Connected Management Blog

  Not all of us have the privilege of living in luxurious, contemporary condos overlooking the Lake Michigan, Millennium Park or the Magnificent Mile.  Most condominiums have comparatively modest aesthetics, and their settings are much less glamorous. However, there are many clear and affordable ways to enhance your condo building and make it modern, bright and welcoming.  Consider forming a beautification or decoration committee if it does not already exist within your association. This committee would be in charge of adorning common areas for events or holidays, depending on what the association allows. Furnishing lobbies and hallways with decorations during the...

It's 108 years in the making.  Last night, the Chicago Cubs won the 2016 World Series in cinematic fashion, defeating the Cleveland Indians in extra innings amidst a deluge of rain. City Hall announced today that the Cubs' victory parade would be held this Friday, 11/4, at 10 a.m. The parade is expected to start at Wrigley Field, ending with a rally in Grant Park. Millions of people are expected to descend on the city tomorrow, eager to participate in the festivities. But as the city has learned in the past, massive crowds tend to attract trouble. Here are some tips...

It's almost as if a new housing development is being built in Chicago every day.  Demand for rental housing in Chicago is the highest it has been in years, with DePaul's Institute of Housing Studies (IHS) reporting that rentals make up nearly 44 percent of all Cook County households, up from 38 percent in 2005.  Although renters of all ages and income levels have increased, the youth represent the largest renting demographic, as thousands of young professionals flock to the city's hippest areas. Many of these young people are exceptionally affluent. DePaul's IHS reports that the these professionals have incomes nearly...

  For some, the winter season means holidays, cozy nights by a warm fire and peaceful walks through gently falling snow. But it can also mean blizzards, bone-chilling temperatures and ice build-up that can wreak havoc on a building’s integrity. It’s an inevitable fact of living in the Upper Midwest: winter is coming. The maintenance duties of condo owners often vary across associations, but depending on your agreement, you may be responsible for many of these tasks.  Here are some tips to ensure your home survives the season: Before the worst of the cold weather comes through the area, make sure...

Illinois House Bill proposes mandatory payment plans for delinquent owners HB 4154 (Rep. Madigan and Rep. Kifowit) ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT OF DELINQUENT ASSESSMENTS. Overview of the bill This bill proposes the creation a new Sec. 1-47 of the Common Interest Community Association Act which would mandate that common interest communities of more than 14 units adopt “reasonable guidelines” for delinquent owners to pay regular and special assessments. The bill would require the association to adopt and record in the county recorder’s office guidelines for a payment plan. The payment plan would need to be a minimum of 3 months and not extend...