As a condominium board member, you rely on a long list of service professionals for work ranging from HVAC maintenance to parking lot sealing. Finding the right person for the right job, though, can be a challenge. In today’s …
More often than not, when boards or associations broach the issue of their buildings “going green,” images of bamboo flooring, hemp drapes, or solar panels on the roof suddenly spring to mind. The impression seems to be that in a condo,…
When you consider all the different exterior components that a condo association has to deal with, decks are sort of like the Rodney Dangerfield of the list—they rarely get any respect. “Decks are definitely something that peop…
As the ubiquity of the condo “green” movement reaches even greater heights, many property managers find themselves searching for new ways to spruce up their operations. And with the continual advances in lighting technology—each more re…
Freezing, thawing and deicing undoubtedly take their toll on concrete during typically harsh New England winters. Corrosion of concrete is an issue in the Northeast, and homeowner associations need to ensure that the concrete forming t…
Visions of lounging by the pool on a hot July weekend lure many homebuyers into the condominium lifestyle. For families, the attraction may include use of their own, “private,” playground, swing set, tennis court or patio for cookouts. …
People say “ignorance of the law is no excuse.” In the same vein, ignorance of contractor illegalities is no excuse—and no comfort—when something goes wrong. Association members are well-advised to bone up on what’s important before they…
Just as families are encouraged to set aside a portion of the household budget into a savings account, so are community associations advised to maintain a reserve fund for capital improvements—repairs and replacements of major common-ow…
Nestled in the frothy Atlantic, 12 miles from coastal Rhode Island—its home state — Block Island is a scenic haven that promises rest, relaxation and refuge for visitors and residents alike. It’s small—just 21square miles—and o…
Concrete is the most prevalent building material in existence today, though most people probably don’t notice how widely used the material is until it begins to break up in front of their homes, or falls off of their buildings, roads an…
Q I am looking for information regarding service contractors (i.e., cable, Internet) needing to set up a prior appointment to access the equipment that is installed on owner's terraces. Does the unit owner have to be at home to let the…
Q I am on the board of directors in a Connecticut leasehold property. For some time, we have wanted to nominate one of our leaseholders but she keeps refusing to be on the board because she says that as a lawyer/ accountant, she holds h…
Q I belong to a small self-managed condo of six units. There are two serious concerns: 1) Recently, I discovered that two of the board members used fund money to repair their boilers so that they could pass inspection. They led us to b…