The collapse of Champlain Towers South in Florida wasn’t just a tragic event, it was a wake-up call for community association and maintenance plans and programs. Since then, insurers have gotten stricter, lenders more cautious, and lawmakers busier than ever. With a little discipline and a plan, you can lead your community safely to the summit. Get started with a six-step preventive maintenance plan.
Over the past week, the stock market has suffered major losses that make even the most confident Wall Street trader stressed. Many community association board members also have been wondering: What should we be doing with our reserve funds right now? By grounding your community’s reserve strategy in timing, needs, and structure, you can reduce anxiety and increase confidence even in the face of market uncertainty.
Generating adequate reserve funding in your community can seem like a daunting task, but doing so is a necessary step in providing for ongoing preventative maintenance and structural inspections and repairs, and safeguarding your community’s future. An Iowa community association was forced to tackle their reserve funding head on when faced with severe maintenance challenges they couldn’t afford.
A carefully written investment policy should keep community associations on a straight and narrow path, say professionals who advise them. At Ford’s Colony Homeowners Association, a 2,600-home community in Williamsburg, Va., a finance committee of volunteers uses an investment policy to advise the board.
Community association managers wear many hats and must be well versed in a wide range of skills, all of which are equally important. One component of a manager’s role is to completely understand the financial management aspects of a business. This means knowing and interpreting the financial pieces as well as the nuances that come along with decisions.
