How To Run Your Building! For Co-ops and Condos

What do you do when a building is completely gutted by fire and insurance doesn't cover the full rebuild? Or when a sponsor-managed property leaves residents without gas and a new board drowning in hidden compliance violations? Adam Reisman, president of client services at MD Squared Property Group, and Josh Koppel, president at HSC Management, walk listeners through two extraordinary management transitions with lessons for every co-op and condo board. Koppel's account of a vacant Yonkers building with a $20 million rehabilitation spiraling beyond budget offers a masterclass in what gets overlooked during crises. Reisman's East Village takeover exposes how long boards wait before making the tough call to switch management. These are cautionary tales about transparency, red flags, and knowing when to act before small problems become expensive disasters. Habitat’s Emily Myers conducts the interview.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

The property management industry has transformed dramatically, and three leading executives reveal what it takes to keep NYC buildings ahead of the curve. AJ Rexhepi, CEO of Century Management, Mitchell Slavuter, partner at Delkap Management and Keith Werny, president of FirstService Residential's City Line Management Division, discuss the shift from reactive maintenance to strategic planning. They share concrete examples of buildings that turned compliance nightmares into opportunities, slashed insurance premiums through unexpected methods, and discovered hidden revenue streams. The conversation gets real about manager burnout, the evolving role of superintendents, and why some board-management relationships simply don't work. If you've ever wondered what actually happens behind the scenes when buildings face violations, outdated systems, or tight budgets, this roundtable delivers the insider perspective. Habitat’s Emily Myers conducts the interview.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

When a condominium's facade project ballooned to over two million dollars, the board was facing a crisis. The solution involved unconventional contractor negotiations and a prepayment strategy that surprised everyone with its success. In this episode, three veteran property management executives reveal the insider strategies that separate struggling buildings from thriving ones. Steven Greenbaum, executive vice president at The Lovett Group, Alvin Wasserman, senior director of asset management at Fairfield Properties, and Melissa Cafiero, president of Halstead Management, share real stories of creative financing solutions, like portfolio analytics that uncover hidden savings, and why some of the smartest financial moves require boards to stick their necks out when everyone else is playing it safe. Habitat’s Carol Ott conducts the interview.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

Behind many co-op and condo property management switches are stories of broken trust, hidden problems, and boards desperate for answers. Andre Kaplan, CFO at Orsid New York, and Scott Soifer, Senior VP at Maxwell-Kates, reveal some of the uncomfortable conversations that need to happen and why boards sometimes hide critical information during the hiring process. One Jackson Heights co-op cycled through three firms in five years before anyone delivered the truth about their finances. Another building discovered over $100,000 in unpaid bills after hiring a new management company. Learn how to spot institutional dysfunction, and the art of rebuilding trust when everyone's patience has run out. Habitat’s Carol Ott conducts the interview.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

You probably think your board is managing your building’s finances responsibly. But are you certain? In this episode, three of New York City's leading property management CEOs discuss case studies that expose how buildings can easily spiral into crisis. Peter von Simpson of New Bedford Management, Michael Feldman of Choice Management, and Dan Wollman of Gumley Haft Management share stories about inheriting buildings with conspiracy theories running wild and boards in denial about their financial reality. The conversation reveals why some buildings operate for years with maintenance charges that don't cover actual costs, and what it really takes to rebuild trust when a community is fractured. Through these real-world scenarios, the managers reveal patterns that repeat across buildings, and what your board can do to course-correct before it’s too late. Habitat's Carol Ott conducts the interview.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

Something fundamental has shifted in NYC property management, and Kyle Gregory from New Way Management and Margaret McAdams from Buchbinder & Warren are pulling back the curtain. They reveal why compliance work has ballooned from 25% to 60% of their time, how buildings are navigating impossible choices between assessments and deferred maintenance, and why even large management firms are struggling to adapt. You'll hear about a building forced to spend millions on an emergency conversion and learn why the old playbook for running co-ops and condos no longer works. If you've ever wondered what's really happening behind those rising maintenance fees or why your building seems to be in constant crisis mode, this conversation explains everything. Habitat's Emily Myers conducts the interview.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

If you’re thinking about switching management companies, buckle up. You might be preparing to sabotage your new management relationship without even realizing it, particularly if you leave important details about the state of your building unsaid. In this roundtable discussion, Stuart Halper of Impact Real Estate Management, Howard Mandel of TKR Property Services, and Anes Radoncic of Venture New York Property Management share why the first thirty days can determine success or failure and the critical questions boards should always ask. This episode offers hard-won wisdom about setting realistic expectations, navigating difficult conversations, and why transparency matters more than you think. Habitat’s Carol Ott leads the discussion.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

Planning and executing building projects is a board’s key task, which sounds much simpler than it actually is. Complicating the task is timing, financing and communicating to building residents. Habitat’s Emily Myers speaks with Ira Meister, President of Matthew Adam Properties; Anton Lekic, Co-Founder of Murray Hill Management; and Jamie Sikorski, Senior Vice President at AKAM, to understand how this plays out in the real world and what works and what doesn't.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

Changing managing companies can be a fraught endeavor, but it’s a hurdle many boards will face at least once. Habitat’s Emily Myers sits down with three seasoned NYC property management experts: Mark Levine (Principal, EBMG), Robert Ferrara (President, Ferrara Management Group), and Evangelos Fantakos (CEO, Highrise Property Management) to reveal the hidden challenges that emerge during transitions and share stories from the trenches — including one building facing $70,000 in compliance fines and another caught in litigation during a board coup attempt. These industry veterans discuss everything from navigating sponsor conflicts to rebuilding trust with residents, plus the critical mistakes that can cost your building dearly. Whether you're unhappy with current management or simply want to understand what makes transitions successful, their insider perspectives will help you avoid costly pitfalls and make informed decisions for your building's future.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

If your building's mortgage is coming due soon, you're not alone — and you're definitely not prepared for what's coming. Don Einsidler, president of Einsidler Management, reveals the harsh reality facing co-op boards as interest rates skyrocket from the low threes to over six percent. Einsidler shares actual loan scenarios from his portfolio, explains why many boards are dangerously unaware of their loan maturity dates, and provides a roadmap for communicating these inevitable cost increases to shareholders.If your mortgage was refinanced around 2015, this episode could save your building from budget disaster. Don't wait until the last minute to face the music. Habitat's Paula Chin conducts the interview.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

It's true that construction projects tend to go over budget, behind schedule, and drive residents crazy. Matt Resnick, senior director of project management at AKAM, explains the hidden costs that can blow your budget before construction even begins, like attorney fees and special inspections that boards often overlook. Resnick reveals how the right project manager can actually save money through better contractor negotiations and smarter scheduling that reduces expensive delays. Plus, get insider tips on assembling the perfect team when your building faces complex challenges like neighbor access agreements or asbestos issues. Habitat's Carol Ott conducts the interview.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

Surprise! You might be subsidizing your commercial unit owner's expenses. This eye-opening conversation with property management expert Greg Poverelli, senior property manager at Harlem Property Management, reveals a costly mistake that's bleeding money from countless condo buildings across New York City.Many boards discover too late that their commercial units have been dramatically underpaying common charges for years — sometimes by tens of thousands of dollars The culprit? A dangerous mix-up between offering plans and actual governing documents that lets commercial owners off the hook for their fair share of building expenses. In this episode, Poverelli shares real examples, including one Harlem building that recovered $7,200 in a single special assessment and thousands more in ongoing monthly charges. He explains exactly how to investigate your own building using public records and discusses the possibility of recovering years of underpayments. Habitat’s Paula Chin conducts the interview.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

If you're struggling to get enough votes to update your building's outdated governing documents, Mark Levine, principal at EBMG Management, offers a roadmap for success. You'll discover why a West Village co-op needed multiple attempts to ban smoking, and how they finally achieved the crucial two-thirds majority needed for amendment approval.Levine offers practical strategies for overcoming common obstacles like poor meeting attendance, and shows how effective communication campaigns can turn indifferent residents into engaged voters. Learn why understanding your building's demographics is essential before proposing changes to policies covering everything from current issues like e-bike fire hazards to polarizing topics like flip taxes.You'll also hear about leveraging technology and hybrid meetings to boost participation, plus how to tap into your management company's experience with similar buildings. Whether you're dealing with quality-of-life complaints or bylaws from the 1980s, this episode provides the tactical insights needed to successfully modernize your building's governing documents. Habitat's Emily Myers conducts the interview. How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

If your building was suddenly hit with a 400% insurance premium hike, who do you turn to? That was the question facing a Queens co-op after a devastating fire. Vik Shingwani, a property manager at First Management Corporation, reveals how strategic management helped reduce their renewal from $750,000 to $510,000 — still high, but a significant improvement. Shingwani offers practical insights on navigating catastrophic claims, managing affected residents, and implementing preventive measures that insurance companies actually respond to. Habitat’s Paula Chin conducts the interview. How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

Do you know why an effective capital reserve plan is crucial for your building's financial health? Learn how one Chelsea condo transformed their approach to multi-million dollar projects in this eye-opening conversation with Sara Gierloff, CFO of MD Squared Property Group. Here she reveals practical steps to track expenses, align investments with project timelines, and properly communicate with unit-owners. You'll gain insights on the pitfalls of relying solely on financing, why the standard "10% rule" for reserves is often inadequate, and how to avoid surprise assessments that frustrate residents. Most importantly, you'll understand how to develop a flexible capital plan that adapts to changing costs — without breaking the bank. Whether facing Local Law 11 repairs or elevator modernization, this episode helps you prepare for your building's future and avoid the dreaded cycle of emergency assessments. Habitat's Emily Myers conducts the interview. How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

It's coming: the convergence of multiple critical compliance deadlines that could devastate your building's finances. Hear how one 63-unit co-op is tackling the triple threat of Local Law 11, garage inspections, and Local Law 97 carbon emissions requirements — and how your building can learn from their mistakes. Peter Lehr, director of property management at Kaled, offers practical insights on bundling projects, working with the right consultants, and making the right decisions for your building, based on your potential fines. With 80% of NYC buildings expected to miss Local Law 97 compliance by 2030, knowing how to "buy time" with a realistic compliance schedule could save your building significant money and headaches. Habitat's Carol Ott conducts the interview.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

Who will show up for your co-op or condo’s annual meeting and will you have enough shareholders or unit-owners to conduct the necessary business at hand? That’s the pressing question as thousands of New York’s co-op and condo boards begin the annual meeting season this spring. Greg Finger, vice president and director of property management at Finger Management, recounts the tale of one condo his firm manages that didn’t achieve a quorum — the first time —  and in this episode he explains the simple strategy that worked the second time.  Whether you're  dealing with apathetic residents or critical financial decisions, you'll learn exactly how to craft notices that motivate attendance and protect your building's financial future. Habitat's Carol Ott conducts the interview.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

Labor law insurance claims continue to threaten insurance coverage for buildings, but there are some actionable items co-op and condo boards can take to reduce this exposure. Sean Kent, senior vice president at FirstService Insurance Brokers,  explains what they are, and how a 250-unit Bronx co-op overcame an insurance crisis when labor law claims threatened their coverage. Habitat’s Emily Myers conducts the interview, and in it Kent explains the difference between admitted and excess/surplus carriers (with premium differences of 100-300%), why timing is everything during insurance renewals, and what the “new normal” costs are for insurance and umbrella liability coverage.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

Budget shortfalls are a nightmare. But manipulating the numbers to create artificially low assessments or maintenance increases can have even worse consequences in the long run. Kyle Gregory, managing member and operating partner of New Way Management, explains how boards can successfully manage their building finances without falling into common traps. Gaming operating costs might be tempting, but ultimately it can damage potential sales and create distrust among buyers. Gregory offers sophisticated approaches to addressing budget deficits, and addresses the long-term consequences of short-term financial maneuvers. Habitat's Emily Myers conducts the interview.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

Struggling to get quorum for your board meetings? Even after the pandemic, virtual meetings are transforming co-op and condo board operations. Buildings across New York have embraced digital meetings, resulting in better attendance, more flexible scheduling options, and significant time savings for everyone involved. In this episode, Mark Hoffman, principal at Hoffman Management, offers practical strategies for running smooth virtual meetings and how this shift is attracting previously untapped talent to board positions. Whether your building has residents scattered across different locations or board members with demanding schedules, virtual meetings offer a solution that maintains community while improving efficiency. Habitat’s Emily Myers conducts the interview.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

Discover how proper management of maintenance payments and common charges directly impacts your building's financial stability. Payments are typically considered late after the 10th of each month, with  property management companies using software platforms like AppFolio to track payment patterns and identify potential issues.For board members navigating the tension between neighborly relationships and financial responsibility, remember that timely payments are fundamental to operational success. Trust your managing agent's recommendations on collections, as that ensures utilities stay on and vendors get paid promptly.Carol Ott of Habitat Magazine conducts the interview with Adam Reisman, President of Client Operations at MD Squared Property Group.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

Carol Ott of Habitat Magazine interviews Carl Borenstein, president of Veritas Management, about managing rising costs in co-op and condo buildings. Borenstein shares strategies for handling double-digit maintenance increases, particularly focusing on creative uses of co-op abatement programs to generate additional income. He discusses the dramatic rise in insurance costs, especially umbrella policies, and advises boards on choosing appropriate coverage levels. Borenstein recommends implementing small annual maintenance increases to avoid larger hikes later, noting that 80% of building budgets are fixed costs.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

In conversation with Habitat's Paula Chin, Robert Ferrara, president of the Ferrara Management Group, shares invaluable insights from managing a devastating fire emergency at a Peekskill condominium that displaced 16 unit owners for over two years. Through his firsthand account of the crisis and recovery process, board directors will learn crucial strategies for emergency response, insurance coordination, and resident communication during catastrophic building events.Ferrara emphasizes the importance of fostering a team-oriented approach between management, board, staff, and residents during a crisis. His experience demonstrates how proper preparation, clear communication, and collaborative problem-solving can help a community navigate even the most challenging circumstances.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

In this insightful conversation with Melissa Cafiero, director of management at Halstead Management, board directors get a behind-the-scenes look at how management companies approach new client relationships and handle transitions. Cafiero shares valuable perspectives on the evolving nature of property management, comparing it to a marriage that requires careful matchmaking and ongoing nurturing. Habitat's Carol Ott conducts the interview.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

Insurance premiums for co-ops and condos are surging with double-digit increases year after year, and boards must pay these hefty fees upfront. But there's a financial tool that can help ease this burden. Michael Feldman, CEO of Choice New York, talks to Habitat's Paula Chin and breaks down how insurance premium financing allows boards to spread their annual insurance costs over several months, rather than being forced to make a single lump-sum payment.Key takeaways:* Insurance premium financing allows boards to spread their annual insurance costs over 9-10 months instead of paying the full amount upfront, typically requiring only a 2-3 month down payment with the remainder financed through monthly installments.* While interest rates for these microfinancing arrangements are in the low double digits, the actual cost per unit is often minimal — potentially just a few dollars per month for each resident.* For well-capitalized buildings, premium financing may not be necessary, but it can be particularly valuable for buildings needing to manage cash flow, or those caught off guard by last-minute premium increases from insurance companiesBoards considering this option should weigh the interest costs against the benefits of improved cash flow management and the ability to maintain proper insurance coverage without depleting their reserves. While national lenders offer this service, some property management companies now provide similar financing options at competitive rates.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

Changing property managers for your co-op or condo can feel like performing surgery while the patient is awake — everything needs to keep running smoothly while you make the switch. Stephen Wilson, vice president of Blue Woods Management, shares with Habitat's Emily Myers how one building nearly lost its tax abatement during a transition, highlighting why meticulous handovers are crucial.Key takeaways for board directors:* Create a transition checklist covering everything from vendor contracts and insurance policies to tax filings and building compliance documents. A systematic approach ensures critical items don't fall through the cracks during management changes.* While transitions can happen any time of year, success hinges on thorough documentation and verification. Proactive follow-up is essential.* Digital tools like cloud storage and BuildingLink have revolutionized document management, making it easier for boards to maintain historical records and access important information about past decisions and policies.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

The pandemic's impact on co-op and condo governance continues in 2025, with some properties still feeling the fallout from missed annual meetings in 2020 and 2021. In this conversation Cosmin Ardeljan, senior VP at All Area Realty Services, shares how some of his clients are now meeting the challenges of these missed annual meetings, including one Upper East Side co-op that faced potential legal action from shareholders demanding their voting rights. Habitat's Emily Myers conducts the interview.Board directors will learn:* How to handle missed annual meetings, including legal considerations and the importance of consulting counsel before skipping any required meetings* Strategies for implementing staggered board terms after disrupted election cycles, including how to fairly assign term lengths based on vote counts* The risks of not following bylaws, particularly regarding board validity and potential shareholder challenges* Best practices for hybrid meetings as the new normal, including various ways to accommodate remote shareholders* The importance of proper documentation and legal guidance when deviating from standard procedures during extraordinary circumstancesHow To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

Tracking your building’s financial health can be confusing, and one of the reasons is that your building’s bank balance doesn’t tell the whole story. In this episode, Thomas Thibodeaux, CFO at New Bedford Management, explains what items create misleading cash positions and offers some strategies boards can use to understand what is really going on. Habitat’s Carol Ott conducts the interview.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

Historically co-ops and condos have been able to borrow money for building improvements and compliance requirements in an affordable way. With interest rates still high, this is not an attractive option any more. In this episode, Andre Kaplan, CFO of Orsid New York, provides some practical solutions for keeping your building financially healthy while managing resident expectations. Habitat’s Emily Myers conducts the interview.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

Water damage is not a unique occurrence in residential apartment buildings, but a recent crisis at an Upper East Side co-op got complicated to fix. Water was pooling in the boiler room and seeping into the electric meter room, and a shareholder’s apartment was damaged. Aaron Weber, property manager at Weber Realty Management, shares the challenging tale of investigation, dye testing, insurance denials, financing, and a neighboring embassy's collapsed sewer line - and how the co-op finally solved the issue. Habitat’s Emily Myers conducts the interview.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

One of the most pressing challenges facing NYC co-ops and condos is how to  fund expensive local law compliance requirements. In this episode Armin Radoncic, principal at Venture New York Property Management, outlines the primary funding strategies used by New York’s co-ops and condos. Corporate structures require different strategies, but no matter what yours is Radoncic emphasizes the need to set aside emotional responses when making crucial funding decisions. Habitat’s Paula Chin conducts the interview.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

Transitioning from a developer to a condo board can bring unwelcome surprises and stark choices. That was the case at a Brooklyn condo, when new management took over and discovered owners were paying only half the amount needed to cover basic operating expenses. The artificially low monthly charges—which had attracted many first-time buyers—were temporarily masked by reserve funds that were rapidly depleting.  Anes Radoncic, managing partner at VNYPM, tells the tale to Habitat’s Paula Chin, from discovering the shortfall to the board’s bold move towards financial stability.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

While the dazzle of the latest energy reduction solutions is out of bounds for many co-ops and condos, the tried and true can often achieve just as much. That’s the case at the Imperial Sanford co-op in Queens, where substantial incentives boosted a fuel switch and window replacement program that is expected to reduce energy consumption by 65-70% or more. Evangelos Fantakos, CEO of Highrise Property Management, shares what the upgrades were, how much they cost and who they partnered with to achieve this success. Habitat’s Emily Myers conducts the interview.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

A primary responsibility of the board of directors is protecting the building’s financial health. To do that, transparency is paramount. In this episode Michell Abubo, managing partner at Highrise Property Management, shares a case study of a Queens co-op where a lack of transparency was deadly, ultimately leading to a change in management. Habitat’s Paula Chin conducts the interview.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

Board inertia is a corporate disease that many members grapple with. Decisions get put off, problems grow and ultimately the health of the housing association suffers. In this episode, Andy Marks, Executive Vice President at Maxwell-Kates, explores what causes inertia and offers some guidance on how to break through it. Habitat’s Paula Chin conducts the interview. How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

A cautionary tale of facade repairs at an Upper East Side condo, where initial estimates of $550,000 ballooned to $1.2 million after engineers discovered insufficient brick ties during Local Law 11 inspections. Maxwell-Kates SVP Josh Holzer shares how the board navigated this crisis through refinancing, staff reductions, and a contractor payment plan. Habitat's Emily Myers conducts the interview.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

If a co-op or condo building operates at a deficit, there are only two outcomes – payables are late and cash erodes. That’s what Daniel Wollman, CEO of Gumley Haft, found when he was re-hired at a condominium his firm had managed over a decade ago. How its financial condition eroded and the steps it took to regain financial health are shared in this interview, conducted by Habitat’s Carol Ott.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

One of the most reliable sources of fuel for New York’s apartment buildings is gas, but the lines that it flows through — from heating to cooking — have become a critical concern because leaks often lead to complete gas shutdowns. AJ Rexhepi, CEO of Century Management, recounts how one board at a pre-war West Side co-op looked at their fuel options, considered their finances and decided to stick with gas — but not wait for the inevitable.  Habitat’s Carol Ott interviews Rexhepi to find out what they did.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

There are many strategies – and price points – that will reduce energy consumption in a building, and Stuart Halper, vice president of Impact Management, emphasizes an economically sensible approach. For many, there is a mismatch between New York City’s regulations and a building’s financial capabilities. In this interview conducted by Habitat’s Emily Myers, Halper reviews the steps that the majority of his clients are taking.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

There are two sides to every problem - and sometimes even more. When one crops up in a co-op or condo, someone has to step back, take a breath, maybe eat some crow, and get the issue resolved. In this episode, Josh Koppel, president of HSC Management, shares how an aggrieved shareholder was soothed and what it took to make that happen. This story has important takeaways for board directors and property managers. Habitat’s Emily Myers conducts the interview.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

Technology has made managing co-op and condo buildings more efficient and has certainly changed the property management business. But how has it impacted co-op and condo board directors, where has it created vulnerabilities and how does it come into play when a property changes management companies? Alvin Wasserman, Senior Director of Asset Management at Fairfield Properties, explores these issues in an interview conducted by Habitat’s Carol Ott.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

A bundle of projects at a downtown condominium was humming along smoothly - until they weren’t. A problem was discovered with the building’s vault which drove up expenses and suddenly costs exceeded what the board had raised for all the projects. Add in a hallway and lobby re-do, and suddenly trouble was brewing. Ira Meister, President of Matthew Adam Properties, shares the story of how the board overcame a shortage of funds and an obstructionist subletter. Meister is interviewed by Habitat’s Carol Ott.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

Sitting on the back burner of all the issues your board must think about are its governing documents. Often written in legalize, sometimes difficult to change and probably outdated, they may be out of sync with the needs and best practices of today. But it’s unwise to leave them to age quietly, says Neil Davidowitz, President of Orsid New York, and in this episode, hosted by Habitat’s Paula Chin, the benefits to updating these documents and the risks in not doing so are revealed.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

In the annals of gas inspections, this 45-unit co-op faced a unique one. The board learned from their plumber that the individual boilers and water heaters in each apartment were no longer code compliant. This meant the building wouldn’t be able to pass a gas inspection, and if there was a gas shutdown for any reason, it couldn’t be turned back on. Not good news for the board, and Margaret McAdams, Director of Management at Buchbinder & Warren tells Habitat’s Carol Ott how the board turned this gas doomsday scenario into a win for the co-op. How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

With the cost of building projects getting more expensive each year co-op and condo boards need to anticipate owner concern. Here, Peter von Simson, CEO of New Bedford Management,  suggests it's well worth the time for board directors to discuss current and future projects - and the potential finances involved in tackling them - with apartment owners so they can plan accordingly. How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

It's all about preparation, not only for the topics covered, but most importantly for vote taking. Mark Levine, Principal of EBMG, walks through the prep steps and vote tally process of running a virtual annual meeting.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

Creating a budget that merges capital planning with operations is no small feat.  Andre Kaplan, CFO of Orsid New York, explains how balancing the three mains parts of a co-op/condo budget will help your board maintain value and meet the city's regulatory requirements.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

The unexpected does occur, and when it does your co-op or condo better be prepared. Andy Marks, Senior Vice-President, Maxwell-Kates went through trial by fire on the first building he ever managed. He shares his experience here, the lessons he learned, and the steps he took to secure everyone's safety.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

The compliance landscape has changed today, and many projects which used to be just a capital improvement now have to be viewed through a compliance lense.  The question is, which budget bucket do you place it in , which projects can fill more than one bucket, which are the most impactful ones to do early and in what order should you do them? Chris Alker, Senior Vice President of Building Operations at Akam, offers a insight on how to chart this path.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

Lead is a substance no one wants to find in his or her apartment, or the common area of building either.  But it exists, and there are laws regulating who has to find it, who has to get rid of it, who's legally responsible, and who has to file lead notices with the city.  The law specifically targets rental apartments, and this includes co-op or condo owners who sublet their apartments. Josh Koppel, President of H.S.C Management, shares the story of a client who had a lead problem in one of its apartments.How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos