There’s nothing quite like making a first impression. For those living in condominiums or homeowner associations in South Florida, a great deal of creating this important impression is often out of a resident’s hands, so it’s necessary …
One of my young daughter’s favorite YouTube clips involves an elaborately decorated house, whose thousands of colored Christmas lights were programmed to flicker, strobe, wave, and blink to the tune of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s har…
Are your community’s swimming pool and hot tub VGB-compliant? Do you know what that means? VGB stands for Virginia Graeme Baker, a seven-year-old girl who drowned in June of 2002 when she became stuck after being sucked into a …
No matter whether you're traveling light or burdened with an armload of groceries, nobody likes to climb stairs. Recognizing this, mid- and high-rise condo developments frequently count elevators among their amenities of convenience—an…
The old axiom about things that are out-of-sight also being out-of-mind often goes double when it comes to the inner workings of a building’s operating system. The maze of wires, pipes, and ducts is a mystery to the untrained person or …
In Florida, humans share space with all manner of reptiles; most noteworthy are alligators and several species of exotic snakes. Humans and reptiles thrive in Florida’s semi-tropical climate, and learning how to co-exist safely, is a hu…
Q If there is damage to my roof and it leaks into my condominium unit and I reported it to the board three times with no repairs made, can I repair it myself and deduct the cost from my common charges? Please advise. —Exasperated…
Q The big issue in our condominium complex is to gain control over the number of rentals in the association. Is there a hard-and-fast rule as to the effect of rentals on the value of our units? Owners who rent claim that controls are d…
Previously overshadowed by its neighbor—Miami—during the past few decades Fort Lauderdale has become a stand-alone destination. It's a major yachting center and resort area that has become a major port for cruise passengers. Despite the…
Clear and open communication between a condo or HOA board and its manager keeps a community running like a well-oiled machine, with roles defined and followed. Strains in that relationship can cause breakdowns in the machine, a…