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Find Blog Articles for Florida’s Condo, HOA and the Management Industry.
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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.
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Allstate Resource Management has over 25 years of experience in maintaining the health of lakes, ponds, wetlands, and stormwater systems. We have continued since our inception to be the leader in resource management. Our services include lake management, wetland management, stormwater drain cleaning and maintenance, erosion control, fish stocking, native plantings, debris removal, water quality, aquatic pest control, and upland management. All of our technicians are thoroughly trained and certified in order to meet the strict standards imposed by governmental agencies. This ensures that your property will be treated by only the most competent individuals who are proud of the services we render.
In addition to providing a healthy habitat, we specialize in the installation and maintenance of beautiful color lit fountains, bringing beauty and enjoyment to any lake or pond.
We also offer support services for property managers and HOA’s including educational presentations and CEU programs. Our approved courses offer continuing education credit to CAMs. When you search the Upcoming Events page on SFPMA each month you will find the Educational Classes Offer or Contact us directly so we can schedule an event at your Condo or HOA with a day packed with information and fun for all.
Colleen Sullivan
Marketing Manager
www.allstatemanagement.com
6900 SW 21st Court, Building #9
Davie, Florida 33317
Phone: (954) 382-9766
Fax: (954) 382-9770
Tags: Condo and HOA, Lake Management Articles, Management News
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:
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: Board of Directors, Condo and HOA, Management News, SFPMA Articles
Attorney Eric Glazer and co-host Karen Curtis will be taking your calls and YouTube questions on whatever topic you need answers to or whatever you need to get off your chest. Call us at 877-850-8585 during the show or chat with us on YouTube Live Chat. Condo Craze & HOAs Live on YouTube
Sunday@11am on YouTube! Link to the live stream
Tags: Board of Directors, Condo and HOA, Management News
Cohen Law Group would like to remind all Property Managers and CAMs that our firm has handled thousands and thousands of property damage insurance claims in Florida. We have decades of experience handling hurricane claims that have been denied, delayed, or reduced.
If you are unsure if your property sustained damage as a result of Hurricane Idalia you should ask for an inspection by a qualified contractor, estimator or building inspector to assess whether hurricane-force winds damaged or compromised the roofing system and building envelope. Many companies offer this initial inspection free of charge. Given the complexities of a large loss claim, consider consulting with an attorney experienced in handling commercial insurance claims for condominiums and homeowner’s associations.
Here’s more information on how we can help you:
Cohen Law Group is certified through the state of Florida for Property Manager and CAM Continuing Education Credits/Classes. We have a one to three-hour CE class called “A CAMs/Property Managers Guide to Property Damage Insurance Claims”
We can schedule a free lunch and learn with your CAMs and will provide an overview of our suggestions and strategies as well as some examples of our vast experience with Residential Property Damage and Commercial Large Loss.
If your residential, commercial, or industrial properties have property damage, our Insurance Claims Attorneys can help with everything from A-Z on hurricane claims.
Please call us today at 850-318-7474
immediately after a hurricane:
You have 1 year from the date of loss to report the claim. Please do not hesitate in reporting the claim immediately as you are aware there is storm damage. Believing the damages are below your deductible is not a defense to this and the insurance company will use every day you wait against you later.
Thoroughly document all emergency repairs before and after they are completed. Insurance companies will try to get out of paying for these services if they believe they do not have sufficient information.
If you are displaced from your home or property, please keep all invoices and receipts showing costs that you incur. Likewise, if you have any damaged personal property, please take photographs of it before you throw it away.
Insurance companies cannot cancel your policy while you have an open claim. You should speak to an attorney to understand your rights. Insurance companies will routinely request that you sign documents and give statements to them that can and will be used against you later.
489.147 Prohibited property insurance practices.—
(1) As used in this section, the term:
(a) “Prohibited advertisement” means any written or electronic communication by a contractor which encourages, instructs, or induces a consumer to contact a contractor or public adjuster for the purpose of making an insurance claim for roof damage, if such communication does not state in a font size of at least 12 points and at least half as large as the largest font size used in the communication that:
1. The consumer is responsible for payment of any insurance deductible;
2. It is insurance fraud punishable as a felony of the third degree for a contractor to knowingly or willfully, and with intent to injure, defraud, or deceive, pay, waive, or rebate all or part of an insurance deductible applicable to payment to the contractor for repairs to a property covered by a property insurance policy; and
3. It is insurance fraud punishable as a felony of the third degree to intentionally file an insurance claim containing any false, incomplete, or misleading information.
Harvey V. Cohen, President
At Cohen Law Group, It’s About Justice!
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.
(850)318-7474
Members of SFPMA – https://sfpma.com/listing/cohen-law-group/
Tags: Condo and HOA, Insurance, Management News, Members Articles
The State of Florida is no stranger to hurricanes and other natural disasters.Living in paradise doesn’t come without some risks associated with Mother Nature. The question is never just if our communities, homes and families will be impacted by a windstorm event, but when they will, and how we will prepare for and recover from that event.
In addition to our in-house legal services, Becker owns and operates Association Adjusting, a licensed and insured public adjusting firm led by Joseph “Joe Connelly (#E157037). Mr. Connelly has served as Executive Board Officer for the Florida Association of Public Adjusters (FAPIA).
Recognized as an authority in the community association industry, Association Adjusting has the expertise and experience to help community associations achieve the most favorable outcome possible. Our team of public adjusters, led by Mr. Connelly, provides clients with only the highest level of professionalism and excellence – whether you’re dealing with a claim that stems from hurricane damage, water damage, theft, fire, mold, roof leak, or any other type of calamity, our singular goal is to ensure your interests are always protected.
The first step toward developing and implementing a disaster plan is identifying the potential consequences of a disaster. The second step is to develop and implement a plan to mitigate the impact of a disaster to the fullest extent possible.
Federal Emergency Management Agency for federal disaster response and recovery information
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for information about federal flood insurance
Information about Flood Insurance
Flood Resources: National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
Contact Information: Phone: 1-888-FLOOD29 or 1-888-356-6329
Filing a Flood Insurance Claim
Premium Discounts for Hurricane Loss Mitigation
Notice of Premium Discounts for Hurricane Loss Mitigation
Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form
Are you prepared for Hurricane Season?
Preparing for Natural Disasters, and Recovering from them
Disaster Preparedness at Home: Filter Out the Damage
Disaster Prep & Self Storage – What You Need to Know
Emergency Preparedness for People Requiring Special Assistance
Humane Society – Protect Your Pets
Becker provides access to information on this website page as a public service. Although reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that all electronic information made available is current, complete and accurate, Becker does not warrant or represent that this information is current, complete and accurate. All information is subject to change on a regular basis, without notice. Becker assumes no responsibility for any errors in the information provided, nor assumes any liability for any damages incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents of the website page. The inclusion of, or linking to, other website URLs does not imply our endorsement of, nor responsibility for, those web sites, but has been done as a convenience to our website visitors.
Tags: Condo and HOA, Condo and HOA Insurance, Damage Restoration, Law and Legal, Management News, Member Highlights
By Eric Glazer, Esq.
Board members I’m telling you now……..be careful. I’m seeing it already. Unit owners are starting to freak out over the passage of huge assessments to cover the costs of mandatory inspections, mandatory repairs and massive increases in insurance rates.
As we know, we’re not talking about pesky increases to the monthly cost of living in your home. We are talking about increases that will cause many to no longer be able to afford to live in their home at all. We are talking about increases that will force people to sell and no longer live in the condominium that they have lived in for perhaps decades.
Notwithstanding the fact that none of these increases are the result of anything the Board members did or didn’t do, board members know who is likely to be blamed for this financial disaster many unit owners find themselves in ——the Board members. So what else is new?
Board members are used to being blamed when things go wrong even though it’s not their fault. That comes with the territory. They get yelled and screamed at, the meeting ends and then it’s usually over. Maybe there’s some nasty e-mail that float around the community. This time it’s different.
Even if unit owners come to the realization and accept that they can’t afford to live in the condo any longer, the question is….so where can they go? Every condo seems to be in the same shape. Or if owners choose to move to a place that’s simply newer and not yet required to perform these inspections and repairs, you can bet they cost a lot more money than where they currently live. There’s simply no place to turn to.
When there is desperation and fear, people become irrational and often times violent and that is why I honestly fear for the safety of condominium board members throughout the state. This is not a knock on the millions of law abiding condominium owners throughout the state. They were thrown into this position because The Florida Legislature failed all of you. Instead of always requiring condominium owners to put away money for a rainy day, The Florida Legislature cow-towed to the whims of developers, law firms and other special interest groups who always lobbied against mandatory reserves. The only reason why mandatory reserves are now required is because 98 innocent men, women and children died at The Champlain Towers in Surfside as a result of not having nearly enough money on hand to make obviously needed structural repairs in their condominium.
So Board members……….you didn’t volunteer in your community to get punched out or worse at your board meetings. My advice is….when you know you’re about to pass a special assessment at a meeting, and at that meeting people are going to be going crazy……protect yourselves. Make sure there are police or at least security at the meeting. Better be safe than sorry.
WE WILL TAKE YOUR CALLS AND ANSWER YOUR CONDO AND HOA QUESTIONS THROUGHOUT THE HOUR. CALL US AT 877-850-8585 DURING THE SHOW.
Tags: Board of Directors, Condo and HOA, Management NewsMake primary, SFPMA Members News
State of Florida Property Management Association; On our Website you can find on our Licensing Course Partners the Licensing Courses are offered to you to become a CAM Manager in the State of Florida!
1. Must a Florida property management company have a real estate broker’s license
YES. Key components of property management (renting and leasing) are considered a real estate activity under existing Florida real estate licensing laws. A property manager needs a brokers license if he or she is paid by commission, and is handling rentals and leases for others.
No license is required for managing personally owned properties. There is a “Property Manager” license or certificate you should have. Also, certain rental properties need a license through the Div. of Hotels and Restaurants.
2. Are there any exceptions to the requirement that a Florida property manager have a broker’s license?
YES. For example, if a property owner employs someone to manage their property, and that “employee is paid a salary”, as opposed to being paid a commission or on a transactional basis, a broker’s license is not required.
For more information about these and other Florida property management requirements and exceptions, please contact the Florida Real Estate Commission.
Before hiring a property manager to manage your Florida rental property, you should always check that he or she is licensed appropriately. You can check the license status of Florida property managers at the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s Licensee Search webpage.
3. Must Florida community association managers have a real estate broker’s license?
No. However, a Community Association Manager license is required if someone receives compensation for providing management services for the following types of associations:
4. Florida Real Estate Broker License Requirements
Florida real estate broker licensing requirements include:
5. Florida Real Estate Salesperson License Requirements
Florida real estate salesperson licensing requirements include:
6. Florida Community Association Manager License Requirements
Florida community association manager licensing requirements include:
With over 15 years of experience, we provide the best professional continuing education in Florida.
More Community Association Managers have gone through Florida’s license training courses than with any other offered, Whether you are looking for a classroom experience or an online courses, we make sure you are prepared for the exam and success. Our Partners with CAM Pre-licensing and CAM courses, have experienced a 100% passing rate when the course and reviews are completed before the exam.
Long after you have completed your exam, we are behind you with the best continuing education courses in the business.
SFPMA has our Calendar of upcoming events: Each month you will find the top events given by Law Firms, Educators, Service and a great team of Marketing Companies. Find courses for boards, managers, owners and investors. You can also take advantage of our You Tube and Radio Shows by some of the All Stars in out education by: Kay Bender Rembaum, and Condo Craze and HOA’s.
How long has the company been in operation?
The rule of thumb is to look for five years or more experience, but this must be weighed against all the other criteria as there are subpar veterans and excellent startups in many markets. Also, beware of a company that has changed its name to avoid bad past.
Community Association Managers who focus on one property type and/or don’t provide realty services pride themselves on this point. There are definitely benefits to working with a company that has a single focus and specialization, but there are plenty of competent community association management companies who provide realty service and/or manage multiple property types. The main thing to look out for is people who decide to become property managers overnight even though they are unqualified. Although this applies to people from all backgrounds, its worth noting that when the real estate market slows down a good number of realtors moonlight as property managers, some of whom lack the proper licensing and or skills required.
How knowledgeable are they?
If they appear to not have the time to answer your questions in the interview process, move on. They either genuinely don’t have time for their clients, or this is a front to mask their lack of knowledge. Try offering them some hypothetical scenarios to see if they offer you solid answers or dance around the question. Quick, clear answers mean there are well laid out processes in place rather than a fly-by-the-seat-of-their-pants, more reactive mentality.
Are they licensed to practice property management?
This is a very important point as it is a serious problem when anyone tries to practice property management without being a licensed Community Association Manager and educated in the field. The fact that your community association management company is licensed means they are subject to the ethics and guidelines established by their states governing authority. If they don’t have a broker’s license, they either will likely be operating under another broker’s license or are in a state that does not require a broker’s license. Either way it’s worth checking the laws in your state and verifying things to make you don’t hire a company that is practicing property management illegally. Also make sure to find out if they have a current errors and omissions insurance policy.
What certifications does the CAM company and its employees have? Do they participate in continuing education?
This is a good indicator of how seriously the company takes their work. You want to look for companies that nurture their employees professional development by encouraging (or even better requiring) them to attend graduate level courses and seminars. Professional certifications mean the recipient has invested considerable time and money acquiring the skills required to be an expert in their field. Here are some trade organizations and the designations they provide:
Does the management team dress and act professionally?
First impressions matter. The companies you interview are likely on their best behavior during the interview process so if they don’t look and behave professionally then, don’t expect things to improve. Consider that this person will represent you when dealing with current and potential future tenants; if you don’t find them agreeable what are the odds your tenants will? It’s also a good idea to get a look at their offices as this will provide yet another window into what kind of property conditions they find acceptable.
How many types of properties do they manage? Do they have a specialty?
Generally speaking it is a good thing if they focus on specializing in one area. How many properties are they currently managing? Is the company trying to grow, hold or slim their portfolio? This question is closely related to size which is covered in the next article.
Do they manage properties locally, regionally, or nationally?
The conventional wisdom is that a local only is best because is allows for a more singular focus as well as increases managements attention and ability to meet your needs as well as your access to decision makers in the company. That said, this can be an over generalization easily out weighed by any number of the other factors covered in this hiring guide.
Do they manage any section 8 properties?
These kinds of properties come with their unique challenges and require specific knowledge to manage. If you own, or think you may consider purchasing section 8 properties in the future you are best looking for a company that has experience in this area.
Ask for the addresses of some of their properties so you can do a drive by and if possible get a walk through.
Bear in mind they will select properties that reflect well on them, if you really want to go the extra step you can hunt down one of their other properties by locating some of their listings on there websites. Either way, if you get the opportunity to talk to tenants & owners try to assess their level of satisfaction with the Community Association Management Company.
Where is their office located? How far is it from your rental property?
The farther away they are the more likely the level of attention your property receives will suffer. A maximum of a twenty five minute drive is a good rule of thumb. or Find out of they have managers at each property some companies have offices in each building they manage, or an agreement with the building owner placing an apt set as a office.
IMPORTANT: This information is intended for informational purposes only and under no circumstances should it be considered legal advice or relied upon without first confirming its contents with your state real estate commission. Laws are updated frequently, and this information may not reflect the current law in your state. To confirm the specific requirements for each state, please contact your state real estate commission.
As you become a CAM Manager and start your business, You will need the Forms to help you, Leases, Letters to Tenants, Legal Documents and much more……..
Just some of the essential forms to assist you in leasing your premises, complying with legal requirements, and keeping relations with your tenants amicable. Forms include the 1. Landlord Tenant Closing Statement to Reconcile Security Deposit, 2. Residential Rental Lease Application, 3. Residential Rental Lease Agreement, 4. Commercial Building or Space Lease, 5. Security Deposit Agreement and other forms.
SUBSCRIBE TODAY TO OUR FORM PACKAGE
Tags: Condo and HOA, Condo and HOA Board of Directors, Education & Licensing, Finding a Property Manager, Management News
We guarantee, by written contract, that your Association will NEVER receive an invoice for Costs or Legal Fees advanced and/or incurred by our Law Firm in providing delinquent account collection services under our “COLLECT 4 FREE” Delinquent Account Collection Option.
Contact us today, and let us show you how you can immediately reduce the potential future monetary shortfall in your Association’s budget resulting from owner delinquency, as well as ensure a healthy financial future for your Community…
COLLECT 4 FREE!Katzman Chandler’s “COLLECT 4 FREE” Delinquent Account Collection Option is a truly unique program that guarantees, in writing, that your Association will NEVER receive an invoice for Costs or Legal Fees incurred by our Law Firm in providing delinquent account collection services.
Katzman Chandler’s “COLLECT 4 FREE” Delinquent Account Collection Option promotes efficiency in your Association’s operations by allowing your Community to timely and effectively pursue delinquent accounts and quickly collect delinquent assessments owed, rather than unnecessarily carrying delinquent owner debt on the Association’s books for extended periods of time.
Katzman Chandler’s “COLLECT 4 FREE” Delinquent Account Collection Option provides your Community with the ability to pursue delinquent accounts while avoiding the potential Risk, Liability and/or Financial Exposure to your Association for the payment of Costs and Legal Fees traditionally associated with Community Association Collection and Foreclosure actions.
Engaging Katzman Chandler and electing to take advantage of our “COLLECT 4 FREE” Delinquent Account Collection Option makes complete financial sense for nearly all qualifying Community Associations, including yours. Most Associations qualify. Call us today to confirm that yours does!
We are so confident in our ability to successfully collect upon your newly delinquent accounts, that we are willing to shift the ultimate financial responsibility for the Costs and Legal Fees incurred in the process from your Community to our Law Firm.
Our confidence in this regard comes from our depth of experience in not only handling delinquent account collection, but forecasting trends in delinquent account collection.
Katzman Chandler’s attorneys and staff have successfully resolved tens of thousands of delinquent assessment accounts on behalf of Community Associations over the past two decades, and welcome the opportunity to collect your Community’s delinquent accounts as well – with COLLECT 4 FREE!
If you are a new addition to the Katzman Chandler family of clients, and have delinquent accounts in collection with your prior attorney, Katzman Chandler can take over your Association’s existing/aged collection files and pursue them under a full advancement of Costs and Legal Fees option.
In addition to the obvious benefits of our “COLLECT 4 FREE”, we offer robust online status reports available 24/7, paperless communications sent automatically via email and an owner website portal to facilitate communication, expedite payoffs and obtain quick settlements of delinquent accounts.
Contact us today:
by clicking the following link: https://bit.ly/3ZHoWOY
Tags: Condo and HOA, Management News, Members Articles
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.
