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Tags: Florida Rising Magazine, Management News
by: SOLitude Lake Management | Mar 26, 2019
Written by Industry Expert Gavin Ferris, Ecologist
A few years back in the spring, residents of South Hampton, NH found six dead deer in a suburban lot. Several biologists and a game warden then investigated the site and found six more. The deer had not been shot or killed by predators, nor had they starved or died of exposure. They had been fed to death. With their stomachs and digestive systems used to their winter diet of woody browse, a sudden bounty of corn from a well-meaning human can be a shock to the system, in this case resulting in fatal enterotoxemia.
This example is dramatic, perhaps even extreme, but it illustrates the potential consequences of feeding wildlife. Certainly, not every animal that gets fed by a human will inevitably suffer a gruesome and untimely death. All the same, it usually isn’t good for the wildlife, it might not be good for the aquatic environment or its human inhabitants, and in the vicinity of a lake or pond it can be extremely bad for the water. It is perfectly natural, even admirable, for people to want to help the wildlife that they share their surroundings with. Unfortunately, there are several major consequences to feeding wildlife that make anything more than a backyard bird feeder quite unhealthy for all involved.
The foods we provide to wildlife are not the foods they are adapted to eat. Corn, bread and other grain-based foods are high in carbohydrates, which few natural foods are. Wildlife that eat these foods may become unhealthy as a result of taking in too many carbohydrates in a short time, or it may interfere with their ability to process the rest of their more natural diet. Some aquatic animals, such as pond turtles, may become reliant on food provided by humans. As a result, they may stop eating aquatic plants and decaying matter, which can negatively affect the balance of the ecosystem.
The feeds provided by humans to wildlife also generally amount to junk food, and can cause excessive weight gain. This is particularly true of waterfowl in areas where bread feeding is popular. In addition to the direct effect on their health, this weight gain can inhibit migration, and affect their long-term fitness.
Access to feeding sites also alters animal behavior. Animals that are typically dispersed over a wide area in order to find food will instead congregate near the food source. This increased population density makes disease transmission more likely. It also goes against the natural territoriality present in many species, and the inevitable altercations may result in injuries or even death. Higher densities of animals also equates to higher densities of those animals’ parasites. In the case of deer this means ticks, including the deer ticks that transmit Lyme disease, and the dog ticks and lone star ticks that transmit a number of other pathogens.
The feeding of waterfowl, in particular, has an additional environmental impact, as the practice affects nutrient levels in lakes and ponds. Whether from bread that is missed by the ducks and geese being fed, or from their resulting droppings, feeding waterfowl can be a significant source of excess pond nutrients. As an undergraduate, I was involved in a study of Pymatuning Reservoir, a man-made lake located on the border of Pennsylvania and Ohio. We found that people feeding bread to the carp and waterfowl that congregate by the spillway was the largest single source of phosphorus going into the reservoir. Excess phosphorus is the leading cause of algae blooms and, ultimately, fish kills in freshwater ponds and lakes.
It is perfectly natural to want to help the wildlife that shares your environment, and I encourage you to do so. You can provide food for wildlife by planting native plantsthat support the food chain. You can provide habitat by leaving areas unmowed to provide cover, and by installing nest boxes and bat boxes. In short, the better your efforts to aid the wildlife in your community mimic the resources that animals would make use of under natural conditions, the more successful they will be.
https://www.solitudelakemanagement.com/blog/lake-management-dont-feed-the-wildlife
Tags: Management News, Members Articles
The FLORIDA RISING MAGAZINE by SFPMA We publish this monthly and send to our subscribers, members and clients all over Florida. Utilizing social media we post many featured pages and highlighted articles giving our advertisers a larger audience reading the magazine. It is important to us to inform our industry and the decision makers of companies being used in the management industry today. Published for the State of Florida’s Condo HOA & Property Management Industry.
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Tags: Florida Rising Magazine, Management News, Members Articles, SFPMA Social Media
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We’ve received accolades for our service in delivering the best the industry has to offer in patio furniture, pool and beach furniture, sofas and chairs, and tables; we also provide quality accessories such as cabanas, umbrellas, and custom cushions to complement your outdoor area. Ask about our custom furniture restoration service for limited budgets.
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Tags: Building Maintenance, Condo and HOA Budgets, Condo and HOA Common Area Issues, Management News, Pool and Spa Articles
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We want to thank all of the members and Advertisers who support our efforts in bringing information to the many property managers, board members and industry professionals who read and subscribe each month to our publication. Our March Edition gets sent to over 75,000 of our Management, Condo and HOA Members as well as sending this to all Social Media Pages and subscribers all over Florida. We ask members to write articles we can publish, you help us help you!, along with any article written by you we like to ask if you would like to place an Ad. We can offer you some of the best prices. Contact us: membership@sfpma.com for more information.
In this issue: Our Cover was sent to us by Service One Miami – Sam Turpin. Sam heads One Lifestyle Management in Miami, Florida. They are a Service for Cleaning and Repair Services Mainly working in Fisher Island and Miami. He is out daily visiting properties and capturing some of the best photos of Miami. You can find out more about what they offer on Page 38 in this edition.
Articles written by many of the leaders in our industry; WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES – THE NEED FOR STRICT COMPLIANCE WITH FINING NOTICE REQUIREMENTS
by Jeff Rembaum /KBR Legal, DIRECTORS ARE IN THE CROSS HAIRS YET AGAIN by Eric Glazer, Esq. of Glazer & Sachs P.A., Selecting the right Cable TV and Broadband Vendor.
by Brian J. Rader President | Upstream Network, Lake Management SOLitude Nanobubbles. by Bo Burns, Biologist at SOLitude Lake Management, Outdoor Lighting Upgrades can Yield Huge Cost Savings By: Jessica Vail & Tayler Young, The Falcon Group, In House or Contract Security- That is the Question by Trident Ground Protection (Security for your buildings) CONDO & HOA COLLECTIONS… How to formulate a Uniform Collection Policy by Mitch Drummer of ALEXA Collections, Cleaning and Maintenance Procedures for Aluminum Patio Furniture by XHIBITZ Contract Furnishing.
We also wish to Thank: SubCarrier Communications – RoofTop Management, Any Building should have their roof top evaluated for placement of antennas, Maus Law Firm – When you need representation for Personal Injury Claims, Accident or Damage to your Person or Building. Brite LED Lighting – Leading the way in LED Technology with financing solutions for your buildings retrofit projects. Alex Manganiello, owner of Chuck’s Painting Inc. Servicing the South Florida area since 1979. Say’s “I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to bid on any upcoming painting projects you may have”. One of our New Companies: Lighting of Tomorrow LOT – Read April Edition about how they are changing the Lighting industry in South Florida. (Products and completed installs).
Top Member Products;
ALL-ACCESS – New Condensate Float Switches For A/C Drip Lines: This new inexpensive product provides extra protection against flooding caused by clogged A/C drain lines and allows the drain line to be cleared & maintained easily. Buy them and install them on all of your A/C’s in your Buildings.
Commercial Fitness Products- has been a leading supplier of commercial fitness equipment for over 30 years. We have developed a high level of expertise in equipping all types of facilities.
Spotless Roof Solutions- is an Award Winning product that helps Homeowners, Communities, & Contractors eliminate the need for repeated Roof Cleaning. We Make Roof Cleaning OBSOLETE!
And all of the other Advertisers in the Florida Rising Magazine.
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For this reason, many HOA and COA boards simply table the discussion, putting it off for a better, more convenient, time in the future. However, outdated policies and governing documents often make it hard for community managers to move forward when change is necessary, and would ultimately benefit the full membership. While, the actual rewording of existing covenants, bylaws and ancillary documents is a task for legal teams.
If you association’s CC&Rs and bylaws have not been reviewed for five years, or more, it is time to request a legal review to ensure your documents comply with current statutes and laws. Older documents may not address modern communication options like emailing, texting and owners’ portal. Also, there have been important changes that will improve an association’s ability to collect delinquent assessments that can be negatively impacted by outdated governing documents. If your documents have not been updated, then due to the safe harbor law and joint and several liability, back owed association dues may not roll over if the house is sold. The documents can be re-written to include language that mentions if the house has past due assessments when sold, then the new owners can be held liable for these payments.
When considering whether to ask your attorney to look for inconsistencies in condominium planning or subdivision maps, you may also want to ask the legal team to review the original articles of incorporation and other policies that cover code restrictions and financial reporting. It is imperative that the board keeps these written policies up-to-date to prevent ambiguities and confusion for directors and the membership.
There are several key tasks that association leaders must assume responsibility for during a review. For example, the board is responsible for notifying homeowners about the upcoming review, and gaining the appropriate level of voting support before implementing any changes to documents.
To elevate the chances of gaining acceptance from your homeowners to proposed amendments, the board needs to make a strong effort to keep the membership informed throughout the process. It is a good idea to appoint a committee to oversee the process and act as “points of contact” for stakeholders who have questions. The committee members may also solicit feedback from members via telephone, email or face-to-face contact.
There is another, efficient, less burdensome way to solicit support, especially if one reason for the review is that your association plans to modify fee, assessment and debt collection documents. Partnering with a full-service, industry-specific organization that intimately understands HOA, COA and time-share business models helps ensure that your communication is always compliant. Axiom Resources professionals work closely with community associations to develop collection strategies aligned with all federal, state and local statutes, laws and restrictions. In the role of industry mentor, key personnel help directors and board members design communication policies that benefit homeowners, while protecting community assets.
Leveraging the power behind years of experience in the community association industry, HOA and COA boards can address bad debt and potential debt challenges before problems escalate to the point that homeowners and association management become frustrated.
Using An Association Attorney that provides services supported by industry professionals who understand the nuances and regulatory challenges associated with covenanted community management. Please visit our Members Directory on SFPMA or call today to discuss ways our team can help you navigate the document review process and implement stronger debt management solutions that benefit homeowners and the association.
Tags: Condo and HOA, Condo and HOA Developer Issues, Management News
Companies like AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint continue to explore options to meet their wireless customer demands, and part of this search includes the construction of new cell sites across the United States. Cell sites come many sizes, from a traditional tower that is big enough to climb, to an antenna that sits hidden on a rooftop, only seen by those flying over.
Cell phone usage has skyrocketed to the point of near saturation in the US. According to Pew Research Center, 95% of adults have a cell phone & a growing share of Americans now use smartphones as their primary means of online access at home. In 2016, wireless subscribers’ connections hit 377.9 million, with over $1.4 trillion (yep, trillion with a “t”) having been invested globally in the last 18 years. This is BIG business & there are opportunities for landowners to capitalize.
The opportunity an HOA can capitalize on is negotiating a cell tower lease agreement that ensures consistent rent for years, often decades, to come. There are certain pros and cons that an HOA or Condo Association must ponder if a cell tower company or wireless carrier approaches them about putting a tower on their property.
Tags: Condo Reserves, Financial & Business
Good maintenance and repairs keep tenants happy and preserve the value of your investment which make them a very important part of land-lording. By hiring a management firm you gain access to both their in-house maintenance staff, as well as their network of licensed, bonded and insured contractors who have already been vetted for good pricing and quality work. This can translate into significant savings compared to going through the yellow pages and hiring a handyman yourself.
*South Florida Property Management Association has our own Vendor & Business Member directories these members directly aid our Management members giving them cost savings for any work needed in the buildings they manage. This savings means savings for the building owners.
Preventative maintenance is achieved through putting systems in place that catch and deal with maintenance and repair issues early on, before they grow into larger more costly problems. This requires a written maintenance check program, detailed maintenance documentation and regular maintenance visits. The management firm can also offer you suggestions and feedback on upgrades and modifications, both how they will affect the rent you can charge, as well as their impact on maintenance and insurance.
[/accordion-item] [accordion-item title=”Services that Property Managers provide”]The following is a list of the tasks a Manager commonly perform for owners. You may only need some of these services, and the Management companies you interview may offer more or less than what is listed here.
A software solution should be in place here. You want to find a manager with a system that does not allow maintenance requests to fall through the cracks and require multiple tenant requests before the work is done. Ideally, tenants should be able to submit maintenance requests online. ( Add the Page of all PM, Landlord Software )
Make sure its someone qualified to handle the problem. The last thing you want is an answering machine or someone saying you will have to wait till Monday to get your or your tenants issue resolved.
Preventative maintenance is the mechanism a manager uses to maintain the value of your property and avoid letting small issues become larger more expensive problems down the road. This involves things like a predefined maintenance and inspection schedule as well as promptly addressing known issues. This of course assumes owners are willing to make the necessary repairs when they come up. Slum lords may balk, but successful real estate investors know that when you’re in for the long haul you have to engage in sustainable practices that maximize property values, not short-term practices that delay (and multiply) costs.
If the answer is yes, are they covered by workers compensation and are they licensed, bonded and insured? Additionally are they available 24/7/365 for emergencies? As a member of SFPMA we have a full listing of vendors & business members on our directories for them to choose from.
Do the contractors carry workers compensation and are they licensed, bonded and insured? Does the management company oversee the contractors’ work for quality, code compliance and cost effectiveness? Some owners like to take the extra step of researching the primary vendors that will be used to make sure there are no red flags. All SFPMA members are checked making sure they have the proper licenses and insurance a requirement for membership.
Make sure they have an established policy here. Anytime contractors and maintenance personnel are entering occupied units there is potential for trouble if the situation is not handled carefully.
This adds accountability and transparency to the billing process. You don’t want to work with a management company that is unwilling to provide solid documentation of where your money is going.
Tenants perform inferior quality work, and their lack of insurance coverage, liability or workers compensation could leave you liable in the event of an accident or injury. Why take the risk of having them accidentally fall off a roof or ladder, electrocute themselves, or flood your home? If they don’t allow tenant repairs, make sure this is written into the rental agreement. If you are comfortable allowing them, at least have the tenant sign a waiver and agree that the repairs must be approved by the manager.
This is also inviting trouble, and the rental agreement should prohibit this. In some cases written into a single family home lease some repairs are included in the rental agreement, Find out if there are any agreement such as this. Check to make sure this is not considered a liability hazard although providing these services eliminates the issue of tenant neglect and can improve tenant satisfaction which helps with retention.
The property should get the usual cleaning, paint job, re-keying, etc. but this is also a good time to consider strategic improvements that will maximize your rental revenue. You want to find a property manager that will proactively offer this kind of feedback on an as needed basis. Obviously the quicker the turnaround time, the better.
Tags: Condo and HOA, Finding a Property Manager, Florida Licensing, Management News
In no way have these dynamics become more evident than in 2018. Collectively, property managers represent many of the most successful and influential firms across the Florida, with some even having a State wide presence. A major factor for these firms was diversity across sectors. Due to the focused nature of the multi-family industry, apartment managers have many new properties in today’s market. What we sought to do with this month’s Investors Edition this was to determine where primary leadership was emerging and to identify those firms that had the right sense of growth, leases in place and management teams that are the standard in their market sectors. We were impressed by the number of owners that have shown growth in the past years under what would be described ideal circumstances. We focus our editions on the office, industrial, retail, mixed-use, vacation, and hospitality, and some miscellaneous uses. Not surprisingly, all but a small number of property management firms exhibited experience and capabilities with at least two of the sectors and more than a third of our members are active in three or more.
In this competitive environment, many of the managers were confronted with rapidly changing market demand and found the need to recruit, hire, train and provide an orientation to the industry so that they could remain competitive. Indeed, our list of the top property management firms represents the best in their sectors and showed that by improving occupancy rates. On a period-to-period measure, from 2010 through year-end 2017, occupancy increased for all of the firms, with those likely attributable to portfolio changes (another kind of challenge). The gains were substantial, with all firms approaching the mid-90 percent range. We believe that leaders rise during both positive and negative market events. Our evaluation of occupancy changes, changes in leases, square footage under management and other factors all suggest that acquisitions with strong management practices will continue to show growth into 2020.
The Ranking of Property Management Firms utilized self-reported property characteristics for all firms. We measured square footage, number of leases, number and size of properties under management, property operations owned or managed participation in property sectors, sustainability practices and other factors. Preference was given to those firms that had strong fundamental growth and provided services to more than one sector. The overall size of the firm and the number of square feet figured in the rankings, and ultimately the firms were selected taking into account all of the submitted member information.
FIND TOP PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANIES IN FLORIDA: https://SFPMA.COM
Tags: Management News
While so cliché these days, hosting a tacky sweater party is a great way for residents to break the ice and start mingling with each other. The ugly holiday sweater that was once popular in the 80s is making a big come back, and residents can easily find this festive attire online or come up with their own creations. Encourage residents to channel their inner-tackiness by offering prizes for the ugliest sweaters. If hosting the party at your neighborhood clubhouse, you can spruce up your community amenities for the event with bright-colored lights, oversized holiday inflatables, and tinsel-filled trees.
Round up your neighbors to meet at the community clubhouse for hot chocolate (and perhaps a seasonal adult beverage) and holiday cookies. Once everyone arrives, head out for an evening of holiday caroling. Having several copies of sheet music on hand will be beneficial for the group. It’s also helpful if you notify neighbors ahead of time that you will be caroling in the community to ensure that you will have an audience.
There’s a very good chance that residents in your community have been to a wine tasting party, but what about a beer tasting party? Craft beer is on the rise, and it seems as though there are new breweries popping up in Florida every day. Encourage your guests to make an unbiased vote on their favorite beers by concealing the beverages in brown paper bags. As the evening comes to an end, make a toast and reveal the winning beers.
A cookie exchange is a classic holiday party and provides guests with an opportunity to load up on a diverse selection of festive cookies. Ask each guest to bring two dozen cookies and copies of the recipe to trade at the party. You can choose to either ask guests to bring a separate container to collect the cookies or provide containers for the guests.
While snow is a rare site in Florida, you can still get into the holiday spirit by hosting a winter wonderland party. Choose food and beverages that correspond with the snowy theme, such as marshmallows for roasting, snow cones, cheese fondue, and a white party punch. Decorate your community amenities with an abundance of white string lights, and take the ambiance up a notch by renting a snow machine.
As you begin to plan the holiday party for your HOA community, take these five suggestions into consideration to throw a party that is sure to be a crowd pleaser.
Tags: Association Members Articles, Condo and HOA, Condo and HOA Board of Directors, Management News
by Enrolled Agent Steven J. Weil, Ph.D., EA, LCAM, president, Royale Management Services, Inc.
We know that the first thing most owners think when they receive a violation notice is that they are being targeted and that the board or management is out to get them. Nothing could be further from the truth. The board is charged by the governing documents with oversight of association operations along with protecting the property value and enforcing the rules.
Violation notices are not personal or targeted. They are simply the means by which the association lets owners know about rule violations and gives them a chance to correct a problem. Violation notices can be generated by a manager’s observations, board observations and even from observations by fellow owners. While you may feel as though you are the only one to receive a violation notice, this is generally not the case. The truth is that most of the violation notices can be easily remedied by simply fixing the problem or complying with the rule and letting management know the problem has been resolved.
We are often asked why we sent a violation notice instead of simply knocking on the door or calling. There are several reasons we send written notices. The first is that while it’s easy to misinterpret what is said, and it can often turn into “he said/ she said,” a written notice clarifies what is being said and assures that there is a written record. The second is that it’s inappropriate and unsafe in this day and age for association employees, managers and/or board members to confront owners in person. The purpose of a violation is to get the problems corrected and maintain community standards while protecting the safety and quiet enjoyment of all unit owners.
The board and management know that rules can sometimes be complex, and it’s easy to make a mistake and violate the rule or misunderstand the governing documents. No one enjoys sending violation notices, and we all know that it’s upsetting to get a violation notice; but in truth correcting the problem and letting management know that you have taken action is all that is required to relegate it to history.
Tags: Association Members Articles, community association management, Condo and HOA, Condo and HOA Board of Directors, Management News, violation notices
SFPMA works throughout the State of Florida, we are a multi-member organization for the Condo, HOA and Property Management industry. Through knowledge based Articles, Events and our Members Directory, Clients find the right information to make an informed decisions for their Florida properties.