2006 Mar
2006 Mar Vol. 26, No. 3
Focus on...Real Estate Market/Expo
Good Lawn Care Can Keep You in the Green
Spring is a time to dream about perfectly manicured lawns spreading in every direction around your association. But gorgeous grass doesn't always grow without help—and it's not always weed-free. Pesky plants like crabgrass and dandelions detract from the look of your HOA's landscaping scheme, and can exacerbate residents' allergies. But by following the right regimen for your grass, you can keep appearances by these and other weeds to a minimum. Read More
Landscape Design is a Group Effort
Spring is certainly the time to cast off the debris and damage left by the harsh winter months—it's time to take advantage of the warmer weather and cut and edge the grass, rev up the weed whackers, and hone the hedge clippers. For some properties, this quick spring cleanup may not be enough. Years of wear and tear may have left some properties with ailing azaleas and sad, scraggly trees that even Charlie Brown would have little sympathy for. To get the property back into pristine condition, it might be time to hire a professional for an extreme landscaping makeover. Read More
Repairing Winter Damage to HOA Grounds
Caring for the grounds in a condo association is something that needs to be done year-round—but when the harsh weather and cold temperatures of winter begin to fade, there's a lot of work to be done to get things prepared for spring. Read More
Protecting Your HOA from Poisonous Plants
Whether it's a Hoboken brownstone with just ten square feet of front yard or a sprawling 50-unit complex nestled in the Watchung hills, no condo association is complete without at least a little bit of colorful landscaping. Plants and flowers not only contribute to the lush aesthetic of a property, but also have a emotionally calming effect. Read More
Behind Buckley Management
In the business of property management, reputation is everything. One manager with a reputation for knowing the business is Jim Buckley. As the founder and owner of Cliffside Park-based Buckley Management, this one-time boarding house owner has built a successful business, managing more than 30 properties in Bergen and Hudson counties. Armed with over 25 years of experience with high-rise, high-rent properties, Buckley has created a niche for himself by applying those same management principles to smaller properties. It's the driving force behind Buckley Management, a company that has doubled in size in the last two years. Read More
New Jersey Market Review & Forecast
Condos and townhouses have continued to be popular real estate choices in New Jersey in 2005, and there is every indication that they will continue their popularity through 2006. Indeed, condos seem tailor-made for young couples just starting out—as well as older people who have already raised a family and who may not want the responsibility of maintaining an entire house and yard, yet want more security than a rental apartment. That's why condos are selling actively. Read More
The New Jersey Nursery & Landscape Association
For more than 90 years, the New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association (NJNLA) has been representing landscapers, landscaper designers, landscape maintenance contractors, retail garden centers, and wholesale production. Its mission is to protect the interest of these landscaping professionals, increase their knowledge of landscaping, and industry trends, and promote them as "stewards of the environment and providers of quality products and professional services." Read More
HOAs Must Review Members' Speech Limitations
From time to time, legal cases pass through the courts that have important, far-reaching implications for those of us living in or serving on the boards of our homeowners associations. These are precedent-setting cases that dictate changes in how boards and management run their buildings and associations. In December of 2000, just such a case was filed by the New Jersey ACLU (ACLU-NJ) on behalf of a group of homeowners in the Twin Rivers Homeowners' Association (TRHA) in East Windsor. Read More
