We've compiled a list of some Frequently Asked Questions below. If you can't find the question/answer you are looking for on this page, select Search - we'll search the entire site for you. If you'd like to ask your own question, click LINK TO ASK A QUESTION and we'll get back to you with an answer.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS IN SUBJECT ALPHABETICAL ORDER
ASSESSMENTS - What is my annual assessment?
ASSESSMENTS - How is the amount of my annual assessment determined?
ASSESSMENTS - Will my annual assessment go up?
ASSESSMENTS - What happens if I don't pay my annual assessment or any assessment?
BICYCLES - Is there any rule against bringing bicycles to the units?
COMMITTEES - If I want to serve on a committee, how do I find out what committees are active and how I can get involved?
COMMUNITY RM - How does one reserve the community room?
CONTRACTORS - What are the rules governing contractors working in units?
CONSTRUCTION - What are construction hours?
CONSTRUCTION - What types of construction do I have to get approved?
CONSTRUCTION - Where are the boundaries of my unit?
DEFINITION - What is a condominium association?
DEFINITION - What is the Declaration?
DEFINITION - What are the Bylaws?
DEFINITION - What is the Board of Directors?
EMERGENCIES - What constitutes an emergency at the Apollin�?
EMERGENCIES - Do I have to allow entry into my unit during an emergency?
FEES - What are the different fees charged at the Apollin�?
FINES - Why does the Board feel it necessary to assess fines?
INSURANCE - If the building has a leak in the common area that damages things in my unit are they covered?
MAINTENANCE - How do I submit a Maintenance Request?
MAINTENANCE - Do I have to allow the Maintenance Man in my unit for repairs?
MAINTENANCE - Are there any hidden items in my unit that I would be responsible for?
MEETINGS - Are Board Meetings open to all residents? If so, where and when are they held?
MOVE IN/OUT - What has to happen to move into or out of the building?
PARKING - Is there any parking in the building?
PETS - Are pets allowed at The Apollin�?
RULES - Are there any other rules?
SELLING - How do I sell my unit?
SELLING - How do I get resale documents?
STORAGE - Is there any storage in the building?
TRASH - Where do I dispose of trash?
VIOLATIONS - If I am having a problem with a neighbor for a violation of the Policies and Guidelines, what can I do?
WATER LEAKS - Who is responsible for water leaks in the building?
ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS IN SUBJECT ALPHA ORDER
ASSESSMENTS - What is my annual assessment?
The annual assessment is the amount due from each homeowner to cover the operating expenses of the common area and provide for reserve funds for replacement of common facilities in future years. This is a yearly amount that the Association then splits up into twelve equal monthly payments. Your annual assessments are due on the first of the month. A coupon book is sent to each owner just before the beginning of the fiscal year (January 1 - December 31)
ASSESSMENTS - How is the amount of my annual assessment determined?
Each year the Board of Directors approves a budget that, as accurately as possible, estimates the expenses for the following year. Management uses prior history and current contract amounts to estimate such things as utilities, landscaping, administration, etc. Reserve funds are monies set aside for future expenses based upon the expected life expectancy of certain items such as boilers, air conditioning chillers, lobby furniture, carpet, etc. The total amount of expected expenses are then multiplied by the percentage of ownership for each unit and parking space resulting in the annual assessment amount. This number is then divided by twelve to acquire the monthly amount.
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ASSESSMENTS - Will my annual assessment go up?
The annual assessment is based upon the yearly expenses of the community and the estimated expenses related to capital expenses predicated by historical data on failure rates of similar machines and gear. Depending on the services provided and the associated expenses thereof the annual assessments could be increased by the Board of Directors at any time. Obviously, it is in their best interest to try and minimize the impact of these increases to the membership when possible. The Board of Directors may approve an increased budget, increasing your assessment in order to cover any increased costs of operating and maintaining the common area and insuring there are sufficient reserve funds.
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ASSESSMENTS - What happens if I don't pay my annual assessment or any assessment?
The maintenance and management services provided by the Association are dependent upon timely receipt of the assessments due from each homeowner. Late payments (after the 10 day grace period) will result in a late charge as assessments are due on the first of the month and are technically late any time after that. In addition, the bylaws allow the Association to charge late charges and interest and proceed with a lien on your property, or foreclosure proceeding for nonpayment of assessments.
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BICYCLES - Is there any rule against bringing bicycles to the units?
No, there is no rule against taking a bicycle to a unit but there are rules on the path one takes to the units. The bicycles must enter the building through the bike door near the New Hampshire garage entrance or through the loading dock door from the back parking lot and must only be transported in the freight elevator. One would need a clicker for the "O" Street gate for the loading dock door entry.
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COMMITTEES - If I want to serve on a committee, how do I find out what committees are active and how I can get involved?
Please use the Management Request form under Management Office to inform the Association of your desire to serve on a committee.
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COMMUNITY RM - How does one reserve the community room?
Call the Management Office to find out if it is available on the day you would like. Pay $50 in check, cashier's check, or money order for the rental of the room and another $100 for the deposit on the room. The deposit will be returned upon an inspection of the room. It must be neat and clean with no tape residue on any part of the room.
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CONTRACTORS - What are the rules governing contractors working in units?
The contractor rules/guidelines are detailed in another place on this web-site. Here is a link to the Construction Rules.
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CONSTRUCTION - What are construction hours?
Please see Construction Rules in the Construction Guidelines folder on this web site for more information on construction. Construction hours are from 8:30 AM.-6:00 PM. Monday - Friday and 11:00 AM. - 6:00 PM. Saturday. NO NOISE PRODUCING CONSTRUCTION IS ALLOWED ON SUNDAYS AND HOLIDAYS.
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CONSTRUCTION - What types of construction do I have to get approved?
As a general rule anything that would include demolition of a wall or portion of a unit must be approved. In essence, if you are only painting and replacing cabinets with newer cabinets in the same place as the originals are located then approval is not needed. If you are removing a wall or any portion of a wall then approval must be obtained and at this point in time the General Manager can approve these types of renovation. If the wall has electric wires in it or plumbing lines then the Board would have to approve it. Please see Construction Rules in the Construction Guidelines folder on this web site for more information on construction.
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CONSTRUCTION - Where are the boundaries of my unit?
This is a complicated answer that is answered best in the Declaration. Please see the Governing Documents folder or use the link to acquire the right answer.
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DEFINITION - What is a condominium association?
It is a non-profit entity registered with the State (District of Columbia) and managed by a duly elected Board of Directors. Its purpose is to maintain all common areas and to govern the community in accordance with the provision of the legal documents: Declaration, Bylaws, and House Rules. The governing legal documents for the association may be viewed online within the Resource Center page of this site. The entity is financially supported by all members of the condominium association. Membership is both automatic and mandatory upon the purchase of a unit or parking space.
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DEFINITION - What is the Declaration?
The Declaration is the governing legal document that sets up the guidelines for the existence of and the operation of the condominium as a non-profit entity. The Declaration was recorded by the City recorder's office in the District of Columbia and is included in the resale documents that were received upon the purchase of your property. Failure to abide by the Declaration may result in a fine to a homeowner by the Association. The Declaration may be viewed online within the Resource Center page of this site.
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DEFINITION - What are the Bylaws?
The Bylaws are the guidelines for the operation of the non-profit entity. The Bylaws define the duties of the various offices of the Board of Directors, the terms of the Directors, the membership's voting rights, and required meetings and notices of meetings, as well as other specific items that are necessary to run the Association as a business. The Bylaws for the association may be viewed online within the Resource Center page of this site.
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DEFINITION - What is the Board of Directors?
The Homeowner's Association again is an entity and according to it's bylaws must have a governing body that is required to oversee its business. The Board of Directors is elected by the homeowners, or as otherwise specified in the bylaws. The limitation and restrictions of the powers of the Board of Directors is outlined in the Association governing documents found within the Resource Center page of this site.
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EMERGENCIES - What constitutes an emergency at the Apollin�?
An emergency is any situation that is building or life threatening. A slow leak that can be contained until the next working day is not, by definition, an emergency. A slow leak that is doing continuing damage is an emergency. Remembering that you left the stove on, when you're on a flight to Denver, is an emergency. As you can see it sometimes depends on the circumstances so if you are in doubt, call the Front Desk and have them call and ask the Manager.
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EMERGENCIES - Do I have to allow entry into my unit during an emergency?
YES, IMMEDIATE ENTRY. The bylaws are very clear on this point, entry by anyone the Board or Management designates may enter your unit immediately to stop the emergency. This is to protect the lives, property and funds (condo fees) of everyone in the condominium. Management does not like entering other peoples' homes but unfortunately this type of employment and the situations that arise requires it. In addition, any resident that denies entry, or postpones it, could be held financially responsible for the increase in damage caused by the delay.
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FEES - What are the different fees charged at the Apollin�?
There are two types of fees charged - user fees and penalty fees.
USER FEES
Registration fee - $200 as of Sept. 1, 2004.
Deposit for front door key - $50
Clicker deposit - $20
Community room rental - $50 deposit and $100 for use. Deposit returned
if room is clean upon inspection after event.
Maintenance Services Program - as per current list.
|
Violation |
Penalty |
|
Violating "no pet" rule |
$100 for first violation, assessment doubled for each subsequent violation. |
|
Not having emergency key on file |
$50 initially, $10 a day commencing 14 days after initial notification |
|
Refusing access for annual inspection |
$100 |
|
Bringing glass or other breakable object to the roof |
$100 per violation |
|
Breaking glass or other breakable object while on the roof |
$400 (the cost for draining and refilling the pool) |
|
Other violations, include, but are not limited to:
- Bringing a bicycle through the lobby
- Leaving items on floor of trash room
- Performing construction outside of permitted hours
- Violating any other pool rules
- not paying registration fee within 10 days of move in
- not submitting lease within 10 days of move in
- not submitting lease addendum within 10 days of move in
|
$50 per violation |
FINES - Why does the Board feel it necessary to assess fines?
One of the negative sides of managing a property is insuring that the rules of the Association are being followed. Unfortunately, in every community, there are a few people who feel that the rules are for others and don't apply to them. This is why we have to institute rules and fines for breaking them.
INSURANCE - Who handles the insurance for the building?
The Manougian Insurance Agency at 301-588-6585 is the agent for the building insurance. Currently there is a $5000 deductible on the insurance policy and we recommend, to anyone getting insurance, having their agent speak with the Apolliné agent. This is to insure that all the bases are covered in the case of a claim.
INSURANCE - If the building has a leak in the common area that damages things in my unit are they covered?
NO! The building insurance only covers the building, NO PERSONAL BELONGINGS. In fact, the building insurance only covers the cost of putting the units back like they were in 1980 when they were purchased from the developer. What this means is that when you get insurance, any upgrades to your unit whether done by you or a previous owner must be included in your policy to be covered. Many would ask the obvious question -- Why don't they cover it all? There are two reasons: 1.) Because in a large catastrophic event where all is destroyed they would not have any way of knowing who had the $45/sq. ft. Italian marble floor and who did not. 2.) To cover an unknown amount of personal belongings they would have to charge such a high premium only Saudi Arabian Sheiks could afford the condominium fee we would have to charge.
MAINTENANCE - How do I submit a Maintenance Request?
The Maintenance Request forms are at the Front Desk. Just fill one out and the Maintenance Man will do his best to finish the work within a maximum of two to three days depending on the workload in the building.
MAINTENANCE - Do I have to allow the Maintenance Man in my unit for repairs?
If the repair is a unit owner responsibility, no! You can hire whomever you like to repair the fixtures and appliances in your unit. If the repair is the Association's responsibility then you do have to allow the Maintenance Man in you unit to effect that particular repair. In this case the bylaws do allow you to coordinate with the office a time, during the Maintenance Man's hours, to effect the repair. In the case of an emergency the bylaws allows immediate entry by anyone the Board or Management designates to stop the emergency.
MAINTENANCE - Are there any hidden items in my unit that I would be responsible for?
Yes. There are six that come to mind immediately.
TOILET WAX RING - located under the toilet this is the seal between the toilet and the toilet flange that is attached to the plumbing drain line in the floor under the toilet. This wax ring should be replaced any time the toilet is removed and about every 10 - 15 years because they dry out and leak.
TUB SHUTOFF VALVES - located behind the escutcheons on the hot and cold tub faucets. These can leak but rarely do.
TUB DRAIN GASKET - located under the tub drain, which once again, rarely leaks.
TUB OVERFLOW GASKET - located inside the tub overflow. This overflow gasket will leak if not replaced every 10-15 years. This gasket is made of spongy rubber and over time it gets hard and allows water that is entering the overflow to run down the outside of the tub and drip to the ceiling below.
CONVECTOR DRAIN PAN - located inside the convector there is a primary drain pan (the large one) and a secondary drain pan (the small 7"x7" one). These pans could be working fine one day and the exit hole could clog up the next day due to some debris from the coil.
DISHWASHER HOOKUP LINE - located under the dishwasher behind the front panel. These can develop a slow leak that becomes apparent when the kitchen floor is wet.
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MEETINGS - Are Board Meetings open to all residents? If so, where and when are they held?
Yes. Notice of the time and place of any regular board meeting will be noted in the bulletin boards, or accessed online on the Calendar page.
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MOVE IN/OUT - What has to happen to move into or out of the building?
On a move into the building, if you are a renter, you must insure that your owner submitted a copy of the lease, lease addendum and a registration fee to the Management Office. These items are supposed to be turned in to the office prior to moving in. Be sure there is a copy of the Resident Manual in the unit or get one from your owner and familiarize yourself with the condominium rules. Call the Management Office to schedule a day and time (between the hours of 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM) to move in. If you are an owner call the Management Office to schedule a move-in time. For all move outs all you need to do is call the Management Office to schedule the time. There are no fees for moving out.
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PARKING - Is there any parking in the building?
The developer created 62 parking spaces in a building with 221 residential units and 19 commercial units. There are not any public or guest spaces in the building. Periodically a space will come up for rent and it is usually advertised on the laundry room bulletin board. top of page
PETS - Are pets allowed at The Apolliné?
No. Although it is permissible to have an aquarium that holds no more than 40 gallons when full with fish in it.
RULES - Are there any other rules?
The Apolliné has developed a Resident Manual that outlines the house rules. These rules are adopted and passed by the Board of Directors according to the powers given them by the bylaws. Rules are established to provide direction to the homeowners for common courtesies with regard to parking, vehicles, noise, pool use hours, etc.
These rules and guidelines are set up to maintain the aesthetic value and integrity of the community on behalf of all owners, and hopefully protect the market value of your investment as well. Violations of these rules may result in action by the Board of Directors and a fine. In addition, if you proceed with an interior change in your unit, without written approval of the Board of Directors, as applicable, you could be required to remove or correct the alteration and/or be fined for the violation. For more information about this topic visit the Resource Center page of this site and look for Construction Guidelines.
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SELLING - How do I sell my unit?
Whether you have an agent or not a set of resale documents will be necessary and they can be obtained from Armstrong Management Services, Inc. at 703-385-1133. The cost is $250. After a price has been established we have a box at the front desk and a place on this web-site where you can advertise the unit. When a buyer is found the buyers lender may require several things (home inspection of unit, termite inspection, title insurance, etc.) prior to lending the money for the purchase.
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SELLING - How do I get resale documents?
Call Armstrong Management Services, Inc. at 703-385-1133. Currently the cost of these documents is $250.
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STORAGE - Is there any storage in the building?
Yes. The building has 21 storages cages at different sizes and cost. If interested, please call the management office for more information.
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TRASH - Where do I dispose of trash?
There is a trash room on each floor except for the basement. The compactor room is in the basement and any bagged trash or boxes can be placed in the hallway of the basement in the compactor room area. The trash rooms on each floor have a trash chute and recycling bins for paper and glass/plastic. The recycling is commingled, where glass, metal and plastic are combined together in one bin. There is also a bin for newspaper. Any boxes should be collapsed and placed in the basement for disposal - NOT IN THE TRASH ROOMS ON THE FLOORS. All trash to be disposed of in the trash chute must be bagged. Large items such as furniture or construction debris must be removed from the building by a third party. Our trash contractor charges a lot of money to remove bulk items so we recommend that you hire someone to do this.
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VIOLATIONS - If I am having a problem with a neighbor for a violation of the Policies and Guidelines, what can I do?
If residents cannot resolve a situation between themselves, then turn to your Association. Should you have a situation that does not appear to be resolved through neighborly means, and you are willing to actively participate in the enforcement provided by the Rules in the Resident Manual, you may complete a Covenant Violation form online. The Violation form may be found within the Management Office page on this site. If the situation is deemed in violation of the rules, the Board of Directors has authorized Management to institute the enforcement policy. Your continued assistance may be required.
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WATER LEAKS - Who is responsible for water leaks in the building?
This depends on where the water leak comes from. If it is a pinhole leak in a pipe in the wall, typically, the Association takes on the responsibility of repair in this type of case.
If it is a leak caused by some form of negligence then the unit owner would be responsible for the first $5,000 of it (We have a $5,000 deductible on the building insurance policy). Example - Unit owner hires contractor to do work in their bathroom. The toilet supply line is disconnected and the shutoff valve leaks to the floor and into the unit below. The unit owner would be responsible for all the damage BEWARE TENANTS - A tenant would be responsible for the entire bill for damage caused by any negligence (ONLY THE OWNERS WOULD HAVE A $5,000 CAP DUE TO THE BUILDING INSURANCE). The building insurance also does not cover any personal belongings.
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