Category: Association Operations

The chance of experiencing a fire in your residential property is almost as unlikely as experiencing a plane crash—it’s a miniscule number of incidents that affect a tiny percentage of the population [see sidebar on page 14]. But fire-re…

Attempting to define the meaning of the term “improvements” under Massachusetts condominium law is a lot like trying to put your finger on a glob of jello – it can go all over the place. The Massachusetts Legislature devoted an entire se…

Of all the finishes inside our homes, flooring has the greatest long term impact on indoor air quality, and perhaps on the environment as a whole. Flooring finishes often contain harmful chemicals—whether in the flooring itself or in the…

The golden years are a time to enjoy life, relax, and have a worry-free retirement. During our working years we plan for this time, save money and make investments for the future. But, naturally over time, the cost of living increases, u…

T he chant is familiar: In goes the good air, out goes the bad. But just how good is the air coming into your condominium? Ductwork and chutes are familiar elements of urban multi-family buildings, handling everything from heat to tras…

Though mostly unseen, a building’s plumbing and piping network is one of its most important systems—as anyone who has ever had to endure a no-hot-water shower in February, or who has come home to a flooded floor can attest. Plumbing cove…

At every condominium community it happens every hour; every day. Coffee gets spilled, mud gets tracked, windows get smeared. When residents move, errant table legs and oversized sofas can scrape black marks, and even divots, into paint…

National Public Radio recently ran a story about a piece of advice from the latest edition of The Old Farmer’s Almanac. The suggestion was about how to stay warm throughout the winter with just one log: chuck it out of an upstairs window, r…

Technology is affecting the way we do business, how we go about our daily tasks, and even how our homes function. Putting existing technology to use in a home or residential building is the essence of what it means to be an “intelligent” bu…

Skyrocketing energy costs have become the unfortunate norm. So it’s probably a good time to revisit a relatively obscure section of Massachusetts’ condominium statute that empowers condominium boards to become energy conservationists. …