Management Managing In-Unit Amenities
2012 August Managing In-Unit Amenities

 In an online forum, Sharon complains about her upstairs neighbor and begs for  advice. Her neighbor had installed a washing machine in her unit, even though  there was one already downstairs for the residents of her six-unit building to  …

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Insurance Home Sweet Homeowner's Insurance
2012 August Home Sweet Homeowner's Insurance

 I think there’s this mindset when they buy a condo that they’re not responsible for anything,” says Robert Masse of W.T. Phelan Insurance. As a quarter-century veteran of condo insurance, the Arlington,  Massachusetts-based Masse has ofte…

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Insurance Mind the Gap
2012 August Mind the Gap

 Too often, association boards—and condo residents—discover serious coverage gaps in their insurance policies in the face of a  claim. And often, the gap occurs when neither group wants to pay a high  deductible.    In recent years,…

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Insurance Insurance Fraud!
2012 August Insurance Fraud!

 When fraud is discovered in the context of community associations, or any  non-profit, it usually takes shape as embezzlement over many years by a trusted  member or employee. Insurance companies that defend non-profit clients from  fraud…

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Q&A: Conflicted in Connecticut
2012 July Q&A: Conflicted in Connecticut

Q Our property manager wants to buy a unit in our condo community but a lot of  owners are not happy about it. Is that a conflict of interest? Do we have any  legal power in this manner? Please advise.    —Becoming a Buyer   …

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Q&A: Regulating Common Elements
2012 July Q&A: Regulating Common Elements

Q Last year the parents of several teens purchased a portable basketball standard  and asked the board permission to put it in a location where their children can  use it and the board agreed. Given the layout of our property the only pla…

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Q&A: Conversion Conundrum
2012 July Q&A: Conversion Conundrum

Q Our condo community is considering converting a large community room into a gym  and kids play space, separated from each other by a child fence. Are there any  Massachusetts codes surrounding establishing gyms in residential buildings …

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Neighborhoods New Bedford, Massachusetts
2012 July New Bedford, Massachusetts

 When you think of New Bedford, Massachusetts, several things come immediately to  mind—commercial fisheries, factory outlet stores, textile mills, and of course,  whaling.    Located in Bristol County, 51 miles south of Boston, and…

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Maintenance Caulk it Up
2012 July Caulk it Up

 As summer thunderstorms buffet condo properties throughout New England,  less-than weather-tight windows, doors, and roofs may begin to make themselves  known. And though condo boards never enjoy addressing the perennial problem of  weath…

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Real Estate Trends Amazing Amenities
2012 July Amazing Amenities

 While a pool and a clubhouse used to be the hallmark of luxury condo living, the  whole concept of upscale condo amenities has exploded in recent years with the  construction of condo units tied to high-end hotels. This has added perks  r…

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