Does Landlord Have the Right to Approve Housesitter?

by Janet Portman, Inman News

Q: My tenant is planning on being away for three months, and has informed me that she will have a housesitter for the house and to take care of the yard and dog.

I told her that I’d need to meet, screen and approve this person, but my tenant says that’s ridiculous. She’s adamant that she has a right to have someone watch the place and doesn’t need my approval.

Who’s right? –Paul M. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Kim Ezzell on 06.30.2008. CLICK to Leave a Comment »

Filed under: AAOA Forum

Considering Vinyl Siding? Think Again

by Barry Stone, Inman News

Dear Barry,
The plywood siding on our house is rotted in many places. We’re planning to install vinyl siding over it, but we’ve got some questions that need answers before we go ahead. Our first concern is what to do with the existing siding. Removing it will involve a lot of extra work and expense.

Should we do this or simply install the vinyl siding over it? If we leave the old siding, should we install some kind of wrap or vapor barrier? And if we leave the wood siding, should we scrape off the green mold that is visible in several places. Finally, what do you think of vinyl siding?   –Mark  Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Kim Ezzell on 06.30.2008. CLICK to Leave a Comment »

Filed under: AAOA Forum

Are You Watching the River Run?

by Louisa May

Bad news- watching is not enough anymore. America’s waterways need help, and many communities are relying on the efforts of volunteers, not politicians, to maintain them.

The good news is that you can have fun, make friends, and build community spirit while you monitor and refresh your local waterways as an Adopt- A- Stream volunteer. And there’s more to do than pick up trash.

In Massachusetts, stream teams work with the Massachusetts Dept. of Fish and Game in a variety of programs. The Lake Watershed Program was one pilot project whose purpose was to  Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Kim Ezzell on 06.30.2008. CLICK to Leave a Comment »

Filed under: AAOA Forum, Going Green

Go Green - and Keep Your Oven Clean!

by Julie Murphy   

As apartment owners, keeping properties clean and protecting high cost assets like appliances are a top priority. That’s why, when it comes to cleaning kitchens, in particular–ovens–, it pays to think of cost-effective , environmentally friendly options.

Instead of using harsh aerosol cleaners or the “self-cleaning” cycle, both of which emit dangerous fumes, why not consider an oven liner?

An FLX oven liner is a  non-stick, easy to clean, re-usable liner that catches spills and debris from cooking.  Simply place it in the bottom of the oven and when dirty, just remove it and rinse with warm water. This should not take more than a few minutes.  No scrubbing, no harsh odors and no extra energy costs to heat the oven.

There are 2 primary environmental reasons to use an oven liner: Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Kim Ezzell on 06.30.2008. CLICK to Leave a Comment »

Filed under: AAOA Forum, Going Green, Make Extra Money

How to Make Your Company Website Search Engine Optimized

submitted by MyNewPlace.com

Most online companies either have teams of individuals focused on Search Engine Optimization  — which is equal parts art and science — or hire outside consultants to the tune of five figures a month to continually optimize their sites to maximize their rankings on Google, Yahoo and other search engines.

It is impractical for the typical owner/manager in the multifamily industry to hire an SEO consultant, so it is recommended to make sure that the essential SEO ingredients are part of the initial AMS templates or design.

A few basic rules about SEO: Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Kim Ezzell on 06.30.2008. CLICK to Leave a Comment »

Filed under: AAOA Forum

Don’t Clean Deck with Pressure Washer

by Paul Bianchina, Inman News
Q: We just cleaned our cedar deck with a product that smells like bleach. We also used a pressure washer (before reading in your column that we probably shouldn’t) and now the deck is gray and fuzzy. We also put on a coating of Thompson’s Water Seal, but it didn’t help. Is there anything we can do now to make the deck look better? –Gary B. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Kim Ezzell on 06.26.2008. 1 Comment »

Filed under: AAOA Forum

Despite Lower Jumbo Rates, Refi May Be Unwise

by Dian Hymer, Inman News
Borrowers assumed when the conforming loan limit increased from $417,000 to $729,750 in high-priced areas like New York City, Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area that lower rates on jumbo financing would follow. Unfortunately, the conforming jumbos (also called jumbo lights) were initially priced considerably higher than the conventional conforming loans.

For example, on May 2, 2008, a $417,000 conforming loan was available with a 5.38 percent interest rate and one point. Points is the term lenders use for the loan origination fee. One point is equal to 1 percent of the loan amount. At the same time, a jumbo light was priced around 6.25 percent and one point. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Kim Ezzell on 06.26.2008. CLICK to Leave a Comment »

Filed under: AAOA Forum

The Farmer in the Dell Didn’t Drink Bottled Water

by Louisa May

The farmer in the dell, of children’s song fame, didn’t drink bottled water. He didn’t have the choice. His drinking water probably came from a well, and so does mine. Living just outside the city limits, I have a well on my property.

The water has been tested and is fine to drink. But I don’t like the taste, so I buy bottled water. Until recently, that is. I’m rethinking this. The decision is troubling, not only because I’m not being “green”. It’s politically troubling, and I am not a politician.

There’s an underlying issue, one that is suddenly much in the news, revolving around our economic freedom and the importance of choice.  Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Kim Ezzell on 06.26.2008. CLICK to Leave a Comment »

Filed under: AAOA Forum, Going Green

Buy Home, Get Free Air Miles

by Tom Kelly, Inman News

Air miles are a curious commodity.

The people who have the most rarely take the time to figure out how to most efficiently use them, while others who guard them like gold would happily miss their mother’s birthday if they could fly someplace “for free.”

Perhaps it’s been the rotten early spring weather, the need to travel at this graduation time of year, or the real estate industry pulling out all the stops to accentuate the positives of buying a home and getting a mortgage, but I have been hearing and reading more announcements intended to tweak my interest in air miles and getaways. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Kim Ezzell on 06.23.2008. CLICK to Leave a Comment »

Filed under: AAOA Forum

Latest Trends in Kitchen Cabinets

by Paul Bianchina, Inman News

If you’re contemplating remodeling your kitchen, one of the most important aspects to take into consideration is the cabinets. Certain trends are popular right now while certain others have lost a little of their appeal, which can certainly add or subtract from your resale value as well.

Keep in mind that your cabinets, in addition to being a visual focal point for the kitchen, are also a sizable monetary investment. As such, it’s best to stick with styles that have a broader, more timeless appeal and then accessorize around them, rather than opting for the latest wild trend and then facing the expense of changing them a couple of years later. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Kim Ezzell on 06.23.2008. 2 Comments »

Filed under: AAOA Forum