Archive for the ‘NEWSLETTER’ Category
We would like to welcome all of the new residents to the Grand Trees community. If you have any concerns please feel free to call our Manager Dave @ 515-243-0813.
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Got a Problem ?
When you notice a leaky faucet, toilet running constantly, or a slow drain let us know right away. If you notice a problem call our office so we can attend to it ASAP. Utility Bills As you know one of the perks when renting at the Grand Trees is having no utility bills. We although do have to pay the bill. Please help us conserve energy by making sure all lights, radios, TV’s and other energy use items are turned off when not in use. Smoke Detectors It is your responsibility to check your smoke detector once every 30 days. It is vital to you and your neighbor’s safety that all detectors are in good working order. If your detector is not functioning properly call our office and we will fixit or replace it. Pet Owners Please pick up after your pet when taking them outside. Pet potty stations are set up with disposal bags for your use. We will be monitoring the situation and anyone seen not picking up after their pet will be fined $35.00. |
East parking Lot
The parking we lease just east of the complex is for overnight only. Tenants may park only between 5 PM and 7:30 AM . Please try to park away from their building and remove your car by 7:30 AM… Thanks Recycling
Remember; the recycling bins are located on the north side of the apartments. Recycled materials are generally defined as, newspaper, corrugated containers, magazines, catalogs, junk mail, craft bags, bi-metal and ferrous cans, aluminum cans, clear glass containers and recyclable residential plastic: (beverage bottles, laundry detergent, water and milk jugs. Remember the recycling containers are for recycling not trash.
Don’t Puff Here It’s the law now. Smoking is not allowed in any of the common areas of the apartment complex. |
Maintenance Emergency
If you are locked out or have a blown electrical breaker first call our office at 243-0813. If there is no answer try the following: Cindy @ 280-7773 For an after hour emergency call: Ron @ 868-8861 Washers and Dryers Please do not overload the washers and dryers. Overstuffing them causes the motors to heat up and then the safety switch kicks off. When clothes are above the water line there is no way the washer can agitate to get them clean. Please attend to your laundry promptly and please clean the lint trap after using the dryers. Neighborhood Watch
If you witness any strange people, cars, odors or activity in the apartment complex or in the parking area please call the police. The non-emergency Des Moines Police number is 283-4811. RENT Just A friendly Reminder Rent not received by the 5th of the month will be subject to late fees. Date 1st Grace period 2nd Grace period 3rd Grace period 4th Grace period 5th Grace period 6th Rent plus $15.00 Eviction process starts 7th Rent plus $ 20.00 8th Rent plus $ 25.00 9th Rent plus $ 30.00 10th Rent plus $35.00 11th Rent plus $40.00 |
This is an ARCHIVED newsletter.
Some of the links might be dead and some of the information may no longer be correct.
Welcome to the October HALLOWEEN 2005 edition of the Grand Trees Newsletter!
Welcome friends to the Halloween 2005 edition of the Grand Trees Newsletter.
Winter will soon be upon us again and our dedicated crew have been working steadily to get everything ready for another safe and
comfortable winter so say hi to the guys the next time you see them working around the apartments. We sure do appreciate their dedication.
We certainly would like to thank everyone for all the cooperation we received while safety checking smoke detectors and radiators and we appreciate your continued cooperation as we continue to make updates and upgrades around the complex.
Rosie Is Leaving:
After 10 years as manager of the Grand Trees Apartments, Rosie has resigned. She will be leaving at the end of this October. She always had an honest smile, an honest words and a clever wit. She will be missed by both tenants and staff alike and we wish her only the best of luck in all her future endeavors.
Please welcome Judy Richards and Chris Coppola who will be taking over the office duties at the
Grand Trees Apartments.
They can be reached either by calling
515-243-0813 or by stopping by the office Monday through Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm
HELPFUL HINT:
Did you know that you can have the security door ring your cell phone instead of your line phone? This way, even if you are away from your home, you will never miss your visitors. If interested, visit Judy or Chris in the office to have this set up for you.
Looking for something to do in October in Des Moines?
13th—15th Wells Fargo is hosting a “Food Festival”
Downtown is where you will find the Farmers Market every Saturday until the 29th
On the 21st you can hear “Leap Year” playing at “Java Joes” coffee house
And on the 30th you can go to the Embassy Suites downtown for their FREE haunted hotel!
Find out more about these events and MANY others by going to the Des Moines website and clicking “calendar” at www.downtowndsm.info
3 HOT WEB TIPS:
Have something you would like to give away? Need something that someone else probably has, but doesn’t want?
Try DES MOINES FREECYCLE!
(3300 Des Moines members cant’s be wrong)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Desmoinesmetrofreecycle
Would you like to listen to all your favorite music, and discover similar music all FREE and LEGAL with no downloads, no registration and immediately? www.pandora.com (its like having your own custom radio station that only plays what you like!
Ever wish you could see your pictures and listen to your music, watch your videos or view your documents that are all stored on your pc when you are not at home? www.orb.com will let you do just that, AND from any web enabled device, cell phone, PDA, remote computer, etc. and best of all—its FREE!
Quick tips to stay safe and secure in any situation:
Have a flashlight with a supply of fresh batteries.
Have dry or canned food and a few bottles of water.
Have a charged cell phone on hand.
Put a fire extinguisher in your bedroom and kitchen.
Have a list of important numbers on hand, poison control, fire, police, relatives, friends, school, etc.
I would like to take a moment of your time to talk with you about something very important. There is a common misconception about “free utilities”. In fact, there is no such thing. Even though you, as a tenant are not required to pay utilities here at the Grand Trees, It certainly is not, as some people may think, “free”. In fact, with the extreme rise in gas prices and therefore the rise in heating bills, electric, waste disposal, repairs, etc. many apartments in the Des Moines area (and everywhere else for that matter) are finding that they must raise the rent in order cover these extra costs. This is something that we have not yet had to do here, and hopefully we will be able to avoid that this winter, but we can not do it without your help. We all need to have an understanding of what responsible energy consumption is, this will help keep our rent the lowest that it can be, will help our environment and our economy. Simple things like not letting the water run unnecessarily, keeping lights, televisions and computers off when not in use is another example. Did you know that by using your lights just 5% less will save hundreds of dollars per year. If every individual apartment here did that, that would save the management many thousands of dollars, thereby saving YOU, the tenant from possible increases in rent. Sometimes children will leave lights on, flush toilets for fun, leave televisions on in each room and never think or understand how this affects both the environment and living costs. Please help your children to understand how being conservative now, will help save everyone money. Hopefully we can ride out these higher gas prices together and with any luck, they will be back to a more reasonable price soon.
PLEASE NOTE:
Halloween is a fun time of year, lets keep it safe as well, PLEASE do not use candles in your pumpkins, if you would like to light them up, please use your left-over Christmas lights or purchase inexpensive pumpkin lights, thank you.
COOL TIP:
Did you know that most cell phones will still dial out to 911 even if they are not activated? You could buy a cell for a couple of bucks in any goodwill and keep it charged and you will always have a way to dial 911 even if the regular phone stops working. (Try it first)
DO YOU NEED INSURANCE?
The Grand Trees Apartments is insured, does this mean your personal property is covered?
No: In fact, if you have any valuable property, you should consider getting “renters insurance” to protect your belongings. While your landlord does have insurance, it only protects the building. Your belongings are not covered under this policies. A standard renters policy usually covers all of the following;
Fire & lightning, Windstorm & hail, Explosion, Riot & civil commotion, Aircraft & Vehicles, Smoke, Vandalism & malicious mischief or Theft, Damage by glass or material that is part of your building, Volcanic eruption & Falling objects, Weight of ice, snow, or sleet, Water-related damage from home utilities, Electrical surge damage.
Even though floods and earthquakes aren’t on the list, that probably will not affect us here.
One thing you will want to look at when deciding what policy and where to get it is whether the insurance company will be writing "actual cash value." (ACV) or "replacement cost coverage" for your belongings. As the name implies, ACV coverage will pay only for what your property was worth at the time it was damaged or stolen.
Replacement cost coverage, on the other hand, will pay what it actually costs to replace the items you lost, again minus the deductible.
Another great thing about renters insurance many people do not know is that If your apartment becomes uninhabitable due to a fire, burst pipes, or any other reason covered by your policy, your insurance will pay for your "additional living expenses." Generally, that means paying for you to live somewhere else.
Also you can add "Liability Insurance" to your plan for specific reasons, as an example, if you have a "waterbed liability" you will not be responsible for damages to your property or your downstairs neighbors property if your bed bursts. This is something to consider if you have a dog, large aquarium, water bed, or anything else that may have the ability to cause damages.
remember, the higher your deductible, the lower your annual payments will be. also some companies will lower your rates by simply having fire extinguishers or smoke alarms. Some companies will offer significant discounts to those over the age of 55 and many will offer discounts if you have your auto insurance on the same policy, that’s called a "multi-line policy". Check with your prospective company to see what they offer.
MOVING, NEED SOME CASH?
As much as we hate to see you go, if you are planning a move from the Grand Trees, here are some tips on how to maximize your security deposit return:
Make sure your account is clear from any delinquent rent.
Be caught up with any additional fees such as but not limited to; late fees, Air Conditioning Charges, Carport fees, locksmith charges, etc.
If you have damage in your apartment, please let us know in advance, before you move out, we will be willing to work with you to work out some suitable and fair arrangements.
Please remove ALL your belongings when you move, this includes furniture, plants, lamps, etc.
Put simply: if you clean your apartment and clear your account, you can expect a maximum deposit refund and an A+ reference from us!
Feel free and stop by the office and ask us about what type of cleaning we look for and what we chargeback if we have to do it. Also please log onto www.grandtrees.com and click “MOVING” for a pre-move checklist, moving resources and many other helpful links that may save you time and money in your move.
Have a suggestion or comment for our next newsletter?
Email it to manager@grandtrees.com
We at the Grand Trees
hope you and yours have a Safe & Fun Halloween!
This is an ARCHIVED newsletter. Some of the links might be dead and some of the information may no longer be correct.
April 2005
AIR CONDITIONING ALERT
BAT SEASON UPDATE
A reminder for all who plan to use an air conditioner to keep cool this summer. The air conditioner fee is $50 per month. This fee is assessed in full for each month or portion of each month the tenant has the unit in their apartment window. No prorated or partial air conditioner fees will be arranged. If you don’t want to pay $50, wait until the first of the month to install your unit.
Prior to installation of an air conditioner, the tenant must notify the office at 243-0813. Upon removal of an air conditioner from a window, it is the tenant’s responsibility to notify the office to stop charges to their account.
These charges will continue to accumulate until the office is officially notified.
Air conditioners must be installed properly. This includes installing the unit so moisture does not drip into the apartment or window frame and all openings must be sealed to keep pests like bees and bats outside.
Air conditioners are to be plugged only into the three-pronged outlet provided in each apartment specifically for this purpose. Failure to follow this guideline will result in electrical problems and may result in fire.
One air conditioner is allowed per apartment. Tenants are reminded that air conditioner use is optional. Tenants placing air conditioners in apartment windows are agreeing to abide by these rules.
Tenants are responsible for keeping their air conditioners in good operating condition and are expected to perform regular maintenance to ensure this. Grand Trees reserves the right to disallow the use of any sub-standard air conditioner.
When we say "BAT" we don’t mean baseball
IOWA DEPT OF HEALTH ON BATS & RABIES
“Bat Season” is quickly approaching.
Were reprinting some reminders from last year on how to proceed if you encounter an uninvited guest
1 Keep the front and back doors to your building closed. See that air conditioners are installed correctly b sealing all openings. If everyone follows these rules we don’t get uninvited visitors.
2. If you do find a bat in a hallway or worse yet in your apartment — DON’T TOUCH!! Bats can carry disease.
3. During regular business hours, call the Grand Trees Office. When we’re hear we’re happy to evict the bat and check the installation of your air conditioner while we’re at it to see that other bats don’t get in.
4. After hours, call Animal Control at 242-2720. Explain the situation. Their trained professionals will come out to dispose of the unwanted guest.
Remember, prevention is our best defense. If we’re all careful not to prop doors open unnecessarily or install air conditioners carelessly, bats can’t get in in the first place.
This is an ARCHIVED newsletter.
Some of the links might be dead and some of the information may no longer be correct.
Grand Trees Newsletter, created Dec 7th, 2004
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Issue #1 December 7th, 2004 |
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CONTENTS: |
About this newsletter: Welcome to the FIRST issue of the Grand Tree’s Apartments NEWSLETTER
We hope you will find this newsletter to be entertaining and informative not only of life here at the Grand Trees Apartments, But also of Life in Des Moines, Iowa.
You can either scroll down to view the newsletter in its entirety, or you can click the contents links on the left to zoom to that section.
If you have any questions or comments about this newsletter or if there is anything you would like to see in this newsletter, or if you have a submission or link, please email us! manager@grandtrees.com
PRIVACY: The Grand Trees Apartments and grandtrees.com will not sell or give your name or email address or any information about you to any agency or company or private person without your explicit written permission. We take your privacy very seriously. |
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We have two great specials running now, sign up for a qualifying lease and get 1 month of rent FREE* Move in right now for only $99! That’s right, $99 pays your entire Deposit! (save hundreds of dollars!) To learn more about these and any other specials that may be happening, please call (515)243-0813 |
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Des Moines celebrates the Holidays, What to do and where to do it! |
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The United States Postal Service along with your Letter Carrier is asking that you keep mail from accumulating in your box. Excessive accumulation will result in your mail being collected and held at the post office and if unclaimed; your mail will be returned to the sender. |
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Terri is a resident at the Grand Tree’s Apartments and would love to hear your comments on these recipes! |
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Appetizer Sausage Balls in Blankets. yields 3 dozen. holiday open house or buffet table. Nice to have on hand when un-expected guests drop by for a visit! |
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INGREDIENTS: |
DIRECTIONS: |
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Classic Gingerbread Cutouts. yields 3 dozen |
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INGREDIENTS: |
DIRECTIONS: |
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We hope you have a very Merry, Happy and SAFE Christmas this year. We must remind all tenants that Live Christmas Trees and or Evergreen Garlands are NOT permitted because of the potential fire risk. |
PLEASE CHECK ALL SMOKE DETECTORS One of the best ways to prevent fires is to double-check all smoke alarms. Everyone is asked to check their’ smoke alarms to ensure they are working. If you have any questions about your smoke alarm, or if you think it has failed to operate correctly, please call 243-0813 so we can fix or replace it. |
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If everyone pitches in and does their part, this will be a happy and SAFE New Year for one and all! |
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| Here are some hand picked, CHILD SAFE Christmas games to enjoy! | ||
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| Below are Hanukkah games for children! | ||
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Holiday Stories |
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Holiday Song Book Sing along.
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| Strange Iowa Laws "It’s the LAW!" |
Silly facts about Iowa. |
| Kisses may last for no more than five minutes. One-armed piano players must perform for free. A man with a moustache may never kiss a woman in public. It is a violation of the law to sell or distribute drugs or narcotics without having first obtained the appropriate Iowa drug tax stamp. |
IOWA: It’s easy to spell IOWA: It’s just east of Omaha IOWA: It’s the only 4 letter state that starts with I and ends with A
IOWA: If you don’t like the weather, wait 5 minutes! |
| Dubuque "It’s the LAW!" Any hotel in the city limits must have a water bucket and a hitching post in front of the building. |
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| Indianola "It’s the LAW!" The "Ice Cream Man" and his truck are banned. |
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| Fort Madison "It’s the LAW!" The fire department is required to practice fire fighting for fifteen minutes before attending a fire. |
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| Marshalltown "It’s the LAW!" Horses are forbidden to eat fire hydrants |
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| Ottumwa "It’s the LAW!" Within the city limits, a man may not wink at any woman he does not know. |
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If you are on the mailing list you will be informed of any updates immediately. Why not JOIN the mailing list? |
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Merry Christmas everyone, Here’s hoping you have a safe and happy holiday season! |
