Labor Day Weekend Reminder for Boston Residents - It's also Moving Day!

It’s Labor Day weekend!

Everyone is looking forward to enjoying their long weekend and planning to have some fun. But to those of you in Boston, you know what the 1st of September brings…chaos. Streets will be littered with moving trucks, furniture everywhere on the sidewalk, and thousands of students and people alike, trying to move in. Traffic and accidents are almost guaranteed. So Premier thought we’d at least attempt to alleviate some pain by providing you with these four articles that might help on that dreaded day:

Traffic and Parking Advisory:

• http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/allston_brighton/2013/08/traffic_restricted_parking_banned_in_parts_of_boston_during.html
• http://www.cityofboston.gov/news/Default.aspx?id=6304

Tips on how to move successfully:

• http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/at-boston-moving-101-51732
• http://olympiamoving.com/2013/08/22/get-ready-for-allston-christmas/

Have a great weekend!

About Premier Property Solutions

Premier Property Solutions, LLC specializes in personalized property management solutions for condominiums, apartment buildings, and investment units.

Serving all of Massachusetts, Premier maintains offices in Boston's Sea Port, Back Bay, and West Springfield, MA .

From financial services to maintenance, snow removal, budget analysis, capital project planning and cost control measures - it's our job to personally ensure your home and investment is enhanced through our property management services, every day. It is our philosophy that a property management company is only as good as its property managers and support staff.

• Headquarters

  311 Summer Street STE 200Boston, MA 02210 United States

• Website

  http://www.premierpropertyma.com

Property Management: Landlords v. Tenants

Have you ever wanted to tell your landlord something but didn’t get a chance to? Or maybe you just can’t stand your landlord that you don’t even want to talk to them. I recently stumbled upon an article written by Paula Pant that lays out 7 things that every tenant wants their landlord to know and to make the article even more interesting she replies to these statements, being that she is a landlord. So in this article you get the perspective of both sides, something that’s hard to find when usual tenant-landlord relationships aren’t the greatest. Here are some takeaways from the article and my input:  

	Tenants	Landlords
Rent	The number one complaint always seems to be concerning the matter of RENT. Tenants feel like just because they are a day late on the rent, landlords overreact and some become ruthless in their attempt to get the rent. Tenants just want them to calm down.	Landlords feel like they are entitled to their rent because they have a signed lease agreement stating the rent will be paid on the designated day. Landlords have bills to pay too and if tenants don’t pay their bills on time, tenants put them in a difficult position.
Pets	Tenants feel like landlords are too strict when it comes to policy of having a pet. Most tenants feel that their pets will not destroy their homes and can keep control of their pets, otherwise they wouldn’t complain about not being able to keep a pet if they thought their pets were going to do some damage.	Landlords argue that pets no matter what causes damage to their property. Not because they want to but just because of their nature. Pets cause wear and tear on carpets and they leave dander on carpets, which have to be professionally cleaned incase the next tenant is allergic. If the building doesn’t allow pets, do not ask for exceptions, because then the landlord would be faced to make exceptions for everyone.
Maintenance	Tenants complain about how maintenance request are either never followed through or delayed for a really long time.	Landlords say that it’s not due to the lack of trying  but the service of the contractors that are being used.

It’s interesting to see perspectives from both sides, and many compelling and interesting comments are made. Click here for the full blog post, and tell us which sides makes the more valid argument by commenting below!

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5 Tips to Reduce Energy Costs During the Summer

According to the energy department, half of the household’s total energy usage goes towards cooling and heating costs. The BLS reports that for the past five years, the price of electricity in Boston has exceeded that of the nation during the summer. It’s going to be one hot and expensive summer folks.

Excessive heat warning have been issued for the Greater Boston Area through out the summer, with heat index values ranging from 105 to 109. Simply, the heat index value measures how hot it feels. People are cautioned to not do any strenuous activities outside as a combination of hot temperature and high humidity can create very dangerous situations.

105 to 109 degrees isn’t exactly beach weather and going out for cold treats can only last so long. So for those days when the weather isn't friendly, the best option might be to stay home. So aside from your basic energy-conserving tips (shutting anything off when not in use), here are some additional tips:

Use your AC efficiently: Air conditioners work more efficient went kept cool and make sure to keep the filter clean. Also by keeping the temperature at a moderate temperature, you’ll save more money. Air conditioners remove humidity so you’ll feel cooler even at a moderate temperature. If you don’t have one and plan on buying an AC, make sure to buy one with an Energy Star label to ensure efficiency. Visit Energy Star for tips and buying guidance on air conditioners.

Ceiling Fan: Ceiling fans are very cost-efficient and a great way to keep yourself cool on a moderately hot day. However, is it important to note that ceiling fans only keep you cool where it is running and does not cool the home’s air. If you have a ceiling fan and an AC, you can use it as a combo. The wind chill effect created by the ceiling fan will actually circulate the cool air from the AC. This allows you to increase the temperature on the AC without losing much cool air, reducing energy costs.

Keeping the heat out: Allowing sunlight into your home brings unwanted summer heat and makes it harder to keep it cooler in doors. An important tip is to close windows and cover your windows (shades, blinds, drapes, etc.) early to block out the sun. Don’t wait until it gets hot. These simple steps will make your homes a lot cooler even without an air conditioner, while saving money.

Daylighting: Summer days mean longer days. Daylighting is a great way to save energy during the day, by reducing the use of artificial light and maximizing use of natural light. Daylighting depends on the climate and the design of the home. North-facing windows are the most effective for source of light while preventing summer heat. South-facing windows when properly shaded can provide the same benefits. East and west-facing windows are good source of light but admit a lot of heat.

Use your water efficiently: During summer days, lowering the temperature on your water heater will reduce your energy costs as it accounts for 13%. If you’re using a dishwasher, make sure it is fully loaded to maximize and reduce the amount of water. Lastly, make sure to take cold showers!

For additional tips, check out NSTAR’s energy saving tips during the summer.

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