Protect Your Property on "Cabbage Night"

Cabbage Night is Not Celebrated with Corned Beef!

Cabbage Night, Mischief Night, and Hell Night are all names that teenagers (typically) use to describe the Annual tradition of carrying out pranks the night before Halloween. Mischievous teens all around the country get dressed up in black and stealthily go out with back-packs full of toilet paper, rotten eggs and shaving cream to raise havoc in their neighborhoods.

Whether you spend this October 30th getting your costume ready to celebrate Halloween or watching the Red Sox make history, here are a couple of easy steps you can take to protect your property from vandals and mischief makers this Halloween season.

Prepare Your Property In Advance

Before it gets dark this October 30th, make sure to take a walk around your property and be on the lookout for the following issues.

• Keep The Lights On - Make sure all of your exterior lights are in working order, and ensure that all entrances are well-lit throughout the night.
• Talk to Neighbors - Speak with your neighbors and encourage your them to keep their lights on overnight as well. Sometimes a well-lit block is all you need to deter would-be vandals.
• Lock Doors & Windows - Inspect all of your doors and window to ensure the locks are in working order. Make sure to close all windows and doors securely for the night.
• Don't Forget Your Car - Make sure you have rolled your windows all the way up and locked the doors on your car. Inspect your car and remove any items that may look tempting from the interior of the car. If you have an assigned parking spot, make sure to display your parking tags. If you have on-street parking and live in a particularly rowdy neighborhood in Boston, you may want to consider parking your car in a garage overnight.
• Emergency Contact Info - Have phone numbers for emergency services, your property management company, and tow company readily available.
  
• Check Your Alarm & Set It! - If you have an alarm for your property, make sure that everything is in working order prior to setting it for the night. Blinking red lights and beeping noises are typically a sign that something needs attention.

In the event of mischief or vandalism, call your property management company to arrange for clean up services.

As always is you have any questions regarding property management in Boston or Western Mass, make sure to visit our website and utilize our client resources.

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Flood Risks Set to Spike Up Insurance Rates

According to the Boston Harbor Association, climate change is increasing the likelihood of coastal and river flooding due to sea level rise and extreme weather events. This impact on the climate is expected to cause frequent flooding in the near future. A recent article by the Boston Courant also states that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, also known as FEMA, is expanding the high-risk flood zone. This will require mortgage owners to buy flood insurance and cause premium spike to those who already possess flood insurance.

Here are some more important facts and information from the Boston Courant about how flooding can affect mortgage owners in the future:

• According to the Environmental Department, new flood zone maps should be available at the end of October and those who live in those zone are most likely acquired to possess flood insurance
• According to the Boston Harbor Association, by 2050, sea level in Boston will rise 2.5 feet at which if a storm similar to Hurricane Sandy would hit Boston, the entirety of Back Bay and South End would be flooded
• An insurance-to-value appraiser expects premiums to jump three to four times their current rate (a typical single family home pays $1,800 in annual premium costs)
• The Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012  increased federally subsidize flood insurance rates by up to 25% a year (visit the website for more information)
• The upcoming hurricane season will allow most homeowners to gauge how bad flooding can get in their area and reveal any infrastructure problems

With the climate changing in our world, it seems as if flooding is only going to expand and get more severe in the future. It would be smart to look more into flood insurance and invest in one if you do not possess insurance. Consult your insurance company for opinions, tips, and advice.

As always is you have any questions regarding property management, make sure to visit our website and utilize our client resources.

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Property Managers: Winter is Coming!

According to an article by the Associated Press, back in 2010, the Supreme Judicial Court's ruling eliminated a state law distinction between "natural" and "unnatural" accumulations of snow ice. This ruling is important because now property owners can be held liable for any snow-related accidents whether the snow was caused naturally or unnaturally. The article states that before the ruling, snow-related injuries that occurred due to non-removal of naturally-accumulated snow cannot hold the property owner liable. The main reasoning behind this ruling is that property owners have some sort of responsibility of keeping the property safe despite the cause. This is what Justice Ralph Grant had to say about the ruling:

"We now will apply to hazards arising from snow and ice the same obligation that a property owner owes to lawful visitors as to all other hazards: a duty to act as a reasonable person under all of the circumstances including the likelihood of injury to others, the probable seriousness of such injuries, and the burden of reducing or avoiding the risk."

Here are some do's and don't from the City of Boston:

Do:

• Remove snow, slush, and ice from sidewalks and curb ramps abutting your property within 3 hours of snowfall ending (or 3 hours from sunrise if snow falls overnight) as required by law. Violators will be fined.
• Remove snow, slush, and ice from the full paved width of the sidewalk and curb ramp or a minimum path of 42 inches wide. Narrow paths encumber carriages and wheelchairs, and properly cleared pathways ensure flow and safety of pedestrian traffic.

Don't:

• Shovel or plow snow into the street: Violators caught shoveling snow from private property into the street will be fined.
• Leave snow or ice on stairways or fire escapes. All common means of egress must be clear.

For more detailed information, click here.

What this ruling ultimately results in is probable increase in lawsuits relating to snow-related injuries for property owners. It would be wise for property owners to get familiar with Massachusetts' snow removal laws and do their best to create a safer environment during the winter season. What do you think about property owners' duty to create a reasonably safer environment around their area? Should they be held liable?

As always is you have any questions regarding property management, make sure to visit our website and utilize our client resources.

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Property Mangers: Is Your Building Up to Code on Mulch Fire-Safety Regulations?

Mulch is a layer of material that is applied to the surface of a soil and is mainly used for:

• Moisture conservations
• Improve fertility and health of soil
• Reduce weed growth
• Curb appeal

There are quite a few advantages to using mulch on your property but before you start putting mulch in your front lawn or your building, there are regulations for using mulch, mainly for fire-safety. A summary from an article by Boston.com:

According to the Department of Fire Services, you must keep mulch 18 inches away from the building. By taking preventive measures such as placing mulch away from combustible exteriors of building, it hopes to prevent recurring fires caused by landscape materials. This regulation was a response to a fire in 2008 in Peabody that was caused by a cigarette igniting mulch which caused $6.7 million in damages and displacing almost 800 residents. Some recommendations by the Department of Fire Services is to use crushed rocks or stones for the first 18 inches as a barrier. Make sure to respond quickly if your building is not up to code as you can be faced with liability claims from residents.

For related info, visit: http://bostonrealestatelawnews.com/2012/08/heres-the-dirt-on-mas-new-mulch-fire-safety-regulation.html

As always is you have any questions regarding property management, make sure to visit our website and utilize our client resources.

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Nicole's Law: Carbon Monoxide Safety

Nicole's Law was signed into legislation late November 2005 in response to a tragedy involving the death of a 7-year old girl, Nicole, who was found unconscious due to carbon monoxide exposure. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, more than 150 people die each year from carbon monoxide poisoning associated with consumer products. Carbon monoxide, also known as the "silent killer," is dangerous because you cannot see, taste, or smell. Nicole's Law requires "all housing in the state that has enclosed parking or equipment such as boilers, furnaces, and hot water heaters powered by gas, coal, oil, or wood" to have a working carbon monoxide detector. Especially for homeowners who are looking to sell their property in the future, complying with the legislation is very important, because fire officials will check for carbon monoxide detectors upon home inspections prior to sale or transfer. If the property is not up to code, the property will not be allowed to be sold. But more importantly, safety is top priority and creating a safe environment at the very place you live should be the utmost importance. 

Here are some precautionary measures provided by the U.S. Fire Administration:

• Open the damper for proper ventilation before using a fireplace
• Never use your oven or stovetop to heat your home
• Make sure vents for the dryer, furnace, stove, and fireplace are clear of snow and other debris
• Make sure all fuel-burning vented equipment is vented to the outside to avoid CO poisoning
• Keep the venting for exhaust clear and unblocked

While the legislation received overwhelming support from fire officials and politicians, some property owners and housing authorities called the legislation a "burden." They reasoned that additional costs, the fact that it distracts from greater dangers from fire, and carbon monoxide detectors sometimes registered false-positive leading to increase number of calls to the fire department are reasons why they opposed the law. What do you think?

For more information and safety tips:

http://www.mass.gov/eopss/agencies/dfs/dfs2/osfm/pubed/fs-topics/fs-topics-a/carbon-monoxide-safety.html

http://www.usfa.fema.gov/citizens/co/fswy17.shtm

As always is you have any questions regarding property management, make sure to visit our website and utilize our client resources.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more tips and advice in the future! If you have any questions or comments, contact us on our social media pages or comment below. Always feel free to share our content!