|
ACCESS IS NECESSARY
By
Rafael Aquino
Published December 1, 2021
Living in a condo association comes with many
benefits, such as an added layer of support for managing the items
in the association, access to amenities you might not have had at
your home, and increased pride in the area you live in. However,
with that do come some rules that owners need to adhere to, and a
common one that is usually overlooked is providing a set of keys to
management or the board.
Managers and board members alike can attest to
the challenges they are confronted with when access to a unit is not
provided. While some may think it's for the association to be nosy,
that is never the case. Access to a unit is needed to inspect
potential water leaks, leaks between units, fire alarms, sprinklers,
and most importantly, address emergencies. Not having access to a
unit delays response times to emergencies or inspections from being
done in a timely fashion. Many times these delays cost the
association time and money.
While I can appreciate owners not wanting someone
in their unit, they should understand that notice shall be provided
24 - 48 hours before going into a resident's unit, unless it's an
emergency, which a call or text will do. If your association is
dealing with this challenge of not having all the units' keys, you
may want to communicate why you need such access and what steps you
would take before going into a unit. Many times, just doing that
simple step will get you a higher level of cooperation with your
residents.
In the multifamily sector (rental buildings), you
are starting to see digital locks on all units. I'm hopeful in the
coming years, you will see more association with digital locks that
tracks who came in and out of a unit. This will provide easier
access to those that need it, and residents can understand when
someone goes into their unit.
You gain certain privileges by living in an
association, but you also lose some; however, if you keep the common
good of the community top of mind, it should be much easier to live
within the community.
|
|
 |
As the Co-Founder and CEO
of Affinity Management Services, Rafael P. Aquino leads his team to
redefine excellence. They serve community associations
efficiently |
|
and effectively with
dedication and passion. Rafael’s energy and positive
spirit is the foundation of Affinity Management
Services’ company culture, which instills enthusiasm and
excitement when providing expert advice to its board
members and relieving the day-to-day burdens of running
a community association.
Since 2007, Rafael has
developed a work culture that values responsive and
high-quality services. He has led his team by following
a proactive vs reactive philosophy. The same approach
Rafael instills in the day to day operations of each
association. Today, Affinity Management Services
maintains its success and benefits as a result of the
foundation Rafael has built and continues to foster by
providing educational seminars, continuing education
classes for association managers and board members
alike.
Rafael and his team help condominium and homeowners’
associations save money and improve their communities.
His calm, personable, and service-oriented nature helps
him to establish strong relationships with ease. Rafael
is known as a sincere and honest leader who looks out
for the best interests of his clients and communities,
and he strongly advocates for their needs. His role
requires coordination and communication, as such he
takes logical and intelligent steps to approach
challenges head-on.
As a graduate of Florida International University’s
electrical engineering program and a licensed community
association manager, Rafael’s education and skills equip
him with unique insights to tackle complex problems
through critical thinking. He understands how each
component within a system works together in order to
effectively arrive at solutions, techniques, and
conclusions. Therefore, as he manages the multiple
challenges of running a community association management
company, he understands how each property is its own
unique system and tailors’ specific services to assure
that all their needs are met.
For more information about Rafael P. Aquino and Affinity
Management Services please visit
www.ManagedByAffinity.com or call 1-800-977-6279
|
|
Doral Office: 8200 NW 41st ST
Suite 200
Doral, FL 33166
Broward Office: 150 S Pine Island RD Suite 300
Plantation, FL 33324
O: 800-977-6279 ● F: 305-325-4053
|
|
