The relationship between a building or association's board and their property manager sets the tone for the entire community. Transparency, clearly-defined expectations, and accountability are hallmarks of a healthy, functional board-manage…
The scope and cost of maintaining masonry - let alone undertaking a comprehensive repair and restoration project - can be extremely daunting for building owners and boards. Unfamiliarity with materials and methods, lack of prior experience …
As your building ages, maintaining a roof eventually becomes too costly or bothersome and roof replacement is considered. As a property manager or owner, understanding current standards per typical building codes and manufacturer requiremen…
Everybody wants lush, green grass and vibrant, healthy plants and flowers on their building or HOA's grounds - but residents and boards today are equally concerned about issues of water use, soil erosion, invasive pests, and other environme…
Conflict management skills are part of every good manager and board member’s toolkit - especially in this era of social media and heightened cultural tensions. Between defusing hostility at meetings, coping with the impact of platforms like…
The First Amendment of the US Constitution guarantees the right to free speech and expression - but how does that right apply to the residents of multifamily co-op or condo buildings? Does it apply at all? Can you - or the guy down the hall…
Congratulations! You’ve just been elected to the board of directors, and given your first monthly financial packet. Like many new board members, your first thought may be, “This is so confusing. Glad I’m not the treasurer - I don’t have to …
Q. I have written several complaint letters to the board and the managing agent regarding a noisy neighbor. They did send a letter to the shareholders about a year ago, but the problem persists, and although I continue to write letters, n…
Q. My HOA found garbage dumped on the front of our street—and since they didn’t know who did it, decided to fine everyone on the street. Problem is that during that time period, the HOA had numerous unsupervised contractors working with d…
Part of the appeal of HOA or condo living is living in an orderly, well-kept community where neighbors have agreed to uphold certain standards for their properties, the better to preserve value for all. For many, those standards include the…