Community Associations Network Industry News

The Arizona Association of Community Managers (AACM) announced today at the Arizona State Capitol the results of an independent study on the impact of professional community management in Arizona. The 2007 Arizona Community Management Impact Study contains key facts about Arizona residents' satisfaction with community management and the financial impact of management on Arizona housing values and economy.

"Millions of Arizonans are directly impacted by community management," says Linda Lang, AACM's executive director. "We commissioned this study to better understand the attitudes of Arizona's homeowners toward their community associations and have found the results to be overwhelmingly positive. Our research shows that HOAs and community management have a positive impact on property value and that homeowners are satisfied with their associations."

The study preview distributed at the Capitol includes the following key findings:

-- More than two-thirds of Arizona homeowners living in an association-governed community feel their community association has a positive impact on property values;

-- 86 percent of members of homeowners' associations feel their board of directors tries to do what's best for the community;

-- 74 percent of homeowners in HOAs feel the CC&Rs had a positive impact on property value; and,

-- More than 80 percent of survey participants feel it was important that their association use a management company that is a member of AACM, with more than one-third describing it as "very important."

"We are very pleased with the results of the study," explained Lang. "We intend for this survey to be an annual process. Our management company members and affiliate partners work hard to care for Arizona's communities and want to ensure they are providing the very best service to them."

A PDF of the Impact Study Preview can be downloaded and viewed at the following Web site address: http://www.aacmonline.org/News-Room~143626~10622.htm. This summary includes the methodology used in collecting the data, along with a full review the findings.

For more information please contact AACM at www.aacmonline.org or 602-685-1111.

About AACM:

The Arizona Association of Community Managers (AACM) is a professional organization dedicated to promoting a positive understanding of community associations and the contribution of professional management in the development, establishment and maintenance of Arizona's communities and property values. AACM is comprised of 42 management company members and 176 affiliate partners. Along with these trusted affiliates, AACM provides dedicated support to communities throughout Arizona. Through its Homeowners Outreach Program Enterprise (HOPE), AACM provides financial assistance to homeowners and communities and conducts annual charity projects. The HOPE grants and charity projects together contribute tens of thousands of dollars to those most in need. For more information, please contact AACM at 602-685-1111 or visit www.aacmonline.org.

Posted by Joe at 7:47 AM | Permalink

NORTH BRUNSWICK, N. J.- Kipcon Inc., a pioneer and leader in cost effective design and engineering solutions, has taken a leap forward in assisting community associations with minimizing the long-term costs associated with energy consumption, routine maintenance and replacement of capital assets with the introduction of Value Engineering Analysis, a service copyrighted by Kipcon Inc.

This new service is a complement to Kipcon's reserve studies, which have served as the industry standard for over 20 years. Value Engineering Analysis is an integrated approach to reviewing the three main areas of an association's budget - energy, maintenance and replacement parts - in order to better understand how those areas work together and how that knowledge can be used to reduce overall costs. A North Brunswick based full-service engineering firm, Kipcon is the first engineering company to offer this service.

In a standard reserve study, replacing capital components such as a deck or mechanical equipment is typically done by installing material and equipment similar to the original component. With Kipcon Value Engineering Analysis, a detailed review is undertaken, considering all of the materials and equipment that has to be replaced along with any associated costs, including energy and maintenance costs. Kipcon then makes recommendations for material and equipment upgrades that will result in long-term reductions in overall costs. By employing such an integrated approach, community associations will be able to reduce their total cost of operation as these replacements occur.

'The cost of operating a community association continues to escalate due to the increase in the cost of materials, maintenance and energy, and the demand for green communities is only going to escalate in the future,' said Mitchell H. Frumkin, president and founder of Kipcon Inc. 'An integrated approach towards Value Engineering is the next logical step in helping our clients operate the most cost-efficient communities that they can. We strive to provide the most up-to-date services for our clients, and we are extremely pleased to assist them in maintaining the value of their properties while saving them money on an ongoing basis."

Kipcon's Value Engineering Analysis is the first service of its kind for the community association industry. Frumkin, who has served as the president of the Community Associations Institute (CAI) and the CAI's National Research Foundation, developed the concept in order to better serve his clients.

'A perfect example of the benefits of this type of strategic analysis is the replacement of wood decks,' said Frumkin. 'Kipcon's Value Engineering Analysis would suggest replacing wood decks that require staining every five years and replacement every 15 years with a maintenance-free material substitute. The material cost may be 25 percent higher initially, but the deck will not require maintenance and will have an indefinite life span, removing it from the community association's reserve schedule all together.'

Value Engineering Analysis can also save thousands of dollars in the replacement of mechanical equipment. By installing higher efficiency equipment, energy costs go down and the association saves money over time.

The possibilities for energy savings using Value Engineering are nearly limitless - from replacing incandescent light bulbs with more energy conscience fluorescent bulbs to installing solar panels and low-flush toilets, the monetary and environmental rewards are numerous.

About Kipcon Inc.
Founded in 1986, Kipcon Inc. is a full-service engineering firm specializing in all engineering services related to community associations, from initial transition studies to ongoing upgrades and additional site amenities, including testing, feasibility studies and the preparation of reserve studies. Headquartered in North Brunswick, N.J. with offices in Washington D.C., Houston and Chicago, Kipcon has built a market leadership position serving community associations, real estate developers and tenants involved in new construction and facility renovations. Kipcon is well known for their ability to save clients money through cutting edge engineering services based on their industry leading knowledge of the community association marketplace. For more information about Kipcon, please visit www.kipcon.com or call 800-828-4118.

Posted by Joe at 7:58 AM | Permalink

February 11, 2008 – Portland, Oregon – Strateja-XL has developed an innovative online voting service, VOTE HOA NOW (http://www.votehoanow.com), for Home Owner Associations and Home Owner Management Companies. Strateja-XL offers web solutions, strategies, and online marketing tools for business.

Strateja-XL’s new HOA online voting service, VOTE HOA NOW, is designed to increase homeowner participation, to save time and money, to enhance security, to ensure homeowner privacy, and to be “greener” by reducing paper use. Strateja-XL will work with Home Owner Associations and HOA Management Companies to provide them with services and technical support that meet their specific requirements.
Strateja-XL, as a leader in web development and online communications, identified the need for HOA electronic voting while working with Home Owners Associations. Strateja-XL President, Scott McKeel, stated, “Homeowner Associations and HOA Management Companies spend a lot of time and money coordinating, managing, and tabulating homeowner voting. Their most difficult challenges include achieving full homeowner participation and reaching a quorum. VOTE HOA NOW, with its ease, efficiencies, and privacy, helps boast homeowner voting significantly, while cutting overall costs.”

About Stratja-XL - Strateja-XL was launched in 2006, merging the award-winning Anderson Buckle Creative (ABC) with Strateja. The firm has more than 50 years combined experience in web design and development, search engine optimization, marketing communications, and branding.

Posted by Joe at 9:31 PM | Permalink

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (January 21, 2008)--- Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink was the keynote speaker for a special dinner and panel discussion hosted by the Community Advocacy Network (CAN-www.canfl.com), one of Florida’s leading voices for common interest ownership communities. CAN hosted the event, held January 18 at the Signature Grand in Davie, on behalf of the Broward Coalition, the county’s largest and most powerful coalition of condominium and homeowner associations. More than 175 CAN members, association presidents and representatives, affinity partners and other community leaders attended the event.

Sink gave her address on “The State of the State’s Economy,” which included pending legislation affecting common interest ownership communities. CAN Executive Director Donna DiMaggio Berger, also a partner with the law firm of Katzman & Korr, talked about what association leaders can do to be better advocates for their communities. In addition, several experts addressed issues that affect Florida communities: Leo Delgado, President of CSI Associates talked about the digital age and FCC rulings; Corey Hayes of MASTEC/DIRECT PLUS spoke about telecommunications for community associations; Monte Kane of Kane & Company P.A. discussed fiscal responsibilities of board members; and attorney Alan Garfinkel of the Garfinkel Trial Group addressed insurance issues affecting associations.

“We were pleased to be able to bring together all of these experts under one roof to discuss important topics that affect associations and the dedicated volunteer directors who lead them,” said Donna DiMaggio Berger.

The CAN initiative focuses on education, outreach and advocacy services for all community associations including condominiums, cooperatives, homeowners’ associations, mobile home communities and timeshares in the state. CAN works on behalf of these groups to promote positive legislation and policies at the local, state and federal levels.

Through its interactive web site platform, CAN informs its members of pending legislation and provides them with the tools necessary to play a vital part in the political processes which impact their communities. The “Capitol Connection” e-mail feature enables members to quickly and easily correspond directly with members of the Florida Legislature, Senate and House Committees, City and County Commissions as well as local media outlets.

Another integral part of CAN is its “Affinity Program,” a resource that provides members with access to special discounts and services from participating vendors. The program features participants from various categories including banks, insurance agencies, property management services and accountants.

In addition to this feature, CAN also provides members with ongoing information on “best practices” they can implement in their own communities to save money and streamline operations as well as valuable information regarding hurricane recovery, insurance and financial resources.

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About Community Advocacy Network (CAN):

CAN is a non-profit organization that advocates on behalf of all types of common interest ownership communities to ensure their unique needs are understood by public policy makers. CAN assists its members with intensely targeted advocacy campaigns at all levels of government. CAN also offers its members an “Affinity Program,” which provides access to special discounts and services from participating vendors. CAN memberships cost $150 per community association with discounts being offered to umbrella organizations. For more information, contact Donna DiMaggio Berger at 954-315-0372 or visit www.canfl.com.

Posted by Joe at 3:15 PM | Permalink