2009 May
2009 May Vol. 7, No. 5
Focus on...Recreational Amenities/Expo
Fighting Sprawl with Smart Growth
While more space, cleaner air, and a more relaxed lifestyle may be upsides to
suburban living, the ‘burbs are also often synonymous with sprawl—mile after mile of strip-malls, big-box stores, identical office parks, chain
restaurants, and parking lots to house the cars needed to access it all.
Read More
Keeping Cool, Keeping Safe
Few amenities are as valued and beloved by residents as a private homeowners
association’s swimming pool. But pools probably represent the single biggest insurance liability and
maintenance expense for associations that have them.
Read More
Making Programming a Priority
The ferocity of the current recession has touched nearly every aspect of life,
from fears about job loss to concerns about health care to homeowners’ worries about foreclosure. With shrinking budgets and worrisome bottom lines,
condo communities throughout the country are looking for ways to cut costs,
reduce spending and preserve resources.
Read More
Condition Assessments are Critical for Safety
We have all read the headlines of tragic deck collapses over the years. The
causes of these tragedies are typically either from inferior design,
construction or even more worrying, from failures due to age and wear that went
unnoticed.
Read More
Keeping Up Appearances
Outdoor amenities like tennis courts, golf courses, playgrounds and pools are
valuable assets for any HOA, but they require a significant commitment when it
comes to maintenance and upkeep. With summer on the way, the weather is warming
up and people are taking to the outdoors. Now is the time to get outside and
check out your equipment to make sure all is in good working order, winter
wear-and-tear repaired, and worn-out or obsolete items are replaced or
upgraded.
Read More
Hiring and Keeping a Good Superintendent
When you think about the most important person to a building or association, the
superintendent should rank pretty high up on the list, if not right at the top.
Let’s face it, an association or building’s super has a tremendous amount of responsibility, including safeguarding the
health and security of residents, maintaining the community’s physical plant, and managing its other staff members.
Read More
Don't Delay Maintenance
We all know that parking lots, roads and driveways take a beating day in and day
out. Some hazards, like cracked sidewalks, crumbling masonry, and potholes are
obvious to even an untrained eye, making it easy to conduct repairs and prevent
further deterioration and potential liability. To safeguard your investment, it
is important that every community association or HOA have a quality maintenance
program in place to preserve and protect, as well as slow the degradation of
their paved surfaces.
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A Resort town Fit for Presidents
Long Branch, New Jersey is rapidly transforming itself as more than just a
resort community for the rich and famous. Named as home to one of America’s Top 20 beaches, the oceanfront here has been a draw for many years, reaching
back to the visits of seven Presidents, and further to the vacation homes of
wealthy New Yorkers. Having succumbed to a period of decline, the area has received a flush of
redevelopment recently, with the help of the mayor, the city council and the
laws of eminent domain.
Read More
Q&A: When Unit Owners Fail to Pay
“Our 200-unit condo association has seven delinquencies. Six of these cases have been delinquent for over a year. Liens are in place, and all are in the hands of our attorney for collection. Most are mortgaged past fair market value, so foreclosure is out of the question. Personal suits have also been filed. Last year we wrote off a significant amount but settled for six-months in fees from the mortgage company as per state statute. The court awarded some attorney fees, but the cost of collection exceeds the amount awarded. We moved our collections from a large regional firm to a local attorney in an attempt to cut costs. Delinquencies go to collection after 60 days, and liens are filed after 90-days. What more can we do to cut the collection costs and yet collect what is due?” Read More
Q&A: Shareholders' Right to Choose Management Company
“Do co-op shareholders have any rights when it comes to the selection of a management company for their building? And if they can’t directly choose which company will manage their co-op, can they attend the interviews with the potential new companies and ask questions to determine if they want their building managed by one company over another?” Read More
