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Construction Defect or Maintenance Issue? What to Do When Your Caulk Balks

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By Michelle Tomko

It’s hard to imagine a building of any size without some kind of issue. Cement cracks. Water finds a way in. Stains form. But, when you notice things aren’t exactly in plumb shape with your association, how do you know if that’s regular wear and tear or a construction defect? In other words, should you be settling for the house settling? To figure this out Lynn A. Voorhees, Director of Community Association Services at DW Smith Associates answered questions about construction defects.

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The Contractors are Here – Best Practices for Major Projects

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By Alyssa Gautieri

A big project has been in the negotiation stages for months, and now with the nice weather, your association is ready to move ahead and complete that capital project. Whether it’s new roofs, siding, windows or repaving of roads, there are certain best practices that should be followed to ensure nothing falls through the cracks.

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When is it Considered Harassment? When a Board Member is Harassed by a Unit Owner

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By Alyssa Gautieri

In this day and age of social media and email, it’s easy for people to hide behind a computer, cell phone or tablet and say all kinds of things to and about others. This can go on day and night due to the accessibility of these platforms. In the setting of condominiums and homeowner associations, board members and their actions are frequently the source of many emails and social media posts and comments.  [Read more…] about When is it Considered Harassment? When a Board Member is Harassed by a Unit Owner

Flood Insurance Update – 
What to Do With the New Wave of Information

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By Michelle Tomko

Living by the water has many rewards. But like most things in this world, those beautiful sunrises and long walks on the beach come at a premium – a flood insurance premium to be exact. Additionally, residents can find getting the right type of coverage from the right carrier isn’t always cut and dry. [Read more…] about Flood Insurance Update – 
What to Do With the New Wave of Information

How to Get a Pickleball Program Started in a Community

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By Alyssa Gautieri

Pickleball — a court sport which uses perforated plastic balls and composite or wooden paddles about twice the size of ping-pong paddles (ranging in price from $50-$150) — is now considered to be the fastest growing sport in America. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) 2018 Pickleball Participant Report, pickleball currently has 3.1 million players in the U.S. — an increase of 12 percent over the previous year. The sport has also had a 650 percent increase in numbers over the last six years. [Read more…] about How to Get a Pickleball Program Started in a Community

Why Do Dogs Bark? Helping Dogs Adjust to Condo Living

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By Alyssa Gautieri

You’ve recently moved to a condo and your dog is having difficulty adjusting to community association living. There are many more people around than when you lived in a regular single-family home. There are also many more dogs around. Your dog starts barking like crazy. Maybe you’ve received complaints about your dog barking while you were at work or out running errands. [Read more…] about Why Do Dogs Bark? Helping Dogs Adjust to Condo Living

What Do We Do With These Potholes?
 Handling Potholes within Community Associations

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By Alyssa Gautieri

Now that winter is behind us, many people may notice their roads have some extra bumps when driving or riding a bike through the roads in their communities. A pothole, which is a depression in road surface, in a parking lot or on side street can often lead to driving and biking accidents, and result in injuries within a community association. Potholes also tend to lower the curb appeal of a community association, so even the sight of a pothole is likely to cause angst and irritation among community members. [Read more…] about What Do We Do With These Potholes?
 Handling Potholes within Community Associations

Behind Closed Doors – 
Executive Session Explained

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Everyone who lives in a condominium or homeowner association knows that board meetings are no picnic. They can be confusing, loud and even get a little heated. However, some people may not know that the board also meets privately in executive session. Although this may seem secretive, it is necessary to keep the board, and board meetings running smoothly and it is necessary for certain legal reasons. [Read more…] about Behind Closed Doors – 
Executive Session Explained

It’s Getting Easier Being Green

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Going green is definitely a topic that community associations are discussing these days. But as with most improvements, there is a cost involved. Weighing the benefits against the learning curve of new technology and the financial burden of taking the leap can be a daunting task. So to explain some of the options that associations have when it comes to going green, Mitch Frumkin, president and founder of Kipcon Engineering headquartered in North Brunswick, New Jersey, with offices in Pennsylvania and New York, answered some questions about what it takes to make the switch. [Read more…] about It’s Getting Easier Being Green