Maintenance Procedures:
Q. What do I do if I have a maintenance request?
A. Call the office, mail us a request in writing, or log onto our website at www.apex-property.com (go to maintenance requests).
Q. What is considered an emergency that you would respond to after hours?
A. The following are things that should not wait until the next business day:
Ø Hot Water tank leaking or making very strange noise
Ø Sink / tub / toilet overflowing and the water cannot be stopped
Ø Lots of water leaking through pipes or ceiling (if it is a small drip, use a pot or something similar to catch the water then call the office the next business day).
The following are things that can generally wait until the next business day (unless business day is more than 24 hours away)
Ø Sink / tub / toilet backed up
Ø No electricity
Ø Stove / oven / refrigerator / hot water tank not working
Ø No water
Ø No heat
Ø Broken window
Ø Door will not lock
Q. Who do I call if I have an emergency after office hours?
A. Call our answering service at 360-384-8604. If you call the office, the answering machine will give you the after hours number also.
Q. Will I be charged for the maintenance call?
A. It depends. If you caused the problem, you will be charged. For example, if your dishwasher does not work and the appliance vendor tells us the drain was clogged with food or a utensil was stuck in the bottom not allowing the machine to finish its operation, you will be charged. If it is due to a bad motor unrelated to anything you've done, you will NOT be charged. If you call for a repair and the vendor says nothing is wrong or it was just a tripped breaker, you will be charged. If you have any questions regarding what you could be charged for, please call the office.
Q. What if I called in a maintenance request and no one has come by to fix the problem?
A. Wait approximately 48 hours (if your problem is not emergency related). Please call the office after 48 hours to let us know. We sub-contract out all maintenance work (i.e. use vendors that are NOT Apex employees). We assume that once we call it out, the problem will get done in a timely manner unless we hear from you otherwise.
Q. My neighbor is making lots of noise or is having a loud party late into the a.m. hours?
A. If its just an issue with the TV, loud talking, bass from a stereo, etc., please provide a written complaint to our offices via our website, fax, mail or drop-off. If you feel comfortable talking to your neighbor, you may want to knock on their door first. Often, they do not know that what they are doing can be heard outside the apartment. If it is party related, public nuisance related, a fight, etc., call the police. Call the office the next business day to discuss.
Q. My apartment does not have a shower rod, towel rack or a toilet paper holder. Will you buy one for me?
A. NO. You must buy your own shower rod or free standing toilet paper holder / towel rack. These can be found at Wal-Mart, Lowes, Bed, Bath & Beyond, etc. You can take it with you when you leave. However, make sure you provide the office with a list of any items missing that you plan to purchase on your own.
Q. My light went out in my apartment, am I responsible for changing it (even if its too high)?
A. YES. The only exception is if the light is out when you first move in. We will refund the cost of the bulbs if the light did not work when you took possession (must be listed on condition checklist). After that, you are responsible. If lights are to high, you can purchase a light extension changer from a hardware store.
The following are helpful hints you should do before calling in a maintenance work order:
Electrical outlet or light does not work or breaker keeps tripping:
1) Check the circuit breaker – make sure its on. Sometimes this breaker is located on the outside of the house. For some apartments, there is a master breaker switch located on the outside as well.
2) Press the re-set button on ALL GFI recepticles in the unit (generally 2 in the kitchen & 1 in the bath)
3) Plug in something else to the outlet (maybe what you had no longer works)
4) Check the bulb wattage – you should not use any bulbs over 60 watts in most outlets (some allow higher use such as a heat lamp). Bulbs in the bathroom above a sink should not exceed 25 watts. If you keep putting in a bulb and it burns out quickly, try a lower wattage
5) See what is plugged into the outlet. Many outlets can only handle a certain number of watts, if too many things are plugged in or something that uses high wattage (i.e. space heater) is plugged in, it could keep tripping the breaker.
Refrigerator / Freezer doesn’t work or is not getting cold:
1) Check the circuit breaker – make sure on
2) Make sure it is plugged in
3) Make sure the settings inside are turned on
4) Clean out all items in the freezer. Make sure nothing is in front of any ventilation areas or plugging up any holes (i.e. sandwich ties accumulate at bottom and may plug up drain hole or ventilation area if back is covered)
Gas Heat or electric heat does not work or is not blowing warm air:
1) Make sure turned on by Gas Company if gas heat
2) Make sure circuit breaker on if electric
3) Make sure you have replaced furnace filters (should do at least every other month) – if gas
4) Make sure heating vent areas are free of rugs, carpets, furniture, etc.
Hot water tank not working:
1) If gas, call gas company to make sure gas turned on and/or check pilot light
2) Make sure circuit breaker is on if electric
3) Make sure pilot light lit if gas
Not enough hot water:
1) Remember – all tanks will eventually run out of hot water and need time to re-fill, if you have several people using hot water at once (taking more than 1 shower, doing dishes, running the dishwasher, etc. it will deplete the hot water), you may want to better plan the use.
2) See "hot water tank not working section"
Disposal doesn’t work:
1) Make sure disposal switch is off and make sure the drain is cleared. If there is anything in there that is stopping it from working (i.e. food, bottle cap, paper, glass, utensil, plastic, stringy celery, etc), you will be charged for the maintenance call. Most of the time if the disposal is grinding, making a strange noise or has a hum, it is because something is preventing it from turning.
2) After checking the drain, press the reset button on the disposal located under the sink. There is either a red or black button on the side or the bottom of the disposal. Press this then try the disposal again.
3) Check the breaker or the GFI receptacles. If there is no noise, often times it is because there has been an overload or a power outage and the breaker needs to be reset.
Toilet keeps flushing (only related to 601 E Holly):
1) Sometimes when water has been shut off at the main valve due to repairs, individual apartment toilets may flush automatically. The metal piece coming out from the wall has a screw at the top. Use a screwdriver to adjust the screw to get the toilet to stop.
Toilet or tub stopped up:
1) If too much material is put in the toilet bowl at one time or an object is placed in the toilet that restricts it flow, it will stop up. If this is the problem, you will be charged. You may want to try to plunge it first, etc.
2) If the tub is stopped up, remove plug and try to clear the drain of any hair. You may want to try draino (only after stopper is removed) or some other type of drain clearing agent (tenants at 601 E Holly should NOT do this). You may have to do this 2 or 3 times before it will actually clear the drain and make the water flow normal.
Leak Under Sink:
1) Make sure fitting on pipe is tight
2) Put a small pan underneath to check to see if leak has stopped after tightening fitting.
3) Use a paper towel to wipe the area to find the source before calling.
Dishwasher not getting water, not working properly or leaking:
1) You cannot use regular dishwashing soap used to hand wash dishes in the dishwasher. It will cause bubbles / water to overflow out of the washer. Check the soap.
2) Make sure the dishwasher has been properly stacked. Sometimes a pot or pan is placed preventing something from working. If unsure, re-stack and try again.
3) Clear out the bottom and make sure no food or utensils are stuck.
4) Check underneath the sink and make sure the water valve is turned on & check the breaker.
5) If you are using a GEL – try another non-gel detergent. These gels can cause excessive bubbles leading to an overflow of water.
6) Most dishwashers drain into the same pipe that the disposals use. Make sure the disposal is clear of any debris and working properly.
7) If the problem is related to any of the above, you will be charged for the service call.
Washing machine not getting water or is not working properly:
1) Make sure both water valves are turned on
2) Make sure the washing machine settings are on properly (sometimes if the setting is not in the actual position, it will affect its operation.
3) Check the breaker.
4) If the washer is over-loaded with clothes, it may become off balanced. This will cause the spinner in the washer to make a loud, banging sound. Take the clothes out and only put half back in and try again.
Exhaust fan or light over stove not working:
1) Check the breaker or GFI receptacles
2) Make sure the switch on the wall that controls the exhaust fan and light are in the on position (not all properties will have this – after they are turned on from the switch, than you can turn them on at the fan area)
3) If its just the light – change the bulb.
4) If the stove is a gas stove, pilot light may be out (mainly 601 E Holly tenants).
Tips regarding mold and mildew:
We live in an environment that promotes the growth of mold in mildew. We can only hope to control the growth by taking some practical steps.
1) Always use the vent fan when cooking or taking a shower. You MUST continue to use the fan for a period of no less than 15 minutes after cooking or taking a shower. As long as moisture is still in the air, the fan must still be on.
2) Clean mold off hard surfaces with a solution of 1-cup bleach to 1-gallon water. Dry the area completely after use. Do NOT use bleach on any area where an ammoniated product was used.
3) Clean garbage pails, refrigerator drip trays and door seals often.
4) Keep the inside of fridge free of old leftovers.
5) Clean the bathtub, sinks, toilet, walls and shower curtain frequently.
6) Do not stack boxes or any items against walls and/or in closets. Allow some ventilation between item and wall.
7) Mold grows in soil so limit use of potted plants in home.
8) Avoid accumulation of paper products.
9) If you have a house or duplex, remove leaves, clippings, etc, from around the house.
Remember, good ventilation is key! If there is a leak somewhere or mold seems to be growing fast and you have performed all necessary steps, call the office immediately…there may be a leak.
Vehicle Prowl:
Here at Apex, it has been our experience that most tenant calls regarding vehicle break-ins have been received around the holidays, the begining and the end of the school year.
The following information was provided by the Bellingham Police Department:
Vehicle Prowl is a property crime in which items are stolen from a vehicle. The Bellingham Police Department receives many calls each year, sadly, most of the cases are preventable. Most Vehicle Prowls occur between 10:00 pm and 4:00 am. By following a few proven tips you can become less of a target.
Lock Your Vehicle
When parked, always keep your windows rolled up and your doors locked
Keep your trunk locked
Lock your canopies and bed-mounted tool boxes
Keep Your Vehicle Clean (don't leave these items in your vehicle)
- Credit Cards
- Checkbooks/Bank Statements
- Spare Change
- Wallet/Purse/Day Planner
- Keys
- Jewelry
- Exposed Garage Door Opener
- Compact Discs (mark your CDs for identification)
- Cell Phones
- Prescription Medication
- Packs of Cigarettes
- Clothing
- Shopping Bags
Before You Park
- If you put your belongings in the trunk, do so before you get to your destination
- Park in an area that has good lighting
Who Do I Call?
- Call 911 if the Vehicle Prowl is in progess
- After the fact, call 676-6840 Monday-Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm. A report can be taken over the phone
