Residential community boards need a safe way to communicate, especially when it comes to dealing with sensitive information. Most modern boards use email for everything from sending a newsletter to online voting. But, How secure is email? When unsecured data is compromised, bad actors can obtain personal information about residents in your community. So, encrypted messaging should be part of your property management package. Ask if your PM company offers safe email services.    Sensitive Data HOA boards deal with sensitive data regarding security and privacy. Some emails may contain ..read more

Part of the job of a residential community board is to promote beauty and curb appeal in the neighborhood. Unfortunately, this can be a contentious issue regarding festive decor. Bright lights and noisy decorations lead to complaints from neighbors. Fortunately, HOA holiday decoration guidelines can limit nuisances. However, the board must be proactive and communicate policies before the holidays.   5 Best Practices for HOA Holiday Decoration Guidelines   1. Be Specific Vague rules confuse people, so you need specific decor policies to prevent ambiguity. For starters, list the types ..read more

There’s a learning curve when someone first joins a Condo Board or Homeowners Association. Property managers can implement board orientation for new HOA members that walk them through the documents, roles, and financials. It pays to prepare members in advance because a solid orientation process makes onboarding easier for everyone.    What Should Be Included in a Board Orientation? HOA members need a clear understanding of how the board operates. So, the orientation should include a concise overview and allow time for questions. Review documents, roles, and responsibilities, such as ..read more

A sharp rise in NJ inflation rates have community associations scrambling. Many wonder if rising costs mean an increase in dues? HOA Fee Increases in New Jersey aren’t always a popular decision. Still, with clear communication, you can approach the process in a positive light. The key is transparency and communication. Residents want to maintain their standard of living, so they’ll be more understanding when they know how the increase benefits them.   FAQ: Why do HOA dues increase?  The cost of living goes up yearly, so HOAs must plan accordingly. For example, you may have increases ..read more

A budget is a robust monetary tool to outline daily spending, allocate costs to specific projects, and save funds for the future. Since organizing the finances takes careful preparation, many boards start community association budget planning early. For example, HOA boards in New Jersey can work with their property manager to gather data and project expenses. With this information, you can plan next year’s expenses and prepare for unexpected costs. FAQ: How do you prepare an association budget? Budgeting for HOAs and condo boards includes overhead expenses such as utilities, insurance, and tax ..read more

In homeowners associations, a handful of people carry the load for an entire community. So it’s no wonder board members and property managers can feel overworked. Stress and anxiety can become severe problems if left to fester. However, you can take steps now to prevent and ease the causes of HOA burnout in New Jersey.    FAQ: What causes HOA board burnout? Two of the leading causes of burnout are burdensome workload and a lack of support. Board members burn out when they take on more work than they can handle and don’t receive adequate help from the community. This can lead to ..read more

If you are a leading member of a condo association or HOA, there is a lot on your plate to manage and keep track of. Whether that includes financial management, community relations, or building upkeep, you might want to consider simplifying or delegating some of your tasks to make your job easier. Creating a simple preventative maintenance plan and delegating the responsibilities to your community management company is a great way to help accomplish this. A properly planned and executed preventative maintenance plan will ensure your condo, high-rise, or single family homes remain in proper wor ..read more

It is without a doubt COVID-19 forever altered the world as we know it. To limit the spread of such viruses, people everywhere changed their current habits and adapted to new ones to keep themselves and those around them safe. These changes in habits and procedures are here to stay and affect just about every industry imaginable. Community management is no exception. Whether you own or manage a condo association, single family home community, or a luxury high rise, the community management service you currently use or need to hire must adapt to post-COVID community management measures. An exce ..read more

Maintenance requests can come at the worst times—a leaky faucet in the middle of the night, the HVAC system going down on Christmas. Preventative maintenance for housing communities takes away a lot of stress and anxiety because you can catch issues before they become a real problem. When prevention is a priority, upkeep and improvement are more manageable in the long run.  Benefits of Scheduled Maintenance  Safety is the biggest benefit of routine upkeep. Residents are safer when facilities are in good working condition. Likewise, planned maintenance is financially beneficial in the ..read more

Good communication in a residential community builds relationships between board members, trustees, residents, and property managers. An HOA board is most effective with open discussions and proper information relay. First, develop strong communication within the board of directors. Members need to be on the same page about issues concerning the community. Likewise, open communication with homeowners builds a culture of transparency and trust.  Communication Within the Board of Directors To manage a residential community effectively, the HOA board of directors needs to have strong communi ..read more