Get Ready to Comply with California’s Balcony Inspection Bill (SB 721) By Tony Angelo

Get Ready to Comply with California’s Balcony Inspection Bill (SB 721)

BY TONY ANGELO ANGELO TERMITE & CONSTRUCTION

The primary purpose of the The Structural Pest Control Act, California Business & Professions Code and The Uniform Building Code is to work in conjunction within one another to protect the consumer.

Over the past several years, public accesses, high traffic areas, entry staircases, walkways and balconies in multifamily communities have collapsed from water intrusion, termites, fungus, and dry rot structural damage, also known as Wood Destroying Pests & Organisms, which has resulted in numerous injuries and even deaths. In 2015, after a residential balcony collapsed in Berkeley, California, killing six people and injuring seven others, state lawmakers stepped in to address the situation. SB 721 was introduced and passed by the State Legislature and signed into law by the governor in 2018. The law requires the physical inspection of residential buildings’ elevated elements over six feet in height with three units or more.

As clearly stated in leading HOA law firm Adams Stirling’s January 31, 2021 newsletter, “If the Owner or Management fails or refuses to comply with the SB 721 Law, and someone is injured or killed from Wood Destroying Pests & Organisms structural damage, compensatory and punitive damages imposed by a jury could be significant. This may not be covered by insurance. In a worst-case scenario, owners or management could find themselves personally liable for damages, not to mention jail time.”

Angelo Termite & Construction is certified by the Community Association Managers International Certification Board (CAMICB) under “Consumer Protection” to instruct on “Senate Bill 721” to owners and managers. The company also provides instruction to rental housing providers and was pleased to present an informational webinar last month to members of the Apartment Association of Orange County. Its goal is to be diligent and pro-active in protecting the interest of the consumer and to help rental housing providers avoid future litigation by knowing the condition of their apartment buildings.

Angelo Termite & Construction is a licensed Structural Pest Control Operator and General Contractor that has served rental communities since 1976. It is professionally licensed and insured to identify Wood Destroying Pests & Organisms which create structural damage and hazardous conditions and to provide the proper recommendations and repairs to the consumer.

It is presently offering AAOC members a courtesy walk-through visual inspection of their rental property, to help identify the areas that will require the formal physical inspection as part of the SB 721 compliance process. Again, this walk-through inspection is not intended to fulfill the SB 721 inspection requirements. Its purpose is to be proactive and protect property owners and management, as well as the consumer, at the present time, and to provide education and help owners and management make informed decisions.

To request a courtesy walk-through inspection of your rental property by Angelo Termite & Construction, simply complete the inspection request form on the opposite page and submit it to info@angelotermite.com, or visit https://angelotermite.com/apartmentwalk-through-request.

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some, it doesn’t work for all. Operators need to be flexible to meet those needs as well.

QR codes have seen a resurgence throughout the pandemic, including at the property level. The seemingly simple technology enables someone to take an unscheduled tour. SmartRent data indicates that more than 35% of tours conducted through its self-guided tour technology are done as tour now options.

“Though they may not be as high quality of traffic as someone who was nurtured through traditional methods, it’s another reason to offer self-guided tours,” Haldeman said. “Some of those tours are going to convert, and it wasn’t a waste of leasing staff time.”

Staciokas echoed Haldeman’s sentiments that owner/operators don’t have to budget to do full smart home access, but they do want the ability to offer self-guided tours. “Certain providers are showing up to a 70% conversion rate for prospects doing self-tours,” she said. “Within the first month of implementation, three leases were signed by prospects who self-toured. So, the payback on these types of technologies is there.”

People Still Need People

Renting a home is still a very personal process and residents crave that personal connection.

The technology in and of itself may seem like it is a game-changer for leasing processes, but the reality is that there are practical limitations to some technologies, remarked Weissenberger. They are not created to do everything and they shouldn’t.

Staciokas shared that technology platforms should not only integrate and track communications but trigger action for onsite teams to know how and when to follow up. They can nurture those leads by establishing that personal connection.

Humans can just do things better. Chatbots and voice bots can only answer the questions they were programmed to answer. Some prospects want to talk through things like what it’s going to be like living at the community, or in a certain building. “It’s very important to them to get that human touch,” said Weissenberger.

Leasing agents will need new skills and training to survive, he added. “Hiring for personality and customer service mentality will matter more than ever. Training will evolve to develop higher level people. Technical and problem-solving skills and measurable goals will shift, but in a good way to motivate individuals and achieve optimal financial performance.”

About the Author: Marlena DeFalco is an Account Director for LinnellTaylor Marketing.