Become a Member: JOIN SFPMA TODAY   LogIn / Register: LOGIN/REGISTER

SFPMA Industry Articles | news, legal updates, events & education! 

Find Blog Articles for Florida’s Condo, HOA and the Management Industry. 

Members can now upload articles to our BLOG.

Members can now upload articles to our BLOG.

Our IT Team is adding the ability for members to write articles.

SFPMA BlogSFPMA has been asked “Can members write articles that can be published on our website” The answer is yes!

Write Articles, Upload them These will be set to the category you selected. We will use these and share them with our over 200,000+ subscribers and through other RSS web services we use for distribution in our industry. Start today sending articles. Let the industry know what you do? and new company news? Let us share them or you can click the social media sharing buttons and post these to your pages, Let others find these on your pages.

View our Blog Page: you will see   Members Submit your Articles  This is the form on the Front End that will allow you to write these and upload them.
We are still coding this and will have all features working properly, you can still send us articles via email, membership@sfpma.com

Thank You

SFPMA State of Florida Property Management Association.
SFPMA.COM

Tags: ,
Learn about hiring a professional management company

Learn about hiring a professional management company

  • Posted: Nov 06, 2023
  • By:
  • Comments: Comments Off on Learn about hiring a professional management company

Search management members working in, Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Single Family and Multi Family.

 

“We give investors and clients the information to make an informed decision about which property management company to use”

  • They learn about how hiring a professional management company helps them.
  • They find out what fees are associated with management.
  • They read and learn about maintenance issues and repairs for their property.
  • Other information including what questions to ask potential management companies. We know that with real estate comes non paying tenants, evictions fees, collecting rents, vacant units, inspections, contracts and leases, payment matters from tenants and your monthly money.

 

Search Management Members

Join and we will give you a florida list of over 3000 member companies to start you with marketing.

learn what to look for in a Property Management company, the benefits, the services they provide, how they collect fees, how repairs are addressed, laws & licensing.

 

Read and learn what our members can do to help you with the management of your buildings. Managing properties can become quickly overwhelming, even for experienced investors. There is always something going on that requires attention and it takes very little time for things to get out of hand. Hiring a Property Manager can provide an opportunity to regain control and restore stability to both your properties and possibly life in general.

We understand the importance having income real estate to you and your family. We are here to help you with the selection process for hiring the right company for the management of your buildings. Your Property Manager will make critical decisions on your behalf making it extremely important that you do your homework during the hiring process.

Ultimately, your decision to hire or not hire a property management company should hinge on whether or not it is a good fit with your lifestyle, and makes sense financially.  Individual investors will have to assess the opportunity cost of both options based on their unique circumstances.

Tags: , , ,
Good leadership and governance for Florida Board Members by SFPMA

Good leadership and governance for Florida Board Members by SFPMA

  • Posted: Oct 23, 2023
  • By:
  • Comments: Comments Off on Good leadership and governance for Florida Board Members by SFPMA

Good leadership and governance for Board Members

“Seven keys to a successful board meeting”

One of the fundamental challenges that far too many board members and boards have is that they don’t have a strong understanding of their roles and responsibilities.

It sounds basic, but one of the fundamental challenges that far too many board members and boards have is that they don’t have a strong understanding of their roles and responsibilities.

Boards, in general,  do well with more fundamental board members understanding responsibilities — understanding the organization’s mission and providing financial oversight. Conversely, they struggle most with external responsibilities, including fundraising, advocacy, and community-building and outreach. This lack of understanding of what is — and is not — a part of the board’s essential roles can lead to a whole host of dysfunctions, such as micromanagement, rogue decision-making, lack of engagement, and more.

Since it’s impossible to do a job well if you don’t know what the job is, all boards must take the time to ensure that every board member fully understands what’s expected and needed of him or her, and then hold all members accountable when they get off track.

This starts with an understanding of the fundamental legal duties of each individual board member, which include:

  • Duty of Care — Each board member has a legal responsibility to participate actively in making decisions on behalf of the organization and to exercise his or her best judgment while doing so.
  • Duty of Loyalty — Each board member must put the interests of the organization before their personal and professional interests when acting on behalf of the organization in a decision-making capacity. The organization’s needs come first.
  • Duty of Obedience — Board members bear the legal responsibility of ensuring that the organization complies with the applicable federal, state, and local laws and adheres to its mission.

 

Board meetings should be productive, efficient meetings where the board conducts business. Stop and think about that for a minute. Are your meetings productive and efficient? Does the board meet to conduct business or socialize? Are you getting the most out of your meetings?

We’ve put together seven keys to a successful board meeting. Following these suggestions can bring new life to your association and keep volunteers interested in helping.

 

1.- Board meetings should not last more than one hour. Start the meeting when it is scheduled to begin and get straight to business. If you collectively have the focus to get done in an hour you’ll be amazed with how much you can accomplish. If you have no time limit, the meeting will typically drag on and a lot of time will be wasted.

When time is wasted at a meeting then people are less likely to volunteer because they feel their time is wasted. One hour meetings have a major impact on volunteers. Associations that hold focused, one hour meetings have more people volunteer. It’s also important to note that those volunteers stay active the in the community for much longer. Length of your board meetings may seem like a trivial matter, but it really does have a large impact on how the volunteers of the association view the organization and, in turn, how they view their role.

 

2.- Make your meetings action oriented. Don’t just discuss issues, make decisions. Every item up for discussion should end in a vote to move forward in some way or table the issue with a clear understanding of why the item is being tabled and when it will be revisited. When taking action on an item make sure it is clear who will be responsible for getting that task completed. Ambiguity cripples a board.

 

3.- Board Meetings are for the board. They are not neighborhood meetings or social gatherings. The purpose of a board meeting is to conduct business, not see how many people you can get to attend. Some board members try to get as many people to attend as possible. This is missing the point. Homeowners are, of course, welcome to attend but it is not a membership meeting. The purpose of the board meeting is for the board to consider the affairs of the association, make business decisions, and then have a clear plan of action.

 

4.- Take time prior to the meeting to think about what you want to discuss. Inform the community manager of this one week prior to the meeting. This way your topics of discussion can be placed on the agenda which will allow the other board members and the community manager the opportunity to think about and/or research the item you want to talk about. When you don’t come prepared and spring things on the other board members or on the community manager this typically results in a lot of unnecessary discussion with additional research needed in order to make any kind of decision. Remember, be action oriented. By planning ahead you can make more decisions at the meeting instead of causing an item to be discussed twice and delayed for months.

 

5.- There are an odd number of board positions for a reason. You will not always see eye to eye. Don’t take it personal if the other members of the board disagree with you. This will occur and is healthy. While each board member should attempt to come to a consensus with the other members, you will not be able to achieve this each time. Countless hours are wasted by board members continuing to argue a point just to obtain “victory” on a certain issue or to avoid any vote that is not unanimous. This occurs because someone is taking it personal. If your view is not shared on an issue, take a vote, and move on. Do not hold a grudge. Recognize that you can disagree and still work well with each other.

6.- If you think you may have a conflict of interest do not vote on that issue. Let’s say a board member’s spouse is on a committee. If the board is making a decision on an issue related to that committee then the board member with the spouse on that committee should excuse him/herself.

 

7.- Most associations should hold quarterly meetings (unless your bylaws require more). Meeting more often than that becomes excessive and unnecessary. Remember you want to have focused, short, productive meetings. This keeps people interested in serving on the board and on committees. If the association is constantly meeting then people feel it is taking too much of their time and they will stop volunteering. It is important to note that you are required to comply with the minimum meeting requirement in your bylaws. Most association bylaws require no more than quarterly meetings, but check yours to be sure.

Tags: , ,
Managing Waste Webinar  Hosted by the Business Waste Assessments Section  Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023  11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Hosted on Zoom

Managing Waste Webinar Hosted by the Business Waste Assessments Section Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hosted on Zoom

Managing Waste Webinar

Hosted by the Business Waste Assessments Section

Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Hosted on Zoom – link available when you register.

Register for free today! 

 

The Department of Solid Waste is hosting a free solid and hazardous waste management webinar for property managers and waste haulers. Learn what your roles and responsibilities are for managing other people’s waste and wastes generated at your properties. You will have the opportunity to ask the Business Waste Assessments team questions. The webinar will give an overview of solid, hazardous and universal waste regulations and management practices including:

  • Waste determinations
  • Proper storage
  • Disposal options
  • Record keeping

Who should attend?

  • Anyone handling other people’s waste
  • Property managers
  • Manufactured housing management companies
  • Homeowners’ associations
  • Trash hauling and junk removal companies
  • Storage facility management companies

The webinar will not be recorded.

Resources

Use our Where Does It Go? Search Tool to help determine what wastes are hazardous and what to do with them. Find local resources for reuse, recycling and disposal. To be directed to the proper information, first select “For Businesses.”

Tags: ,
The Florida law (SB-919) known as the “Homeowners’ Association Bill of Rights” took effect on October 1st, 2023

The Florida law (SB-919) known as the “Homeowners’ Association Bill of Rights” took effect on October 1st, 2023

The Florida law known as the “Homeowners’ Association Bill of Rights” took effect on October 1st. 2023 (SB 919)

MIAMI – The Florida law known as the “Homeowners’ Association Bill of Rights” took effect on October 1st.

It revises the requirements for the governance and regulation of homeowners’ associations to:

  • Require all notices for homeowners’ association board meetings to specifically identify the agenda items for the meetings;
  • Revise the requirements for the association’s use of a member’s e-mail to send notices, including allowing a member to designate an address different than the property address for all required notices;
  • Require that, if a homeowners’ association collects a deposit from a member for any reason, including to pay for expenses that may be incurred as a result of construction on a member’s parcel or other reason for such deposit, such funds must not be co-mingled with any other association funds, the member may request an accounting of such funds, and the association must remit payment of unused funds within 30 days after completion;
  • Provide that an officer, director, or manager who accepts kickbacks is subject to monetary damages under s. 617.0834, F.S., relating to the conditions imposing civil liability on the officers and directors of corporations and associations not for profit;
  • Provide that an officer or director must be removed from office, and their access to official records denied, if charged with the crimes of forgery of a ballot envelope or voting certificate used in a homeowners’ association election, theft or embezzlement of association funds, destruction of or refusing to allow inspection of association records, if such records are accessible by association members, in furtherance of any crime; or obstruction of justice;
  • Require directors and officers of an association, including a developer-controlled association, to disclose specified activities which may pose a conflict of interest;
  • Clarify that a developer’s appointment of an officer or director does not create a presumption that the officer or director has a conflict of interest with regard to the performance of his or her official duties;
  • Revise the notice requirements for imposing and collecting fines, including providing members notice of how to cure a violation, if applicable; and
  • Provide criminal prohibitions related to fraudulent voting activities that are punishable as first degree misdemeanors, including preventing members from voting, and menacing, threatening, or using bribery to directly or indirectly influence or deter a member from voting

 

We are sure there will be more to come, as the State’s changes to the Law slimmed down the original Law and added to the original law.

SFPMA and Our Legal Members.  October 1, 2023

 

Tags: ,
Clear your schedule for this important networking and educational event! The Broward County Condo & HOA Expo is coming up Tuesday, October 10th, at the Signature Grand

Clear your schedule for this important networking and educational event! The Broward County Condo & HOA Expo is coming up Tuesday, October 10th, at the Signature Grand

Clear your schedule for this important networking and educational event! The Broward County Condo & HOA Expo is coming up Tuesday, October 10th, at the Signature Grand, conveniently located just off I-595. If you haven’t already, be sure to complete your FREE REGISTRATION today.

This is an event you can’t afford to miss! In a single day, you’ll get the tools, information, and contacts you need to gear up for your property’s busy season:

  • Learn and get FREE CEU’s from 12 different seminars and courses covering today’s essential management topics, including Board Certification and Legal Update (But hurry – Seats fill up fast)!
  • Get advice from experts in law, security, property management, tax, accounting, and more.
  • Browse the newest products and services.
  • FREE PARKING! Attendees park for free in the Signature Grand’s surface lot surrounding the facility. Parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis – we strongly suggest carpooling if available.
  • FREE LUNCH! As a Community Association Manager, Board Member, Board President, or active HOA member, use promo code CLEAR when registering in the next 10 days and receive free lunch at the expo!

We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, October 10th, at the Broward County Condo & HOA Expo!

Search our upcoming events find other Expos in October 2023

 

 

Tags: , , ,
Exciting News! We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our brand-new website at Jansen Shutters & Specialties!

Exciting News! We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our brand-new website at Jansen Shutters & Specialties!

Exciting News! We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our brand-new website at Jansen Shutters & Specialties!

Discover a world of hurricane protection solutions and outdoor living products that enhance your lifestyle and protect what matters most.
🌐 Explore our user-friendly website to:
✅ Browse our comprehensive product range
✅ Learn about our “Made in America” quality
✅ Learn more about the Jansen family values
✅ Get expert advice for your unique needs
Your peace of mind is priceless, and we’re here to make sure you find the perfect solutions for your home or business.
💻 Visit us at www.JansenShutters.com today and experience the difference of working with a family-owned business that cares about you.
Thank you for choosing Jansen Shutters & Specialties. Your safety and satisfaction are our top priorities.
Find us on the members directory on the State of Florida Property Management Association.
(SFPMA com)
JANSEN SHUTTERS & WINDOWS
341 SAND PINE BLVD,
VENICE, FL, 34292,
941 484 4700
PHIL@JANSENSHUTTERS.COM
Tags: , ,
Attn Members Summer is almost over, Its time to send us your articles we can republish.

Attn Members Summer is almost over, Its time to send us your articles we can republish.

  • Posted: Aug 09, 2023
  • By:
  • Comments: Comments Off on Attn Members Summer is almost over, Its time to send us your articles we can republish.

This Summer there were only a handful of Member Companies that were sending us industry articles. We republish the articles you send to SFPMA and they go out to over 236,000 email addresses we send to.  What this means for your company is, through your membership you can get more eyes on your articles, promotions, sales and products. 

Social Media is only one part of your marketing,  If you are posting only on SM how many eyes are viewing your information? One of our goals is to get the word out about our members, let the Managers and Boards learn from you the experts – we feel when they have a problem they know who to call for help.

 

We are bringing thousands of Managers and Boards to SFPMA, below are some of the areas they are searching.


Florida Condo Building Inspections (SB4d)

http://FLBuildingInspections.com  (a division of SFPMA)

Find everything you need to know about Florida Building Inspections SB-4D,  Our members will contact you for an inspection of your Condo or CoOp.

The State of Florida Property Management Association with Legal & Engineering Members are here to help you understand the new laws and how to take the correct action now to ensure you are in full compliance.


STORM DAMAGE CLAIMS FOR YOUR CONDO AND HOA PROPERTIES!

These Trusted Members are; Legal Firms, Public Adjusters, Roofing Engineering & Service Companies that work with you on Solutions to Storm Related Damage.

http://FloridaAdjusting.com – A division of SFPMA


 

Find Top Service, Business and Management Companies for your Condo & HOA Properties in Florida from Tallahassee to the Keys.

Full Directory of over 72 Categories packed with companies all over Florida, where boards and managers can find the top companies. 


 

6 Community Association Management Trends to Watch in 2023

6 Community Association Management Trends to Watch in 2023

  • Posted: Aug 09, 2023
  • By:
  • Comments: Comments Off on 6 Community Association Management Trends to Watch in 2023

Interesting research on the community association industry. Especially, given that seventy-eight percent of new homes for sale are located in community associations. There are 358,000 associations across the country, and it’s estimated that 5,000 more will be formed in 2023. Here presented are six trends that CAMs and boards are likely to see, including the absence of new board members. However, I think it is less to do with apathy than before Surfside and more to do with risk associated with a voluntary, unpaid, thankless job.


As part of our cross communications with other groups we are posting this for our industry – SFPMA

 

Wondering what 2023 holds for the community association management industry?

We were, too. That’s why Buildium asked 240 community association managers and board members about the challenges and opportunities they foresee for the industry this year.

They told us the community association sector is more popular than ever among developers, residents, and management companies—but there are several key challenges that community association managers and leaders need to address head-on, so they continue to thrive.

From shortages of team members, vendors, and volunteers to increasing competition among management firms, here are the six trends community association management companies should be aware of in 2023.

 

1. Staffing is a top priority as the labor shortage continues to strain teams’ resources.

Smaller community association management companies are competing with larger companies and developers for full-time team members and high-quality contractors, leading to higher staffing costs and smaller teams.

According to Buildium’s research, this is a leading challenge for the 85% of companies that plan to expand their portfolios throughout 2023 and 2024, prompting community association management companies to name staffing as their second-highest priority for the coming year.

 

2. Efficiency is a primary area of focus as teams search for ways to do more with less. 

Technology is the X factor that allows community association management teams to take on more clients, even as their teams remain smaller than in the past. Streamlining processes like payments, communications, and accounting frees up time for the most impactful areas of the business, such as customer service and business development.

More than half of community association management companies told Buildium that leveraging technology to drive efficiency is a key aspect of their revenue generation strategy for 2023.

 

3. Competition for clients highlights the importance of high-quality customer service.

The Foundation for Community Association Research estimates there are 8,000 to 9,000 community association management companies in the U.S. In certain areas, smaller companies feel they’re being edged out by larger firms that can charge less for their service due to economies of scale.

Association board members told us they can feel the difference between customer service that’s personalized to their needs, and service that’s one-size-fits-all. This is where smaller companies have a competitive edge.

 

4. New development means new potential clients for community association managers.

Seventy-eight percent of new homes for sale are located in community associations. There are 358,000 associations across the country, and it’s estimated that 5,000 more will be formed in 2023.

This creates new opportunities for 88% of community association management companies that plan to recruit new clients over the next two years, with growth named as companies’ third-highest priority for 2023, according to Buildium’s survey.

 

5. Profitability is a challenge as companies balance the pressure to increase prices with the need to stay competitive.

Inflation has increased the cost of running associations across the board, from materials and labor (on the management side) to insurance and taxes (on the association side). Association boards are feeling the strain of pulling together sufficient reserves and funding for capital projects without raising dues or requiring special assessments.

Association management companies are under pressure to keep prices low to stay competitive—but 70% of companies feel it’s necessary to raise prices to cover their costs in 2023 and 2024. Our research found 43% of companies plan to expand the services they provide, potentially opening new revenue streams.

 

6. Community associations are struggling to recruit engaged, knowledgeable board members.

According to Buildium’s research, 38% of association board members said finding the people and resources necessary to keep their community running as a primary source of stress in 2023.

Current board members—80% of whom are 60 and older—feel frustrated with the lack of participation from newer homeowners; and boards that experience frequent turnover struggle to find members who have the knowledge to make important decisions for the community.

Overall, association boards and management companies feel more involvement in the community from homeowners is needed, in addition to greater awareness of their responsibilities as residents of an association.

These are some of the challenges and opportunities that association managers and leaders will face in 2023. For a deeper dive into 2023 community association management trends, download our 13-page report, which shares additional data and quotes from real community association management professionals and board members. Download your free copy now.

Tags: , ,
Communication is the key to everything and we make sure our clients and their tenants are up-to-date and informed on everything throughout the project duration

Communication is the key to everything and we make sure our clients and their tenants are up-to-date and informed on everything throughout the project duration

  • Posted: Jun 30, 2023
  • By:
  • Comments: Comments Off on Communication is the key to everything and we make sure our clients and their tenants are up-to-date and informed on everything throughout the project duration

Communication is the key to everything and we make sure our clients and their tenants are up-to-date and informed on everything throughout the project duration.

Emails and daily reports are sent to the client and representatives every day.


South Florida Commercial Roofing Contractor

PSI Roofing provides premium services and products by educating our clients and creating trust, respect and satisfaction while forming long-lasting relationships.

Emergency Roof Repair

PSI provides 24/7 emergency leak repair service with a 4 hour maximum emergency response time. We are qualified to make repairs to any type of roof and are approved to complete warranty repairs.

Roof Replacement

Are you looking for a commercial roofing contractor in Florida? PSI Roofing is a South Florida roofing contractor whose philosophy is to install the best roof possible in every situation.

Roof Maintenance

Regular maintenance on your commercial roof can save time and headache longterm. PSI Roofing’s maintenance program locks in your cost and provides a watertight leak free guarantee.

Asset Management

Our Roof Assets Management services include regular maintenance, custom replacement options, work history reports, annual budget summaries, warranty tracking and inspections.

Restorations

We specialize in restoring commercial properties damaged by wind, fire and other disasters. We offer all of the needed assistance to complete your building restoration and get back in business.

Waterproofing

Extend the life of your roof by having PSI install a waterproofing and coating system. These waterproofing solutions can also be installed on parking decks, masonry and exterior walls.

Contact us for your roofing Needs!

Tags: , , ,
New laws on structural integrity reserve studies – Episode 58 – CondoCRAZE&HOA’s

New laws on structural integrity reserve studies – Episode 58 – CondoCRAZE&HOA’s

Eric Glazer, attorney at law and co-host Karen Curtis present a forum for Board members and owners to tell their side of the story. The show randomly has guest speakers who are experts on the daily problems associations encounter. All issues that our associations encounter each day are proper topics for discussion.