A Bergen County, New Jersey jury in November rendered a $1.3 million dollar verdict against a cooperative corporation and its management company for failing to remediate a longstanding water problem that led to mold growth and expos…
Water is vital to sustaining life, but keeping it in its place is vital to the sanity—and bank accounts—of both boards and residents of HOAs. Infiltration of H2O into an apartment or other parts of a building can throw people into a…
Given the thousands of miles of sidewalks running through New Jersey's suburban communities, sidewalk maintenance in this region is serious business. Foot traffic, erratic weather, tree roots, and other factors all contribute to the…
Exterior repairs and regular maintenance are a necessary part of the upkeep of any co-op or HOA. But exterior renovation or construction can be a major undertaking for any community, especially when the board is not comprised of peo…
The workers are there in plain sight, going about their jobs with intensity, laboring on the buildings around us—maybe even in your own HOA. But what are they doing, exactly? What does it mean when a contractor is hired to do a faça…
Let's take an imaginary walk with a prospective buyer up to the doorway of their future home in your condominium development. Take a look at the wilted, dried-up flowerbeds that haven't seen care or maintenance in months. Attractive, are…
For most people, after a long winter, warm weather cannot come soon enough. But, if you are a trustee in a community association or a property manager, spring means more than barbecues and patio furniture—it means tough decisions and exp…
You've heard it before—first impressions are everything, whether it's for a job interview, a first date, or the curb appeal of a new home. So, if your condo or homeowners association has begun to look a little shabby or as out-of-date, perh…
People are pretty rough on parking lots. Not only do we drive on them, but we leak oil and transmission fluid on them, pour salt on them when it snows, and leave it there well into spring. Snow plows and heavy garbage dumpsters goug…
The real estate mantra is location, location, location, right? After that, it's price, square footage, condition, state of the market and maybe rooms with a view or available financing terms. This is all true—but there's a rel…