Welcome to Condo’s Corner!

Brought to you by Daulton Read, President of Read Property Management

Get ready for a weekly dive into condo living like never before with Condo’s Corner! Speaking from my perspective as a Condominium Manager, my goal is to entertain and provide valuable management insights and stories that can help you live your condo life a bit better—all with a little bit of wit, charm, and practicality.

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After managing condos through every season (including a few that seemed to last six months), I can tell you this: nothing turns heads faster than a clean-cut lawn and fresh landscaping. Whether you’re welcoming guests, hosting an open house, or simply pulling into your driveway after a long day — curb appeal sets the tone.

For condominium boards, enhancing curb appeal isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about property value, community satisfaction, and pride of ownership. At Read Property Management, we believe your exterior should reflect the care and quality happening inside the units. Here’s how to bring that vision to life:

1. Keep Your Lawn Well-Groomed

Your lawn is often the largest—and most visible—feature on your property. Keeping it trimmed, lush, and weed-free makes a massive difference in your community’s appearance. Residents notice when it’s mowed…and especially when it’s not.

• Schedule regular mowing and edging

• Water consistently (especially in dry months)

• Address bare patches and overseed when needed

We recommend core aeration and fertilizing in the spring and fall to keep turf healthy. If you’re considering upgrades, a smart irrigation system can protect this investment and reduce waste.

2. Plant Flowers, Shrubs & Grasses

Lawns are just the start. Low-maintenance flowers, shrubs, and ornamental grasses can add instant curb appeal with colour, texture, and structure.

• Add flower beds near entryways and signage

• Use native plants to reduce maintenance

• Consider grasses and evergreen shrubs to provide year-round interest

These enhancements are relatively low-cost but leave a lasting impression.

3. Warm Up the Entryway

Main entrances and handshake before the hello, and should feel inviting, safe, and easy to find.

• Add planters or decorative urns to highlight building entrances

• Ensure all address numbers and directional signage are clear

• Install proper lighting to make guests and residents feel secure at night

Even small updates like these show that your community is cared for and well-managed.

4. Refresh the Paint

Peeling or faded paint sends the wrong message. Touching up front doors, trim, and building accents shows attention to detail.

• Repaint tired surfaces in neutral or fresh colours

• Repair damaged areas before painting

• Coordinate colours across buildings for a cohesive look

It’s a small investment with a big impact on buyer perception and community pride.

A new coat of paint won’t solve all your problems… but it’s amazing how many it covers up.

5. Give Common Areas a Boost

Curb appeal isn’t just about what’s visible from the road. Outdoor shared spaces also contribute to a strong sense of community and livability.

• Consider adding benches, pergolas, or planters

• Use lighting to make these areas feel safer and more inviting at night

• Keep them clean and free of clutter

Simple touches like these encourage residents to spend more time outside and increase neighbourly interaction.

6. Inspect Sidewalks & Walkways

Are your sidewalks clear, level, and wide? Uneven or cracked walkways are not only unattractive—they’re a liability.

• Repair damaged concrete or interlock

• Remove overgrown vegetation

• Ensure snow and ice are cleared promptly in winter

Adding lighting along walkways boosts both safety and style.

7. Enhance Exterior Lighting

Good lighting isn’t just practical, it’s atmospheric.

• Add solar or low-voltage lights along pathways and garden beds

• Trim trees or shrubs blocking existing fixtures

• Replace outdated or broken light fixtures with energy-efficient options

Remember: Lighting isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity for modern communities.

8. Prep for Weekly Landscaping Days

At all Read PM-managed communities, landscaping crews are onsite once a week during the growing season (April to October). To help them do their best work:

• Pick up all pet waste the night before

• Remove toys, chairs, or debris from lawns

Clean, accessible grounds make it easier for crews to maintain your property to the highest standard.

9. Curb Appeal Starts at the Entrance

Take a moment to walk your property from the street. Ask yourself:

• Is the entrance sign visible and well-maintained?

• Are visitor parking signs clear and helpful?

• Can emergency responders find unit numbers quickly?

Simple signage upgrades and fresh landscaping around the entrance can dramatically enhance the feel of your community.

Daulton’s Final Thought

Curb appeal is more than pretty flowers and green grass—it’s a reflection of your community’s care, leadership, and pride. A well-maintained exterior improves home values, attracts great residents, and sets a welcoming tone for all who visit.

At Read Property Management, we specialize in helping communities look their best—inside and out. Let’s work together to create a property that feels as great as it looks.

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Got a condo tale to tell or burning questions about condo living? Don’t be shy—share ’em with me! Whether it’s a funny story, a management mystery, a celebratory story, or just a nightmare, we’re all ears. All you need to do is reply to this email so we can keep the content coming.

Make sure to share this newsletter with your friends, family, and, more importantly – that neighbour who could learn a few things!

Welcome to Condo’s Corner!

Brought to you by Daulton Read, President of Read Property Management

Issue #16

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Get ready for a weekly dive into condo living like never before with Condo’s Corner! Speaking from my perspective as a Condominium Manager, my goal is to entertain and provide valuable management insights and stories that can help you live your condo life a bit better—all with a little bit of wit, charm, and practicality.

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Winter Preparedness: Keeping Your Condominium Safe and Sound

As fall fades away and winter settles in with a vengeance, Ontario condominium corporations need to be proactive in preparing for the challenges ahead. With a handful of major snowstorms already behind us, it’s clear that some winters can be more intense than others. Proper planning and maintenance are essential to keeping residents and visitors safe and avoiding safety, legal and financial pitfalls.

Safety Starts with Common Element Maintenance

Ontario’s Condominium Act, 1998 requires condominium corporations to maintain common elements, which often include walkways, parking lots, and shared outdoor spaces. Additionally, under the Occupiers’ Liability Act, the corporation is considered the “occupier” of these areas, meaning it is legally responsible for ensuring the safety of anyone on the property.

During winter, this responsibility takes on added significance. Ice, snow, and freezing temperatures can quickly turn common areas into hazardous zones. To mitigate risks, corporations must go beyond standard snow removal and ensure comprehensive ice management, including salting and/or sanding.

Set Clear Expectations with Contractors

Working with professional snow removal and salting services is critical, but clear communication is just as important. Often, significant snowfalls separate the small companies from the large ones; when it comes to landscaping companies, finding out that your current contractor can’t handle a major snowfall in the middle of said snowfall is not a good place to find yourself. Contracts with winter maintenance providers should outline:

• Designated Areas for Salting and Plowing: Specify all pathways, driveways, parking lots, and emergency exits.

• Response Time: Establish a timeframe for when contractors must be on-site following snowfall.

• Salting Charges: Specify salting charges that will be charged per application. These will vary on the amount of salt required to blanket the property.

• Snow Disposal Practices: Avoid creating high snowbanks that could obstruct views or create dangerous ice formations when melting and refreezing.

• Equipment: Specify the equipment the contractor plans to use for your property. Make sure it is sufficient.

• Insurance Coverage: Clearly state the contractor’s commercial general liability (CGL) coverage.

• Indemnification Clause: This clause is included to protect the condominium and management provider.

For example, a condominium in Oshawa might specify that snow must be removed within four hours of snowfall and that all high-traffic walkways must be salted immediately after plowing. In St. Catharines, where lake-effect snow can accumulate quickly, budgeting for additional snow removal may be necessary to avoid dangerous conditions.

Don’t Overlook Exclusive Use Common Elements

For some corporations, exclusive-use common elements, such as balconies, front steps, private walkways, or even parking spots, can create a grey area of responsibility. Generally, condominium corporations may choose to include snow removal for exclusive use common elements in their contracts with snow removal companies. However, if the condominium declaration assigns maintenance of these areas to the unit owner, owners of some condominiums may be surprised to learn that they may still need to purchase a shovel after moving into a condominium.

Verify Insurance Coverage

Winter is not the best time to find out that a contractor’s insurance coverage is insufficient. The usual coverage limits for CGL can range from $2,000,000 to $10,000,000 for established snow removal contractors. Before the snow hits, condominium corporations should:

• Request Proof of Insurance: Obtain insurance certificates from all winter service providers.

• Review Policy Details: Ensure coverage includes liability for slips and falls, property damage, and worker safety.

• Additional Insured: It is a good practice to require the contractor to name the condominium as an additional insured on their commercial policy.

In Ontario, it’s also wise to confirm that contractors have WSIB (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board) coverage to avoid potential liabilities if a worker is injured on your property.

Establish Clear Policies and Communication

A well-prepared condominium corporation doesn’t just react to hazards—it anticipates them. Develop and enforce policies that address winter safety, including:

• Signage: Use caution signs to indicate icy areas or closed-off sections.

• Resident Communication: Provide timely updates through email, newsletters, or lobby notices when dangerous conditions arise.

• Incident Procedures: Ensure staff and board members know the proper steps to take if someone is injured on the property.

For example, if a significant storm is expected, some snow removal contractors focus on clearing all their clients’ main roadways quickly and then return to tidy up additional areas. Management can inform residents of this to avoid a barrage of complaints by informing them that certain areas will be cleared shortly afterwards.

Daulton’s Final Thoughts

As winter blankets your community, you might notice snow removal contractors applying salt more generously than expected. While it may seem excessive, keep in mind that these professionals play a crucial role in preventing slip-and-fall accidents. Their job isn’t just about moving snow—it’s about ensuring the safety of residents and visitors alike.

Snow removal is a demanding, often thankless job that requires long nights, early mornings, and weekend work. Whether it’s battling a blizzard or keeping up with back-to-back snowfalls, these workers are out there ensuring your property remains safe and accessible. So, if you happen to see them during their rounds, a quick “thank you” or a warm coffee can go a long way. A little appreciation can make the cold nights feel just a bit warmer.

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A quick note and request:

As we continue to grow Read Property Management, positive reviews from individuals like you can make a huge difference in helping us reach more communities. If you’ve had a positive experience working with me, I’d truly appreciate it if you could take a moment to leave a review. Your feedback not only supports us but also helps others see the quality and care we bring to condominium management. Best of all, it costs nothing but a few minutes of your time!

You may do so here – https://g.page/r/CeegrI40eRKzEAE/review

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Got a condo tale to tell or burning questions about condo living? Don’t be shy—share ’em with me! Whether it’s a funny story, a management mystery, a celebratory story, or just a nightmare, we’re all ears. All you need to do is reply to this email so we can keep the content coming.

Make sure to share this newsletter with your friends, family, and, more importantly – that neighbour who could learn a few things!