Blind Cleaning Tips

For those looking for a safe, deep cleaning method for blinds or shades, there are essentially three options. Knowing which cleaning process is appropriate for your window treatments is important to understand. You don't want to be in the market for new blinds prematurely due to poor advice or misinformation! Briefly we'll explain the cleaning methods of each process and what they have to offer.

Ultrasonic cleaning utilizes the energy produced by sound waves traveling through water to give anything immersed in the solution a bubble scrub at the microscopic level. The sound waves create millions of exploding air bubbles that blast anything loose off all the surfaces of the material (fabric, metal, plastic etc.) and quickly suspend it in solution by virtue of the cleaning soap or detergent in the solution. It provides a very thorough, yet gentle cleaning of the whole blind or shade including the cords, head rail parts even insides the cells (of honeycomb blinds).

The Injection-Extraction method involves using any one of a number of smaller portable cleaning machines to inject and then extract a cleaning solution (wet/water or dry cleaning/solvent based) from the surface of a fabric blind, shade or drapery. The cleaning solution is sprayed onto the fabric flushing off dirt and extracted by the vacuuming action of the cleaning head leaving the surface damp.

Hand Washing blinds, that can safely be wet cleaned can be done by hand with a bucket of soapy water and a brush then rinsing them thoroughly is the method most used.



Peter Edwins
Dirtyblinds.com





Posted by Joanne Vanderhoef
Marketing and Media Specialist

The Management Group
Property and HOA Management in Vancouver WA and Portland OR
http://www.TMGnorthwest.com

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Property Management: Renting Your House

In case you are the owner of a property that you wish to rent to an interested prospective tenant, you have to decide which would be the best way to make your rental property most appealing to potential renters. Real estate agents support that there are several ways in which this can be done.

- There is always the solution of furnishing your rental property. Many landlords decide that this is the best possible way to increase the rental agreement on their property and if they do have furniture in excess, it is actually a convenient way to store them and make profit from their use by the tenant.

In case this sounds like something you would be interested in doing, you have to make sure that your rental property is in excellent condition and that the phone jack on the wall and other appliances are in perfect shape.

- There is also the option of partly furnishing your property. This method will appeal to renters who are interested in finding a house that is not packed with furniture that do not match and that they want to bring in some of their own.

But it is always a good idea to offer a nice quality couch, bed, mattress, drawers and kitchen appliances. Nice looking furniture will make your property much more appealing to potential renters and will help you securing the rent you wish to receive every month.

- Do not forget that your property has to be shown to its potential residents clean. Everything has to be as clean as possible and especially the kitchen appliance, cupboards along with the bathroom have to be in great shape. Consider hiring a professional team to do the cleaning and remember that in most cases, providing a clean apartment is among your responsibilities as the rental's lawful owner.

- Repair ceilings, kitchen cabinets, existing wallpaper, closets and doors. Make sure your contractor will take care of your bathroom damages and ask him to replace the bathroom tiles that have been damaged by the previous tenants or owners. Installing a new bathroom curtain and brand new hooks can further assist your efforts of renting it at the price range you have in mind.

- Repaint with the right light colors the walls of the residence and get rid off difficult to handle paints.

- Increase the existing lighting and replace old blinds with bright new ones.

- Take care of the things the previous owner or tenant has left inside the house and if you are thinking of using some or all of them to furnish the house make sure you write down what you are leaving in there and what type of furniture are missing and your tenant wil probably request you to supply.

- Shampoo carpets and for deep cleaning that helps reduce the allergens and the odors caused by dust mites, pollen, dust and pet dander. It generally advisable to deeply clean your carpets so as to brighten and deodorize their surface.

by: BMA Editorial Team 3 
Reference http://property-management.bestmanagementarticles.com/a-42891-property-management-renting-your-house.aspx

Post by Joanne Vanderhoef
Marketing and Media Specialist

The Management Group
Property and HOA Management in Vancouver WA and Portland OR
http://www.TMGnorthwest.com

Follow us on Facebook
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Review Basic Emergency Maintenance Steps with New Residents

One of the privileges of owning and managing rental properties is the late night emergency calls. Reviewing emergency procedures prior to occupancy might just prevent a late night call from a panic-stricken resident. Always properly identify and preview with the resident the location of the following systems within a rental unit.

1) The water shut-off. This is one of the most vital controls to cover with residents. Having this simply knowledge can literally prevent thousands of dollars in damage. Always show residents its location and demonstrate how to shut the water completely off. Hang a “water shut-off” tag on the handle.

2) The circuit-breaker panel box. It is important for residents to not only know where this is located but they should also be told how to locate and reset a breaker that has tripped.

3) Ground-fault circuit interrupters – GFCI’s in bathrooms and kitchens. Many service calls are made for what is usually a very simple fix involving these safety devices. Make sure your residents know where they are and how to reset them.

4) The thermostat and its proper operation. This is especially important if the rental unit has a heat pump. Varying settings to save expense on heat pumps can actually cost the resident more money for energy costs. Residents should also understand the function of the emergency heat switch.

Taking these simple precautions can prevent many emergency calls and extra expense. Cover these items in advance and remove some of the headaches associated with rental property management.

Courtesy Rentals.com by Jennifer

How To Handle An Abandoned Property

By Carla Toebe, New Century Realty, Kennewick, WA
They say that abandonment is a landlord’s or property manager’s worst nightmare when dealing with a tenant. How do you know it is really abandonment? Sometimes it’s obvious when everything is gone, the place seems perfectly empty, and the tenant’s keys are lying on the counter. But what if the place is full of furniture, the food is still in the cupboard, and you can’t get a hold of them? They haven’t paid their rent, they haven’t returned your phone calls, no one has seen them, and you can’t get a hold of anyone on the emergency contact form you had them complete when they moved in. Surely this means they must have abandoned the place. So you change the locks, and uh-oh! There they are coming back claiming you have now burglarized their place. Oh no! This can’t be, they clearly abandoned the place and you took all the steps you had to take that were required by law.

Maybe it isn’t that clear cut. Maybe a tenant still has some rights. Now you are facing penalties, a criminal investigation, and a whole slew of troubles you never knew you had. Let’s back up and figure out how to determine that this is really abandonment and you have the right to take possession of your unit.

You spelled out what abandonment was with your tenant and you had it written in the lease, right? Good, well at least you tried to get the tenant on board with your ideas. Unfortunately they have forgotten about your request for them to tell you they have left, and to turn in their keys. That would be the easy thing to do. However, they don’t want you to know they have left because they are in a hurry, that they are embarrassed that they have to leave owing rent, or that they had to leave things such a mess. They may not want to face you or deal with any of these responsibilities. Maybe they could have left a note telling you to dispose of everything there, and that they are not coming back.
Why didn’t they think of these things for you? Unfortunately abandonment isn’t always so sweet and simple. Usually you have to determine without any doubt and with full public notice of some sort that you intend to declare the place abandoned. You also have to hold onto any property left for so many days prior to disposing or selling it. Each state has their own set of laws and it is very important to become familiar with the particulars of the process to establish abandonment because that tenant could come back. Now you are now expected to return everything that you just disposed of because you thought it was left behind.

Write your abandonment process down if you haven’t already so that tenants, anyone who works for you taking care of the units, and owners who are hands on, consistently follow the appropriate process. Make sure that your complete process complies with the state laws. It may be helpful to have an attorney review it.

Typically in order to establish abandonment, the tenant must be late on the rent and they must have not responded to a 3 day notice to pay or quit that you mailed and put on their door. They have also not responded to an abandonment notice that you put on their door for all to see after 48 hours. What if they are just gone for 5 days and forgot to pay rent? Well you need to start calling their personal phone numbers, work numbers, relatives, friends, neighbors, and anyone you can think of that might know them in order to validate that they are really gone. You need to check and see if their vehicles have been parked there at all during this time. You also need to check with the utility companies to see if any service has been disconnected. In other words, ask around, do some investigating, and document all that you have done.

Once you are inside because the evidence all points to the fact that they have abandoned the unit, take a picture of that abandonment notice still stuck to the door and a picture and/or video of everything inside that has been left behind. Carefully store all items that are clearly not garbage and place it into a safe secure location for the length of time required by law. I don’t know how many times I have seen someone dump everything outside for all bargain hunters in the neighborhood to come around and clear away. Do not fall into that temptation as appealing as it sounds! It is the worst thing to do and it is not worth the potential harm that a little effort would prevent. Do the right things, know the laws, and know what the process should be.

If you are a tenant, please let someone know that you have left. If you don’t, it will cost you more money in the long run than it would have if you just let your landlord or property manager know when you left the property. Avoid getting into legal troubles over abandonment, turn in your keys and leave a note!

Homeowners Association Insurance and Natural Disasters

The most unexpected east coast earthquake of 2011 was felt all across the Washington Metropolitan Area and as far as New England, Ohio, and the Carolinas. Fortunately, only minor damage was reported.  While this is an extremely rare case it does raise questions of insurance coverage.
Of the many things your association assessment pays for, insurance is one of the most important. Association governing documents and state law require the association board to purchase adequate insurance as part of a comprehensive risk-management program.

There are two major types of commercial insurance coverage for an Homeowners Association (HOA) —property and liability.

Property insurance covers loss of or damage to any common structures or physical property caused by fire, flood, storms or other natural events. For instance, if high winds uproot a tree that damages a common roof, the association’s property insurance would cover the cost of repairs. Property insurance may also cover what we call “human perils” (such as theft) and “economic perils” (such as stock market fluctuations) that might impact our association’s investments.

Liability insurance covers losses that would result if someone took legal action against the association for an injury, financial loss or other type of damage.

It is imporant to communicate with your insurance professional to ensure that you have the appropriate coverage for your unique HOA needs.  If you have a professional community association manager they will facilitate this evaluation at least on an annual basis.

The association’s insurance does not cover private property of owners or residents.  Each member should have his or her own insurance policy for their home or belongings. If you need information about homeowners insurance, talk to a licensed insurance agent who specializes in homeowners associations. Or you may want to talk to the association’s insurance provider; this person will know exactly where the association’s master policy coverage ends and where yours should begin. This prevents you from over or under insuring yourself.  If you have a professional management company, contact them and ask for a reference.

Let's all hope that earthquakes will not require regular consideration during HOA insurance reviews in our region any time in the near future.

Courtesy HOA Management

Is Your Property “Rent Ready”?

Are you a property owner that is looking to rent out your property or currently rent out your property? There are many things you will want to do to make sure your home is “rent ready”. The better maintained and looking that your property is, the more tenants it will attract. This in turn will ensure that your property will rent out faster than others available. We have provided a list of 11 steps you will want to take in order to make sure your property is “rent ready”.  Have you taken care of these prior to renting out your property?

1.    Re-key the locks. You never know who may have a set of old keys to your property.  Another good idea is to reset the alarm for your house. Re-keying and recoding locks makes old keys unusable. If you live in a condo or townhome make sure you have all HOA-issued gate remotes and codes, plus keys to any community pools and fitness centers.

2.    Professionally clean the carpets. Un-cleaned carpets are a common mistake we see with property owners. Not having the carpets cleaned prior to a tenant moving in will turn off many tenants.  Professional “full-steam and shampoo” carpet cleaning works best – you don’t want any residue left because it can attract dirt.

3.    Improve the yard. A well taken care lawn will appeal to more people. The yard is one of the first things a tenant will see, and the better looking it is, the more inclined they will be to like the property. Some examples to improve your yard include: cutting the grass, trim the bushes, prune the trees, pull the weeds, fix broken sprinkler heads, replace dead or dying shrubbery, and add some new flowering plants.

4.    Change the air filters. Changing the air filters is a great way to maintain your system. Cleaning the vents is also a good idea. Disposable air filters don’t require monthly cleaning (like reusable ones) and make for one less maintenance item your tenant needs to remember.

5.    Get your property professionally cleaned. Renters expect their rental property to be clean for move-in, so have the property professionally cleaned. Investing some money into a cleaning service and having a clean property will not only attract more renters, but is a great way to maintain the look your home.

6.    Let in the light. Replace any broken light bulbs; consider putting in energy-efficient bulbs, which reduce energy costs and don’t need to be replaced as often. Replacing light bulbs with energy efficient ones will be something tenants will appreciate as it will lower their monthly costs.
7.    Inspect ceiling fans. If you property has ceiling fans, make sure they have been cleaned and work properly.
8.    Inspect and clean windows and sliding glass doors. Windows and (especially) sliding glass doors can easily build up dirt. A good cleaning will not only let in more light, but may help them work better.

9.    Clean, repair or replace screens. Torn screens can allow pests into your rental property (besides being a security and visual problem). So repairing or replacing screens may save you money (less visits from your pest-control company) and give you peace of mind.

10.    Spray for pests. It’s better to have the property sprayed on a regular schedule than to wait until there’s a pest problem. You’ll definitely want to hire a professional pest control company to give your property a full treatment for all of the common bugs in your area.

11.    Paint, repair and fix. Fix any holes in the walls before applying a fresh new coat of paint. Repair or replace any carpet that shows signs of damage (or doesn’t come clean after a professional carpet cleaning). Fix or replace any damaged tiles.

By taking care of the above items it will not only provide a great maintenance plan for your property for years of renting, but it will allow you to attract more renters to your property. These items are not high costs items, but will provide your property the basic needs to make sure your property is “rent ready” for the next tenant.

Courtesy Rental Choice

What You Should Know about Flood Insurance for Renters

You may think that your landlord’s coverage or your renter’s policy will cover your losses in case of flood damage, but guess again! Regardless of whether your rental home is in an obviously flood-prone area, consider the benefits of carrying a renter’s flood-specific insurance policy.

Who needs it?
Whatever kind of regular renter’s insurance policy you have will likely not help in the case of flooding, which is exempt from typical coverage. But a flood insurance policy can make all the difference if the home you live in suffers rising waters due to an act of nature. A few inches are all that is needed to ruin furniture, electronics, clothing, books—all the possessions that you care about.

What it will cost
Flood insurance premiums are based on your risk level. A renter living in a moderate-to-low risk area, for instance, could pay as little as $49 a year for a flood policy. But the greater the risk, the higher the rate. The risk rating is based on factors such as the location of the building, its age, number of floors and occupancy. You can get a risk assessment for your location to see what kinds of premiums you might have to pay.


In high-risk areas, be aware that property owners are required by law to carry insurance if their lenders are federally regulated or insured. That means their tenants are also at a high risk to lose their personal property and should strongly consider getting a personal flood policy. If you suspect that you are in a high-risk area, talk to your landlord about it to see if she is legally obligated to carry flood insurance.
In communities that participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), high-risk rates are locked in. The program partners with private insurance companies to offer flood insurance to homeowners and renters at the same rate — regardless of which provider they choose — providing a savings to customers. There are community membership requirements, however, such as enforcing ordinances that reduce the risk of flooding. Check to see if your community qualifies.

What it covers
Courtesy of FloodSmart.com, a renter’s flood insurance policy is likely to cover the following:

• Personal belongings, such as clothing, furniture, and electronic equipment
• Curtains
• Portable and window air conditioners
• Portable microwave ovens and portable dishwashers
• Carpets that are not included in building coverage
• Clothing washers and dryers
• Food freezers and the food in them
• Certain valuable items such as original artwork and furs (up to $2,500)

A renter’s flood insurance policy will likely NOT cover:

• Damage caused by moisture, mildew, or mold that could have been avoided by the property owner
• Currency, precious metals, and valuable papers, such as stock certificates
• Property and belongings outside of an insured building such as trees, plants, wells, septic systems, walks, decks, patios, fences, seawalls, hot tubs, and swimming pools
• Living expenses such as temporary housing
• Financial losses caused by business interruption or loss of use of insured property
• Most self-propelled vehicles such as cars, including their parts (see Section IV.5 in your policy)

When the rainy season rolls in, it could be a great relief to know that your worldly possessions are covered in foul weather or fair. Do your homework and see if a flood policy makes sense for you!

By Jennifer rentals.com

Advantages of Leasing From a Property Management Company

The real-estate market is so massive and so popular today that it gave birth to a lot of third party companies. Consequently, without real-estate, these businesses will fall. Property management companies, for example, are so dependent on property rental that it will render completely useless should the former seize to exist. It's undeniable though that those who managed to ride on the wave of a booming trend are ingenious in a way. Instead of competing with many others who are already on the trend, they did something else to benefit from it without much competition. Also, real estate management companies are easier to form. It is more on the selling and persuading side of the business, no capital or any sort of monetary risk required.

Aside from managing properties - keeping them in good condition and running - it is also part of a real estate management company's duty to keep the units occupied. Without tenants, the business would become a liability because of mortgage and taxes. Filling in a vacancy is a crucial and painstaking process that will require landlords, good property managers, and property management companies. It's better to invest a bit higher on good ones than have it cheap and see your property go unoccupied for extended periods. You didn't decide to do real-estate to see something like this.

On the other hand, if you're not a landlord, what exactly can real estate business companies do for you? If you're looking for a place, you can go directly to a property management company and ask for one. They will process all of the necessary paper on your behalf and a wide array of properties are already existent in their portfolio for you to choose from -- whatever fits your taste and lifestyle. No need to go to anywhere else for more choices. If you decide to deal directly with owners, you will have to meet landlords one by one which takes too much time and effort.

Property management companies also give you an array of payment options to choose from, be it cash, postdated checks etc... You won't have to worry about being scammed for they are guaranteed legal. Similarly, if you're a landlord, property business companies will give you reliable property managers who will manage everything about your properties for you so cash will keep on flowing every month with very minimal effort on your side. They make sure the properties are fine round the clock, and they answer to repair concerns at ridiculous hours at night. However, concerns have to be urgent enough to be legible for a prompt response.

Regardless of whether you're a tenant or a landlord, professional management companies will come off advantageous for you. Make sure though that when you utilize the service a real estate management company, you are certain that it is legally operating with a business permit, and is anchored to the ground with an establishment. Preferably, you'll choose the ones with a proven track record or ask your friends for recommendations.

Courtesy Rental
Choice

Three Secrets to Profitably Renting Your House to the Right Tenants

It’s not easy being a landlord. You have to get your house ready to rent. You have to advertise to get perspective renters. You have to select the right renters. And then you have to be at their beck and call in the case that they have a problem with the house. And then you have to collect the rent when they’re late or evict them when they don’t keep their promise to you. What a headache!

Or you can learn the secrets to being successful landlord and put all those headaches behind you. Here are three secrets to successfully renting out your house.

SECRET ONE: SCOPE OUT THE COMPETING PROPERTIES

To find out what you need to do to maximize your success, tour competing properties in your immediate area, acting as if you are prospective renter. You can find out how the other landlords treat their prospects and steal their best methods and make them your own.

Make sure that you pick up copies of their marketing material-that is what they give prospective renters to take away to remind them of what they saw.

Ask for a rental application to see what kind of things they’re looking for. Ask if they have a sample lease agreement that you can review. Not every landlord will make this available to you, but it’s worth asking for. (Look at my other articles for a free rental lease that you can use as an example.)

If you want to have the complete experience, fill out a rental application and see how you’re treated. You can just say that you found some other place or changed your mind if they pick you to rent the house.

If you do this with half a dozen properties, you’ll get a great idea of property conditions, rent ranges, and terms and conditions that are common in your area. If you’re new landlord, this experience can teach you a lot in very short time.

With this information it will be easy to see if it’s worth it for you to rent your home, or if you want to let somebody else manage it, or if you want to put on the market to sell.

SECRET TWO: MAKE YOUR HOUSE VERY DESIRABLE

If your house is just like every other house on the block or like every other apartment in the building, it will be difficult to attract a great renter that will take care of your house and pay the rent on time.

On the other hand, a clearly superior home will attract better renters and allow you to command a higher rent. The kind of people who you want as good tenants will be embarrassed by a dingy and worn-out home. They won’t want to bring their friends and family into that environment.

This means you need to invest a little extra in the house to make it look great. With the information you gathered from Secret One, above, you can decide how to put minor upgrades into your home that really stand out from the competition.

I do simple things like upgrade light fixtures, install new flooring and carpeting, replace the kitchen sink, replace the bathroom sink, and replace the drip pans on the stove so it looks fresh and clean.

Consider fresh paint or carefully touch up the walls so everything looks clean and tidy.

I also make sure that the property is absolutely spotless, with clean windows, clean entryway, and professionally cleaned carpets. I also replaced all the light bulbs with maximum wattage bulbs so that the house is as bright as possible. A dark house doesn’t show well but a bright house moves fast.

SECRET THREE: SET YOUR RENT AT LEAST 10 PERCENT HIGHER

 A slightly higher rent then the competing properties won’t scare away the type of renters you’re looking for, but will move along the cheap skates that you don’t need in your house. And besides, it will be worth it to your renters because your house looks so much better since you’ve followed Secret Two, above.

To make your higher rent stick, create a marketing page that calls out all the valuable capabilities and features of your home.

Courtesy Rental Choice

Landlord Tenant Disputes Can Be Avoided

Landlording is all about educating yourself on making the right decisions.

Finding and keeping good tenants is the biggest task that a landlord has to face every day if he or she is to stay in business long term. In order to get the most out of your income property, you have to find renters who are responsible and willing to maintain your property in good shape. There are many important landlording resources and tools on how to find good tenants, but the important part is to know how to keep great tenants and retain the edge over your fellow landlord competitors.

There are things you need to do, and others to avoid to find and keep the right tenants. While there are many good tenants out there, there are also bad apples that need avoiding and a diligent assessment regime will help sort the good from the bad. Any responsible tenant will be happy to answer your questions during the application process, will understand why they are being asked for the information and willingly provide evidence of a clean track record to secure a good property. After all, if they withhold or give you false information, you let them know up front that you are going to verify all the information given to you through a background and criminal check.

If you want to know how to find good and reliable tenants, the first place to start is with the right advertising. Many landlords use just one or two avenues, and this can be a mayor mistake. You need to use as many advertising outlets as you can. Be smart about this process, if you are looking for good tenants, don’t advertise where most likely you’ll attract the opposite. Make sure you have good photos that show the property off to its best and ensure that all information is up to date and correct facilities are included to avoid wasting everyone’s time. Research the price of rentals in your area and rather than undercutting the price of other landlords why not offer 1 month free or a free gift such as a TV or a computer. Perceived value by the tenant and less money given away over the year on your part. Start advertising with your local papers, professionally made signs and try the website based agencies that offer a good country wide service also.

The next step in the process is screening. In order find out how to keep great tenants, you need good tenants to begin with. You need to do background checks on any of your potential renters, and while some of these resources are free, the most thorough services cost money. Trying to save a few dollars here can cost you thousands later. You can offset these costs by charging a fee to your applicants. Not only do you need to run a credit history, but also a criminal background check as well, delinquencies on rental payments,evictions etc. It’s not enough to just get references, but you call these people as well. There is also nothing better than meeting with your tenants in person as not only will this open the relationship but you will also have a gut feeling if things are not right.

For some tips on how to keep great tenants; be straight talking and up front with your renters. Present your property well from the outset and if your tenants have a problem in the residence, be prompt about fixing it. Have a list of emergency numbers to give them if they can’t get in touch with you. These are just a few tips on how to find good tenants, and how to keep great tenants once you’ve found them. Happy landlording!

Energy Saving Tips for Your HOA or Condo Association

Saving energy or “going green” in your condo association community doesn’t mean jumping off a cliff to embrace a drastically different standard of living. There are a range of things you can do--from small everyday changes to long-term rebuilding--- that will save you energy. This is not only good for the planet, but it also saves you money and can give you peace of mind knowing that you’re doing your part for the greater good of your community.

Here are some simple energy conservation tips all members of your homeowners or condo association can adhere to:

Assess how much energy you are using: Documenting your current energy use will help identify areas where you can save.

Buy Energy Efficient products: When purchasing energy-efficient appliances, look for the energy star logo, which indicates appliances that meet strict standards for conservation. Many of these products offer money-saving rebates, and your community association board should be mindful of this.

Reduce Usage: From electricity to heating and cooling systems, you may be using more than you need. Turn off lamps and enjoy natural light during the day. For home cooling, using air conditioning as a last resort to natural ventilation and shading. Use small space heaters to trap heat in certain places like work or sleep areas, or draw on the natural power of the sun for an active solar heating system.
Invest in An Energy Efficient Home: Design or upgrade your home with efficiency in mind. Ultra-efficient homes include climate-specific designs, built-in energy efficient appliances, solar water heating systems. Long term investments in energy-efficient construction includes proper insulation and proper ventilation for windows and doors. These designs provide energy conservation daily and add up to tremendous cost-savings in the long-run.

Landscape Strategically: Energy savings extend beyond the interior of your home and into your landscaping design. Trees planted strategically for shade can help reduce cooling costs while windbreaks can lower the wind chill in your home and save on heating costs. Talk with your association's landscaping company to get a feel for how they can make your development more eco-friendly.

Practice Water Efficiency: Save money by installing a new energy-efficient water heater in homes. Reduce your usage of hot water or lower your water temperature. The United States Department of Energy estimates that you can save between 3%–5% in energy costs for each 10ºF of reduction in water temperature.

Courtesy HOA Management