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!

For more news and tips, make sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

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.

For more news and tips, make sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

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.

SoBo a NoNo

Welcome to the Neighborhood.

By: Jess Kaminski

According to Boston's biggest frienemy, New York City, our corporate office is now located in "SoBo".  The New York Times reported this week that South Boston is now full of trendy newcomers and going by a hipper (and clear knockoff) moniker.  While the other neighborhoods try to find the memo they must have missed, Boston.com has provided this helpful map:





































We're not really sure where to stick the "YOU ARE HERE" dot.

Official Press Release

2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PREMIER ANNOUNCES NEW PRESIDENT

Current Leader To Develop New Division

Boston based property management firm Premier Property Solutions, LLC announces a reorganization of leadership.  Effective April 15^th, Vice President Patrick Colbert will be assuming the role of President.  Current President Christopher Buono to move to Premier’s brokerage and develop services for the marketing and sale of condominiums.

Having lead his own management firm, Absolute Property Solutions, Inc., and previously merged with Premier in 2012, Patrick is primed for the new responsibility.  “My vision for Premier is to continue to provide the same level of professional service, to ensure that our clients are provided with the best property managers in the industry, maintain the value of their homes and to foster a high energy environment for our team members and employees,” says Colbert.

The management team is excited about the new development as well as Vice President Laura Cardoos’ recent returned from maternity leave.  All three leaders are confident Premier will remain at the forefront of the industry.

 

Premier strives to be a vertically integrated service provider that can effectively meet the various real estate needs of their clients. Buono’s new role will provide a level of familiarity, support, and a streamlined sale or rental experience for clients.

Premier Property Solutions, LLC specializes in personalized management solutions for condominiums, apartment buildings, and investment units.  Their modernized management approach offers physical plant and financial guidance to a large portfolio throughout Massachusetts.

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For more information, please contact Christopher Buono or Patrick Colbert at 617.345.0045 or email them cb@premierpropertyma.com and pc@premierpropertyma.com. 

Is Boston The Ultimate College Town?

Back Bay Dormitory Development Causing Concern

By: Jess Kaminski

In a city where population follows a September 1st move-in cycle, it looks like we can expect even more moving trucks at the end of each summer.

Fisher College, a fully accredited school looming in the shadows of behemoths BU, BC, and NU, plans to convert prestigious Back Bay real estate on One Beacon Street - smack between Arlington and Berkeley -  into student housing for approximately 300 students.  Fisher is known to have limited campus housing due to the lacking real estate; a problem well known in Boston.  Currently their four residence houses are home to 50-70 students each.  A recent study shows Fisher holds about 1,131 full time undergrads, of which 25% are living on campus.  Fisher's new plans include adding enough residential living space for 300 additional students.

Back Bay residents are concerned about the pending influx of student neighbors.  There is a general consensus in Boston that undergrads have a disruptive impact on neighborhood lifestyle; increased noise and a general disrespect toward property appearance and upkeep are top concerns.

Dorms in Boston are locally concentrated within a small number of areas in the city.  Of the roughly 24,000 dormitory rooms, only 1,700 are located in the Back Bay area.  75% of Boston's  campus housing are located in the Kenmore and Fenway neighborhoods.

The scheduled Planning and Zoning meeting between the Boston Redevelopment Authority & the Fisher College Task Force on March 28th has been postponed.  Interested residents can check in for updates at www.bostonredevelopmentauthority.org.