As Florida homeowners gear up for the 2019 hurricane season, a tidal wave of “tips and tricks” are once again hitting the Internet to describe how to best protect your home from a major storm. But how do you know which ones to believe, and which ones should be blown off? After all, you can’t always believe everything you hear and read. Find out below what you believed was protecting your home, but that may actually be putting you at more risk. We’ve collected 10 common hurricane-related myths and the truths behind them to help you (and your home) better prepare for hurricane season. Myth #1: Taping your windows is the best way to prevent them from shattering during a hurricane. Fact: Tape cannot withstand flying debris caused by hurricane-force winds, even though 54% of Americans believe taping their windows protects them from hurricane damage. Do not waste your time

One of the most challenging aspects of effectively running and operating a condominium association is the constant turnover in board membership and the inconsistency this creates concerning rules enforcement. Most association board seats are up for reelection every one to two years. When members decide to run for the board, they often do so because they feel the current board is not properly running the association or enforcing its rules. However, due to the prior board’s failure to act, a newly-elected board attempting to right the ship by enforcing the association’s bylaws and rules and regulations may find itself having to respond to selective enforcement defenses. This creates a unique problem. Board members have a fiduciary duty to enforce the association’s governing documents but cannot do so effectively. There must be a solution. This article discusses how a board can avoid the selective enforcement defense when enforcing community association rules

By Tracie Cyganiak, Melissa Diaz and Lee Gouny To create a true sense of community within a condominium or homeowners association, it is important to first build a community among staff. From top management, all the way down to and including third-party vendors, everyone must work together with a shared vision to achieve the same goals. Implementing certain techniques and initiatives can go a long way towards boosting morale and building camaraderie. A team must be taught, motivated and molded in a structure where each member feels valuable and helps establish a family bond. This can be accomplished by taking the following steps: Cross-Training Staff members must be involved to help advance projects. Cross-train the team. Help individuals understand the responsibilities of other team members. This provides an idea of how each individual fits within the larger puzzle of the community. Cross-training also demonstrates the potential for professional growth by

Are you a property manager or an active member of a Florida Association? Like most Florida communities, you may experience that participation and turn-out during elections is likely low, as owners are either disengaged, live abroad or feel alienated by the current cumbersome analog voting process. Passing a motion and getting projects approved, even when a low quorum of 20% is needed, seems like an impossible task for many associations, let alone implementing changes for large projects that require a higher turn-out. And when motions do pass, often, it is because a few active group of owners participated, deciding for everyone else – a silent disgruntled majority – who as a result, in many cases, end up feeling even more alienated. Here are 5 important decision areas where increased owner participation methods, like online voting, could help get more owners involved: Directors The whole body of members should decide the

10 Things I Hope All Board Members Do: Acknowledge their fiduciary responsibility to all owners.After all, Board members are entrusted with properly managing other peoples’ money, primarily for the care and preservation of commonly owned properties. They are expected to honor the Association’s governing documents and corporate by-laws, Board rules, as well as the Florida Statutes and Administrative Code. Receive education in understanding and interpreting the monthly and annual financial statements.This is not just the responsibility of the Association Treasurer. I frequently hear comments from Board members such as, “I have to spend so much time going through our monthly financial package. Is there a simpler way to do it?” The answer is “YES.” With guidance from the Association’s CPA, a checklist can be developed to check for accuracy, completeness, explanations of variances, and essentially, answer these questions: How are we doing? What action steps should we consider? Implement Internal