IT STARTS WITH YOU…

By Rafael Aquino

Published September 16, 2020  

 

When an association is prepared to sign an agreement, the Board should make it standard practice to have it reviewed by the attorney. Most contracts tend to lean towards the vendor; however, there is always some wiggle room on the terms.

 

When it comes to our management agreement, we primarily look for the following items below to determine how flexible we are willing to be: 

 

  1. Board of Directors: Is the Board of Directors on the same page, do they have experience with business/association dealings, are expectations aligned amongst the team, and do they seem open to listening. 

  2. Financials: Improvement and enhancements require cash like any other business. If we have a Board that wants to upgrade the entire property and they have limited funds or high delinquency with no possibility of getting a loan, trying to meet those expectations will be slim. An association that sits on a solid ground gives an agent a higher probability of succeeding because of those resources. 

  3. Property Conditions: The conditions of the property says a lot about its history. While it's not the judge all, it will give you a picture of what you are potentially getting into. Don't get me wrong; we enjoy turning properties around, but if we don't have the financials or good leadership (BOD), success will be restricted. 

 

Representing an association comes with many responsibilities, and we need to make sure that the relationships we get into will be mutually beneficial. Each party must understand what their expectations are of each other and how those expectations will be measured. If those two items exist, the contract is placed in a digital file and never looked at... well, except for budget season.   
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As the Co-Founder and CEO of Affinity Management Services, Rafael P. Aquino leads his team to redefine excellence. They serve community   associations   efficiently

and effectively with dedication and passion. Rafael’s energy and positive spirit is the foundation of Affinity Management Services’ company culture, which instills enthusiasm and excitement when providing expert advice to its board members and relieving the day-to-day burdens of running a community association.

 

Since 2007, Rafael has developed a work culture that values responsive and high-quality services. He has led his team by following a proactive vs reactive philosophy. The same approach Rafael instills in the day to day operations of each association. Today, Affinity Management Services maintains its success and benefits as a result of the foundation Rafael has built and continues to foster by providing educational seminars, continuing education classes for association managers and board members alike.


Rafael and his team help condominium and homeowners’ associations save money and improve their communities. His calm, personable, and service-oriented nature helps him to establish strong relationships with ease. Rafael is known as a sincere and honest leader who looks out for the best interests of his clients and communities, and he strongly advocates for their needs. His role requires coordination and communication, as such he takes logical and intelligent steps to approach challenges head-on.


As a graduate of Florida International University’s electrical engineering program and a licensed community association manager, Rafael’s education and skills equip him with unique insights to tackle complex problems through critical thinking. He understands how each component within a system works together in order to effectively arrive at solutions, techniques, and conclusions. Therefore, as he manages the multiple challenges of running a community association management company, he understands how each property is its own unique system and tailors’ specific services to assure that all their needs are met.

For more information about Rafael P. Aquino and Affinity Management Services please visit www.ManagedByAffinity.com or call 1-800-977-6279

Doral Office: 8200 NW 41st ST

Suite 200

Doral, FL 33166

Broward Office: 150 S Pine Island RD Suite 300

Plantation, FL 33324

O: 800-977-6279 ● F: 305-325-4053

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