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dsi1[_15_]

On 8/8/2014 1:00 AM, wrote:
> On Thu, 07 Aug 2014 20:11:39 -0500, Janet Wilder >
> wrote:
>
>> On 8/7/2014 5:02 PM, wrote:
>>> On Thu, 07 Aug 2014 12:00:06 -0500, Janet Wilder >
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On 8/7/2014 8:18 AM, wrote:
>>>>> On Thu, 07 Aug 2014 09:10:07 -0400, Brooklyn1
>>>>
>>>>>> Why isn't gas available? If you own your own home gas is always
>>>>>> available.
>>>>>
>>>>> Not if gas lines are not available, which is the case in many places.
>>>>>
>>>> Exactly. If you live in the city or suburbs you will probably have gas
>>>> lines, but out in the country, there are none. That's why you see
>>>> propane tanks next to country homes.
>>>
>>> Yes, in the country I had propane, but in a condo, I am sure without
>>> looking, it would contravene by laws for obvious reasons.
>>>
>> beware of the "Condo Commandos" We owned a rental one and those old
>> biddies on the board were a royal PITA with their silly rules and
>> haphazard enforcement.
>
> We have a sort of 'constitution' which I read carefully before
> purchasing, as did my lawyer, and the rules are all sensible and
> there for a good reason. We have an elected board who oversee the
> running by a management company and by and large this is rated a very
> well organised building and there wouldn't be too much any individual
> could do to distort it. Most of the board members are male and
> although I might like to see a few more women, I can't deny they are
> doing an excellent job !

My wife's family used to be the resident manager of their condo so she
grew up taking care of the property. She grew up cleaning the pool and
climbing up to the roof to clean the filters and she and her parents and
whichever of her brothers were living at the place at the time
maintained the property well. Her dad was on the board and they kept the
maintenance fees low and had a tight rein on the association account.
The place was lucky to have my father-in-law looking after it.

When we moved into our condo, I joined the board straight away. I could
not believe how the monies were handled. The resident manager owned a
place and would rent out the association's unit and keep the cash. We
never did find out how much he was being paid. He would charge the
owners $500 to get rid of trash. My assumption was the manager and
management company were trying to hide some expenses because I never saw
a receipt for any of it.

The management company was in cahoots with the resident manager to milk
our cash cow of a condo. Our request for an account of our monies being
spent was met with stalling. In the end, we tried to get rid of the
management company and the resident manager but instead, we got got sued
and our asses kicked off the board. It was a big too-do. We had a big
meeting at a school cafeteria and there was cops standing by in case
there was trouble.

Hopefully, the next condo we move to will conduct business with better
practice standards.

>
> Ten years ago when I first bought and started going to meetings there
> seemed to be a group of old men at the meeting (they reminded me of
> the old men up in the balcony on Sesame Street!) and they never agreed
> with anything the board was trying to do, better brains prevailed but
> it was irritating listening to the old guys. However, they have now
> all moved on to other pastures, one way and another and meetings are
> good, quick and effective.
>
> I missed my garden a great deal and have basically taken over
> gardening ideas here and do the pots at the front door and oversee the
> garden company etc, everybody likes it and are complimentary and
> encouraging so that gives me a lot of pleasure to still garden but not
> have to mow or clear snow
>
> Very few units are rented but those that are remain the responsibility
> of the owner and they best make sure the tenant is in no way a
> problem. There are 90 units and we have a great variety of ages, all
> the way from elderly down to young career minded types buying the
> bachelor and one bedroom ones so they are getting started in the
> housing market. Most move out and sell when they find a partner and
> start a family, that too is good, this would not be a good place for
> kids. It is concrete built so sound does not travel but even so, kids
> running the halls or playing on the elevators would not be tolerated
>
> Our condos actually come under specific legislation by the Province,
> so it is pretty controlled but not so much it is 'irksome' lol
>