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!

Attention: Rooftop Grilling is Illegal!

Summer is just about to end and fall is approaching! The weather is great and football season just started. What better way to have some fun and bring everyone together other than...grilling! In a couple of months, winter will be coming and grilling is definitely not an option. So while the weather is warm, grilling is great way to spend some quality time over food. A popular option is grilling at home, either on the porches or the rooftop. Cooking at home is comfortable as you have more access to cookware and do not have to worry about forgetting anything. But did you know rooftop and porch grilling is illegal in Massachusetts? Here's a summary from a blog post explaining the dangers of rooftop and porch grilling and why it is illegal:

• It may seem safe but Steve MacDonald, spokesman for the Boston Fire Department, says not a summer has gone by where there has not been an out-of-control blaze caused by illegal grilling
• Nearly half the fires caused by grilling illegally happens between 5pm to 8pm usually during the summer months
• Massachusetts state laws say no propane or charcoal grills are allowed above ground level at all (especially on rooftops and porches)
• There are exceptions to the rule, but involves professional care and city inspection

Grilling is fun and delicious but safety is always first! Not only for you but also for those around you. So the next time you grill, do it away from the house. 

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!

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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If there are any maintenance issues or emergencies please visit our maintenance website.

If you're looking for a new apartment in Boston, head on over to our website for listings.

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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If there are any maintenance issues or emergencies please visit our maintenance website.

Visit Premier Property Solutions for any consultations or information about your property!

Air Your Dirty Laundry

Keep a Close Eye On Your Laundry Contracts

By: Jess Kaminski

Laundry contracts should be reviewed closely before signing on the dotted line.  Contracts may contain a Right of First Refusal clause, similar to some condominium documents.  In the event an Association is unhappy with their current vendor's service and obtains bids from potential replacement vendors, this gives the contracted vendor the right to meet the best bid and lock in for another term.  This can be quite the stain for some Associations, as laundry contracts can have terms of more than five years.