Dianne Ackerman

Ms. Demeanor explains her strategy for getting on the board of a New York City co--op building.

Ms. Demeanor sets a tenant straight about what can be done about cooking odors that waft into a common hallway.

Ms. Demeanor addresses a query from a co-op owner concerned about a neighbor subletting an apartment for over a year. While some NYC building may allow a one- or two-year lease, others may allow them forever. How sublets are handled are part of your proprietary lease and each building has different rules.

If you haven't lived in a tiny NYC apartment, then you don't understand the panic that comes when someone presents you with a gift that you have absolutely no room for. Ms. Demeanor coaches someone who recently downsized to a small NYC apartment on what to tell generous suburban friends and family.

Ms. Demeanor advises an old school print newspaper reader on what to do when the paper goes missing and signs point to a neighbor.

Her contractor told her it would take three to four weeks to renovate the bath in her NYC co-op, but it took two months and plenty of aggravation.