2015 July
Focus on... Budget & Finance

Finance Money Talks
2015 July Money Talks

Imagine sitting down with your significant other to pay the monthly bills. You both put your checks into a joint account and know how much there is to take care of expenses, or so you think. Out of his wallet your husband pulls out receipt…

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Finance In The Black
2015 July In The Black

Taking care of a co-op or condo building’s budget and finances is a big job. Handling such large sums of money is an important responsibility, and not every shareholder or unit owner has the expertise to do the job well. Sure, most people …

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Finance Dealing with Code Violations
2015 July Dealing with Code Violations

Those of us without engineering degrees tend to take the buildings in which we live and work for granted. We simply assume that if we go indoors, the ceiling isn't going to suddenly collapse. Of course, buildings can remain upright and str…

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Finance Don’t Raid the Cookie Jar
2015 July Don’t Raid the Cookie Jar

Sometimes the future seems like it’s an awfully long way away. If a roof is going to last 30 years, why should we worry about it today? Same with that shiny new air conditioner or that flat, crack-free pavement just poured two summers ago.…

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Board Operations Running Effective Board Meetings
2015 July Running Effective Board Meetings

When it comes to the subject of meetings—specifically monthly board meetings or annual unit owner meetings in condos, co-ops, and HOAs—there seem to be no neutral opinions. A few folks actually like these exchanges, but most dread them. …

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Q&A Q&A: Changing Management Companies
2015 July Q&A: Changing Management Companies

Q Our association recently hired a new management company. An announcement was sent to the homeowners announcing the change. A new board initiated this action with no input from the homeowners and no discussion. I have specifically reques…

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Q&A Q&A: Maintenance Fee Fiasco
2015 July Q&A: Maintenance Fee Fiasco

Q I live in a development that was built in 1983. The developers turned the property over in 1989 to become a homeowners association (HOA). Since then, the association has maintained the building exterior and fences. When the real estate …

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