Condo Association Management Blog

Depends. In almost every case they can not. Please check Illinois condo act and by laws. I am vp of our condo association in PA and we do not make owners buy from specific vender... just as long as they look like they should per bylaws.

As long as the windows are the same as all the windows in the building, they cannot mandate where you purchase. If they are insisting that you use a certain vendor, then my guess is because they're getting a kick back for referrals, based on my own experiences

The board has seen and approved the appearance of this vendors windows, its preapproved for your convienience. Nobody is getting a kick back. It is intended to streamline the approval process. 
 
 
 
Dont be misled, most window companies are very close in price to be considered. Its a tight market.  
 
 
 
Look for low e glass for upgrading to help reduce your heating bill. 
 
 
 
Best wishes

Had a similar issue in a townhome community except for garage door. "Their vendor" was charging $2500 for a 'Carriage House' look, single car door that was not insulated. I found a vendor to produce a look alike door, totally insulated for $1,600. They TRIED to make me buy from their source. I bought from mine. Since installed, no one has said a word. AND I've been elected to the BOD and I was not even running. (I'm an investor.)

PS I'm in Florida and our door was required to be up to Hurricane Code in some areas. Mine is... theirs was NOT!

There certainly is a difference in pricing, and there can be kick backs. My husband was a builder, we were offered money to send customers to companies. Also our son does windows. The companies you see doing commercials for windows on tv in the Detroit area were unbelievely higher priced than what our son would charge. There is a difference in prices for sure. Check your prices.

There are 54 condos where I live and the board told "only me" that I had to purchase my windows from their vendor and use their handyman to install them. Because I used a well-known home improvement company, they placed fines on me. These board members think they are well within their rights to treat people this way.

I live in Florida & waiting 2-wks for approval for my windows(2). I don't like the slider in liv-rm & have opted for double-hung. I also would like to know if their is a time limit for them to reply to my approval. I haven't seen anything in the bylaws/docs specifically to windows. I asked mgmt. for that & never got a reply. A neighbor told me that they only need to call and they don't have to have a meeting. So why such a long wait?

Windows are a tough subject. Peter Spencer (above) mentions the insurance angle. Boards must adhere to the insurance rules because ultimately the safety of the building and the rate at which insurance may be obtained is dependent on the type of windows installled in the building. Spencer mentions the one bad egg out of fifty problem. In addition, there is the esthetic problem. If there are fifty clear windows and one owner decides to use green glass the appearance of the who condo is affected. (actually happened in my condo--took almost a year, but finally they were changed at the owner's expense. The window installer took no responsibility and got away with it.)