It’s been suggested in the past that we put together a homeowners manual for the building full of tips and tricks and info gleaned from longtime residents (and a few professionals)—sort of a how-to guide for residents, particularly newcomers. We have an owner actively working on the project and looking for suggestions as to what should be included. Below are some of the topics he’s been considering covering.
- Where is the trash chute? How to get rid of bulky items such as mattresses, carpet, etc.
- How to plan ahead for deliveries.
- How to cut down on smoke odors entering your unit.
- What to do when you discover buried electrical wires in your walls.
- How to find a contractor who knows the building.
- What to do when water enters your apartment.
- Pest control
- What kinds of water heaters have been used in the building?
- How to maintain your heat pumps.
- How to comfortably heat or cool your apartment.
- How to contact management and how best to get your issue resolved.
Input is welcome in the comments section. He’d particularly like to chat with new residents to see what questions or obstacles they had to overcome when they first arrived. If you’d be interested in sharing your thoughts beyond just posting a comment, please shoot me an e-mail and I’ll forward it to him so he can get in touch.
Some ideas:
I’ve asked Cathy for a list of oversized items (and related prices) possible to be disposed via our trash hauler and will share whatever I get.
New owner procedures for paying condo fees and property taxes would be helpful–it’s common for real estate novices not to understand their necessary obligations in the absence of bills for these.
Recaps of rules and regulations (e.g. fire exit stairway doors must remained closed, nothing can be stored there, smoking is forbidden there, etc.)
Quiet hours and noise rules, including suggestions for how to manage disputes with neighbors (i.e. association board and building management can’t take sides and can only enforce *documented* breaches to the rules).
Pet rules and policies including elevator restrictions
Parking lot rules and policies and related towing
Snow removal rules and policies and related towing
Smoking rules and policies
Fire alarm procedures, including explanation of how the system only alerts adjacent floors under certain conditions
Mail room and package delivery information (how to report stolen items, etc.)
Handicapped parking restrictions (e.g. visitors are NOT allowed to park in our handicapped spots, which are reserved for specific residents) and rules and policies related to using the lobby lift.
Garage parking space rules and procedures (i.e. no loose items, no storage of unregistered vehicles, etc.)
Bicycle storage options (hallway storage closets) and building/elevator usage restrictions.
Composting and recycling
Useful city contact information for the City Manager, Inspectional Services, parking garages, LPD main number to report non-emergencies, how to report public hazards to Department of Public Works, etc. as well as contact information for the Lowell Downtown Neighborhood Association and other organizations of importance.
Another thought – I know we get blasts as owners from the managment occassionally, but are those messages shared with tenants by management as well? I think they should be because owners may not see the messages in a timely manner.
Window glass repair – 90 Lincoln St, Lowell, MA 01851
Phone: (978) 452-5976 – the only shop I could find in the area that works on our windows
A-1 Maintenance Master – Phone: (978) 937-8250 – has been maintaining my heat pump for the last seven years, and knows how to keep them going, and is reasonably priced too