Howard Goldman discusses new standards for slip and fall cases in the country. Also how to protect yourself from being included such cases.
Traps for the Unwary Property Manager Tuesday, March 10, 2015 8:30 am – 12:00 pm Onilne Registration Location: Granite Links Golf Club ~ The Tavern at Quarry Hills Restaurant ~ Granite Links Banquet Hall ~ GLGC Members Grille 100 Quarry Hills Drive Quincy, MA 02169 SEMINAR DESCRIPTION: Led by Attorneys Howard S. Goldman and Cameron C. Pease of Goldman & Pease, LLC, this seminar will address common pitfalls that property managers should avoid in managing their properties and suggest helpful ways
The person creating the condominium is known as the “declarant,” but is more commonly referred to as the “developer.” The developer can record a Master Deed before, during, or after the actual construction of the building, and the developer does not actually convey any property through the recording. Typically, the by-laws of the Declaration of Trust authorize the developer to appoint the initial trustees, allowing the developer to control the operation and management of the condominium during the developmental phases. These
Answer: Unlike many other states, Massachusetts does not regulate the timing of the transition from developer to unit owner control. Usually, however, the by-laws will provide for a “triggering event” that sets the time limit on the transition of control to a unit owner-controlled association. Quite often, the triggering event will be some combination of the amount of units sold and a specified period of time. Because Massachusetts does not set a specific limitation on the nature of a triggering, or
Answer: By no means an exhaustive list, here are some particularly important documents: Operational Books and Records Declaration of Trust and Master Deed Bylaws and Rules and Regulations Accounting of association funds and financial statements Audits performed during the developer control period Documents relating to any past or pending claims Past and present budget information Current statement of account balances and invoices from developer control Association bank accounts, checking accounts, certificates of deposit, etc. All association insurance policies Complete roster of
Answer: Absolutely. First, it is crucially important for trustees of the new association, as well as all the owners, to determine whether all income and expenses were properly accounted for while the developer was in control. To this end it is recommended that an association hire an accounting professional to audit the financials during the developer’s control. A certified public accountant or building engineer can also perform a reserve study, which helps the association understand how much money should be allocated
Answer: A good management company can aid the association by recommending vendors, helping plan the annual budget, attracting and interacting with new owners, and handling numerous day-to-day tasks. The following represents some of these tasks, which, if not delegated to a property manager, the association will have to tackle: Maintain security of the condominium Collect monthly fees and maintain records Prepare and maintain all association correspondence, minutes, and records Enforce rules and regulations as direct by the association Manage any rentals
By Howard Goldman Neighborly relations may turn sour quickly when disputes arise over property boundaries. A deed alone will not protect you from boundary line disputes. A neighbor may assert an ownership claim over part of your land through a doctrine known as Adverse Possession. Some examples of Adverse Possession claims are as follows: A fence is mistakenly or even intentionally located several feet away from the boundary line. Over time, the property owners act as if the fence marks the
By Howard Goldman Introduction Maintaining condominium board meeting minutes is a practice that has the potential to engage unit owners, foster transparency, and help solve various difficulties facing a condominium. The questions and answers set forth below will cover policies and protocol for taking and retaining condominium board meeting minutes. It will explain what must be included, what can be included, and what should not be included in the minutes. Question: Does a condominium have to keep meeting minutes? What should
A FREE all-day educational and networking event for Massachusetts Condo Board Members and Managers. Event: CAI Condo Conference & Expo Location: Double Tree by Hilton Boston North Shore in Danvers, MA. Time: Goldman & Pease, LLC will be at Exhibitor Booth #11 from 10:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Panel Discussion: 1:30 – 3pm Attorney Howard Goldman will partcipate in the panel discussion: Self-Managed and Small Association Challenges Addressing Unique Issues and Finding Helpful Resources Managing a condominium is often times more challenging
Howard Goldman discusses new standards for slip and fall cases in the country. Also how to protect yourself from being included such cases.
Traps for the Unwary Property Manager Tuesday, March 10, 2015 8:30 am – 12:00 pm Onilne Registration Location: Granite Links Golf Club ~ The Tavern at Quarry Hills Restaurant ~ Granite Links Banquet Hall ~ GLGC Members Grille 100 Quarry Hills Drive Quincy, MA 02169 SEMINAR DESCRIPTION: Led by Attorneys Howard S. Goldman and Cameron C. Pease of Goldman & Pease, LLC, this seminar will address common pitfalls that property managers should avoid in managing their properties and suggest helpful ways
The person creating the condominium is known as the “declarant,” but is more commonly referred to as the “developer.” The developer can record a Master Deed before, during, or after the actual construction of the building, and the developer does not actually convey any property through the recording. Typically, the by-laws of the Declaration of Trust authorize the developer to appoint the initial trustees, allowing the developer to control the operation and management of the condominium during the developmental phases. These
Answer: Unlike many other states, Massachusetts does not regulate the timing of the transition from developer to unit owner control. Usually, however, the by-laws will provide for a “triggering event” that sets the time limit on the transition of control to a unit owner-controlled association. Quite often, the triggering event will be some combination of the amount of units sold and a specified period of time. Because Massachusetts does not set a specific limitation on the nature of a triggering, or
Answer: By no means an exhaustive list, here are some particularly important documents: Operational Books and Records Declaration of Trust and Master Deed Bylaws and Rules and Regulations Accounting of association funds and financial statements Audits performed during the developer control period Documents relating to any past or pending claims Past and present budget information Current statement of account balances and invoices from developer control Association bank accounts, checking accounts, certificates of deposit, etc. All association insurance policies Complete roster of
Answer: Absolutely. First, it is crucially important for trustees of the new association, as well as all the owners, to determine whether all income and expenses were properly accounted for while the developer was in control. To this end it is recommended that an association hire an accounting professional to audit the financials during the developer’s control. A certified public accountant or building engineer can also perform a reserve study, which helps the association understand how much money should be allocated
Answer: A good management company can aid the association by recommending vendors, helping plan the annual budget, attracting and interacting with new owners, and handling numerous day-to-day tasks. The following represents some of these tasks, which, if not delegated to a property manager, the association will have to tackle: Maintain security of the condominium Collect monthly fees and maintain records Prepare and maintain all association correspondence, minutes, and records Enforce rules and regulations as direct by the association Manage any rentals
By Howard Goldman Neighborly relations may turn sour quickly when disputes arise over property boundaries. A deed alone will not protect you from boundary line disputes. A neighbor may assert an ownership claim over part of your land through a doctrine known as Adverse Possession. Some examples of Adverse Possession claims are as follows: A fence is mistakenly or even intentionally located several feet away from the boundary line. Over time, the property owners act as if the fence marks the
By Howard Goldman Introduction Maintaining condominium board meeting minutes is a practice that has the potential to engage unit owners, foster transparency, and help solve various difficulties facing a condominium. The questions and answers set forth below will cover policies and protocol for taking and retaining condominium board meeting minutes. It will explain what must be included, what can be included, and what should not be included in the minutes. Question: Does a condominium have to keep meeting minutes? What should
A FREE all-day educational and networking event for Massachusetts Condo Board Members and Managers. Event: CAI Condo Conference & Expo Location: Double Tree by Hilton Boston North Shore in Danvers, MA. Time: Goldman & Pease, LLC will be at Exhibitor Booth #11 from 10:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Panel Discussion: 1:30 – 3pm Attorney Howard Goldman will partcipate in the panel discussion: Self-Managed and Small Association Challenges Addressing Unique Issues and Finding Helpful Resources Managing a condominium is often times more challenging
