Since it is the fiduciary duty of both community managers and boards of directors to spend an association’s money wisely, they bid out several projects annually and depend on their service providers to do a good job. This will help the service provider get more work and in turn be a positive reflection on the […]

What Are Your Association’s Bidding Practices?
In conversations with HOA board members about upcoming maintenance projects, I am often surprised that a board does not realize the importance of going out to bid on projects or contracted services. An HOA maintenance project’s success starts with a bidding policy that minimizes unfair bidding practices and helps to ensure that the Association’s money […]

A Simple Walkthrough
As I was walking my dogs, I noticed how dark it was. I was using a flashlight to make sure I didn’t trip and fall on the uneven pavement. It made me think about Daylight Savings Time and that in a couple of weeks it will get dark even earlier for those of us traveling […]

That First Impression
Driving home after dark recently I noticed a popular restaurant where half the lights in its sign were not illuminated. Were they were going out of business and didn’t have the money to buy lightbulbs, or did they just not care about the impression they were giving their customers? I believe that presentation is everything, […]

The Industry Standard for a Community Association Manager
People enter the community association management profession from all backgrounds and education levels. Good customer service and time management skills are the bare minimums required. To establish credibility in this industry, I advise anyone seeking a manager position (or wanting to advance from receptionist to manager) to first obtain a certification. Certification requires taking a […]
About Joan
Joan Urbaniak is an author, blogger, educator, nonprofit management expert and Executive Director of Community Associations Institute-Greater Los Angeles Chapter. For more than 25 years she has provided resources and education to countless homeowners association boards of directors and their professional managers. Joan created this blog to share industry best practice tips she has learned over the years.