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Problem Solved! For Co-ops and Condos
From building repairs and maintenance, energy upgrades, insurance, lobby redesigns, accounting and financing - the challenges facing co-op and condominium board directors are endless. In this series, Habitat Magazine editors interview New York City experts to learn how problems have been solved at their client co-op and condo buildings. We take a deep dive into the issues being confronted, the possibilities for solutions, the costs, the challenges, and the outcomes. Habitat Magazine, founded in 1982, is the trusted resource for New York City co-ops and condo board directors. Visit us at www.habitatmag.com
Episodes
62 episodes
Why Your Sponsor May Still Owe Your Building Money
Board members taking control of new condominiums need to engage an independent accountant to perform a proper financial true-up — before it's too late. Amy Jennings, a manager at WilkinGuttenplan, reveals h...
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Season 3
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Episode 11
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14:47
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How a Harlem Condo Uncovered Hidden Water Waste
Water waste is often a silent drain on your building’s finances, and it takes a bit of sleuthing to find the source. Alan Rothschild, president of the Vantage Group, a water cost management consultancy, ...
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Season 3
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Episode 10
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11:13
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The Hidden Alteration Risk That Could Bankrupt Your Building
When an Upper East Side co-op’s gas pipes failed Local Law 152 inspection and service was immediately shut off, what happened next could have cost over half a million dollars. Instead, smart planning kept repairs under $200,000, and engineering...
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Season 3
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Episode 9
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9:21
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Why Your Building Could Lose Insurance Coverage Tomorrow
Your building's insurance renewal just became a high-stakes game, and many boards don't even know they're playing. In this episode, risk control specialist Brice Reynolds of Mackoul Risk Solutions reveals how ...
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Season 3
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Episode 8
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17:08
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From Dysfunctional Entrance to Stunning Space for $800K
Asking a doorman to watch packages and the front door simultaneously has become unsustainable in today’s package-happy world, but that’s the reality in many buildings. Marilyn Sygrove, president of Sygrove Associa...
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Season 3
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Episode 7
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12:58
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Stop Throwing Money at Your Heating Bills
Imagine cutting your building's energy costs by 25%, while keeping residents comfortable and complying with Local Law 97. One Queens co-op did just that, saving $24,000 using smart heating sensors.Izzy Friedman, director of technical ser...
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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12:08
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Beat the Clock on Local Law 97 Without Breaking the Bank
With the 2030 carbon emissions deadline approaching fast and major retrofits looming by 2035, New York City board members need to listen up. Mark Balsam, president of ReDocs, an energy and compliance consul...
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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9:51
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The Terracotta Trap: Why the 'Obvious' Fix Isn't Always Right
When a century-old building's terracotta cornice started cracking, the board faced what seemed like a straightforward fix: replace the damaged sections with new terracotta. But a closer examination of the numbers told a different story, says Mi...
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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14:34
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How One NYC Co-op Stopped Playing Whack-a-Mole with Water Leaks
Board members struggling with constant water damage need to hear this: Jerry Kestenbaum, CEO of the technology and service provider Aware Buildings, explains how one 220-unit luxury co-op in Sutton ...
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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14:14
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How One Bronx Co-op Cut $100K Annually Through Smart Building Technology
Tired of sky-high heating bills and residents complaining about wildly uneven temperatures? In this interview, Kelly-Ann Corrigan, CEO at the technology and service provider Runwise, reveals exactly how a ...
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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16:18
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Digital Payment Platforms May Be Secretly Routing Your Building's Money
Think your digital payment system is safely depositing maintenance fees directly into your building's account? Think again. This eye-opening episode reveals how a Queens co-op discovered their payments were making mysterious detours through una...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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10:57
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The $3 Million Second Opinion
Smart moves save money - just ask 160 West End Avenue. When this Manhattan co-op faced a $4 million facade repair project, their board sought a second opinion. The result? A more targeted approach that brought the cost down to under $900,000. J...
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Season 2
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Episode 27
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16:48
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Breaking Up With Your Property Manager? Here's Your Roadmap to Success
A new board at a 150-unit Westchester co-op was eager to take charge and make changes only to find themselves struggling with their current management company. The board couldn’t get access to the building’s financial records, had a never-endin...
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Season 2
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Episode 26
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14:53
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How Bundling NYC Building Inspections Could Save Co-ops Nearly $1M
With nearly 40% of a typical $2 million facade project going to "soft costs" like scaffolding and sidewalk sheds, smart planning of these inspections can lead to massive savings. In this episode, Gene Ferrara, president of
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Season 2
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Episode 25
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12:29
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Following the Money: What New Condo Boards Need to Know About Sponsor Exit
During the period when a new condominium comes on the market and the sponsor finally turns over control to the condo board, who is paying for the condo’s operating expenses? The building is not fully sold so there aren’t enough paying owners to...
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Season 2
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Episode 24
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17:50
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A Practical Blueprint: Yorkville Co-op's Decarbonization Plan
A Yorkville co-op's successful HVAC upgrade demonstrates how boards can tackle Local Law 97 compliance while achieving significant cost savings. The $900,000 project, overseen by the ENPOWER Group, replaced an in...
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Season 2
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Episode 23
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16:27
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Rising Waters, Brooklyn Battles: Fixing Floods in the Heart of NYC
Rainwater is becoming more intense and groundwater tables are rising throughout New York City. 10 Plaza Street East, a Brooklyn co-op, felt this full force during 2021's Hurricane Ida when its entire subcellar floor flooded, including the stora...
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Season 2
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Episode 23
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13:33
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The Financial Consequences of a Condo's Near Collapse
When a loft condominium faced a potential collapse, residents were forced to vacate, revealing the financial and logistical challenges of such emergencies. Carl Cesarano, the accountant for the condo and principal at
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Season 2
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Episode 22
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20:57
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Meeting Your Property's Insurance Challenge
Budgeting is always a complicated affair and increasing insurance costs have made this even more challenging. Jason Schiciano, co-president at Levitt-Fuirst Insurance & Bonding, shares how the tim...
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Season 2
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Episode 21
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15:50
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How to Create A “Best Case” Repair Program
Board members of newly constructed condominiums often find themselves battling a sponsor over construction defects, leading many to wonder why does this happen so often? Each building is different, but RAND E...
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Season 2
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Episode 20
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28:11
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Facade Fix or Repair: One Board's Decision Journey
What approach works best with façade issues: Band-Aid repairs or full-blown replacement? Depends on each building, and 245 West 99th St, a 34-story condominium, faced this issue when inspection of 17,000 rainscreen tiles revealed cracks that co...
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Season 2
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Episode 19
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14:55
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Taking the Right Steps In A Lobby Transformation
It was a dark, dim lobby with no package storage, a small mail room, faux fireplaces with two sad chairs on each side, and no curb appeal. A redesign was in order, and Marilyn Sygrove, president of Sygrove Associa...
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Season 2
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Episode 18
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12:56
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How A Robotics Sleuth Came To The Rescue
Construction defects aren’t just a new building problem, they can happen anytime a co-op or condo hires someone to take hammer and nail to something. In this episode Akaash Kancharla, CEO of aRoboticsCompany...
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Season 2
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Episode 17
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13:24
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Steam Traps and Orifice Plates, Oh My!
Sometimes the smallest parts can play an outsized role in reducing your building’s energy consumption. If you’ve got radiators, look no further than the steam trap or the oddly named orifice plate to see how these components, with a bit of dili...
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Season 2
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Episode 16
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13:35
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