TownSq blog.

October 6, 2022

As we approach the end of the year, it is time to look at the current roles in the community to see what needs to be updated for the coming year. We've compiled a list of things you should consider to be best prepared for the coming year.

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September 29, 2022

When selling your home, knowing what you need to do is essential, especially when living in an HOA. TownSq has outlined 5 of the most important factors to consider when you take the step to sell your home.

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September 22, 2022

The school year has begun, which means more children will be out in the neighborhood, and there will be an increase in traffic. Let's explore ways that you can make sure your HOA is prepared.

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September 8, 2022

What makes HOA banking software so unique? For starters, HOA banking software is not only unique, but it’s also become the future of all HOA software! Software such as this is specifically built to accommodate the financial needs of HOAs and their communities. 

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September 1, 2022

ACAM-CEO is an event in our industry that we look forward to every year. Here are some key takeaways that we feel are challenging the property management industry and what things we can do to overcome these obstacles.

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August 25, 2022

If you are thinking of buying in a managed community make sure that you familiarize yourself with the resale documents needed. We outline everything you need to know about the resale package.

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August 11, 2022

Younger generations are beginning to build families and buy homes. So how is this impacting HOAs? Here are five ways we see managed communities change as a younger homeowner moves in.

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July 28, 2022

Resale documents are some of the most important sources of information that helps with ensuring the security of your new home or condominium.

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July 21, 2022

TownSq has been working hard behind the scenes to bring a much-anticipated update to our Digital Voting feature, Secret Ballot. With this new enhancement, admins can allow the voters in a community to submit their votes anonymously.

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July 15, 2022

Bringing more technology to the HOAs you manage can be intimidating, especially regarding financials. We outline some important reasons you should offer this to the communities you manage and how it can save you time and money.

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June 30, 2022

Having an architectural review committee isn't enough you need to also have a good review plan in place. Check out these 5 tips for a foolproof architectural review plan that you can easily implement in your community.

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June 23, 2022

HOAs that do not utilize a maintenance plan, often find themselves taking more of a reactive approach. Prepare your community by considering these 5 HOA plans.

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June 16, 2022

HOA dues are a large part in keeping your HOA up and running. It is also important to have a well structured collection policy in place if and when a homeowner defaults on their payment. Outlined in this article are some key steps to ensuring you have a successful collection plan in place.

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June 9, 2022

In an HOA everyone has responsibilities, including homeowners. Know your responsibilities to ensure you are getting the most out of your HOA, plus ways you can stay involved in what is happening in your community.

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June 2, 2022

Adapting technology for your HOA can seem like a rather daunting task, however the benefits far outweigh the risks. Check out these 5 reasons your HOA should be thinking about technology for their community.

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May 26, 2022

Tips for managing your HOA's amenity reservations with ease, plus a downloadable checklist for homeowners to use when enjoying the amenity the reserved.

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April 28, 2022

If you’re familiar with the show, The Office, you know the name, Dwight Schrute — one of Dunder Mifflin’s most dedicated employees.

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April 20, 2022

As a property manager, we're sure you've experienced it all — managing, customer service, community emergencies, community events, HOA budgets, and much more.

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April 6, 2022

What projects should your HOA prioritize? Spring is just around the corner, and when you finally thought you were caught up, the list of projects and tasks starts to build up again. But not to worry, you’re not alone.

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March 30, 2022

Spring is just around the corner and contrary to the belief, people are ready to get out! After being indoors due to Covid-19, we’re starting to see communities slowly make their way outside their homes.

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March 23, 2022

As a property manager or board member, fostering teamwork within an HOA can be one of the most effective strategies for your community.

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March 23, 2022

As a property manager or board member, fostering teamwork within an HOA can be one of the most effective strategies for your community. To foster is to encourage or promote the development of something —whether that be a person, place, or thing.

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March 9, 2022

As a property manager, you were not only hired for your fantastic skills and amazing personality, but for your ability to manage people. When it comes to people and relationships, emotional connections are necessary

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March 3, 2022

As our HOA communities grow and develop, so will the need for property management companies. In this day and age, the growth of HOAs is increasing at an unbelievable rate.

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February 16, 2022

The new year always comes with a new resolution. It's typically a time for a change or “reset.” New year's resolutions are just as common in any business, especially in the association management industry. 

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February 2, 2022

Do the homeowners in your community feel included? Creating a strong sense of community is probably the most essential part of running an HOA. It takes a multitude of people, duties, and time to make a community feel connected.

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January 25, 2022

Congratulations! You’re now the proud parent of a newly elected HOA board of directors! As a community manager, you’re dedicated to helping your board make the perfect transition into their new roles.

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January 18, 2022

Living in an HOA has many benefits, one of the biggest being the hierarchy that exists within the community: managers, boards, and homeowners. Pre-set rules and by-laws inform homeowners what they can do and what they may need to ask permission for.

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January 12, 2022

Being on the board of an HOA or similar entity gives you the unique opportunity to help make a difference in the community that you live in. Those on an HOA board strive to help make life easier for all residents. 

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January 4, 2022

Property inspections are essential to the well-being and growth of the HOA community. Its primary purpose is to ensure that the community is safe, thrives, and maintains its value.

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December 22, 2021

If you work in HOA management, we’re sure you’ve had your share of working with the HOA violation process — which is no walk in the park. HOA violations are probably one of the most challenging processes to organize and communicate.

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December 14, 2021

It should go without saying that when managing clients, their satisfaction should always be the top priority. When thinking about an HOA specifically, there are many ways to improve homeowner satisfaction within a subset of communities that can be streamlined by HOA software. Below we will discuss some of the many ways you can increase satisfaction in the associations you manage.

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December 7, 2021

Managing an HOA can be highly stressful and sometimes increasingly complicated for board members and community managers. Many HOAs across the United States still operate by non-technological means, meaning that most operations are built on the backbone of in-person meetings or paper and pen.

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November 30, 2021

Just like any job or long-term career, employees are given performance metrics to ensure that their job is being performed at its ultimate best. The same principle goes for HOAs and property management companies — performance metrics such as KPIs are used to evaluate the growth and open opportunities of the community.

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November 24, 2021

For many people, an online election or digital voting is often seen as quite fun and collaborative. However, this isn’t always the case, especially when voting on matters in an HOA. HOA elections are historically given a bad rep because they usually become a point of contention between groups or individuals with vastly differing opinions regarding how the board should run the HOA.

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November 17, 2021

When you work as a manager or board member, you’re expected to do your fair share of collaboration. Keeping tabs on every meeting and member can sometimes be overwhelming...

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November 9, 2021

Voting on elections or polls within an HOA can be a stressful and daunting task for everyone involved.

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November 2, 2021

HOAs across the United States communicate via Facebook, one of the most popular and widely used social media networks available today. Within Facebook, pages or “groups” can be created, which function as an online community for people with similar interests to discuss various topics.

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October 19, 2021

If you've ever needed to make a change to the exterior of your home, you've probably come across the ARC...

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October 13, 2021

HOA Violations are never a fun topic. We’re sure you’ve heard the rumors — “HOAs are overbearing.

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October 5, 2021

If you’re like most property managers, you’ve probably heard the phrase “customer retention” one too many times. In fact, customer retention is considered one of the most cost-effective strategies that a property manager can implement. No manager likes losing tenants — oftentimes, a loss of a tenant can result in an uptick in time investment, money, bad reputations, and sometimes a growing lack of trust.

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September 28, 2021

Since the start of 2020, HOA property management companies have faced multiple challenges from the effect of Covid-19. From trying to prevent the spread of Covid-19 on residents to averting the financial damage that was put on HOAs from missed dues and rent payments, the rise in industry trends such as technology has been a direct reflection of the pandemic. 

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September 14, 2021

If you’re a property manager in search of HOA software, you’ve probably spent countless hours searching online or talking to reps from numerous software companies. Needless to say, the options are endless! How much will it cost? Is my community able to adapt to using HOA software? What

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August 31, 2021

The COVID-19 Pandemic altered nearly every industry over the last year, one of which being the property management industry, resulting in several new property management trends arising. In every aspect of property management, from homeowners and tenants to HOA board members to management companies, everyone had to pivot and alter how they communicate or conduct business to adapt to the surging pandemic.

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August 24, 2021

Arguably the most important governing body within an HOA, the Architectural Review Board, or the Arch Review, is responsible for the uniformity and exterior quality of the association it presides over. While this can feel like a fairly simple entity to understand, the value of the Arch Review and the quality with which it operates can easily be mismanaged or undervalued under the wrong circumstances.

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August 18, 2021

One of the more unfortunate but necessary parts of the HOA management business is managing and enforcing HOA violations within the community. Although most property managers and board members often do everything to avoid such an incident, HOA violations are nearly unavoidable in the grand scheme of things.

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August 10, 2021

As the entire housing market continues to bounce back from the COVID pandemic, and as HOA’s look to outsource for help and assistance, it behooves all property management companies to learn and improve their skills and capabilities wherever possible. In turn, management companies should be looking to gain an increased sense of reliance and trust on behalf of the associations and communities they help manage. 

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August 3, 2021

In today’s world of technology, there are endless options to consider when it comes to communicating - social media, texting, IM chat, and most importantly websites.

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July 6, 2021

The primary goal of TownSq as a SaaS company has always been to maximize productivity, efficiency, and collaboration in the communities we serve. To achieve this goal, we are constantly cooking up innovative and fresh features for communities to utilize within our solution

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June 29, 2021

An HOA has several responsibilities for ensuring its HOA is in the best hands. One of which comes with the responsibility of planning an HOA community event. As HOA’s continue to break from Covid-19 protocols, you may find yourself asking what to expect next. Will your community allow open public events? Will there still be protocols to ensure the safety of your residents?

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June 22, 2021

Communication isn’t a skill that comes naturally. It’s one of the most challenging skills to learn. Especially when it comes to training employees, an employee workshop can only go so far. Think of a time when you may have texted someone that took your message the wrong way. Have you ever found it easier to text someone your feelings vs. telling them in person? To better answer these questions, consider the dynamics. A text message cannot convey tone, facial expression, or an in-person conversation. No wonder emojis were invented!

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June 15, 2021

Do you found yourself discussing the idea of an HOA management company? Or in fact, you may even work alongside one right now.

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June 8, 2021

Morale – a collective set of attitudes, emotions, and satisfaction exhibited by a team, employee, or person. Morality is essential in our everyday lives, workplace, and social life — without it, the world would be a sad place. Think back on a time when you worked for someone that never kept their promise. Perhaps you had a friend that was never dependable or lacked respect for your friendship.

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June 1, 2021

It's hardly a surprise that new HOA trends have emerged across the country this last year, given everything that's happened. 2020 was one of the most tumultuous and unpredictable years anyone has ever endured. As far as HOAs and the property management industry, 2020 was full of twists and turns that required both property managers and HOA board members to be able to pivot at a moment’s notice.

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May 25, 2021

When it comes to budgeting, one of the first things looked at are ways to reduce costs. Like any business, an HOA needs money to function fully. For many HOA members, talking about “budget” can sometimes be a touchy subject. No one wants to be the bad guy — the person that tells the holiday committee that the yearly Christmas party has been canceled. Money is emotional, sometimes even scary.

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May 18, 2021

Managing dues payments as an HOA board member or property manager is never an easy task. Navigating the process of late HOA payments from homeowners can be uncomfortable and challenging almost all of the time. Financial situations, especially those involving some form of conflict between the association and residents, can often cause negative or combative emotions to arise between parties, which can create tense situations that require delicate handling. 

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May 4, 2021

What makes an effective community manager? The HOA community manager is the unsung hero of the HOA community.

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April 27, 2021

One of the more common procedural tasks handled by property management companies is periodic exterior inspections.

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April 20, 2021

Among all of the foundational components of an HOA that allow it to operate, the HOA board of directors is an equally vital and necessary entity that all residents, including those seeking to become a board member, must understand in its entirety. The HOA board is arguably the heart of the HOA, helping regulate the flow of information and communication among the community while preserving and enforcing the foundational documents that define how the HOA is supposed to operate.

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April 13, 2021

What is a community association manager? If you're familiar with the show The Office, you’ll be familiar with the many unique and memorable characters. One character, in particular, Michael Scott, the funny, quirky office manager of Dunder Mifflin, always had a passion for being the “World’s Best Boss.” In fact, you may be surprised to know that many of the scenes featuring Michael Scott actually came with an invaluable lesson.

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April 6, 2021

There’s nothing quite like the stress of tax season. For HOA board members or property management companies, that stress can be exponentially greater trying to navigate when and how to prepare your respective HOA for tax season. What makes HOA tax returns complicated is their unusualness as a non-profit entity. For either newly-appointed board members or unseasoned property managers, filing this type of tax return properly can become quite a headache without proper guidance. 

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March 30, 2021

With the ever-expanding scope and use of the internet, along with an increasing demand for businesses in every sector to function virtually on some level, at least, technology has become an essential tool for most companies.

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March 30, 2021

With the ever-expanding scope and use of the internet, along with an increasing demand for businesses in every sector to function virtually on some level, at least, technology has become an essential tool for most companies. Technology being an important tool is also just as true for property management companies looking to steer through the post-COVID surge for online business and communications.

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March 23, 2021

As a community association manager (CAM), you play many roles in the HOA community. From helping the HOA manage the day-to-day operations, assist with requesting proposals, or managing contractors and vendors, a CAM’s role is vital to the overall function of the community.

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March 16, 2021

As any running business, HOAs operate in many of the same ways. From accounting, running the day-to-day operations, or setting agendas, these are only just a few of the responsibilities that come with running an HOA. In addition to these priorities, HOAs must also manage their residents' work order requests. The sole responsibility of the HOA management company is to ensure that the community is well maintained. As a result, the organization is happy, safe, and valuable. 

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March 9, 2021

Managing an HOA can produce several obstacles along the way as your management company looks to implement the most effective strategies possible for a well-functioning community. One of those obstacles that every property manager will inevitably face is assisting and managing the HOA’s governing board through turnover and structural changes.

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February 23, 2021

The communal aspect of living in an HOA is built on the harmonious relationship between homeowners and board members.

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February 16, 2021

When you work in an HOA, no day is the same. The daily meetings and consistent day-to-day obligations can sometimes become overwhelming. In addition to handling large-scale responsibilities such as landscaping, vendors, and even home maintenance, giving yourself time for anything else becomes limited. In these situations, hiring a contractor can sometimes be the best solution. Sounds easy, right?

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February 9, 2021

As we start to progress into the new year, HOAs will soon be occupied with writing the agenda for their yearly community gathering and board meetings. Not to mention the prep work that comes along with it

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February 9, 2021

As we start to progress into the new year, HOAs will soon be occupied with writing the agenda for their yearly community gathering and board meetings. Not to mention the prep work that comes along with it — organizing a location, managing food and beverages, creating an agenda, technical setup, and most importantly, making an announcement. 

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February 2, 2021

Managing multiple HOA communities can have many positive benefits that create value for management companies, such as: 

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January 26, 2021

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there are sure to be many HOA questions about what changes will be implemented to keep the community safe. Communication and transparency within businesses and community organizations, such as HOAs, are crucial. As we all try to navigate the challenging, fluid, and sometimes catastrophic nature of COVID-19’s effect on our daily lives, maintaining order within our communities stands to be one of the most effective ways to keep some form of normalcy

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January 19, 2021

During this time of lockdown, online meetings have become the new norm for many businesses and employees. It wouldn’t come as a surprise to say that video conferencing will soon be the new conference call. As we continue to utilize virtual communication in our everyday lives, we can only imagine the endless possibilities that will soon come our way.

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January 5, 2021

A crucial component to living within a Homeowners' Association is understanding and participating in the electoral processes that establish the HOA's governing board of directors.

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December 18, 2020

What can make buying a property within an HOA complicated for unprepared buyers is primarily due to buyers not knowing which documents they must have ready to file for the HOA board’s approval and documents the HOA needs to provide them before signing.

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December 4, 2020

When it comes to the changes in our HOA communities, it may be easy to assume that Covid-19 had the highest impact on many HOA budgets. Yet, according to a survey conducted by FirstService Residential in August of 2020, it was shown that “44% of surveyed board members said that the COVID-19 pandemic had not impacted their association budget.” It was found that “many boards are forward-thinking and have adapted well to the challenges.” On the contrary, 35% of board members said “the COVID-19 pandemic is negatively impacting their budget,” and 21% are not sure how it would affect their new budget. 

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November 30, 2020

An HOA’s foundational components are its governing documents that establish how exactly the association functions on a large and day-to-day scale. Governing documents are crucial to understanding for both the board members enforcing them and the HOA residents seeking to adhere to them.

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November 24, 2020

Black Friday is coming up in just a few days, and interestingly enough, residents will do most Black Friday shopping from the comfort of a couch or a bed. With the COVID-19 pandemic growing to be more dangerous than it has all year, every one of us is still having to remain indoors and distant from one another, making Black Friday shopping a tad difficult unless you head over to an online retailer

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November 17, 2020

If we think about how technology affects our everyday lives, you will quickly realize that technology affects the way we live, eat, think, and, most importantly, communicate. At the start of 2005, HOA management software companies opened their doors to discovering new ways to integrate technology into the HOA community; this resulted in helping HOAs increase efficiencies, all while reducing time and cost.

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November 5, 2020

If you’ve ever been a manager of an organization or business, you’re well aware of the hard work and dedication that it takes to do the job right. Now, management isn’t considered a skill that anyone can do.

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October 19, 2020

One of the most important aspects of a well-run HOA is establishing financial and structural security. Primarily, that security applies towards an HOA that maintains the financial stability and careful planning necessary. Board members play a crucial role in providing this type of security within an HOA through HOA reserve funds.

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October 15, 2020

Town Square) recently conducted a public survey that assessed how residents are feeling and how they are staying safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey offered results from more than 70,000 homes across the United States. 

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October 14, 2020

Property management can be a complex and time-consuming profession, with a large number of variables one has to juggle as a property manager. From screening prospective tenants to managing property inspections, or managing and enforcing resident dues and payments, property management can feel overwhelming without the necessary structures in place to alleviate some of that burden.

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October 5, 2020

As an HOA board member, you may be faced with difficult challenges that come with maintaining an HOA community.

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October 5, 2020

As an HOA board member, you may be faced with difficult challenges that come with maintaining an HOA community. It is in the boards best interest to serve their community and ensure that all governing documents are enforced according to their communities guidelines.

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September 26, 2020

Now that we have established the four traits to being an ideal neighbor, let’s explore how to act on these behaviors — trust, being quiet, friendly and respectful.

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September 26, 2020

Now that we have established the four traits to being an ideal neighbor, let’s explore how to act on these behaviors — trust, being quiet, friendly and respectful.

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September 23, 2020

In terms of creating the best, most well-run community possible, that builds strong foundations in both communications between board members and residents as well the daily operations that keep the community functioning, having a property manager assist in that process can be a tremendous asset.

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September 23, 2020

n terms of creating the best, most well-run community possible, that builds strong foundations in both communications between board members and residents as well the daily operations that keep the community functioning, having a property manager assist in that process can be a tremendous asset.

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September 18, 2020

What’s worse than having a grumpy neighbor? A disruptive neighbor. Getting involved in a neighborly dispute can not only lead to a sore relationship, but it can also bring many more troubles down the road.

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September 18, 2020

What’s worse than having a grumpy neighbor? A disruptive neighbor. Getting involved in a neighborly dispute can not only lead to a sore relationship, but it can also bring many more troubles down the road. As an HOA member, it’s important to understand the standards and rules behind neighborly etiquette.

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September 18, 2020

As more and more people around the world get used to working from the comfort of their homes, traditional retail sales continue to decline in light of the current global pandemic.

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September 17, 2020

connecting communities faster, with real-time communications through its global announcements feature. This time-saving function is critical during disaster situations, such as a hurricane, where important information can be delivered to hundreds of associations in less than a few minutes.

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