American Apartment Owners Association's (aaoa) Blog

       The lease is up and it's time for the locksmith or handyman to re-key or change those locks AGAIN!Why not make the whole transition of new tenants easy and cost-effective by installing a keyless entry system?These systems provide security and safety for you and your tenants through modern ...

True or False? Cypress mulch is an environmentally friendly, rot and insect-resistant good choice for your garden. The answer is FALSE. Many people think that cypress mulch is a by-product of tree milling operations in Louisiana, Alabama, and the other Gulf states. This, too, is false. The mulch ...

Community gardens are making a comeback. During World Wars I and II, vegetable, fruit, and herb gardens were called 'victory gardens', and they were considered morale boosters. People felt rewarded for providing their own food and making a contribution. In 1943, 20 million gardeners succeeded in ...

As apartment owners, keeping properties clean and protecting high cost assets like appliances are a top priority. That's why, when it comes to cleaning kitchens, in particular-ovens-, it pays to think of cost-effective , environmentally friendly options. Instead of using harsh aerosol cleaners or...

We all know that one of the most dirty, tedious and smelly jobs while cleaning an apartment is cleaning the oven.  This is a job no cleaning crew looks forward to - it's time consuming and hard work. Why not eliminate the messy job altogether -for your cleaning crews AND your tenants? The easy, c...

The farmer in the dell, of children's song fame, didn't drink bottled water. He didn't have the choice. His drinking water probably came from a well, and so does mine. Living just outside the city limits, I have a well on my property. The water has been tested and is fine to drink. But I don't li...

 Why the EPA, ERI, FBI and GRX Want YOU! In 2005, Americans discarded two million tons of electronics, and about 80 to 85 percent of that (think 1.5 to 1.9 million tons) waste was disposed of in landfills.  About 15 to 20 percent (345,000 to 379,00 tons) of these televisions, keyboards, scanners,...

The "green" prize is awarded this week to Madison, more specifically to the continued efforts of a group of environmentally aware citizens in Madison, Wisconsin. These residents were concerned with the health and environmental effects of pesticides and fertilizer use in their community. First, vo...

Still need a gift for Father's Day? Now you can browse real estate listings for your next investment at the same time you buy Dad that new set of golf clubs. Online discount retailing pioneer Overstock.com offers a listing site for distressed and foreclosed homes. The site features over three mil...

In this busy world of multi-tasking, wouldn't it be nice to have one less thing on your landlord "to do" list? With recent technological advances, you can say goodbye to changing locks and having new keys made with every tenant change.   Consider updating all those locks and keys with a hassle-fr...