It’s no secret these days that co-op and condo operating costs are going through the roof, so to speak, and boards and managers are all looking for effective ways to generate cost savings. Building management looks at fuel and energy u…
Whether it is redesigning light fixtures in a common space or replacing a roof, repair jobs and capital improvement projects are like death and taxes, they are inevitable. Whereas a building administrator or a managing agent most often …
As the old saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression, and for co-op and condo homebuyers, that first impression is almost always the view from the street. No matter how deluxe the accommodations inside, if th…
Walking down the streets of New York City, the zig-zag iron work of fire escapes immediately evoke romantic images of a simpler time, having been immortalized in books, songs and plays from West Side Story to Rent. With some fire escape…
In New York City, urban high-rises with sidewalk frontage and outer-borough HOAs with walking paths, parking lots, and service roads are reliant on their paved surfaces and therefore need to regularly inspect and maintain their concrete…
As recently as the 1930’s, only 68 percent of American homes had electricity. By the middle of the last century however, most Americans enjoyed well-lit homes, and the light had started to spread outdoors as well. Initially, yards and g…
The roof is the uppermost part of any residential building, serving as the first line of defense against whatever the skies throw at its inhabitants. In many New York co-op and condo buildings, the roof is also a social space, complete …
More often than not, when boards or associations broach the issue of their buildings “going green,” images of bamboo flooring, hemp drapes, or solar panels on the roof suddenly spring to mind. The impression seems to be that in a condo,…
As a co-op or condominium board member, you rely on a long list of service professionals for work ranging from HVAC maintenance to parking lot sealing. Finding the right person for the right job, though, can be a challenge. In…
Q I am a co-op owner. A renovation plan for my apartment was approved by the building, the board and the city. Con Edison added a new power line to the building at no cost because the building was at its capacity for the existing electr…