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Board & Self-Management Training / Developer Turnovers / Management Searches
Spring 2007

In This Issue

Highlighted Projects

Rubbish Rebates for 2006

Chicago Sign Ordinance Enforcement

Spring Into Action!

Helpful Services?For New & Past Clients


 

Highlighted Projects
CSL photo

  • Management Search
    for 176-unit condo association for full-time, on-site management


  • Developer Turnover Training
    for 6-unit association


  • Board Training & Budget Review
    for 18-unit townhome association


  • Management Coaching Retainers
    for a management company and a 6-unit and 19-unit association


  • New Service...
    Shirley Feldmann is now available to provide short-term, on-site property manager assistance for Associations transitioning between managers or whose manager may be going on vacation, medical leave, or just plain overworked and needing an extra hand on a temporary basis. Be sure to plan ahead as availability is limited!


    Coming Soon...
    Currently in development is our
    ?Do-It-Yourself Forms
    and How To?s?

    including step-by-step instructions on how to self-manage every aspect of your Association. We are compiling over 50 forms, checklists and sample letters that will be available on CD and easily customizable for your Association.


    SEMINAR FOR REALTORS�
    Our final seminar of our series on "New Construction & Conversions... Eliminate Liability & Increase Your Sales!" through the Chicago Association of REALTORS� Member Profitability Programs will be held on Thursday, April 12th at the CAR Central location. Have no fear, we'll be back in the Fall with Part 2 of our well-received Condominium series!

    For more information, you may click on the below link to be directed to our Events & Seminars page of our website.

    www.AssociationAdvocatesInc.com



    Greetings!

    Spring is a great time to get all of your Association projects started to ensure they are completed before winter is here again. And, if you're in the City of Chicago, don't forget to apply for your Rubbish Rebate and be aware that the City of Chicago Sign Ordinance will be strictly enforced.

    Association Advocates Inc. is dedicated to helping homeowners protect their investment. So, if you know of someone that will benefit from this information and you would like to share this newsletter with them, please use the "Forward Email" link at the bottom of this email, as that will save the formatting and graphics.

    We hope you find this information useful. We've helped over 50 Associations in 4 1/2 years, so please let us know how we can be of service to you.--Shirley Feldmann & Angela Falzone


  • Rubbish Rebates for 2006
  • Trash

    If you haven't applied annually for the Condo Refuse Rebate, then you may be missing out on money the City of Chicago may rightfully owe your condo or townhome association. Why? Because your property taxes include garbage pick-up; however, Associations with more than four units must have their own scavenger services in place, so are eligible for partial reimbursement (up to a maximum of $75/per residential unit) from the City of Chicago. And, if you are professionally managed, be sure to confirm with your manager that they are submitting the completed forms in time. We have heard sad tales from Boards who assumed their manager had filed, but were instead out many, many thousands of dollars because their manager in fact had not filed for years!

    There appears to be some confusion, however, as to whether April 15th is the deadline for the previous year. Urban legend or true deadline? Per the Chicago City Council Committee On Finance office, which oversees these rebates, "All buildings eligible for this rebate have one year to file an application. For example, your 2006 application would have to be introduced to City Council by December of 2007." So, why then do some Wards have an April 15th deadline on their forms when every Ward must accept completed packages submitted by December? Some have told us that it is designed to help Associations get their refunds sooner because the City pays when funds are available and they felt that putting the same deadline as Tax Day would help Boards to remember every year, when the funds may be more available.

    Since the City is usually a few years behind on sending out rebate checks, we agree with this logic so be sure to put this deadline (or the deadline of your choosing) on your Annual Calendar, so you don't miss out. And, don't wait until the last minute as only completed packages will be accepted by your Alderman's office and some research may be involved including, but not limited to: 1) Recycling Certification Form must be on file; 2) Copies of all refuse bills pertaining to the period you are applying; 3) Copy of current scavenger service agreement; 4) Resolution adopted by governing board; and, 5) Completed application must be notarized.

    Please contact your Alderman's office to verify their specific process and to the below website for more information about eligibility, documentation needed, Aldermanic lists, and applicable forms.

    http://committeeonfinance.org/condo/
  • Chicago Sign Ordinance Enforcement
  • CAR Logo

    The Chicago Association of REALTORS� has sent a warning alert to their membership that the Chicago Sign Ordinance, especially in the Lincoln Park Zip Codes, will be strictly enforced. The ordinances specifically referenced in this warning are: #10-28-064/Advertising Signs and #7-28-085/Signs and signboards unlawful on private walkways, etc. In brief, unless the proper permits are obtained, signs are strictly prohibited on the public way in the City of Chicago and may be subject to a fine of $200-$500/per offense. You may review an explanation of the ordinance on the CAR website, by clicking on the CAR Logo above.

    So, can an Association be held responsible for an Open House sign that a REALTOR� places on the public way in front of or near the property? According to our CAR representative, it is the agent's responsibility to place the signs in legal spots and, typically, the brokerage will be fined by the City and in turn the managing broker will have the responsible agent pay the fine. That said, the City works in mysterious ways and has been known to make mistakes! Unit sales and open houses are inevitable, so we always recommend to our client Boards that they establish appropriate Rules & Regulations to proactively address such issues.

    Charles VanderVennet is a partner with Fosco, VanderVennet & Fullett, P.C. and has provided us with the below legal opinion on what associations may do to protect themselves on this issue.

    Sign Ordinance Issues Legal Opinion by Charles VanderVennet, Esq.
  • Spring Into Action!
  • Property Inspection

    It's time to stop the winter hibernation and use your renewed energy to get those much needed Association projects done. Besides the obvious of turning off your heating systems for the season, here are a few Spring tips to get you started...

    ? Property Inspection?Spring is always a good time to do a thorough walk-through to ensure that the winter weather did not cause any damage to the property. Look for tuck pointing issues, have your roof inspected, check concrete walks and steps, driveways, siding, etc. The earlier you get proposals, the more opportunity that repairs can be scheduled in a timely manner. Ignoring the possibility of problems will only result in more damage and higher repair costs. Being proactive now will save you time and money later!

    ? Landscaping?Smaller associations that cannot afford a landscaping company might consider an Owner Planting Day, which may not only save the Association money and beautify the property, but can be a fun, social event, too! Using a few budgeted dollars, owners can pitch in by planting flowers, installing mulch, painting fences, etc., giving the property a fresh spring look. Pizza, beer and music can go a long way to increase community spirit and encourage participation! Please remember that a Board cannot make participation mandatory, regardless of the size of the Association?and no reductions to assessments for those who do participate can be offered.

    ? Sprinklers?Make sure your sprinklers are inspected and turned on. If no sprinklers, consider either obtaining a watering proposal from a landscaping company, hiring a local teenager who wants to make some extra money, asking your maintenance person if they will add this to their list, or create a watering committee with owners willing to take turns.

    ? Window Washing & Carpet Cleaning?If you can only afford these services once or twice a year, this is a good time to get these items cleaned to wipe away what the winter blew in!

  • Helpful Services?For New & Past Clients
  • The above tips are just a few examples of how to run your Association in the most efficient manner. If your Association doesn't have an Annual Calendar and/or Rules and Regulations that include the above items, then perhaps you'd benefit from our services! Below are just a few....

    Board Training & Developer Turnovers Are you a new Association starting up after a Developer Turnover? Or an existing Association that may not be working as efficiently as it could? Do you have Rules & Regulations in place to assist the Board in ensuring that all owners are treated equally and the community lives harmoniously? Do you have an Annual Calendar that includes all important administrative, financial and operational deadlines to ensure important items don't get forgotten? We can customize a training package to meet the specific needs of your Association, whether self or professionally managed.

    Refresher Courses are now being offered to our past training clients. This is an excellent way to bring new board members up-to-speed with how to efficiently and accurately manage your Association to ensure everyone is on the same page and to avoid board member burnout.

    ?Do-It-Yourself? and ?Management Coaching? Retainers are designed to provide on-going assistance to our self-managed Boards to encourage annual compliance with the Illinois Condominium Property Act, increasing efficiency and decreasing Board liability. Various service levels are offered on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis.

    Management Searches Are you a start-up Association after the Developer Turnover looking to find new management? Or, perhaps your current management company may not be fulfilling the expectations of the owners, and the Board has exhausted its options trying to rectify the issues? We can assist by guiding the Board on the proper due diligence needed to help them make the most informed decision.

    Learn more...
    Shirley Feldmann, President/773.348.0742; Angela Falzone, Consultant/847.685.0710

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