With the transition to cooler weather and upcoming holiday seasons, home maintenance switches gears. To assist you, we have prepared some useful tips for maintaining your residence.

Outside maintenance

• Adjust the frequency of the watering system accordingly and when appropriate, turn it completely off.
• Rake up leaves so grass does not die or create molds and fungus.
• Disconnect garden hoses from outdoor spigots to prepare for possible freezing.
• Report any problems with standing water to your Property Manager.
• The days are shorter and darker earlier, therefore, be sure to remove any debris or object which could cause injuries.
• Trim bushes away from house and weed garden beds in preparation for winter. This is also a safety item around walkways as well.
• Turn on outdoor lights when appropriate, such as trick or treaters, but to save on energy bills, turn off during the day.
• Keep debris away from the house and dispose of properly to prevent unnecessary fires or pests.
• If you have a fireplace, NEVER put warm or hot ashes in a trash can. Instead, place in a metal container away from the residence until cold, then dispose of properly.
• If you put up holiday lights, please remove them when the holiday is over. Do not leave holiday lights on when you are not in the residence.
• If you have a live tree during the holidays, be sure to keep it watered and dispose of it properly and immediately after the holiday is over.
• Check indoor holiday lights and/or pre-lit trees carefully for safety and do not leave on when you leave the residence. Dispose of any possible hazardous lights.

Pest Prevention

Ants become more aggressive with colder weather and try to come indoors. However, there are measures to take for prevention.

• Before bringing in potted plants, check for “ant nests” and if there are any, flush the pot repeatedly with water to flush them out. Once you are sure the ants are gone, you can safely bring the plant into the residence.
• To prevent ants from accessing your pet’s food bowl, put a thin ring of petroleum jelly around the rim.
• Empty the garbage often and dispose of properly in garbage receptacles.
• Keep food and spills cleaned up throughout the home to avoid attraction of ants.
• If you bring firewood in, do so shortly before you need it and do not store in the residence. Firewood attracts a variety of pests, including ants, and can transport them into your home.

Inside Maintenance

• Check your smoke alarm and if not working, replace the battery. If it still does not work, report it immediately to your property manager. This is an important safety item for you and your family.
• Change the filter if you have a forced air system. This is important to do throughout the year. It will lead to lower heating bills and help keep the air cleaner in your home.
• Check dryer vents regularly to remove debris. This will increase efficiency and avoid a possible fire.
• Check your windows and doors for proper closure and locking.
• Close all windows and doors when leaving the resident to prevent rain damage and increase safety.
• If there is a fireplace in your residence, make sure the flue is open before lighting the fire.
• If when you do use your fireplace and there are any problems, immediately extinguish the fire, and notify your Property Manager immediately.

We want to remind you to check your renters’ insurance coverage yearly and if you do not have insurance, we strongly urge you to take out a policy. If you do have any maintenance issues, please contact us – we are here to help.