BoardSpace Blog
Pot and Condos: Communicating out of a stink
What is the stink about pot? Pot certainly has a distinctive odour, but it’s not the smell that is causing a stink but it’s legalization. Pot (or cannabis) will soon be legal in Canada, and where it is already legal as in many US states, it has caused some friction...
A directors toolkit for renovation success
Originally published in Vol 32 #4 September 27, 2017 in Condo Business Magazine Given how much corporations are likely to invest in renovation projects, it’s important to set them up for success. Here’s advice to help directors do just that. The reserve fund study...
Characteristics of the Best Condo Property Manager in the World
I only want World-class Property Managers (WPM) to manage my condo. After working with many managers over the past ten years, I know first-hand that WPMs make my job as a condo board director much easier. What makes a WPM so amazing? I have found it often comes down...
How to make meetings fun again
Meetings are NO fun! And not having the meeting minutes before the meeting makes the meeting even less fun. Directors of nonprofit organizations, condominiums and homeowner associations attend a lot of meetings. Directors usually attend at least one meeting every...
Condo corporation facing a special assessment?
Originally published in Condo Business Magazine May/June 2017. Vol.32 #2 Making decisions as a condo director is part of the job. Financial decisions, especially those involving special assessments or fee increases, are tough. Making tough decisions will never be...
Keep Track of the Money: Finance and Condos
Money is a top-of-mind topic for condos. Following the money is hard without good policies and procedures. This blog fills the gap on financial policy. Monthly Financial Review Reviewing the condo’s monthly financial statements is one of the most important tasks each...
Five things new condo directors need to know now
Originally published on Friday, December 16, 2016 in Condo Business Magazine What do new condo directors need to know right away? Congratulations on getting elected to the condo board! Now the fun begins. For first-time directors, there is an overwhelming amount of...
How to be a successful condo board director
In a previous post, I provided a checklist of best practices that successful boards use. Successful boards are made up of successful directors. What makes a successful condo board director? Here are five characteristics I’ve noticed that are common to the best...
How to Make Good Governance Policies for Condo Boards
Policies may not seem like an exciting topic, but they are crucial to the success of any condo board. I divide policies into three areas: Governance Financial Communications An earlier post described best practices in communication. In this post, I start with a...
How to Make Condo Boards Successful: The Ultimate Checklist
One of the questions I'm often asked is what makes a condo board successful. I've been in the thick of things as President of my condo board, and I've spoken to people involved with dozens of other condo boards. From that experience, I've compiled the ultimate...