Page 25 - CooperatorNews South Florida Expo 2021

SOFL.COOPERATORNEWS.COM COOPERATORNEWS SOUTH FLORIDA — EXPO 2021 25 quality service, you have to pay for it.” Building Custodians/Porters: $20–$30. These people have a difficult, sometimes unpleasant job. If your kid dropped gooey candy or popcorn all over the lobby car- pet, or your dog committed an indoor in- discretion at any point during the year, you owe it to your custodian to remember. Handymen: $20–$30. This is an in- stance when the amount of your tip is di- rectly proportional to the amount of work you’ve requested from your building/HOA handyperson during the year. If you just greet each other in the hall, the lower end of the range should suffice. If you’ve gotten him or her out of bed in the dead of night to fish your cat out of the garbage chute … ask yourself how much such a task is worth to you, and show your appreciation accordingly. Garage Attendants: $10–$25. If you use your car at odd hours, or if the attendants in your association’s garage or parking lot take special care of your vehicle, or have it ready for you when you get there, an ac- knowledgment of their attention is in or- der. You may tip each attendant individu- ally, or earmark a half-month’s parking rate to be divided among the garage staff. Garbage Collectors: $15–$20. If your building has a contract with a private waste management company, $15 to $20 is the customary amount for holiday tips, ac- cording to tipping.org. Mail Carriers: Same as garbage collec- tors. There is another caveat here, though. Government agencies—including the U.S. Postal Service and municipal sanitation departments—prohibit their workers from receiving money as a gift or gratuity, but there’s no law against doing nice things for people at holiday time, or any other time of year. As long as the value of the gratu- ity or gift doesn’t exceed $20 or so, there should be no problem. Fresh baked goods or coffee shop gift cards are never a bad idea, and a letter of appreciation to your mail carrier or sanitation team’s supervisor is another great way to let them know how much you appreciate their work. Other Folks There are a host of other people you might also want to remember during the holidays—personal trainers, nannies, housekeepers, babysitters, your hair styl- ist—and the range of what’s considered an appropriate tip for these professionals is wide, and left mostly to personal judg- ment. You need not tip your property manager or the outside contractors that work at your property. As for how to deliver a holiday bonus to members of your HOA staff, it’s entirely up side doors or service elevators with their pets. Of course, pets always need to be on into the governing documents, and of a leash, and if your dog has an accident, course those will hold up in court,” says obviously you need to clean it up imme- diately.” Groups like Genser’s can help boards there is some type of exception made for and managers promote and encourage medically necessary animals. However, cooperation and compromise among pro- pet and non-pet residents. “We provide resources on our web free to amend its rules such that no one page (www.petsincondos.org),” says Genser. “We have information on legal provision could include things about ani- pet documents; we publish information mals causing a nuisance.” on what responsible pet ownership is and how to change your living area to be more measure of control over their commu- pet friendly.” The group also promotes the idea of register their pets with the management forming pet committees in buildings and office, requiring proof of licensing and condo associations. “Pet committees are vaccinations. It’s also not out of the ques- something the major animal welfare or- ganizations have come up with where you erage for pets and their owners. have a group of responsible pet owners who meet regularly and help deal with rules should concentrate on irresponsible any pet issues that come up,” Genser ex- plains. “One of the problems with associ- ation living is that you relieve the city and furry friends. county of a lot of responsibility. Condos are largely self-regulating, and you want ment, and respect between residents, al- people who know how to deal with ani- mals and are responsible.” Paper Protection For buildings welcoming pets, it’s im- portant to have a pet addendum in the house rules spelling out the expectations for the pet owner. “You can put all sorts of provisions Silver. “Sometimes a blanket prohibition against all animals won’t work unless even if that is the case, short of putting in a complete ban, the association is always is allowed to cause a nuisance—and that Other possibilities that give boards a nity’s menagerie include having everyone tion to inquire about extra insurance cov- Ultimately, says Genser, “Association pet owners”—not on respectful, rule- abiding owners and their well-behaved With fair rules, consistent enforce- lowing pets in HOAs need not turn into a three-ring circus. n Keith Loria is a freelance writer and con- tributor to CooperatorNews. HOLIDAY TIPPING... continued from page 9 continued on page 26 YOU’LL LEARN SO MUCH YOUR HEAD COULD EXPLODE. (Our lawyers said we had to warn you.) FREE REGISTRATION: FL-EXPO.COM BROWARD COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9 10:00AM-4:00PM