Page 38 - Chicagp Fall EXPO 2019

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Clybourn Ave Suite # 159 Chicago, IL. 60614 SOME THINGS WE DO: Property Damage Happens...We Fix It! • Mold/Mildew Mitigation • Burst Pipe Repair • Hail Damage Restoration • Water Restoration • Fire Restoration • Storm Restoration Financing Available Get A Free Consultation (630) 473-8114 www.AllenRestorationGroup.com Allen Restoration Group Fi r e/W ater R estor ation Licensed ● Bonded ● Insured tion is, who pays a fi ne in a sublet or rental situation? Much of that depends on house rules. “Th e tenant gets fi ned if the unit is rented out,” says Roque. “If the tenant doesn’t pay, the owner is responsible.” One way or another, the association will get its money. “Leases are usually for one year, and while we rarely evict a tenant for nonpayment of a fi ne, the board will sim- ply refuse to permit the owner to renew the lease,” as per governing documents, Roque continues. Either way, the owner will have to pay the fi ne in the end. Another provision to ensure fairness is to set up a grievance committee. When an owner is subject to a fi ne, the case should be reviewed by that committee to insure impartiality and transparency, and to make certain that the fi ne was not charged arbi- trarily or in retaliation for some action on the part of the owner. In the fi nal analysis, boards should be careful about how, when and for what reasons they employ fi nes to control unit owners’ behavior. Rules are rules, but not everyone may agree with specifi c protocols and prohibitions. Some may see the rule as unfair or spurious, while others could view it as perfectly reasonable. Good communi- cation between neighbors should be em- ployed before punishment, while fi nes and fi ning in general should be used as a last resort. n A J Sidransky is a staff writer/reporter for Th e Chicagoland Cooperator, and a published novelist. FINES... continued from page 27 a uniform aesthetic can really suit a prop- erty when it comes to common areas and lobbies. Ideally, all will be of a piece and choices will be complementary. Cherne recommends that an association determine the life cycle of a space and de- cide how oft en it plans to update that space, especially in the context of whether they’re trying to attract new owners. “From there, decide what percentage of items you will be willing to replace in fi ve years,” she sug- gests. “Aft er fi ve years, people can’t seem to tolerate a ‘trend’ and thus it is defi nitively rendered out-of-style. Maybe in times past, you could get 10 years from a trend, but now, that cycle is faster, since we have more access and exposure to fresh and new things.” “Interior design should be mindful of the architecture while achieving a style that is appealing to the homeowner,” says Wil- liams. “Updating a traditional home can be accomplished by mixing existing furniture with touches of updated, trendy pieces. Again, I would suggest adding new light- ing, fl ooring and wallpaper. If done cor- rectly, these can actually make your tradi- tional pieces look more transitional.” And fi nally, Manning urges that the in- terior should connect to the building itself as well as the surrounding context. “Even if you go modern in a traditional build- ing, the materials and/or detailing should make sense with what’s around them. For example, should you want to change wood fi nishes, try selecting a tone that is harmo- nious with what will remain in the space, and also use a small amount of the existing wood to fi nish that space.” Renovation at any level can exciting and daunting. But with the right resources, mindset and professional team, the out- come can delight and satisfy both residents and guests for several years. n Mike Odenthal is a writer for Th e Chica- goland Cooperator. Additional reporting by Kristina Valada-Viars. INTERNAL... continued from page 29 pointments at the locations at which as- sociation records are kept, and to view said records, including any contracts with outside vendors,” says Gary M. Daddario, a partner at the law fi rm of Marcus Errico Emmer Brooks P.C., which has offi ces in Massachu- setts and New Hampshire. “Th at said, the statute does not prohibit self-dealing. Oddly enough, on that subject, it is not uncommon to see language in an association’s governing documents that specifi cally allows \\\[emphasis ed.\\\] for self-dealing. In New Hampshire, re- cent amendments to its Condominium Act (R.S.A. 356-B) at least require certain dis- closures to the community in the event that a property manager hired by the association has an interest in a contract that the associa- tion enters into with a vendor. “Self-dealing typically occurs when a board member happens to own or be em- ployed by a company that off ers a service or product needed by the association,” Daddario continues. “Th e instinctive thought process is that the familiarity will result in the asso- ciation getting the best deal. But the reality is that whether they get the best price or not, the association could end up in a diffi cult situa- tion. If the project doesn’t go well, or the work isn’t done properly, it will be much more dif- fi cult and awkward to address than with a vendor who is at arm’s length. Not to mention that some folks are just naturally inclined to believe that there must have been kickbacks, or other sketchy behavior involved.” When unit owners have to address sus- pected nefarious activity in-house, they have a few options, according to Daddario. “For starters, they can replace the board next election. If things are more urgent, they can seek removal of one or more board members pursuant to the removal provision in their governing documents. Th e most serious re- course would be for the unit owners to seek relief in a legal claim against the board, which is problematic as they would be, in certain re- spects, suing themselves, as members of the INTERESTING... continued from page 31 See us at Booth 431