It’s hard to believe that we have been dealing with COVID for a year and a half now. It’s harder to believe that we will be dealing with it for at least another year and a half. It’s a never ending nightmare with no end in sight apparently. Who would ever have thought this could…
Year: 2021
BOARDS ARE NOT POWERLESS WHEN IT COMES TO COVID
It’s hard to believe that we have been dealing with COVID for a year and a half now. It’s harder to believe that it looks like we will be dealing with it for at least another year and a half. It’s a never ending nightmare with no end in sight apparently. Who would ever have…
IT’S TIME TO STOP A TRUE FLORID
Over a decade ago The Florida Legislature thought it was a good idea for members of condo and HOA boards to become “certified.” Sounds like a good idea. The problem is that the legislators allowed for two ways to become certified. One way is by going over to your computer and printing a form that…
A BREAK WITH TRADITION ON THIS LABOR DAY IN MEMORY OF CHAMPLAIN TOWERS
For those of you who follow this blog, you know that each Labor Day, I write a parody talking about a day in the life of a Board member, at a particularly annoying condominium. This year however, in light of the Champlain Towers tragedy, I just don’t think it’s right to start cracking condominium jokes…
AND WHILE YOU'RE AT IT…. PLEASE FIX THE INSURANCE STATUTE
No doubt some changes are on the way for condominiums as a result of the Surfside tragedy. The changes are long overdue. Here’s another long overdue change that is necessary..the condominium insurance statutes. Suppose I told you that under Florida law, there is no absolute requirement that your condominium association insure the building(s). Sounds crazy…
ARE YOUR ASSESSMENTS LOW? THEN YOU’RE LIVING A LIE
How many times have you heard someone bragging about how cheap their monthly expenses are at their condo? How many times have you heard comments like “We have a great board – the assessments are so cheap.” It turns out that those boards were not doing you a favor by keeping your assessments low. They…
EVERYONE IS AN EXPERT
Imagine a world where accountants can examine your heart and give you an opinion regarding its condition and your life expectancy. Suppose an auto mechanic can examine your kidneys and liver and give his opinion on whether or not they are healthy. Perhaps one day you can walk into my office and one of the…
I WARNED ABOUT THE DANGERS OF INADEQUATE RESERVES
In May of 2018, at about the same time the engineer was advising Champlain Towers South that their building need millions and millions of dollars in repairs, I wrote about the dangers facing condominiums all over the state because of the ability for owners to opt out of funding reserve accounts. I implored The Florida…
THE EMERGENCY IS OVER!
On June 27th, Florida was no longer considered to be in a State of Emergency. Governor Desantis did not renew the emergency order. So that means all of the emergency powers that Boards of Directors of condominiums and HOAs had during the COVID pandemic have expired. The question is…….in practical terms — what does that…
LET’S NOT FOCUS ON BLAME – AND FOCUS ON CHANGE INSTEAD
As they say…hindsight is 20/20. The tragedy in Surfside rips your guts out. I had to go there and see it for myself. I did. I then walked over to the memorial and saw pictures of the victims, including little kids, entire families and you wonder how anything like this could have possibly happened. Immediately…