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Find Blog Articles for Florida’s Condo, HOA and the Management Industry.
“By working together we solve problems in the Property Management Industry”
Our effective marketing helps companies set goals and grow throughout the industry. We Aid Property Management Firms, Condo Boards and HOA Communities with finding the right Property Managers and solutions for finding the right Business and Services needed for proper operations of their properties, helping them achieve their goals.
Each month many of our members are contacted to solve problems that arise. ex; At Tax Time, Budgets, and Elections, Legal Services and thousands of Maintenance Companies. We put clients in touch with members to help with Bookkeeping, Collections, Legal Advice and Service Companies. We help Clients make the right decisions with hiring one of the association’s members.
You can search our members directory to find the companies you need!
When a request for maintenance of their buildings arises these management professionals search our Florida Directory, finding top professionals ready to meet their needs. When Property Managers hire a company listed on our directory, they trust us to find companies that work with management professionals and they hold proper licensing, insurances in the State of Florida.
By keeping clients informed of what your company is doing you are on their mind. They will learn more about you, helping them make an informed decision when hiring!
We use information sent to us by our members and redistribute this using our in house marketing programs, each day this is sent directly to clients using Emails, Published on our Website and Social Media pages and Groups. We want you to be seen by clients all over Florida.
How do you use marketing for your business?
First you have to think about who your audience is along with what you are posting to this targeted audience? – Then think about your effectiveness and reaching clients with your own company marketing efforts. Then ask yourself are those goals being met? – When we share about your company, We target the people that are making the decisions. We inform them about the most important issues they face with building management.
With your membership you can get your company information published and sent, informing the industry professionals. Let SFPMA spread this through our network of Board Members, Property Managers and Industry Professionals.
The Use of Digital Advertising from our Publications, Website Banner Advertising, Industry Articles on our Blog and Direct Emails to clients all over Florida!
Our Marketing Dept is constantly posting what our members send to us, sending the information to the many Social Media Pages and Groups from FB, LI, Twitter and Others. But its the Direct Emails we send we feel make the biggest impact. Over the years we have obtained 235,000 Emails that are kept safe and secure. Our Magazine “Florida Rising Magazine” has been published for over 9 years and sent throughout our industry this is packed with Articles, Advertising and a Directory, we thought how can we get others reading the magazine to find the top Member Companies – Put it in the Magazine! and finally Social Media, With so many people looking on their Phones Our Posting on this media keeps our members and the information they supply to us on the minds of new clients that are searching for help with their Condo and HOA Management and Operation.
Members can access the Members only portal when they are logged in to sfpma. *At the top of the page you will see ( Member ( your name or Company Name) you can still post 0 listings…) < Simply CLICK YOUR NAME and access the members portal.
(SOMETIMES YOU MIGHT HAVE TO REFRESH YOUR PAGE IF ITS THE FIRST TIME YOU WILL SEE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE ACCEPT THE COOKIES)
On the members portal:
This is the area where you can find your account information. You can also find access to the many ways to interact with SFPMA.
A) – Changing your password B) – View your Account C) – Renew your Membership D) – Write Articles and send them to SFPMA E) – Find your Favorites F) – Submit a Sale or Product Form G) – Send us an Event
This post was added when a few members stated they have not had a call for work?
Answer to this is: We have many ways we promote what our members are doing. We use Direct Emails these are sent 3 to 4 times each week to over 235,000 Emails. Social Media these posts are copied and promoted on groups and pages managed by sfpma, along with many posts are reshared by the many people that are reading them on FB, LI, Twitter and others.
When a member does not take time to send us what their company is doing it reflects on them. They are running their company and very busy but it takes a lot more to promote what they do? yet many companies dont do that, Promotions! sfpma is always open for articles, promotions, new sales we can use to send to our industry. when we dont get anything our team uses past articles and looks at your social media and uses some of those to repost these to our clients.
If you need a person to help you with promotions, and or marketing – One of the top Marketers helping members is:
Vail Marketing Solutions is a woman-owned, multi-service consulting firm providing marketing, communications and business development solutions for any business looking to increase their visibility and bottom line. Our approach delivers a cost-effective, customized marketing plan to fit the needs of your business and reach your goals. We will work hand in hand with you to develop your brand, tell your story and help you stand out from your competition ultimately leading to more growth opportunities.
For over 14 years, Ms. Jessica Vail has been successful in providing marketing, communications and business development solutions within the construction, engineering and real estate industries. Her passion for marketing and helping others led her to create Vail Marketing Solutions. She is a published writer and an active member of many networking organizations and committees.
You don’t have time to spend on a marketing plan and execution. You have limited resources, staff and money. You don’t know where to start. If these scenarios sound familiar, let’s talk.
Call Jessica, tell her Frankie Sent you! she has helped many companies get infront of the decision makers. She works with clients and sfpma members, for Ads on our website and our magazines.
Tags: Management News
By Rafael Aquino ( see below the article )
As a community association manager, you are responsible for overseeing and managing the operations of an association. Board members rely heavily on their expertise and knowledge to ensure the smooth functioning of the association. However, there are times when board members may ask a CAM to assist them in tasks outside their job responsibilities.
One such task is reviewing legal documents for the association. While it may seem like a simple task, it is not something that community association managers are permitted to do. This is because reviewing legal documents requires legal expertise and knowledge, which only a licensed attorney can provide.
Certain ethical and legal obligations bind community association managers. We are not licensed to provide legal advice or services, and doing so could put our license and reputation at risk. It is essential to understand that giving legal advice or services without a license is illegal and could lead to severe consequences.
If a board member asks you to review legal documents, you must inform them that you are not permitted to do so. Instead, it would be best if you recommended that they consult with a licensed attorney specializing in community association law. This will protect your license and reputation and ensure that the association receives the best possible legal advice.
It is also important to note that if a community association manager recommends a particular provider for legal services, it is for a reason. When recommending a provider, they do so based on their knowledge and experience in the industry.
To put it in perspective, it would be like asking a dentist to perform brain surgery. While both are in the medical field, they require vastly different skill sets and knowledge. Just like a dentist would recommend a neurosurgeon for brain surgery, a community association manager would recommend a licensed attorney for legal services.
In conclusion, as community association managers, we must understand and uphold our ethical and legal obligations. Reviewing legal documents is not within the scope of our job responsibilities, and it is important to recommend a licensed attorney for such tasks. By doing so, we are protecting our license and reputation and ensuring that the association receives the best possible legal advice.
For more information about Rafael P. Aquino and Affinity Management Services
please visit www.ManagedByAffinity.com or call 1-800-977-6279
Tags: Management News, Members Articles
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Tags: Board Member Certification, Management News, SFPMA Articles
That’s not a bad idea; unless you’re cutting back on your legal counsel reviewing all of the contracts provided to you by those engineers, architects or general contractors who perform any of these inspections or repairs.
I’m starting to see more of this and it’s an alarming trend. It boggles my mind that an association would spend millions of dollars on a contract for repair of their property, but won’t spend a few hours on their attorney reviewing that contract first. No question in my mind that the failure of the Board to have that contract reviewed by counsel before signing, is a breach of their fiduciary duty to the unit owners they represent.
I teach a class called “Before You Sign That Contract.” It talks about so many ways in which the association can suffer financial loss by having the wrong clauses in the contract or by failing to insert certain clauses into the contract. Once sentence can potentially cost the association hundreds of thousands of dollars. And you chose to cheap out on a few hours of attorney’s time? Really?
Even smaller contracts need to be reviewed. If the association does not have the proper remedies in the contract for the contractor’s breach, the situation can turn into a long lasting nightmare where the association will never be made whole. And…….the association will have to spend its own attorney’s fees now to correct the problem with no chance of recovering them later on.
They will be everywhere, in every condominium. Be careful. If you didn’t hear me the first time, I said BE CAREFUL AND DON’T BE CHEAP. GET LEGAL HELP BEFORE SIGNING.
DON’T COME TO ME AFTER YOU SIGNED A CONTRACT AND SAY “HEY ERIC…OUR ASSOCIATION SIGNED THIS MULTI MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT. CAN YOU NOW GET US OUT OF IT?
THE ANSWER IS OFTEN TIMES……NO I CANNOT. YOU SHOULD HAVE ASKED ME TO LOOK AT IT BEFORE SIGNING IT.
Tags: Condo and HOA Law, Management News
This one-hour class will guide association members, CAMs, and building managers through the process of how to select a contractor for an upcoming commercial project. It starts with knowing your stakeholder, creating an RFP, hosting a pre-bid meeting, evaluating the quotes, and ends with making your contractor recommendation.
Capriccio Ristorante
2424 N University Drive, Pembroke Pines, FL 33024
1 Credit OPP/ELE
Course #9631934 | Provider #0007984
Lunch is generously sponsored by: SFPMA Members.
Bashor & Legendre, LLP
Centennial Bank
Kaye Bender Rembaum
M.A. Construction Group
Rainbow Roofing Solutions
United Claims Specialists
Wayne Automatic Fire Sprinklers, Inc.
WeDry USA
Tags: Education & Licensing, Management News, 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
by, Dee Rowe, CACM, Contributing Author
Once upon a time, benevolent Prince Sanders was afraid that people would lose their homes because they were unable to pay their mortgages or HOA fees. You see, a nasty respiratory disease was ravaging the kingdom and all surrounding kingdoms. Workers not deemed essential were forced out of work to limit the spread of the disease. The price of essential goods and services skyrocketed. Even once a “return to work” was announced, for many business owners and employees there was no work to return to. The kingdom was in crisis.
Since he was Chairman of the kingdom’s Senate Budget Committee, he and 11 others authored theAmerican Rescue Relief Act, which included a Homeowner Assistance Fund designed to keep those people from losing their homes and keep their public utility services active. The problem was, nobody told the homeowners, or those responsible for the communities they lived in.
Mary was contrary, and could you blame her? She was a single mother with three small mouths to feed. Her ex-husband ran off with Sally years ago and now lived in a cottage by the sea selling seashells. That left Mary to care for the gardens of silver bells, cockleshells, and primroses all in a row. There was a time before the pandemic when her business thrived. Weddings were large, formal affairs, and nobody’s flowers were prettier than Mary’s. Brides paid a pretty penny for her services. But now weddings were smaller and more intimate. Because everybody’s budgets were stretched tight, brides cut expenses wherever they could. That included Mary’s flowers.
With the sun sinking on the horizon, Mary put the gardening tools in the shed and trudged into her small house. The children would be hungry, and someone had to feed them. Opening the nearly bare cupboard, she groaned. Once again, they would be eating beans and rice. As she measured the rice, her hand scraped the bottom of the barrel. Even beans and rice would soon be a luxury. Forcing a brave face, she served the children dinner and busied herself with chores while they ate. She ate their leftovers to make sure they got enough. Her stomach growled and grumbled, but she was used to ignoring that. She’d been doing so for a couple of years, ever since the virus started spreading.
Before she put the little ones to bed, she walked to the end of the driveway to get the day’s mail. Inside the mailbox was another notice from the HOA about her missed payments. Tears welled up in her eyes. How was she supposed to pay when there wasn’t enough to eat, and every penny went toward keeping the bank from taking her home? Now the association was threatening to take her home too. What would they do then? She wasn’t eligible for bankruptcy, because she’d had to file for one after her divorce.
Hands shaking, she placed the notice on the kitchen table and tucked her children into bed, noticing as she did so that all their nightclothes were threadbare and too small. Once she was back in the kitchen, she picked up the notice and read it again. “Due to the non-payment of assessments, your account has been referred to an outside agency for collections. Please contact them at once to avoid foreclosure.”
This time, tears did more than well up, they spilled down her cheeks and left spots on the table. With her head in her hands, she sobbed into the night until she fell asleep right there in the kitchen. Her dreams were troubled and chaotic, with visions of fire-breathing dragons scorching her home and beautiful gardens to the ground.
The next morning, after the children ate their oatmeal and headed off to school, Mary called the collection company the HOA referred her case to. She braced herself for battle, recalling the fire-breathing dragons from last night’s anxiety-fueled dreams. Much to her surprise, that mental armor turned out to be unnecessary.
She spoke with a friendly and helpful representative from Axela Technologies, who was sympathetic when Mary described her financial position. The representative suggested that Mary try applying for something called the Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) because an online map showed that her part of the kingdom may have funds available to cover the mortgage, utility costs, and even HOA fees since her hardship was caused by the pandemic and started after January 21, 2020. The helpful rep also arranged it so Mary would not lose her home while waiting for a decision from the HAF. She was so relieved she began to cry over the phone because she felt hope for the first time in years. “You’re my hero”, she told the Axela employee.
As she worked in her gardens that day, Mary wondered why she’d never heard of the HAF before. There were probably others like her; hardworking people who had no savings or credit to see them through when the pandemic shut the kingdom down. People who had spent the years since the return to work trying to find work or customers. People who were desperate to keep the homes that they loved and that kept their families safe and warm. Good people who wanted to pay their HOA fees but had to choose between that and feeding their children.
After waiting as patiently as she could, Mary got an answer from the HAF. Hands trembling, she opened it and read the decision over the phone to that helpful representative from Axela Technologies she had first spoken to. “Your application has been approved.” Once again, she was crying, this time tears of joy.
Later that day, Mary wrote a letter to the board of directors of the HOA thanking them for working with anethical company like Axela Technologies, and not a predatory collection service. That letter was the first communication the board received from her that wasn’t contrary.
For a real-life collection fairy tale like this, contact us at Axela Technologies today. We offer creative solutions, not threats and ultimatums.
Tags: Collections, 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.