Condo Renovation & Modernization

Nestled along the Bellingham waterfront, near the historic Fairhaven district, condos and apartment buildings take advantage of the bay view, the gorgeous sunsets and the close walk to stores, restaurants and just about everything else one would need. Some were built in the 1970’s. The more expensive, luxury buildings went up in recent years. Unfortunately,…

Why a Maintenance Schedule is Important

From time to time, residents submit maintenance requests and become frustrated when something isn’t attended to immediately.   Part of the reason for the delay is that the association develops and follows an annual maintenance schedule, and the manager knows that the next month’s routine maintenance will take care of it.  We also use the schedule…

Why Do We Need Reserves?

Equipment and major components (like the roofs) must be replaced from time to time, regardless of whether we plan for the expense.  We prefer to plan and set the funds aside now.  Reserve funds aren’t an extra expense – they just spread out the expenses more evenly. There are other important reasons we put association…

Indoor Water Conservation Tips

You can reduce your water consumption by 20 – 40 percent without purchasing expensive equipment.  Reducing water use can mean substantial savings on water, sewage and energy bills.  The following  suggestions will help you get in the habit of saving water: Kitchen Avoid the garbage disposal.  It uses a lot of unnecessary water and can…

HOA Community Volunteerism

The importance of volunteerism can’t be overstated. It builds social bonds, reduces isolation, provides the satisfaction of accomplishment, decreases feelings of powerlessness, gives residents a sense of control, and makes community associations vibrant and thriving places to live. This is the foundation for building a sense of community. Associations would have a hard time existing…

Keeping Your HOA Safe

You know the saying: the best defense is a good offense. The same applies to the safety and security of your homeowner’s association community. Gates, alarms, guards—these are all great measures for deterring would-be thieves and other ne’er-do-wells. But there are other ways to keep such unwanted individuals from even making that first attempt. Take…

What is a Community Association?

Some residents think homeowners and condominium associations (generally called community associations) exist just to tell them what to do – or not do. Actually, the association is more like a housing management or service-delivery organization that provides three types of services to all residents – owners and renters alike. Community services – these can include…

A Friendly Association is a Well-Managed Association

People are at the heart of Community Associations and their Boards, so keep basic human needs in mind.  Although there are many legal aspects that are important, so are the relationships that make things work smoothly.  Here are some tips: Set a tone that is light-hearted and fun. It should be a joy to be…

Resolving Conflicts Smoothly & Professionally

Whenever you get more than two people in one room, there is bound to be a disagreement about something. Get a Board together, and it’s certain. It’s just human nature. Help your Association run smoothly and keep conflict to a minimum. Listen to all parties without making a decision or taking a side. Take notes…