Connected Management Blog

Making renovations to your condominium association can be an exciting undertaking. When you envision the changes, it brings you joy! However, you cannot make all of the changes on your own if construction and remodeling is not your specialty. There are also restrictions and risks involved with a board member or unit owner directly performing repairs on a common element of a condo building. In most cases you will need to hire someone to complete the job for your association. When your board is ready to hire a contractor, take these 10 pointers into consideration. 1. Licensed, Bonded, Insured These...

Chicago is one of the United States’ largest cities, ranking third as of the 2010 census. New York and Los Angeles are the only two cities in the US with larger populations than Chicago. However, according to expatistan.com, the cost of living for Chicago ranks 11th in the nation, while New York ranks as the most expensive in 1st place, and Los Angeles ranks 7th. Not too terrible. On the cost of living index where, 100 is the national average, Chicago registers above that average at 112. That equates to Chicago’s cost of living being about 12% higher than the...

  With the arrival of spring comes the desire to make everything in your condominum fresh and clean. The sun is shining, flowers are blooming, but the insides of our units may feel gloomy. Before summer comes along, it is great to crack open your windows and deep clean your condo. Use this checklist to make sure you cover every nook and cranny in your spring cleaning frenzy. Spring Cleaning Notes: Always dust first. Dusting surfaces first allows for the dust to settle to the fllor before you sweep, vacuum and mop. If you have operable windows with screens, open...

Despite all of the beautiful things that Chicago is known for, its reputation for crime and gun violence precedes it. Each year, national news channels and websites report on weekly, monthly, and annual statistics of gun violence in Chicago, leaving the citizens of America flabbergasted. Violent crimes include gun violence and murder/homicide.  Here, we are breaking down the violence, where it happens, and how it affects Chicago real estate. Gun Violence There were 480 homicides in Chicago during 2015; a record high at the time. This record was immediately broken in 2016 where the city saw a 57% increase in...

  Chicago’s housing market took a plunge with the rest of the nation in 2006, and it has yet to fully recover.  2017 won’t see much of a change in that.  According to the Chicago Tribune, Chicago will be at the bottom of the list for the nation’s 100 largest metropolitan areas housing markets in 2017.  In 2016, average national home price levels returned to what they were before the 2006 crash, but Chicago remained 19% below the pre-crash values.  Despite this outlook, a slow and steady rise in home sales is projected to cause a favorable change towards a...