When you first move into a new apartment, often the last thing you think about is renter’s insurance, but it can be essential in ensuring that all of the lovely things inside of your apartment are covered in case of accident or natural disaster.
For most people, when they hear the word “insurance” they see dollar signs flashing before their eyes, but renter’s insurance is actually not very costly and is definitely worth looking in to. Sometimes the property you move into may even require renter’s insurance, so it is always best to check with your complex first to see if there are any minimums or information you need to know regarding the insurance you need.
The next step would be to take a look around at your items and try to put an actual value on them. If you have some high-value items, it’s always best to ask the insurance company about how those should be covered. It is also important to document your items and their condition or keep receipts for higher-end items in case you ever need to make a claim. If it helps, keep a spreadsheet saved so you can easily access and keep track of your belongings.
After that you will need to call around or look online at quotes for coverage and pricing. Be sure to discuss your items and what they are worth with an insurance professional so you can figure out which type of coverage you will need. You will likely need to update your insurance policy yearly. This would be a good time to add in any new, valuable items you want to cover and update any pictures or receipts as well.
As with any type of insurance, it can be overwhelming to decide what you need or don’t need, but having the peace of mind that you are protected in case the worst happens can go a long way.
Spring is right around the corner and it’s time to open the windows and let in some fresh air. After a long, cold winter spent cooped up inside, I always look forward to clearing out the dust and starting anew. From deep cleaning and curb appeal to making sure Spring and Summer contracts are in place, FOURMIDABLE has you covered with some tips.
Landscaping and Maintenance
Surveying any damage that may have taken place during the winter is a very important first step. Are there any trees or shrubs that are overgrown and may need to be trimmed? Are the gutters cleared of debris? How did the window and door seals fair this winter – anything that needs to be replaced? Are there any potholes that need to be filled? Once you have cleared the last remnants of winter, it’s time to start waking up the property for warmer weather.
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Spring? For me, it’s the old saying “April showers bring May flowers” – so let’s talk blooms. Do you have planted flowers at your property that need to be freshened up? Flowers, plants, fresh mulch and a well-maintained lawn really add to your curb appeal. Prospective Residents are more likely to want to see the inside of an apartment if they like what they see on the outside. Even if you don’t have planted flowers at your property, grab yourself some flower baskets to hang outside of the rental office to make it a more inviting space.
Next up is ensuring that your contracts are in place. Making sure your lawn service and pool supply vendors are ready to go is crucial in making your property Spring and Summer ready. Starting this process early allows you time to call different vendors for quotes and compare services. Securing vendors that works for your property’s needs are essential in keeping your lawn and pool manageable all season long. Be sure to assess your pool furniture early so you can clean or replace and repair before the heat waves start.
Another important item on our cleaning list is checking your HVAC systems. As you know, the filters should be changed frequently to make sure it is running correctly and help elongate the life of the system. Making sure the HVAC is in good working condition before a heat wave will save a lot of time and hassle in the months to come. Along with the HVAC check-up, be sure to change the batteries in the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Tips for Residents and Property Managers for Deep Cleaning apartments and interior buildings.
Before getting into the nitty gritty, tackle the easy daily tasks. The winter salt and weather can really do a number on your floors and carpets – so start with vacuuming and mopping the heavy traffic areas. For the areas that may be too big to clean on your own – there is no shame in calling in for reinforcements and getting a professional carpet cleaner on the job.
My favorite tip for Spring Cleaning is to make a list and take it item by item, instead of room by room. For example, while you already have the Windex out, wash all the windows, not just the windows in the room you’ve started in.
Pro Tip: Speaking of windows – do those first - then you can throw them open and let the breeze in while you tackle the rest of your list. Oh, and don’t forget to wash the sill!
Next, we move onto dusting. Dusting is arguably my least favorite part of spring cleaning, but makes a world of difference once it is done. Start by dusting your nightstand, entertainment center, trims and moldings and anything else that may be collecting some cobwebs.
Pro Tip: Don’t forget to get the ceiling fan blades before you decide to turn it on or you may end up needing to dust all over again.
This next item on the spring-cleaning list isn’t one that you think of often, but is usually pretty quick and painless – especially with the right tools. Let’s talk about cleaning the walls. I know that my walls tend to look a bit dingy right around the light switch areas. Using a sponge and a gentle, clear soap usually tackles the grime pretty easily.
Pro Tip: For some harder to remove stains (marker, pen, etc.), the Magic Eraser truly lives up to its name for getting rid of these pesky marks.
For both Residents and Residential Managers, taking time to do these extra deep cleaning and maintenance tasks in preparation for a new season save time and money in the future. Spring Cleaning can sometimes feel like a daunting task, but with a bit of planning and some elbow grease, you’ll be ready to take it on.
Have any cleaning or maintenance tips and tricks that you swear by? Leave us a comment below!
5 Renter Friendly Decorating Ideas on a Budget
So, you’ve just moved in to your new place or you’ve decided it’s time for an update to your space. Now, where to begin? Pinterest is a great tool to use to get ideas for what style or décor best suits you. Once you have some ideas pinned down, it’s time to figure out how you can execute your ideas without damaging the property and while staying within the terms of your lease.
Command Strips and Hooks
From hanging pictures to stockings, command strips are the way to go. Command strips make it easy for you to add décor to your walls without having to worry about nail or screw holes. Try adding a gallery to a bare wall, or use the hooks to free up space in your kitchen by hanging up your utensils or pots and pans. Command products also come in a variety of finishes and the ability to hold different weight amounts – so make sure you grab the correct one for your project.
Removable Wallpaper or Decals
Let’s talk about wall space. Though painting the walls seems like the obvious answer to changing up a room, removable wallpaper is actually one of the easiest and budget-friendly ways to transform your space. Instead of covering your entire room in wallpaper though, try picking just one accent wall to cover or do a design on. For smaller rooms or kid’s rooms, removable decals work perfectly. Got a football fan? Find their favorite team’s decal for the wall. A JoJo Siwa fan? Yes, you better believe they have a full-size JoJo cutout decal.
Pro Tip: Always test this out in a small area first, to make sure your brand of wallpaper or decal does not cause any permanent damage to the wall.
Storage Bins/Organizers
Let’s face it, sometimes apartments can be short on space. Luckily, there are tons of storage options that are not only functional, but will fit your space without breaking your budget. A lot of times our bathroom spaces and closets tend to get cluttered fairly quickly. Try looking into some small under cabinet plastic containers with drawers to keep your bathroom essentials organized and tidy. You can also find a bunch of unused space in your closets. Try using an over the door shoe hanger to keep your extra shoes off the floor and free up space for other items. One of the easiest ways to save on space is to find a dual-purpose item. Lots of times ottomans, chairs and side tables have extra storage that work perfectly in small spaces.
4. Rugs
This may seem like an obvious tip, but rugs are a super easy way to elevate your space. Though, not the cheapest item on our list, rugs are very versatile and easy to clean or move from room to room – making it worth the investment for décor that will add some color and texture to your space.
5. When all else fails… add a plant
Yes, seriously - just add a plant. Buy a big one, buy a little one, don’t want the upkeep of a real plant? Buy a fake one. Hanging plants are great for decorating because they don’t take up any space and they add a little green or life to your space.
Pro Tip: Always be sure to do research on your live plant before purchasing. Check on how much water and sunlight it will need and make sure it is not harmful or deadly to animals, if you have any.
Life can change quickly and with these moveable and reusable decorating ideas, it’ll be easy for your space to change with it. Happy decorating.
Why hire a professional, experienced property management firm?
Why should community owners look to hire a property management firm like FOURMIDABLE instead of trying to manage themselves? There are a number of very powerful reasons, both large and small.
At FOURMIDABLE, we put in the work to make things simple for you. Whether its financial management and accounting, human resources, technology, maintenance or procurement services, marketing services or compliance, our team has the experience and savvy to handle any style or scale community.
Like many property management firms, we take on the burdens that you may not want to face. You may not have the expertise or desire to manage the community yourself; you may not want to be an employer overseeing the endless issues surrounding managing your team; and you may be in a solid enough financial position that hiring a firm like FOURMIDABLE makes monetary sense.
Let’s quickly review a few of the key ways a management company can not only help but enhance your community and its value to you.
Rental Concerns– this is all about setting up, maintaining and regularly updating the rental structures within your community. A good firm can also assist with various resident concerns, requirements, needs and assessments.
Marketing – with a management company comes expertise in marketing, not only for potential renters but within the broader community where your property resides. A firm can assist with public relations through the local media, can help with promoting special deals or enhancements to your community and make sure your community is a good neighbor and part of the area around it. At FOURMIDABLE our marketing department has established a framework from which we plan, measure, design, brand and market residential developments. This marketing approach is structured, yet flexible, to allow responsiveness to ever changing market conditions. We understand that the future of any property is dependent upon market knowledge and image.
Technology – most management companies utilize sophisticated software systems to help manage accounting and operations, staffing schedules, occupancy ratios, rental categories and changes, marketing, prospect and resident portal and compliance requirements.
Compliance – depending on the style of community, compliance concerns can be an intense and challenging function for anyone managing a rental community. This is one area an experienced firm can really lift the burden from the owner and manage all of the federal, state and local requirements, especially when it comes to affordable housing communities. This also includes training community staff, performing internal file audits at each community, reviewing and updating policy based on changes to HUD guidelines, and coordinating all reporting requirements to various agencies.
Risk and Crisis Management - ensuring that a client’s property is insured as directed by the client is critical when it comes to risk management. Insurance policies, potential litigation and managing a crisis are all something companies like FOURMIDABLE have experience dealing with.
Vendor Relationships – like resident relationships, management firms are positioned to develop and maintain rapport with vendors, allowing community owners to maximize the value it needs from whatever vendors are required, whether it be HVAC contractors, landscaping companies, or other bricks and mortar contractors.
Human Resources – staffing can be a big issue these days, so having a firm manage the hiring, scheduling, and disciplining can save you a lot of time and potentially uncomfortable situations.
These are just a few of the obvious reasons why it makes sense to consider a good property management firm to help make sure your community is everything you want it to be, and a place where your residents feel at home.
For me there is one other key ingredient to all of this, and that’s the people. Our team of men and women assist properties across 11 states in a highly professional way. So, behind all of the sophisticated software, financial recording tools and HR hiring systems are the people of the management company. They truly are what makes a company like FOURMIDABLE.
Celebrating the holidays, the right way
The holidays are the most wonderful time of the year. It’s a time for celebration, reflection and excitement for new possibilities in the coming year.
When planning your holiday celebrations it doesn’t have to be extravagant to be meaningful. In fact, at FOURMIDABLE, we have found that simple, old-fashioned events and ideas are best, especially those that are sincere and focus on the staff or employees.
While we may not be able to host holiday parties in our communities due to COVID and flu season, there are still plenty of ways to remind your teams, staff and residents that you care.
Recently, we were able to send holiday care packages to our Veterans as a way to give back this year. We also did little things like hosted an office holiday decorating contest as well as a holiday cookie exchange to get our team into the spirit of the season.
Here are some other ideas we’ve found that bring people together and celebrate:
If you have a small team, an intimate gathering can be a wonderful way to say thanks and celebrate together. If your party is onsite, you can set up festive decorations around your community or send warm greetings to residents with a holiday card – and since every great party needs food – potlucks can be a great way to get your team involved and try everyone’s favorite holiday recipes.
When a small gathering is not possible due to the size of your group, get creative. Find a space in your community that will allow for a celebration without feeling like you’re just standing around your desks or in a conference room. For food options with larger groups, it may be nice to surprise your team with something unique to the area you live in. In metro Detroit, for example, one of our passions is Detroit coney dogs. Find a way to bring them in or serve them fresh. Of course, it’s always fun to try something different – if people eat coney dogs all the time – why not try sushi or Middle Eastern food? Bringing in a food truck can also be a fun way to get people to relax and take a break from the traditional party trays or snacks.
Themed parties are always a huge hit around the holidays. Themes such as an ugly sweater party or wearing all red and green holiday outfits will add some extra festivity to your celebration. Deciding on decorations, games, raffles or gifts is really up to your budget, time constraints and the size of your team. No matter what, though, keep it simple, have fun and remember this is for your staff.
Ultimately, start your planning early, keep it simple and treat the staff in a special way that makes them feel important and shows them that you truly care.
Happy Holidays!
Preparing for the winter makes sense now
As the year winds down and winter is right around the corner, it’s time to prepare your community to meet the onslaught of cold, snow, sleet, wind and generally icy conditions, if you haven’t already done so.
For some, this may not be as obvious as it should be. In fact, studies show that many of us are procrastinators when it comes to dealing with seasonal changes. All the more reason why I’d say now is the time to change that paradigm and get proactive with winterizing your community now.
If you haven’t already begun that process, we can help. FOURMIDABLE is committed to partnering with our management teams, and developing solid plans for whatever this winter may bring.
Where to begin?
So, what are some obvious things that need to be done? Before we talk about big picture issues – those tips that will help the entire complex, apartment buildings, townhouses and community in general – we should mention the importance of working with your residents.
Partnering with residents, informing them of things they can do as well to ensure their homes are warm and cozy, is a great place to start.
For example, if your apartments are equipped with storm windows, you need to remind residents to close them as the season gets colder. Other examples include advising people to keep curtains closed during the daytime and having them check for drafts through doors or windows.
Our residents are what make our communities and having constant communication with them is essential. Encourage them to report all maintenance issues and suggest ways they can prepare for the worse-case scenarios – like power outages or massive snow storms that leave people unable to get out of the complex. That might mean telling them about how to prepare an emergency kit to keep in their apartment or their vehicle.
Make arrangements with your vendors
Next, make sure all of your contracts are in place for snow removal, HVAC, plumbing and other maintenance repair/replacement items during the winter months. If you have your own equipment, ensure all of it is in working order and that your inventory is stocked.
If you have a contractor, it is critical your arrangements are in place and your vendor is properly prepared, especially when you consider the potential labor shortages already being talked about by local municipalities concerned about snow removal.
Commit to preparing exteriors and common areas
When it comes to larger, complex-wide issues, it's highly important to check furnace and boiler units. This simple task, and other critical preventative maintenance, can often go a long way in helping you avoid larger, more costly repairs.
Building windows should be examined for caulking; gutters should be cleaned of debris and properly drained so they function effectively throughout the winter. Poor gutter maintenance can lead to dangerous ice and snow buildup.
As you inspect building exteriors, also examine the walls, door frames and even the roofs. As I noted, repairing damaged caulk or drafty spots can keep cold weather out and heat in. You may want to wrap exterior pipes in common areas along exterior walls.
Heavy rain, snow and winds can also cause damage. It’s worthwhile to inspect trees and any large bushes that may need to be trimmed or removed before they can cause further damage when carrying a heavy load of snow.
Insulation is a complex topic in that there are many options and ways to approach how you might want to handle it, especially in common areas. Plastic wrapping, form products and other exterior insulators may not be pretty but they provide comfort in knowing they work to keep pipes from freezing or windows leaking. Weather stripping doors and windows may also be needed.
There’s a great deal of thought and planning when it comes to taking good care of your community. Even in more temperate areas, many of these suggestions have some practical value.
Ultimately, the most important thing is to be prepared. Take the time now to review, plan and put in motion some of your winter needs and hopefully it will be a season you can manage versus one you struggle through.
