Tina Larsson
Tina Larsson is the co-founder of The Folson Group, New York City's leading co-op and condo consultancy. A prominent speaker on proactive co-op/condo leadership and ESG matters, Tina is the author of Living the High Life: How Smart Co-op and Condo Owners Protect Themselves and Their Investment. In addition to two decades experience as a business analyst and investment advisor, Tina holds a BS and MBA from Pace University and a LEED Green Associate designation. Her mission is to make NYC safer, more sustainable, and more affordable.
Posts by Tina Larsson:
If possible and there are enough board seats open, run as part of a group. This maximizes the chance of having a majority of board votes once you’re elected and being able to get things done.
Speak with neighbors and find those who have the same wishes for the building’s future. If your building needs a new elevator, for example, reach out to neighbors on the top floors who likely feel the same way. See if any would be willing to run for the board so that the elevator can finally be replaced.
The cost of property management services primarily depends on the size of your building: Brownstone walk-ups with a part-time super have different needs than a 20-story fully staffed doorman building.
Co-ops and condos need to comply with a seemingly ever-expanding number of regulations. Many of these are geared toward making aging infrastructure safe for residents and passers-by, while a new crop of ambitious legislation aims to drastically reduce carbon emissions across the city's housing stock.
Here are the major energy and infrastructure regulations that your building may need to comply with along with some signs that you may not be in compliance, and a general sense of the costs your building may incur.
Local Law 33 (LL33) requires that all buildings over 25,000 square feet post their energy efficiency scores near the building entrance. An energy efficiency score is the Energy Star rating that a building earns using the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) online benchmarking tool, Energy Star Portfolio Manager, to compare building energy performance to similar buildings in similar climates.
The letter grade ranges are as follows:
Financial professionals play a vital role in ensuring the financial stability and effective management your co-ops or condo. These include CPAs and auditors who handle tax filings and financial audits, to property management firms responsible for bookkeeping and budgeting, to specialized financial experts hired to address specific concerns or challenges.
A public adjuster is a professional who is trained to assess and evaluate damage from a disaster and to determine the cost of repairs or replacements. They assist your co-op or condo board to understand your insurance policy and what is covered. They also assist with the claims process, often negotiating a higher payout than your building would receive on an uncontested claim.
Here are some of the benefits of engaging an adjuster after a disaster:
