2007 April
2007 April Vol. 5 No. 4
Focus on...Management
100 Years Young
The New England landscape has changed considerably since the first condominiums opened here some four decades ago. Read More
Negotiating the Contract
The management contract defines the relationship between the condominium and management company, but the document's provisions frequently receive only cursory review or discussion by the condominium board. Read More
Tongue in Cheek
As a rule, New England Condominium sticks to the straight and narrow as we contemplate the many players and problems in condominiums. But condo- miniums are, after all, populated with people, and people are human, fallible, and occasionally very funny. In this issue, we asked a number of condo professionals to weigh in with some of their favorite lighter, more humorous stories about condo life and the human condition...and just in time for April Fool's Day! Read More
Thinking About Buying a Vacation Condo?
With warmer days arriving at last, thoughts turn to lazy summer days in a beachside house. But what's the best way to secure your spot on the beach if you don't want the hassles of full-time ownership? Condo-hotels and time-shares are two popular vacation home options, each with their own benefits and drawbacks. Read More
A Delicate Subject
In a condominium, trustees, owners, managers, and developers are confronted each and every day with myriad infrastructure issues, each of which significantly affects the financial considerations of the development. Although not often a topic of polite conversation at social functions or even industry roundtables, waste- water management is typically a significant consideration for condominiums that are located in unsewered areas, where the condominium development must provide and manage its own wastewater collection, treatment, and dispersal system. Read More
When is a Good Time?
Maybe it starts with complaints about guest parking, or too much noise from next door, or neighbors smoking. Whatever the reason, the condominium rules and regulations— also known as the CR&Rs—in your community probably need updating. Read More
The One Hour Board Meeting
One of the most important elements in the operation of a community association is the meeting process. The success of an association is often reflected in the quality and tenor of its meetings. Surprisingly, the meeting process is often ignored or misunderstood in many communities. We have all attended the interminable three-hour board meeting. Most of us have also been privy to the process of rescheduling an annual meeting due to the lack of a quorum, or we have been at the occasional special meeting that nearly erupts into a riot because of some controversial topic being discussed. Read More
Community Perspectives
Insidious is not a word that usually comes to mind when think of community association living. But then again, we don't generally think of any insidious phenomena around us as being insidious. Need an example? While majority of Americans struggle with weight issues, the weight gain itself is completely insidious; it creeps up an ounce at a time. The same goes for aging—no one looks vastly different from one day to another, but if you compare photographs of the same person taken 10 years apart, the effects of aging are apparent and pronounced. Read More
Technology Today
Where there's smoke, there's fire, right? Not always. Smoke and soot damage are the obvious aftereffects of a fire, but they are also the by-products of many other domestic mishaps, including residue build-up in a furnace or chimney, improper use of small appliances, electrical problems, or even clogged dryer ducts. If all the stars align, a mere spark, back draft, or combustible residue can envelop your condominium in billowing clouds of smoke and soot. Read More
