It seems like it took forever to get here, but long warm days are on their way! Springtime feels like a fresh start for many of us as we begin looking forward to sunny days outdoors with friends and family – but as daffodils and crocuses pop up and cheerfully remind us that better days are […]
Living in a condo building, we use our elevators without a thought – they’re a part of our everyday lives. Reliable and convenient, it’s easy to forget that elevators are complex machines designed with our safety first and foremost in mind. So, it may come as a shock to condo owners when they realize just […]
Condo buildings are brimming with pipes. We don’t often give them much thought, but just beneath our walls are networks of these conduits. They carry the water we use to drink and bathe in, wastewater, and hot water that feeds our radiators and keeps us warm at night. It may not be sexy, but plumbing […]
If you’re anything like us – whether you’re a brand-new Alberta condo owner or you’ve been chipping away at your mortgage for years now – it’s hard not to feel an incredible amount of pride when you look at yourself in the light of being a homeowner. Being a condo owner is a different sort of […]
One of the big, fundamental advantages of being an Alberta condo owner is getting to embrace all the benefits of homeownership without having to commit yourself to many of the mundane, downright boring responsibilities that come along with it. Does the grass need cutting? There’s a guy coming on Tuesday for that. Does the sidewalk […]
There’s nothing cheap about making the decision to move. Realtor fees, legal fees, home inspection fees – the list goes on. Why then do condo corporations insist on charging people fees not just to move in, but even simply to leave the condo community on top of everything else? Well, believe it or not, it […]
When something’s not right with your water pipes… If you’re hearing plumbing noises in the walls or are experiencing issues with your plumbing, it’s good to know when the issue at hand is your responsibility or that of the condo board. What do the noises mean? As a condo owner, it’s likely you view your […]
It would be an understatement to say that 2020 has been an unusual year, and the current real estate forecast is a reflection of the unprecedented circumstances we’ve all been experiencing. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an economic domino effect, increasing unemployment rates while decreasing household incomes, residential construction activity, and property […]
Per Merriam-Webster, the definition of communication is: a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behaviours. It also states that communication is: information communicated; information transmitted or conveyed. When it comes to the condo business, communication is paramount. And as stated in the definitions above, it’s […]
Condo boards and management companies often seek out contractors to help them maintain and service their complexes. Some of the most common services condo associations hire require on a contract basis include: Residential cleaning Parking enforcement Waste collection HVAC system maintenance Carpet cleaning On-site security Building repairs and maintenance Depending on the circumstances, either the […]
The longer homeowners live in property the more they notice projects they’d like to take on and updates they’d like to make. It may be something simple (like adding a new backsplash in the kitchen) or it might be a larger undertaking (like replacing floors or installing a new, modern bathtub). Whatever the project, revamping […]
The sudden and unexpected emergence of COVID-19 in Canada has left thousands of condo owners across the country wondering if their financial stability, and therefore their homes, will be lost. Social media groups, online discussion forums, and comment sections have been abuzz with questions like: Do I still have to pay condo fees during the […]
It’s here. It’s here. It’s FINALLY HERE. The Alberta Condominium Property Act has, after more than five long years, finally been passed into legislation, coming into effect on January 1, 2020. What a journey it took to get here! For those who haven’t been following along (and for those who have, but whose memories simply […]
The time for making New Year’s resolutions has come and gone. Sorry, that’s just the way it is. We’re a month into our next spin around the sun, after all – there’s got to be a line in the sand somewhere! That said, while the New Year’s resolution ship may have sailed, the New Decade’s
Happy 2020 to condo owners, board members, and managers everywhere! New year, new you…new AGM? Chances are, you’re annual general meeting is scheduled in the near future. Are you 100% sure that you’re addressing and actioning the right opportunities to set your condo community, condo management, and condo corporation up for
If you’ve ever sat on a condo board, chances are, you’ve shared the same, pie-in-the-sky dream. You know the one: you walk into that board meeting, and everybody’s immediately on the same page. The business of the day gets taken care of line-by-line, point-by-point, with the sort of efficiency that would bring even the most
Your condo board runs a pretty tight ship. Meetings are efficient, AGMs are informative, and day-to-day operations are smooth and trouble-free. You do a good job keeping things on the up-and-up. The community is happy, dialogue between board members and condo owners is free-flowing, and overall, things are pretty danged good.
It’s been just over a month since the long-awaited amendments to the Alberta Condominium Property Act (CPA) came into effect on July 1, so we thought this would be the perfect opportunity to take a bit of a look back on the changes that took place, how they’re being received, and if –
Here in Alberta, we’ve grown accustomed to waiting exceptionally long periods of time for two things: the start of real, honest-to-goodness summer weather, and the arrival of true condo legislation reform. At the time of writing, we’re still waiting for both these things to make their appearance across our province – but the good news
The condo management business is a funny one. In nearly every other industry you can think of, there exists a clear set of expectations and agreements regarding the role and relationship between client and service provider – but somewhere along the way, those lines got a bit blurry for folks in our industry of work.
Are you somebody who really enjoys micro-managing things? Do you like biting off more than you can chew? Looking for a full-time job that pays absolutely nothing? Then have we got the gig for you: condo community self-management! Okay, okay. We’re having a bit of fun up there with our intro, but in reality, condominium
Generally speaking, when we imagine situations that might require taking out an insurance policy, the particulars are usually quite thrilling: travelling to far-off lands, for example, or taking part in any number of death-defying activities like skiing or white-water rafting. Even driving a car fits the bill, given the speeds and risks involved
February’s a funny month. It often finds condo board members torn between two conflicting desires. On the one hand, most folks are desperately looking forward to the end of winter and the return of warmer, sunnier weather. On the other, the imminent arrival of spring means that you’ll finally have to tackle those repairs highlighted
If you’ve been following this blog for any amount of time, you’ll know that we’ve been talking about amendments to the Alberta Condominium Property Act (or CPA) for a long, long while now. It might be hard to believe, but for as long as we’ve been chatting about these changes, the government’s been discussing them
Okay, right off the bat, we’ll be the first people to agree with you: the knee-jerk reaction most people have at the thought of needing a lawyer is one of cold, primal fear. Maybe we’ve all been watching too many Law & Order re-runs, but whenever there’s talk of needing to bring on a lawyer
Getting people excited about sitting on their building’s condo Board of Directors can be a bit of a tough sell – and honestly, we can’t say that we blame anyone for being reluctant to make the commitment. Condo boards have earned themselves a bit of a bad rap. Oftentimes, all that residents hear about are
One of the most useful tools a condominium has to plan for the future is the humble reserve fund study. If you’re sitting at your computer, scratching your head and trying to recall just what exactly a reserve fund study is, don’t worry, we’re here for you.
The plain truth is that Alberta is a cyclical economy, where we go through steady boom and bust markets. Markets where everything is happening all the time and then markets where everything is stalled.
What You Should Expect from Your Property Manager You own a condo unit and are keen to rent it out. Along the way, you realize that you just don’t want to manage everything that goes into renting your condo, such as putting a rental notice
Green bins are finally coming to Calgary, bringing a much needed “greenness” to our city. But what does this mean for your condo building? How will your condo manage the aspects of implementing this new program and, once implemented,
What your condo management contract is actually saying In reading your Condominium Management Services Contract, do you feel like it’s not talking to you? “There’s so much jargon,” “it’s full of redundancies, but isn’t saying anything clearly,
We’ve all been around them – the one person who needs to be heard, who always has an opinion and likes to make sure everyone knows it. But, what if this person is doing more damage than good to the overall effectiveness of your condo board?
Making real impact from within for your condo building This is it! This is the year you’re joining your Condo Board to become more involved with your condo community. Before you sign up, make sure you understand the realities of what being an effective
The choice of the right property management company will have a significant impact on how successfully your community property is managed. Timely payment collections, following maintenance schedule, communicating effectively with residents,
When it comes to creating new policies for your condo association, it is important to keep all points in mind to eliminate any disputes or complex situations. Make sure that everyone including the members and residents fully understand the responsibilities
When it comes to repairs and maintenance, condominium residents face lots of uncertainty. If repairs are required in the common areas and apartments, who should be responsible for them. This is frequently occurring issue that can be seen in
Condo boards hold complete responsibilities for managing their community. The board is responsible for managing all fiduciary and financial aspects of all the projects. You can outsource several aspects of your functions to a condo management company,
Raising the annual assessments is simply the most detested steps you can take. It can be even more concerning at a time when the economy is not doing so well. The key to prevent the board from taking this action is to follow other methods to increase
Many Canadians think that special assessments are mandatory. However, that is not the truth. If you have a well-managed condo community, you can rely on your reserve funds as and when it is required. There are ways to prevent special assessments.