2012 November
Focus on... Building Maintenance

Warranties for products are simple to understand, most people might think. You go to the store, buy a computer or a DVD player or a TV, or even a larger appliance like a refrigerator, and you get a piece of paper describing a one-year …

Brickwork is everywhere across the New York area. Around since the early 1600s, the popular building material is commonly used not only because of its aesthetic appeal but also because of its practicality. “Brick is the most b…

 If phones can be “smart,” why not buildings? With the ever-expanding array of consumer technology  available today, it should come as no surprise that residential buildings are  incorporating more and more cutting-edge technology into the…

 Despite the due diligence of boards and property managers, building code  violations can occur during routine inspections—be it a faulty pipe, broken step or rusted fire escape. It is the speed and  accuracy of addressing these infraction…

 Sooner or later, every resident living in a condo or co-op community will have  to deal with the inconvenience of living through a major capital improvement  project—a roof replacement, an elevator rehab, serious exterior work, or somethi…

 Few things are as important to our health and well-being as the air we breathe,  especially inside our own homes. That is why it is so important for individual  homeowners as well as management to stay up-to-date on issues of indoor air  …

Condominium and cooperative management companies are a dime a dozen in New York City. And since there are thousands of management companies vying for your attention and your business in the Big Apple, it can be tough for them …

According to some sources, the word “tips” is actually an acronym—it's short for “To Insure Prompt Service,” and the list of people who are commonly tipped—at least in the United States—includes everyone from hair and nail salon workers t…

Launching a successful business requires talent, the commitment of many people, dedication and of course, a clear cut plan and strategy. Just like launching a business, a co-op or condo needs this kind of support when it makes the tran…

 Regardless of whether you live in a co-op or a condo, or whether your community  is a small, self-managed one or a sprawling development with hundreds of units  managed by a professional property management company, there is or very well …

 If you want to make a good impression, nothing quite says luxury and elegance  like a vast expanse of polished marble—particularly in the lobby of an upscale condominium or co-op building. Marble  has been used in palaces, temples, and ho…

 The old adage says that everything old is eventually new again, but if we are  talking about a landmarked building in New York City, you may want everything  old to stay that way. New York City has over 80 historic districts featuring  un…

With its top-of-the-line schools, numerous transportation options, waterfront access, airy loft apartments, chic boutiques, and abundance of fine restaurants, plus a tranquil atmosphere and almost negligible crime levels, Tribeca is ea…

The New York Association of Realty Managers (NYARM) has been instrumental in perfecting the skills of managers in the field with their School of Property Management for nearly eight years, and in doing so, has helped numerous veterans …

Q I can't find a simple explanation of the change in the Americans with Disabilities Act that were put into force in March 2011. I am president of my co-op of 168 units. We don't permit dogs. A new resident is about to occupy a unit whos…

Q Is it lawful for security cameras to be placed inside a co-op’s community room that shareholders are paying to use for their private parties? Is this not an intrusion of privacy? —Suspicious of Big Brother A “The qu…

Q Is it possible to obtain a co-op charge card for our super to use so he can purchase need materials and equipment without having to go through long procedures with the managing agent? If possible, is it advisable? —Taking Cred…