Important Information for Landlords

If you are an owner who leases your unit, we’d like to make the leasing experience successful and positive for everyone by informing you of your responsibilities. This will help preserve your property value specifically and maintain the association’s property value in general.

Your tenants may not be familiar with common-interest community living. Please take a few minutes to explain to them that living in a community association is very different from living in a rental apartment community. Specifically, your tenants, like all residents, are subject to the rules and regulations of the association, and it’s up to you to educate them and see that they comply. The association will assist you in this area, but the responsibility lies with you. We recommend you provide your tenants with written copies of all policies and rules and advise them on the proper use of the association’s facilities. You can obtain copies of these and other useful documents from the manager.

We strongly recommend that you have a written lease agreement with your tenant. As a lessor (landlord) of a home in a community association, the lease you use must require tenants to comply with the association’s governing documents. In the event your tenant fails to comply with these documents, including the bylaws, or its rules and regulations, a representative of the association will first contact your tenants in an attempt to remedy the problem. The association will send you a copy of any notice sent to your tenant.

If the tenant does not correct the violation, the association will contact you and expect you to remedy the violation using the recourse available to you through your lease agreement. If you are unable to correct the violation, the association may pursue appropriate legal action against the tenant, and possibly against you.

The association asks that you provide the manager with the names and contact information of your tenants. The association will add your tenants to its mailing list, and they will receive the newsletter, invitations to participate on committees, notices of social activities and general association-related information. This information will also be used in case of emergency.

Follow these simple steps and you, the tenants and the association will all have a positive community association living experience:

· Provide your tenants with copies of association rules.

· Educate tenants about the need to follow association rules, and see that they comply.

· Advise tenants on the proper use of association facilities.

· Use a written lease agreement.

· Make sure your lease requires tenants to comply with all association governing documents.

· Provide the association with contact information for your tenants.

Renters: If you don’t have a copy of the association rules or you’d like more information about the association, please contact a board member or manager.

Smooth Move: Tips for a Less Stressful Relocation

Whether your new home is just down the street, in a nearby town or across the country, moving can be stressful. There’s a lot of work to be done before that final box is unpacked—more than many expect—and it’s easy to overlook the details that pile up the closer you get to your departure date.

Before you head out, here are some important tips to help make your move smoother:

Shipping Notes: If you’re shipping items, keep the shipment registration number with you. You may need this number when calling your mover.

Bed Ready: Put your sheets and towels in a dresser drawer so you don’t have to go searching through all your boxes for them the first night in your new home.

Freshen the Fridge: If you’re bringing your refrigerator, thoroughly clean and dry the inside. Then, put a handful of fresh coffee, baking soda or charcoal in a sock inside to keep it smelling fresh.

Pack Wisely: Heavy items go in small boxes; lighter items go in larger boxes.

Safe Memories: If some item is particularly significant to you, like a picture, take it with you in your car. If it’s irreplaceable, you don’t want regrets later. Place sheets or blankets between framed photos or art for protection.

Protect Plates: Plates should be packed on end vertically, rather than flat and stacked.

Bare Necessities: Cell phones and chargers, toilet paper, toiletries, snacks, drinks, soap, flashlight, screwdriver, pliers, can opener, paper plates, cups, utensils, some pans, paper towels and cleaning supplies are some of the essentials you may need upon arrival. Pack a box with these items and load it last.

Bulb Basics: Remove light bulbs from your lamps.

Involve the Kids: Ask your children to write their names and new address on the boxes for their rooms. It’ll help them remember the address.

Pet Care: Ask a friend to watch your pet at his or her house on moving day. It’ll keep your pet calm, safe and out of the way.

Plant Care: Try not to let foliage rest against car windows; the leaves could burn due to glass intensifying sunrays.

Take the time to implement these tips to properly prepare for the move—it may seem like more work upfront, but ultimately it can save you lots of hassle in the long run. Good luck, and don’t forget to drop off your entrance gate transponder and clubhouse pass before you go!

The Sweet Smells of Selling Your Home

So your house is on the market and you’re ready to make a dynamic first impression on potential buyers. Besides ensuring that your house looks and feels inviting, making sure it smells pleasant can help generate interest during showings. While traditional wisdom suggests that freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies will add a homey and enticing scent to your abode, new research indicates that the smell of these baked goods may be overwhelming to purchasers.

According to The Wall Street Journal (“Using Smell to Make a Sale,” February 15, 2013), complex scents—like cookies and potpourri—can accidently distract potential buyers from focusing on your home because they could be subconsciously trying to decipher the aroma. Researchers tested this theory by adding various scents to a home décor store in Switzerland: Of the 402 people observed, consumers on average purchased 31.8 percent more when the store was scented with a simple scent—such as orange or vanilla—than when it was scented with a complex scent; consumers on average purchased 23.6 percent more when the store was scented with a simple scent than when it wasn’t scented at all.

Eric Spangenberg, dean of the college of business at Washington State University and a member of the research team, says people selling their homes can apply the same principles as well. He recommends using simple scents such as lemon, pine or basil to scent your home for showings because it’s easy for people to process these aromas. Without having their focus pulled away by complex smells, potential buyers can give more focus to the house and in turn be more open to spending. To ensure you’re home smells great, try using cleaning products that have a citrus smell, or use vanilla-scented candles or sprays in your home. Better yet, use the real thing to freshen up your house by bringing a basil plant into the kitchen during showings. Try to stick to one simple scent that unobtrusively permeates the house, and make sure your scent matches the atmosphere of your home, such as adding a pine or cedar scent to a log cabin.

Rent vs. Buy: Which should you choose?

Should you rent a home or buy one?

Many people struggle with this decision. To be sure, both options have advantages and disadvantages. For example, renting is more flexible and comes with fewer maintenance worries, but paying rent doesn’t build equity or amount to a long-term investment the way paying a mortgage does. Homeownership, a critical component of “the American dream,” provides a sense of permanence and security, but can be expensive if the home requires more maintenance or repairs than expected.

The decision is can have a big impact on your future, and it often comes down to personal preference and financial considerations. Luckily, there are resources available to help you weigh your options and come to the best choice based on your individual needs.

• This New York Times interactive calculator takes customized inputs and produces an easy-to-understand graph illustrating when it’s best to rent or buy: Is It Better to Buy or Rent?
• The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Policy Development and Research provides current and historical information on housing market conditions: U.S. Housing Market Conditions
• The Khan Academy features an extensive selection of information on housing, including a discussion on renting vs. buying: Housing
• These three resources all provide a nice breakdown of the issue:
• The Chicago Tribune: Renting vs. owning: Which path is right for you?
• Zillow.com: Owning vs. Renting a Home
• Catherine Hawley (from SaveUp, writing for the Huffington Post): When to Rent vs. Buy a Home

Of course, before making any life-changing decisions, it’s always best to consult a financial advisor who can assess your individual situation and help you determine the best course of action based on that assessment.