Florida Community
Association Management
Empire South Association Management provides professional community association management services for Florida associations at different stages of development.
Supporting Florida Communities at Every Stage
Empire South Association Management maintains its corporate office in Fernandina Beach, Florida. We have a direct presence in the state and serve community associations with different structures and management needs.
Our team handles the financial, administrative and operational responsibilities required to run a community association. We serve both developer-controlled and owner-controlled communities and structure our management approach around the specific responsibilities identified in each association’s governing documents.
Whether your community is newly developing or has been under owner control for years, Empire South Association Management can handle the day-to-day association work required to keep the community operating.
What is Community Association Management in Florida?
Community association management entails handling the ongoing administrative, financial and operational duties assigned to a homeowners association, condominium association, property owners association or other type of residential community association.
In Florida, community associations operate under both their governing documents and state-specific legal requirements. Florida law separately addresses homeowners associations and condominiums, while community association management itself is regulated under Chapter 468, Part VIII of the Florida Statutes.
Professional management lets boards and developers focus on the big picture while the management company handles many day-to-day tasks associated with the association’s operation.
What Does Florida Community Association Management Include?
Empire South Association Management handles many of the duties associated with managing a community in Florida. The level of service varies depending upon the community and its governing documents. Our services may include:
Communication with owners
Collection of assessments
Preparation of budgets and financial administration
Maintenance of association records
Support for board and annual meetings
Coordination of vendors
Administration of covenants and restrictions
Processing of architectural requests
Coordination of committees
Development of policies and procedures
Assistance during developer control
Turnover and transition assistance
Florida law defines community association management to include functions such as budget preparation, assessment collection, meeting assistance, contract coordination and certain routine operational services.
Experience Managing Community Associations
For over a decade, Empire South Association Management has provided community management services across multiple states and stages of development.
Our experience includes:
Our experience spans both developer-controlled and owner-controlled associations, including communities with different governing structures, varying levels of operational responsibility and differing management needs.
Managing Associations Around Their Governing Documents
Each community association has its own unique set of governing documents. These documents may contain specific requirements concerning association responsibilities, including the collection of assessments, maintenance obligations, architectural standards, common areas, meetings, owner responsibilities and other aspects of association operations.
To ensure consistency in handling routine association matters and fulfilling the duties and obligations imposed on the association by its governing documents, Empire South Association Management relies on the provisions in each community association’s governing documents.
Florida State Law
Requirements
Community associations in Florida also subject to state laws that regulate their operation. Specifically, Chapter 720 of the Florida Statutes governs homeowners associations, while Chapter 718 governs condominium associations.
When a matter requires legal interpretation or additional clarification, Empire South Association Management can work with association counsel so the board receives clear direction to make an informed decision.
Management Built Around Your Community
Assessment Collection and Financial Administration
One of the primary sources of funding for many of the operational costs incurred by associations in Florida is assessments collected from owners. Empire South Association Management collects assessments from owners and responds to owner inquiries related to their assessment accounts. If an assessment account becomes delinquent, we follow the established procedures of the association for collecting delinquencies.
In addition to collecting assessments, Empire South Association Management prepares annual budgets based on the association’s projected operating expenses and submits them to the board for review and approval. If a budget is already in place when our firm begins managing the association, we continue to utilize that budget as the basis for managing the association’s finances.
If changes occur as the community develops or the nature of the association’s responsibilities changes over time, we can adjust the budget preparation and financial administration processes accordingly.
Providing Owners With a Single Point of Contact
Through Empire South Association Management, owners will have a single point of contact for day-to-day questions about their community. Our staff responds to inquiries, processes requests when necessary and completes the steps required under the established operating procedures for their community.
If there is a need for input from the board of directors, the developer, association counsel or another professional regarding an issue raised by an owner, we will ensure that the issue is properly routed to the appropriate party.
Board and Meeting Support
Empire South Association Management helps boards perform their duties by completing much of the administrative work associated with conducting association meetings and handling day-to-day board business.
We can help prepare for board meetings and annual meetings, communicate with owners, organize community materials and complete administrative tasks generated by board decisions. This enables board members to focus on the decision-making aspects of their roles while our staff handles the daily operational functions needed to implement board decisions.
Day-to-Day Management, Taken Care Of
Empire South Association Management can assist associations in obtaining bids from potential vendors, evaluating and comparing bids presented to the board and coordinating with vendors selected and approved by the board.
The board remains responsible for selecting and approving vendors and services. However, Empire South Association Management can handle many of the administrative tasks associated with maintaining those relationships.
Associations produce a considerable volume of documentation through meetings, financial transactions, communication with owners, architectural reviews, agreements and other community association business.
Empire South Association Management helps maintain association records and organize many day-to-day administrative functions needed to manage information consistently.
If an owner requests access to association records or other documentation, our staff will respond in accordance with the applicable procedures established for the community and the requirements of Florida law.
Empire South Association Management works with developer-controlled communities during all phases of community development.
At the beginning of an association management engagement, we work with developers to establish procedures for managing recurring community association matters, including owner communications, assessments, architectural reviews, vendor relations and other routine association business.
Once procedures are established, we can assume many day-to-day association management responsibilities without requiring direct developer involvement.
As a community develops, expenses and responsibilities may transition from the developer to the association. When that occurs, we can modify budgets, management procedures and vendor relationships and assist the association in preparing for the transition from developer control to owner control.
Community Associations We Manage in Florida
Empire South Association Management provides management services for a wide range of Florida community associations, including:
Homeowners associations (HOAs)
Condominium associations
Townhome associations
Property owners associations
Developer-controlled associations
Owner-controlled associations
No matter how a community association is structured or what responsibilities it has, our management philosophy centers on defining each association’s responsibilities and developing systems to carry them out consistently.
Professional Community Association Management in Florida
Empire South Association Management provides experienced management for Florida communities with different governing structures, responsibilities and stages of development.
Whether your association is developer-controlled, owner-controlled or looking for a new management company, contact Empire South Association Management to learn how our team can assist with the day-to-day management of your community.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does a Florida Community Association Management Company Do?
Florida community association management companies handle the financial, administrative and operational functions involved in managing a community association, including assessment collection, budgeting, owner communications, recordkeeping, meeting support, vendor coordination and administration of governing documents.
What Types of Florida Community Associations Does Empire South Association Management Manage?
Empire South Association Management provides management services for homeowners associations, condominium associations, townhome associations, and property owners associations, under both developer and owner control.
Will Empire South Association Management Work With Developer-Controlled Communities in Florida?
Yes. Empire South Association Management can help developers establish procedures for routine association business and handle many day-to-day association responsibilities as those duties are assigned to the association.
Will Empire South Association Management Take Over an Existing Florida Community Association?
Yes. We can begin with the association’s existing governing documents, budget, policies and procedures, vendors and operational systems and implement our management processes according to the duties assigned to the association.
How Does Empire South Association Management Deal With Florida-Specific Legal and Governing Document Requirements?
We use the association’s governing documents as the framework for administering its day-to-day operations. Florida community associations are also subject to applicable state law. If a matter requires legal review or clarification, we can coordinate with association counsel so the board has the information it needs to make an informed decision.