A Few Helpful Tips and Guidelines

What is expected when you move out?

The website gives a clear picture and instructions of how to clean before moving out.

http://www.wikihow.com/Clean-an-Apartment-Before-Moving-Out


Please schedule your move out appointment in advance so we can accommodate everyones schedule. All keys must be turned in at the time of the inspection. We are not able to allow extra time for cleaning due to the move out schedule. Receipts for carpet cleaning and preventative flea and tick treatments should be provided at that time. It is our goal to return every deposit in full.

 

Quick Fixes and Trouble Shooting Problems

Toilet Overflowing - If your toilet starts to overflow, you must act quickly. Gently remove the porcelain top to your toilet tank. With your hand, push the flapper in the bottom of the tank down to stop the water flow to the bowl. Their should be a water shut off handle at the base of the toilet. Turn off water. Clean up all water and allow the toilet to drain. Everyone should own a plunger for each bathroom. Plunge vigorously to clear the line. Then turn the water back on and fluch the toilet. If you cannot clear the line or there is a main line back up call maintenance immediately and do not use the toilet.

Garbage Disposal Makes No Noise - If you try to use your disposal, and it does not come on and makes no noise, there is a reset button you can press to restore operation. If you have a blue disposal, there will be a small button on the bottom of your disposal. If your disposal is brown, there will be a small button on the side of your disposal near the bottom. Press the button and see if your disposal is working. If your disposal only "hums", call maintenance.

No Lights In Bathrooms - Your bathroom is equipped with a GCFI outlet. This type of outlet is a safety device that interrupts power if necessary. If you have no power in your bathroom, your outlet has probably "tripped". Look at the outlet in either bathroom and see if it has two small buttons in the center. Push the button labeled "reset" and power should be restored. Check all breakers. If you still have no power, call maintenance.

Refrigerator Loses Power - Your kitchen is equipped with a GCFI outlet. This type of outlet is a safety device that interrupts power if necessary. If you have no power in your kitchen, your outlet has probably "tripped". Look at the outlet above your counter on either side of your kitchen sink, and see if it has two small buttons in the center. Push the button labeled "reset" and power should be restored. Check all breakers. If you still have no power, call maintenance.

Keep That Garbage Disposal Working Properly

A garbage disposal is one of the most useful gadgets in your kitchen. However, you just can’t put anything and everything in the disposal. Following are some important rules to live by when it comes to your garbage disposal:

If it’s hard…keep it out of the disposal.
Never put bones, pits or shells from shellfish through the disposal.

Fiber is good for your digestive system…bad for the disposal.
Certain vegetable fibers will certainly jam your disposal and can cause drain blockages.

The following should not be put through the disposal:
Banana peels, Celery, Coffee grinds, Corn cobs and husks, Onion skins, Potato skins, Beans, Rice.

Don’t shove…the smaller the better.
 

Common sense will make a world of differenceIf it’s not food, it doesn’t belong in the disposal.

If the disposal is running…the cold water should be running also. And…keep the water running a full minute after you are sure the food waste has been eliminated. Never use hot water, this can cause your disposal to overheat.

Clean means efficient.
A dirty disposal can cause an unpleasant odor.

With the cold water running and the disposal on, toss in some ice cubes. The cubes will dislodge any debris on the edges.

Once in a while put in some citrus rinds. Be sure to cut them into very small pieces. The zest from the fruit will give off a nice odor.

 Make Your Air Conditioner Work More Efficiently

Summertime means running the air conditioner non-stop. When the temperatures heat up, the efficiency of our air conditioners drop dramatically. There are some steps that you can take that will ease the burden on your home's air conditioner to help it run more efficiently and at a great savings on your energy bill.

Leave the Thermostat Alone - Many people are good about leaving the air conditioner at 78 degrees F. Some even take it upon themselves to set the temperature even higher when there is no one at home. If you make this a practice in your house, make sure that no one drops the temperature below 78 in order to cool the house down faster. The air conditioner cools at the same rate no matter the setting. Adjusting the temperature to 70 degrees will not help your house get to 78 degrees any faster than if it were left at 78.

Keep the Curtains and Blinds Closed - Natural light can help reduce your lighting costs, however when no one is in a room it is best to keep the curtains closed during the day. This is especially true for houses with windows on the eastern and western sides. Keeping the sun's direct rays from entering the house helps reduce the amount of effort your air conditioner puts forth to keep the house cool. To maximize this, open the drapes. blinds, or curtains in the evening to allow heat to escape through the windows of your house.

Turn on a Fan - In some climates, you can turn the air conditioner off at night and just let ceiling or floor fans provide cool air for your comfort. The energy used by a fan is far less than that of the air conditioner. If you live in a warmer climate, fans can still provide a comfortable breeze. Using the fans at night may allow you to set the air conditioner above 78 degrees saving a great deal of energy. Fans can also help move cool air around the house to ease the work load of the air conditioner.

Get Rid of Hot Air - Use an exhaust fan when cooking to help expel hot air from the house. If you don't have an exhaust fan, cool the room by setting up a floor fan in the kitchen while cooking. The fan not only cools the air, but can also help move it out of the kitchen.

Use the Dehumidifier - When people say, "it's not the heat, it's the humidity," they are right. If you have a dehumidifier turn it on when the temperature rises. Ridding your house of the humidity will help make your family feel more comfortable. You may even be able to set your air conditioner above 78 degrees when using a dehumidifier combined with fans.

Save Chores for the Right Time - While cooking can heat up the kitchen, so can using the dishwasher to dry the dishes. Clothes dryers located in the house can have the same effect. These tasks are better left for the evening time or, better yet, when no one is home. Taking on labor intensive tasks can also make you feel uncomfortable during the hottest times of the day. If possible, do them in the evening or the early morning when the heat isn't so bad.

Don't Get Locked Out!

There is nothing worse than getting locked out so be prepared!

Give a friend or neighbor an extra key.

Use a hide a key or have an extra in your car.

You may call our office during business hours but if we have left the office you will need to call

Action Lock at 434-974-7880.

All lockouts are at the residents expense.

 

Remember you are responsible for any maintenance or repair needed that is caused by your actions, your treatment of the property or lack of attention to any issue with the  property.