Need a Job???

Job Fair THIS COMING MONDAY - August 18th

at the Freeport Library from 9 AM to 5:30 PM

They are looking for laborers in the Freeport area.

Temporary job from August 24th thru Oct 31st

Be sure to bring 2 forms of ID when you come to apply. 

Summer's Finally Here-- Now What? 5 Ways to Stay Cool When The Temperature Rises

After this year's never-ending winter (thanks, Polar Vortex!), many of us are more than happy to see that summer is officially here! Instead of bundling up in our winter coats, it's time to bust out the shorts and flip-flops!

Here are some tips and tricks to keep you staying cool this summer!

1. Time your activities for the cooler parts of the day- try to accomplish your outside activities (lawncare, exercise, etc.) for the coolest parts of the day- early in the morning or early in the evening.  Stay inside when the sun is at its peak and the temperature is at its highest.

2. Avoid cooking with your stove or oven- instead, use your microwave to avoid spreading the heat throughout your house.  Also, eat more cold foods (salads, fruits, dairy products) and break up your meals throughout the day.  Your body doesn't have to work as hard (or generate as much heat) when it is digesting smaller amounts of food compared to large meals.

3. Wear loose-fitting clothing- bonus points if your clothes are light-colored to reflect the sun's heat!

4. Stay hydrated!!- Drink lots of water throughout the day.  Be aware of how much caffeine and alcohol you drink as both of these contribute to dehydration.

5. And finally, if you can't beat the heat, stay out of it! Check out these local establishments for ways to keep cool when the heat becomes too unbearable!

• Freeport Public Library- Pick up a good book (and enjoy the air-conditioning)! Check out the library's website for information on upcoming events- http://www.freeportpubliclibrary.org/
• Lindo Theatre- Take in a movie at the Lindo Theatre in downtown Freeport! Catch a movie on Tuesdays for a discounted price of $5.00. Check out movie times here-  http://www.classiccinemas.com/location.aspx?house=2257
• Union Dairy- Cool off with a sweet treat at Union Dairy, Freeport's local ice cream parlor! 
• Read Park Pool- Go for a swim at the Read Park Family Aquatic Center! Information about park admission and hours can be found here- http://freeportparkdistrict.org/parks/read-park-family-aquatic-center/

Stay cool, have fun, and enjoy your summer!

Super Recycling Event Reminder – April 6
Northwest Illinois residents and businesses are invited to participate in the upcoming Super Recycling Event collection set for Saturday, April 6, from 9:00 a.m. to noon.  The recycling collection will be conducted at the Carroll County Highway Department, just off Rt. 52/64, at 10735 Mill Road, Mt. Carroll, Illinois.   

Free recycling categories include electronics such as computers, monitors, televisions, printers, keyboards, copiers, cell phones, and more.  Small household electronic items are also accepted at no charge and include microwaves, vacuum cleaners, coffee and bread makers, toaster ovens, small saws, drills, holiday lights, hair dryers and more. 

Batteries are also accepted for free and include all types of alkaline, lithium, rechargeable, and large lead-acid vehicle and machinery batteries.

Bulky metal items are also accepted for free and include bicycles, swing sets, metal shelving, metal cabinets, lawn and garden tractors, lawn mowers, snow blowers, metal patio furniture, outdoor grills, metal bed frames, steel posts, metal fencing, and more. 

Additional recycling items will be accepted for small fee.  Large household appliances will be accepted for $10 per item and include refrigerators, dish washers, stoves, air conditioners, etc.   Compact and large fluorescent bulbs will also be accepted for a charge with bulbs four feet and under costing $1.00 each and bulbs over four feet costing $2.00 each.  Paper and document shredding including DVD disposal is also offered and will cost $2 per participating household or business.   

Unfortunately, no paint or chemicals can be accepted at the collection. 

The event is sponsored by the Jo-Carroll Solid Waste Agency.  For questions, please contact Mark Maidak, agency coordinator, at 815-541-8183, or via e-mail at jocarrollswa@yahoo.com.

REO March 2013 newsletter

Freeport's Winter Parking Rules Go Into Effect!

CITY OF FREEPORT, ILLINOIS

WINTER PARKING REGULATIONS

• Winter Parking Regulations apply every day of month from December 1 to March 31 

• Even days of the month you must park on even-numbered side of street - generally West and North

• Odd days of the month you must park on odd-numbered side of street - generally East and South 

• Streets that have designated parking on one side only for an entire city block, shall be exempt

• 8:00 am is the beginning hour for all streets in City (except in the Business District - see below)

• Odd-Even parking does not apply in Business District. Parking in the Business District is not allowed between the hours of 2:00 am and 5:00 am throughout the entire year. Business District is area bounded by Jackson Street, the Pecatonica River, Douglas Street, and Cherry Avenue, excepting the 300 block of West Douglas Street.

• No person shall pile or cause to be piled any snow on avenues, streets, boulevards, alleys, sidewalks or any other City-owned property, except at the direction of the Public Works Director. Further, no person shall pile or cause to be piled any snow to obstruct the vision at any intersection of any street, avenue, boulevard or alley within the City.

For questions, please call City of Freeport City Hall at 815-235-8200;
Freeport Police Department (Non-emergency) at 815-235-8222; or
Street Department at 815-235-8210.

City of Freeport Flushing Hydrants Sept 17-27

When?

The City of Freeport Water and Sewer Department conducts annual fire hydrant flushing. They will be flushing fire hydrants and water lines from Sept 17-21 and Sept 24 - 27.  Flushing will occur during the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Why?

This annual maintenance is done to remove minerals and sediment that accumulate in the water lines over the course of a year.  This preventative maintenance also allows the City to check and record water pressure to ensure the water system is functioning properly.

What to expect:

During the hydrant flushing, you may observe a fire hydrant with water coming out of the side opening; and, on occasion, the water in your home may have an orange or rusty appearance. The water is safe to use and drink. The discoloration is caused by the iron sediment in the water main being disturbed by the hydrant flushing. If this occurs, please run your COLD water for several minutes to clear your lines. You should also run your water for 5 to 10 minutes prior to doing laundry during this time to avoid staining clothes and you should also flush your toilets once or twice. The water should run clear within a few minutes. If water discoloration persists for more than 24 hours after running water for 5 to 10 minutes, the Water Department will re-flush the water mains that serve your area.  If this occurs or if you have any questions or concerns regarding the hydrant flushing process, contact the Freeport Water and Sewer Construction Dispatch at 815-233-1686, leaving a message with your address and flushing request..

Electronics Recycling in Freeport

An Electronics Recycling Collection will be held on Saturday, September 22 from 9AM to 1PM at Highland Community College Parking Lot "B".  The Electronics Recycling Collection is sponsored by the University of Illinois Extension and the Stephenson County Health Department.  There is NO FEE for this collection and the collection is open to the public.  Items that will be accepted at the collection include:

•  televisions 
• CRT and LCD monitors
• computers
• laptops
• printers
• scanners
• fax machines
• copiers
• VCR's
• keyboards
• computer mice
• DVD players
• stereos
• speakers
• microwaves
• miscellaneous cables, computer parts and peripherals
• telephones
• cell phones
• PDA's
• game counsels 
• handheld electronics (iPods, cd players, Game boys)

Only items on this list will be accepted.  For more information about this event or other recycling opportunities, please call the University of Illinois Extension at 815-235-4125 or visit their website at web.extension.illinois.edu/jsw.

This is a GREAT opportunity - for example, if you were to hire a hauling company - they are charged $35 per TV they take to the transfer station, and would have to pass that cost to you along with the pick-up charge.  This is such a great deal - scour your house and drop your old/broken electronics stuff off at Highland on Sept 22nd!

Scary day today - luckily with a "Happy Ending". One of our tenants noticed an outlet they were overloading with a window air conditioner was getting HOT! The wall was very HOT also. 1st mistake made was calling us 1st. In the case of a possible fire - CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FIRST! The 2nd and biggest mistake was that they admitted to throwing water on the outlet.

Electrical fires are different than other fires. Because water conducts electricity, throwing water on an electrical fire can cause the fire to get LARGER.

In case of an electrical fire (or suspicion of one) Here is what to do:

1. NEVER use water on an electrical fire.

2. Tell an adult to turn off the main power to the house, if possible.

3. If the fire can be put out safely, tell an adult to use a proper chemical fire extinguisher. If the fire cannot be put out safely, leave the house and take everyone with you.

4. Call 911 or your emergency number and tell them it is an electrical fire.

Luckily the 3rd thing our resident did was call the Fire Dept. who responded immediately. There was no fire but there could have been. And, if there was, it could have become quite tragic when they threw water at it. So, Praise God, all is well. Please, if you are not sure what to do in an emergency - call 911. And, then get yourself educated for the future. When you moved in, we supplied you with a "Tenant Orientation Handbook" that covers basic emergency situations. Now is a good time to pull it out and review it with your family or roommates.

Stay SAFE!

One more Simple SAFETY tip

If you've read the June REO newsletter - you'll see it's all on safety this month.

Here's one more simple, yet smart tip!

Put your car keys beside your bed at night.

Tell your spouse, your children, your neighbors, your parents, your Dr.'s office, the check-out girl at the market, everyone you run across. Put your car keys beside your bed at night.

If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies. This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator. 

Next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this: It's a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation. Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain. It works if you park in your driveway or garage. 

If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break into your house, odds are the burglar/rapist won't stick around. After a few seconds all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won't want that. And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there. This is something that should really be shared with everyone. Maybe it could save a life or a sexual abuse crime.

This would also be useful for any emergency, such as a heart attack, where you can't reach a phone. Older people should think about carrying their car keys with them in case of a fall. All they have to do is activate the car alarm and then others close by will know there's a problem.

Please pass this on even IF you've read it before. It's a reminder.

Please share this with all the people in your life.

Think Twice Before Getting A Pet!

At Real Estate Options we are VERY pet-friendly.  But, before you jump in and get a pet - you should make sure you can truly afford one.  In 2010, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, we Americans as a whole spent over $60 BILLION on our critters.

Some pets are less expensive to maintain than others.  Did you know the MOST EXPENSIVE pet to own is a rabbit?  Bunnies come in as the most expensive pet to feed and maintain at $730 per year!

Here's how other animals rate in cost per year:

Fish - $35;  Small Dog - $355; Small Bird - $200; Large Dog - $650; Cat - $495; Medium Dog - $470; Guinea Pig - $635 and a small mammal (like a gerbil) - $300.

If you decide to get a pet while you are living with us - be sure to get permission first. You will need to sign a Pet Agreement and pay a one-time pet deposit.  While we can rent to any dog breed, there are a handful of dog breeds that require that you also have Renters Insurance that covers the dog.  Of course, Renters Insurance is a smart decision whether you have a dog or not -- but that's a whole 'nother blog for another day!  If you do make the decision you CAN afford a pet - you are in for a lifetime of love, joy and fun! 

Teach Your Children Well

Take on "The Great Utility Challenge" with your children.

Pull out your utility bills and make your older kids an offer: If they're able to reduce monthly costs by 15%, you'll split the savings with them. You'll be amazed by how quickly the lights are turned off in rooms they're leaving, and how everyone is happy to put on a sweater and turn the thermostat down.  This challenge teaches your child that it takes money to live.

Talking Trash!

Freeport's Annual Bulky Waste Pickup Starts on November 14th.

This annual service is totally separate from your regular weekly garbage pickup.  You must make arrangements with your regular trash hauler (Gill's Freeport Disposal (815-233-5644) or Moring Disposal (815-233-9216) ) to sign up.  There will be a $51 charge per residence to help the city offset the cost of the program.  When you call to sign up you will need to provide your water and sewer account number, address and phone number (the charge will show up on your water bill).  There are limits to the amount of trash that can be disposed of in this program.  Each participating home may place four (4) bulky furniture items along with one (1) cubic yard of miscellaneous bulky waste at the curb (one cubic yard is the equivalent of six 30-gallon containers). 

The deadline for making arrangements with the appropriate hauler is November 12th.

 

Here is a list of what is considered acceptable items for the Bulky Waste Pickup:

Couches, sleeper sofas, major appliances, coffee/end tables, kitchen tables, sectionals (limit one), rocker/recliners, mattress/box springs, baby cribs, dressers, pillows, picture frames, foot stools, baby swings, grills, lamps, small area rugs, child car seats, push mowers (you must drain the fuel first), bicycles/tricycles, boxes and small items, swing sets (disassembled into 4' sections).

Here is a list of unacceptable items that you should NOT put out:

Dehumidifiers, tires, air conditioners, plate glass windows, water heaters/softeners, mirrors, cement, rock, brick, riding lawn mowers, auto batteries, open dry paint cans, car parts, or liquid waste.

This is a great time to take advantage of cleaning out your larger waste for a very reasonable cost.

BOO to you!

So the funniest costume I've heard of this year so far is: a guy wearing a t-shirt that reads: "GO CEILINGS!"  Can you guess what he is?

Have a safe and spooky Halloween!

October is Fire Prevention Month

     There are always more residential fires in the winter months because more residents are using supplemental heat sources (some safe, ...some not so safe) during the colder months.  Be sure all your smoke detectors and CO detectors have fresh batteries and test them to make sure they work.  A properly functioning smoke or CO detector could very well save your life! 

     Our local fire department says if you know someone who doesn't have smoke detectors, let them know.  They will come out and install them free of charge! 

     There should be at least one smoke detector on every level of your home. Replace batteries at least yearly and test them at least monthly.  Ensure that everyone in your household knows 2 ways to get out of every room and pick a designated spot to meet outside your home in case of fire. Practice your plan at leaat twice a year. 

     Simply put, you should always maintain your smoke detectors as if your life or the life of someone you love depends on them, some day it just might.

At Real Estate Options - we are VERY pet-friendly!

New Website Helps Tenants Investigate Landlords

Like Carfax for Renters

LDM Solutions LLC announced the launch of its tenant-friendly website, http://www.checkyourlandlord.com/, a service providing “due diligence for residential renters to easily and discreetly investigate their prospective landlord and property.”

The company says this information arms the renter with the ability to protect themselves from the recent rise in rental scams and rental foreclosures in a way that has not previously been available.

This service allows renters to assess the potential risks of a home rental transaction before signing a lease. According to a company statement, there has been an increase in recent years of rental scams and landlord fraud, as well as a rise in the number of renters who have faced foreclosure of their rental home. However, robust tools to help tenants avoid these situations have not existed in the market.

“Renters often don’t consider the risks involved in signing a lease agreement,” stated Michael Schaffer, General Manager of LDM Solutions LLC. “Through the introduction of http://www.checkyourlandlord.com/, we are making information about a rental property and its owner easy to obtain and understand. When a consumer buys a used car, it has become standard practice to review a Carfax report for potential problems. By educating renters, we look forward to the day when reviewing a CheckYourLandlord.com report is standard practice before renting a home.”

http://www.checkyourlandlord.com/ sources property and personal background information from real-time data aggregators covering thousands of public records sources at the federal, state, county and city levels. Each report is individually prepared by a trained analyst, and is unbiased, reporting only factual information.

Don't Pour Your $$$ Down The Drain!

Did you know that taking a bath requires up to 70 gallons of water (times that by how many people bathe in your household). A five-minute shower uses only 10 to 25 gallons!  Calculate the savings of showering - it will amaze you!   And, at 1 drip per second, a faucet can leak 3,000 gallons per year.  Talk about pouring your money down the drain!  If you are a current tenant of ours, please notify us immediately when you notice drips or leaks. We want to make sure you never have to spend more than necessary on your water bills.

Get Your Money Back!

How long have you lived in your home?  Do you know that after one year of "on-time" payments on your water bill in Freeport, that you are allowed to get your securty deposit back?  They won't just give it to you, you will need to tell them you want it back.  Why let them hold onto money that's yours... look at your calendar, figure it out, and after one year of timely payments, go reclaim your money!

Advertising Yourself to be Robbed!

Does anyone really READ our the REO newsletters?  In December we wrote a warning about being very discreet when throwing out packaging for valuable items you may have just been gifted or just purchased yourself (like computers, TV's, epensive electronic gaming equipment or other electronics) so as not to advertise to any would-be theives as to what may be inside your home.  Cut up boxes and put the smaller pieces inside covered garbage cans or plastic garbage bags.  Today, as we were out cruising the neighborhoods we found this scenario (see photo!).  SCARY!  This person is advertising themselves to be robbed.  Don't make the same mistake! We all need to be street-wise today!

Your Opinion is NEEDED and VALUED!

     We are working with other property owners and managers from around the state of Illinois on laws intended to control crime in rental property.  Laws that deal with crime should be effective so that you can feel safe in your home and they should also be fair to both the resident and the property owner.

     In order to create good laws related to rental property, the people in government need to consider how people that rent feel about issues.  We want your opinion on how crime affects your life.

To fill out a (very!) short tenant survey, please go to:

http://www.irpoa.org/

     Your answers will be anonymous.  The survey is only 16 questions and will just take a couple minues to fill out.  You will have the option of signing up to get a report on the survey if you want to find out what other renters think about the issue.  This is being sent to renters across the state of Illinois, so PLEASE FORWARD this survey to your friends and family who also rent.

Thank you for your help

and for sharing your opinion on this issue.

Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RentFreeport

for any updates we hear regarding to laws that will affect you.