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Helpful Condo Owner Tips
- Make sure you create a bank account for the condo association/trust. If there is a claim the claim check will be payable to the condo association and not an individual owner. This applies even to 2-unit condo buildings.
- To prevent frozen pipes, set your thermostat to a warm temperature. If you are leaving town, set it to no lower than 65 degrees.
- Make sure that common outdoor areas are properly salted and sanded in the winter to prevent slipping & falling hazards.
- Every unit owner should have at least one fire extinguisher on each floor of their unit.
- Make sure your washer/dryer has stainless steel hoses and you should consider a pan with a drain and/or automatic shut off.
- Test your smoke and cardon-monoxide detectors. Make sure you are changing batteries annually on battery operated devices.
- Watch for ice dams in the winter. An ice dam is a ridge of ice that builds up at the bottom of a roof, trapping snow and melting water behind it. This can allow water to infiltrate the roof. Get in touch with a contractor to fix the problem if you see this developing.
- If you have wood burning fireplaces these need to be inspected each year before using. There are roughly 22,300 chimney fires each year in America; a good chimney cleaning can help keep your home from becoming a statistic.
- Clean gutters and check roof each Fall & Spring. Remove or have someone remove all debris that can trap snow and water during the winter from the gutters.
- Outdoor grills must be 10 feet or more away from all structures the property.
- When hiring anyone to do work on your property make sure you obtain a certificate of insurance proving that they have a liability insurance policy.