2013 November
Focus on... Building Maintenance

The Third Annual Chicagoland Cooperator Expo
2013 November The Third Annual Chicagoland Cooperator Expo

More than 2,000 people came to the Navy Pier even though the winds were a bit chilly and a threat of snow and sleet was in the air. The sun shone brightly as attendees flocked to The Chicagoland Cooperator’s 3rd Annual Condo, HOA, Co-op & …

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Maintenance A Breath of Fresh Air
2013 November A Breath of Fresh Air

In a multifamily building with scores, possibly hundreds of people living under one roof, cooking, cleaning, dusting and breathing, it’s no surprise that the airways, chutes and garbage rooms of these buildings can get clogged and dirty ov…

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Maintenance Live Long and Prosper
2013 November Live Long and Prosper

Nothing lasts forever, and though you can’t predict the moment a piece of building equipment will break down, you can prepare for it. Even the toughest boiler, HVAC unit, or elevator will eventually tucker out and need major repairs, or ju…

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Maintenance Where's the Money?
2013 November Where's the Money?

As readers of this publication surely know, well-run condo buildings and HOAs need to have adequate amounts of money in both their operating funds and their reserve funds. The operating fund covers most of the day-to-day costs of run…

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Board Operations Do It Yourself…Or Not?
2013 November Do It Yourself…Or Not?

This country was founded with a heavy dose of independence and a strong “Do-It-Yourself” attitude. The DIY mindset, with roots in Europe and European culture, crossed the Atlantic Ocean with the earliest immigrants and became part of the A…

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Management Getting a Little Tipsy
2013 November Getting a Little Tipsy

Whether you live in a suburb or in the heart of the city, life is expensive. Sometimes it can feel as though everybody from the barista at your favorite coffee shop to the kid who sacks your groceries is trying to nickel-and-dime you half …

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Maintenance Tech 101
2013 November Tech 101

Ask any realtor what their customers are looking for in a condo or HOA and they will quickly point out the importance of the latest and greatest 21st Century technology as one of the top requests. Much like the inherent evolving nature of …

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Neighborhoods Lake Zurich, Illinois
2013 November Lake Zurich, Illinois

A short trip from downtown Chicago, Lake Zurich has evolved from a popular resort for affluent Chicagoans into a community with above average wealth that attracts young families with its low crime rate, superior school system and strong co…

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Q&A: Making Amendments
2013 November Q&A: Making Amendments

Q How do you go about amending a board’s condominium documents? Our condo has often voted in favor of making amendments to the declaration but has never followed up to do so. The general understanding is that amendments must be handled th…

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Q&A: Recording a Board Meeting
2013 November Q&A: Recording a Board Meeting

Q Can you videotape condo board meetings in Illinois? Are there any restrictions or rules permitting it and is it legal? If taping is permitted, do the parties in the room being taped have to be told beforehand? —Camera-Shy A “T…

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