F&F Property Management, a mid-sized company located in Brookline, Massachusetts, has been in business for over 25 years, specializing in all aspects of association management in Brookline, Brighton and Allston. We have always tried to manage properties within a few miles of our office; we have found that proximity facilitates site visits, expedites service calls and helps us promptly address ... read more

Most community associations that were established 30 years ago or more have been forced in recent decades to face the costly task of replacing their private streets. While all associations have numerous responsibilities for the replacement of very expensive common area infrastructure, typically including roof replacements, the private street replacement responsibility is perhaps different and more... read more

Recreational programs can make or break an age-restricted community. No longer is it enough to offer the occasional trip to the casino or the weekly bridge club. Today’s retirees want quality of life; they plan to spend their days growing old gracefully with fun and vigorous leisure activities. Active adult communities that combine a variety of lifestyle and entertainment amenities have become t... read more

Questions from readers The Recreation Committee of the condominium association where I own a unit is considering removing the lock from the gate around the 68,000-gallon swimming pool, after keeping it locked for the last 22 years. As a concerned unit owner, I wanted to check with you to see if you know of any adverse experience with unlocked swimming pools and recreation areas that could be cons... read more

As I write this, I’m looking at all the devices sitting on my desk: a Blackberry, a Dell Notebook, a hard-wired phone, an iPod and a variety of chargers and USB cables for my current and previous cell phones and other electronic devices. My computer is set to receive e-mail, keep track of the market and gather news on world events while my Blackberry is waiting for calls and text messages from c... read more

Achieving success as a community association manager ultimately comes through getting one’s feet wet; perseverance, learning the industry and fine tuning clear communication skills are critical. For those new to the field, the key is learning the basics early in the game in order to develop an overall understanding of the management industry. With a solid training program, companies can ease man... read more

When it comes to managing the needs of a condominium’s residents, it can be nearly impossible to find solutions that please every resident all of the time. People take for granted the benefits of the association and consider dues a mandatory assessment. As a result, no one raves to family and friends about the amazing trash collection service their association has selected or the quality of the ... read more

In the landscape industry, pesticides are a vital force in the upkeep of plant material. One of the misconceptions of pesticides is that they are only for killing or preventing insects, but they actually perform a wide variety of purposes, such as weed control, mice or other animal deterrents and the killing and preventing of harmful bacteria and fungi. Also, pesticides are not just exclusive to t... read more

Since condo association members don’t live in the garage, parking garage issues don’t often get to the top of the to-do list. Jim Stoller, architect/developer and president of The Building Group, a Chicago-based condominium association management firm, warns that this oversight can sometimes lead to costly problems and rancor among members, and it can set an association back for years. Luckily... read more

Community associations depend on collecting assessments from unit owners to ensure they have sufficient income to continue operating. Unit owners in foreclosure often have not paid their assessments to the association. Both condominium and homeowners’ associations face these collection issues. The Florida legislature has limited the liability of mortgagees who hold the right to enforce the first... read more