Home Improvements Under A HOA or Condominium   Living in a community or condominium with an association board has many benefits. One of the major jobs of a HOA or Condominium Association is to ensure your community is kept in great shape, both physically and visibly. Associations ensure rules are created and enforced to benefit all who live there.   Everyone likes to make their house into a home, putting your personal stamp on a property with home improvements, new interior design ideas and so on. But before taking on a large project it is vital to ensure you obtain the approval of your association's board, and adhere to any rules or restrictions put in place - not doing this could result in costly fines and a halt to any work in progress.   Be particularly careful when making improvements to the exterior of your property, even if it is something as simple as putting a fence around your yard. The HOA or Condominium Association wants to keep communities looking good for everyone and may have rules on certain types of fences - such as a ban on chain link fences if they are deemed not aesthetically appealing.    The easiest way to ensure you will not have to tear down your fence or be hit with expensive fines is to read the by-laws of your association's community. Check to see if there are any restrictions in place before work begins. Ensure you submit your plans to your HOA/Condominium Association and gain complete approval. This process can take anywhere between 1 and 5 weeks typically. Provide blueprints and make sure you communicate your plans fully in your letter to the board. Once approved, you can then rest assured the improvements you want to make will not come back to haunt you or your bank account in the future.

 

Get Your Home Ready For The Florida Summer    As the months tick on by during 2016, we're sneaking ever closer to those hot summer months. But is your home ready?    The summer months present many challenges here in Southern Florida - stifling heat, torrential downpours, even the possibility of hurricanes. But there are a few things you can do to get your home ready for summer, and C.A.M.S have provided a checklist for you to follow below to ensure your ready for the challenge.    1. Have your annual A/C unit check done  When it comes to A/C units sometimes you have to spend a little to save a lot. By getting your A/C unit serviced before the summer heat has it running 24/7, you can catch any small problems that could quickly escalate.    2. Clean out your gutters  Summer often means rain, and lots of it here in Florida, even for just an hour a day. By freeing up your gutters of any leaves and other debris, you can ensure they do their job. Nobody needs water damaged roofs, or broken gutters scattered all over your property.    3. Change your air filter Alongside getting your A/C unit serviced, it is equally important to change out your filter. Often out of sight means out of mind, but changing your filter is a cheap and easy way to ensure your A/C unit is working smoothly and efficiently.   4. Stock up for hurricane season  Whilst we all hope a hurricane doesn't make landfall during this year's season, which begins on June 1st, you should still be prepared. Whilst it has not been announced if and when a Hurricane Supply Tax Holiday will take place in 2016 you can click here to stay up to date. For an essential hurricane supply list provided by the American Red Cross you can click here.

Changes In The Voting Process   During 2015, condominium voting moved into a new era, the era of online voting, as you are all most likely aware.  The new section was added to chapter 718 of the Florida Statute and is found at 718.128, F.S. This new section allows condominium association members to vote on issues concerning them via electronic or internet-based online voting.  Key components of this new law require that the system includes a method for authenticating the unit owner's identity, as well as authenticating the validity of each electronic vote. These two measures are in place to ensure there is no possible way the vote can be altered during transit. Another key requirement is the system must be able to remit a receipt to each online voter who cast an electronic ballot to confirm the vote has been received and counted.  For more information and to read the full section about online voting requirements you can click here.

 

C.A.M.S Scoops FLCAJ Honors For Second Consecutive Year

 

C.A.M.S is delighted to announce that we have been voted a Florida Community Association Journal Readers' Choice Award winner for a second year running.  

 

Our recognition comes in the management category and is a testament to the constant hard work of all our team members. We are very proud of the service we provide and delighted to once again

be recognized by FLCAJ readers. 

 

In our previous newsletter we spoke briefly about the competition and provided links to vote, so a big thank you to everyone who took time to vote for us, and we look forward to continuing our high standard of service to you all.

 

Happy Memorial Day Weekend   It's the time of the year when we sit back and reflect, a weekend dedicated to those who keep our great country safe.    All of us here at C.A.M.S would like to extend our deepest gratitude to those who have, those who continue to do so, and those who gave their lives to serve in our military.    Our office will be closed to honor the holiday on Monday 30th.    They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn; At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, We will remember them.    Laurence Binyon, 1914.    Have a great Memorial Day

Charity Event - Carousel Concert-Thon

AUTO-BURGLARY PREVENTION TIPS...

Are your valuables VISIBLE? Don't be the next car burglary victim! The first thing you can do to help: Don't leave valuables in your car - particularly not in plain sight! The last thing you need is to find your vehicle's window broken or items missing. We suggest taking these simple but important steps to maintain your car's safety:

>Don't leave valuables in your car.

>If you must leave valuable items in your car while out and about, place items out of sight before reaching your destination or move them inconspicuously.

>If your trunk can be opened from inside your car without a key, lock this feature when you are not in your car or have it disabled, if possible.

>Leave no trace. Don't leave any "sign" that there might be valuables such as docking stations or connector cables. Leave nothing in "plain sight" that might make your vehicle worth "investigating" by a thief; not even loose coins or a CD.

>Lock ALL your vehicle's doors even if you plan to be gone for only a brief time.

>Set any alarm or anti-theft device. If you have one, use it!

A final word: Do NOT confront anyone. Your life is precious; property can be replaced! If you are coming and going from the community at any time, day or night and you notice what you believe to be suspicious activity  CALL 911

BE ALERT, BE AWARE, and prepared to BE A GOOD WITNESS. 

Report suspicious persons or activities in our neighborhood to the police.

Remember, a burglar doesn't look like a burglar.