It's almost a mantra: the more you know, the better off you are—certainly when it comes to doing the job of a condominium or HOA board member. No matter how enthused and engaged a new board appointee may be, they don't come to the job k…
It is one of life’s eternal questions: is it possible to have too much of a good thing? That question certainly can apply to the matter of long-serving board members, those individuals who get elected and re-elected term after term. And…
As an attorney and an apartment dweller, Michelle F. has seen it all when it comes to living with difficult residents. “I lived next door to twin toddlers whose parents were both attorneys,” says Michelle, who in addition to being a real…
One of the trickier problems to deal with when you live in a co-op or condo is dealing with board members who sometimes let the power go to their heads. Even though they are entrusted with a great deal of responsibility to keep their a…
Remember your first day at a new school? Most likely, you didn’t know a soul, had no idea what the students were learning and you probably felt nervous, intimidated or maybe even afraid. In most cases, this is what it’s like to be a new …
Between the media coverage, consumer marketing campaigns, and governmental programs, the concept of living “green” has become a sometimes-confusing catchphrase over the last few years. Are you “going green?” Exactly how “green” are you? …
Des Plaines, Illinois in Cook County was originally settled by the French who named the town, “of the plains.” Today, the town is officially nicknamed the "City of Destiny." This suburb of Chicago, which sits right next to O'Ha…
When you’re decorating your home, there are two things you want to bear in mind if you have children. You want to keep the design functional, but safe. After all, anyone who’s ever had, or just looked after, a baby or toddler, can tell …
The Great Recession has required all boards and property managers to investigate new and progressive ways to ensure that their bottom line is covered. While this has always been the mission, the economic reality of recent years has ins…
If you live in a condo or a co-op, you’ve probably noticed that your building has at least one annual shareholders’ or unit owners’ meeting each year. It’s not random. The annual meeting is actually an Illinois state-mandated la…