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

Find Members ready to help with Management, Business and Services for your properties.

Find Members ready to help with Management, Business and Services for your properties.

  • Posted: Nov 24, 2021
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Find Members ready to help with Management, Business and Services for your properties.

Property Maintenance is an integral part of managing the day to day operations for every type of property.

Search the Members Directory for Companies working with Property Management, Condo and HOA properties in Florida from Tallahassee to the Keys.


 

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Use Code till Dec 30, 2021 and save on your membership with SFPMA

Use the code below at signup/payment screen and your membership is set at 255.00.

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Inspection & Public Adjuster

Inspection Companies
Insurance Public Adjuster
Also See: Permit Services

Screening Tenants

Tenant Screening Services

Become a Member

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So Property Managers, Condo & HOA Board Members can find you!

 

Sika Day for Condo Restoration Nov 18, 2021 >Presentations on: concrete restoration, strengthening of concrete, and waterproofing.

Sika Day for Condo Restoration Nov 18, 2021 >Presentations on: concrete restoration, strengthening of concrete, and waterproofing.

  • Posted: Nov 16, 2021
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Sika Day for Condo Restoration Nov 18, 2021 >

Presentations on: concrete restoration, strengthening of concrete, and waterproofing.

Please join Sika Corporation for informative presentations on your buildings
Structural Engineering

Learn About: concrete restoration, strengthening of concrete, and waterproofing.

Date and time

Thu, November 18, 2021

9:00 AM – 2:00 PM EST

Location

Shula’s Hotel and Golf Club

6842 Main Street

Miami Lakes, FL 33014

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CONGRATS, you survived Hurricane Season…BUT did your ROOF?

CONGRATS, you survived Hurricane Season…BUT did your ROOF?

  • Posted: Nov 11, 2021
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CONGRATS, you survived Hurricane Season…BUT did your ROOF?

The 2021 Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOOA), this year is predicted to be another above-normal season.

The 2021 Hurricane season starts on June 1 but it’s never too early to prepare. Damage from a hurricane can be costly for all businesses and can pose hazards for you and your employees. Fortunately, there are ways that you can fortify your business against a hurricane to minimize losses and reduce risks for workers.

 

As part of “Planning Ahead” for a Disaster, the SBA encourages you to consider taking these simple steps to prepare: Assess your risk; Create a plan, Execute your plan. Statistics show that 25% of small businesses don’t re-open after a disaster. Visit the SBA’s Prepare for Emergencies website to learn more about how to prepare and recover if a disaster strikes.

NOOA officials also encourage consumers to take the following steps:

  • Visit Ready.gov and Listo.gov for useful and valuable disaster preparation resources including checklists and templates for your business and your home.
  • Download the FEMA app to sign-up for a variety of alerts and to access preparedness information.
  • Consider purchasing flood insurance.

Visit the National Hurricane Center’s website at hurricanes.gov throughout the season to stay current on watches and warnings.


Statewide Professionals ready to Handle Storm Damage & Claims for Condo and HOA Properties!

These Trusted Legal Firms, Public Adjusters, Roofing Engineering & Service Companies will work with you on Storm Related Damage.

Use the Form..Contact us Today!

 

Has your Condo or HOA Sustained Property Damage?

SFPMA has a team of Legal Experts, adjusters, estimators and claim specialists for the benefit of the Condo and HOA’s who sustained damage from the storms and fire, water or mold.

With the know-how and experience to analyze, evaluate, and negotiate the best settlement for your Insurance Claim!

“Get the maximum settlement for your damage claim!”

 

 

MyCommunitySite.com Powered by BeckerLawyers.com

MyCommunitySite.com Powered by BeckerLawyers.com

  • Posted: Nov 11, 2021
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MyCommunitySite.com Powered by BeckerLawyers.com

Join us for two distinct webinars designed to give you an inside look at how MyCommunitySite.com can help streamline operations for your association.

Busy season has arrived for community association professionals, meaning annual meeting preparations and important association votes are right around the corner. Are you ready?

Watch our Video to learn more.

 

Join us for an educational program to learn more about our state-of-the-art website development service MyCommunitySite.com. It’s a smart, easy, and fun tool designed to take the drudgery out of community association website management and put you in the driver’s seat.

Here’s what you will learn during the webinar:

  • Walk through of the MyCommunitySite.com dashboard
  • Tour other association websites that were designed via MyCommunitySite.com
  • ​Learn about flexible pricing options
  • Explore how to create different pages
  • ​Find out what documents you can upload, available settings, and general ways to take advantage of the program’s features
  • Participate in a Q&A with our customer support team to answer any questions you may have.

Click here to view upcoming MyCommunitySite.com webinars.

 

 

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Cohen Law Group is proud to once again support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s / Members Can you also help!

Cohen Law Group is proud to once again support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s / Members Can you also help!

  • Posted: Nov 11, 2021
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Cohen Law Group is proud to once again support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) mission to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families through our participation in the Central Florida Light The Night. Light The Night is LLS’s annual fundraising event and the nation’s night to pay tribute and bring hope to people battling cancer.
As you may already know, my daughter Madison is a blood cancer survivor. See her story by clicking on the video below.
Madison Cohen and Harvey Cohen share their touching story of survival and hope.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is an organization that I continue to support because I know first-hand that they are saving lives and I hope you can help us save lives as well.
Cohen Law Group has set an ambitious goal to raise $10,000 for the Central Florida Light The Night. We truly value the partnership that Cohen Law Group, has developed with you. We view you as a partner with Cohen Law Group in the effort to make our communities healthier.
I am asking you to please make a contribution to help us reach our goal.
I am confident that you will join us in stepping up to the challenge. Your tax-deductible contribution (LLS Federal Tax ID: 13-5644916) will greatly enhance these collective efforts. We also invite you to join Cohen Law Group at this year’s Light The Night virtual event on Friday, November 19.

Please join us in supporting an organization dedicated to saving and changing lives.

You can make a secure online donation by clicking on the link to our Team fundraising page

Click Here To Donate!

I look forward to your support of our efforts. Thank you and have a great day.

 

It’s more than a slogan, it’s our firm’s mantra. We are zealous in protecting your rights. We offer 24-hour availability through our answering service. Call us today.
(407) 478-4878
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Accept deliveries from any shipper, residents can collect packages 24/7. by Smart Entry Systems

Accept deliveries from any shipper, residents can collect packages 24/7. by Smart Entry Systems

  • Posted: Oct 22, 2021
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Accept deliveries from any shipper, residents can collect packages 24/7.

Mix and match from 9, 6, or 4 door models to suit your community.

Watch our Video

 

please check if your question is already covered by the below Frequently Asked Questions list:

  1. How many residence units can this system support?
    • Unlimited, our system is hosted in Google cloud with infinite expandability.
  2. How many buildings can this system support?
    • Unlimited, and no additional monthly fees are required for having multiple buildings.
  3. How many doors or gates can this system support?
    • Unlimited and no additional monthly fees are required for having multiple doors or gates.
  4. Do I get software upgrades when new features are released?
    • Yes, some new features will be free upgrades while other optional services can cost extra. Critical updates are pushed to the tablets automatically as they become available.
  5. How many residents can access the system?
    • We do not set any limit, but the average US household size is 2.2 including kids, so the total number of residents should be around 2.2 times the number of reported units. We may investigate properties with inconceivably high resident to unit ratios to make sure the number of units reported to us is correct.
  6. Do you sell the tablet, the wireless relay, the electric strike, the maglock, etc?
    • No, we do not sell ANY hardware directly as this system is based on an open platform concept using commonly available hardware components.  You can find direct purchase links to the various component suppliers on our Tutorial page. Please contact us if you would also like to be a supplier of ours.
  7. Can I use an iPad as the entrance tablet?
    • No, Android tablets are much more cost effective and comes in a much wider variety of models.
  8. Does each resident need to purchase any additional hardware to access the system?
    • No, they only need a smartphone (iOS or Android) and download our free app to receive video calls.  Non-smartphone and landline users will receive voice only calls and press *1 to open grant access.
  9. How does the resident or visitor open the door?
    • At the door, by entering their numberic access code or scanning their QR Code.
    • At the door, depending on the type of reader installed using one or more of the following credentials:
      • Touchless RFID credentials such as a key card, key fob, sticker.
      • Wireless credentials such as Bluetooth, NFC tags.
      • Biometric identifiers such as fingerprint, vein, retina.
      • There are many reader choices avaiable on the market and we support all of them that complies to the Wiegand standard.
    • When called by their visitor and is using a smartphone, by pressing the Open Door button on the app.
    • When called by their visitor and is NOT using a smartphone, by pressing *1 on their phone’s numeric keypad.
  10. Do you support both the iPhone and Android phones?
    • Yes, our free phone app is available for both iOS and Android devices.
  11. Which tablet do you recommend?
  12. How do I mount the tablet to the wall?
    • We have partnered with several enclosure makers to provide various tablet mounting enclosures. Please see our Tutorial page for more info. Please contact us if you would also like to be a supplier of ours.
  13. How do I prevent users from existing the tablet entry app?
    • The Android tablet is set to Kiosk mode, only our Entry App running on the foreground is accessible.
  14. How hot can the temperature get before the system shuts down?
    • The tablet manufacturers rated the tablet’s operating temperatures from 32F to 105F.  We have tested our system up to 115F but recommends adhering to the manufacturer’s suggested temperatures.  If the entry box will be directly exposed to the sun, you will need to install a hood to protect the box from overheating. Please see our Tutorial page for more info. Here is our High Temperature Testing Video 1 and High Temperature Testing Video 2.
    • For locations colder than 32F, a Thin Film Heater and a thermometer relay is required to prevent controller shutdown. Please see our Tutorial page for more info.
  15. How do I prevent theft and vandalism of the tablet?
    • You can use any Android tablet, some models are more vandal proof than others. You can also add tempered glass screen protectors to further protect the tablet. However, nothing can give you 100% protection to purposeful vandalism such as a swing from a baseball bat, this is also true for any other entry systems on the market. Our system allows you to replace a damaged tablet very quickly and inexpensively while replacement parts from other proprietary manufactured units can be very expensive and you must wait for a trained professional to replace the damaged parts, adding more costs and prolonged system downtime. Adding a surveillance camera system is a great way to deter vandalism.
  16. How do I manage the residents, entries, schedules and access rules?
    • The full functionality of the system is managed by accessing our cloud based Community Management Portal from anywhere with Internet.
  17. What is the HTML code to incorporate the Community Manager into my website for private labeling?
    • <iframe width=”1024″ height=”768″ frameborder=”0″ src=”https://manage.smartentrysystems.com”></iframe>
    • Here is a sample HTML file containing the code: Private Label
  18. What happens to the controller when the Internet goes down?
    • The ability for the tablet to make calls will be disabled, however, existing access codes, QR codes, cards and fobs will continue to work as usual. No updates to access codes, QR, codes, cards, fobs, schedules, and residents can be sent to the tablet by our cloud server until your Internet connection is restored.
  19. The $50 minimum monthly fee is still too much for my tiny project, can I get the system for free?
    • Yes, if your tiny project only requires a maximum of just 5 residents or less, the demo account is completely functional and 100% free to use. We hope that you will bring us larger projects in the future.
  20. Will you support Z-Wave®, ZigBee®, Wi-Fi®, Lutron® Clear Connect® based devices?
    • Possibly, this feature is under review and is being considered for future development.
  21. Can you add this special feature that I must have in order to sell this system to my customer?
    • Maybe, please contact us and describe your feature requirement below.

You can also email us directly at Info@SmartEntrySystems.com

 

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The Florida Bar task force said Florida Condo Associations Need Reserves in Place for Major Safety Repairs!

The Florida Bar task force said Florida Condo Associations Need Reserves in Place for Major Safety Repairs!

  • Posted: Oct 19, 2021
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The Florida Bar task force said Florida Condo Associations Need Reserves in Place for Major Safety Repairs!

 

Here are seven findings of the 179 page report of the Surfside task force:

1- The absence of uniform maintenance standards outside of boards should be established.

2- Efforts to make condo repairs of life safety issues should no longer require a full vote of the association membership.

3- Thorough and consistent inspections should be required.

4- Boards should be empowered to borrow money to pay for life safety repairs.

5- Local governments can no longer rely upon sovereign immunity to protect themselves from civil claims.

6- The Florida legislature can no longer raid the $4 door tax trust fund by diverting that money to the general fund.

7- Thirty percent of that money should go towards educating boards and owners about repairs to make buildings safe

 

 

A task force report prepared by a section of the Florida Bar recommended that lawmakers overhaul the state’s condominium laws following the Surfside building tragedy that killed 98 people, urging a process to address inspections and ensure proper reserves are in place to make major safety repairs, among other issues.

The task force was formed by The Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of the bar, convening lawyers who deal with condominium and association laws. Its purpose was to recommend ways to prevent future failures, not to investigate or place blame for the 12-story building collapse.

“The lack of uniform maintenance standards or protocols, and the unguided discretion given to boards of directors to determine when, how, and if life safety inspections should be performed, requires legislative intervention,” concluded the 179-page report that was released earlier this week.

 

Champlain Towers was 40 years old and in need of major repairs when it collapsed on June 24. It’s led to officials looking at the need to ensure other aging structures are safe. The task force said 912,376 Florida condo units housing more than 2 million people are at least 30 years old, including more than 105,000 older than 50 years and nearly 328,000 built between 40 and 50 years ago.

Overall, Florida has more than 1.5 million condo units operated by 27,599 condo associations, the report said.

 

Among recommendations are giving association boards the right to make special assessments for major repairs to protect resident safety without a full association vote. It also requires associations to build up reserves for such projects as recommended by engineers in order to be able to pay for repairs. Those would be in addition to accounts in place for routine maintenance.

While the report said the vast majority of condominium associations are operating in a reasonably safe manner, there needs to be more consistency with inspections and the information provided in them needs to be available to residents.

“Unit owners and boards may also resist such maintenance because of cost, lack of reserves, disruption and inconvenience,” the report said.

The report also recommended allowing condominium boards to borrow money to pay for life safety repairs so the cost could be spread out over years.

Local governments should also have a higher level of accountability for inspection reports, including stripping them of sovereign immunity protections, which limit civil claims against government agencies to $200,000.

 

“Condominium residents should be entitled to rely on the inspections and reports performed by or on behalf of local governments, and local governments should not be able to avoid responsibility for the content and conclusion of building inspection reports,” it said.

Current law has limitations on associations and unit owners to take civil action against developers for design and construction flaws. Those limitations should be lifted, the report said.

The state division that oversees condominium education and compliance is largely funded by a trust fund built on a $4 per unit fee. The task force recommends the Legislature not be able to “sweep” the trust fund for other state budget purposes.

It also recommends that 30 percent of the trust fund be used to educate association boards and residents about obligations to make repairs to ensure buildings are safe.

 

Thank You, for the Article:  MARY ELLEN CAGNASSOLA 

 

 

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“The Great Resignation: A New Idea for Keeping Employees On the Job,” Human Resources Executive by Becker

“The Great Resignation: A New Idea for Keeping Employees On the Job,” Human Resources Executive by Becker

  • Posted: Oct 16, 2021
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“The Great Resignation: A New Idea for Keeping Employees On the Job,” Human Resources Executive

Ned Bassen / Becker 

By now, it appears well-established that employers generally may require COVID-19 vaccines for employees returning to work and may ask employees physically entering the workplace if they have been diagnosed with or tested for COVID-19. Employers also may require employees to come to work post-pandemic for legitimate nondiscriminatory reasons.

With the return to work looming, while many employers are discussing a “hybrid” remote/in-office work combination future, some employers either want employees back to the office full-time or for larger periods of time than employees would like.

But, what are employers’ rights when employees, especially millennials, don’t want to come back to the office and want to instead continue working remotely for their organization?

Not everyone wants to return to the pre-pandemic, 9-5 office lifestyle.

How (and sometimes when) to bring employees back into the office is a vexing decision that employers are currently or soon to be facing, along with how to give employees flexibility.

One recent study found that a “whopping 58% of workers say they would “absolutely” look for a new job if they weren’t allowed to continue working remotely in their current position.

The U.S. Department of Labor has reported that workplace resignations set a 20-year record in April 2021, with 4 million employees quitting their jobs. The global employment website Monster has said that 95% of employees are considering changing their jobs. (Read more on that here.)

Resigning employment has now reached such a new high level that quitting work post-pandemic has been labeled “The Great Resignation of 2021.”

What should employers do to ease the burden from employee departures when there will be difficulty finding qualified replacements?

To view the complete article, please click here.


 

For over 45 years, Ned Bassen has honed his expertise in labor and employment law. He is well-versed in litigating on behalf of and counseling defense contractors, financial institutions, universities and other nonprofit institutions and representing individuals accused of wrongdoing in connection with employment. His defense in such matters has included bankruptcy, employment discrimination, unlawful competition, poaching, corporate raiding, misappropriation of trade secrets, non-competes and other restrictive covenants, false claims, employment defamation and arbitration in the U.S. and internationally.

To learn more about Ned, please click here.

 

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Exciting Fountain & Aeration Deal Won’t Last! Time is running out on our amazing offer… By SOLitude

Exciting Fountain & Aeration Deal Won’t Last! Time is running out on our amazing offer… By SOLitude

  • Posted: Oct 16, 2021
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Exciting Fountain & Aeration Deal Won’t Last!

Purchase a new fountain or aeration system and receive FREE installation services!

This is not the time to neglect your lake or pond. Achieving a balanced, beautiful waterbody requires year-round attention and, in some cases, aeration. Fountains and aeration systems can provide many benefits to lakes and ponds and are one of our most recommended management solutions.

Purchase your NEW fountain or aeration system today and receive FREE installation services (up to a $700 value). Don’t wait! Offer expires on Oct 31.

PURCHASE MY FOUNTAIN OR AERATION SYSTEM

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WE’RE BACK LIVE AND IN THE STUDIO, AND WE’RE BACK TEACHING LIVE. by Eric Glazer

WE’RE BACK LIVE AND IN THE STUDIO, AND WE’RE BACK TEACHING LIVE. by Eric Glazer

  • Posted: Oct 15, 2021
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WE’RE BACK LIVE AND IN THE STUDIO. AND WE’RE BACK TEACHING LIVE.

This weeks topics: 

THE IMPORTANCE OF A WEBSITE FOR YOUR ASSOCIATION

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS IN A NO PET COMMUNITY. WHAT IS AN ASSOCIATION TO DO?

 

TAKING YOUR CALLS ON WHATEVER TOPIC YOU NEED ANSWERS TO OR WHATEVER YOU NEED TO GET OFF YOUR CHEST.

WE WILL TAKE YOUR CALLS AND ANSWER YOUR CONDO AND HOA QUESTIONS THROUGHOUT THE HOUR. CALL US AT 877-850-8585 DURING THE SHOW.
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