Comments on: Big Condo Building Vs. Rowhouse Converted Condos – Which is Better?

By: Crestwood

Crestwood — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:15:55 +0000

Just J, thanks for those thoughts, but we’ve already been through those steps, including bringing the technical expert to the board meeting and having the board actually come to the condo to look at the problems firsthand. The apartment is unliveable in its current condition. The board’s modus operandi is to rubber-stamp whatever the property management company’s rep tells them. What I don’t understand is why he (the rep) is so reluctant to fix major structural problems that will affect the entire building eventually. Anyhow, filing suit is not the way I wanted to go, but they’ve left me no alternative. I do appreciate your suggestions, nonetheless.

By: Just J

Just J — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 21:04:46 +0000

Crestwood:

I would suggest the following before going the lawsuit route. First write a letter, and read it at a meeting. Whenever I have a difficult time getting my board members to approve something, i get one of the residents to come with a sob story and they are shamed into voting on it. Works most of the time.

If that doesnt work, try getting onto the board. If you make your issue known at every meeting and draw up plans to get it fixed, its a lot easier to get it done. A lot of times its not that the people in charge dont care about your issue, its just that they dont have the experience or go getter attitude to get it done.

Lawyers typically make things worse than they already are. Unless the apartment is unliveable, I would try the first two methods before a lawsuit

By: Just J

Just J — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:57:25 +0000

As President of my Coop here are my opinions:

Unruly Board members: nothing you can do about them. Its usually pretty hard to kick them off (belive me I have tried).

Small Vs. Large: I wouldnt trust a small converted building. Anonymous hit the nail on the head, you get smaller monthly fees over the short term, then something goes wrong and you have to have a big assesment. My guess would be that if you averaged out the maintenance costs of a large building vs. a small over a really long time, large would be more cost effective because they do a better job of avoiding the disasterous situations.

INMHIIYNTYAH: You are soooo right, boards need more business minded people and less activists (the group of people you described). I have personally tried to recruit more business minded people but its a catch 22. The business minded people typically work more hours and have less time to dedicate to the board. They value their time and dont want to commit any of it for something that is essentially a part time job. Also, board members typically dont get paid, so business minded people tend to think in terms of dollars and cents (what do I gain by being at these meetings) whereas the “activists” tend to love to volunteer their time for free.

This results in a large pool of activists types wanting to help out but not knowing what to do, and few business types knowing what to do but not wanting to give their personal time.

By: Crestwood

Crestwood — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:53:56 +0000

After three years of trying to get the condo board and management company of a condo I own in Northern Virginia to fix problems with common elements (drainpipe and exterior wall) that affect only my unit, I am preparing to file suit against them. I can’t rent or sell the condo in its current condition, and they have repeatedly blown me off since April 2005. The irony is that if I win, it will impact my own condo fee. Luckily, I’m not asking for much by way of damages. I wouldn’t be eager to buy another condo.

By: INMHIIYNTYAH

INMHIIYNTYAH — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:27:39 +0000

I’m right with you Roger.

By: Roger

Roger — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 19:51:25 +0000

I did the Co-op lifestyle in North Arlington / Courthouse Neighborhood for 6 years. The 1950′s building with 28 units was falling apart, the Sr Citizen residents banded together on Shareholder Votes to insure that any improvements got nixed. That place is an accident waiting to happen. Board meetings were often contentious, some owners attended smelling like a distilery to add their .02 worth. It was a Zoo. I learned from that experience and will NEVER EVER buy or own a Condo or Co-op again!

By: Anon

Anon — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 19:08:04 +0000

Here’s issues with the converted rowhouse not mentioned yet — when one unit doesn’t pay its fees, the other can’t hide behind the safety in numbers of a condo board in raising the issue because the condo board is two people and one is the problem. When one unit NEVER does anything in a common area (sweep, shovel snow), the other one gets angry and frustrated. When one never takes out its trash, the other one suffers. I will NEVER again buy one of these.

By: SG

SG — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 15:52:31 +0000

The “bored housewives” comment comes from living in Ashburn, Va. There are A LOT of them out there. I can’t imagine anyone who enjoys the city (DC) would even be remotely happy there (like myself).

By: PetworthRes

PetworthRes — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 15:09:18 +0000

Board Nazis, yes, I’ve seen many. But bored housewife??? Come on! Where does that come from? I don’t think in all my condo living I’ve come across a woman who didn’t have a job, let lone one that could be called a “bored housewife.” hmm.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 15:08:31 +0000

i’m leaning toward the dead horses head…i’d be happy if the 3 other units would just agree to do yearly maintenace….a small amont of money well spent to avoid very expensive repair costs in the future… it’s like living in a poorly managed rental property at this point….