Property Management Council

Florida Hurricane Season is Here. Are You Ready?

By: Stevie Krumm, Broker/Owner, Property Manager Next Home Excellence

The longest season in the state of Florida is hurricane season. It technically runs for a generous six months of the year from, June 1 to November 30. Here we are again at the beginning of this scary season, being reminded of all the ways we should be prepared for it. The Property Management Council at RASM recently had a panel discussion with five professionals that are directly related to the impact that hurricanes can have on our properties. They reminded us of some of the best ways to be prepared before and after a tropical threat.

KNOW YOUR AGENT & YOUR POLICY

First and most importantly, you need to know your insurance agent and understand the homeowner’s policy that you have. Is wind-driven rain included in your policy? If it’s not, then the damage caused by water that comes in through broken windows or holes in the roof may not be covered. Other things to educate yourself on are loss assessment, actual cash value, and recoverable appreciation. Having a great agent who is looking out for your best interest is essential in getting the right coverage for your property.

UTILIZING A LICENSED PUBLIC ADJUSTER

Creating a relationship with a licensed public adjuster before a storm is also very important. They can help you navigate your insurance claim should you have to go that route. Most people have heard that documenting your property’s condition and its contents is crucial to making a winning insurance claim. Taking into consideration the fact that power and internet services may be down after a storm, it is important to know that you can access the photos and videos you took in a timely manner. If you have a vacation rental property that has vacancy for periods of time, enlisting the help of a home watch service and keeping good records of when they visit the property can also help you achieve a better outcome with an insurance claim.

UNDERSTAND YOUR CONTRACT

If you own a rental property and it is managed by a property manager, it is important to know what your licensed agent is required to do and what you may be required to do. Read over your contract with the property manager. Will they hire someone to install your hurricane shutters? Will they bring in any patio furniture that may become a projectile? How and when will they document the condition after the storm and notify you if there is any damage? Knowing these small details in advance will certainly help you before and after the storm.

REMEDIATION TEAM

Having a remediation team vetted before a storm can also be extremely helpful in getting damage assessed and remediation started as quickly as possible. If the vendor of your choice has a pre-signed authorization to start remediation services already in your file, that will allow them to start work on your property first and help mitigate your losses. Knowing all of these things at the beginning of storm season can truly help reduce the stress and anxiety that naturally comes along with a hurricane. •

RASM Awards 17 Scholarships to Local Students

Every year, the Association awards college scholarships valued at $2,000 each to deserving students from the two-county area. Because of our increased focus on charitable activity through the RASM REALTORS® Charitable Foundation, in 2021 we were able to surpass our typical award of six scholarships to ten scholarships.

And in 2022, RASM was able to award 17 scholarships to local students. This year alone, the RASM Scholarship Committee reviewed more than 70 applications and spent three days doing interviews to determine the 17 recipients. As a benefit to RASM members, eight of the 17 scholarships were awarded to members or children of RASM members. The other nine scholarships were rewarded to members of the community and we are proud to have exceeded our typical scholarship amount this year. Manatee is proud to provide financial support to area students to sustain the future of Sarasota and Manatee counties. Since its founding in 2002, the RASM Scholarship Program has awarded over $202,000 to deserving students.

RASM MEMBER RECIPIENTS

Samantha McLeod, daughter of Candice Mcleod with Medway Realty, will be attending Florida State University to study Psychology.

Noelle Prouty, granddaughter of Diane Thomas with Michael Saunders & Co., will be attending the University of Florida to study Biology and Art.

Nina Prouty, granddaughter of Diane Thomas with Michael Saunders & Co., will be attending the University of Florida to study English, History, and Music Performance.

Madison Scholten, daughter of Heidi Jo Scholten with Medway Realty, will be attending the University of Florida to study Nursing.

Isabella Spagnolo, daughter of Angela Spagnolo with Michael Saunders & Co., will be attending the University of Florida to study Biology on a pre-med track.

Olivia Sherry, daughter of Gene Sherry with Coldwell Banker Realty, will be attending Furman University to study Psychology.

Cameron Drown, son of Debra Drown with Coastal Luxury Properties, will be attending Southeastern University to study Education.

Tabitha Hanely, daughter of Wendy Huffman with Leslie Wells Realty, Inc., and her father is also an active Business Partner member with Security National Mortgage Company. She will be attending Seminole State College of Florida to study Digital Art/Animation.

ON-MEMBER RECIPIENTS

Sophia Pearce will be attending the University of Central Florida to study Zoology.

Quinn O’Connor will be attending Barnard College to study neuroscience.

Abigail Koester will be attending the University of Florida to study Mechanical Engineering.

Liam Ordonez will be attending Cornell University, College of Human Ecology, with plans to study human development, global and public health, education, and gerontology.

Haley Sprague is planning to attend the Peabody Institute of The John Hopkins University.

Julianna Courville will be attending the University of Louisiana at Lafayette to study Kinesiology.

Keile O’Dell will be attending Southeastern University to study Business Leadership and Ministerial Leadership.

Giacomo Mutti will be attending the University of Florida to study International Business.

Lexington Kahler will be attending the University of Florida to study Business Administration and Political Science.

Scholarships support tuition, textbooks and other course-related fees. RASM is proud to provide this financial support to area students to sustain the future of Sarasota and Manatee County. Since its founding in 2002, the RASM Scholarship Program has awarded over $236,000 to deserving students. For questions about RASM scholarships, please contact Gina McCarthy at gina@myrasm.com or (941) 952-3405. •