Page 14 - New England Condominium April 2019

14 NEW ENGLAND CONDOMINIUM - APRIL 2019 NEWENGLANDCONDO.COM S pring has arrived, which is good from the tree pits and planters out front. spring cleanup go like clockwork. The cluding cleaning their grounds of leaves news after what has felt to many Others may have to coordinate cleaning earlier management and board get to- like a particularly hostile winter. In and prepping swimming pools, tennis gether to collaborate on a plan, the more cleaning windows – although serious a community association or multifamily courts or playgrounds; clearing clogged efficient this endeavor will be. building, spring also brings a number of drains; power-washing the facade; or even seasonal maintenance and sprucing-up repainting the entire exterior if the board projects that can vary, depending on the is feeling ambitious and the budget can sociation from actually engaging in any looking signs can make things look a bit shape and size of one’s particular prop- erty. Some communities’ spring checklist may just consist of removing winter debris a well-coordinated schedule can help a is more likely to be cooperative. absorb the expense. No matter your particular situation, time to hatch a plot for when the weather tion to hire an outside vendor,” adds El- Getting Ahead While the winter may prohibit an as- major outdoor projects, it is the perfect more sharp without requiring an associa- “The best thing that a board can do to prepare for the spring is to fight the urge to defer reviewing details or making de- cisions related to upcoming capital repair needs,” advises Brian Butler, Vice Presi- dent of Property Management with First- Service Residential in Chicago. “If boards wait until the spring thaw comes to begin making decisions and hiring contractors, they’ll often find that the schedules for the work are tighter and pricing may be higher than had they made those deci- sions during the fall or winter months.” Outside-In The exterior of an association property is both what visitors and passers-by are going to see first, as well as the primary target for the elements throughout the winter, so any thorough spring cleaning endeavor should start with the outside surfaces. “A list of work for basic maintenance in preparation for spring will depend on the specific property and its unique needs,” notes James Maistre, an executive agent with Veritas Property Management in New York City. “But any association will want to perform some routine tasks, in- and debris to prep for landscaping, and exterior cleaning of the latter should be handled by professionals.” “Changing out old and dilapidated- len Brown Martinez, Vice President of Spring Maintenance Readying Your Property for Warmer Weather BY MIKE ODENTHAL LANDSCAPING, LAWN CARE & CURB APPEAL ISTOCKPHOTO.COM MEET MORE THAN 175 EXHIBITORS IN ONE DAY, UNDER ONE ROOF. (Wear comfortable shoes.) SEAPORT WORLD TRADE CENTER, BOSTON — WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 10-3:30 FREE REGISTRATION: NE-EXPO.COM THE NEW ENGLAND CONDOMINIUM EXPO 2019 WHERE BUILDINGS MEET SERVICES