Great Tips on How to Save Money, Be More Environmentally Friendly and Reduce Your Energy Usage as a Renter

By: Robert Gorden

As a renter, some tenants might not think about their electricity usage, especially if it is included in their rent.  However, it’s important to be conscious of your usage; not only to benefit the environment but to increase your savings. Here are twelve easy ways to help out:

1) Install a Programmable Thermostat. Installing this will save your unit a large amount of money. You can program it by temp, time, or cycle and keep your home at a comfortable temperature.

      2)Turn Off Power Strips.  Most people turn their lights off when they leave a room, but not many people think to turn off the power strips when they are not in use. Even if the devices plugged into the strips are turned off, the power strips are still are using “dead” energy and costing you money.

     3) Set Your Water Temperature.  Setting your water heater with a max temp of 120 degrees will save energy and costs.  The average temperate used is 115 degrees, so you’re unlikely to notice a difference while using the water.

     4) Use Caulk or Weather Stripping.  Sealing around doors and windows allows the energy you’re using to stay inside your home.

     5) Install Light Dimmers or Sensors.  Dimmer switches give you a middle option between full usage and no usage.  Sensors are not only convenient, but they prevent energy waste in the event that someone forgets to turn off a light.

     6) Switch to CFL or LED Bulbs.  These bulbs last longer and are more energy efficient.  The downside is that they take a little longer to reach their full brightness.

     7) Get Some Air.  Open windows and use fans to increase airflow and create cross-breezes.

     8) Convert Your Flush.  You can also reduce the amount of water your toilet uses by installing a dual flush converter.  The kits are short money for big savings.  

     9) Lower Your Flow.  Switch to a low-flow showerhead. The average shower used 3-5 gallons of water PER MINUTE!  An easy showerhead swap will save you more money than you think.

     10) Share Your Drinks.  If you have quenched your thirst before finishing your glass of water, pour the leftovers on your plants

     11) Close Those Curtains.  Keeping your window curtains closed during the sunniest parts of the day will actually keep your unit cooler.

     12) Check Your Sources.  Ask your utility company if they offer electricity purchased from renewable sources.  Some programs are eligible for tax breaks and refunds.

Don’t forget to check with your landlord before making any permanent physical changes.  If you’re given the go-ahead, ask your landlord about reimbursements or rent credits for the upgrades to the unit.  

Changes in Downtown Crossing

By: Robert Gorden

Downtown crossing used to be a vibrant, fun,  popular area with shops, restaurants and large amounts  of  foot traffic . With the Copley Mall and Newbury Street taking over as our primary shopping areas, Downtown Crossing hasn’t been the same. There were whispers of turning the area into  a student village for both Suffolk University and Emerson College, who both occupy parts of Downtown Crossing. Unfortunately, the idea lacked support from the beginning and never came to fruition.   Perhaps the biggest indicator that Downtown Crossing has lost its shine can be found in the empty lot which used to be Filene’s Basement.  The prime location has gone unoccupied for months.

Proposed Drawing of the Bulding

Yet there might be hope for Downtown Crossing after all. Recently, Millennium Partners has announced new design plans for a tower to fill the Filene’s Basement lot which will cost around 615 million dollars. The company plans to turn the land into a tower that would hold approximately 500 residences and would also offer 200,000 square feet of office space, 525 parking spaces and 230,000 square feet of retail stores. 

It would look similar to the John Hancock tower as it would be slim, but tall.  The possibility of that many people living in the building could bring the much needed activity the area’s been desperate for.  With the addition of this tower, up-scale shops, more restaurants and high end retail stores might be tempted to set up shop.   

However, as many businesses, retail shops and restaurants are making their way to the new and improved Seaport district, it might still be hard to lure companies to Downtown Crossing.  The popularity of the Seaport District is on the rise and quickly transforming into a bustling commerce center.  As our Boston Property Management office is located in the Seaport District, we’ve been able to see these changes first hand.

Millennium’s tower could be the start of Downtown Crossing’s renaissance.  It’s a prime location; sandwiched between the Financial District, Government Center and the Boston Common.  We’ll be waiting on the edge of our seats to see if this leads to a resurgence of Downtown Crossing. 

Heat Advisory 

By: Robert Gorden

Who's ready for some heat? The next couple days are going to be the warmest of the year so far with the temperatures reaching the mid 90's. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids to keep yourself hydrated. If you are going to be out in the sun for in the sun for an extended period of time, be sure to wear sun block, or you might find yourself burnt to a crisp! We also suggest you check in on family, friends, and the elderly who do not have air conditioning or spend much of their time alone. Try to keep an eye out for others in need.

With warmer temperatures throughout the week and weekend, hopefully everyone will get to enjoy the nice weather!

Electrical Cars: Owners Rights and the Condominium Board's Responsibility

By: Robert Gorden

Electrical Car Charging on the Street

In today’s world, it would be smart to start paying more attention to electrical cars. Not only are electrical cars more environmentally friendly, but with the price of oil on the rise, you can expect more people to start buying them to save money. 

There are many issues a Board of a condominium will have to discuss when thinking of implementing electrical car charging stations. Is the Association required to install electrical charging stations? Who should have to pay for them? If the board does allow the charging stations, where should they be located?

It turns out that Boards are not legally required to implement electrical car charging stations at their condominium. There is no law stating these stations are mandatory, but by not having one,  the condominium’s reputation may be hurt.  If charging stations are approved, the Unit Owners who need the electrical stations are the ones who should be required to pay the installation fees. It does not seem right to make Unit Owners who are not using these stations also pay the fees.  One suggestion for condominiums would be to have a separate meter where the electric car owners pay a separate electric bill for the charging stations.

Where to place these car-charging stations can also be tricky. If the Owners each have their own garages, then there is an easy solution. On the other hand, if there is a common garage or a parking lot it can be a little more difficult.  There may be friction among owners if the Board gives preferential treatment to one group over the other.

If parking spaces are not assigned, it may be best to put the charging station in one of the less “desirable” spots to appease both parties. The Owners who have electrical cars can continue using the stations and the Owners who do not have electrical cars should not feel like anyone received  special treatment. It is very important to accommodate all Owners in a condominium. With electrical cars on the rise, over the next few years this is an issue that more and more condominium Boards will be faced with. Each situation and building will be different, but these are some tips to make the transition as seamless as possible. 

Projectbread.org's Walk for Hunger

With the help of over 41,000 walkers and 2,000 volunteers, Project Bread was able to raise 3.6 million dollars at the 44th annual Walk for Hunger event on May 6th in the Boston Common.  Included in the event were members from Premier Property Solutions, LLC who  participated to support such a great cause. The money Project Bread raised will continue to fund over 450 programs they offer which helps so many people throughout the city and state of Massachusetts who can't afford food. With the hard times going on in our world today, it was great to see so many people come out and walk to support the Walk for Hunger. The money raised will help the 700,000 people in Massachusetts who are struggling to put food on the table.
We wanted to thank the employees of Premier Property Solutions, LLC who participated as well as thousands of other walkers and volunteers for their dedication and support of Projectbread.org's Walk for Hunger. It was great to participate in this event so close to many of the condominiums Premier Property Solutions, LLC manages.

FHA Relief

By: Isaiah Baril-Dore

Looser Restrictions

For any condo homeowners trying to sell, buy, or refinance in the last few years, they know the difficulty of trying to get a FHA (Federal Housing Administration) Loan. Due to the housing crash, tight regulations were put on these type of low interest, low down payment loans to prevent default and further issues in condos which drag down the housing market. Most people in the industry thought these restrictions were too tight (see our blog post here about FHA) and prevent perfectly reasonable people from getting a loan.

It appears the FHA might be listening with the announcement yesterday that they will be re-working FHA guidelines to make getting a mortgage a bit easier. See full article about it here from the LA Times:

FHA may loosen limits on condo mortgages

Good or Bad?

The question has to be asked... is it too soon to remove these regulations? Are people forgetting about the housing crash that we are still trying to get out of? These guidelines were meant to prevent homeowners from making bad investments and going belly up, but with the first sign of a turnaround in the housing market, the FHA is ready to loosen up its guidelines. Obviously there needs to be access to mortgages that are easy to acquire for homeowners, but at what cost? We will keep you posted when the FHA makes their official announcement in the coming weeks.

What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comment section or on Twitter or Facebook.

Alley Rally

By: Isaiah Baril-Dore

Boston Shines!

On a bright Saturday morning, friends and neighbors of the Back Bay joined forces to help clean up the nieghborhood in the NABB's  annual Alley Rally event! Coordinating with Mayor Menino’s Citywide Cleanup, this year’s event will took place on Saturday April, 28th.  Premier Property Solutions came out in full force with over 10 volunteers; managers and maintenance alike took up the brooms to keep our city clean. 

Great Showing for 8:00AM Saturday Morning!

PPS making a difference

Event was a part of the City-wide "Boston Shines" initiative

Local colleges came out in force to help clean up

Volunteers of all ages helped out!

The NABB did an unbelieveable job with this event and we are excited to help out again next year. Between the coffee and donuts for breakfast and the pizza and sandwiches for lunch, they certainly kept the volunteers happy (and full!).

If you are interested in more events like this, check out the NABB here or the Boston Shines site here