NBC-CAM hosts a listserv for community association managers. The listserv is intended to create a powerful, on-line community for community management professionals to share information. Recently, some questions have been sent to the listserv. Are you able to help? Leave and answer in the comment section below and NBC-CAM staff will post your answer to the listserv.  If you’ve got your own question, leave that in the comment section as well.

Question 1:  Jerry from New Jersey

This question comes up every budget season and is the source of disagreement between owners every year.  “Does maintaining a healthy Reserve fund, which increases fee collections, help or hurt property values?”  Or conversely, “does keeping fees as low as possible, by not adequately funding the reserve, and instead relying on future special assessments for repairs and replacements, help or hurt property values?”

Question 2:  Tom from Arizona

Can anyone provide input and/or verbiage about introducing a “No Loitering” rule for a community?  There is a mixed reaction on this issue, as some Board Members are pushing for it while other believe that persons have a right to “hang out” in the common areas.  Some Residents just sit on walls with no purpose, or hang out in the parking lots with no apparent purpose.  Any thoughts?

Question 3:  Julia from Mississippi

For those who manage condominiums – if a unit (in this case a lower unit, partially below grade) tested high for radon have you paid for the abatement as a common expense or have you left the individual unit owner responsible? My thinking is that the radon itself originates below the slab from ground that technically is owned by the Association. Any thoughts or experience on this would be appreciated.