It is no surprise Maine has one of the oldest population demographics in the country. It is also no surprise that Maine ranks 8th among condo buyers aged 55 and older. This generation of boomers has been downsizing after retirement from the big single-family house and moving to condominium communities to be closer to….
Condominiums and HOA communities come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes but when it comes down to considering the differences of all condos great and small one thing is consistent, meeting minutes. This basic management tool is well known and formed by governing documents, IRS regulations, and legal recommendations. So at the….
The team at Criterium encourages commercial and residential property owners, property managers, and HOA board members to prepare for the Atlantic hurricane season which takes place June 1 through November 30 each year. This year’s Atlantic seasonal forecast was announced by NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service. They predict another….
Causes of Basement Flooding We don’t need a weatherman to tell us this past spring saw an abundance of raining days. Roads washed out, culverts failed, and basements got flooded. Condos with basements and crawlspaces experienced water infiltration for the first time creating not only an annoyance but also a health hazard. So, what is….
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) use is rising for condominiums and HOA community Reserve Fund and Transition building inspections. However, the use of UAV’s or drones is not for everyone. Condo boards will face future decisions regarding drone usage by either service providers or unit owners so the board should be prepared. For this reason, I….
Typical Property Manager Responsibilities: Over the last 20 years when things go wrong at condo complexes, I often get a call to provide solutions. Sometimes the call comes from the property manager and sometimes it is a member of the Board. Sometimes the call is from a unit owner. These types of inquiries remind me….
Save Energy, and Money This article may not be for you but if it is, its message could save you thousands while improving the quality of your life. Maine has a wide range of condo and HOA communities with a variety of configurations and bylaw restrictions. This article targets owners with units where they control….
There is an old Chinese saying, ‘May you live in Interesting Times’. This statement is interpreted to be more of a curse than a friendly greeting, as the interesting times refer to upcoming periods of chaos or uncertainty. Ask any investor or economic forecaster what they fear most, it is uncertainty. Unfortunately, this is….
HOA Maintenance Plans As a young engineer, the most valuable lesson I learned early on was not to try to remember everything but know where to find the answers. It is no different for a new condo board or property manager. The Community Association Institute (CAI) has gone to great lengths to provide community leaders….
Finding the Leak Like the bumper sticker says, Leaks Happen. Eventually all roofs will leak. The various available condo roof surfaces typically have different reserve fund plan expected useful lives. High slope roofs such as fiberglass composite shingles are budgeted to be replaced in 25 to 30 years while low slope roofs surfaces such as….