If you’re keen enough on condos to be sitting here reading this blog, you’ve at least heard of the Alberta Condominium Property Act – but do you know what sorts of details and information are actually in the act? Like, know what’s in there? Without looking it up? If you’re on the up-and-up when it […]
Sustainable Living Tips and Eco-Friendly Initiatives for Urban Condos In the dynamic heart of urban centers, a transformative movement is reshaping the essence of condominium living. As urban landscapes become increasingly populated, the urgency for sustainable living escalates, presenting a complex challenge that Catalyst Condos embraces with vigor. Sustainable Living Thrives with Catalyst Condo Management […]
The City of Calgary required persons who wanted to use their property as a short-term rental to get a business license. This was introduced by the city in 2020. The City amended the “Business Code” on June 6, 2023. “License Bylaw” governs the operation of short-term rental services. These include AirBnB or VRBO. There are […]
Are you considering buying or living in a condominium in Alberta? The role of the condo board is crucial in ensuring a well-managed community. Catalyst Condo Management is one of Alberta’s top condo management experts. In this article, we’ll explore the qualities that make an excellent condo board in Alberta. It may be effective communication […]
Don’t get bogged down when trying to understand your condominium management contract. As you may know already, there is a lot of paperwork to go over when owning a condo property. Only some people are experts when it comes to understanding all the various contracts and legalese that you may see regularly. We’d argue that […]
So – you’ve heard from all your condo-dwelling friends just how excellent condo ownership can be, and now you’re looking to make it happen for yourself. Congratulations! We’re huge fans of the condo lifestyle and everything that comes with it. The community, convenience, and contractors handling all the snow shovelling are the best. That said, […]
Finding a trusted management company for your condominium is an important step for most property and real estate owners. Today, let’s investigate why condo management companies are essential. They provide a service that helps increase the value of condo properties. It is often overlooked how much work needs to be put into properly managing an […]
Contracts of all sorts can have a bit of an intimidating sense about them – but they’re ultimately there to benefit both parties on either side of whatever agreement is being made. Condo contracts are no different. However, rather than being scary, intimidating documents filled with near-indecipherable legal language, the savvy condo board should instead […]
Finding the right condo management company for you is an essential step to take for your condominium property. Join us today to learn more about what to look for when selecting an excellent condominium management company. Selecting a condo management company can seem like a daunting task. With all the options out there, and the […]
When creating and fostering a thriving condo community, unit owners will often wonder just how closely their condo corporation should tread in building their management tactics around tried-and-true professional enterprise practices. In other words: are condo corporations like businesses? And, beyond that, does it make sense to treat them as such? That sounds […]
When keeping your condo investment protected, one of the simplest and most effective places to start is fire safety. And when it comes to fire safety, it’s hard to think of a more impactful element than your smoke alarm. Your first line of defence against any fire-related situation that might arise, your smoke alarm […]
We all like knowing that things are being handled fairly. It goes all the way back to fighting with our siblings over whose turn it was to use that one red plastic cup at lunchtime, counting the days of the week to make sure your diabolical little brother wasn’t trying to pull a fast one […]
The new year is a time to look back and take stock of things. To reflect, reminisce, and even reconsider. To set yourself up for success and prosperity over the next twelve months, whatever they might bring. We’re all about raising standards here at Catalyst, so we can definitely get behind this sort of inward-focused […]
The cost of everything continues to rise here in Canada, wreaking havoc on condo budgets and reserve funds from coast to coast. If your condo corporation has started to turn a frugal eye toward any and every opportunity to cut costs, know that you’re not alone. Cuts have been the name of the game lately […]
Condo boards hold a lot of power when it comes right down to it. After all, they set the tone for the condo community – steering its course, plotting its priorities, and ultimately shaping its direction in the months and years to come. With that much weight and authority over the lives and investments of […]
Even the best and brightest condo board members can feel the exhaustion from time to time. No matter your position, the demands placed on condo boards can be taxing. The result is burnt-out board members with individuals phoning it in and governing bodies that become stagnant, tired, and ineffective. Because board burnout can sometimes […]
Quick – your next-door neighbour accidentally set the microwave for two hours instead of two minutes, and now those hot pockets he was warming up have caught fire and set the whole condo building ablaze! Where do you go? How do you evacuate? Who’s in charge of making sure everyone got out okay? And most importantly: […]
When it comes to the ins and outs of condo documentation, the details can sometimes be as complex and in-depth as the documents themselves – and if you’ve ever had to try and make sense of a post-tension cable report, well, you’ll know exactly what we mean! That said, there is definitely a method to the […]
You might have heard, “Location, location, location!” before when it comes to what makes a condo unit desirable, but what about “Amenities, amenities, amenities!”? While it may not roll off the tongue in quite the same way, this could easily be a rallying cry for many current condo owners and would-be condo owners out there. […]
One of our core values here at Catalyst Condo Management Ltd is the belief in the steadfast importance of crystal-clear communication. Sometimes, though, in the need for expediency in communication, clarity gets lost along the way. Simple, straight-ahead language gets caught up in jargon that’s meant to be more precise or transparent, but that ends […]
Your condo building isn’t just a place to rest your head – it’s a place that an entire community of people call home. It’s also a business, managed and facilitated by individuals who need to be able to communicate quickly and reliably both with each other and with the larger condo community as a whole. After […]
If you’re anything like us – whether you’re a brand-new Alberta condo owner or you’ve been chipping away at your mortgage for years now – it’s hard not to feel an incredible amount of pride when you look at yourself in the light of being a homeowner. Being a condo owner is a different sort of […]
Breaking up is hard to do – but after much soul-searching and contemplation, you’re ready to move on. It’s time to find a new condo management company. Now, we know that this sort of thing is never easy. Getting out there, figuring out who’s who, even just knowing the right questions to ask – it can all […]
There’s nothing cheap about making the decision to move. Realtor fees, legal fees, home inspection fees – the list goes on. Why then do condo corporations insist on charging people fees not just to move in, but even simply to leave the condo community on top of everything else? Well, believe it or not, it […]
When you’re searching for a new condo management company to help handle your rental property, it’s essential that you do your homework. Failing to choose a reputable, experienced management company could leave you facing issues like damaged property and unhappy tenants. You may have heard horror stories about companies that use less-than-adequate maintenance services or […]
AGM season has arrived and much like everything else, it’s going to be a little different this year. Crammed auditoriums and meetings rooms are no longer an option, public health policies must be adhered to, and refreshments can no longer be served— among other changes. And if you’re like the many condo boards we engage […]
We’ve all heard horror stories about condo living. From noisy pets that won’t stop barking, to visitor parking battles and hefty maintenance bills— residing in a condominium community can come with its challenges. But before you get dismayed, know this: the vast majority of condominium complaints and disputes can be resolved with a little effective […]
The relationship between condo boards and management companies is an integral part of what makes a housing community thrive. When property management companies disappoint tenants, it can be difficult to repair the relationship or move forward with unity and understanding— making day-to-day responsibilities more complicated for all involved. Fortunately, however, with a proactive and collaborative […]
Per Merriam-Webster, the definition of communication is: a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behaviours. It also states that communication is: information communicated; information transmitted or conveyed. When it comes to the condo business, communication is paramount. And as stated in the definitions above, it’s […]
Condo boards and management companies often seek out contractors to help them maintain and service their complexes. Some of the most common services condo associations hire require on a contract basis include: Residential cleaning Parking enforcement Waste collection HVAC system maintenance Carpet cleaning On-site security Building repairs and maintenance Depending on the circumstances, either the […]
Here are some key tips to make your condo board proactive, decisive and transparent so you can start living in a true condo community.
Clear step by step instructions on how to get your board proactively managing your funds and getting the work done when it truly needs to be done.
Cell phone plans. Airline tickets. Cable bills. Even your favourite food delivery app. They’ve all got one thing in common: hidden fees. Extra little charges above and beyond what you’d budgeted for when making a
The time for making New Year’s resolutions has come and gone. Sorry, that’s just the way it is. We’re a month into our next spin around the sun, after all – there’s got to be a line in the sand somewhere! That said, while the New Year’s resolution ship may have sailed, the New Decade’s
Happy 2020 to condo owners, board members, and managers everywhere! New year, new you…new AGM? Chances are, you’re annual general meeting is scheduled in the near future. Are you 100% sure that you’re addressing and actioning the right opportunities to set your condo community, condo management, and condo corporation up for
If you’ve ever sat on a condo board, chances are, you’ve shared the same, pie-in-the-sky dream. You know the one: you walk into that board meeting, and everybody’s immediately on the same page. The business of the day gets taken care of line-by-line, point-by-point, with the sort of efficiency that would bring even the most
Your condo board runs a pretty tight ship. Meetings are efficient, AGMs are informative, and day-to-day operations are smooth and trouble-free. You do a good job keeping things on the up-and-up. The community is happy, dialogue between board members and condo owners is free-flowing, and overall, things are pretty danged good.
Even if you’ve been an avid, dedicated reader of our blogs since day one – and if you have, kudos – chances are, there are still some things about condo management that you still might not be quite aware of. For example, did you know all the ways that condo management differs from property management
The condo management business is a funny one. In nearly every other industry you can think of, there exists a clear set of expectations and agreements regarding the role and relationship between client and service provider – but somewhere along the way, those lines got a bit blurry for folks in our industry of work.
Picture this… You’re a few years into your very first experience as a condo owner. You did your homework and bought a brand-new condo from a reputable builder. You scrimped and saved and were finally able to come up with that down payment, all in the name of being able to settle down comfortably
Are you somebody who really enjoys micro-managing things? Do you like biting off more than you can chew? Looking for a full-time job that pays absolutely nothing? Then have we got the gig for you: condo community self-management! Okay, okay. We’re having a bit of fun up there with our intro, but in reality, condominium
Here at Catalyst Condo Management Ltd, we make it a point to hold ourselves to a higher standard. We don’t just mean this with regards to condo management – although, of course, this is a goal that we’re constantly striving after in our day-to-day work – but in how we carry ourselves within our communities, as well.
Here at Catalyst, we love what we do, and to us, our services are pretty straight-forward: we offer condo management services that put an emphasis on sticking up for the little guy, advocacy, and generally just treating condo boards and residents with the most exceptional, awesome service we can muster. That said, though, it’s surprising
Getting people excited about sitting on their building’s condo Board of Directors can be a bit of a tough sell – and honestly, we can’t say that we blame anyone for being reluctant to make the commitment. Condo boards have earned themselves a bit of a bad rap. Oftentimes, all that residents hear about are
Breaking up is hard to do – especially when it comes to your condo management company. Sometimes, though, it’s necessary to make a change, because just like that one boyfriend you had who insisted that flipflops DO SO count as “formal attire,” you deserve better. That said, it’s never easy cutting ties with the folks
The Canadian government has finally set a date for the nation-wide legalization of cannabis: October 17, 2018. While this soon-to-be-national-holiday for cannabis users across the country
Quick! Your condo neighbour accidentally set the microwave timer for two hours instead of two minutes, and now those hot pockets he was warming up have caught fire and set the whole condo building ablaze!
Condo living is changing. The world in 2018 is a very different place than it was even just five years ago: virtual reality is now commonplace, we all carry supercomputers around in our pockets called “Smartphones,” and eccentric billionaires are launching their electric cars into space!
Buying a home is one of the biggest purchases most individuals will make in their lifetime. With such an important decision comes excitement, nervousness, and of course, stress! Is this the right home for you?
What You Should Expect from Your Property Manager You own a condo unit and are keen to rent it out. Along the way, you realize that you just don’t want to manage everything that goes into renting your condo, such as putting a rental notice
Condo Managers and Property Managers are not the same thing. There, we said it. While they are similar, there are clear differentiators that separate these two roles. It’s important that your condo board delineate the differences between the two services to ensure that you and your condo unit owners receive the proper service
A common condo owner / condo board discretion tale: a condo unit owner recently changed their washing machine in their suite. Unfortunately, as the individual unit owner replaced their machine, the hose used to connect to the water supply
What your condo management contract is actually saying In reading your Condominium Management Services Contract, do you feel like it’s not talking to you? “There’s so much jargon,” “it’s full of redundancies, but isn’t saying anything clearly,
We’ve all been around them – the one person who needs to be heard, who always has an opinion and likes to make sure everyone knows it. But, what if this person is doing more damage than good to the overall effectiveness of your condo board?
Why your condo corporation needs a registered business number Did you know that your condominium is more than a residence? In reality, your condo is a corporation, similar to that of a non-profit. Yep, that’s right, you’re living in a corporation!
Making real impact from within for your condo building This is it! This is the year you’re joining your Condo Board to become more involved with your condo community. Before you sign up, make sure you understand the realities of what being an effective
When it comes to condo management, it is always recommended to set a code of ethics for the board members. They are required to act in an honest manner and in good faith. As a board member you should act in the best interests of the association.
Safety is one of the main concerns when managing a condo community. You should be well prepared and take proactive measures to reduce any risks. It is the board’s duty to ensure that building operations are protected and residents’ safety
The choice of the right property management company will have a significant impact on how successfully your community property is managed. Timely payment collections, following maintenance schedule, communicating effectively with residents,
Managing your condo community can be a time-consuming and complex task. Usually, it is the board members who take up all the responsibilities related to the day to day management of the community property. There is a world of a difference
When it comes to creating new policies for your condo association, it is important to keep all points in mind to eliminate any disputes or complex situations. Make sure that everyone including the members and residents fully understand the responsibilities
Managing a condo association board can be a time-consuming task in itself. If you have a medium sized community, condo management can be a full-time job for board members. There are so many ways a condo management company can ease your job
Condo boards hold complete responsibilities for managing their community. The board is responsible for managing all fiduciary and financial aspects of all the projects. You can outsource several aspects of your functions to a condo management company,
Property maintenance is one of the key services provided by a condo management company. Not every company will be able to meet the highest standards in the industry to address all your maintenance needs while meeting high-quality standards.
Managing a condominium or HOA with a board can be a fulltime job. Even a small condo requires dedicating a lot of time and effort to ensure that keeps running smoothly. If you hire a condo management company, it can make a huge difference in saving your
The management needs for a high-rise condo building will be different from those for a small townhouse community. The scope and scale of services provided can vary significantly based on the different needs of the communities. So what should you look
As rental condos grow in Calgary, finding the right condo management services in Calgary has become a difficult process. Most services perform similar and industry standard processes and functions, making it difficult to differentiate between them.