2016 March
Focus on... Exterior Maintenance

Exterior Maintaining Roofs
2016 March Maintaining Roofs

A building’s roof serves as the first line of defense against whatever the skies throw at its inhabitants—wind, rain and blazing sun, even snow and ice in some climates—so it’s crucial for that roof to be sound and well maintained. All it t…

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Exterior Cleaning Windows
2016 March Cleaning Windows

Even after the rain is gone, you may still not be able to see clearly—if your windows haven’t been washed lately, that is. Even if you have the greatest views in the entire complex and your windows are dirty, your views might as well be a b…

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Exterior Capital Improvements
2016 March Capital Improvements

Even if your condominium or homeowner's association (HOA) is a fortified castle atop a hill and surrounded by a moat, one day, someone will hit it with a really big rock, and thus it’s inevitable: work will be done, repairs will be made, th…

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Maintenance Utility Hazards
2016 March Utility Hazards

There are certain perils—fires, major weather events, and so forth—that announce themselves clearly; others are more subtle, if no less hazardous. Things like gas leaks, electrical shorts and surges, and water leaks may not be as dramatic a…

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Maintenance Working with Exterior Contractors
2016 March Working with Exterior Contractors

When your building or association is faced with an exterior maintenance or repair job, it’s important that you don’t just hire the first contractor who comes along; carrying out your due diligence can make the difference between working coo…

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Board Operations Managing Owners' Renovations
2016 March Managing Owners' Renovations

All you have to do is turn on the TV these days to know how popular kitchen and bathroom renovations have become. Backsplashes, stainless steel appliances, subway tiles, granite countertops, glass-enclosed showers, soaking tubs—the list of …

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Q&A Q&A: Don’t Flip Out on Me
2016 March Q&A: Don’t Flip Out on Me

Q. I am curious about the rules in Illinois for flipping condo properties that are in default. Is it ethical that a real estate lawyer that represents a condominium association purchase a foreclosed unit and flip it?                     …

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Q&A Q&A: What to Do About a Mold Problem?
2016 March Q&A: What to Do About a Mold Problem?

Q. I am a shareholder of a co-op apartment building. I have a mold problem which stems from water damage coming through the outside bricks. I had a mold assessment company take air and material samples. It was determined that there is ext…

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