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Do you know what to do if there’s a fire in your building?

Recently, there have been multiple incidents in condo and apartment buildings where cigarette butts were thrown from balconies and landed in dry planters … which in turn caught fire (providing us a great opportunity to remind smokers that it is very important that they make sure cigarette debris is always disposed of in a fire proof container and properly extinguished).

 

Fire safety tips in your rental property

 

… Be prepared so you know what to do before a fire starts!

 

To prepare yourself so that you know what to do in the event there is a fire in your condo unit you can:

  • Be familiar with all exits from your floor (Plan more than 1 way out — just in case one of the exits is blocked by fire or smoke).
  • In the event you are unable to leave your home, make sure everyone knows to call 9-1-1 for further instruction and assistance.
  • Learn about the fire safety features in your unit and in the building (i.e.) fire alarms, fire sprinklers, location of extinguishers, etc.
  • If you find a fire exit blocked by clutter or a door requires repair, contact your property manager immediately.
  • Purchase a multi-purpose fire extinguisher for your kitchen and keep it accessible.
  • Test your smoke alarm monthly by pressing the test button and clean it every 6 months. Mark it on your calendar so that you don’t forget and make it a habit of changing your batteries at least annually. Remember that your alarm won’t be able to protect you if it has no power or the batteries are burnt out.

House fires kill and injure thousands every year … and many more are impacted by the loss of valued memories and personal possessions in fire related incidents that could have easily been avoided. In a fire, every second counts … make sure your fire safety knowledge is up to date by visiting the Fire Prevention Canada website for more information.

Reminder: Your condominium bylaws (and your mortgage) outline your responsibility to carry adequate insurance.  It is recommended that you review the Bylaws with your insurance agent to make sure that you have the right coverage in place.
           
Emerald Management & Realty Ltd., has partnered with Nuera Insurance to help provide a convenient way to purchase insurance in a matter of minutes! To receive a quote on-line, visit Nuera’s website and click on “Get a Quote”.  For our valued clients, please contact your property manager to receive a discount code for your insurance policy placed with Nuera.  If you have questions about your insurance responsibilities, please contact our property manager or review your bylaws for more information.

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Security Tips to Improve Peace of Mind

Condo and apartment lifestyle is certainly different than living in a single family home.  One thing they do share is the importance placed on safety and peace of mind when it comes to security.

6 Tips for safety condo livingSafety and security is a responsibility shared by each one of us and should be kept top of mind to keep yourself, your property (the entire property) and your neighbors safe.   Please help protect yourself and your neighbors by considering some basic steps that can help deter suspicious and/or illegal activity:

  1. Suspicious activity should be reported to the non-emergency police line at 403-266-1234, and then to your property manager.  If a break-in is imminent and/or in progress — call 911.  If you have experienced a break-in, please report it to the police.
  2. If you don’t know them … please don’t let them in.  No one should follow you in the front door or into the parking areas without request.  You might to consider saying “Hello” to people trying to follow you into the property, as criminals hate being engaged. This is also a great reason to get to know your neighbors.
  3. Keep vehicles free of valuables and personal items when they are left parked.  This includes documents with personal information, garage door openers, keys, etc. (… just make sure you have the necessary documentation with you when you drive!)  When you have removed valuables from your vehicle, consider placing a sign visible to potential thieves that says: “All valuables have been removed”.  
  4. Protect yourself and your property. Lock all your doors and windows when you are not at home and be mindful of open doors and windows when you are home.  Even if you are above the ground floor, a balcony can still be a target for theft or intrusion. If you notice a door property open or not locking securely, let your building or property manager know right away about the security risk.
  5. Be aware of your surroundings. If you see someone that doesn’t belong, please take note.  Contractors should all have identification and we can’t imagine anyone that would mind identifying themselves when respectfully asked if they belong in the building or on the property.  Report any suspicious people.  This builds a strong case for getting to know your neighbors.  If you see someone behaving strangely, don’t hesitate to contact the police.
  6. Be mindful of the lighting and landscaping in and around your property. Report any burnt out bulbs, damaged lighting or overgrown landscaping.  Proper lighting and smart landscaping is a very good deterrent to crime.  Notify your building or property manager about dimmed, burnt out lights or maintenance issues to help to improve everyone’s safety.

These 6 tips are all great safety and no (even low) cost measures that can be put into practice for condominium community, even your single family home or multi-family rental property.

For clients of Emerald Management & Realty Ltd., issues that require attention can be reported to any of our property management team members at 403-237-8600 (24-hour emergency line) or by completing our online Maintenance Request Form.

By taking steps to treat the entire building exactly as would your home, these simple security measures could save you and your neighbors from avoidable damage and even theft and improve your sense of security.

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Key Objective for Condominium Boards

Key Objective for Condominium Boards

Responsibilities of a Condo Board of Directors

 
Being a board member is a great opportunity to take an active role in your condominium community and be surprisingly rewarding.
 
Good governance should be a key objective that all Condo Boards strive for. Owners elect a Board of Directors to oversee the business affairs of the condominium corporation. The day-to-day operations and administration of the corporation are often delegated to the property management company. A condominium’s bylaws govern how the condominium corporation is run. Rules, often referred to House Rules & Regulations focus on the day-to- day concerns of condominium living and vary from condominium to condominium.
 
These rules may be very strict or very relaxed depending on the nature of the corporation, but they help ensure that the condominium is a safe, pleasant and attractive place to live. Rules also spell out what the rights and obligations are as an individual owner. The Condominium Property Act is the provincial legislation that sets out what matters can be covered by bylaws, and sometimes the rules. All bylaws and rules must be consistent with this legislation. If you are looking to join the board of directors, you should be prepared to meet regularly to conduct condominium business.
 
Meetings typically occur once a month, though they can happen more or less frequently.  The board of directors must ensure the corporation is run in compliance with the Condominium Property Act.  A Board is typically comprised of 3 to 7 members that are elected by the owners at the Annual General Meeting. Terms are generally outlined in the bylaws and quite often, terms are 1 year. Consideration should be given to staggering the appointment of new members to achieve terms from 1 to 3 years, so that no more than half of the Directors are being replaced or re-elected in any given year. This assists with succession and the transfer of knowledge to new board members.
 
Emerald Management & Realty, Ltd., a Calgary-based company, provides condominium management services in addition to their services provided to rental property investors who own apartments, single-family homes, commercial buildings, and single-unit condos. Recognized for its effective management style, Emerald Management & Realty, Ltd., oversees all building functions,including the administration and operations duties of condominium corporations in collaboration with condominium boards of directors.   Please contact us for more information  about the condominium management services we provide to Condominium Corporations to condos located in Calgary, Airdrie, Strathmore, High River and Canmore, Alberta.
 
 
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Maintaining Personal Safety in a Multi-Family Building

Security is everyone’s responsibility. Please help yourself and your neighbors stay safe in your homes by considering some of the following basic safety measures in your house, condo or apartment building:

  • If you don’t know them … don’t let them in!  No one should follow you in the front door and/or into the parkade without request. The same applies to your intercom or your own personal front door: if you don’t know them – don’t let them in. If you see someone that doesn’t belong, please take note. Contractors should all have identification and able to show this to you — we can’t imagine anyone that would mind providing proof when respectfully asked if they belong in the building or on the property.
  • Check the locks. Make sure that doors lock after you’ve entered or exited. Further, check your window locks to make sure they work properly.  Make sure that your doors and windows are left locked at all times.
  • Meet the neighbors. Residents who know the people in their building or on their block, are better able to spot strangers. Being familiar with neighbors also makes it easier to look out for one another by watching a neighbor’s space or pets when they are gone
  • Get a safe. If a burglar gets into an apartment, condo or house, a secure safe may be the only other way to protect valuables. Safes can be purchased in a variety of sizes and for varying prices. Using a safe is also great for hiding possessions in smaller areas around the apartment. 

Suspicious activity should always be reported to the non-emergency police line at 403-266-1234. If a break in is imminent and/or in progress – call 911. If you have been broken into, please report it to the police – call 911 and let your property manager know what has taken place. Being mindful of the above steps along with the awareness of surroundings, can go a long way in the prevention of crimes and property break-ins.

Maintaining Personal Safety in a Multi-Family Building

 

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