According to REALTOR® Magazine, properly maintained landscaping increases the value of your home by 12 percent. Imagine what quality shrubbery and garden beds can do for an entire HOA community.

If your homeowners association finally has some room in the HOA budget to commit to landscaping efforts, summer is the best time to get started on re-doing those common areas.

The end of summer is the perfect time to hold a get together for your friends and family. The kids aren't quite in school yet, daylight still lasts long into the evening and the weather is perfect for using outdoor spaces for entertaining. IKO Community Management has some helpful tips for planning the perfect end of summer party!

Whether you’re going to an amusement park, visiting the beach or being a tourist in a new city, there are some essentials you need to remember before you can fully enjoy your vacation. Of course you need to pack your sunblock and make sure you’ve got the tickets, but did you remember to turn off the stove? Are your pets taken care of during your week long absence? Here are some of IKO Community Management’s fundamental dos and don’ts for preparing for your family vacation:

Summers in this area are hot! IKO Community Management knows that this season is a time for fun in the sun, but we just want to remind you to play it safe, so that you can keep playing all summer long!

You’re trying to fill the remaining days of summer with as much fun as possible before school starts again, but your kids have full schedules during the week and taking a week off from work isn’t in the cards. IKO Community Management encourages you to explore the wealth of adventure opportunities right in your backyard! Summer is the perfect time to take day trips. These short excursions don’t require anything more than a tank of gas, a backpack with some supplies, and your family. IKO has a few suggestions to get you started with planning your family’s next day trip!

Community living is great for a lot of reasons. Whether it's rural, suburban, or urban, homeowners get the benefit of a well-manicured, safe neighborhood. Not to mention the influx of families creates a more kid-friendly environment, offering more family bonding opportunities than ever. Here are a few of IKO Community Management’s reasons why community living is the best place for family bonding:

It’s important to remember that board members aren’t exempt from the community’s rules. Once a line is crossed, the board is likely to receive HOA complaints from residents regarding the issue.

Board members must understand that monthly fees go toward two financial accounts, an operating and reserve account. It’s improper for account-specific transactions to cross between funds. Check out a clear explanation from IKO Community Management:

According to an infographic by Swim University, a pool and hot tub care and maintenance company, more than 10 million swimming pools exist in the United States. However, only 3 percent (about 300,000) of pools are commercial, which includes those as amenities in HOA communities.