What You Don’t Look For Can Hurt You.

March 12, 2019March 13, 2019 ~ Author

Inspection/Maintenance Tips – The Importance of Inspecting Your Rental Unit

Rental properties can be lucrative for owners provided they find the right tenants and don’t have too many problems with repairs. Owners have a responsibility to their tenants to be sure the rental unit or dwelling is safe and functioning properly.

In multi-story buildings, it’s especially important to regularly inspect your unit for leaks and electrical problems. Remember, water seeks its level, so what drips will work its way down to someone else’s unit resulting in insurance claims or possible lawsuits. Costly repairs and assessments can be avoided by inspecting your unit regularly.

As an owner, don’t wait for your tenant to tell you they have a leak with a sink or toilet. Small leaks can appear anytime without any provocative action. It’s often difficult to see small subtle leaks around toilets, sink supply lines or under sink drains barricaded by cleaning supplies.

Taking notice of the few items listed below may help you keep good tenants and avoid costly repairs to your unit, units around or below you, and to association your unit may be part of.

Before making any surprise visits to your tenant’s unit, be sure you comply with state and local landlord/tenant laws. Make arrangements with your tenant(s) as to when, or how often you can inspect.

Sink Drains & Garbage Disposals

Sometimes things get pushed underneath sinks hard enough to push pipes out of their fittings resulting in leaks. Chrome pipes often corrode with pinhole leaks. Sink baskets can also leak when the plumber’s putty dries up. Also, check garbage disposals to be sure they are not seized up or leaking.

Toilet/Sink Shut Off Valves and Supply Lines

Keep an eye on corroded valves and sink lines. Corrosion is a recipe for leaks and water problems. Don’t think that stainless mesh sink lines are invincible. I have seen many lines fail around the connectors.

Leaks Around Toilets

If you feel dampness around the base of a toilet, it can be condensation. But it could be time to replace the toilet seal. Keep an eye on leaky toilets. Water leaks hurt the association and the owners financially.

Toilet Tanks

Toilet tank leaks are common, subtle and often missed. Generally, toilet tank leaks can be fixed easily by a qualified person but can equate to a big problem if left unattended. Keep an eye out for leaks around the area where the tank meets the toilet.

Unit Inspections – Parkview Commons, Berea, Ohio

March 12, 2019March 28, 2019 ~ Author

Inspections Parkview Commons Condos Berea, Ohio

Parkview Commons Association performs (minimally) annual inspections of all units for smoke detector function, plumbing leaks, and pests. Additional inspections are performed if circumstances require them.

While it is ideal that unit owners or their tenants be physically present to admit management and/or contractors for inspection, management recognizes that this may not be possible in every instance. Accordingly, if an announced inspection is performed and the unit owner or tenant is not physically present to open the unit, a fee will be assessed to the unit owner to cover custodial time required to enter the unit. The fee will be $25 per occurrence.

Don’t Flush Your Money Down The Drain

March 11, 2019March 13, 2019 ~ Author

Maintenance Tips

If you’re an owner in Parkview Commons, you are part of Parkview Commons Condo Association. You also share in its responsibilities and operating costs.

The association currently pays the water and sewer bills. If there is a toilet running or leak in your unit, you could be flushing association dollars down the drain – which is ultimately your money.

A simple inspection of your unit could help control the cost of water.

One of the most common plumbing problems that result in water waste stems from toilets with bad seals or fill valves (often called Fluidmasters). Running toilets can easily be overlooked as the leaks are often quiet and generally out of sight or difficult to see. A leaking or running toilet can waste hundreds of gallons in a very short time. These problems, if not repaired, can also cause considerable damage to your unit and any unit below.

Have a qualified person or plumber check and inspect the toilet in your unit.

Parkview Commons Condos Smoking Policy

March 11, 2019April 7, 2019 ~ Author

Due to many complaints from both owners and residents, and the medical needs of many residents, the Board has modified the smoking policy. Smoking is not permitted in any common area, both inside the building and outside the building, including the parking lots. This means no smoking outside of a unit. Further, it is not permitted to exhaust or blow smoke out windows or use bathroom fans to exhaust smoke.

Smoking Parkview Commons Condos, Berea, Ohio

Additionally, any unit with a smoker of any substance, both legal and illegal, MUST install and use a HEPA Air Purifier from the approved list only. Owners must either purchase or advise tenant to purchase and install by March 31, 2019. Non-compliance after that date it will be an owner violation subject to further actions.

Approved HEPA Air Purifier List:

The Board asks for the cooperation of all. Please have consideration for the many residents with respiratory issues. Please install and use a HEPA unit to diminish the smoke that makes its way into the hallways and all units.

Thank you.
The Board of Trustees January 2019