By Wendy Matney
In any condo or apartment community, maintenance and repairs are inevitable. Over time, building materials will begin to fail, and pipes are no exception. Depending on the material, pipes may begin to develop cracks and leaks within a few decades of installation, sometimes less.
When planning a large capital improvement project, it’s crucial to select the right contractor. You want to find the right mix of skills, price, process, credentials, and capabilities. Employ a disciplined selection process to recognize potential risks and realize the right value.
Here are 10 questions to ask contractors that can help you make the best choice for your apartment or condominium community.
By Wendy Matney
If you own, manage, or operate older multifamily buildings, thinking about asbestos is inevitable. Even so, we at SageWater encounter many misunderstandings among our clients about when and how to test for asbestos in their buildings. We recommend that a well-run apartment building and community association will perform a proactive building inspection, which enables them to protect people’s health and the bottom line.
By Wendy Matney
Common Pitfalls and Guidance for Community Association Boards and Property Managers
As pipes begin to fail in condo and co-op communities, water damage and related hazards can become more frequent and severe. And as incidences increase, so do community association insurance costs and risk.
By Wendy Matney
Do you know what could be lurking inside your building’s pipes? Let’s just say that if your pipes are old enough, you won’t need Halloween decorations this month to get a good scare. How frightening? Check out these cutaway images of clogged pipes…
By Wendy Matney
Ignoring Pipe Maintenance Could Lead to Costly Issues for Your Building
Whether you’re a condominium board member or apartment owner or operator, developing an annual maintenance budget is always challenging. Everyone knows that maintaining older systems can be costly, and unexpected fixes can cost even more. And the idea of raising rents or condo fees to cover them is often taboo.
By Wendy Matney
Who Is Responsible For Piping System Leaks In Your Building?
When leaks occur, the first instinct (after damage control) is to ask who’s to blame or who is responsible. Like many aspects of managing a condominium or apartment building, determining who is responsible for repairing a broken or failing piping system is not a simple cut-and-dried answer. And it varies from building to building, condo association to condo association, and insurance policy to insurance policy.
By Wendy Matney
Though it’s often feared, pipe replacement is an inevitable scenario for multi-family communities. Whether your building’s piping system has reached the end of its useful life or there are faulty materials causing failures around the property, there’s simply no way to ignore leaks. And while it may be tempting to tackle a pipe replacement project on your own to save on budget, DIY pipe replacement can actually lead to higher costs and even bigger headaches over time.
By Wendy Matney
Out of sight, out of mind? Not so fast.
It’s easy to forget about what’s behind the walls of your building. But when there’s a problem with your piping system, out of sight becomes top of mind very fast. Pipe failures can quickly get out of control, with leaks leading to damage to walls and ceilings, costing big money to fix. Even small pinhole leaks that remain undetectable for a time can lead to long-term moisture and mold issues, potentially endangering the health of residents.
By Wendy Matney
Does The Idea Of A Capital Improvement Project For Your Community Give You Anxiety? Properties may be reluctant to undertake large capital improvement projects because they are unsure where to start or whether they will see a return on investment.
Prioritizing projects at your community can be tricky. Is it more urgent to replace the roof, repair the elevator, or tackle less visible issues, like pipe replacement?
