Sharper Launches Educational Video Library
We are incredibly excited to launch our Video Resource Library – which contains nearly 100 professionally filmed educational videos with topics ranging from insurance, governing documents, financials, association meetings, and more. Although there are nearly 6 hours of total footage, each video is a short 2-8 minutes in length with a particular and focused topic. […]
Legislative Changes Affecting HOAs
The 2023 legislative session in Minnesota was active, with several significant bills that will impact community associations in the state. Below is an abbreviating listing of those topics. As the laws are further defined and incorporated into daily living in HOAs, we will continue diving deeper into these topics in future newsletters and publications. Marijuana/Cannabis […]
Construction Chat: Navigating a Bad Ice Dam Year
The up-and-down temperatures, rare January rain storms, and the record-breaking snow totals we’ve experienced so far this brutal winter have been the perfect recipe for ice dam formation on various types of roofs. Ice dams are particularly tricky for Associations because the line between Homeowner vs. Association responsibility can become rather blurred. First, it is […]
Snow Removal Reminders
The snow has begun to fall. We would like to remind everyone about factors that may come into play during a snow event. Trigger Depth Most HOA contracts will state an accumulation total that must be met before snow removal services commence. For most places, the trigger depth is between 1-2 inches of snow. Accumulations […]
Board Tips: Meeting Room Setup
As some associations resume in-person meetings, one thing to consider going in to your 2023 meeting schedule is the oftentimes overlooked detail of simply how the room is set up. Remember, a board meeting is a BOARD meeting. It is not a membership/homeowner meeting. Homeowners can be there for observation or to address the board […]
Board Training Opportunity – Jan 18, 2023
Sharper Management will present the first in a series of board training opportunities on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, 6 p.m. at the Wells Fargo Plaza, 2nd Floor Training Room at 7900 Xerces Avenue in Bloomington, MN 55431. The 90-minute session will be led by director of business development and education, Josh Reams, CMCA, AMS, PCAM. […]
Board Training – Section II – October 26
The second section in Sharper’s Board Training program is scheduled for Wednesday, October 26th, 6 p.m. at the Wells Fargo Plaza located at 7900 Xerxes Avenue in Bloomington. This free 90-minute session will focus on financials and insurance. Led by Sharper’s director of business development and education, Josh Reams, – and president of Insurance Warehouse, […]
Association Funds: Operating vs Reserve
Since most associations are on a calendar fiscal year, your Board of Directors and Management will soon start working hard to establish your 2023 Operating Budget. This budget, essentially, sets your “dues” – so we thought it would be a timely opportunity to explain the difference between the “operating budget” and funds VS the “replacement […]
Having Dogs in an HOA: Rules and Courtesies
Living in a condo or townhome means you need to be respectful of your neighbors, and poorly trained dogs and inattentive owners can cause problems. If you have a dog in your HOA, here are some things to be aware of: Excessive barking It’s inevitable that dogs will bark throughout the day, whether they’re telling […]
Staying Safe During Storm Season
We’ve entered storm season here in the Midwest, so now is a good time to go over some tips for staying safe. In a condo or other high-rise building, there isn’t always a basement or underground parking garage to take shelter in. So, in the case of severe weather, what should you do? No matter […]