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Cordial but firm

How you communicate -- the tone of communication -- can either fuel or mitigate problems.

Fueling problems when the tone of communication is negative usually wastes time, and you know what they say...that time is money! Of course it is, when everyone -- the architectural committee, the board, the property manager -- has to squander time and resources revisiting and sorting out problems.

Here's one example of cordial communication about architectural guidelines: "If you're considering home improvements, you'll want to check the association's Architectural Guidelines. This reference guide provided to homeowners features helpful guidelines for home improvement planning."

Such wording may help set the stage and serve as a reminder to homeowners when their requests can't be approved and the answer is...'NO.'

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