Summer…the time for vacations and longer days.  For homeowners, the work never seems to end.  For smart homeowners, the right maintenance prevents a larger repair down the road.

Here are some tips to keep your home in tip-top shape this season.

Help your gutters do their job. Remove any winter debris by giving the gutters a quick purge with your leaf blower or garden hose extension. Check for loose or disconnected elbows and tighten when needed.
Service your A/C. Most homeowners can change air filters and vacuum out  floor registers.  Call your contractor if you need additional service.
How’s your siding? Warm and sunny days give an excuse for playing with the hose. Give your siding the once over with soap and water, a brush & the garden hose.
Check the Play and Sitting Areas of your home.  Children will be planning to enjoy the outdoors…so be sure to give your swing sets and lawn furniture the once over with some bleach and soapy water.  Always test an area first.  Also, tighten any loose connections.
Window of Opportunity. GET A SQUEEGEE!  No one likes this job, but, a squeegee makes it a little easier.

Do a walk-thru and make a list of items that need repair or service.  This way, you can work to get a contractor to price a full day of work at a value rate rather than several short trips that will typically cost more.

Contact HMMA at: hmma@hmmainc.com for a Free Summer Maintenance Walk Thru Checklist.

 

 

 

 

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Keep Warm this Winter

Keep warm this year!

Of course, the best solution is to have your home professionally insulated.

Until then:

•  Be sure to close doors to unused rooms and keep the heat where you are.
• Cover your floors!  Area rugs add a nice color accent and warmth to your rooms.
• Use decorative door warmers to keep the cold out.  If you don’t have one handy…head out to your local hardware store and buy some pipe foam.  You can cut it in half and slide it under the door OR use two and cover with a pretty fabric wide enough to slide one on each side of the door.
• Remember to ALWAYS shut off space heaters when you leave the room. Never leave them unattended.

Call HMMA, Inc. at: 201-943-3331 for more tips on keeping your home warm, remodeling, insulation, whole home generators and more.

 

Improve Your Property Management Success

So, you want to be a landlord?

Well, running a successful and profitable property, whether it is a rental home, apartment, condo or commercial building requires dedication, hard work, perseverance and the right tools.

Some folks enter the property management business by accident: They have a home that hasn’t sold, so they decide to rent until it does.

Other folks are looking for an income opportunity.

Well, there are many important aspects to consider and here are some of them:

1. Remember that there will be vacancy periods.  Keep this in mind when pricing your rent.  Once you know what you want to receive monthly you can choose to add an additional cushion for the times that the property will be between renters.
2. Just because you CAN fix something, it isn’t ALWAYS the best choice.  Whether it is a timing issue, a cost issue or other reason, you may find that hiring a reliable outside professional provides the quickest and least troublesome repair.
3. Hiring a professional for a small job today is somewhat like an ‘interview’ for future; larger projects.  Note this message from DALE CARNEGIE:

4. Once you have a successful experience with the work of a local professional on a small project, you will have someone to turn to when the larger repairs arise.

5. Another useful tool is a Move In/Move Out Checklist. There are several available online like this one from HUD.gov: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=90106.pdf

Have the new/outgoing tenant sign off on the property.  Adding photos can help you both agree on the condition of the property as well.

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As always, check with your professional advisors when entering any new project and let us know if these ideas have helped you or if you have questions regarding any property repairs for your current properties.

HMMA, Inc: 201-943-3331

 

Why Do You Need a General Contractor?-Remodeling and Construction in NJ

The reasons that most folks hire a General Contractor are many:

1. The job is too large or time-consuming to manage alone.
2. The job requires the management of a professional.
3. The job requires several trades whose work needs to be checked prior to hiring.
4. The job requires a dedicated perfectionist….what?!

Yes, your job-no matter how large or small requires a detail oriented, eagle-eyed, ruthless perfectionist.  Why?  Remember the saying ‘measure twice; cut once’?

The last thing you need is to ‘learn’ about what not to do on a remodeling or new construction project that you have been dreaming about for years.

Ask these questions of your GC to help you decide if he/she is worth hiring.  It just may save you time and money in the long run.

1. How long have you been in the industry?
2. How many _______ have you done?
3. Are you insured?
4. How long before you start the job?
5. How long do you estimate the job will take?
6. Do you have a standard set of sub-contractors or employees that you work with?
7. What will you do to protect our timeline and budget?
8. How are you paid?
9. How will hiring you save me time and money?
10. How can I trust you will handle my job with care?

Now, armed with these answers, you can make a clear decision regarding the work you are planning.

For more information about your upcoming project-send us your request below:

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