Minimize board activity outside of scheduled meetings and working sessions. Allow the manager time to complete the action items and collect the information required by the Board to make informed decisions. Constant dialogue outside of meetings consumes time, creates confusion, and causes burnout for both the manager and volunteer Board members. Exchanging occasional emails is
Curious about the history of Hammersmith Management, and all of the work John Hammersmith put into his community association management business? CAI recently published an Executive Insights article explaining how a small family business went from providing computerized accounting services to Leaders in Community Management®. Follow the link here CAI Executive Insights for the full article. Enjoy!
As the weather turns from the cold of winter to the sunny days of spring, it is the perfect time to walk your community and note what, if any, work needs to be done to keep your association looking its best. Regular site visits are conducted by community managers, but board members and residents can also take
Disorganized and inefficient meetings represent one of the biggest challenges for HOA Boards. The monthly Board meeting should last no more than two hours, and the most productive meetings stay on a pace with an agenda. Implement the following strategies to ensure your Board meetings run smoothly and end in a timely manner: Prepare. Every Board
Spring is here! With spring officially beginning on March 20th, it is the perfect time for homeowners to think about getting to those cleaning, maintenance, or improvement projects that sat idle all winter long. A house is one of the biggest purchases a person will ever make, and most want to keep their homes looking beautiful not
With spring right around the corner, homeowners may be contemplating doing that home repair that has been left unattended all winter. If this repair is not covered by your Association, you may be wondering where to start in your search for a contractor. Let Hammersmith help. With all the different companies and contractors out there, it’s tough to find
As we wrap up our series on Keeping the Peace in your community association, it seems that no matter how much effort is put into resolving conflicts peacefully or preemptive measures taken to welcome new neighbors and invite the entire community to events, there are the inevitable struggles that arise between neighbors. In Part 5
Talking with immediate neighbors is an easy thing to do. When you are next door, you see them most often either coming to or going from their house and you can quickly say hello, or ask a brief question. But what about those neighbors a few houses down? You may not get the chance to
In community associations, neighbors may come and go without many of their other neighbors even noticing. In Part 3 of our "Keeping the Peace" series, we discuss how just the smallest act of welcoming a new neighbor or family to the community can make all the difference. Be Welcoming. HOAs should engage their community with
In any Association there will probably be certain behavior that brings with it complaints from neighbors. Resolving these conflicts quickly and effectively is key to keeping the peace in your community. The questions are what can be done to reach a resolution and does the Association, Board of Directors, or community manager have an obligation to step