After the four walls of a given structure, the roof is sometimes referred to as the “fifth plane”—and just like the walls that hold it up, the roof is an all-important structure that can make or break a building’s performance. Chicagola…
They say a house is only as strong as its foundation. While it's true that a bad roof or shoddy plumbing can set your building back a lot of money, a foundation in disrepair can put the entire structure at risk, and can cost tens—even h…
As spring dawns anew on a frigid Chicago landscape, many condo dwellers will get their first prolonged looks at Mother Nature’s wintery ravages. Nowhere is this better seen than on a property’s exterior siding, much of which might need c…
It's a common enough story: the condominium was relatively new, but from the start its board of directors was stingy with maintenance and repair dollars. Then the recession struck, and the percentage of unpaid maintenance fees spiked. …
According to the U.S. Green Building Council, Chicago had more certified green buildings than any other city in the United States in 2009—and that number continues to grow. A whopping 88 projects in the Chicago-area earned Lead…
When you think landscaping, you probably don’t think of a swanky Chicago co-op or condo high-rise building. After all, landscaping is typically reserved for suburban homes where there is rolling turf, strategically placed trees, sprawli…
As the old saw goes, one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch. The same idea often holds true for residents who choose to ignore bylaws or house rules, even if they are well-intended and in place to serve the greater good of the communi…
With multifamily buildings, who is in charge of the property and how well those people are trained are critically important factors in the successful operation of the community. Board members are a part of this management class, which i…
When Mrs. O’Leary’s cow supposedly in a fictional account set off the great conflagration that became known as the Great Chicago Fire in 1871, an area subdivision known as Wicker Park attracted large numbers of Polish immigrants looking…
Q I am the property manager for a medium sized condo association. There is an owner who is several months behind on their assessment. We have followed the standard protocol of the association of sending out notices and it is reached th…