SAVE THE DATE!
Transcription
SAVE THE DATE!
SAVE THE DATE! The Villamare Annual Owners Meeting will be held on Friday, May 2nd at 10am at the Marriott located in Palmetto Dunes. The Villamare Annual Owners Cocktail Party will be held poolside on Thursday, May 1st at 5:30pm. Allied Management Group PO Box 7431 Hilton Head Island, SC 29938 VOICE OF VILLAMARE April 2014 Presidents Report By: Rod Mohammadi My Fellow Homeowners, Inside this issue: Manager & Security Report 3 HO6 Coverage 4 Sales & Rental Update 5 Financial Report 6 Building Report 9 Get to know your Board of Directors 10 Helpful Tips 11 Check out the Allied Management web-site at I hope this letter finds everyone doing well. As we approach the final days of our 2013 Fiscal Year, I am pleased to report that Villamare has completed another successful year full of valuable and aggressive accomplishments. Despite a cold and rainy fall and winter, we managed to complete the Painting Project! This was a significant effort due to the excessive rainy and freezing weather and unexpected corrosion that impacted the overall cost and schedule of the project. Due to the condition of the metal roofing systems in Buildings 1 & 3, 50% of the roof had to be completely replaced. This unforeseen expense increased the cost of the project by 30% and extended the completion of the overall project by a month. Locating a qualified roofer with competitive pricing was a challenge that we had to successfully achieve to complete this project. www.alliedhiltonhead.com Due to Villamare’s aggressive and effective Life Cycle/Capital Reserve Program and in conjunction with years of planning and project management experience, your Board was able to fund this project ($1.5 Million Dollars) without a single Assessment to the Villa owners! Therefore, it is imperative to continue to fund the Life Cycle/Capital Reserve Programs for our future projects. During the same period, we continued with our maintenance program and upgraded our facilities. Continued on next page Page 2 Voice of Villamare Presidents Report Continued Voice of Villamare Page 11 Indoor Water Conservation Tips Continued from last page You can reduce your water consumption by 20-40 percent without purchasing expensive equipment.. The following suggestions will help you get in the habit of saving water: Below is a summary list of projects completed in 2013: Kitchen Beachfront by Marriott Converted outdoor Jacuzzi from electric to gas Bathroom remodeling-outdoor & health club remodeling Avoid the garbage disposal. It uses a lot of unnecessary water and can lead to problems with septic systems. Run automatic dishwashers only with a full load. While the improvement of the exterior and landscape of Villamare is always important, improving the interior of your unit is just as critical for future rental revenue and sales. When renovating, please contact Allied Management Group to obtain the proper renovation rules and application forms. This is just a brief highlight of what keeps the Board of Directors busy year round. Your Board along with Allied Management Group, is committed to protecting and enhancing your investment. Bathroom Conventional toilets use about five to seven gallons of water per flush. Water used for each flush can be reduced by placing two half-gallon plastic bottles filled with water in the tank. Install a low-flow aerator on your showerhead and sink. They reduce flow to approximately three gallons per minute instead of the usual five to 10 in a shower. Turn off tap water while brushing your teeth or shaving. Remember, when you use less water, you are also using less energy, leading to even greater savings. Visit www.auduboninternational.org for more conservation tips. Rod Mohammadi, President Manager’s Report Keep a container of water in the refrigerator for cold drinks. If you have to run your tap while waiting for cold water, collect running water in pitcher for later use. by: David Howard While this winter has been cold, rainy, and dreary, there have been a number of bright spots for our Villamare association. Foremost, the building renovation despite the weather, will finish on time and will be paid completely from existing reserves. With total metal roof cost of approximately $200,000 dollars, almost $150,000 more than initially needed. This is seldom the case in most condominium associations. As reported earlier, when accessed via lift equipment and scaffolding, hidden rust had attacked the panels much more than thought when observed from the ground. The new panels will help the entire metal roof system serve us well for years to come. Kuddos to your Board of Directors for their conservative and sensible approach to the associations finances. In addition, our contractor Coastal Exterior Services and building consultant, Ling Graves, deserve praise as weather and the above mentioned latent damage created some terrific time challenges. This project ran as smoothly as any we have managed. Very few complaints and workman, Continued on next page who for the most part, were very polite and helpful. Saving Energy to Stay Cool Energy bills, like the temperature, always rise in the summer. But don’t fret: While there are big fixes* you can incorporate to make your home more energy-efficient, there are also many inexpensive energy solutions, as well as some simple and free steps that you can take to cut down on costs and save money. Turn it up. Set your thermostat as high as possible. Start with 78 degrees when at home and 85 degrees when away. For each degree above 72 you set the thermostat, you save between 1-3 percent. Circulate air. Use fans to create cool breezes and keep the air moving in your home. Ceiling fans, in particular, can create enough air movement to make it cooler by at least four degrees. Shut the shades. Windows allow a lot of heat into your home. Keep drapes and shades closed during the day to keep the temperature down. Open nights. At night, if it’s cooler outside than in, open your windows! Not only will this bring some fresh air into your home, it will give you a chance to turn off that AC. Also, be sure to close your windows in the morning to keep the cooler air in longer. Wash and dry wisely. Run only full loads when using your dishwasher or washing machine. Whenever possible, run those appliances during off-peak hours or when your air conditioner is turned off or barely running, which typically is during the evening, to save energy. Use the clothes dryers’ moisture-sensing automatic drying setting if it has one, and clean your clothes dryers’ lint trap after each use. Unplug. Electronics—such as TVs, DVDs, chargers, computers, printers and other devices—use electricity even when they are turned off. By unplugging these devices when you’re not using them, you only save a few watts, but they quickly add up to bigger savings over time. Use a power strip for multiple devices, and switch it off before you go to bed. Also, turn off lights in unoccupied rooms. Plan pool time. If you have a pool, shorten the operating time if possible. Switch the pool filter and sweeper operations to off-peak hours and during nighttime if the pool has automatic cleaning settings. Voice of Villamare Page 10 GET TO KNOW YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS ROD MOHAMMADI PRESIDENT Graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in electrical engineering. Certified in project management in South Carolina and Georgia. Past President of Stokes Merrill, a manufacturer of processing and packaging equipment for the pharmaceutical, nutritional, and industrial markets. Served on the Board and past President of various Trade Association. JOHN SCHWARTZ Thirty one years of experience in design, construction and project management at various nuclear facilities in MEMBER the United States. Winter resident of Villamare; summers resident of Canton Ohio. Currently holding a program manager position with Washington International Company at the Savannah Owner of 1210 Villamare for 16 years. River Site (department of energy nuclear installation) in Aiken, South Carolina. BSBA from Wittenberg University and a JD from WVA Law School. Resident of Augusta during the week and Villamare during the weekend. Worked as an Attorney at Law for 10 years in Colorado. EUGENE MARSHALL VICE PRESIDENT President and Majority Stockholder of Capital Plastics Inc. for 30 years. Retired for 3 years. Grew up in Savannah, Georgia and graduated from The Virginia Military Institute; served in the US Army during the Vietnam era. WILLIAM MACLEOD Upon returning to Savannah, went to work for the MEMBER Mass Mutual Life Insurance Company; was appointed Resides in East Lansing, Michigan. General Manager in 1975. Retired after 30 years of service and concentrated on golf, fishing , and traveling. Civic involvement in several organizations, including industry groups, and my favorite, 20 years with the YMCA of Coastal Georgia. Was invited to join the Board in 1996 by past President, Stanford Makover, and have enjoyed it ever since. Bought our unit, 3431, in 1989, one of the first in building 3. JOSEPH MALLEE TREASURER Resident of Villamare 7 to 8 months a year; summers in the Philadelphia area. 12 years at Villamare; 9 years on the Board of Directors Bachelor of Science from LaSalle University and an MBA from Drexel University. Has been a member of Villamare for 9 years. Holds a BS in Business Administration from Central Michigan University. Worked for 30 years as a Real Estate Broker. Owner of CBHB Realty with 8 offices and 260 agents. Past President and Realtor of the Year for the Greater Lansing Association of Realtors. Page 3 Voice of Villamare Manager’s Report Continued Continued from last page Another bright spot was the addition of Brady Jamison to our management team. We have received many compliments on her efficiency, problem solving, and demeanor. She brings an arsenal of skills to the position. The primary purpose of the renovation is the protection of the building structures, but there is an additional benefit. We are left with a new fresh look. The new metal mansard color has been well received and our fresh new look has the association poised to capitalize on what appears to be an improving economy. We will side step the politics of this unstable recovery, but there are some very good things happening with Hilton Head real estate and in particular, Villamare. As discussed in Bill MacLeod’s article, inventory is down and sales are up, the many improvements coupled with our fresh look should keep and improve not only property values, but rental income. We hope to see you at the upcoming annual meeting. If however you are unable to attend we ask that your proxy be returned to ensure a quorum so business can be conducted. The weather is now good and the cocktail party before the meeting makes for an enjoyable evening and a chance to meet fellow owners. Security by: John Schwartz As a direct oceanfront property located along one of the prettiest stretch of beaches in Palmetto Dunes, Villamare attracts thousands of people throughout the year – from owners and their guests to renters and their families. They find our beautiful grounds, amenities, parking lots and easy beach access both inviting and irresistible. But unfortunately so do others. So the continuing challenge is to ensure that our rules and regulations are observed and followed by everyone – starting with the no trespassing signs posted in the parking lots to the rules in the elevators and pool areas. To help us, Allied Management contracts every year with a security company to provide an on-site presence from Memorial to Labor Day. Security’s basic job is to walk the parking lots and garages, check vehicle passes, and make sure people comply with the pool rules. This year, a local company Coastal Security will provide our on-site security. We are looking forward to working with them. With a new security company and increased attention from the Palmetto Dunes security staff, we hope this year will prove the best. On a final note, there is now a new guard checkpoint close to the main entrance of Palmetto Dunes. Unlike the South gate checkpoint which is manned around the clock, this new one is only manned from 11PM to 7AM to provide additional security for the Queens Grant, St. Andrews and commercial business areas. Voice of Villamare Reviewing Your H06 Insurance Coverage Page 4 By: Gene Marshall One of the most talked about topics at Villamare for the past several years has been flood insurance. The new law that was designed to put the entire flood insurance program on a sound actuarial basis. When the new premium rates began to reach homeowners, there was panic about how large the increases were, often many thousands of dollars higher than previous years. Congressmen representing coastal areas got the message that changes in the law had to be made. So, with unprecedented speed, Congress passed a new law March 13, 2014, called “The Homeowner’s Flood Insurance Affordability Act.” This act largely scrapes the big rate hikes that many primary homeowners faced. The new legislation will help the flood insurance program become more financially solvent because it includes a $25 surcharge for most primary homes, and a charge of $250 for businesses and second homes. It is unclear exactly how this will affect our premiums for Villamare. I am sure that I will have more specifics very soon. Last year, natural disaster cost $134 billion worldwide, far below the average of the last decade, according to a report by Munich, the world’s largest reinsurance company. The average for the past 10 years has been $197 billion. In fact, according to their report, it was the quietest hurricane season in the North Atlantic since 1982; not a single hurricane made landfall in the U.S! Page 9 Building Report Voice of Villamare By: Ling Graves I am pleased to report that the painting project is nearing completion. Coastal Exteriors is wrapping up Building 1 and well underway with Building 2. They have done a great job with repairs and finishes on the exterior of the buildings. Additional metal roofing work was added to the scope of the project which replaced 50% of the metal mansard roof. In spite of unfavorable weather over the winter months, the project is expected to be finished by April 15th, on time and on budget. This leads me into predictions for the 2014 hurricane season. The current “official” numbers call for 17 storms, 8 named hurricanes, and 3 major hurricanes. I could not find any predictions about where the 3 majors will hit. These predictions are very close to last year’s numbers. Now, closer to home, I want to address Villamare’s premiums in light of all of the concerns of the new flood insurance regulations and changes. Many of our unit owners have expressed concern about what these changes will have on Villamare. The short answer, I believe, not much. How many of you know how much flood insurance costs each unit? For insurance year 2013 to 2014, out total flood insurance premiums average $115 for each of our 160 owners! Rental Season Check List Some items you may want to have checked are: A/C Systems: Check filters and clear drains lines; Water Heaters: Pressure relief valves and connections; Washer & Dryers: Check hoses and connections, dryer vents clear of debris; Kitchen Appliances: Dishwashers and Refrigerators, check supply line connections; Plumbing: Toilets & Sinks, check for leaking handles and toilets that might run. These items should be checked on a regular basis to help prevent water damage to your unit and/or surrounding units. You are responsible for any cost of repairs made to a unit that was damaged by a leak in your unit. These requirements are specified in the Villamare Master Deed and Bylaws. Please remind your guests and rental agents of the following rules: No grilling on balconies; Towels & Clothing may not be hung on balconies; No storage in the hallways, i.e. bicycles, beach gear etc; No pets; this year we have had some complaints about renters having dogs at Villamare. Please remind your rental agents that renters are not allowed to have pets while renting at Villamare. No reserving of pool furniture. Voice of Villamare Financial Report Continued Page 8 By: David Howard Page 5 Voice of Villamare Sales & Rental Update By: Bill MacLeod I recently contacted Jean Beck, Executive Director of the Hilton Head Association of Realtors, to provide an Another 29% is spoken for with variable expenses. These include: update regarding the condominium investments for all of us here at Villamare. With individual condo values vary- Building Expense: Light bulbs, electrical repairs, building repair, fixtures, painting. All building maintenance and repairs – 4% ing greatly between our Villamare buildings, building views and unit conditions, Jean provided what I believe is the Grounds Repair: Plants, mulch, fountain repairs, sprinklers and ground lighting– 8% most meaningful financial analysis for us as owners. Elevator Expense: State inspection requirements, repair outside of contract, vandalism– 1% Common Electric: Power consumption for: lights, pumps, motors, alarms, elevators, or any common appliance– 8% Propane: Heater for pool; Jacuzzi– 4% Water/Sewer: Consumption of all water including all units and sprinkler, pool and any water consumed within Villamare– 13% Pool Expense: Line item that pays for repair not covered by the maintenance contract. Including motors, filters, and all pool related items- 1% The following information is for all Palmetto Dunes condominiums sold in 2013. Villamare, as ocean properties, will be at the upper end of this data: 2013 Closed Unit Sales were up + 10.3% 2013 Median Sales Prices were up + 10.2% 2013 Listings were Down – 11.6% Administrative: Governmental expenses, copies, annual meeting related expenses to operation of The Association– 2% 2013 Days on Market Until Sold were Down – 9.1% Security: Part time security in the “Rental” season, holidays, etc. - 2% Noteworthy is that the supply of condos Legal: General Counsel, paperwork filings and opinions- .6% has continued to drop, which in turn caused our Annual Audit/Review: CPA audit of Association books- .4% condo values to go up. In fact, 2013 had the Health Club Expense: Salary for onsite staff and miscellaneous repairs and materials– 1% As you can see, the vast amount of your Association fees are allocated and very little is left as any type of discretionary expense. The total administrative fee is far less than 10% and is less than the best of non-profit charities; this is accomplished by judicial oversight and volunteerism of your Board. highest condominium values since 2007. The selling season for 2014 has just begun, but is Bldg Exp Grounds Elevator Exp Electric Propane Water & Sewer Pool Admin expected to have these positive trends continue. I also contacted Susan Rowland, Business Development Manager for Wyndham Vacation Rentals. She reports 2013 Villamare occupancy was up 1.2% for 2013, and revenue was up 5.4%. She further reports a 1.5% rate increase for Villamare vacation rentals for 2014. With rental rates, occupancy, and revenue all on a slow but steady increase, this is Security further positive news regarding our Villamare investments. Susan attributes this not only to an improving economy, Legal but also to the ongoing improvements at Villamare and to many of our individual units. Audit/Review Page 6 Voice of Villamare Financial Report By: Joe Mallee Financially we remain in a positive position. We have owners paying dues and the Board has watched the expenditures closely as we always do. The following is a review of our financial activity since April 1, 2013 to February 28, 2014: Voice of Villamare Financial Report Continued Page 7 By: David Howard After more than 25 years in Property Management, I still receive phone call inquiries that surprise me. One of these phone calls that reoccur on occasion deals with the Association payments and how that money is spent. Something owners believe is that their monthly payment is sent to Allied Management Group and the decisions to repair or replace elements are made by Allied depending on how much of your Association payment we wish to retain. Nothing is farther from the truth so the following is an explanation of what and how the association fees are used. The Villamare Board is an elected group of Villamare owners who oversee the operation of The Association. They approve a budget each year that is eventually broken down into four categories. Fixed Expense- These are items that are covered by monthly contract and are essentially the same expense from month to month until the expiration of the contract.-24% Operation and Life Cycle Time Warner Insurance Miscellaneous Total INCOME $1,010,240 139,040 240,000 4,412 $1,393,692 EXPENSES $1,385,417 141,274 230,834 0 $1,757,525 Total Insurance income was $240,000 as $29,439 was collected in the prior fiscal year. In this fiscal year to date we have placed $188,441 in the Life Cycle Reserves. As of February 28, 2014 our assets are: Variable Expense- Variable expenses are those items that occur monthly but the amounts vary from month to month such as water, electric, building repairs, etc.– 29% FIXED VARIABLE CABLE RESERVES Reserve Expense- These funds are separated and saved to fund large scale projects such as roof replacement and building painting.– 35% Triple Play– Funds used for the payment of the Time Warner Contract for cable, internet and phone.– 12% When an owner pays the monthly fee, the check is written and deposited directly into The Villamare Association account. Villamare funds are never co-mingled with Allied Management Group or any other Association funds. So the question remains, how are the Association funds spent? Operation $ 106,333 Life Cycle 296,966 Insurance 244,575 Revo. Dep. 50,000 Other Assets 4,120 Total Assets $651,994 Total Liabilities $193,126 As indicated in the President’s Report, we were able to fund the entire painting project without an assessment to owners. This is because we have been following and constantly evaluating the importance of our Life Cycle plan. We will continue to fund our Life Cycle account for future projects. The Audit for the year ending March 31, 2013 is complete. If you would like a copy please contact Tere Miller at miller@alliedhiltonhead.com. If all owners pay the monthly Association fee on time collecting your $653 fee, this brings in a total of $104,480 per month. 24% of that is spoken for with contracted/fixed amounts. These include: Management fee: The compensation that Allied Management Group receives is 7% All other funds belong to The Association Comprehensive: The onsite personnel that provide landscape, maintenance, pools, hot tub, fountain, janitorial and custodial duties – 23% Elevator Contract: Service contract for regular inspection, testing and repairs of the four elevators– 2% Pest Control: Regular service including “trouble calls” to control those little critters that crawl, scratch or bite – 2% Refuse: Daily removal (offseason drops to three times per week) of garbage for the complex– 3%