2008 Sept
Focus on... Energy & the Environment

Energy Conservation A Look at Cost-Saving Strategies
2008 Sept A Look at Cost-Saving Strategies

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 …

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Energy Conservation The Art or Green Persuasion
2008 Sept The Art or Green Persuasion

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…

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Energy Conservation Without Breaking the Bank
2008 Sept Without Breaking the Bank

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…

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Board Operations Dealing with a Few Bad Apples
2008 Sept Dealing with a Few Bad Apples

Reality television has made an industry out of putting people in challenging or high-stress situations, sitting back, and letting the “unscripted” drama play out. Shows like “The Apprentice” and “Survivor” drew weekly audiences of millio…

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Energy Conservation Alternative Energy Sources
2008 Sept Alternative Energy Sources

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…

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Maintenance Keeping Buildings Dry
2008 Sept Keeping Buildings Dry

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…

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Landscaping Soil, Climate and Maintenance are Key
2008 Sept Soil, Climate and Maintenance are Key

First impressions last—especially when it comes to real estate. Beyond its architecture, construction and natural setting, nothing is as critical to a property’s image from the outside as its landscaping. As a result, owners and managers…

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Q&A Q&A: Board Member Owes Maintenance
2008 Sept Q&A: Board Member Owes Maintenance

Q I’m on the board of my 15-unit condo. One of our long-time board members has been behind on his maintenance payments for nearly two years, and now owes the building almost $7,000 in arrears. About 18 months ago, the board attempted to s…

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Q&A Q&A: Copies of Annual Meeting Minutes
2008 Sept Q&A: Copies of Annual Meeting Minutes

Q Are shareholders entitled to a copy of the minutes of their annual meetings for their records? —Conscientious Shareholder “Shareholders are entitled only to access in order to inspect the minutes of the meetings, [but] physica…

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Q&A Q&A: Removing Old Telephone Wires?
2008 Sept Q&A: Removing Old Telephone Wires?

Q I am a condo owner living next to a building that is primarily rental units. There is a telephone pole in the back corner of the condo property and there are about a dozen wires coming from it to the neighboring building. Being that the…

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Q&A Q&A: Resolving Municipal Ordinance Conflict
2008 Sept Q&A: Resolving Municipal Ordinance Conflict

Q Prior to 1995, all common expenses for our condo association were charged equally to all unit owners, as mandated by our master deed and the New Jersey Condominium Act. Since 1995, that portion of our condo association’s common expenses…

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