Curb appeal provides that first impression, the attention-grabbing feature that all condominium and co-op properties strive for. Across New England, curb appeal usually starts with colorful flowers or plants that reflect the changing s…
They say a house is only as strong as its foundation. A bad roof, or shoddy plumbing can set your building back a lot of money. But, a foundation in disrepair can put the entire building's structure at risk. It can also cost tens of th…
As we approach the 2013 construction season, it’s time to begin planning for any major building envelope projects that are needed at your property. In fact, if you are only planning now, you are behind schedule already. Getting your job…
While essential to the successful operation of all cooperatives or condominiums, governing documents are often only glossed over by otherwise well-intentioned board members, residents and property managers leading to potential pitfalls.…
Known for its links to the sea and the home port of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, New London, Connecticut sits on the banks of the Thames River, and is also home to two well-known colleges and some notable academicians, politicians and…
If you’re on a board in a New England condo or HOA, now is the time that you should be talking about making any of the major improvements that you’ve discussed or considered over the past few years. Even if you have a plan in place to do a…
Many residents of New England believe that when it comes to climate, New England has it all, including wet and dry and hot and cold air streams, producing a diverse pattern of climate variations from the mountains to the shorelines of the …
Often, the best, most successful boards and communities share the same combination of habits and traits; all the while, the worst, most fleeting share the same, as well. Case in point: there isn’t tremendous mystery in what actions make ce…
Windows can dramatically change any space, from transforming a tiny kitchen into a front row seat to a glorious skyline to morphing a standard upstairs bedroom into a perfect perch for an ocean view. Windows bring vast life and light to a …
A century ago, Joyce Kilmer penned, “I think that I shall never see a poem lovely as a tree.” Today, arborists tell us that how lovely the tree depends on the variety of tree and how and where trees are planted. According to these licensed…
When buyers purchase condominium units, they also purchase access to the condo’s shared amenities. Depending on the scale and financial demographics of a building, those amenities can be substantial; during the real estate boom of the earl…
With dozens—sometimes hundreds—of people living in a community governed by neighbors, acquaintances and friends, it should be no surprise that disputes occasionally arise in condo buildings. The possibility of disagreements among residents…
Maybe it was a bad day at work, the dog had an accident on the carpet or a disgruntled call was received from the school principal; whatever the reason, there are times when the last thing a condo board member, trustees or resident wants to…
The more things change, the more they stay the same. This French adage, generally attributed to French novelist Alphonse Karr, could have been penned as a tagline for the community association world. There’s no doubt that advances in techn…
Businesses today wrestle remaining competitive in a tight market, and the property management field is no exception. “There are more companies now, and they are offering low prices which makes it very competitive,” says Marian Servidio, a…
Infighting: The thought of it in a condo community makes everyone cringe, from residents to board of trustee members to property managers. It also puts those involved in an awkward position. Although it isn’t a common occurrence, thankfull…
Taking care of a condo, co-op or HOA’s budget and finances is a big job. Handling such large sums of money is an important responsibility, and not every unit owner or shareholder has the expertise to do the job well. Sure, most people know …
It’s cheaper for two families to pool resources and share a house than for the same two families to buy two houses. This underlying concept has been around since people starting building houses. As a report by the National Cooperative Law…
For over a century, states have had laws, rules and regulations in place to ensure that employees who are injured while performing their jobs are adequately taken care of. An uninsured employer that finds itself embroiled in a workers' comp…
Every co-op, condo, and HOA must elect a board of directors to oversee the community’s finances, physical maintenance, and other day-to- day operations. While board elections don’t rise quite to the level of a state or even local election i…