Snow Reminders 2020
Hello Everyone and Happy New Year!
As I am sure you are all aware, cooler weather is in the forecast along with what seems to be a good probability of snow. We would like to help everyone be proactive and get ready for the inclement weather. Many of these things were communicated in a general tenant letter on November 1st, but this is another reminder.
SINGLE FAMILY HOME TENANTS
: If you live in a single-family home, it is your responsibility to keep your sidewalks shoveled and free of snow and ice. Learning from last year and how it was virtually impossible to purchase salt or de-icer when we were in desperate need, I would highly recommend the time to purchase it is now. Stock up and be ready – and maybe purchase a snow shovel at the same time! 
The City has announced that they WILL BE enforcing penalties if sidewalks are not shoveled and kept free of snow and ice. There is a $50 fine for single-family homes for the first violation.
APARTMENT BUILDING TENANTS: You will most likely see someone spreading salt over this weekend to your walkways, sidewalks and parking areas. If we get as much snow as we did last year, we will have teams working on clearing the snow. We ask for your patience however, as last year taught us, everyone is working long hours and availability is spread very thin.
Along with the forecast of snow, we will, of course, have our usual deluge of rainfall, which seems to already have started. Please keep an eye out for overflowing gutters, tree branches falling, and any other issues that you notice – you are our eyes and ears on the property.
Preparing your home for freezing temperatures
Disconnect any garden hoses and, if possible, wrap or otherwise protect hose faucets to minimize freezing.
Make sure your heat is on and the temperature is set to 60 degrees or higher to minimize the chance of frozen pipes. Most insurance companies will not cover damage from frozen pipes if heat is not maintained inside your home and you may be personally responsible for damages as a result. This applies both to condominiums, apartments and detached homes.
Leave cabinet and closet doors open under sinks and along exterior walls of your home to allow heat to circulate.
If you do have a pipe break, shut off the water supply as soon as possible and remove as much of the water as you can. Plumbers and water damage companies will be overwhelmed with calls, so you will need to be as patient as possible while waiting for them to be able to get to you.
