With warm weather on the horizon, the time has come for the sixth annual Condo, HOA & Co-op Expo sponsored by The New Jersey Cooperator.Everyone knows that managing or sitting on the board of a condo, HOA or co-op is certainly not an ea…
New Jersey is not exactly known for year-round sunshine and palm trees swaying in the breeze. New Jerseyans as do many Northeast residents and most Americans, have a love affair with lush green turf. Keeping grass green in the…
In March, federal and state agricultural officials trumpeted some good news to New Jersey residents: The state is officially free of the Asian Longhorned Beetle. The declaration marked a victory against the invasive pest that …
One of the first things both prospective residents and visitors to a condo or HOA notice are the beautiful grounds and lush landscaping surrounding the property. Of course, a key component in maintaining all that greenery is the availa…
Whether you live in a towering mid-block high-rise or a sprawling suburban development, landscaping not only helps a co-op, condo or HOA increase and retain property values, but has a positive impact on residents themselves—beautiful, f…
The signs “Post No Bills,” “Active Driveway” and “Alternate Side Parking” are all fairly common and relatively self-explanatory in urban settings. Other equally common signs we see in suburban communities throughout the U.S. related to p…
Accountants are a norm for most people around tax time. And then, post-tax season, we rarely think about them. But for co-op and condo owners, this shouldn’t be the case. It’s crucial that large associations hire an accountant to help w…
Even in 2013, with the economy slowly recuperating and markets improving, the words “housing crisis” still have the power to send shivers down the spines of homeowners who are still feeling the effects of the collapse of the market in 2…
With the price of gasoline rising, daily traffic snarls, a desire to live a healthier life and the responsibility to lessen the effect of one's carbon footprint, there are many reasons to own a bike. Buying the bike is just th…
We've heard all the New Jersey jokes, and though we might be insulted, we've probably told some ourselves. From Benjamin Franklin to George Carlin, New Jersey has been the on the receiving end of such questions as, “Why does New Jersey …
With multifamily buildings, who is in charge of the property and how well those people are trained are critically important factors in the successful operation of the community. Board members are a part of this management class, which i…
Whether indoors or out, few design elements are as dramatic and arresting as a waterfall, water wall, Koi pond, reflecting pool or statuesque fountain. These water features add beauty and value to any New Jersey property or building, w…
Many co-op and condo buildings in New Jersey have a laundry room for residents to use that is more than just an amenity; it’s practically a necessity. Many of the co-op/condo laundry rooms are maintained by laundry contractors who servi…
Nestled in the hilly Watchung Mountains in Central New Jersey, this tight knit community of Watchung offers more amenities than you might think. In addition to parks (Mobus Field, Philips Field, Watchung Lake Park), valleys and waterway…
In forty-six years, the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association (NJLCA) has grown from five members to over 19,000 and has given a voice to the Garden State’s professional landscape contractors, who strive to make New Jersey a more…
Q Our annual meeting keeps getting rescheduled for unknown reasons. It's now seven months overdue. What can we do as residents? We want to be up to date with the events and expenses of the community as well as hold our annual election. …
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…