Refurbishing Your Community

It’s a new year, and while the ground may still be frozen, now is a good time to start figuring out what you need to do when it has thawed.  For those who are a part of a Home Owners Association, there is most likely lots of planning and work coming up for the new year.  As the winter weather melts away to spring there will be maintenance and upkeep work all over the community.   Roads and driveways will need to have those pot holes filled, and any other damage from the cold elements will need attention. 

In addition to repairs and cleaning properties up for spring, now may be a good time to replace elements of the community that have grown old and seen better days.  One object which can often be overlooked, but is important, is mailboxes.  They bear the brunt of the weather year round and eventually time takes its toll on them.   Ordering new mailboxes may seem boring, or unimaginative, but there is actually a surprising amount of variety out there.  These days you can choose the style of each part of the mail box and the material it is made from; for example you can have a cast aluminum mailbox post, with an Atlantic mailbox that has a copper finish. 

Another thing that needs to be given more attention by a lot of home owner communities is the gutters and shingles of the houses.  The freezing and melting process, especially if there has been a lot of snow, often causes damage.  Broken gutters can cause water to pool in unwanted locations which leads to water damage.  Shingles that have broken down can also lead to moisture accumulating in the roof or lead to leaks.  Letting any of these issues fester will only lead to exponential repair costs down the road. 

Lastly, check your buildings’ foundations.  Especially if the properties are older or if water has a penchant for pooling next to any building.  If people have basements, but rarely use them, then it is easy for water leaking in and pooling to go unnoticed.  This can lead to all sorts of problems if not fixed expediently.  It can cause more damage to the foundation, it can create a breeding ground for unwanted pests and if the basement is used for storage it can cause water damage to residents’ belongings.

Say Thank You to Your Mail Carrier this Holiday Season

With Christmas around the corner, it's time to thank a very special person in your life -- the mail carrier. Many people don't think about how hard our mail carriers work every day to deliver our packages and letters. How can anyone forget their slogan, which reads "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds"? It almost says it all right there. If you're looking for a unique way to say thank you to your mail carrier this holiday season, consider the following ideas:

• Instead of choosing one of their competitors to ship your packages and items, stick with the good old United States Post Office. Many people don't think about the positives the post office has over "those other guys." For example, the post office won't charge you a cent if you mess up an address and receive a "RETURN TO SENDER" stamp. If you send something via one of their competitors, you'll be charged an additional ten dollars, or even more. Sticking with the USPS will keep many of our beloved mail carriers employed, which is a nice way of thanking them for their service.

• Use ballpoint pens and avoid red. Many customers don't think about the eyes of our mail carriers. Most mail carriers appreciate an old fashion blue or black ballpoint pen because the ink doesn't run in the rain and can be easily and quickly read. 

• A bottle of water or cup of coffee goes a long way. Since these service men and women are constantly on their feet, regardless of the weather, think of them during snowstorms and heat waves. If you're home when your mail is delivered, be prepared to offer them a bottle of water or cup of coffee to go when they arrive. This simple gesture goes a long way, especially during the holidays.

• Really want to make the day of your mail carrier? Consider switching to one of those curbside mailboxes. These boxes save your mail carrier some steps, which means a lot when they have miles and miles to walk each day.

Besides, this isn't exactly the best idea anyway.

Although many people think they have to thank their mail carrier monetarily, just a simple thank you will also go a long way. It's important to remember these valuable service men and women during the holidays, as well as year round.

A Simple Solution for Accessibility and Appearance

Around this time last year, residents of a Fort Lauderdale neighborhood in Florida received an interesting letter in the mail. 

Seemingly from the post office, the letter told the residents to invest in curbside mailboxes and abandon the mailboxes that they currently owned that were located by the door. The letter also stated that this had to be accomplished within the next 30 days—but the letter was undated.  

Some of the neighborhood residents followed the information on this letter, while others were skeptical. The letter had no official letterhead and contained misspellings. 

Although this letter turned out to be junk mail, it serves a good point: curbside mailboxes truly help to make the lives of mailmen and mailwomen a little easier. It doesn’t hurt the community, either.

The letter was sent during Mailbox Improvement Week, which encourages residents to repair any mailbox defects. Mailbox Improvement Week occurs during the third full week of May and is a way to inspire a bit of spring cleaning. Because of the winter season, mailboxes can experience a lot of wear and tear, such as rusting and peeling paint. Additionally, mailboxes can experience loose hinges or lost house numbers. This can be a potential risk for homeowners and for anyone who delivers the mail. 

Strangely enough, a letter of this sort was recently sent to residents in an Omaha, Nebraska neighborhood as well. Much like the residents in Fort Lauderdale, some people rebelled against this while others obeyed the law in order to avoid a penalty or fine. However, residents were informed that these letters were just a suggestion and not an order. 

Curbside mailboxes not only improve the appearance of a community, but they make it easier for postal workers to deliver mail. During inclement weather, mailmen and mailwomen don’t have to risk the chance of slipping on ice or injuring themselves by walking up to a household’s installed mailbox.