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Furry Pests
The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife says that there are over 800
species of wildlife living in the Garden State, and while most of them will
never been seen on association properties, it seems that others are showing up
more than ever before.
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Feeling the Heat
Even cavemen knew that fire was dangerous—and they lived in flame-proof caves. But here in the 21st century, people
blithely build roaring fires right in the middle of their furnished,
wood-filled, carpeted, upholstered and bookcase-jammed condominiums. And they
want someone to tell them it’s safe.
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As Dollars Get Tighter, Some Projects Get Delayed
If something’s broken, you fix it. If it’s worn out, you replace it. It sounds like a simple equation, but when it comes
to capital improvements or renovation projects in cash-strapped times, it can
be a case of easier said than done.
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Making Life Easier, Less Costly
Technological applications to residential building life are becoming more prevalent, and in some cases, they’ve even become more affordable than in the past. An “intelligent” building is able to monitor its environmental, mechanical, and lighting (among other) systems, through a computerized network of electronic devices. Maintenance, communications, security, and other residential building functions are now being handled by these new systems, whose upgraded operations are helping building personnel do their jobs more effectively. Read More
A Look at Building Anatomy
In many ways, the homes in a detached condo development resemble any other single-family dwellings: they have their own driveways, their own water and electric meters, distinct roofs, and heating and cooling systems. Other types of condo associations take the form of attached townhouses, or high-rise apartment buildings. Regardless of the architecture, a thorough understanding and regular maintenance of all the components that ultimately deliver the essential amenities like heat, air conditioning water, plumbing, and electricity is required in order for the association's operating systems to run safely and efficiently. Read More
Minimizing Construction and Maintenance Disturbances
The noise, the dust, the fumes, the mess, the constant influx of workers, unsightly equipment and vehicles, the service disruptions—everybody wants to live in a well-maintained building or development, but one thing many co-op and condo dwellers dread is having to live through the actual repair-and maintenance process. Read More
Breathing Easy
Keeping indoor air clean is critical to maintaining a healthy environment. The
inner workings of a building’s operating system is often a mystery to the untrained person or board member.
Since it’s easier to determine the cleanliness of common rooms such as garbage and
recycling areas, more attention is often paid to keeping these shared spaces
sanitary. However, there are no federal or state guidelines that require a
building to have its air ducts cleaned, for example, and these systems often
need attention because danger could be brewing from within.
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Looking for Leaks
Edgar Dworsky is the treasurer of a small condo complex in Somerville,
Massachusetts that was built back in 1987. He loves where he lives except for
one rather large problem. Water leaks have plagued the complex since it was
built. During driving rains, water comes in from around the windows and near
the chimney. The association has tried numerous solutions to fix the problem,
but nothing has worked very well.
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Maintenance and Repair Lead to Longer Life Spans
A building is, in many ways, like a body. If its residents are the soul, then
certainly the mechanical systems that keep it running are at its heart. And
just as one cares for one’s body by eating right and exercising, management must care for those mechanical
systems, ensuring they function efficiently and well throughout their life
span.
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A Flushing Concern
Few things illustrate the fragility of modern civilization more clearly than plumbing problems. A broken pipe, a backed-up toilet, a flooded bathroom—any one of these can quickly go from annoyance to emergency, and the longer a plumbing problem lingers, the more unsavory the situation gets. Without efficient, functional plumbing, a densely populated urban or suburban area can go from metropolitan to Medieval in very short order. Read More
