Townhome Associations - Minnesota

Figuring out Salt DeIcers for commercial properties

2010-10-24T16:16:00.000-05:00

The use of salt as a deicer on townhome roads and sidewalks is the preferred method to promote safe motor vehicle and pedestrian travel during winter months. The most commonly used deicing salt is sodium chloride (NaCl). Sodium Chloride effectively depresses the freezing point of water to melt ice. But what are the impacts of salt applications to drinking-water supplies and watershed ecosystems?

Budgeting options for commercial snow removal

2010-10-21T16:18:00.000-05:00

The vast majority of property managers think of only 1 or 2 ways to specify snow removal services. This article talks about the good and bad of some interesting methods! The best methods to budget snow removal for your sites this winter: There are innovative ways to budget your snow removal that most property managers are unaware of. They are (in order of wildest swings in meeting budget to most

Summer swelter damages lawns in 2010

2010-10-18T14:15:00.000-05:00

Summer Swelter Stresses Lawns Inside our company, we’ve been discussing mother nature’s effect on our lawns. It’s no surprise that it’s been a strange season for weather. Honestly, every season seems strange. This one started out with over 400 funnel clouds early in the season, followed by plenty of rainfall, and an extended period of hot, humid weather. The item that’s caught our attention is

Townhome living maintenance free? I think not

2010-10-08T13:14:00.000-05:00

Maintenance Free Living! Really? “When a member asked me to address the belief of homeowners, that HOA living is maintenance free living, the zippy Green Acres theme song came to mind immediately. “Green Acres is the place for me, farm livin’ is the life for me… It continues on “The Chores.. The Stores.. Fresh Air… Town Square…”I mean, the whole premise of the show was about Eddie Albert & Eva

Standardizing Specifications as your competitive advantage

2010-10-04T16:08:00.001-05:00

Using Standardized Specifications as a Property Managers Unique Service Proposition.By Steve Hoogenakker Steve@Landscape.ProIt was a hot Monday afternoon in July and the humidity made it feel like an Indian sweat lodge. The air conditioner was refusing to work through another day, much like the temp that was hired here last week. My desk, looking like it belonged to Andy Rooney was strewn with

Emerald Ash Borer and Property Managers. What's next?

2010-05-24T10:07:00.001-05:00

TO BE PUBLISHED JUNE 15, 2010 Emerald Ash Borer’s effect on common interest communitiesBy Steve Hoogenakker and the MDAWhy should I care about EAB?All ash trees are susceptible to EAB and millions of ash trees have been killed in infested areas already. It’s estimated that townhome associations may have as many as 40% of their trees as ash trees. Minnesota has one of the highest volumes of ash on

CAI Community Associations Institute and LinkedIn for property managers

2010-05-22T09:52:00.004-05:00

& By Steve Hoogenakker Concierge Landscape EnvironmentsLinkedIn and CAI – The link to the top professionals in the CAI CommunityWhat is LinkedIn and why is it so important to property managers & HOA’s? First of all, it’s the best way to post your questions and have them answered by your peers. Second, there are members of groups like CAI and CAI Minnesota that you can join for free and get timely

The case of the missing specs

2010-04-08T11:23:00.000-05:00

The Case of the Missing ContractBy Steve HoogenakkerIt was a hot Monday afternoon in July and the humidity made it feel like an Indian sweat lodge. The air conditioner was refusing to work through another day, much like the temp that was hired here last week. My desk, looking like it belonged to Andy Rooney was strewn with paperwork facing every direction. Emails had come in over the weekend

2010-04-06T12:04:00.001-05:00

LEADERSHIP and THE BOARD: A Story for board members and company owners:By Steve HoogenakkerThere comes a point in time in every leaders time when he or she is tired of spearheading every initiative and dragging and cajoling the other members to help. At that point, they look to take their board or company to another level, either to create more energy, creativity or create more balance in their

Property Mangers a way to cut back phone calls and emails

2010-04-02T11:17:00.001-06:00

Property Managers, a FREE method to cut your workload, phone calls while making customers even happier. By Steve HoogenakkerAs I was cleaning out emails from 2009, I noticed I had about 100 emails from a multi-family townhome customer from this summers’ service. Wow, I thought, I didn’t realize we had as many back and forth communications. Besides, this didn’t count the 40-50 phone calls over the

Fraudsters Beware, State Proposes Condo Cops

2009-03-29T19:22:00.000-06:00

Could this happen in your state?) A new police force could soon be deputized to monitor the operations of thousands of Florida condominium associations, some of which are victims of fraud. Florida State Rep. Julio Robaina, R-Miami, and his counterpart Florida State Sen. Rudy Garcia, R-Hialeah, have filed companion bills in the state legislature to create a four-person police force to be based in

Is it time to ask vendors to cut rates?

2009-03-05T19:31:00.000-06:00

The short answer is Yes, kind of, When Dan Greenstein brought the subject up yesterday about freezing contractor prices for 1-3 years or doing an outright cut, there were nervous coughs from the vendors in the audience. Can I afford a bidding war this year? No, Will my service come in as low bid most of the time, No. Do I make a ton of money, No, so there's no room to cut, right? My cost for fuel

Half the room, all the assessment in Roseville

2009-03-05T19:28:00.000-06:00

By JEAN HOPFENSPERGER, Star Tribune Last update: January 25, 2009 - 10:48 PM what you do not know What was not in the article, there are 47 units of the 47 five are small, about half the size as the larger units. The Board members all … read more live in the large units. Many of the large unit owners have been here for 40 years. I am an owner in a small unit and I did read and understand the

VACANCIES SPIKE, PRICES PLUMMET

2009-03-05T19:14:00.000-06:00

For renters with leases about to expire, it's time to negotiate. Landlords are working extra hard these days to keep units filled. More from BusinessWeek.com : • Rents Drop Nationwide as Vacancies Spike • The Best and Worst Housing Markets of 2008 • How Much Home You Can Buy for $500,000 Of course, your ability to hold on to an apartment—especially a luxury unit—depends on how secure you feel

Free Help from KARE 11 if you're afraid of foreclosure

2009-02-09T20:38:00.001-06:00

Foreclosure Prevention Telephone seminar, KARE-11 News provide two chances for worried homeowners to seek help this weekThis week, homeowners will have two opportunities to have their questions answered from the comfort and convenience of their home. On Tuesday, the Minnesota Home Ownership Center is offering the first of its 2009 series of telephone seminars. The following evening, KARE-11 will

JOIN LINKEDIN. It's Free and it's great for business

2009-02-09T19:53:00.003-06:00

The CIC industry has need for a lot of knowledge and a lot of contacts.Joining LinkedIn is free. Sign up at the site, then lookup Steve Hoogenakker and link with me. You can look through my list of other property managers, and link with them.You can also go to groups. There are 3 groups that serve your community.1 Townhome and CIC site, THIS SITE IS YOURS2. CAI - Minnesota3. CAI - NationalAt

Metro Extension Agent Phone numbers

2009-02-09T19:50:00.002-06:00

AnokaYard and Garden Line 763-767-2891General Info 763-755-1280 Leave message.Calls returned. Note: Your phone line must be able to receive blocked callsBunker Hills Activity Ctr 550 Bunker Lake Blvd NW Andover, MN 55304CarverMG Yard and Garden Line 952-466-5308Leave message 24/7. MG will return call.11360 Highway 212 W Ste 4Cologne, MN 55322Dakota651-480-7700Leave message. MG will return

Links and articles for the CAI February Luncheon

2009-02-04T12:27:00.003-06:00

Here are the links you'll want for future lawn and landscape information. There are also many articles below this posting that apply only to Common Interest CommunitiesFeel free to read, comment and "share".www.cai-mn.com For the homeowner session coming up February 25th Taylor Made Landscape website link for University of Minnesota Extension site (Trees and Shrubs)http://www.extension.umn.edu/

Townhome Associations - Minnesota: Half the room, all the assessment in Roseville

2009-01-27T11:28:00.000-06:00

Townhome Associations - Minnesota: Half the room, all the assessment in Roseville

Half the room, all the assessment in Roseville

2009-01-27T11:10:00.003-06:00

Half the room, all the assessment in RosevilleA Roseville townhouse owner is questioning the fairness of a city "housing improvement" plan that lends townhouse associations cash for renovations but doesn't assure balanced assessments. By JEAN HOPFENSPERGER, Star Tribune Last update: January 25, 2009 - 10:48 PMFeatured comment what you do not knowWhat was not in the article, there are 47 units of

Taylor Made for Townhome Associations

2008-10-08T09:27:00.003-05:00