Building owners are charged with the constant battle of keeping water out of the building envelope, but sometimes the water that causes stains, mold and decay comes from within the building envelope. Consideration to design, materials a…
A couple years ago, River Run Condominiums in Northampton, Massachusetts decided it was time for a change—they wanted to be green. It wasn’t a paint job they needed, but an environmental transformation—an investment that would help defra…
Whether the goal is to save the planet or just a few bucks, making and maintaining a green home is becoming a priority for more and more people. And while many are quick to point fingers at gas-guzzling automobiles as the main culprits…
It's change on a global scale. Throughout the world and throughout the United States, people are changing the way they think about the environment and how their way of life impacts the planet. With rising energy costs and increasing stra…
It's on the front page of major newspapers almost daily; it’s often the lead story on nightly newscasts; everyone you know is complaining about it. It’s no secret that the price of oil is reaching sky-high numbers and there doesn’t seem to …
In order to understand circumstances in which you might not be covered by your D&O policy, you must first ask the question, “Where does a community association’s D&O policy fall within the entire insurance puzzle?” Second, “Are all D&O po…
When an insurance issue comes up, most people will call their broker with simple instructions: “Handle it.” While this approach is not uncommon, it is becoming increasingly dangerous to “abdicate” rather than delegate. Insurance and risk…
Common sense notwithstanding, a lot of co-op and condo owners don’t have the adequate liability and property insurance they should have. Too often they assume that their building association has insurance coverage that will automaticall…
Every month, HOA residents pay monthly fees that are in turn used to pay for a variety of association necessities. One of those necessities is insurance coverage for their buildings and grounds. This isn’t the same as homeowner’s insuran…
It seems like the everyday operating expenses of condos and HOAs just keep going up and up—fuel costs, staff salaries, physical repairs and the cost of cleaning supplies and other materials have all crept up (or shot up) in the last coup…