say “no”.
by Mark Lewis
CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®

Hiring Professionals - A Winning Approach

One of the key questions facing volunteer community association boards is, “When should we hire a professional to assist us?” This question oftentimes will apply to professional management companies, construction professionals, vendors and service providers, accountants, attorneys and reserve consultants.
by Corey Recla
CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®

Who’s Who in Development Communities

Welcome to the Community!

Are you confused about who’s who in your neighborhood? Here’s a quick overview.
by John Lawton
CMCA®, RCM®, PCAM®

Association Governance

If you ask most association board of directors what they do, you will get answer that they take care of the association’s needs and manage the association. But is that what they really do?

To be effective in managing the association the board is responsible for governing all aspects of the association matters.
by Association Times Staff Writer

Working Capital

Many associations’ legal documents contain a provision requiring initial homeowners to pay a one-time non-refundable working capital or capital contribution. The typical amount is either two times the monthly assessment or a fixed price. Usually, the working capital contribution applies to new homes only so once the community has sold all the homes, the working capital contributions end.

The practical reason for the working capital is to help fund the association in the early stages of development, when the association incurs fixed costs regardless of size.
by Scott Meardon
CMCA®, PCAM®

Saving Mother Earth One Website At a Time

Nowadays, due to the volatile market and economy, business owners are looking for ways to save energy, materials and, most importantly, money by reducing their companies’ impact on the earth’s resources. With more and more companies using technology to “go green”, businesses are looking for alternative ways to communicate with their customers while cutting costs. Community associations, along with their boards, managers and homeowners, are no exceptions.
by Stephanie Benham
CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®

Retaining Your Good Community Association Manager

I’m sometimes asked why there is so much turnover in the community association management field. Why do so many managers quit, leave the industry and change careers? Why is it so difficult to retain good, quality individuals as managers?

My management company has been in this business for over 38 years; to improve our service and retain employees, we conduct exit surveys with every individual who decides to leave our company.
by Eleanor Hugus
CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®

Breaking Budget Bad News

The budget process for an association can be very long and drawn-out. For associations not operating on a January – December calendar year, it can be the bane of a board of directors’ summer, but sometimes it’s not the process that everyone dreads, it’s the announcement of next year’s assessments.
by Katie Williams
CMCA®, AMS®

The Disappearing Developer

In today’s economy, builders are leaving un-built or partially-built homes, causing hardships for associations. Imagine a community of 450 lots with a community pool and clubhouse. Now with only 225 homes closed, these association members are in for a shock. Association fees may double. In the past, builders would make up shortfalls in the budget to keep the community well maintained, but most builders are now cash-strapped and cannot support the association. Does the association board up the clubhouse and shut the pool?
by Dean Williams
CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®

Rogue Board Member

Having a roguish manner in some situations might be quite charming, but such a characteristic is not considered an attribute for a position that involves overseeing or managing the investment owners have in their respective property in a homeowners association.

The board of directors is elected by the homeowners, usually based on leadership qualities that they have observed first hand or from a brief written synopsis of a board member applicant’s past business and community experiences. A successful board works together by listening to owners and one another and making decisions that will be in the best interest of the association.
by Susan Sills
PCAM®

Eliminating the Termite Blue Tarp of Shame

Picture this: It’s springtime, and my management company has just taken over management of a beautiful beachfront community. They’ve assigned this six-year-old property to me. While walking the property to familiarize myself with the grounds, I noted the pool looking over the private beach, a natural gathering spot for socializing and observing the sunrises and sunsets. I’m enthused with the prospect of managing this stunning property. Back in the office the phone rings, and an owner from this elite beachfront property reports that they have termites swarming -- on the third floor.
by Dan McAteer
CMCA®, PCAM®

Make the Most of Your Time—Strategies for Better Board Meetings

The central event in the business operation of any community is the meeting of theboarddirectors. Whether theboard meets monthly, quarterly or somewhere in between, this is where all of the work of the many volunteers and professionals involved in the operation of the community is weighed and the decisions made that affect every member of the community.

In order to make the most of the time available and get the most out of your meeting, everyone involved needs to be on the same page and focused on the business at hand. Pre-planning and proper preparation of meeting materials will help keep everyone moving forward.
by Jim Nitschke
CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®

Concrete Failure 101

Today, many reinforced concrete structures, especially those in cities along the coastline or in extreme climatic conditions are in a state of deterioration or distress commonly referred to as “spalling”, requiring extensive concrete repairs.

What is spalling? Spalling is a fragment or chip removed from the face of a stone or masonry surface by a blow or by actions of the elements. A spall is also known as a section of concrete that is separating or has been separated from the original structure.
by Reiko Marino
CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®

To Foreclose or Not to Foreclose: Issues to Ponder

Assessment collection is likely on the minds and agendas of virtually every community association board member throughout the country today. During the recent months I have worked with several condominium associations to assist them with the overwhelming decisions associated with the current economic crisis created by the real estate collapse. One only needs to listen to television and radio or read the newspaper to know that the number of home foreclosures is at an all-time high. So many homes are within community associations (condominiums, cooperatives and single-family homes), which has created an unprecedented delinquency rate for many community associations.
by Sherrill Schafer
PCAM®

The Importance of the Yearly Audit

The governing documents for many associations require that a yearly audit be completed on the financial records of the association. An audit is designed to provide reasonable but not absolute assurance that financial statements prepared by the treasurer, management company or outsourced bookkeeper are fairly presented and in conformity with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ (AICPA). Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
by Marsha P. Hoiberg
CMCA®, PCAM®

We Gotta Get Quorum! - Learning From Experience

It was 5PM on the day of the Turnover Meeting for one of the condominium properties in my Northern Virginia portfolio. When I headed out to the meeting, I was optimistic that we would meet quorum. Optimistic, but not certain.

The community documents required the presence in person or by proxy of unit owners representing 25% or more of the common element interest. We had received proxies representing 21.5%. After waiting twenty minutes past the scheduled start time for the meeting, we were forced to cancel the meeting due to the inability to obtain a quorum.
by Neil E. Thomas
CMCA®, PCAM®

How to Improve Your Minutes

The minutes of a community association are always extremely important. An association is a business, and like any other business it protects its history, preserves and maintains the records and protects itself from possible liability. The secretary needs to be well organized, and committed to the association’s future.

First, keeping in mind that meeting minutes serve as the official records of the meeting and can be entered as evidence in a court of law, they need to be concise and unbiased; they need to contain only facts.
by Colletta Ellsworth-Wicker
CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®

Welcome Packets – Benefits vs. Cost

With today’s era of computer technology and “Going Green” many boards question if the benefits of sending out a Welcome Packet outweigh the cost.

There are several reasons that negate sending out welcome packets:

1. Cost to the association for copies, envelopes, labels and postage
   
2. Possibility of outdated information going out
   
3. Too time consuming to do every month
   
4. Additional trees killed to produce paper produces
   
5. More waste products for the landfills

There are also several reasons to encourage a board to send out a welcome packet.
by Beverly McCoy
CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®

Money, Money, Money (or the lack thereof)

2009 promises to be a year that will likely be remembered in the history books for its many trials and tribulations. The financial markets remain in turmoil and the impact of job-losses has made itself felt, even in areas which had been relatively insulated from the worst impact of the financial crisis to date. During these times, board members and residents alike have a renewed focus on ensuring sound fiscal management of their communities. In plain language – everyone is looking for ways to save money.
by Cathy Wade
CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®

Effective Communication with Homeowners

Someone once asked me what I did to get good association readership of the newsletter and website. My response . . give readers what they want and need.

Associations are always struggling for funds but your newsletter and website communication tools do not have to be expensive. There are companies out there who publish newsletters at a minimal expense or at no charge. They offset printing and mailing costs with business advertising.
by Kathy Epperson
CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®

Raising Assessments

Raising homeowner dues can be a difficult decision for a board to make. Unfortunately, as the cost of everyday living continue to go up, it is sometimes necessary to raise fees to help cover those increases. If fees are not increased to keep up with the cost of living, the communities that chose not to raise assessments will usually find themselves in worse financial shape than expected.

How do residents usually find out about an increase in fees?
by Stephanie Peterson
CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®

In the Beginning There were Developers

In the beginning were the heavens and the earth. That was a lot of unused land someone inevitably had to do something with it.

Thus, enter the developer. Many people who buy a home become upset with the developer over various reasons, some justified and others not. Let’s look at a few steps the developer must go through prior to selling the first lot or home.
by Cathy Jo Williams
CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®

Alternative Dispute Resolution – the Small Claims Court Option

Small Claims Court is used to resolve relatively minor civil disputes in a fair, low-cost and timely manner. It is an effective way for associations to collect money owed as it doesn't involve attorney fees. Court appearances occur 15-45 days after the action is filed. Small Claims Court can only be used to collect money, although some jurisdictions may authorize the judge to order an action, such as complying with the deed restrictions, even when no money is involved.
by Ed Hutt
PCAM®

Rules and Regulations

Rules are one of those necessary evils of life. Our society could not function without them. Just think of the problems and chaos our civilization would endure without rules. Rules help maintain an orderly society, spell out what’s expected of us and grant us a sense of safety and security.

From the time we are very young, we have rules that our parents set out for us. By the time we enter school, our teachers are adding more rules and as we grow and mature, society piles on rules from driving a car to filing income taxes to applying for a loan.
by Teri Foust
CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®

’Twas The Season To Be Jolly!

It is officially the season to be jolly! Or is it? Clearly 2008 was a tough year for all of us—the economy tanked and we saw operating expenses for our associations skyrocketing on an almost daily basis. Yet we survived.

As that challenging year ended, we can proudly say that we finalized and mailed our community associations’ budgets. Even better, our major capital improvement projects for the year were completed successfully or are just a few weeks away from completion. We have scheduled our 2009 annual meetings and updated our maintenance schedules. Everything is finally starting to look good, but there is much to do as we start the new year.
by Al Denys
PCAM®

So Where Do You Expect Me To Park???

The on-call emergency phone rings at 1:00 AM with a homeowner on the other end ranting and raving about someone parking in his assigned space. The big question becomes, what are you going to do about it? Even though 15 years have passed since I first received this call, associations are still deliberating over this dilemma.

Parking seems to be an ageless problem. Older communities struggle with this issue since their creators didn’t have foresight into the behavioral and lifestyle changes of future residents.
by Barbara E. Daoust
CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®

Association Basics for Committees

As a volunteer organization, a community association faces the unusual challenge of running a corporation with part-time leadership. Volunteer homeowners have varied experience and limited time to dedicate to their roles. Even with professional managers managing the day-to operations of an association, board members are still called upon to fulfill roles for which they do not have the resources (time or experience) and this is where committees can be particularly valuable.
by Cathy Wade
CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®

Saving Landscape Water Can Save You Money

People believe that a colorful and vibrant garden needs lots of water. In reality the same can be achieved through the application of xeriscape practices, which can result in water savings of 35% to 70%. Xeriscape landscaping is defined as water conservation through creative and appropriate landscaping, and is based on five principles. When these principles are implemented, the result is a significant reduction in water consumption without the loss of beauty.
by Association Times Staff Writer

Maintenance Responsibility

One of the primary functions in managing a condominium association is education of the unit owner as to what it is that they actually purchased and their responsibilities to maintain that which they own. Too often, condominiums are bought because someone desires the “carefree” lifestyle. Many times these communities are marketed that way. Unfortunately reality sets in very quickly when the new owner calls the manager to report a maintenance concern only to find out that they are responsible to maintain it, not the association. Frequently there is a misperception that if it is on the outside, the association is responsible and if it is on the inside, the homeowner is responsible. That is not necessarily the case.
by J. Matthew Steele
CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®