November 13, 2019

 

Dear Unit Owner:

The cold weather has arrived and Winter is right around the corner! Please take a few minutes to read over the information below as it is extremely important for this time of the year.

The wintery months have some of us traveling and can sometimes catch us off guard.  If you expect to be away from your unit for any period of time, please remember the importance of maintaining adequate heat within your unit to avoid frozen pipes.  Water damage is frequently a pricy repair for a unit and, often, surrounding units.

In addition to frozen pipes, hot water heaters (if you have one) are amongst the water damage culprits. A failed water tank can release many gallons of water to seep into walls and floors.  It is generally recommended to replace a household hot water heater within 5-7 years.   Of course, there is no way of knowing when this expiration will happen, but a good rule of thumb is to mark the date on the heater and expect to have it replaced between 5-6 years…before the breaking point.

It is your responsibility to assure that your unit is protected, not only during the bitter cold winter months, but
be proactive to life’s little surprises that all homeowners experience.

A FEW TIPS:
•   During the cold months, heat within each unit must remain ON with a temperature set at no less than
60 degrees. In the event of an incident, a loss will not be covered by the insurance company if discovered not to meet this minimum temperature.
•   You may want to leave a spare key with a neighbor and/or near-by relative for access in the event of an emergency.
•   Ask a plumber to review the status of your hot water heater asking-- the age and options available to reduce the risk of damage. Home improvement stores sell reservoir pans for under the tank, alarms and auto-shut off attachments for water heaters that alert you of trouble and prevent a water catastrophe from happening.  The cost of replacing a water heater is far less than the cost of repairing the damage often resulting in a failed system.

Snow Plowing/Shoveling:
All driveways and parking areas will be plowed/shoveled at the end of each storm. An initial plowing/shoveling of all main driveway areas will be provided during the storm in storms more than 3” total accumulation.  After the storm has ended and all sanding and plowing/shoveling operations are finished, a follow-up visit will be made to clean up parking lot spaces, stairways and walkways.  Please be sure to move your vehicle.  Single spaces cannot be plowed.  Areas with two spaces or more will be plowed where space allows.

THOSE WHO PARK ALONG THE ENTRY OF THE PARKING LOT MUST PULL YOUR VEHICLE AS FAR FORWARD AS POSSIBLE TO ALLOW SPACE FOR THE PLOW TO GET BY.
Sanding and Salting:
All driveways, parking areas, stairs and walkways will be sanded/salted at the end of each storm.  All other applications will be provided on a per request basis from the Management Company. Parking areas where cars are parked will be sanded as best as possible.  We cannot sand under or between parked cars.  Any areas that remain icy after sanding applications must be reported to the Management Company and we will then notify the plow vendor for any additional sanding applications.

Delivery Theft:
Unfortunately, during the holiday season there tends to be an increase in delivery thefts. You must take preventative measures to ensure the safekeeping of the property and personal belongings. Please observe the following guidelines:
a)   When entering the community, if you notice any packages left outside, please be neighborly by
placing the packages inside the lobby door
b)  Never open your unit door or hold lobby door open for any strangers to gain access to the property and always ask for identification
c)   If you notice any suspicious person(s) or activity, please notify the local police
d)  If you notice any lights that are out on the property, please report to Great North Management in order to rectify immediately

Remember, theft can happen at any place and any time. If you all work together and observe these measures, you can reduce the incidences of theft in the community.

In addition, if you have Heat Fins or Baseboard Heating:
a)  Vacuum off heat fins (lots of dust restricts the heat flow)
b)  Don’t put furniture, boxes etc. against the baseboards – leave room for air flow c)  Cover the inside of your AC unit with an insulated covering
d)  Try to block any air leaks around the slider and your windows
e)   Keep your carpet and furniture away from the heat fins so not to restrict air flow

 

After Hours Calls:
Great North has maintenance staff on call after hours between 5:00pm – 9:00am for emergency purposes. You should only call if it is an emergency. The phone number is 781-455-6565. All calls are billed at time and a half ($90).  Tenants should call their landlords.  If a call is related to a unit owner problem, you will be billed for the call and any further follow up by our staff.  If it is an Association related problem, the Association will be billed.  If it is not an emergency please, call during normal business hours to avoid any unnecessary costs.

NOTE: If you rent out your unit, please be sure your tenant is notified of the
above information.

Respectfully,
The Board of Trustees and Great North Property Management, as agent

Please note the association does not guarantee the accuracy of the information on this website.  Please refer to the original documents.