Eight things every new NYC apartment board member should do in their first 100 days in office - by Yotam Cohen

Most people join their board because they care. They’re volunteering nights and weekends to make their building safer, smarter, and friendlier. Those first 100 days are when that fresh energy can do the most good. Homeowners spend more than 60% of their lives inside their buildings, so every early decision — good or bad — echoes through bedrooms, hallways, and common spaces.

After working with hundreds of boards, I’ve seen that the most effective newcomers focus on eight moves during their first 100 days. While it’s the property manager’s job to handle operations, boards that are truly knowledgeable about their building and its standing are able to make smarter decisions and ask the right questions. 

1. Dive into the building’s financials

Financial health dictates what your board can tackle — today and years down the line. When cash flow is unpredictable or reserves are thin, even urgent repairs stall. Work with your property manager on the operating budget, debt obligations, reserve balance, delinquencies and upcoming capital needs. Understand how assessments are handled. Healthy reserves unlock better loan terms, keep monthly charges predictable, and protect property values. Once you grasp the numbers, you can plan with confidence instead of guessing.

2. Walk the building — and build rapport with the team. 

Financials tell one story. The building itself tells another. Have your super walk you through everything — basement to roof. Learn how the boiler, HVAC, elevators, and security systems work, and what breaks most often. Your staff knows where the problems hide and what fixes actually stick. That insight is gold. Understanding their employment setup — union status, wages, prevailing wage rules — also helps you budget realistically and manage projects effectively. Build these relationships early. They’ll make everything else easier.

3. Get your arms around compliance

New York City buildings operate under a dense web of regulations. Local Law 97, façade inspections, elevator recerts, gas-line checks — the list is long and always evolving. Ask your property manager for a compliance calendar, review inspection histories, and get familiar with upcoming deadlines. What’s in good shape? What needs attention in the next six to twelve months? Getting ahead of this protects your building from fines, surprises, and reactive scrambling. And it shows your neighbors that the board is focused and accountable.

4. Clarify board roles and response times

Nothing stalls progress like an endless email thread. Decide early who owns finance, projects, and resident communication — and how long members have to weigh in on routine votes (48 hours is plenty for most). Reserve emergency meetings for real emergencies. One of the most common reasons buildings get stuck is because boards take too long to make decisions — so get your regular meetings on the calendar now.

5. Define success for the building

Goals turn good intentions into a roadmap. Pick a handful of metrics that matter: reserve?fund percentage, average maintenance response time, resident?satisfaction score, energy?use reduction,and set targets for the year. Clear metrics keep everyone focused and make progress visible.

6. Align with your property manager

Boards set direction; property managers handle the execution. Share your goals, learn how your manager tracks work orders and vendor performance, and set a cadence for check?ins. If their systems can’t support your objectives, surface that gap now, not six months in.

7. Put reliable tools in place

Dashboards for finances, digital maintenance logs, shared project trackers: simple systems keep details from slipping through cracks. Choose tools everyone can access, no PhD required.

8. Keep owners in the loop

Transparency beats rumors every time. Send a brief monthly/quarterly update that covers wins, upcoming projects, and any asks of the community. Be honest about any challenges, financial strains, upcoming compliance work. Invite feedback and close the loop on open questions. When owners understand what’s going on they’re more likely to be on board with assessments, construction inconveniences and even be excited about the future of the building!

A stronger board, a stronger building

An aligned, informed, and proactive board does more than check boxes. It accelerates repairs, boosts resident satisfaction, and protects property values. Buildings run better, people stay longer, and communities thrive. Nail the first 100 days, and you’ll feel the difference every time you step through the lobby — and so will your neighbors.

Yotam Cohen is the co-founder and CEO of Daisy, New York, N.Y.