2013 December
Focus on... Safety & Security

The South Florida Cooperator’s second annual Condo, HOA & Co-op Expo is a great way to meet with more than 300 exhibitors, have your questions answered by experts, and earn board certification and continuing education credits by attending …

In South Florida, buying a co-op or a condo goes something like this: Your realtor takes you to see your dream home. You put in an offer—along with a bunch of other people. After a few nerve-wracking offer/counter-offers, yours is finally …

In South Florida, windows don't need to have a ton of bells and whistles that keep winter air out. They're mostly there for a window's primary purpose: to see the outside, and to feel, and smell some fresh air when weather permits. But, if…

There are many different factors that prospective condominium owners contemplate when looking to buy a unit. Aesthetics, price, and location are important, for sure. But perhaps the most critical factors of all are the safety of the buildi…

One gated community in Sanford, Florida was struggling with security issues. In a one-year time period, from January 1, 2011 through February 26, 2012, police were called to The Retreat at Twin Lakes more than 400 times. Reports show that …

Americans have a long history of pride in personal independence and individual rights. Since the break with English rule two centuries ago platitudes like, “A man’s home is his castle,” and “live and let live” have existed side-by-side wit…

While crime rates are steadily decreasing nationwide, multi-unit dwellings are often more difficult to “police” due to the sheer numbers of residents, visitors, delivery personnel and third party workers such as contractors constantly comi…

On any given night all around Miami and Fort Lauderdale, tourists swarm the streets, trying to get a good parking spot by the beaches, the bars, the art galleries and the restaurants. At the same time, locals are heading home from work, ci…

There are lots of ways for home-buyers to find properties for sale, but regardless of whether one finds their prospective dream house online, sees a “For Sale” sign in a building, or gets a hot tip word-of-mouth, at some point buyer and pr…

In today’s economy, co-ops and condos are looking for ways to cut costs wherever they can, and many are turning to examining their legal bills. The problem is two-fold. First, you don’t want to compromise your relationship with your attorn…

The rules and regulations that owners and residents in a condominium or homeowners’ association must follow “are what they are,” says James Donnelly. “Most are reasonable and well accepted.” Yet, Donnelly takes issue with one rule at the F…

Being on a board of a condo or co-op is no picnic. There are tons of decisions to be made, disputes to settle, finances to keep track of and a chance of being sued for a slip-up. So why do so many people decide to serve on a board—some for…

When you were a child, you probably tuned into the PBS show Mister Rogers Neighborhood, where a homespun sweater-clad Fred Rogers often sang “Won’t you be my neighbor?” Mr. Rogers might be singing a different tune today if he were a …

The annual election is probably the biggest event in the administrative life of the condominium, homeowners or cooperative community. For board members and residents alike, it's their most important performance. The board members ele…

Aventura, Florida is a planned, suburban city located in northeastern Miami-Dade County. The city name is from the Spanish word for "adventure," and was named "Aventura" after one of the developers of the original group of condominiums in …

It goes without saying that individuals and associations alike need to be properly covered by insurance; that's just common sense. It’s even more important for Floridians considering the propensity of inclement weather and dangerous …

Money for Nothing? Q There have been two charges that "just appeared" on my maintenance statement—small amounts of money...BUT without prior notice and they were just tacked on. One was for a parking increase and one was for "mailin…

Notices of Construction My neighbors are currently undergoing extensive renovations in their unit during the day. However, we have not received any notice of what days it's supposed to take place, and for how long. Are we entitled to…