Article Courtesy of  The Miami Herald

By DONNA GEHRKE-WHITE

Published March 5, 2006

Animosity and old grudges can get in the way of owners working together to keep condos well maintained.

Trouble usually starts when the talking stops, says Florida's assistant condo ombudsman, Bill Raphan.

At board meetings, owners needs to respectfully tell board members what repairs they believe are needed. Or they need to just as politely explain why they don't want to spend the money.

Boards need to listen and then communicate what they see as their buildings' priorities. They may agree that work is needed, say, on the pool deck but explain to owners that the building's painting must come first, Raphan says.

''You have to have the proper balance,'' he says. What you don't want is a "scream fest.''