There’s nothing worse than being a unit owner in a building and seeing someone disregard a rule and seemingly getting away with it—particularly if that person is a member of your homeowners association board. Sadly, this scenario isn't w…
Freelance photographer Jocelyn A. lives in a charming, post-war brick townhouse community of over 1,600 units and a $3 million annual budget. She receives a monthly newsletter with over 20 pages of everything to keep residents informed,…
Being on a board of a condo or co-op is no picnic. There are tons of decisions to be made, disputes to settle, finances to keep track of and a chance of being sued for a slip-up. So why do so many people decide to serve on a board—some …
Most co-op and condo residents have taken part in at least a few annual board elections, and perhaps they’ve even served on committees, or volunteered on behalf of their building in some other capacity. But those who’ve never taken a se…
A key to success and functionality in any relationship is clear, consistent communication. In a residential community, part of achieving functionality is managing the information in the governing documents and records which detail the …
While a lot of the day-to-day business of running a condo building or HOA happens in the management office or on-site at the level of maintenance and staff management, meetings—board-only and resident alike—are the forum where important…
Read any of the major business publications or websites and you’re bound to find articles on the importance of delegating. It’s one of the most fundamental skills for a successful business owner to have. A simple Internet search finds sc…
On a given day, life is filled with so many things that you need to remember it’s almost impossible to retain it all. For example, can you remember the dates of your car’s last oil changes or the mileage on your car? Or when you had your…
While essential to the successful operation of all cooperatives or condominiums, governing documents are often only glossed over by otherwise well-intentioned board members, residents and property managers leading to potential pitfalls.…
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…