Media room, game room, common room, party room—regardless of what you call them, the purpose of these shared spaces in co-ops  and condos is to give residents a place to gather; to hold an in-house meeting,  throw a graduation party or sc…

 As the devastation of Superstorm Sandy continues to be tallied, (up to nearly  $50 billion in the Garden State alone) and New Jersey residents— those who bore the brunt of the disaster, as well as those less directly  affected— take stock…

 While the housing market seems to have picked itself up off the canvas from the  doldrums of the recession that affected the economy from 2006-2010, New Jersey  suffered a crippling knockout from Superstorm Sandy, a hurricane that hit the…

 Disorganized and poorly-run board meetings are time-wasters that can make even  the most ardent board member cringe at the thought of an upcoming session. On  the flip side, a well-run board meeting can be a productive hour or two or  thr…

 Back in the 1980s, McGruff the Crime Dog taught children and parents alike to “Take a bite out of crime.” The tough but affable, anthropomorphic bloodhound was created by the Ad Council  for the National Crime Prevention Council and used …

 The issue of intellectual property and an individual’s right to privacy has become a greater concern since more and more people  conduct their lives online—whether for banking, social media or dating. While the aforementioned generally  h…

 For most people, nothing is more important than knowing that they and their  families are safe and secure in the place they call home. Boards, management  and security firms all must work together seamlessly and cohesively to create  that…

 The discovery of fire is considered a major turning point in man's evolution  from cave dweller to outer space explorer. Control of fire allowed early man  warmth for his habitat, a way to cook his meals, and light for his  surroundings. …

Q Our association has difficulty attracting people to run for the board, as I'm sure is a common problem. Would we be able to amend our bylaws to require unit owners to serve at least one term on the board? How can we go about doing tha…

 As we go about our busy lives, we often forget about everyday physical facts—like the unceasing tension gravity places on the materials we assemble into  buildings and other structures, for example. Whether or not we are paying  attention…