Exteriors of buildings aren’t always smooth brick walls. There are all sorts of indentations and protrusions, from terraces to stonework to cornices. There are also items that are not part of the building, but are affixed to it, like scaffo…
Articles in this publication, seminars like those offered at the New England Condo Expo, and, of course, television news broadcasts, often focus on problems that face condo associations—legal issues, maintenance concerns, special assessmen…
Q My question relates to maintenance increases for common spaces. For example, my condo board has notified all the owners that there is going to be a maintenance increase this year after a five-year assessment. So, if an owner has seve…
Although it seems like the wrath of Mother Nature will never end here in New England as snow keeps piling up outside, property managers soon will have to take stock of the winter damage done to condo and HOA properties throughout the regio…
Embezzling occurs so rarely among New England condominium associations, that when a well-respected manager, trustee or contractor is caught pocketing a community’s funds, everyone affected is likely to be ill-prepared for the consequences.…
The past several years have been a challenge for community associations trying to keep properties looking sharp and running smoothly while battling the forces of a shaky economy. Foreclosures, hurricanes and the relentless effects of time …
Something Old, Something New… Q I recently walked into the lobby of my condo building greeted by a new décor theme. I was completely caught off guard as there had been no correspondence to the homeowners that this change would be ta…
Property management, in the broadest of terms, is defined as the operation, control and oversight of real estate. Most property managers would agree that this particular definition is just a starting point. There are many facets to t…
Charging for Photocopies Q Our Declaration of Trust states that the books, accounts and records of the trustees shall be open to inspection by one or more of the trustees and the unit owners at all reasonable times. Since the…
Stores and other commercial businesses on the ground floor of an apartment building are a tradition in big cities. By contrast, when one looks at the typical suburban condo development, one must go to another location to shop—maybe to t…