Like any major project in a co-op or condominium, installing a gym is made up of two separate yet equally important parts: The brass tacks of planning and executing the project, and the politics of running it through the board and resi…
It’s a different world for amenities, these days. Just a decade ago, if you were fortunate enough to live in a building with a gated entrance or a nicely-landscaped swimming pool, you thought you hit the jackpot. It was easy f…
You’ve all seen the ads, whether you’re over 55 or not. They’re called “active adult” communities, “retirement” communities, “over-55” communities, “active-lifestyle” communities or any number of other names. Popular locations f…
Q I live in a co-op building in New Jersey with a seemingly tyrannical board that displays arrogance and disregards shareholders’ concerns. For example, the board appointed a shareholder of their choosing, to the vacant seat, stating to…
Q Owners who don't have dryer vents cleaned every two years are fined but they still refuse to hire a vent cleaner. In one case, an owner on the second floor had it done inside but the outside lint screen is clogged because some ven…
It's springtime, and the annual budget process for associations is quickly approaching. To avoid financial surprises, budgets should be as realistic as possible. With that in mind, one of the main goals of the budget process should be …
Camden, New Jersey is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia. About 77,344 reside in the city as of the 2010 U.S. Census. At its peak, its population swelled to nearly 125,000 in the 1950s. Over the years, Camden has been …
Bedbugs are a fact of urban, and these days, even suburban life, and a growing problem for residents in communal environments. As the bedbug epidemic mushrooms, the likelihood of having bedbug encounters grows significantly each year. …
On February 17, 2011, the New Jersey Legislature introduced a new bill to help ensure fairness and accuracy in homeowners’ association elections. New Jersey Assembly Bill (A3802)—or its companion bill in the Senate (S1293)—sponsored in t…
From attorneys to contractors, every building and HOA has a list of various professionals to work with to keep things running smoothly. One of the most important of these professionals is the building’s accountant. One wrong calculation…