Everyone recognizes the critical roles outdoor lighting plays for a community, from improving security and visibility to enabling nighttime activities and enhancing “curb appeal.” So the related expense generally is viewed as a necessary evil. But your clients might find they could reap substantial savings by upgrading to LED, or light-emitting diode, lighting. LED Advantages…

This week, we take a look at the results of survey of almost 650 HOA members, drilling down into the details to learn how much they think their HOAs help, or hinder, them. One of the keys to effective community association management is meeting and beating member expectations — so it sure would help to…

We tell you about the how one condo owner tormented her neighbors, the condo association board, and the association’s management company — and how they finally found relief. Dealing with disruptive residents ranks high on the list of thorny problems community associations — and their management companies — can run into. You’ve probably had your…

Sometimes owners strike out on their own and file lawsuits they think their associations should be filing—but does that mean the association has to reimburse them for their legal costs? The guiding principle regarding action, or lack thereof, is clear in most community associations: The majority rules. Sometimes, though, fired-up owners who disagree with the…

Dear Insider, For almost 20 years, Community Association Management Insider has served readers with news, tips, and tools that help our subscribers run successful communities. Today, I’m very pleased to announce that Community Association Management Insider is now published by Plain-English Media. The most important question: What does this change of ownership mean to readers?…

With spring weather taking hold in most parts of the country, community association managers can expect the blossoming of questions and concerns from owners about landscaping. Even with associations that already have board-approved landscaping plans in place, managers might have owners demanding already-scheduled maintenance, planting in common areas without permission, or micromanaging the gardening crew.…

“E-payments” first came on the scene about 25 years ago or so, and it’s estimated that more than half of U.S. bills are paid online these days. Consumers use online payments to pay for everything from mortgage, credit card, and car payments to utilities and monthly subscriptions. This is Part 1 of a 2-part series.…

Dealing with disruptive residents ranks high on the list of thorny problems community associations—and their management companies—can encounter. You’ve probably heard your fair share of complaints about people violating parking rules or failing to clean up after their pets, but you’ve hopefully never dealt with anything close to the multi-year reign of terror conducted by…

One of the keys to effective management is meeting and beating community association member expectations — so it sure would help to know what your members think about their associations. The website insurancequotes.com has provided a valuable peek into the minds of HOA members with their results of their recent “Honest About HOAs” survey. The…

The guiding principle regarding action, or lack thereof, is clear in most community associations: The majority rules. Sometimes, though, fired-up owners who disagree with the majority decide take matters into their own hands. That’s what happened in a Wisconsin case involving a dispute over ownership of a sewage system that was an association’s common element.…