Some lucky apartment owners can come home from work on a cold winter’s night and warm their feet by a roaring fire while drinking a hot toddy. A working fireplace is a coveted amenity for many, adding a dash of vintage charm to prewar apar…
Anytime you have hundreds, or even thousands of people living in close quarters – in a multifamily co-op or condo building, say – certain challenges will inevitably arise. One of the bigger ones is how to maintain the flow of fresh, hygieni…
No matter how well-constructed and carefully maintained, no mechanical system lasts forever – and that goes for elevator cabs and equipment just as much as it applies to roofs or boilers. At some point, your building’s vertical transportat…
Q. I own a condo. My building has charged me a fee of $300 and I don't think it is fair. A friend visited me in my apartment a month ago. She was cooking a meal and inadvertently left one of the burners slightly on without a flame. A neig…
As in life, there are no guarantees when it comes to building systems, parts, and components. But unlike life, there are warranties and service agreements to ease the pain when something breaks down, gets damaged, or proves to be defective.…
From news to politics to finding that ultimate barbecue recipe or just staying connected to family and friends, social media has become entwined in the fabric of our lives. In fact, it’s so ubiquitous that it may come as a surprise to learn…
To describe the life of a property manager as ‘busy’ is an understatement. From visiting client properties to answering board member and resident queries to fielding bids from contractors, a manager’s work is never completely done. That’s w…
Over the past few years, millennials (generally regarded as those born between 1981 and 1996) have become the largest and most important demographic group for marketing products and services – including homes. What separates millennials fro…
Q. Most of the members of our condo board are retired, and recently voted to hold board meetings at 1 p.m. instead of our traditional 7 p.m. because afternoons are convenient for them. The other two board members — and the majority of un…
Q. Our association recently hired a new management company, and an announcement was sent to the homeowners announcing the change. A new board initiated this action with no input from homeowners and no discussion. I have specifically reque…