Many of you know Dylan, but now you get to meet his assistant Brutus! Yes, they BOTH wear a tie, every single day! Dylan started his journey with us, in the summer of 2018, he's a New Mexican-Texan! With deep roots in both states. He has an extensive background in property management, mostly in the commercial sector. He truly specializes in customer service. He doesn't complain, stays positive and truly tries to come up with solutions to problems. He LOVES his pup Brutus! We are thankful and grateful for both of their service! If you need anything, never hesitate to reach out to Dylan by contacting us !
Spring Every year, we all say that it is time to get the spring cleaning done. Here is a rundown of what you should be doing during the spring months. March – Start opening windows and airing the place out. This is also a good time to clean range hood filters, clean the kitchen sink disposal, and clean or change HVAC filters. April – Clean the windows so they sparkle and let the sunshine in. Have carpets cleaned and wash rugs. May – Clean the gutters (if you rent a house). Walk around and look at the exterior of the home and report any weather damage to the landlord. Look at the surrounding trees, and if they are interfering with power lines, call your local utility. Summer Now is the best time for outdoor work. If you are renting a place that has a yard, here are some of your responsibilities. June – Look for cracks in the driveway and report any you find to the landlord. Clean off the patio, deck, or yard area that you use and get it ready for summer fun. Clean out the garage and get rid of unnecessary junk. July – Check the yard for insect infestations. If there is a problem with ants or other insects, the landlord may need to call an exterminator. August – Fall is coming, so take care of outdoor chores that you won’t want to do once it gets cold outside. Towards the end of the month, put away summer outdoor toys, outdoor furniture, etc. to prepare for fall. Fall Now you need to start prepping for winter to make sure that you have no major issues and that you stay warm. September – Remove window air conditioning units and seal up windows with plastic if there are drafts. Test the sump pump to make sure that it is working properly. October – Depending on where you live, it could start snowing soon. Buy salt and other items you will need to prepare for winter. Again, check the driveway for cracks that should be sealed before winter. Turn off outdoor faucets. November – Look for drafts in doors and windows, and seal them off if necessary with caulking or weather stripping. Move furniture that may be blocking heating vents. Get fireplaces ready for winter. Replace batteries in smoke/carbon monoxide detectors. Winter December – It’s time to clean up for the holidays. Do some painting touchups on trim and other areas that may be looking old. Test your electricity, because you will likely be using more for holiday lighting. Also, test Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlets and plugs. Check all locks on windows and doors, and replace if necessary. January – With the holiday hubbub over with, you may be bored. It’s time to clean out the basement. Check around outside for icicles and remove them before they become dangerous. Clean showerheads and remove any sediment. February – Before you start the spring cleaning and maintenance, go around the house and look for any loose doorknobs, drawer handles, etc. and tighten everything up. Stock up on spring cleaning supplies. Check caulking around showers and tubs, and repair or replace if necessary. From
Approximately 13,000 people go to the emergency room every year in November and December because of holiday decorations. Indoor Christmas Lights We all know that indoor Christmas lights should be replaced at least every 3-4 years for safety however most of us tend to keep them a lot longer than that. Those lights have tiny wires can be easily damaged from normal use. Before you put any lights on the tree, they should be inspected for broken and cracked sockets, frayed, bare or damaged wires and loose connections. One safety rule you should always follow, is never use more than 3 strings of lights per extension cord as this presents a definite fire hazard. Christmas lights are relatively inexpensive so go ahead and change them out every few years for fire safety reasons. Be sure to remind your tenants to always turn off the Christmas lights when they leave. Exterior Christmas Lights Everyone loves Christmas lights. However tenants that decorate their homes with exterior lights can expose their landlord to some serious liability. Generally people that put up exterior lights, just check to see if they are working. They rarely replace them otherwise. There are many people that are injured from roof falls and shocks every year when they get up on the roof to decorate. Just walking on the roof in very cold conditions can damage the shingles on the roof. As the landlord, any liability or roof repairs will land squarely on your shoulders. Tenants should be reminded that when using exterior Christmas lights, that the lights and any extension cords must be certified for exterior use, and they need to be plugged into GFCI protected outlets. Chimneys and Fireplaces If you have a property with a wood burning fireplace, as the landlord you should be sure to have the flue cleaned annually. Creosote occurs naturally from burning wood. When it gets to be a quarter inch thick or thicker inside the chimney, it’s a fire hazard as it can ignite and cause a chimney fire. Be sure to caution your tenants not to throw wrapping paper in the fireplace. Those materials tend to get very hot as they burn and they can cause flash fires. Candles Everyone loves candles, but they pose a serious fire risk if they are not handled properly. Most fires started by candles are a result of them being forgotten or being placed too close to something that is flammable. Most all fires started by candles could be prevented just by using a little caution. Facts and Figures The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has some sobering statistics I would like to pass onto everyone that has rental property. Christmas trees are responsible for 300 fires annually which result in 30 injuries, 10 deaths and $10,000,000 in property damage. Candles start about 11,600 fires annually which result in 1200 injuries, 130 deaths and $173,000,000 in property loss. There are 13,000 injuries every year from roof falls and shocks associated with the installation of exterior Christmas Lights. *Courtesy of Biggerpockets.com Take just a minute and watch this short video to see just how quickly disaster can happen. Disaster In Seconds
