Property management firms that have connections with European customers are ideal, as they can also find renters during summer off season. During summer months, there are many tourists from Europe (particularly Germany and Great Britain), extending the rental revenue opportunity beyond the typical "high season" of December through May.

An additional factor is how hands-on you want to be in the rental process. Absentee owners often prefer to let the property manager do everything: marketing and advertising, collecting security deposits and payments, getting contracts signed, checking the tenant in and out, paying operating bills, arranging cleaning, and handling minor repairs. Fees vary according to the level of service and type of contract (such as whether or not the agreement is exclusive or not). Figure a minimum of 10% of the gross rent for weekly and monthly rentals and up to 45% of gross rent for condo-hotels.

Pools, Furnishings, Pets, and Restrictions

• Pools: Nearly all condo complexes have a community pool (if not several pools). Some also have common outdoor dining areas, tiki huts, shuffle-board courts, and fishing piers.
• Furnishings: Condos or homes that are currently being seasonally rented sometimes sold furnished, either "turnkey" (furniture, electronics, linens, dinnerware, and cookware), fully furnished, or partially furnished (varies as specified in the contract).
• Housing for older persons: As in other metro areas, some condo associations are designated 55+ communities, although those are becoming more rare. (Be care
  Attorney Fees - Part 4 - Other Legal Fees
  This is Part 4 of this 4-part article. Please refer to the other 3 parts to read this article in full.In addition to your attorney fees, you may be required to pay some or all of these extra expenses or otherwise referred to as legal fees:- Filing fees, - Per page or flat fee for word processing, photocopying and fax, - Secretarial time, - Overtime, - Telephone charges, - Courier, postage, and overnight delivery charges, - Reporter charges for recording testimony and providing a written script of the same, - Court fees and other court costs, - Lawyer travel expanses, including gasoline, mileage, parking fees, meals, airfare and lodging, - Expert and consultant fees, - Investigator fees, - Jury fees and mileage fees (set by law) if you request a jury for your case. These expenses must be paid in advance, - Service fees for people who locate witnesses and other parties involved in the case and deliver legal papers to them, - Witness fees and mileage charges for people who testify at depositions and trials. These amounts are set by law. You also may need to pay travel expenses if a witness must be brought in from far away, - Other fees related to your case.Make sure that you're not taken by surprise with any hidden costs or expenses. It would be wise to discuss them with your potential lawyer before you actually hire him or her. Also, you need to find out
  You’re on vacation in Fort Myers (or Naples or Cape Coral or Sanibel) and you fall in love with SouthWest Florida. You know you’ll come back to explore all the things you did not see the first time and to revisit your favorite spots. You and your partner are paying $325 per night for your 350 square foot room and the couple you are traveling with is paying the same ($4550 per couple for a two week stay).

  While on the beach or the golf course, you strike up conversations with several people and you learn that they live “up north” (undoubtedly you meet Minnesotans and Michiganders), they visit 2 or 3 times every year, and they own vacation condos in the area.
  
  The 3 R’s
  So you talk it over and decide to start exploring the idea of purchasing a vacation condo in SouthWest Florida. Why not, after all, combine the best of all worlds: Rest, Recreation, and Return on investment? Why give the money to someone else when you could be helping yourself with an investment and be vacationing in the comfort of your own home? And how about that difference in space and convenience? A two bedroom, two bath condo with a full kitchen, lanai, and great view is quite a bit more comfortable than a tiny hotel room with a 2 cup coffee maker. It makes sense, you think you’re quite brilliant, and so you dive into the search.

  It sounds simple at first, but alas you soon discover there are so many factors involved. Buying a vacation condo—even for experienced buyers—can be a bit overwhelming at first. What location is best? Beach? Golf? Boating? What features are most important to you? What about condominium fees and policies? Can you rent out the condo when you are not using it? Can you bring Sparky the family dog?
  
  Location, Amenities, View, and Price
  The first step is determining which type of view and location is the priority for you. You can always drive to the beach or a golf course or a marina or boat ramp or shopping center or amusement park. If your priority is beach, sunsets, and expansive water views you’ll be in the category of beach condo buyer. You of course still go boating or golfing, it's just that the boat is not in your backyard or the golf course is not in your front yard. Likewise, if you are an avid boater or angler, but just a casual golfer, then your priority is a waterfront property on a canal or in a community with marina facilities.

  To keep it simple, let’s generalize three classifications of condominium properties:

  • Planned gated communities: There are many gated communities that offer a wonderful blend of all the amenities many condo shoppers are looking for: golf, tennis, clubhouse, fitness rooms, walking trails, and the like. These communities are a mixture of single-family homes, villas, and condos. Some also have marinas, boat storage, and on-premise restaurants. In this category, properties on the waterfront will have views of the Caloosahatchee River, Charlotte Harbor, or a large lake-like saltwater basin.
  • High-rises: In SouthWest Florida, the majority of high-rise condo towers are found in downtown Fort Myers along the Caloosahatchee River and on the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico (Fort Myers Beach, Bonita Beach, Naples). Additionally, some gated communities have high rises among other property types. Examples are Tarpon Point and Cape Harbour in Cape Coral, Gulf Harbour and Mastique in Fort Myers, and Burnt Store Marina on the Charlotte Harbour.
  • Smaller condo complexes: Smaller complexes, say 8 to 100 total residences and 3-5 stories high, are available in centrally-located areas such as central Fort Myers, along the waterfront (canals, the Caloosahatchee River, and the Gulf of Mexico) and are common on Sanibel and Captiva islands. There are also small waterfront complexes on canal systems, often with boat docks for use by residents or their tenants. On the beaches, there are corporate-owned condo-hotels and small owner-association operated condo-hotels.
  
  
  Price is of course a key consideration and will play a factor in the location, view, and amenity options from which you have to choose. There are very nice options in the $200,000 - $400,000 range. The majority of options are in the $400,000 - $600,000 range. Luxury condos range from $700,000 to $4 million, plus.
  
  Boating & The Gulf of Mexico
  For boaters there are several considerations with respect to the boating and water access. Planned, gated communities with marinas offer slips for rent or for sale, often both wet and dry (rack storage) slips. Rental rates average $12 per foot, per month.

  Condo complexes situated on canals have dock space available one of three ways: deeded, where the dock space is legally attached to the condo unit, assigned space (assigned to the unit), and common space (space is not assigned or deeded to any units). The ideal scenario for convenience of the owner and future value is a deeded dock. But common dock space is okay too, and rarely are these docks full, meaning that dock space any time of the year is not likely be an issue for the residents of the complex.
  
  Golf Communities
  If your priority is golfing, it will be no surprise that there are many golf communities in the area. In fact SouthWest Florida boasts the most golf holes per capita that anywhere else in the nation. Some golfing communities surround semi-private or public courses. Others are entirely private and offer equity golf membership, sports membership (tennis, fitness, swimming), or social memberships. Most common are "bundled" golf communities, where the golf membership is included with title to the property and residents pay an annual membership fee ($1700 - $4000).
  
  Association Fees
  There are two types of association fees: HOA (Home Owners Association) fees and Master HOA fees. The HOA fee covers insurance for the structures, grounds keeping, water, sewer, trash remove, cable TV, and management. Larger communities might have multiple subdivisions, in which case the subdivision association charges the HOA fees and there is in addition a Master HOA fee that covers the common grounds and services for all subdivisions, such as guarded entrance, entryway landscaping, and clubhouses. Generally, HOA fees are reasonable and equate with what you would pay if hiring the services independently.
  
  Leasing Policies
  Most condo associations have a rental policy dictating how often (or if at all) you can place paying tenants into your unit. These policies have two parts: maximum number of leases per year and minimum days lease.

  For example, a "4-90" policy means you can lease the unit 4 times per year and the minimum lease must be 90 days. The 4-90 or similarly restrictive policies are good for semi-permanent or permanent resident owners who do not want to be in a community with turnover in tenants.

  Perhaps the most common rental policy is 12-30, meaning 12 times per year, minimum of 30 days. It is not difficult to find seasonal renters who will stay for a month or more. The 12-30 policy is most flexible, especially if you are counting on rental income to offset expenses.

  Also available, but less common, are condos with weekly or bi-weekly rental periods allowed. Finally, there are "condo-hotels" that allow nightly rentals. Condo-hotels typically have on-site rental management and are operated just like a hotel: reservation desk and staff, daily cleaning schedules, bell hops, and similar. (If you consider a condo-hotel and plan to finance the purchase, bear in mind that most lenders consider the property uniquely and so you will need to shop for a lender that has a condo-hotel or investor program.)
  
  Property Management & Rates
  In SouthWest Florida, property management firms that handle seasonal rental units are plentiful. The choice of firm primarily depends on the location of your property—firms specialize in regions (Cape Coral, Punta Gorda, Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel) or communities, such as Gulf Harbor, The Landings, and Burnt Store Marina.

  Property management firms that have connections with European customers are ideal, as they can also find renters during summer off season. During summer months, there are many tourists from Europe (particularly Germany and Great Britain), extending the rental revenue opportunity beyond the typical "high season" of December through May.

  An additional factor is how hands-on you want to be in the rental process. Absentee owners often prefer to let the property manager do everything: marketing and advertising, collecting security deposits and payments, getting contracts signed, checking the tenant in and out, paying operating bills, arranging cleaning, and handling minor repairs. Fees vary according to the level of service and type of contract (such as whether or not the agreement is exclusive or not). Figure a minimum of 10% of the gross rent for weekly and monthly rentals and up to 45% of gross rent for condo-hotels.
  
  Pools, Furnishings, Pets, and Restrictions
  

  • Pools: Nearly all condo complexes have a community pool (if not several pools). Some also have common outdoor dining areas, tiki huts, shuffle-board courts, and fishing piers.
  • Furnishings: Condos or homes that are currently being seasonally rented sometimes sold furnished, either "turnkey" (furniture, electronics, linens, dinnerware, and cookware), fully furnished, or partially furnished (varies as specified in the contract).
  • Housing for older persons: As in other metro areas, some condo associations are designated 55+ communities, although those are becoming more rare. (Be caref
    Who Moved My Cheese in Business
    Do you remember about the Mouse and the Cheese story?Well.. I want to tell you about the story of mouse that always searching and smelling for their favorite cheese.In the world of the internet business is the same as the world of cheese war. People are going crazy to searching a new term of niche market. So... Why do they always searching the new places for some big cheese?The mouse will never satisfied even they get some big cheese in some place. Why are they still doing this until now? the simple answer: "Because mouse has all the feeling of cheese".Don't you think that's funny.....?Why I told you this?In eCommerce world, competition are getting crowd and many dot com sites close their site just because they just seeing the other site growth. Still hard work just did not enough. Some people said that they will go crazy if they still continue their story in eCommerce.So..... What are you talking about? .... Can you describe it to me more detail strategy for your story?First Regulation We must act like a mouse who always chasing the new place for a big cheese. In internet business, information and resources are growing faster than the other. We always find a new branding story when they create a new marketing and strategy. Then, go and find it.... and still you must learn all that new stuff.<
    marina or boat ramp or shopping center or amusement park. If your priority is beach, sunsets, and expansive water views you’ll be in the category of beach condo buyer. You of course still go boating or golfing, it's just that the boat is not in your backyard or the golf course is not in your front yard. Likewise, if you are an avid boater or angler, but just a casual golfer, then your priority is a waterfront property on a canal or in a community with marina facilities.

    To keep it simple, let’s generalize three classifications of condominium properties:

    • Planned gated communities: There are many gated communities that offer a wonderful blend of all the amenities many condo shoppers are looking for: golf, tennis, clubhouse, fitness rooms, walking trails, and the like. These communities are a mixture of single-family homes, villas, and condos. Some also have marinas, boat storage, and on-premise restaurants. In this category, properties on the waterfront will have views of the Caloosahatchee River, Charlotte Harbor, or a large lake-like saltwater basin.
    • High-rises: In SouthWest Florida, the majority of high-rise condo towers are found in downtown Fort Myers along the Caloosahatchee River and on the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico (Fort Myers Beach, Bonita Beach, Naples). Additionally, some gated communities have high rises among other property types. Examples are Tarpon Point and Cape Harbour in Cape Coral, Gulf Harbour and Mastique in Fort Myers, and Burnt Store Marina on the Charlotte Harbour.
    • Smaller condo complexes: Smaller complexes, say 8 to 100 total residences and 3-5 stories high, are available in centrally-located areas such as central Fort Myers, along the waterfront (canals, the Caloosahatchee River, and the Gulf of Mexico) and are common on Sanibel and Captiva islands. There are also small waterfront complexes on canal systems, often with boat docks for use by residents or their tenants. On the beaches, there are corporate-owned condo-hotels and small owner-association operated condo-hotels.
    
    
    Price is of course a key consideration and will play a factor in the location, view, and amenity options from which you have to choose. There are very nice options in the $200,000 - $400,000 range. The majority of options are in the $400,000 - $600,000 range. Luxury condos range from $700,000 to $4 million, plus.
    
    Boating & The Gulf of Mexico
    For boaters there are several considerations with respect to the boating and water access. Planned, gated communities with marinas offer slips for rent or for sale, often both wet and dry (rack storage) slips. Rental rates average $12 per foot, per month.

    Condo complexes situated on canals have dock space available one of three ways: deeded, where the dock space is legally attached to the condo unit, assigned space (assigned to the unit), and common space (space is not assigned or deeded to any units). The ideal scenario for convenience of the owner and future value is a deeded dock. But common dock space is okay too, and rarely are these docks full, meaning that dock space any time of the year is not likely be an issue for the residents of the complex.
    
    Golf Communities
    If your priority is golfing, it will be no surprise that there are many golf communities in the area. In fact SouthWest Florida boasts the most golf holes per capita that anywhere else in the nation. Some golfing communities surround semi-private or public courses. Others are entirely private and offer equity golf membership, sports membership (tennis, fitness, swimming), or social memberships. Most common are "bundled" golf communities, where the golf membership is included with title to the property and residents pay an annual membership fee ($1700 - $4000).
    
    Association Fees
    There are two types of association fees: HOA (Home Owners Association) fees and Master HOA fees. The HOA fee covers insurance for the structures, grounds keeping, water, sewer, trash remove, cable TV, and management. Larger communities might have multiple subdivisions, in which case the subdivision association charges the HOA fees and there is in addition a Master HOA fee that covers the common grounds and services for all subdivisions, such as guarded entrance, entryway landscaping, and clubhouses. Generally, HOA fees are reasonable and equate with what you would pay if hiring the services independently.
    
    Leasing Policies
    Most condo associations have a rental policy dictating how often (or if at all) you can place paying tenants into your unit. These policies have two parts: maximum number of leases per year and minimum days lease.

    For example, a "4-90" policy means you can lease the unit 4 times per year and the minimum lease must be 90 days. The 4-90 or similarly restrictive policies are good for semi-permanent or permanent resident owners who do not want to be in a community with turnover in tenants.

    Perhaps the most common rental policy is 12-30, meaning 12 times per year, minimum of 30 days. It is not difficult to find seasonal renters who will stay for a month or more. The 12-30 policy is most flexible, especially if you are counting on rental income to offset expenses.

    Also available, but less common, are condos with weekly or bi-weekly rental periods allowed. Finally, there are "condo-hotels" that allow nightly rentals. Condo-hotels typically have on-site rental management and are operated just like a hotel: reservation desk and staff, daily cleaning schedules, bell hops, and similar. (If you consider a condo-hotel and plan to finance the purchase, bear in mind that most lenders consider the property uniquely and so you will need to shop for a lender that has a condo-hotel or investor program.)
    
    Property Management & Rates
    In SouthWest Florida, property management firms that handle seasonal rental units are plentiful. The choice of firm primarily depends on the location of your property—firms specialize in regions (Cape Coral, Punta Gorda, Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel) or communities, such as Gulf Harbor, The Landings, and Burnt Store Marina.

    Property management firms that have connections with European customers are ideal, as they can also find renters during summer off season. During summer months, there are many tourists from Europe (particularly Germany and Great Britain), extending the rental revenue opportunity beyond the typical "high season" of December through May.

    An additional factor is how hands-on you want to be in the rental process. Absentee owners often prefer to let the property manager do everything: marketing and advertising, collecting security deposits and payments, getting contracts signed, checking the tenant in and out, paying operating bills, arranging cleaning, and handling minor repairs. Fees vary according to the level of service and type of contract (such as whether or not the agreement is exclusive or not). Figure a minimum of 10% of the gross rent for weekly and monthly rentals and up to 45% of gross rent for condo-hotels.
    
    Pools, Furnishings, Pets, and Restrictions
    

    • Pools: Nearly all condo complexes have a community pool (if not several pools). Some also have common outdoor dining areas, tiki huts, shuffle-board courts, and fishing piers.
    • Furnishings: Condos or homes that are currently being seasonally rented sometimes sold furnished, either "turnkey" (furniture, electronics, linens, dinnerware, and cookware), fully furnished, or partially furnished (varies as specified in the contract).
    • Housing for older persons: As in other metro areas, some condo associations are designated 55+ communities, although those are becoming more rare. (Be care
      What are Some Auto Insurance Discounts
      Believe it or not, companies offer discounts on auto insurance. You may qualify if you meet certain criteria. Therefore, it is imperative you inquire. Discounts include:Safe driver discount: Avoiding the cost of repairs and speeding tickets saves drivers money right off the bat; however, some states reward safe drivers with discounts.Specialized occupation discount: Shockingly, occupation does play a role. If you or your spouse is currently employed as an engineer, educator, or a scientist, you may be eligible for an auto insurance discount. It may not be smart to quit your job; however, it is just something to keep in mind.Car alarms: Investing in a car alarm will give you peace of mind however it may save you money on auto insurance as well. Other devices such as certified car tracking systems may also earn you a car alarm discount.Safety equipment: Buy a car with the latest in safety equipment. Safety equipment could save your life but more importantly it will save you money on your auto insurance. (Just kidding) Items that may qualify you for a discount include: anti-lock brakes, automatic seatbelts, and airbags.Multifamily/ multipolicy discounts: If you buy more than one type of insurance through the same company (e.g. auto and homeowner’s) you may receive a discount. You might also qualify if you insure multiple cars under the same policy or with the same company.Defensive- drivin
      ants. On the beaches, there are corporate-owned condo-hotels and small owner-association operated condo-hotels.
    
    
    Price is of course a key consideration and will play a factor in the location, view, and amenity options from which you have to choose. There are very nice options in the $200,000 - $400,000 range. The majority of options are in the $400,000 - $600,000 range. Luxury condos range from $700,000 to $4 million, plus.
    
    Boating & The Gulf of Mexico
    For boaters there are several considerations with respect to the boating and water access. Planned, gated communities with marinas offer slips for rent or for sale, often both wet and dry (rack storage) slips. Rental rates average $12 per foot, per month.

    Condo complexes situated on canals have dock space available one of three ways: deeded, where the dock space is legally attached to the condo unit, assigned space (assigned to the unit), and common space (space is not assigned or deeded to any units). The ideal scenario for convenience of the owner and future value is a deeded dock. But common dock space is okay too, and rarely are these docks full, meaning that dock space any time of the year is not likely be an issue for the residents of the complex.
    
    Golf Communities
    If your priority is golfing, it will be no surprise that there are many golf communities in the area. In fact SouthWest Florida boasts the most golf holes per capita that anywhere else in the nation. Some golfing communities surround semi-private or public courses. Others are entirely private and offer equity golf membership, sports membership (tennis, fitness, swimming), or social memberships. Most common are "bundled" golf communities, where the golf membership is included with title to the property and residents pay an annual membership fee ($1700 - $4000).
    
    Association Fees
    There are two types of association fees: HOA (Home Owners Association) fees and Master HOA fees. The HOA fee covers insurance for the structures, grounds keeping, water, sewer, trash remove, cable TV, and management. Larger communities might have multiple subdivisions, in which case the subdivision association charges the HOA fees and there is in addition a Master HOA fee that covers the common grounds and services for all subdivisions, such as guarded entrance, entryway landscaping, and clubhouses. Generally, HOA fees are reasonable and equate with what you would pay if hiring the services independently.
    
    Leasing Policies
    Most condo associations have a rental policy dictating how often (or if at all) you can place paying tenants into your unit. These policies have two parts: maximum number of leases per year and minimum days lease.

    For example, a "4-90" policy means you can lease the unit 4 times per year and the minimum lease must be 90 days. The 4-90 or similarly restrictive policies are good for semi-permanent or permanent resident owners who do not want to be in a community with turnover in tenants.

    Perhaps the most common rental policy is 12-30, meaning 12 times per year, minimum of 30 days. It is not difficult to find seasonal renters who will stay for a month or more. The 12-30 policy is most flexible, especially if you are counting on rental income to offset expenses.

    Also available, but less common, are condos with weekly or bi-weekly rental periods allowed. Finally, there are "condo-hotels" that allow nightly rentals. Condo-hotels typically have on-site rental management and are operated just like a hotel: reservation desk and staff, daily cleaning schedules, bell hops, and similar. (If you consider a condo-hotel and plan to finance the purchase, bear in mind that most lenders consider the property uniquely and so you will need to shop for a lender that has a condo-hotel or investor program.)
    
    Property Management & Rates
    In SouthWest Florida, property management firms that handle seasonal rental units are plentiful. The choice of firm primarily depends on the location of your property—firms specialize in regions (Cape Coral, Punta Gorda, Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel) or communities, such as Gulf Harbor, The Landings, and Burnt Store Marina.

    Property management firms that have connections with European customers are ideal, as they can also find renters during summer off season. During summer months, there are many tourists from Europe (particularly Germany and Great Britain), extending the rental revenue opportunity beyond the typical "high season" of December through May.

    An additional factor is how hands-on you want to be in the rental process. Absentee owners often prefer to let the property manager do everything: marketing and advertising, collecting security deposits and payments, getting contracts signed, checking the tenant in and out, paying operating bills, arranging cleaning, and handling minor repairs. Fees vary according to the level of service and type of contract (such as whether or not the agreement is exclusive or not). Figure a minimum of 10% of the gross rent for weekly and monthly rentals and up to 45% of gross rent for condo-hotels.
    
    Pools, Furnishings, Pets, and Restrictions
    

    • Pools: Nearly all condo complexes have a community pool (if not several pools). Some also have common outdoor dining areas, tiki huts, shuffle-board courts, and fishing piers.
    • Furnishings: Condos or homes that are currently being seasonally rented sometimes sold furnished, either "turnkey" (furniture, electronics, linens, dinnerware, and cookware), fully furnished, or partially furnished (varies as specified in the contract).
    • Housing for older persons: As in other metro areas, some condo associations are designated 55+ communities, although those are becoming more rare. (Be care
      Making The Business Case For Corporate Performance Management
      Anyone involved in high value capital sales, such as enterprise software, will know life can be a roller coaster. One day everyone is on a high as a major deal is secured. Another day everyone is distraught when after many months of work, it comes to nothing. Losing out to another vendor is an accepted part of the game. More annoying is the situation where you have been told you are the preferred supplier - and after all the euphoria, nothing happens. Typically any enquiry reveals that the proposal is "still with the board", or "has been put back until next quarter". The reality is that it’s a dodo; kicked out because the project team failed to build a compelling business case for the investment and the resources have been allocated elsewhere. The vendor team only have themselves to blame. They should have identified that funding for the project had not been authorized and helped the project team develop the business case. In the 90’s organizations invested heavily in enterprise resource planning (ERP), and customer relationship management (CRM) systems. In the current decade, the focus of much IT spending is predicted to switch to corporate performance management (CPM) suites; integrating previously stand-alone application areas such as budgeting, scorecards and costing to provide better insight into current and future financial performance. But a lot has happened in the last decade. Many organizations i
      ners Association) fees and Master HOA fees. The HOA fee covers insurance for the structures, grounds keeping, water, sewer, trash remove, cable TV, and management. Larger communities might have multiple subdivisions, in which case the subdivision association charges the HOA fees and there is in addition a Master HOA fee that covers the common grounds and services for all subdivisions, such as guarded entrance, entryway landscaping, and clubhouses. Generally, HOA fees are reasonable and equate with what you would pay if hiring the services independently.
      
      Leasing Policies
      Most condo associations have a rental policy dictating how often (or if at all) you can place paying tenants into your unit. These policies have two parts: maximum number of leases per year and minimum days lease.

      For example, a "4-90" policy means you can lease the unit 4 times per year and the minimum lease must be 90 days. The 4-90 or similarly restrictive policies are good for semi-permanent or permanent resident owners who do not want to be in a community with turnover in tenants.

      Perhaps the most common rental policy is 12-30, meaning 12 times per year, minimum of 30 days. It is not difficult to find seasonal renters who will stay for a month or more. The 12-30 policy is most flexible, especially if you are counting on rental income to offset expenses.

      Also available, but less common, are condos with weekly or bi-weekly rental periods allowed. Finally, there are "condo-hotels" that allow nightly rentals. Condo-hotels typically have on-site rental management and are operated just like a hotel: reservation desk and staff, daily cleaning schedules, bell hops, and similar. (If you consider a condo-hotel and plan to finance the purchase, bear in mind that most lenders consider the property uniquely and so you will need to shop for a lender that has a condo-hotel or investor program.)
      
      Property Management & Rates
      In SouthWest Florida, property management firms that handle seasonal rental units are plentiful. The choice of firm primarily depends on the location of your property—firms specialize in regions (Cape Coral, Punta Gorda, Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel) or communities, such as Gulf Harbor, The Landings, and Burnt Store Marina.

      Property management firms that have connections with European customers are ideal, as they can also find renters during summer off season. During summer months, there are many tourists from Europe (particularly Germany and Great Britain), extending the rental revenue opportunity beyond the typical "high season" of December through May.

      An additional factor is how hands-on you want to be in the rental process. Absentee owners often prefer to let the property manager do everything: marketing and advertising, collecting security deposits and payments, getting contracts signed, checking the tenant in and out, paying operating bills, arranging cleaning, and handling minor repairs. Fees vary according to the level of service and type of contract (such as whether or not the agreement is exclusive or not). Figure a minimum of 10% of the gross rent for weekly and monthly rentals and up to 45% of gross rent for condo-hotels.
      
      Pools, Furnishings, Pets, and Restrictions
      

      • Pools: Nearly all condo complexes have a community pool (if not several pools). Some also have common outdoor dining areas, tiki huts, shuffle-board courts, and fishing piers.
      • Furnishings: Condos or homes that are currently being seasonally rented sometimes sold furnished, either "turnkey" (furniture, electronics, linens, dinnerware, and cookware), fully furnished, or partially furnished (varies as specified in the contract).
      • Housing for older persons: As in other metro areas, some condo associations are designated 55+ communities, although those are becoming more rare. (Be care
        Health and Safety Advice for Contract Cleaners - Second Part
        In Part 1 of this article we looked at how your employees could be brought to a level of good understanding of the hazards and how to overcome them. Part 2 looks at other aspects of your role as an employer in meeting the necessary requirements connected with your ‘duty of care'.Are you supervising your employees enough? This is not simply a matter of showing your face every so often, but ensuring that you meet with them regularly to discuss any issues that may be occurring concerning their work. Often, when Cleaning Companies staff out jobs, it is the cleaners themselves who know more about what is going on in the contracts than the managers themselves. Employees should be encouraged to come to you with any problems they may be having with any of the techniques, equipment, language, or the client. It may be that after discussions with your cleaning staff you decide to review these aspects of the contract, or it may be that everything is running smoothly and no action is required. Either way, the opinions of your employees matter, and these meeting times can provide a simple and effective way of dealing with problems before they begin.It is your responsibility as an employer to provide all of your staff with the correct Personal Protective Equipment. Cleaning staff are not responsible for providing their own PPE. It is essential that you make you employees aware of the reasons that they need PPE, the correct use of such
        ates
        In SouthWest Florida, property management firms that handle seasonal rental units are plentiful. The choice of firm primarily depends on the location of your property—firms specialize in regions (Cape Coral, Punta Gorda, Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel) or communities, such as Gulf Harbor, The Landings, and Burnt Store Marina.

        Property management firms that have connections with European customers are ideal, as they can also find renters during summer off season. During summer months, there are many tourists from Europe (particularly Germany and Great Britain), extending the rental revenue opportunity beyond the typical "high season" of December through May.

        An additional factor is how hands-on you want to be in the rental process. Absentee owners often prefer to let the property manager do everything: marketing and advertising, collecting security deposits and payments, getting contracts signed, checking the tenant in and out, paying operating bills, arranging cleaning, and handling minor repairs. Fees vary according to the level of service and type of contract (such as whether or not the agreement is exclusive or not). Figure a minimum of 10% of the gross rent for weekly and monthly rentals and up to 45% of gross rent for condo-hotels.
        
        Pools, Furnishings, Pets, and Restrictions
        

        • Pools: Nearly all condo complexes have a community pool (if not several pools). Some also have common outdoor dining areas, tiki huts, shuffle-board courts, and fishing piers.
        • Furnishings: Condos or homes that are currently being seasonally rented sometimes sold furnished, either "turnkey" (furniture, electronics, linens, dinnerware, and cookware), fully furnished, or partially furnished (varies as specified in the contract).
        • Housing for older persons: As in other metro areas, some condo associations are designated 55+ communities, although those are becoming more rare. (Be careful if an agent or association manager tells you that you can get in “early” if you are under 55, as often the by-laws will not allow that, no matter what you are told.)
        • Pet policies: If you want to bring Sparky, be sure to check the pet policy in the association documents. Policies are usually: no pets allowed, limits (a weight or height limit), or anything goes. Some associations allow owners to have pets, but not their tenants.
        • Condo doc review: As a protection for buyers, Florida law requires that sellers deliver current documents and financial statements to buyers once a purchase contract is signed. A buyer has 3 business days from receipt of documents to review association by-laws and can rescind an offer if the rules and regulations or the association’s finances are unsatisfactory to the buyer.
        
        Is a Vacation Condo Right For You?
        If you and your family like the area enough to vacation here year after year, you are interested in making a real estate investment, and you are in the financial position to do so, then buying a vacation condo is a good idea. You get to vacation in the comfort of your own condo and community, make long-term friends with fellow repeat vacationers, and you have a "perk" to offer friends, family, co-workers, and clients. Remember that $4550 you were paying for a two week stay? Think of that money as now going toward your investment. If you decide to lease the unit, you have the added advantage of offsetting expenses with rental income. Assuming you did not over-pay and that you hold onto the property for at least a few years, your investment will appreciate and provide returns down the road should you decide to sell.

        And last but not least, you get the bragging rights. Which would you rather say to that pompous person at the fitness club: "We’re staying at a hotel in Florida," or “We’re going to our condo in Florida…"?