Category: Building Operations

Co-ops and condos operate on significant budgets, usually in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, sometimes well into the millions, and it falls to those who serve on these properties' boards to control all that money. One way they do it…

You live in a condo, and the building has come of age. The facade needs a little work here and there, and the windows should be replaced. Up until recently you would have had only three optionsall of which were sure to be unpopular with u…

As the year draws to a close, many Americans are still trying to grasp all the revisions in the tax law that went into effect last summer as part of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997. One of the changes that has the most impact on homeowner…

New Yorkers love to brag about having the best-tasting drinking water in the country, although residents of high-rise buildings may not realize that their water makes an extra stop on its way from the reservoir. When high-rise residents t…

In June 1996 the New York State legislature addressed the long-acknowledged inequity in real estate taxation between co-ops and condos and single-family homes when it passed a bill authorizing tax abatements for eligible New York City own…

It doesn't matter what type of building you live in or where it is located, eventually it will need some capital improvements. Unfortunately, there's more to it than deciding that the work has to be done and finding a contractor to do the…

Real estate brokers are familiar with the scenario: An excited buyer enters a spacious apartment in a building located at a desirable address. Despite the fact that she's been warned by the broker that the interior has been modernized, the …

Have you and your family outgrown your apartment? If so, it is time to find a space large enough for everyone to be spread out in. A three-bedroom apartment would be ideal; but, unfortunately, few are available and prices are escalating rap…

For most people, buying a home is the biggest investment they will ever make. But in order to make sure it doesn't become the biggest mistake they ever make, home buyers should do their homework before making a purchase. Following is an e…

Following is a list of security do's and don'ts for both doorman and non-doorman buildings. Of course the first line of defense, according to many security companies, is to use your common sense. Resident Guidelines 1. Never let str…