Winter in Chicago is no joke. Between icy sidewalks, snow-packed roofs, and biting winds, the cold season can become a logistical nightmare for homeowners’ associations (HOAs). If you’re managing an HOA, it’s up to you to ensure the property is prepared to handle whatever winter throws its way. Otherwise, you’re looking at costly repairs and frustrated residents. You can help your HOA sail through winter smoothly with a proactive approach and intelligent planning. Let’s examine the must-do maintenance tasks to keep everything in tip-top shape. Lock Down a Snow Removal Plan Snow removal isn’t just about convenience—it’s a safety issue. Slippery sidewalks and piled-up snow can lead to accidents and damage. Before the first snowflake falls, your HOA needs a solid plan. Start by reviewing the HOA’s budget. Does it cover snow plowing, de-icing, and roof snow removal? If heavy snowfall is expected, it might be wise to dip into the reserve fund to cover all bases. Do you already have a go-to snow removal vendor? Great! Schedule services early. If your HOA is still shopping around, look for reputable…
Snow will be here sooner than most of us would like; homeowners need to be ready to safeguard against winter weather. Learn signs of ice dams, and why they’re detrimental to your home.
Understand why relative humidity matters in your home, for the health of you and your home’s structure, and how to achieve ideal relative humidity.
No homeowner wants to deal with condo plumbing issues. Avoid major headaches by understanding HOA plumbing responsibilities, and some preventative practices.
Stormwater / retention ponds are essential to modern community planning to protect against storm drain overflow. As a bodies of water, they are inevitably an ecosystem that must be properly maintained in order to continue to serve their purpose.
Education is everything when it comes to understanding community association asphalt parking lot cost, getting the most mileage out of that investment, and avoiding injury lawsuits.
All homeowners should conduct annual home maintenance, and spring is the perfect time, especially in Chicagoland as winter ends.
How does a community association board decide when an engineer is a wise spend for a capital or maintenance project? Here we explain the role of a building engineer and when it is in your best interest to engage one.
The construction industry is not immune to the vast labor and materials shortages, as well as inflation, that all industries began suffering from in 2021. Here’s what is happening, and how community associations can navigate it as painlessly as possible.
Water damage is one of the worst things a homeowner can experience. If frozen pipes burst in a condo association, the damage and cost multiplies. In Chicagoland, it is crucial to take these steps every autumn.