Welcome to your new home! As was pointed out in the Maintenance & Repair Agreemen., you are expected to care for this home as if it was your own and take care of all maintenance and repairs each month (up to the amount of your discount). Often a minor adjustment or repair, done in a timely manner when a problem is first observed, will avoid a much more serious and costly problem down the road. For repairs costing more than the amount of the discount, please call 492-7462 before beginning any work or contact us.

The following items are required as a condition of the Maintenance & Repair Agreement:

  1. Remember to check the smoke alarm(s) and carbon monoxide alarm(s) regularly to be sure they are operational. If the carbon monoxide alarm(s) is not operational, or if the batteries need to be replaced or if there is any deficiency that you cannot correct, you must notify Landlord in writing. Change batteries twice a year when you change your clocks back in the fall and forward in the spring. If the property does not have a fire extinguisher, you should supply one. This is for your safety.

  1. Per your rental contract, you have agreed to have the furnace (and other gas appliances including water heaters and fireplaces) and A/C, if applicable, serviced annually. Landlord will pay 50% of this cost if the service is performed by Gary Randolph of Falcon Heating & Cooling (492-4866) or Parkey’s Heating ((594-0991) and a paid receipt is submitted to Landlord within 60 days of service. It is your responsibility to change the furnace filter monthly during the heating season (and in summer if you have A/C). This will result in cleaner indoor air and more efficient heating/cooling.)

  2. If you have a wood-burning stove or fireplace which you plan to use, the chimney should be cleaned each year.

  3. If you have a problem with moisture, it is very important to determine the source of the problem and deal with it immediately. Notify us as soon as possible if you have had an overflow situation in a bathroom, kitchen or laundry, or if you notice any loose tile.

  4. Gutters should be cleaned out every year after all the leaves have fallen from the trees. Make sure that the splash blocks or downspout extensions are carrying the water away from the foundation. Failure to pay attention to the above could cause severe foundation problems.

  5. If you have a sprinkler system, you will need to have the system turned on in the spring (after the danger of a hard freeze is past) and drained and shut down in the fall, before the first hard freeze. Failure to do so will cost you money!

  6. Lawns must be fertilized three times a year and watered properly during the growing season. Trees and shrubs should be watered during the growing season and hand watered in winter when we have a nice warm day. This is especially important in a dry winter. (Do not turn on the sprinkler system once it has been winterized.) Pay particular attention to shrubs & trees in southern exposures. Please remember to disconnect all hoses after you have finished watering!

We don’t want you or anyone else to get hurt while maintaining your home. Please do not attempt to do any maintenance or repairs for which you are not qualified. Email us at [email protected] for the names of reputable service people who are qualified to do the work. If you ever have any concerns regarding the proper maintenance of your home, please don’t hesitate to bring them to our attention. Also please be aware of the condition of the exterior paint, especially the trim around wood windows, and let us know when attention is needed.

List of Procedures for some

Common Home Maintenance Jobs

(If you have been a homeowner in the past, most of these things will be familiar to you.)

Tile & grout / caulk – Please check the tile and grout in your tubs & showers regularly. If you notice any cracks or if any of the tiles appear loose, please let us know immediately! (Please do not use the tub or shower in question until the problem is solved.)

Shower tile – Spraying shower tiles after every use with a commercial product such as “Daily Shower” will prevent the build-up of soap scum and mildew (and/or use a squeegee). CLR (which can be purchased at Home Depot) is good for cleaning fiberglass showers and tub surrounds.

Glass shower doors – Squeegee after use to prevent build-up of soap film. A coat of lemon oil will also protect against soap film build-up.

Keep bathrooms well ventilated to prevent against mold and mildew. Use the exhaust fan! If you notice any mildew, clean it up with a solution of bleach and water.

Hardwood floors – If your home has hardwood floors, they should be swept regularly. To clean, damp mop with water and white vinegar only (less than ¼ cup vinegar to a gallon of warm water). Be sure to remove all excess water from mop and floor. To avoid scratches, please put felt pads on the bottom of all furniture and replace them as necessary.

Amtico® floors – Floors should be swept and damp mopped. To avoid scratches please put felt pads on the bottom of all furniture and replace when necessary.

Carpet – Weekly vacuuming will add years to the life of your wall-to-wall carpet. Treat spills immediately for best results. Club soda is good for red wine stains; a commercial spot cleaner such as ‘Resolve’ also works well on stains. There are specific products made for pet stains.

Kitchen – Don’t forget to vacuum under the refrigerator. Clean stove vent filters regularly with Dawn dish liquid and/or sudsy ammonia. Also wiping up spills on drip pans as they happen is much easier than attempting to scrub off baked-on spills. If you have a self-cleaning oven, do not use regular oven cleaner as this will damage the oven.