Happy New Year!
Puzzle Prize Update
Thank you for participating in the December Newsletter Puzzle. After a random drawing amongst all of our correct responses, Kendra Border is our December winner, who won a $20 Albertsons Gift Card!
We will be discontinuing our crossword puzzles in 2021. However, in the New Year, we will be announcing something new and fun. Stay tuned!
COVID-19 UPDATE
Idaho has experienced a very challenging month for COVID-19 spread. On December 15, 1,802 new cases were recorded bringing the total number to 124,019. When we prepared this report toward the end of November, the daily new cases were 31,000. The good news is that Idaho has received its first delivery of vaccines. On December 15, 119 vaccines were administered to health care workers in high-risk environments.
Idaho remains in Stage 2 Order.
For more information: https://coronavirus.idaho.gov/
For Stage 2 Guidelines: https://coronavirus.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/stage-2-modified-order.pdf
For Idaho COVID-19 Vaccine information: https://coronavirus.idaho.gov/covid-19-vaccine/
Important Reminders
1) All the usual cold weather reminders are still in effect. We may not have snow in the valley, but the temperatures have been dipping below freezing. So, whether you are home or away, keep your heat in the 60s to prevent freezing pipes.
2) Have you changed filters recently? If not, please do so right away. Clean filters improves the performance of your furnace and keeps your air quality free of allergens and dust.
3) Snow could be just around the corner. Remember, unless you live in a multi-family community it is your responsibility to clear the sidewalk in front of your house. Please also clear snow and ice from your front walk, driveway and away from utility meters.
4) If your gutters are full of leaves and debris, you may notice them overflowing when it rains, or sagging from weight, pulling away from the eaves or growing plants. If you witness any of these tell-tale signs, please take a photo and submit it to us through the property meld system on our website so that we can issue a work order.
6) Foundation vents need to be closed up for the winter. This will reduce freezing air from creating a hazard to crawl space plumbing. It will also help to keep your home warmer.
7) Please remove Christmas trees from the house promptly after the holidays to avoid a fire hazard. Your local trash collection service will have accommodations to pick them up. Please check with the trash collection company that services your area.
If you have any maintenance concerns for your yard or your home please CONTACT US! All maintenance concerns should be submitted through property meld, accessed on our website, under the Tenant Tab – Maintenance Request – Submit Work Order.
Online Rent Payment Changes – Effective January 16
Recently Rent Track, our online rent payment provider, has been purchased by Paylease and they are rebranding to Zego. A week before Christmas, RMA sent you information regarding changes in our online rent payment system. In that communication you received instructions on how to sign up for, and use, the new Tenant Web Access (TWA) system. This change takes effect January 16. If you have any questions, please reach out to your property manager.
Lease Extensions Now Available Online
RMA is now able to provide lease extension documents to tenants through the tenant portal. When it is time for your lease renewal, and you receive your lease extension invitation by email, you will be guided to access the document through your portal to sign and complete the lease extension agreement.
Furry Friends: Pet Policies and Practices
By Athena Savoglou
We all love our furry best friends. In fact, most households have at lease one pet. However, as a renter, owning a pet is a little bit more complicated. If you already rent your home, you must check your landlord’s pet policies before getting a pet. This is very important, because you would not want to get a pet, only to find out pets are not allowed.
Even though a “no pet policy” may seem harsh, landlords actually have legitimate reasons to hesitate before allowing pets in their properties.
No matter how cute they are, all pets have accidents. Even though you may clean it up, a pet’s urine and feces stay on a carpet for the long haul – the odor, possibly the stain, etc. That means that, even if the carpets are new, the landlord will likely need to replace them for the next tenant. We should not forget that a landlord’s property is an investment, hence, it exists to make money for them. A pet’s mishaps can be quite costly in the long run; so when you look at it that way, it’s unsurprising that most landlord’s do not allow them.
At RMA, we manage both pet-friendly, and no-pet properties. The pet-friendly properties sometimes have guidelines (e.g. only dogs, only cats, size specificiations, etc.). As it follows, our no-pet properties enforce the rule very strictly. You do not want to have to make the decision to give up your pet or move, so please check on your unit’s pet policy before you decide to become a pet owner (or gain a roommate with a pet!).
As a final note, while we are talking about pets, please be reminded to pick up after your pet, if you have one. Pet feces contain dangerous bacteria and pathogens, and especially in the colder months, there is a danger that, if left outside, it could end up in your drinking water. In fact, rain, snow, irrigation and humidity assist the bacteria and pathogens to leach into the soil, making its way into lakes, rivers and streams. So, in short, please scoop after your pet poops!