- Home
- Board Operations
Secrets of Successful Co-op & Condo Boards
It’s an oft-repeated refrain that co-op and condo boards are groups of unique
individuals with their own perspective and opinions, so no two boards are ever
the same. That being said, there are certain overall organizational
characteristics that can unify a board and help its members run their building
smoothly and efficiently.
Read More
Design Solutions for Small Spaces
Real estate in the Big Apple like any large metropolis is expensive, and that
often means making due with a small apartment. Small spaces present many
functional and aesthetic problems—lack of storage, oppressive walls, etc. Fortunately, with a few design tricks
from the experts, tenants can make their apartments cozy instead of cramped and
even create the illusion that a space is larger that it really is. Read More
Technology Greeting You at Your Door
When it comes to living in New York City, having a doorman in your condo or co-op is a luxury that almost everyone wishes they could have. A doorman has many functions, among them providing a sense of security and collecting packages for residents when they aren't home. Read More
How Boards and Residents Can Reduce Noise
New York City is known as the city that never sleeps—and for good reason: the city noise can be enough to keep anyone awake 24/7. In a city packed with millions of people, who often live in tight quarters, New York City residents experience noise pollution from both external sources (construction, for example) as well as within residential buildings. Recent regulations have been introduced to address noise within the city. In addition, there are steps boards, shareholders and residents can take to lessen the amount of noise within co-ops and condos. Read More
A Board's Moral (and Legal) Obligation
Picture this: a co-op resident has a problem with his neighbor who plays loud music into the wee hours. He contacts his board of directors to see what he can do about this issue, but no one calls him back. Thinking maybe he just fell through the cracks, he calls again. Again, no response. Read More
Dealing with Disruptive Board Members
Every board is different, with its own individual personalities meshing for one common cause: to run the co-op or condo in their charge efficiently and with integrity. Read More
Your Building's Most Important Relationship
When a crisis arises in a building, however large or small, calling the super is
almost as reflexive as dialing 911 in an emergency. After all, it’s the superintendent who literally holds the keys to a building’s successful operation—he or she is the captain of the ship, as it were.
Read More
Increasing Revenue Without Increasing Maintenance Fees
In today’s economic climate, many of the city’s co-ops and condos have begun to feel the pinch as they struggle to pay their
bills. Often, buildings are forced to raise maintenance fees to make ends meet.
And while maintenance fees or special assessments might be the most common
methods of increasing available funds, they are certainly not the only ways to
do it. And when the most common options are not doable, some boards are getting
creative.
Read More
Board Resource Guide: A Look at the Board Member Election Process
It is an annual rite of passage for owners of co-ops and condos. Once a year or thereabouts, they gather in a common area—in my co-op in Astoria it was the basement, right off the washers and dryers—and vote for next year’s board. Sometimes the elections are closely contested. Often, the same people stay on the board for decades. Sometimes—as was the case with my building—we owners were so desperate to not be on the board that we elected a president, who didn’t even live in the building. Read More
Avoiding Conflicts of Interest
Although the position offers little compensation apart from the satisfaction of a job well done, building board members are still in charge of running a business—a business with revenues, expenses, and assets. Regardless of the size of the complex and whether it is of the co-op or condo variety, a board member’s job can hardly be considered insubstantial. Read More
Knowing Your Governing Documents
Whenever a co-op or condo resident has a burning question about policy, rules, or procedure in their association community, chances are the answer doesn't lie in some obscure legal document or under lock and key somewhere in the depths of the association's management office. Chances are it's right there in the association's governing documents—but what are those exactly, and who has access to them? Read More
Don't Do It Yourself
Every once in a while, one hears about a co-op or condo that has been neglected for some time and has some problems in its common areas. Dirt builds up on the lobby floor, the fluorescent lights on the ceiling flicker, paint is chipped from some of the hallway walls, and perhaps the small outdoor garden is overgrown. Read More
Getting Along and Going Along
Sometimes being on the board of a co-op or condo is
like being a politician. Fellow residents look to you to solve problems.
They can vote for you, or they can choose not to vote for you if you do
something they dislike. You feel like you're always in the spotlight
and sometimes you feel that even your best may not be enough. Read More
Ultra-small Co-op & Condo Communities
Sometimes, living in one of those enormous, labyrinthine co-op or condo
buildings can make a resident feel like one among the many, indistinguishable
from any other. While many people prefer the anonymity of a large building,
others seek smaller, cozier living arrangements. And that’s where ultra-small co-op and condo communities—buildings with fewer than 10 units—come into play, providing an environment where everyone knows everybody else and
where nearly everyone has a say in how the building community is run.
Read More
Recent Legal Case Addresses ADA Issues
Co-op boards are often faced with difficult judgment calls; on the one hand, it’s the duty of board members to safeguard their fellow shareholders’ investments and overall quality of life. On the other hand, they must carry out
that duty on the right side of the law, or risk serious legal penalties for
themselves and their cooperative corporation at large. The issues of
disability, disclosure versus privacy, and reasonable accommodation are tightly
interwoven in the context of a co-op building’s admissions process. Navigating these issues requires great care on the part of
admissions committees to insure that the building’s board makes sound decisions without infringing on the rights of a prospective
buyer. Read More
In Your Place, In Their Place?
Though many co-op buildings forbid subletting for an array of reasons, some
co-op (and many more condo) buildings have populations of rental tenants
residing in them. The arrangement is mostly peaceful and drama-free, but
friction does occasionally arise between rental tenants and fully vested
shareholders, often over issues with house rules or conflicts between
neighbors. Read More
Board Resource Guide: A Vital Board Tool, But Beware
Like it or not, e-mail is a permanent fixture of contemporary business communications. In real estate, board members and property managers use e-mail to discuss the most official and the most personal matters of their lives, from scheduling meetings to disseminating documents, to sharing a quirky video on YouTube. E-mail allows board members to discuss their concerns without having to call a meeting, work around everyone’s schedule, and find a place to physically meet. Read More
Running a Successful Meeting
Ever feel like your board meetings last longer than Wagner's entire operatic Ring Cycle? They may not last nine hours, but even three hours is a long time to sit in a chair—especially when the agenda doesn't include the Flight of the Valkyries and there's no intermission to go get a soda and chips. The sentiment is usually something like, "We're all working, we're all busy, and we're all volunteers—so let's get this show on the road!" Read More
Superintendent Organizations Hold Roundtable Discussion
Superintendents are a lot more than just handymen—an important point learned at a roundtable discussion hosted by The Cooperator last month. Six representatives from three of New York City's seven superintendent organizations gathered for a roundtable discussion to share information and shed some light on their profession. From educational resources for supers to all the things residents don't know about their super's job, the attendees discussed a variety of topics in a lively and cooperative atmosphere. Read More
Managing a Gut Rehab Project
Starting a major renovation can be tough when you're dealing with a single-family home, but doing the job on a condo or co-op involves many considerations that house dwellers never face. It's not just a question of what contractors and professionals you will choose for the job, but also a question of whether the co-op board will accept your plans for the rehabilitation project. How will the neighbors react to the noise created from the work? These and many other considerations can make the rehab process seem daunting from the start, particularly for those who've never attempted such a job before. Read More
Same Time Next Year
Every year, the shareholders of co-op apartments gather
together—in their building's community room, or even in the
basement in the shadow of the laundry machines, on flimsy chairs that are
only used once a year—to discuss their mutual investment. The
board is there, and the managing agent, and the accountant. Many of
the neighbors materialize, but not that nice couple next door, because they
rent. If the stars are in perfect alignment, the phantom
sponsor—the guy who owns half the shares in the building but who
you've never seen—will make an appearance (although usually he
sends a proxy). The board president bangs on the table with her
gavel—a stapler, actually—and calls for order… Read More
Scaling Back on Budgets and Plans
It’s no secret that in this economic climate, everyone is trying to find a way to
save money. For the city’s co-op and condo communities, this has meant a great deal of scaling back on
budgets, cutting some projects and reshuffling plans for renovations, major
capital improvements and even regular maintenance work in some cases.
Read More
Cable Choices for Co-ops and Condos
Two months ago, Sam Levy felt like he was spending more time on the phone with Time Warner than with his girlfriend Nikki. Levy, who lives in western Brooklyn, a region served exclusively by Time Warner, was having trouble with his cable service and Internet connection, and, working full time, he could not wait around his apartment for the cable repairman between the hours of noon and 5 p.m. Read More
So, You've Been Sued
Reading the papers you've just been served, your heart quickens in fight-or-flight mode. Part of your mind can't believe your eyes. You've just been sued, and you aren't sure what your next step should be. Read More
Knowledge is Power
When you’re a superintendent or a member of a building’s support staff, your educational background is not always that important when
you’re hired, as long as your experience is enough to impress those doing the
hiring. But once you do have the job, most industry professionals suggest that
continuing your education is an important step in continuing to be successful.
Read More
Picking a Few Good Apples
These days, there’s no shortage of articles in magazines, newspapers, and online about how
time-crunched most people feel. Between work, family obligations, long
commutes, and a vast array of other factors vying for attention and precious
minutes, getting anybody to devote still more time (without compensation, no
less) to their building’s administration can be a very tough sell. Read More
Resolving Disputes with Shareholders
Shareholders often find themselves “butting heads” with the board of directors at the co-op buildings in which they live. Often
the disputes, which arise are disagreements over a shareholder’s personal agenda, and a board not allowing them to proceed forward with their
plans.
Read More
The Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters Society
The Malvern, Pennsylvania-based Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters (CPCU)
Society is a community of credentialed property and casualty insurance
professionals formed in 1944 to promote ethical practices and continuing
education among insurance professionals.
Read More
Finding the Right Person for an Important Position
When you rank the key players who keep your building functioning from day to
day, the superintendent should probably be placed close to the top of the list.
A building’s super has a tremendous amount of responsibility, including looking after the
safety and security of residents, managing and interacting with other support
staff, and maintaining the building’s physical systems and structure. It’s a tall order, to say the least.
Read More
IREM Celebrates its Anniversary
This year, the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) is celebrating its
75th anniversary. For three-quarters of a century now, IREM has provided
education, resources, information and membership to real estate management
professionals all across the country. With 80 chapters in the United States and
eight more abroad serving more than 18,000 individual and some 500 corporate
members, IREM is the only professional real estate management association
offering guidance and advocacy to both the residential and commercial real
estate sectors. Read More
The Cooperator's Latest Roundtable Forum
Carrying on The Cooperator's popular series of "roundtable" discussions for professionals in various disciplines of the city's residential real estate industry, a group of representatives from the worlds of co-op and condo law, finance and management met at The Cooperator's offices in July for breakfast and conversation about co-op financials. Topics ranged from co-ops' financing rules for applicants to the increasing popularity and availability of reverse mortgages. Read More
Top Dozen Reasons for Co-op Board Rejections
Before even beginning the hunt for that perfect co-op, the prospective buyer should be familiar with all the possible ways one's application might be rejected. That familiarity will enable one to focus on the appropriate buildings as well as to make the necessary adjustments so that rejection will not occur. Read More
Keeping it Healthy in Today's Tough Economy
In today’s harsh economic times, maintaining a healthy reserve fund is more important
than ever. A co-op or condo’s reserve fund can be used to cover any number of emergency expenses from sudden
repairs to legal costs. In addition, a reserve fund can be used for ongoing
maintenance projects or for anticipated future repairs.
Read More
Good Interactions Between Co-op Boards and Shareholders
Although it is frequently assumed that cooperative boards of directors are totally responsible for all building decisions, typically they are assisted by a large group of professional consultants who not only guide them but also sometimes make the day-to-day decisions on their behalf. When a shareholder has an issue or a proposal, it’s wise to try to determine the best course of communication before contacting the board. Read More
Dealing with Difficult Board Members
On last season’s “The Apprentice” reality show, celebrities volunteered their time to team up and compete, not
for a job with the Donald Trump organization, but to win a large donation to
their favorite charity. The show’s concept is to win tasks and prevent hearing the infamous words, “You’re Fired!” from Donald Trump. Read More
