The reds, golds, and ambers of fall are a treat, until they cover every inch of your lawn and walkway. Managing fall cleanup in a condo community can be a challenge, but it’s also a great opportunity to embrace sustainability. From composting leaves to mulch programs, here are easy ways for condo boards and residents to work together toward a cleaner, greener property.

Bagging leaves doesn’t have to mean waste. Through the City of Chicago’s Yard Waste Program, residents and associations can schedule free pickup of leaves and grass clippings. Just collect them in paper bags (no plastic allowed) and call 311 to request pickup (we suggest coordinating a property-wide “yard day” so residents can gather leaves together before calling 311 for collection).

The city transforms your yard waste into compost, helping divert thousands of pounds of organic material from landfills each year.

If your property has smaller lawns or minimal leaf coverage, consider grasscycling or leaving shredded leaves and grass clippings on the lawn to decompose naturally. It’s great for soil health and saves the time and cost of bagging.

The City of Chicago’s free mulch program is a hidden gem. The Bureau of Forestry offers mulch made from recycled tree debris at pickup locations throughout Chicago, available year-round while supplies last.

Common pickup spots include:

• 9909 West Foster (O'Hare Site)
• 2342 South Ashland Avenue (North West corner of property)
• 900 East 103rd Street (North East corner of property)

Mulch helps your plant beds retain moisture, protect roots from winter frost, and reduce weeds, all while recycling natural materials.

If your association needs support in your landscaping or outdoor yardwork, Condoly.io provides the easiest way to find, hire and manage professionals for all your HOA needs!

Every condo board knows that accurate and professional meeting minutes are essential — but not everyone feels confident writing them. Are you unsure what really needs to be recorded (and what doesn’t)? Want to make your minutes more efficient, consistent, and legally sound?

Condoly’s next Board Basics Training is here to help!

• Date: Wednesday, November 19, 2025
• Time: 6:00 – 7:00 PM
• Hosted by: Condoly
• Featuring: Diane Pagoulatos of "Flying Fingers"

In this one-hour training, Diane Pagoulatos of "Flying Fingers" and an expert in professional minute-taking, will guide you through the best practices for recording your association’s business.

You’ll learn how to:

• Avoid potential complications that can affect unit sales and legal compliance
• Include the right details and leave out what shouldn’t be in your minutes
• Use simple techniques and technology to save time and stay organized

Whether you’re a new board secretary or an experienced volunteer looking to refine your process, this training will give you the tools to record minutes with confidence and accuracy.

Why does this matter? Clear, well-structured meeting minutes protect your association by documenting decisions, actions, and discussions in a way that stands up to scrutiny. They also streamline future meetings, make recordkeeping easier, and build trust among owners. Don’t let messy minutes cause confusion later — join us to learn how to do them right the first time.

Reserve your spot for Board Basics Training: Meeting Minutes on Wednesday, November 19 from 6:00 – 7:00 PM. 👉 Register your FREE Condoly account or Sign in to your existing Condoly account to register.

The Community Associations Institute (CAI) recently approved an update to its Assessment Increase Limitations Public Policy, reaffirming the importance of a board’s discretion in setting assessments that ensure the financial stability and long-term health of a community.

This policy reflects CAI’s commitment to supporting boards as they make informed financial decisions — balancing the needs of homeowners with the responsibility to maintain property values and community safety.

Condominium boards often face the challenge of rising costs, whether due to insurance premiums, utility increases, or unexpected maintenance issues. The updated CAI policy emphasizes that assessment adjustments are not arbitrary but are grounded in careful financial analysis, reserve studies, and the ongoing maintenance needs of the community.

In other words, when a board increases assessments, it’s typically doing so to:

• Maintain adequate reserve funding
• Address preventive or corrective maintenance
• Cover inflation or rising operational costs
• Ensure the health, safety, and value of the property

CAI’s revised policy highlights several important principles for community associations:

• Board Discretion: Boards should have reasonable flexibility to determine appropriate assessment levels for their communities.
• Transparency and Trust: Open communication between the board and homeowners is critical when setting and explaining assessments.
• Financial Planning: Assessments should be based on sound budgeting practices and reserve studies that anticipate both short- and long-term expenses.
• Legislative Awareness: The policy discourages laws that overly restrict a board’s ability to manage finances responsibly.

Check out the full summary of CAI’s official recommendations, which includes detailed examples of how assessments are used and guidance on budgeting best practices.

Learn more about CAI's resources for condo board members and community leaders.

Need help planning your next budget or navigating assessment increases? Contact Haus Financial Services for expert financial management solutions tailored for Chicago condo associations.

Assessments are the lifeblood of every association. Without consistent payments, your community can’t maintain property, pay operating expenses, or plan for the future. It's important that every owner is aware of their obligation to pay their assessments in full and on time so that your association can function successfully. 

A great place to start is with a written Collection Policy. A written policy ensures that all owners are treated fairly and consistently, while giving the board or management a clear roadmap for next steps when assessments go unpaid. If your board does not have a policy in place, now is a great time to get on track for the coming calendar year.

At Haus Financial Services, we recommend a Collection Policy that includes the following:

• Assessments are due on the 1st of each month
• A Late Fee of at least $25 is applied if payment is not received by the 5th of the month
• Accounts two months past due will be referred to an attorney or debt collector
• All costs of collection will be charged back to the delinquent owner and must be paid along with any unpaid assessments or other charges
• Owners are encouraged to reach out to the board to resolve unpaid balances and avoid costly collection fees 

These guidelines provide a strong foundation for financial stability and help your association maintain consistent cash flow throughout the year.

Once your Collection Policy is in place and communicated with your owners, allow for some measure of flexibility. Your financial processes should include monthly account balance updates to owners. If an owner has missed two months of payments, reach out directly to remind them of the Collection Policy and ask how they will address their balance to avoid collection action. Communicating proactively about an account before it grows too large can often prevent legal action and keep everyone on good terms.

A monthly delinquency review is one of the most powerful tools your board has to manage collections. Review all owner balances to determine which accounts may require action.

When reviewing, make sure to:

• Verify payments, write-offs, and credit balances for accuracy.
• Flag accounts that meet your collection policy’s criteria.
• Reach out to owners to review the balance and open communicaiton about getting caught up.
• Set deadlines for moving forward with collection action if an account remains unresolved.

Consistent reviews help identify issues early, avoid accounting errors, and maintain your community’s financial health.

Owners are more likely to pay on time when they understand that the board applies its policy consistently and communicates expectations clearly. Review your policy annually and make updates as needed.

A strong collection policy, backed by Haus Financial Services’ proven guidelines, and consistent monthly reviews will keep your association financially stable and free from delinquency scares in 2026.

Need help reviewing your collection policy or delinquency reports? Contact Haus Financial Services today to get expert support and ensure your association starts 2026 with a strong financial foundation. 

Disagreements are part of condo living, but what happens when an owner’s remarks about the board or management cross the line? Boards often struggle to balance protecting free speech with maintaining respectful community standards.

In Illinois, the courts have determined that condo associations are subject to First Amendment protections. That means owners generally cannot be punished for expressing negative opinions about their board or management. Statements like “the board is incompetent” are usually considered protected opinions.

Not all speech is shielded. Associations can take action when comments include:

• False statements of fact (defamation)
• Threats or intimidation
• “Fighting words” that could provoke violence

For example, falsely accusing a treasurer of stealing funds could lead to penalties, provided the board follows proper due process.

Best Practices for Boards

• Evaluate remarks carefully: distinguish opinion from defamatory fact.
• Respond transparently: share facts or context with the community.
• Follow due process: issue notices, allow hearings, and consult counsel before imposing fines.

For a deeper dive into this issue, see Tressler LLP’s article.

Need help navigating these challenges? Haus Financial Services provides expert guidance for condo boards on governance, compliance, and financial management. Contact us today to learn how we can help your association handle disputes with confidence and transparency.