The best association boards in the Windy City—those that accomplish the business of their communities effectively—often seem to have members with similar habits. By the same token, poor boards frequently make similar mistakes. But even goo…

Dealing with service vendors is a daily necessity for any condo development or HOA community; there are always things that need to be repaired, replaced, replenished, serviced, cleaned or renovated. Among the laundry list of vendors that C…

Social media impacts just about everyone…few escape its presence in personal life or the business world. Whereas Facebook was once a leading platform for millennials, the portal has increasing appeal to the aging demographic, especially in…

The highly popular Chicagoland Expo that takes place in the fall at the Navy Pier Convention Center now has a second venue. The Spring Chicagoland Expo will be coming to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois on Sat…

Chicago, the third largest city in the United States, is a multicultural hub that thrives on the diversity of its nearly 3 million residents and 77 distinct neighborhoods. Nestled on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan, Chicago is trav…

Q In this day and age, must notices of rule violations be sent by certified mail, or can they be sent via priority/tracking mail, or even email? Must resident complaints to a rules committee always be submitted via a standardized form, or…

As the co-op/condo market continues to heal after the setback it experienced during the financial crisis of late, many management firms and independent property managers are looking for ways to distinguish themselves from their colleagues …

Even the most successful property managers understand they don’t know everything, and with new developments happening in building technology, administration, and communication, a savvy manager will look to constantly learn about what’s new…

“Individual commitment to a group effort; that's what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” Legendary Green Bay Packers football coach Vince Lombardi left condo boards and managers off his short lis…

There is an old adage claiming that “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” This is not a happy thought for a board or association looking to change property managers or firms. To go through the turmoil involved in replacing…