Category: Association Operations

2011 March Facade Maintenance By Rosie Powers

 For those who might not know, building facades are the exterior walls of a  building—they're important not just for their architectural and aesthetic significance, but  because they're built to withstand the elements and preserve the unde…

2011 February Managing Expectations By Keith Loria

While the board is the one who makes important financial decisions for their communities, it’s the property manager who handles day-to-day administrative tasks and keeps the association’s buildings running smoothly. If there’s an issue …

2011 February All the Right Stuff By Mary Fons

 Some property managers fly through their to-do lists with the greatest of ease,  while others send you to voicemail. Again. The difference between a serviceable  manager and a really great one may not be something they’re born with; but m…

2011 February Lincoln Park By The Chicagoland Cooperator Staff

 Two miles north of downtown Chicago you find one of the Windy City’s quintessential neighborhoods, Lincoln Park. Lincoln Park is located along the  lakefront and comprises the area north of North Avenue, south of Diversey  Parkway, west o…

2011 February Prioritizing Projects By Steven Cutler

This is a great time to be on the board of directors of a condominium association—if you like a challenge. Gone are the days of flush and growing reserve funds and easily balanced operating budgets that marked the real estate …

2011 February Communicating With Your Property Manager By Lisa Iannucci

It was an odd call to management, but Erik Conrad, president of InCommercial Property Group in Chicago, knew that when his residents have a gripe, they also have the right to call and let him know what the problem is. In this …

2011 February The Modern Property Manager By Rosie Powers

As technology has paved the way for easier entry into many career fields, residential property management has taken on many changes—adjusting for a new generation of professionals from degree programs across the country. Sara …

Out of Sight, Out of Mind...Out of Money? By Thomas Engblom

Beautiful new residential buildings are erected every year. As developers make the finishing touches, the walls are closed to conceal elements like piping, wiring, fire suppression systems, and insulation. Unfortunately, awareness of these …

Structural Integrity Inspections: By A.J. Sidransky

In light of the catastrophic, deadly condo building collapse in Surfside, Florida last month, boards and residents in multifamily buildings across the country are taking a hard look at how their own properties measure up to the structural m…

Water Sensors Join the Internet of Things By A.J. Sidransky

Water infiltration in multifamily buildings has always been an issue of grave concern; leaks can lead to everything from unsightly stains to mold growth to crumbling infrastructure, and can mean hundreds of thousands spent on repairs and re…