With the dust of the election campaigns starting to settle, how often did we ask ourselves why would anyone put themselves through all that? Why risk personal reputation and consumption of precious time for such unguaranteed rewards? Or to the point of this article, why should you join the condo board? The answer(s) will be….
Homeowner Associations News
Top 10 Condo Building Problems
Workmanship, Quality Control & Water… Probably because I have inspected thousands of condo buildings and their units for construction defects and other issues, I am often asked by both prospective condo buyers and property managers to name the most common problems found in new condo developments. Interesting enough, new condo buildings have more hidden problems….
Client Spotlight: The Independent in Austin
We are thrilled to share this project we worked on in Austin, TX. The Independent is a residential skyscraper and is the tallest building in the city at 690 ft tall and 58 stories. It also happens to be the tallest residential tower in Texas! We completed a Transition Study and Reserve Study for the Independent’s….
Do You Have Mold in Your Buildings?
The problem of mold in buildings is one that no building owner or manager can afford to ignore. Mold has been suggested as one of the possible factors in so-called “Sick Building Syndrome.” What conditions create mold in buildings? Mold typically reproduces by means of airborne spores. These spores are always present in the air…..
HOA Reserve Study: Why Hire a Professional Engineer?
The time has come for your homeowners’ association (HOA) to complete a reserve study. Where do you begin? An online search presents a wide range of companies that perform reserve studies for homeowner associations and you may wonder, why hire a professional engineer? Why Hire a Professional Engineer for Your Association’s Reserve Study? Our licensed,….
How to Hire a Condo Engineer: 4 Steps
Make sure you actually need one, too They don’t teach you how to hire an engineer in school. Indeed most folks have never had the occasion to hire an engineer or an architect in their whole life. This is also true for most condominium or HOA board members. So how does a condo board go….
Is Your Condo Breathing? Why Building Ventilation is Critical
If your condo board is planning for a re-roofing project, remind the board the project will not be a success without an in-depth consideration being given to the condition of the building ventilation under the roof. Inadequate attic venting will cause ice dams; energy loss; and moisture damage to the roof structure. Too often roof….
Vinyl Siding – or Not
Perhaps you are on the Building Committee which has been charged by your Homeowners Association Board to recommend a replacement siding material for your 35 year old condo. Perhaps you are a property manager whose in-basket is filled with unit owner complaints about vinyl clapboard siding problems in the new condo complex. Whatever the vinyl….
Foundation Forensics
Cracks in foundations are by far the most common structural complaint raised in either reserve fund studies or transition studies. They can occur in the youngest or newest condo building. As condo documents usually assign the maintenance responsibility of their repair to the association, board members and property managers take them very seriously. Maine condo….
Solar Panels — Right For Your HOA?
Solar panels may be an option for your community. Legislative incentives are available in states around the country. There is a growing consensus that climate change is real and its consequences will have significant impact on our quality of life and regional economic future. While the cause of climate change may be debated, its potential….