Inside this Newsletter
- Important Dates to Remember
- Updates at Hales Property Management
- Preparing Your Condo for Being Away on Vacation
- Best of the Hales Blog
- Maintenance Tip: HVAC Inspections
- From the Desk of Keith Hales
Important Dates to Remember:
Nov. 19: The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival
Nov. 24: McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade
Nov. 25: Wreathing of the Lions at the Art Institute of Chicago
Nov. 28: West Town Winterfest
Nov. 30: Hales Lush Event
Updates at Hales Property Management
Hales is expanding! We are excited to announce the opening of our third office located at 1415 W. Chicago Ave. The main office will remain at 1411 W. Chicago.
Our offices will be closed Thursday November 25th and Friday November 26th for Thanksgiving. We’ll be back at it again on Monday November 28. The online web portal will continue to be available 24/7 for any non-emergency requests.
We are also thrilled to welcome four new buildings to our portfolio: 15 S. Throop, 1440 N. Maplewood, Churchill and Granville Park Condominium Association.
Q & A
Q: I disagree with my homeowner’s association on a particular issue. What can I do about it?
A: The HOA is there to look out for the interests of all owners, but it’s very possible that you may find yourself disagreeing with the association on a particular matter.
Interested in a Career with Hales?
Hales Property Management is currently hiring. If you are up to the challenge of the exciting world of property management in Chicago, view our available positions today.
Maintenance Tip:
HVAC Inspections
One of the most essential measures you can take to keep your HVAC unit running at peak performance is to be proactive.
Having your HVAC inspected annually will help keep your system running at peak efficiency and will help with identifying any potential issues to keep your unit from experiencing major breakdowns. The biggest benefit of cleaning the system is to save money. Cleaning the system allows it to operate efficiently which in turn saves on electricity.
Call Keith’s Handyman Services today to schedule an appointment for just $95.
By doing so, your furnace will:
- Have better air flow
- Have less particles in the system including dust mites and allergens
- Break down less, especially during the cold spells.
- Extend the practical life of the system.
See below for more information on how to schedule an appointment today!
Preparing Your Condo for Being Away on Vacation
More people travel during the end-of-year holidays than at any other time during the year. Some simple steps can help keep your condo safer during the holidays.
1. Put your mail on hold. If you’re going to be away for more than 3 days, it might be worthwhile to contact the post office and get them to hold your mail. This will prevent mail buildup in your box, which can also tip off others that your home is unattended.
2. Don’t turn the heat off. If you live in a cold climate (aka Chicago), you should keep the heat
on high enough to prevent pipes in your condo from freezing (usually around 65°F).
3. Invest in light timers. To keep your condo safe, you should maintain the appearance of it being lived-in. The easiest way to do that is to put some lights on a timer to go on every evening.
4. Get a neighbor to check up. Ultimately, nothing beats a human presence. So, it is ideal if you can get a neighbor to check up on your place while you’re away (bonus: they can water your plants while they’re looking the place over).
5. Don’t advertise on social media. Finally, keep
in mind that the world is now connected like never before. Telling the world (via social media) that you’re going away and leaving your house empty
for a week is probably not the best idea when considering home security.
Happy holidays and safe travels!
From the Desk of Keith Hales
I’m excited to say over the past month that we’ve expanded to a third office location and we’ll soon be supplementing our team with two additional Property Assistants, as well as an additional Property Manager.
