Archives: Model Tools

Hosting a garage sale can help members clear out their units and make some money while doing it. It also serves as a social function, if you serve light fare and drinks or have entertainment. But such an event—especially if it’s open to the public—could get out of hand if you don’t set rules governing…

Before conducting a survey, you should announce it and explain the purpose of the survey to members. Adapt the following letter to send to the members of your community you wish to survey. The letter conveys the importance of the member’s participation.

If the victim of a crime that took place in the community you manage sues the association for negligence, he’ll probably accuse it of taking inadequate security precautions. No matter how diligent your security measures are, an unforeseeable event still could happen. To head off an allegation that security wasn’t as good as it could…

A well-drafted code of conduct serves important dual purposes. It can be instrumental in encouraging board members to do the best job they possibly can when serving the interests of the community. It can also be used to deal with board members who have acted inappropriately. Ask your association’s attorney to help you adapt the…

According to the Community Associations Institute, 40 states currently have solar rights or solar easement provisions in place.

The information in this checklist covers the basic information that you want to know about lifeguard job candidates for the community pool. Remember to consult your state and local laws and also talk with the association attorney to make sure that you’ve taken every possible step to make the pool safe for members.

If the board of directors is interested starting a community garden, you can use the following survey to determine if residents support a garden program. You can also use the survey to recruit resident garden leaders to help you plan and manage the garden through the season.

The best way to find out why an employee is leaving is to ask her, using an exit interview. Armed with answers to the questions asked, you can take steps to make working for your community more attractive and, possibly, increase community spirit. Satisfied employees will be more responsive to a community’s needs and more…

Here’s a get-tough letter we wrote that you can adapt and send to a member who continues to use the roof of the condo building despite your prior warning not to do so. The letter reminds the member of your conversation with him in which you warned him not to use the roof; notes that…