January 5, 2022
Dear Valued Customer, As 2022 approaches, businesses across all markets throughout the US continue to be burdened by extraordinary circumstances nationwide challenging clients, consumers, suppliers, and employees both professionally and personally. The recent fast-spreading Omicron variant of COVID-19 has derailed holiday plans, canceled events, and left businesses understaffed across the nation. We are proactively… Read more »
November 9, 2021
The pandemic has presented many challenges for condominium unit owners’ associations, including how meetings can be conducted and making sure all voting and quorum requirements are met. On October 25, 2021, D.C. City Council and Mayor Muriel Bowser enacted new emergency legislation that, in relevant part, amends subsection (f) of Sec. 2. Section 303 of… Read more »
October 22, 2021
The United States Postal Services began changing first-class mail delivery time frames in October. This change may result in payments, parking passes, account statements and other mailed items from our offices taking longer to arrive to you. For fast easy access to your account or to make payments online please visit our website www.blackstoneAM.com on… Read more »
September 15, 2021
Each year you receive a draft of the proposed budget for review and comment. A lot of work goes into preparing the budget. It’s a complex activity that has to start early so the budget can be finalized and approved prior to the beginning of the new fiscal year. Here’s how we do it: The… Read more »
June 3, 2021
Imagine your surprise. You buy a home in a community knowing full well that you’ll become a member of your local homeowners association only to learn that your homeowners association is really a subassociation and you’re bound to follow the rules of a bigger “master” association. If you’re thinking, “I’ve never heard such a thing,”… Read more »
April 30, 2021
If you’re planning construction or home improvement projects on your property or in your unit, remember to follow a few simple steps to ensure you don’t run into problems with neighbors or the association down the road. Before construction begins, please obtain a certificate of liability and workers compensation insurance from your contractor that names… Read more »
March 15, 2021
ACH (Automated Clearing House) is a network used for electronically moving money between bank accounts across the United States. It’s run by an organization called Nacha (previously NACHA – National Automated Clearing House Association), and may also be referred to as the ACH network or ACH scheme. Payment processing via the ACH network has existed since the 1970s. ACH moved… Read more »
January 13, 2021
The 2021 billing season for Community Associations and Homeowner Associations is in full swing. Over the past 90 days, millions of homeowners all over the country have received some sort of communication piece, invoice, or Coupon Book to generate the lifeblood of each association – The Homeowner Assessment. Budgeting and billing has taken up a… Read more »
December 16, 2020
Lower back strain is one of the most common injuries related to shoveling snow. The following measures can help you prevent injuries and keep your back healthy while shoveling: -Before the first snowfall is predicted, make sure you have a proper shovel. The best shovel is one that is light weight, ergonomic and has… Read more »
November 12, 2020
Identity theft is a problem at any time of the year. But, while consumers are focused on giving during the holidays, crooks are focused on taking. If there’s one thing consumers don’t need, it is dealing with identity theft during the holidays. The National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) offers the following tips to help… Read more »
October 15, 2020
With the holidays fast approaching we wanted to make all our customers aware of the 2020 holiday hours for All Blackstone Management offices. Nov. 11, Veteran’s Day – Closed Nov. 26, Thanksgiving Day – Closed Nov. 27, Friday after Thanksgiving – Closed Dec. 24, Christmas Eve – Closing at 1 pm Dec. 25, Christmas Day… Read more »
September 29, 2020
When buying or selling a home, it is expected that all sorts of fees will pop up at closing. However, the HOA transfer fee is one that sometimes takes people by surprise. This is a one-time fee that occurs when a property is transferred from one owner to another. The HOA transfer fee is mandated… Read more »