Category Archives: Fires, Explosions, & Accidents

Retired residents suffer under leadership of dysfunctional condo HOAs

Posted on by
Woman with head in hands abuse

By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Reports of HOA leaders making poor decisions just keep on coming. Today’s examples: a California board’s inaction leads to preventable accident; a Colorado HOA’s impulsive decision leaves residents in the cold; an Iowa condo board and its insurance contractors botch a post-fire reconstruction project.   California — HOA refused to remove dangerous tree. Then it destroyed the home of a retired Veteran and his wife. Beginning in 1996, Lela Continue ReadingRetired residents suffer under leadership of dysfunctional condo HOAs→

Cause of gas explosion at Heather Gardens still unknown (CO)

Posted on by
firefighter

By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities   Following 2 months of intense investigations, Aurora Fire officials still don’t know what caused a gas explosion at Heather Gardens retirement community on November 16th. The blast and gas-fed fire killed 82-year old resident, Carol Ross, injured 2 of her next door neighbors, and destroyed several homes. Heather Gardens HOA can now begin the long process of filing insurance claims, the first step toward cleaning up the rubble Continue ReadingCause of gas explosion at Heather Gardens still unknown (CO)→

You pay your condo HOA fees. Shouldn’t your home be safe?

Posted on by
safety-first-sign

By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Most residents of common interest developments and community associations expect their HOAs to faithfully provide important services they were promised when they moved into their home. But I’ve lost count of the number of homeowners and residents that reach out to me in frustration. They often tell me that their homeowners, condo, or co-op association is not keeping up with routine maintenance, and, even worse, their association is not Continue ReadingYou pay your condo HOA fees. Shouldn’t your home be safe?→

Time to improve fire safety for condo residents

Posted on by

By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities With multiple households living in close proximity, fire safety is more important than ever. But for more than a decade, the real estate industry has delayed action to improve fire safety for condo residents. Here it is, just halfway through the month of December, with  a half dozen reports of condominium fires. (See links below) While the cause of several of those recent fires is not yet known, careless Continue ReadingTime to improve fire safety for condo residents→