Although it’s pool season year round in South Florida, it’s also helpful to follow these tips as the weather heats up and we see an influx of more residents and guests. The following tips will guide you when keeping your pool area safe. Read the entire article……………………………….
Avoid the Collapse of Deferred Maintenance (CA)
By now, most have seen the awful images of the collapsed Champlain Towers which resulted in nearly 100 deaths, countless injuries, property damage and unanswered questions about how this could have happened. While not every case of deferred maintenance has such catastrophic results, the Bay Area is not without its own examples. Read the entire […]
Preventative Maintenance for Water Management (CO)
Preventative maintenance for water management around commercial and residential buildings is commonly overlooked unless an active leak is occurring from a roof or from a lower level basement area. Active water intrusion issues are primarily due to the lack of preventative maintenance on the exterior of the building. These overlooked conditions typically exist at the […]
Maintenance Now, or Disaster Later?
Many homeowners association boards shy away from addressing day-to-day maintenance needs and may be unwilling to spend assessment funds for preventative maintenance. That apprehension is often motivated by a genuine desire to keep HOA dues low or simply due to indecision from a good faith desire to make only the right decisions. Whatever the motivation, […]
Spring has Sprung: Spring Maintenance Tips for Condo Corporations (ON)
Spring is the time of the year when homeowners clear out the old, and make space for the new. The same can be said for condominium corporations. Spring is the best time to tackle maintenance issues in the building. As the snow recedes, the evidence of needed work becomes apparent. Typically, there are 2 categories […]
Beloved Carolina Beach condos return to action after battle with ‘salt, rain and wind’ (NC)
One longtime Carolina Beach condo complex is wrapping up repairs after a routine inspection last summer revealed “dangerous” corrosion in the building’s stairwells. Read the entire article……………………………….While the Pelican Watch condo complex was deemed structurally sound last August, engineers also found substantial corrosion where the stairs attached to the main structure, said Ron Hagner, president […]
How to Create a Comprehensive Community Maintenance Plan
A structured community maintenance plan guides community owners in their property management. Cleaning schedules, routine inspections, upkeep, and major outage strategies are part of the maintenance plan. Read the entire article……………………………….
Distinguishing between maintenance responsibility and financial responsibility in the wake of damage to condominium property (FL)
Forgetting to turn on the air conditioner before heading back up north for the summer and coming back to find mold growth. An undetected pipe leak. Forgotten running faucets that spill over onto the floor and beyond. Read the entire article……………………………….
Maintaining Aging Buildings – Older Structures Have Special Concerns
Nothing lasts forever, even with good maintenance—including most building components. Exterior elements are perhaps most subject to wear and tear in any climate. Their construction and material type dictate their maintenance needs and repair schedules; masonry façades clearly have different needs than wood or clapboard fronts. But with a good care program and a bit […]
Building Inspections – Up & Down, Inside & Out
Car owners know that in order to operate their vehicle legally, they must have it professionally inspected every year. An older car might need some relatively minor repairs or adjustments to bring it into compliance with state emissions requirements, but for most, getting that mandatory approval sticker is a simple, inexpensive, predictable process that takes […]
HOA Inspection Checklist
An HOA inspection checklist is a valuable tool for community managers and Board members. It can help you keep track of the condition of the community, identify any potential problems, and make sure that all areas are being regularly inspected. Read the entire article……………………………….
How to Get Out in Front of Emergency Maintenance in Residential Buildings
At one point or another, every home needs a little bit of attention. Maybe the door sticks during the summer months. Maybe the shower drips. While these issues all need to be resolved, you wouldn’t describe any of them as urgent. But every once in a while, a home will have a time-sensitive issue where […]
What to do about cracked (parking) ramp?
Question: Robert, I live in Santa Clarita in a homeowner’s association where I am a board member. We have a parking ramp, which takes us down inside our garage. I’ve submitted photos to show two cracks on top of the ramp and the bottom. There is water entering these cracks, causing leaks to the below […]
Condo Board Goes in for Early Detection of Water Leaks (NY)
Ask any co-op or condo board member or their property manager to name the biggest headache they get from their building, and the answer is guaranteed: water leaks. Whether it comes through the building envelope or passes from one apartment to another (or many), water is Enemy No. 1. A condo board in Toronto — […]
Don’t Let a Burst Pipe Burst Your Bubble (IL)
With Chicago weather at full force, it is inevitable that condominiums, townhome associations and homeowner associations will be confronted with burst pipes and the subsequent damage. As a means of preparation, please review the steps below so you can be ready for when a pipe bursts your bubble. Read the entire article……………………………….
10 Most Common HOA Service Requests And How To Handle Them
HOA service requests come in all shapes and sizes. But, more often than not, associations don’t have the tools and resources to handle each one. Read the entire article……………………………….
HOA Homefront: Tips before starting major repairs on your community (CA)
One of the greatest challenges HOAs periodically face is major reconstruction. Whether a new roof, balcony rehabilitation or other major repairs, the typical volunteer board and professional manager are not regularly involved in hiring for such work. Therefore, many potential pitfalls can contribute to extra costs or risks. Before sending the contract to legal counsel […]
5 Community Maintenance Tips for Long-term Success
Homeowners trust board members to keep the community adequately maintained and habitable at all times for the benefit of all the members. However, it is essential to understand that achieving a well-maintained and active community goes beyond cleaning the compound and planting flowers- you are required to safeguard the amenities therein to ensure they serve […]
Maintaining Aging Buildings: Older Structures Have Special Concerns
Nothing lasts forever, even with good maintenance—including most building components. Exterior elements are perhaps most subject to wear and tear in any climate. Their construction and material type dictate their maintenance needs and repair schedules; masonry façades clearly have different needs than wood or clapboard fronts. But with a good care program and a bit […]
Appeals panel: IL condo law lets condo owners sue management companies over excessive document fees (IL)
A state appeals panel has ruled condominium owners can initiate class actions against agents of homeowner associations they believe charged excessive fees to owners seeking documents they are required by law to provide to buyers when they sell their condo units. Read the entire article……………………………….
Structural Systems: Protecting condominiums and high-rise buildings (HI)
On Take2 we have talked a lot about the effects hurricanes and storms can have on our single family homes around Hawaii. However, we also want to discuss the impact that storms and bad weather systems can have on our high rise buildings and condominiums. Watch the report (after the ad)………………………………
Maintaining Roads, Driveways and Parking Decks (FL)
The intense Florida heat poses serious safety hazards and if not maintained properly, damages can progress to large cracks and potholes, neither of which you want in your parking lot, on your roads, or parking decks. Read the entire article……………………………….
Façade Inspections: A Critical Component of Your Maintenance Plan
In light of the tragic condo building collapse in Surfside, Florida, earlier this year, condo and co-op boards, as well as rental building landlords, are taking a hard look at their building system inspection policies. While all mandatory inspections exist for a reason and should be taken very seriously, among the most critical is façade […]
How Preventive Maintenance Can Help Your Association (IL)
Preventive maintenance has always been an integral part of maintaining a property, but it has become even more critical in the new age of labor shortages. When your property manager suggests renewing or signing a contract for a vendor to provide preventive maintenance, your Board should seriously consider the option. Read the entire article……………………………….
How Property Managers Prioritize Maintenance Requests
When managing multiple properties, maintenance and repair issues happen all the time. While you may think that dealing with these is a no-brainer, in reality, to consistently provide a high-quality service and achieve a degree of cost-effectiveness and responsiveness, prioritizing maintenance issues is essential. Read the entire article……………………………….
Problem Solved: Avoiding Common Pitfalls on Capital Projects (NY)
I think that the most common mistake when a board undertakes a capital project is not thinking through exactly how much that project is going to cost. A board will say to us, “What’s your price for specs?” Or, “What’s your price for drawings?” And there’s no discussion of what the project will actually cost. […]
Tips For Associations Planning Large Repair And Construction Projects
Maintaining the association’s common elements is one of the primary responsibilities – – and headaches – – for associations and their Board of Directors. The duty is so important, in fact, it comes up multiple times in the Condominium Act (Florida Statute Section 718.111(4) to maintain, repair, lease, and replace the common elements; Section 718.111(3) […]
5 Benefits of Ongoing HOA Preventative Maintenance
As a society, we’re often told, “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.” But what this phrase commonly hides are lingering issues that should be dealt with right away before they become potential disasters. Within an HOA, it’s vital boards stay proactive to prevent potential disasters from occurring by implementing an ongoing HOA preventative maintenance […]
Why Proper Maintenance & Winterization is Important for Your Property (CA)
In Southern California, we may not get temperatures as low as our northerly or easterly neighbors. However, there is still important maintenance and winterization that should be strongly considered. Proper maintenance and winterization can help avoid costly repairs, keep your equipment functioning and improve efficiency of your home. Read the entire article……………………………….
Preventative Maintenance – Board Member Perspective (CO)
We all know it’s not so fun to spend money on those pesky community projects that don’t have a big wow-factor. The pretty projects are fun, but predictive maintenance is often the most valuable. It can be much less stressful for leadership to avoid maintenance topics that create tension among your community members. It might […]
Aging Infrastructure and Fiduciary Duties for Communities (CO)
Our communities are like our bodies; all the stress alleviation endeavors in the world won’t help us if we aren’t taking care of ourselves or our communities. Reflection or Meditation will not do us any good if we aren’t getting sufficient sleep. When we try to reflect or meditate, we might doze off because we […]
9 Things That Should be on Your Community Association’s Winter Prep List (IL)
If you live in a state that has all four seasons, you know that each one brings unique beauty…and unique challenges. For example, in the Midwest, ice and frigid temperatures can cause ice dams and frozen pipes in condominium, homeowner (HOA), and townhome community associations. Read the entire article……………………………….
Problem Solved: Condo Board Got the Jump on a Complex Project (NY)
Facade work can be complicated in one building with one board, but when many entities are involved, things can get really messy. You’re in the middle of one such project, correct? Read the entire article……………………………….
How To Manage A Successful HOA Project
Residents pay a premium to live in an HOA-managed community and they expect certain returns on their investment. In addition to the obvious tasks such as keeping the community grass mowed, residents often demand capital improvement projects, such as installing a playground or constructing speed bumps. Besides keeping residents happy, these infrastructure enhancements have the […]
Costly concerns: Addressing long-term maintenance and repair
The condo collapse in Surfside, Fla., has forced community association residents, board members, and managers to reevaluate long-term maintenance and repair, yet even before the tragedy, the concern for the longevity of essential components has been rising in recent years. Read the entire article……………………………….
Community Association Debris Removal After a Natural Disaster
Natural disasters and severe weather have caused immense damage to communities across the U.S. this year. Wildfires in California have already burned nearly 1.8 million acres in 2021 as firefighters struggle to contain numerous blazes, including the Caldor Fire near Lake Tahoe. This week, Hurricane Ida made landfall in Louisiana as a category 4 storm, […]
How to Handle Emergency Repairs in Your Condo Association
Every type of building is subject to emergency repair situations. For example, a pipe may burst in the winter, or the roof may develop a dangerous leak. You may have an elevator go down, or your heating system breaks in the dead of freezing night. Storm damage may leave your building exposed and in need […]
Tips from Your HOA: How to Choose a Vendor for Your Maintenance Projects (MN)
For the most part, the idea of actual “maintenance free living” in a homeowners association is just that – an idea. In reality, people living in associations still have some maintenance responsibilities. When it comes time to perform maintenance on your home, here are some tips from the association’s perspective to keep in mind: Read […]
Ensuring Proactive HOA and Condo Building Maintenance
The tragic collapse of the Champlain Tower South condominium in Surfside, Fla., in late June has raised concerns from board members, community managers, and residents about building safety and brought condominium structural integrity and maintenance to the forefront. While disasters like that in Surfside are extremely rare, association leaders can benefit from making building maintenance […]
Condominium Association Boards: Why You Should Not Avoid Maintenance (FL)
Disputes over the party responsible for the maintenance of various areas of a condominium complex are common. Disagreements frequently arise between unit owners and an association over whether the association or the owner is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of a particular area. This blog post provides an overview and summary of Florida law […]
Florida Building Collapse Highlights Serious Challenges Facing Condo Board
The collapse of Champlain Towers South near Miami, built in 1981, has made owners and buyers nervous. The dream of living near the ocean has been interrupted by the fear that some buildings might not be safe, and that owners’ investments could be in danger. It also highlights the problems that condo, community, and home […]
Maintenance and Safety in Community Associations (IL)
Board members have a duty to maintain and improve property values within their condominium, homeowner (HOA), and townhome associations. Read the entire article……………………………….
Deck Maintenance: Why It Is Important and How To Do It
Many homes and multi-housing facilities have decks as they have become a popular way of adding more space to a home; besides providing a place to relax outside, decks are wonderful places to entertain guests and enjoy outdoor dining, especially during the warm months. Read the entire article……………………………….
The Dangers of Deferred Maintenance – Lessons to be Learned from the Florida Condo Collapse (MN)
Many of us have read and watched the news stories about the recent tragic collapse of the condominium building in Surfside, Florida. As rescue workers continue to look for missing residents, the questions on everyone’s mind are: Read the entire article……………………………….
Ripping off the Band-Aid: Getting Real about Repairs (NY)
Don’t settle for surface-level solutions. No one likes to get hit with a huge cost that puts a dent in your co-op or condo board’s budget. A large repair or construction project could dip into the board’s reserves or even impose a special assessment. It’s understandable, then, when board members hesitate to make such big […]
Summer is here! Any Plans for Capital Improvement Projects?
I’m certain that there are many communities (another word “associations”) out there that are getting ready to do improvements around their properties during this perfect season such as resurfacing asphalts, exterior building painting, entrance water feature renovation, etc. Of course, summer projects come with the question of “Are we adequately funded for these projects”. Read […]
4 Compelling Tips for Deck Maintenance
A deck is a great addition to homes and is equally gaining popularity in modern designs. It’s an ideal space for hosting outdoor parties, meetings, or enjoying the fresh air. But, despite its benefits, it can be a safety hazard if poorly maintained. Read the entire article……………………………….
Breaking Point: Examining Aging Infrastructure in Community Associations
As buildings and their internal systems and physical components age, how can the com-munity associations that own them best prepare to meet the unexpected—but necessary—financial demands. (From the Foundation for Community Association Research) Read the report (PDF)……………………………………..
Ask the Builder: Condo collapse, rusty rebar and your home
Early reports indicate that the cause of the collapse may have been weakened concrete, as well as unstable soil under the structure. It’s going to take many months to complete a forensic study of this catastrophe, so keep in mind that much of what you see now in the news is speculation. Read the entire […]
The Dangers of Deferred Maintenance – Lessons to be Learned from the Florida Condo Collapse (MN)
Many of us have read and watched the news stories about the recent tragic collapse of the condominium building in Surfside, Florida. As rescue workers continue to look for missing residents, the questions on everyone’s mind are: Read the entire article……………………………….