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

Playing The HOA – A Continuing Study in Audacity (Part II) by Axela Tech.

Playing The HOA – A Continuing Study in Audacity (Part II) by Axela Tech.

  • Posted: Oct 22, 2023
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🏡✨ Calling all condo residents and property managers! 📣

Have you ever wondered how the fate of an entire community can change in the blink of an eye?

Chinese investors purchased properties in a condominium, sparking hope and excitement. However, the developer defaulted on agreements, pushing the property into financial turmoil. 📉💼

What made matters even more complex was that at least 75% of the units were owned by foreign investors residing in China, where they had no idea they owed any maintenance fees!

The delinquency rate became a looming problem for the entire community.

Our latest blog discusses how Axela stepped in to help a struggling condo get back on track with its delinquencies.

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Why Autumn Is a Pivotal Time for Your Waterbody – Summer may be over, but that doesn’t mean you should neglect your lake or pond! Check out these fall maintenance tips

Why Autumn Is a Pivotal Time for Your Waterbody – Summer may be over, but that doesn’t mean you should neglect your lake or pond! Check out these fall maintenance tips

  • Posted: Oct 21, 2023
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Should You Implement Lake and Pond Maintenance Services In the Fall?

As the transitional period between the summer and winter seasons, Autumn is a pivotal time to reflect on the challenges that your waterbody faced during the warmer months and contemplate your goals for the future. Autumn also provides an optimal window to implement maintenance services and water quality testing strategies that will help set your aquatic ecosystem up for success in the coming year.

 

Set Your Lake Up for Success This Fall

Autumn is a time of transition and no doubt, your waterbody will experience changes that manifest when spring and summer return. But stakeholders can shape these outcomes through an integrated management program that’s thoughtfully tailored to their unique property and budget. As the warmer months come to an end, an Aquatic Specialist can help property stakeholders assess the health and physical condition of their waterbodies and strategize a clear path to achieve their goals for the following year.

 


 

Address Aquatic Weeds & Muck with Mechanical Solutions

Weeds and pond algae are some of the most common problems that plague aquatic ecosystems during the warmer months. Though property owners and managers may be happy to see them disappear late in the season, the die-off of terrestrial and aquatic plants can impact the physical and chemical composition of the water, creating problems that seemingly lie dormant until warm weather returns. Mechanical harvesting and hydro-raking can be used to physically remove floating and submersed plants to prevent accumulation and muck development at the bottom.


Target Decomposing Pond Plants with Natural Biological Bacteria

Physical removal of pond weeds is effective, but plant fragments often remain. Biological bacteria play an essential role in the decomposition of remaining organic materials. They are found naturally in lakes and ponds, but can also be supplemented through a process called biological augmentation. These beneficial bacteria are aerobic, which means they require oxygen to carry out their metabolic processes.

 


Maintain Healthy Dissolved Oxygen Levels with Fountains & Aerators

But as the days grow shorter and cooler, dissolved oxygen (DO) can become depleted, reducing the efficiency of this process. Introducing floating aeration equipment or a submersed aerator can help maintain balanced DO levels, which facilitates decomposition and curbs the accumulation of nutrient-rich muck over the winter months. For stakeholders that already own a fountain or aerator, Autumn is an appropriate time to have units inspected and repaired to help prolong the performance of the equipment.

 


 

Balance Lake Nutrient Levels and Enhance Water Quality

Nutrients like phosphorus are an underlying cause of nuisance pond weed and algae growth. Phosphorus is naturally occurring in the water but is also transported by sources like lawn fertilizers, pet waste, trash, and agricultural runoff. Autumn is a good time to take action against nutrient imbalances and prevent explosive weeds and algae when the spring season arrives. If water quality tests reveal elevated phosphorus levels, products like Phoslock¹, Alum, and EutroSORB² can help target excess nutrients in waterbodies of all shapes, sizes, and uses. A professional can recommend the best solution based on the characteristics of your waterbody

 


Read the Full Article includes a larger list of services for your Lakes. 

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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.”

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Webinar: RSVP for next week’s ‘Association Leadership’: Open Forum Q&A KBR and Castle Group

Webinar: RSVP for next week’s ‘Association Leadership’: Open Forum Q&A KBR and Castle Group

  • Posted: Oct 16, 2023
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Webinar will be moderated by Craig Vaughan, Castle Group CFO. He will be joined by Jeffrey A. Rembaum, Esq. Attorney and Board Certified Specialist in Condominium and Planned Development Law, and Attorney Alan Schwartzseid, Esq. with Kaye Bender Rembaum, P.L.
Wednesday, October 18 2023 | 12 Noon to 1:00pm Est.
Presented by Castle Group | Season 5, Episode 1 of ‘Association Leadership’
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Get certified for free IN MIAMI AND WEST PALM BEACH while attending the Condo and HOA Expo.

Get certified for free IN MIAMI AND WEST PALM BEACH while attending the Condo and HOA Expo.

  • Posted: Oct 16, 2023
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South Florida Condo & HOA Expo

Seminars

Learn From Industry Leaders!

Get the tools and information you need to manage your condo or HOA more efficiently.

Regional and national experts will offer insights into the latest industry trends and best practices in legal oversight, financing, maintenance, renovations, energy efficiency, administration, communication and more.

Bring your questions to these lively, informative sessions and come away with a clear blueprint for improved management for the future.

OCTOBER 17TH, 2023 AT 8:30 A.M.
AT THE HYATT GRAND HOTEL IN MIAMI .

 

OCTOBER 19th, 2023 AT 8:30 A.M.
AT THE PALM BEACH COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER
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Webinar: Upgrading from Self-Managed to Pro Management | Oct. 19 at 4pm Est

Webinar: Upgrading from Self-Managed to Pro Management | Oct. 19 at 4pm Est

  • Posted: Oct 16, 2023
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Webinar: Upgrading from Self-Managed to Pro Management | Oct. 19 at 4pm Est

 

Oct 19, 2023 04:00 PM in 
AKAM will be joined by Lisa A. Magill, Esq., Attorney at Kaye Bender Rembaum and Chapter Delegate Member of CAI Florida Legislative Alliance, to discuss the value-add of transitioning a self-managed community to professional management.
Date: Thursday, October 19, 2023 Time: 4pm – 5pm Please complete the registration form below to confirm your attendance.
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Is Your HOA Ready to File a Lien? Remember These 3 Do’s and Don’ts by Mitch Drimmer

Is Your HOA Ready to File a Lien? Remember These 3 Do’s and Don’ts by Mitch Drimmer

  • Posted: Oct 04, 2023
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Is Your HOA Ready to File a Lien? Remember These 3 Do’s and Don’ts

Homeowner delinquencies create havoc and stress in a community association. Unfortunately, HOAs and condo associations don’t have a lot they can do about them. When a homeowner stops paying their monthly assessments, the association only has a few options to recoup that lost money.

  • You can issue warning letters
  • You can assess late fees and interest (within the limits of the governing documents)
  • You can limit amenity access if your governing docs allow it
  • You may be able to initiate credit reporting
  • You could take them to small claims court
  • You can file a lien to lead to foreclosure on their home

Of these options, the only one that has any real ‘teeth’ in the eyes of the law is lien and foreclosure.

Two sides of the same coin, a lien and a foreclosure are an HOA or condo association’s most aggressive form of collections actions. The lien is the threat of force, a legal response that tells the delinquent owner that this is well and truly their last chance to make good on what they owe to the community. The foreclosure is the bite to that bark, and can be costly and time consuming.

While a foreclosure isn’t something we recommend, filing a lien can often be the very thing you need to yield results. When a homeowner becomes seriously delinquent and the other methods have failed to produce results, you need to be ready to rip the band-aid off and make it happen.

3 Do’s and Don’ts When Filing a Lien

Is your HOA ready to file a lien? DON’T attempt to collect owed payments on your own. 

The FDCPA has a laundry list of what have been deemed predatory collections practices, and also specify who can and cannot make collection attempts. Engaging in any kind of communications that could be deemed harassment is only going to hurt your community in the long run

Is your HOA ready to file a lien? DO thoroughly document each of the notices and demand letters you send to the delinquent owner. 

Keeping track of the specific requests and demands you have made, as well as when you made them, will help keep your association free and clear of any claims of harassment or illegal collections allegations.

Is your HOA ready to file a lien? DON’T file a lien before sending warning notices to the homeowner. 

Those notices aren’t just common courtesies, they’re required interactions your association must have with a delinquent homeowner. They are entitled to a certain amount of time to pay back monies owed before legal action is taken against them.

Is your HOA ready to file a lien? DO check your CC&Rs AND state’s restrictions and laws to make sure you’re complying before filing a lien. 

These restrictions will set forth the ways you’re required to communicate payment demands, the fees and charges you’re allowed to include in the lien, and any time constraints you have to abide by.

Is your HOA ready to file a lien? DON’T just refer the file to your attorney.

Your primary goal should be to collect the money you are owed, not to punish delinquent homeowners. Referring a collections file to your lawyer is not a method of collection, but rather an intention to foreclose as soon as possible so you can get in a better paying homeowner. As the saying goes, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush – working with your existing community members to set up a payment plan or find another way to settle the debt is almost always better than giving them the boot. Foreclosure does not result in money in your pocket, just an empty home on the block.

Is your HOA ready to file a lien? DO call Axela to take advantage of ethical collections practices that come with a 95% success rate or recovery.

Axela Technologies specializes in HOA collections practices that successfully recover funds for the community without the inhumane, barbaric treatment owners tend to get from the foreclosure process. Is your HOA ready to file a lien? Call us today or click here for your no-cost collections analysis

 

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How To Deal With Slippery Floor Tiles – CoverTec Products

How To Deal With Slippery Floor Tiles – CoverTec Products

How To Deal With Slippery Floor Tiles.

CoverTec Products

Making floors slip-resistant requires a clear understanding of what you are working with. These are the factors that impact whether a floor is slippery or not:

  1. The condition of the floor
  2. The flooring material
  3. The condition and the material of the footwear interacting with the surface
  4. The contaminants present on the floor
  5. The physical ability of people walking on the floor.

In this post, we’ll cover several slippery floor types… and show you how to reduce the possibility of slip and fall accidents on your premises.  Whether you’re at home or on business premises, we’ve got you covered.

Details below. Click to go there now.

How To Solve Slippery Floors… In General

 

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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

 

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SO WHERE DO WE STAND NOW IN REGARDS TO RESERVES ? by Rafael Aquino

SO WHERE DO WE STAND NOW IN REGARDS TO RESERVES ? by Rafael Aquino

  • Posted: Oct 04, 2023
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SO WHERE DO WE STAND NOW IN REGARDS TO RESERVES ?

by Rafael Aquino

The use of associations funds is one of the most critical roles a board of directors manages on behalf of its members. Many times the benefit of those funds can make or break an association. It is essential to get a snapshot of what’s going on with the association’s funds before the purchase of your unit and even more so after your purchase. While it may seem challenging to know what is going on before your purchase, the reality is that you can get an idea by reviewing the financials and checking to see the association has a reserve study on file.

 

Not enough homework is done early on by potential buyers, or their agents, to determine the association’s financial strength, and they assume that all is well. That assumption can cost thousands of dollars if made incorrectly. How can you avoid it? The first step would be to dig into the financial statements; within those statements, you’ll know much money your association has in its operating account and reserve account (if it exists.) Second, you can review the Income/Expense (also known as a P&L) to determine if significant variances exist. If they do, you will need to find out why they exist. You can then compare your current operating and reserve account funds to what your reserve study states you should have. The reality is that most associations won’t meet the suggested capital contributions needed within the reserve study; however, you do want to know if the difference isn’t outrageous. If it is, you may decide not to purchase in that building, or if you’re a current owner, it may be time to sell. Remember, it’s not if it will happen, but when it will happen.

  

For individuals wondering what a reserve study is, it is a long-term capital budget planning tool that helps the board of directors and management identify both the physical analysis (useful life) and the financial analysis of the components in the common areas. This tool will allow your board to plan appropriately, project its future projects, and determine when and how the money they do have should be spent. I’ve seen it firsthand where a board wants to upgrade the pool area because they promised the owners they would improve the look of the property, but at the same time the cooling tower needs a significant overhaul. As odd as it may seem for most, this decision is simple; however, that is only true based on the leaders (board) you have appointed.

 

While many communities don’t have reserves, this should not stop you from obtaining a reserve study. The cost to get a reserve study is minimal compared to the information/knowledge you and your board would gain. We strongly recommend our clients obtain it; in fact, we had a client who listened to our suggestion and purchased a reserve study a few months before the budget season. Once they received the study, they quickly realized that it was time to start putting real plans in place. A few months later, that board decided to begin funding the reserves.

 

For those potential buyers looking to purchase in an association, make sure you do your homeowner. For those owners that already own in an association, make sure to ask your board members if they have a reserve study on file and if not to consider getting one. I believe it’s better to know what will potentially come so the proper steps and plans can be taken to either correct and/or communicate it to your membership.


 

As the Co-Founder and CEO of Affinity Management Services, Rafael P. Aquino leads his team to redefine excellence. They serve community   associations   efficiently

 

and effectively with dedication and passion. Rafael’s energy and positive spirit is the foundation of Affinity Management Services’ company culture, which instills enthusiasm and excitement when providing expert advice to its board members and relieving the day-to-day burdens of running a community association.

Since 2007, Rafael has developed a work culture that values responsive and high-quality services. He has led his team by following a proactive vs reactive philosophy. The same approach Rafael instills in the day to day operations of each association. Today, Affinity Management Services maintains its success and benefits as a result of the foundation Rafael has built and continues to foster by providing educational seminars, continuing education classes for association managers and board members alike.Rafael and his team help condominium and homeowners’ associations save money and improve their communities. His calm, personable, and service-oriented nature helps him to establish strong relationships with ease. Rafael is known as a sincere and honest leader who looks out for the best interests of his clients and communities, and he strongly advocates for their needs. His role requires coordination and communication, as such he takes logical and intelligent steps to approach challenges head-on.


As a graduate of Florida International University’s electrical engineering program and a licensed community association manager, Rafael’s education and skills equip him with unique insights to tackle complex problems through critical thinking. He understands how each component within a system works together in order to effectively arrive at solutions, techniques, and conclusions. Therefore, as he manages the multiple challenges of running a community association management company, he understands how each property is its own unique system and tailors’ specific services to assure that all their needs are met.

For more information about Rafael P. Aquino and Affinity Management Services please visit www.ManagedByAffinity.com or call 1-800-977-6279

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