Saturday, December 6, 2008

Parkside Condo Memo From Management

First of all, Shelley and I would like to express the happiest of Holiday Greetings to everyone at Parkside.

We are taking orders for peepholes to be installed in your doors. Total cost is $25 each (parts and labor). That is a great price. If you want to be put on the installation list, please leave a check or money order (made out to Willinger Real Estate) for $25 in the office box by the end of the week (Friday Dec 12th) and we will purchase the peepholes and set up an installation schedule. This is purely optional.

We have been working diligently, since taking over management, and are pretty well caught up on maintenance tasks and grounds clean-up before winter sets in. Two caveats are that we continue to have a problem with discarded cigarette butts and animal droppings on the grounds. We should not have to pay anyone to do this kind of clean-up. If you have a pet, please pick up after it. If you smoke, dispose of the butts properly. No explanation necessary. If it continues to be a problem we will need to make a special assessment to smokers and pet owners. You are responsible for the actions of your visitors as well.

For the Stella and lower McKittrick units, we have placed a new garbage bin onsite… one with arms to hold the lids open during the day. This will free up both your hands to put garbage in the bin. Ted also placed a couple of bricks in front of the bin to aid short people. Again, please remember to break down empty boxes before placing them in the dumpsters. This is going to be even more critical during the holiday season!

I am still getting complaints about parking. Please, please, please be respectful of other people’s parking spaces. And, inform your visitors where your assigned spaces are. Even if you know of a spot that is rarely used, if it is not assigned to your unit, do not use it. Every tenant has two assigned spaces and has the right to expect the use of both of their parking spaces at any given time for themselves or visitors. If we continue to have problems we WILL have to start having non-authorized vehicles towed. It is expensive to get a vehicle out of the tow yard, so I hope it doesn’t come to that. Sorry to be so stern, but we all need to respect each others parking spots… as you wish yours to be respected. One tenant said she had to haul her groceries in from the street parking because both of her spots were being used by others. This is not acceptable.

Remember, if you have issues you think need addressed, please call our office and leave a message. If you have an emergency, please text message my cell or call (as a last resort). We want to be responsive to your needs but we also want our personal time respected.

Please let us know how we can make Parkside a better place to live. You can use our secure drop box (next to our office door) as a suggestion box too. We offer this as a way to make suggestions, not become an anonymous complainer!

And… don’t forget to keep checking in on this blog for the most current info on what’s happening at the complex: www.ParksideCondos.blogspot.com
Again, we wish everyone the...
Happiest of Holidays!






Office Phone: 509-470-6012
Emergency phone: 509-670-7840 (Carol's cell)
http://www.willingerrealestate.com/

CarolWilliams@charter.net
ShelleyGranger@charter.net

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Maintenance Update: Nov. 22, 2008








The furnace filters were all replaced on schedule this passed week. This will improve the efficiency of your furnace and help keep your heating bills as low as possible.

Our maintenance supervisor has marked each unit with the filter size, an arrow for the direction of air flow and the date of replacement. These are 90 days filters and should be replaced again in the Spring. These filters cost less than $5 and you, as tenants and owners, should replace them on a regular basis to keep your furnace functioning properly and reduce your electric bills.

We also replaced ALL of the entryway lights with CFL (compact fluorescent) bulbs. This should reduce our energy consumption and last longer than regular bulbs.

We have had some requests for peepholes in the main doors. He is putting together a quote for this. This is optional, but let us know if you are interested in having a peephole in your entry door. If you have our maintenance guy do the work, we will allow it to be done. I don't expect it to cost too much, especially if we can have him do several in one day.

Also, we are trying to get Waste Management to bring a different dumpster for the lower units (Stella and lower McKittrick)... one with a latch so the lid can be propped open. We realize this bin is tall and difficult for many of you to hold the door open while throwing garbage in the dumpster. Please, do everything possible to NOT leave bags outside the dumpster. Stray animals love these bags full of "candy". Also, please break down cardboard boxes before putting them into the dumpsters. Empty cardboard boxes waste space in the dumpster.

As always, if you see things that need to be addressed in the complex, let us know. We need to be conscious of costs but want Parkside to be a place where you are proud to live. Anything you can do to help, such as keeping your own entryway clean, aids us in keeping costs down and keeping holding rents as low as possible.

Happy Holidays,

Your Willinger Real Estate Property Management Team:
Carol Williams CarolWilliams@charter.net
Shelley Granger ShelleyGranger@charter.net
Office phone: 509-470-6012
Emergency phone: 509-670-7840

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Filter Changing Schedule




We've posted notices with everyone, but here is a reminder of the furnace filter changing schedule for the units we manage at Parkside:

1428 - 1440 McKittrick Monday, Nov. 17th
1410 - 1424 McKittrick Tuesday, Nov.18th
1602 - 1682 Stella Wednesday, Nov. 19th.

As the notice indicated, you may be present for this scheduled maintenance but it is not necessary.

Have a great week!






Property Manager
Broker, Realtor, ABR, e-PRO, GRI
Willinger Real Estate

Office Phone: 509-470-6012
Emergency Phone: 509-670-7840

FREE search of Wenatchee MLS homes and land for sale
Current Wenatchee real estate news, info and trends

Remember:
Information is FREE. Knowledge, Experience & Integrity Are Priceless

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Wenatchee Rentals Available



Do you know anyone who might like to live at the "Under New Management" Parkside apartments and condos? Here is your chance to recommend a new neighbor.

Here is what is available and coming up:

Available now:
Top level 3 bedroom, 2 bath unit $995 per month

Available early December:
Top level 2 bedroom, 2 bath unit $850 per month
Lower level 3 bedroom, 2 bath unit $995 per month

Pets will be considered with a deposit and guarantee to pay any actual damages over and above the deposit amount.

Life is good at Parkside!







Office phone: 509-470-6012
Carol Williams CarolWilliams@charter.net
Shelley Granger ShelleyGranger@charter.net

Search ALL Wenatchee MLS homes and land for sale
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Knowledge, Experience, Integrity

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Gold Star Building





In addition to a tenant-of-the-month, we will be watching for entire buildings within the Parkside complex (all units on McKittrick and Stella Streets) that show particular pride of tenancy. This means clean entries and free of cigarette butts and other loose debris.

Having tenants be mindful of the cleanliness within the area around their own buildings will help us control maintenance costs and control the need for potential rent increases.

Tasteful seasonal decorations will also be taken into consideration. We will not necessarily be announcing a building winner on a monthly basis, but instead awards will be announced as warranted.

Have a great week...

Your Willinger Real Estate Property Management Team:







Carol Williams CarolWilliams@charter.net
Shelley Granger ShelleyGranger@charter.net

Office phone: 509-470-6012 * Emergency phone: 509-670-7840

FREE Search of All Wenatchee MLS homes and land for sale
Current Wenatchee real estate news, info and trends
Wenatchee Vacation rentals

We list and sell homes too, so if you know someone
looking to buy or sell, we would love to help them!

Remember:
Information is FREE. Knowledge, Experience & Integrity Are Priceless

Monday, November 10, 2008

Filter Changing Time




Our maintenance supervisor, Ted Biller, is planning to get the furnace filters changed in EVERY unit within the next few weeks. He will be doing an entire building at a time and we will send a notice advising you when your building is scheduled.

This will help your furnace unit to be more efficient and, hopefully, save you on your electric bill as well as maintain the life of the furnace. Certainly don't want any down time in the cold of winter!


We will give you at least two days notice. You are welcome to be present during this maintenance task, but if you are not home we will access your unit with our management keys.

Thanks for your cooperation. Have a great week!

The Willinger Real Estate Property Management Team:






Carol Williams CarolWilliams@charter.net
Shelley Granger ShelleyGranger@charter.net


Office phone: 509-470-6012
Emergency phone: 509-670-7840

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Tenant-of-the-Month





We're going to be initiating a tenant-of-the-month award. We may select a tenant for some random reason (like having the best seasonal decorations, or for being the first to get their rent check in)... or you may nominate someone for whatever reason you like. If you do nominate someone, please give us the reason for the nomination. We'd love to hear about Random Acts of Kindness.

Each tenant of the month will receive some sort of "surpsise".

Watch for the first winner.

Have a great week!






Office Phone: 509-470-6012
Emergency phone: 509-670-7840

Wenatchee Property Management team:
Carol Williams CarolWilliams@charter.net
Shelley Granger ShelleyGranger@charter.net

Common Courtesies





I've discovered it's often the little things in life that can make a big difference. In that spirit, I'd like to mention a few common courtesies that will help make Parkside an attractive and pleasant place to live.



1) I've noticed a number of cigarette butts under some of the stairways and in the driveway and parking lot. Please, please, please, dispose of your own cigarette butts! Someone has to do it and it might as well be you! Today I picked up 3 butts within a 20 foot radius near our office. I don't smoke and I detest picking up someone elses cigarette butts. This would be equivalent to you having to take someone else's baby's diaper to the garbage. It's gross.

2) We have the parking spaces numbered for a reason... to protect YOUR parking spots. Please respect other parking spots as you want yours respected. Even if a unit is vacant, those spots need to be left open so we have a place for prospective tenants (or buyers) to park. For example, if I have a showing scheduled for a specific unit, I would like the prospect to be able to park in that spot. We know the covered parking is a bit tight, so please be respective of your neighbors space so neither of your cars get damaged. Parking ON the white line is a problem.

3) It would be very helpful if the lower unit tenants could sweep out their entry space on a regular basis. We will be doing regular maintenance but the wind tends to blow debris in right after we clean up, and there is no way we can keep up. If you keep the entry clean, there will be less dirt tracked into your unit and it will be easier for you to maintain your living space and get your full deposit back when you move out.

Anyone have anything that's been bugging them? Place a comment at the bottom of this post.

Have a great week!






Office phone: 509-470-6012
Emergency Phone: 509-670-7840

Wenatchee Property Management team:

Saturday, November 1, 2008

The Art Of Garbage Disposal





As a courtesy to all tenants, I'd like to request you be aware of a few changes that will keep the dumpster areas cleaner and more efficient.

I have noticed many boxes and bags left on the outside of the dumpsters (either in front, beside or behind the dumpsters). This garbage is candy to animals and they drag it all over the place. It is an eye sore and particularly annoying to the people who live nearest to the dumpsters. It's unsanitary and unsightly

The garbage company does not put excess refuse IN the dumpster. They will, literally, pick up the dumpster, dump it, and slap it right back down without regard to whether it lands on top of other garbage. When this happens it is very difficult to get the garbage sack or box out from under the dumpster.

Also, if you are disposing of cardboard boxes, please break down the boxes before putting them in the dumpster. If you don't, there is a huge amount of wasted space in the dumpster and it fills up before the next pick-up.

Also, do not dump furniture or bookcases in the dumpster unless you can break them down into smaller pieces.

Old furniture, bookcases and boxes that are not broken down waste a lot of space in the dumpster. We do NOT want to have to get bigger dumpsters to accommodate all the trash, because that would raise our costs considerably and we would, ultimately, have to pass this cost onto the tenants through higher rents.

Please remember these few common courtesies and it will help your Property Managers to stay friendly.

Thanks!






Wenatchee Property Management team:
Carol Williams CarolWilliams@charter.net
Shelley Granger ShelleyGranger@charter.net

Office phone: 509-470-6012
Emergency phone: 509-670-7840

Current Wenatchee real estate news, info and trends
FREE search of all Wenatchee MLS homes and land for sale.

Secure Mailboxes



We are already working with the post office to get the process started to have the secure (locking) mailboxes installed. I'm sure everyone will be happy with this improvement.

These boxes will look similar to the picture at left. The individual compartments look small but you will be amazed how much they actually hold. There is a package compartment as well. When you get a package, it will be put in the locked package compartment and the key will be put in your box.

Hopefully this process won't take too long, but considering the time of year it might not get done before Spring... mainly because pouring a concrete pad for each bank of boxes is required. I will keep you informed.

Have a great day!






Office Phone: 509-470-6012
Emergency phone: 509-670-7840

Wenatchee Property Management team:
Carol Williams CarolWilliams@charter.net
Shelley Granger ShelleyGranger@charter.net

Current Wenatchee real estate news, info and trends
FREE search of all Wenatchee MLS homes and land for sale

Contact Guidelines





To: ALL Parkside Wenatchee Tenants

As your new Property Management company we want to be responsive to your needs. We DO want to hear from you but have a few guidelines we'd like you to follow.


Shelley and I are both busy and will appreciate you respecting our time. Unless you have a need that requires immediate attention, please do not call our cell phones. If you do have an urgent need, we prefer text messages to our phones. Carol 509-670-7840. Shelley 509-670-3867.

For non-urgent matters, we prefer you send an e-mail, write comments in this blog... or leave a message at the office number (470-6012) Do not hesitate to leave a comment on the blog because I get automatically notified whenever a comment is posted. I WILL get your comment.

To leave a comment, go to the bottom of any post. There is a white box. On the right side of the white box there is an image of a pencil. Next to the pencil it shows how many comments have been left. Click on that comment link and you can make your post. You can comment anonymously, but if you are making comments that you don't want to sign, I suggest you either don't post it or send me a private e-mail. We want this blog to be a positive experience for everyone (especially me)! Nobody likes a crabby property manager. :-)

Thanks!






Wenatchee Property Management team:
Carol Williams CarolWilliams@charter.net
Shelley Granger ShelleyGranger@charter.net

Office phone: 509-470-6012
Emergency phone: 509-670-7840 (Carol's cell)

Current Wenatchee real estate news, info and trends
FREE Search of all Wenatchee MLS homes and land for sale

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Welcome to the Parkside Condos Blog
















On November 1st (this week-end), Willinger Real Estate will take over the Property Management at Parkside Condos in Wenatchee.

Shelley & I want to use this blog as a forum to keep our tenants informed about what's happening at the complex... and give the tenants an opportunity to make comments and suggestions.

Have a great day!





Contact the Willinger Real Estate Property Management Team:
Carol Williams CarolWilliams@charter.net
Shelley Granger ShelleyGranger@charter.net

Office phone: 509-470-6012
Emergency phone: 509-670-7840

Other Current Wenatchee real estate news
FREE Search of ALL Wenatchee homes and land for sale

Remember:
Information Is FREE. Knowledge, Experience & Integrity Are Priceless