What are reserves, and why do associations need to have them? In order to answer these questions, and provide other important details on this topic, we spoke with Tanner Oldenburger, PE, RS, Regional Engineering Manager from the Twin Cities, Minnesota of- fice of Reserve Advisors, Inc., a company specializing in reserve studies, serving clients in …
Construction Defects What is a construction defect and what should an association do if one is discovered? “A construction defect is a condition of a constructed item that exists in deviation from the applicable architectural drawings, applicable building codes, and/or applicable industry standards (manufacturer specifications),” said attorney David J. Byrne. The first thing an association …
Plumbing is a crucial part Plumbing is a crucial part of any community association. As such, it is important for managers and board members to become familiar with common plumbing problems and the process for working with a contractor. What kinds of issues are easily recognizable? What should managers and board members look for when …
The Fair Housing Act & Civil Rights Violations of the United States Fair Housing Act (FHA) can result in severe penalties for associations. Knowing how to govern your community responsibly in this regard is highly important. What is a common sense approach to staying in compliance with the FHA? According to attorney David J. Byrne, …
What happens when a property damage disaster occurs in an association? What steps need to be taken at the time of the disaster and afterwards in order to restore the property to its pre-disaster condition? Who is responsible for taking the necessary actions, the residents or the association? We spoke with Tom Licciardi of Accurate …
After the Disaster — Restoration of the Association Read More »
Association Accounting & Budgets When it comes to the association’s finances, how can boards be assured they’re handling things properly? Where should the board begin when creating budgets? What are the reporting requirements and rules for handling association funds? What are the proper accounting methods? How can an association be assured they don’t be- come …
The Association’s Pavement — Preventative Maintenance & Repairs Paved surfaces make up a large portion of homeowners associations’ assets, from sidewalks to parking lots to driveways and roadways. These paved surfaces are a large portion of the land real estate of an association and, therefore, they are crucial to maintain. Because of this, key questions …
What are reserves, and why do associations need to have them? In order to answer these questions, and provide other important details on this topic, we spoke with John P. Poehlmann, RS, a principal from the Milwaukee, Wisconsin office of Reserve Advisors, Inc., a company specializing in reserve studies, serving clients in all 50 states …
What are the warning signs, issues and repair of masonry issues? What are the warning signs of masonry issues? What steps can be taken for preventative maintenance of association masonry? What goes into the repair process? What should an association look for from their masonry restoration contractor? We spoke with Chuck McCrimmon, President of Dakota …
Masonry — Preventative Maintenance, Restoration & Tuck Pointing Read More »
Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions How are the elements of a community defined? What determines the components of the common areas versus homeowner-owned areas? Where is it written that certain elements are the responsibility of the homeowner and others are the responsibility of the association? These issues and others are established in what’s commonly called an …