In the Northeast, winter arrives with holiday decorations, endless dessert trays, and that one neighbor who insists on inflating a 12-foot snowman. It’s a season of celebration - until the first real storm hits and many are left scrambling in the aftermath.

For HOA boards and residents alike, winter maintenance is one of the most visible tests of a community’s management. When it’s done well, no one thinks twice. When it’s not, everyone notices. That’s why winter planning can’t be festive optimism - it has to be detailed, documented, and ready before the first flake falls.

If it feels like New Jersey keeps adding “just one more requirement” for community associations, you’re not imagining it. But the Structural Integrity and Reserve Funding law isn’t about paperwork for paperwork’s sake — it’s about preventing the kind of deferred maintenance disasters that no board ever wants tied to its name.

The good news? Boards don’t need to memorize legislation or become engineers. You just need to understand what’s now required, what’s changed, and how to stay compliant without chaos.

Most management companies talk about technology. They’ll mention a portal, maybe an app, and call it innovation. But behind the scenes? Sticky notes, inbox archaeology, and someone “meaning to follow up” after their third meeting of the day.

At Garfield, technology isn’t an add-on - it’s the backbone. We built our entire operating model around automation, AI, and integrated systems so communities don’t depend on memory, heroics, or crossed fingers. From the homeowner perspective and the board’s seat at the table, that difference shows up fast.

Here’s what a fully automated, tech-forward management company actually delivers.

No one joins an HOA board dreaming about firing their management company. Most boards start out hopeful, optimistic, and maybe even a little relieved to hand the keys over to “the professionals.” But somewhere between unanswered emails, recurring maintenance issues, and financial reports that raise more questions than answers, a thought starts creeping in: Is this normal…or is something actually wrong?

Asking that question doesn’t make you difficult. It makes you responsible. Strong boards know the difference between the occasional hiccup and systemic problems that signal it may be time for a change.

Here are some of the most common red flags boards experience when a management company may no longer be the right fit.

Choosing a new community manager is a little like picking a regular spot for dinner with friends. Plenty of places look good online, everyone promises great service, and the menu sounds impressive—but what really matters is what happens after you sit down. Do they follow through? Do they notice when something’s off? Do you leave feeling taken care of, or quietly annoyed?

The Check Is in the Mail… Right?

If HOA dues had a catchphrase, that would be it. Somewhere between lost envelopes, illegible handwriting, and the annual scramble to find a checkbook, collecting dues the old-fashioned way has become a community management obstacle course. The good news? We live in a world where your phone can order dinner, unlock your car, and - with the right manager - pay HOA dues in seconds.

Electronic dues collection isn’t just a convenience anymore. It’s a smarter, faster, and more reliable way to keep communities running smoothly.It All Begins Here

If your community is self-managed, chances are it didn’t happen by accident. A board member stepped up. Then another. Systems were built, vendors were lined up, and somehow everything got done - usually after work, on weekends, or during what was supposed to be “free time.”

Self-management can absolutely work. Many communities do it successfully for years. The real question isn’t whether self-management is good or bad - it’s whether it still fits your community today. Here’s an objective look at self-management from the perspective of communities already doing the work.