Bundled Collections of Articles
 
view Building Finances      TOPIC: Finances

There's a lot of money tied up in a co-op, and managing it properly is one of the board's biggest responsibilities. This bundle features tips for managing that investment, with articles covering reserve funds, underlying mortgages, budgeting and financial planning. The focus is on making smart money moves to limit those assessment and maintenance increases.

Planning Your Financial Future, March & April, 1991: A long-range financial plan is crucial to a building's long-term fiscal health.

Budget Blues, October, 1996: Demystifying the art of budgeting for a co-op.

All the Right Moves, October, 1994: How to make the most out of your financial statements.

Investing the Reserve, May, 1998: What you should - and should not - consider when investing the reserve fund.

Refinancing Tango, April, 1996: Making the most out of refinancing negotiations.

Before the Bank: Strategies for Refinancing Your Building's Underlying Mortgage, April, 1989: Step-by-step guide to planning a refinance.

view Co-op Admissions      TOPIC: Admissions

Boards are the "keepers of the gate" in their buildings, the ultimate decision-makers about who can live in the community and become a shareholder in the cooperative. It's a decision and process that carries great weight and responsibility, as boards who improperly reject applicants can open up the co-op to potentially costly lawsuits over discrimination. These articles will help boards design an admissions process that will shield them from litigation, as well as understand what types of questions and interview behavior could invite discrimination claims.

Keeper of the Gate, February, 1999: Re-examining the admissions process, step by step, to prevent any lawsuits.

Admit One, December, 1999: Co-op attorney offers a framework for an airtight admissions process.

Discrimination Insurance, March, 2001: Understanding and preventing discrimination.

Discriminating or Discrimination?, February, 1999: An in-depth look at a co-op application that ended in a discrimination lawsuit.

Be Careful What You Ask, April, 1997: Recent legal trends affecting discrimination lawsuits.

Howdy Neighbor?, September, 1998: Proper admissions interview questions and etiquette.

view Working with Property Managers      TOPIC: Management

Property managers can be either a godsend or a nightmare for a building. Finding the right management company - and making the most out of that working relationship - requires research, know-how, and an understanding of the specific needs of your building and community. These articles focus on firm selection and making sense out of management reports, fees and contracts.

The Right Stuff, September, 1996: Step-by-step planning for hiring a new management firm.

Finding the Right Firm, February, 1996: Making sure a management firm is the right fit for your building.

The Facts About Fees, January, 2000: How to judge price and performance.

The Real Cost of Management, November, 1994: Evaluating a manager's claims against an analysis of the fee.

Shedding Light on Management Plans , June, 1998: Cutting through the legalese when reading a management contract.

The Management Report: A Vital Tool?, November, 2001: Reading and understanding the monthly management report is a good way to evaluate performance.

view Being a Board Member      TOPIC: Board of Directors

There's a lot to learn when you're a co-op board member, and it's not always easy to find the right information. This bundle features articles on some of the most perplexing aspects of board duty, including understanding the different roles of the board officers, learning how to run meetings efficiently, making the most of the annual meeting and avoiding conflict of interest among board members.

Being on the Board, February, 1996: Breaking down the roles and responsibilities of the board officers.

Boards That Make a Difference, April, 1998: What does it take for a board to make a difference in the running of its property?

All Together Now, April, 1998: Properly planning the annual meeting and elections.

To Meet or Eat, May, 2000: Businesslike or casual: different methods of running board meetings.

Board Ethics: Good Deals, Bad Deals, Self-Deals , September, 1989: Avoiding conflict of interest among board members.

view Undertaking Capital Projects      TOPIC: Capital Improvements

Building repairs and upgrades are not cheap, and boards need to know where their money is going. This bundle is a primer on what's involved in undertaking a capital project, with information about bids, contracts, timelines and a general explanation of who does what. Without research and guidance, a board could wind up getting bilked by an unscrupulous contractor or having their project drag on for months.

T is for Teamwork , February, 1998: Putting together the right team for handling a capital project.

Honest Bidding, February, 1999: Properly implementing a competitive bidding process.

Minimizing Construction Woes , February, 1998: Step-by-step planning of a capital project.

A Question of Upgrading: How To Know What To Do - And When, May, 1999: How to prioritize a building's repair needs.

Casting The Contract, September, 1991: Finding the right professionals for pulling off a successful project.

view Bylaws, Rules and Leases      TOPIC: Bylaws

A building's governing documents are like a co-op constitution. They set the parameters for what shareholders can and can't do, and understanding the differences and limitations between each set of documents is crucial to a building's well being. These articles offer suggestions for modernizing your governing documents, ways to use bylaws effectively, and tips on how to enforce house rules with an even hand.

Revising the Road Map, December, 1994: The necessity of modernizing a building's proprietary lease and bylaws.

Bylaws That Benefit You, December, 1996: Updating a co-op's bylaws is beneficial for the building.

Rules of the House: Making Standards Stick, December, 1994: Passing and enforcing reasonable house rules.

The Board and the Bylaws, April, 1989: An in-depth understanding of a building's bylaws.

Problems With Existing Proprietary Leases , February, 2002: Why most proprietary leases are outdated.

view Ask the Engineer #1: 11/02 to 6/03      TOPIC: Engineers

Habitat's monthly "Ask the Engineer" column shares insight and advice from one of New York's top engineering and architectural firms: Rand Engineering and Architecture. Each month, the professionals from Rand provide an in-depth, comprehensive response to questions posed by board members. This bundle features the first 7 installments of Ask the Engineer.

Do I Need an Engineer or Architect?, November, 2002: When should which a building hire an engineer or architect for repairs and renovations.

Playing it Safe With Facade Inspections, December, 2002: Key details regarding local laws 10/80 and 11/98.

Testing for Asbestos, January, 2003: When asbestos surveys are required for alterations.

The Ongoing Battle Against Leaks, March, 2003: Finding and fixing persistent leaks.

Electrical Upgrades, April, 2003: Upgrading capacity to avoid blown fuses.

Fixing Brown Water and Low Pressure, May, 2003: Remedying problems with water supply.

Replacing Old Windows, June, 2003: Different types of window replacements.

view Ask the Engineer #2: 7/03 to 5/04      TOPIC: Engineers

Habitat's monthly "Ask the Engineer" column shares insight and advice from one of New York's top engineering and architectural firms: Rand Engineering and Architecture. Each month, the professionals from Rand provide an in-depth, comprehensive response to questions posed by board members. This bundle features the second 8 installments of "Ask the Engineer."

Blowing Hot or Cold on the Roof, July/August, 2003: Different types of roofing systems.

Doing Due Diligence Before Buying, September, 2003: Hiring someone to do a "pre-purchase" survey.

Cutting Corners and Band-Aid Fixes, October, 2003: Why quick repairs are not cost-effective

Installing an ADA Compliant Ramp, November, 2003: Guidelines for installing ramps.

Roof Warranties, December, 2003: Differences between roof warranties explained.

Re-piping a Gas System, January, 2004: Repairing gas lines.

Heating Plant Upgrades, March, 2004: When it's time to replace your boiler.

Getting the Best Bid, April, 2004: Organizing a competitive bidding process.

Exterior Renovation Contracts, May, 2004: Key items on exterior renovation contracts.