Professional Property Management Services for Hilton Head

Apartment Search Checklist

admin — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:49:44 +0000

The following is brought to you by the experts at Apartment Guide:

It can be tough finding a new place to live. After looking at dozens of apartments online and in person, they can all start to run together.

Use this apartment search checklist to keep you organized and minimize stress during one of life’s most important processes — finding a new place.

Figure out what you want in a new apartment. List your apartment priorities including apartment size, features, and amenities.

Determine how much you can afford to spend on rent.

Choose the area of town in which you would like to live.

Create an apartment search folder where you can keep your budget, list of priorities and details or printouts of apartments you like.

Search apartments online at Apartment Guide. Check the availability of apartment communities in your budget and search area.

Talk to property managers about what is available and what their communities have to offer.

Narrow your field of possible apartment communities to a few contenders and arrange to visit these properties if you can. (For details on conducting long-distance searches, read How to Find an Apartment in Another State.)

Gather the application materials you will need to apply for an apartment. These may include: - Your checkbook - Social Security Number/Card - Rental History information (list of locations and dates) - Personal and professional references - Pay stubs or bank statements to verify income

Visit apartment communities to get a feel for which one you might want to live in. Items to take with you may include: - Your list of apartment priorities - Information on the property you are visiting - A list of questions to ask the property manager - Pen and paper to take notes - A digital camera to take pictures - A friend for a second opinion

Compare apartments weighing the pros and cons of each.

Choose the best apartment and submit an apartment application.

When your application is accepted, read your lease carefully before signing it, making sure you understand all the regulations, deposits and fees.

Once you lease is signed, you can set your move-in date.

Best of luck on your upcoming move!

Where Can I Afford to Live?

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:42:39 +0000

The following comes from an article on Movingtoday.com

Where Can I Afford To Live?

Like a home mortgage, monthly rent is a serious financial commitment. Before you get in over your head, know what you can afford. Follow these simple steps to calculate how much rent you can afford before you sign the lease.

What’s coming in
What you make each month will be the biggest factor in what you can afford. As a rule of thumb, you should be paying no more than 28 percent of your income to rent.

What’s going out
These numbers can be harder to keep track of, especially if you don’t yet have a budget to stick with. First get down on paper all of your fixed expenses. Those will include your current rent, deposits and fees or what your target apartment will cost you. Be sure to have on hand all current monthly loan payments, including car loan and credit cards and totals for child care, health insurance (if not deducted from salary) membership dues, phone, internet and cable service. Create a fixed number for things like savings, clothing purchases, charitable donations and money to help other family members.

For variable expenses, gather invoices and receipts of your medical, dental, utility, food, gasoline, car repair and entertainment expenses from the last 12 months. (If you bank online, you can check expenses through your online account.) This will give you an average of your monthly expenditures. You will also need records of annual or semi-annual payments such as car insurance and taxes. Be sure to set aside an estimate of what an emergency car repair, ER visit or last-minute plane ticket might cost you as well. (Read Creating A Budget.)

Balance the numbers
Once you’ve got a total for income and expenses, subtract the latter from the former. Ideally, you want to come out with a 10 percent margin in your favor. If your income and outflow numbers are too close, go through your expenses and figure out where you can cut. Shopping for cheaper utilities, insurance, cable, credit card rates and phone plans is a great place to start. (Read Saving Money on Utilities.)

The right rent fit
Once you have a rent range in mind, start apartment hunting and see what’s out there in terms of neighborhood, space and amenities. Perhaps you’ll discover your wants and your finances are in sync with each other.

If you aren’t coming up with many or any choices, make adjustments either in your apartment expectations or your other monthly expenses. Keep realistically fine-tuning your apartment hopes with the money you have to work with until you have reached a good compromise that (ideally) will leave you some wiggle room each month.

Looking for an apartment can be stressful, especially if it’s your first time. But if you are detailed and accurate in calculating your monthly income and expenses, however, you can surely find an apartment that you can comfortably afford.

Move In Tips From Apartment Guide

admin — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 20:44:43 +0000

The following comes from the experts at Apartment Guide:

The best way to tackle a move is to think like a project manager: set a timeline, make a to-do list, and assign due dates for each task. While this kind of super-organized approach might be the most effective, it’s easier said than done — especially when you’re stressed out. And that’s why we’ve created this handy moving checklist to help you prepare for moving day.

This moving checklist breaks down all of your to-do items by subject. Use it to create your plan of attack, and you’ll be sure that nothing falls through the cracks — no matter how busy you get.

Moving logistics
Whether you hire professional movers or rent a truck and do everything yourself, one of the first things to cross off of your moving checklist is the logistics of your move.

If you hire movers: Compare moving companies, get several quotes, and then confirm a moving date.
If you move yourself: Make a rental truck reservation, and don’t forget to reserve dollies or furniture moving equipment, as well. While you’re at it, plan the driving route to your new apartment.
If you need to rent a storage unit, you’ll have to locate a unit and get a contract for this service.

Notifications
Once you’ve got a confirmed moving date, it’s time to tell everyone that your address is changing. You can complete an official change of address online with USPS.com, but there may be certain utility and service providers you need to contact in writing or on the phone:

Insurance companies
Child’s school
Utilities: phone, cable, Internet, gas, electric, water, trash
Medical providers, to transfer prescriptions and records
Bank and credit card companies
Magazine subscriptions
Apartment property management (check out our sample move-out letter if you need help giving notice)

As you make notifications, don’t forget to cancel any services or memberships you won’t need any more (gym memberships, lawn services, newspaper delivery, etc).

Switch utilities
If you need to switch utility providers, schedule a time to research and contact new providers about two to three weeks before you move. It’s best to have new utilities turned on a few days before you move into your new apartment so everything’s ready for your arrival.

Depending on how these services are handled at your new apartment community, you may need to set up service for utilities like these:

Electric
Water
Gas
Trash
Phone
Cable
Internet

I.D. and tags
If you’re moving out of state, find out how long you’ll have to get a new driver’s license and vehicle tags, once you move to your new apartment.

Declutter
Every single item you pack represents a dollar sign, so you’ll need to schedule some time to declutter your apartment before you start packing. You don’t need to waste time and money packing up items that you’ll never use again, so trash or donate anything that’s old, broken, or unnecessary to move along with you.

Packing
Nobody likes packing, but it’s a necessary evil. Set yourself up for success by getting all of the packing supplies you need — boxes, permanent markers, labels, bubble wrap, and tape — before you start the job.

Start packing lesser-used items and rooms first, and leave the major living areas for last. You may want to take inventory of the items you pack — especially if you hire professional movers.

Prepare pets
Moving with pets means you need to make special arrangements — especially if you have to fly with Fido or Kitty. Do your research to determine what paperwork, medications, and vaccinations your pets will need in order to make a safe trip to their new home. Make sure pets have secure nametags and store their immunization records in a handy, accessible spot.

Cleaning
Make sure you get as much of your security deposit back as possible by scheduling time to clean up before your final apartment walkthrough. If the thought of doing the dirty work is really unappealing to you, you might hire a cleaning service to do a thorough move-out cleaning for you.

Stay on track
As you can see, there’s a lot to keep track of during a move. That’s why Apartment Guide recommends creating a calendar and a moving file to stay on top of all the items on your moving checklist.

TO DO List required before keys may be given

admin — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 21:26:05 +0000

Let us be the first to welcome you to your new home…

Please remember that your application all applications that pass credit and criminal background are only conditionally approved until income is verified. Please submit income verification in one of the following ways:

2 recent consecutive paystubs
An employment letter on letter head regarding position and salary written along with the date and signature by supervisor
Copy of last year’s tax return if job source has remained the same.

In order to move in, the deposit and first month’s rent will need to be in certified funds in SEPARATE CHECKS. Either of the following is acceptable:

Cashiers check
Money order

You will want to make sure that the power is on in your name for the day of move. Palmetto Electric Cooperative will be glad to assist. You may reach them at 843.681.5551. Other required utilities will need to have service established prior to the move. Please contact your leasing agent for a list as it depends on the leased property.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions:

In the office: 888.344.4246
Via Email: info@absoluteisland.com
Via Fax: 888.886.6595

We look forward to working with you and providing you with quality rental solutions for years to come.

Top 7 Reasons to Rent from AIM

admin — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 21:21:48 +0000

7. We use the National Apartment Association leases and forms, which protects all rights of tenants in coherence with the South Carolina landlord tenant Act.

6. We are open 24 hours a day for emergencies at absoluteisland.com

5. We are very responsive and typically fix service requests in under 24-48 hours. Service requests may be emailed or placed online.

4. We offer online payments that you can set up recurring

3. We have some of the most aggressively priced villas for the size

2. We have properties all over the Island and Bluffton and we will grow with you to help find the perfect home year after year.

1. We Care. We are responsive and we will always work hard to make sure you are happy in your home.

Things to know about your Garbage Disposal

admin — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 21:20:49 +0000

Garbage Disposal Do’s and Don’ts

Proper maintenance and operation will extend the life of your garbage disposal and prevent plumbing and drain mishaps.

Good Practices Today Can Prevent Major Plumbing and Drain Problems Tomorrow!

If you have a garbage disposal in your kitchen, you know that it’s a great appliance that makes household duties less demanding. But if not operated or maintained properly, a garbage disposal can easily break down, block and clog the drains and cause a long list of expensive plumbing and drain nightmares. Please note that damage caused from not following this guideline will be billed back to the resident.

Garbage Disposal Do’s:

Do keep your garbage disposal clean. Pour a little dish soap inside and let the garbage disposal run for a minute or so with some cold water after washing dishes.
Do run your garbage disposal regularly. Frequent use prevents rust and corrosion, assures that all parts stay moving and prevents obstructions from accumulating.
Do grind food waste w/ a strong flow of cold water. Why cold water? It will cause any grease or oils that may get into the unit to solidify, so that they can be chopped up before reaching the trap.
Do grind certain hard materials such as small chicken and fish bones, egg shells, small fruit pits, etc. A scouring action is created by these particles inside the grind chamber that cleans the garbage disposal’s walls.
Do grind peelings from citrus fruits such as lemons or oranges to freshen up drain smells.
Do cut large items into smaller pieces. Put them into the garbage disposal one at a time instead of trying to shove a large amount in at once.

Garbage Disposal Don’ts:

The most important rule of thumb: Don’t Put Anything In The Garbage Disposal That Is Not Biodegradable Food. A garbage disposal is not a trash can; it’s for food scraps only. Non food items can damage both blades and the motor. When in doubt, throw it out!

Don’t grind glass, plastic, metal or even paper.
Don’t grind anything combustible.
Don’t grind cigarette butts
Don’t pour grease, oil or fat into your garbage disposal or drain. Grease will slowly accumulate and impede your garbage disposal’s grinding ability as well as clog drains.
Don’t use hot water when grinding food waste. Hot water will cause grease to liquefy and accumulate, causing drains to clog.
Don’t grind extremely fibrous material like corn husks, celery stalks, onion skins, and artichokes. Fibers from these can tangle and jam the garbage disposal motor and block drains .
Don’t turn off the motor or water until grinding is completed. When grinding is complete, turn off the the garbage disposal first. Let water continue to run for at least 15 seconds, flushing out any remaining particles. Then turn off water.
Don’t put too many potato peels down the garbage disposal. The starches in the potatoes will turn into a thick paste and may cause blades to stick.
Don’t put large amounts of food down the garbage disposal. Feed food into the garbage disposal a little at a time with the cold water running; this will help the food scraps flow down freely through the drain pipes and plumbing.
Don’t put expandable foods into your garbage disposal. Foods like pasta and rice expand when you add water in a pot; they do the same thing once inside your pipes or garbage disposal and are the cause of many jams and clogs.
Don’t grind large animal bones (beef, pork etc.).
Avoid putting coffee grounds down the garbage disposal. They won’t harm the garbage disposal and they’ll actually help eliminate odors. However, they can accumulate in drains and pipes, causing clogs. Best to avoid.
Don’t use harsh chemicals like bleach or drain cleaners. They can damage blades and pipes. Borax is a natural sink cleaner and sanitizer that effectively works on odor-causing mold and mildew that accumulates in garbage disposals. (See more below).

Keeping Your Garbage Disposal Running Problem-Free

Ice is an extremely effective and inexpensive method for cleaning your garbage disposal, sharpening the blades and breaking up any grease build-up which has accumulated. Just toss a few ice cubes into the garbage disposal and run it. As the garbage disposal chops into the ice cubes, the ice chips will effectively scour all the hard to reach areas of the unit, and melt down the drain. Try this once or twice a month to keep your garbage disposal in fine working order.

To Remove or Prevent Nasty Garbage Disposal Smells

Here are some natural methods to clean your garbage disposal that are good for the environment and very inexpensive.

Periodically, take a lemon or orange and toss it into the disposal. The oils and juice from the fruits and peels naturally clean the walls inside the garbage disposal and create a fresh, long-lasting scent.
Freeze vinegar in ice cube trays and run those down the disposal. This will keep your blades sharp while safely killing odor-causing bacteria.
For stubborn odors pour baking soda into the drain and let it set for several hours before running the water and garbage disposal.

For really stubborn odors, use a safe cleaning product like Borax. Just pour 3-4 tablespoons of Borax down the drain and let it sit for an hour. Then turn on the hot water and flush the borax away.

Tips for Removing Fallen Objects

NEVER, EVER insert your unprotected hand into the garbage disposal. If you must use your hand to remove objects and debris from the garbage disposal, unplug the unit or turn off the appropriate circuit breaker. Always wear safety gloves to protect your hand from the garbage disposal’s sharp blades.

There are safer steps in retrieving the fallen objects. First, grab a flashlight and try to find the exact location of the object. Use a pair of extra-long needle nose pliers or an automotive finger gripper (available at most hardware stores) to extract the object from the garbage disposal. In some case, you may be able to use a bent coat-hanger to reach down into the garbage disposal and dislodge and hook the object. Even a pair of chopsticks or crochet needles can work to grab the object.

What To Do if Your Garbage Disposal is Not Grinding:

90% of garbage disposals that appear not to be working just need to be reset. There is usually a red or black reset button on the garbage disposal motor underneath your sink. Just push to reset.
If the garbage disposal is plugged into a wall outlet, ensure the outlet has power.
Check for a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker.
Give it a push-start. Most garbage disposals have a hole underneath that allows you to hand-crank it free once it’s been jammed. To crank it, use either an Alan wrench or a garbage disposal tool that you can pick up at most hardware stores. This should free up most non-serious jams.

Call a Plumbing and Drain Cleaning Professional When All Else Fails

These are general maintenance tips and simple remedies for minor problems. If you try these solutions and they don’t work or if your problem seems to be getting worse, contact Horizon Services immediately. We have the tools and know-how to address almost every garbage disposal emergency.

Source: Horizons Services: http://www.horizonservicesinc.com/

Now You Can Pay Your Rent Online

admin — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 21:16:12 +0000

Absolute Island Management NOW accepts rent online.

Once you are a resident just send an email to payonline@absoluteisland.com and we will send you a link to access your online portal. Check account balances, make payments set reminders and more.

Its one more way we appreciate our residents.

Not a resident, join us at www.absoluteisland.com/tenant-application or by email at info@absoluteisland.com

Absolute Island Management

We Keep In Touch

Leasing Requirements

admin — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 20:59:13 +0000

Absolute Island Management complies with all Fair Housing Rules and Regulations.

In order to lease one of our properties the applicant will need to apply by completing an application and submitting a $30 application fee per person applying. We require anyone over the age of 18 who will be residing in the residence for more than 14 days to complete an application for occupancy. In addition the following items are required in order to lease one of our properties:

Ability to pass a credit check and criminal background check
Income verification, minimum requirement is 2.5 times rent
Pay a deposit, which is based on credit screening as well as other factors including income to debt ratio.
Sign our lease agreement which comes from the National Apartment Association
Perform a move in inspection with one of our agents
Turn any applicable utilities into your name prior to the move

We look forward to working with you. If you have any questions please feel free to email us at info@absoluteisland.com

Summer House Hilton Head Video Walk Through

admin — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 21:52:38 +0000

Here is a tour of the wonderful Summer House Hilton Head community.

-Absolute Island Management

Click here to view the embedded video.

Preventative Maintenance Plans are Essential

admin — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 21:50:25 +0000

Timely maintenance repairs are vital to the success of a rental property. Preventative Maintenance however is an extremely valuable tool for investors to have in place for their real estate. Any long term rental property needs a good preventative maintenance plan. The most basic involves a 90 day filter replacement and leak check. This is included in our management of an asset free of charge. We feel that a property manager should inspect the interior of the property frequently in addition to collecting rent and being on call for issues.

There are a lot more steps to do to ensure the longevity of the systems in place in the real estate asset. More advanced preventative maintenance plans include the following items to be performed on a frequent basis:

Blow behind fridge to remove dust buildup
Check all hoses and supply lines including the washing machine, toilet and dishwasher
Dryer vent cleaning/blow out
Condensation line clean out with algae tablet to prevent buildup.
Smoke detector battery change and test
Water heater draining to cycle the water and test ensure sulfates do not build on the heating elements.
Lube moving parts in washer and dryer, especially the transmission
Clean the exterior and interior coils of your HVAC system
Pest control interior spray
Gutter clean out when applicable
Pinestraw removal from surrounding of buildings to ensure proper grade away from building.

And there is even more…

Contact us to learn more about how a preventative maintenance plan will save you money in the long run. Your resident will be using all aspects of your investment and it is important to have these serviced in order to have a longer lifespan from them.

-ABSOLUTE ISLAND MANAGEMENT