banner page1

Tips & Guides

Important Info for Tenants

 We want to keep our clients informed with tenancy information. Below you’ll find answers to many of the most frequently asked questions we receive. If you have any questions that have not been answered on this website, please fill out the form on our Contact Page. We will respond to your inquiry as soon as possible.

24 Hour Emergency??

Outside office hours please call us at (204) 325-5248 and leave a message detailing the issue and we will get back to you as soon as possible. 

Examples of emergencies include:

  • Water line breakage/flooding
  • No heat in extreme temperatures

Call 911 for all emergencies not relating to the property. Examples:

  • Domestic violence
  • Theft
  • Health emergency
  • etc…

Quick Fix Guide

  • In case of clean water flooding turn off main water valve usually found in basement near water meter
  • In case of sewer flood do not flush toilet or use any drains
  • If toilet is overflowing, look for shut off valve behind or beside it near baseboard
  • We recommend you keep a plunger in case of clogged toilet. Try plunging before calling for help
  • If you lose power look for breakers that are pointing the wrong direction and flip them back
  • If you have only one element not working on your stove top change the fuse
  • If oven elements aren’t working remember there are two fuses to change
  • If only your oven clock is working or if your elements only get warm try flipping your oven breaker off and on (it’s a double breaker and one has disengaged)
  • Does it seems like your fridge isn’t staying cool? Make sure the door is sealing properly
  • Make sure there is a few inches of space in front of the freezer fan for air flow
  • We recommend you make a duplicate copy of your keys to prevent lock outs. If you happen to get locked out after office hours please call a local locksmith. 

    • Silver Key Locksmith: (204) 822-5530 for 24 hour emergencies

Maintenance Guide

Kitchen

  • Give those appliances a good scrub!!! (and yes that includes the inside of the oven)
  • Clean the sink
  • Clean out all cupboards
  • Use a cutting board – cutting directly onto a counter top can scratch it and cause irreparable damage

Bathrooms

  • Clean that toilet, inside and out!
  • Clean the bathtub and/or shower (For instructions on how to get rid of mold see Tenant Cleaning Tips)
  • Clean the sink

Walls and Ceilings

  • Keep walls and ceilings free from smudges, food stains, scrapes, crayons, holes (including nail and pin holes), and dents.
  • All painted areas must be left clean and dust free

Light Fixtures

Light fixtures need to be in the same shape as when you moved in, clean and intact

Make sure no light bulbs are missing or burnt out

Windows and Blinds

  • Windows and blinds should be clean and dust free
  • Check for cracked or broken windows and have them repaired

Baseboards and Frames

  • (See walls and ceilings)
  • Watch especially for chipped paint (usually from moving furniture in and out)

Floors

Sweep, vacuum, and wash as needed

Remove all of your belongings from the rental premises

  • This includes belongings in the yard and/or garage if applicable
  • Remember to clean out all cupboards and closets, and be sure to check high shelves

Yards, Driveways and Walkways

If you have been responsible for shovelling or mowing the lawn, these things should be done just before you leave the premises

Cleaning Guide

Toilets

Toilets can get very nasty if left to care for themselves. Make it an easy cleaning chore by buying the right tools. There are 2 tools every toilet should have nearby, one is a plunger. A plugged toilet is usually easily unplugged in about 30 seconds just by plunging it. The second must have tool is a toilet brush. If used regularly your toilet will always be sparkling with minimal effort.

Plunging

When plunging place plunger gently into the toilet till it rests on the drain hole, once in position push quickly and firmly then let plunger regain shape by lifting slightly. Do this 3 or 4 times then uncover hole to see if your plunging was successful, if successful the toilet will flush itself. If it doesn’t work try being a little more aggressive.

Is mold forming around your bathtub?

If you catch mold soon enough, bleach will easily get rid of it. If it’s not coming off with a quick scrub you can soak some paper towels, leave them on the problem areas for a while and take them off later. Cleaning your bathtub regularly before mold even has a chance to grow is the best way to avoid this problem completely.

Odors in the Fridge?

Putting an open box of baking soda in the fridge with help absorb bad food odors. Also keeping your fridge clean, and emptying old food will help.

Stoves

Ovens can be cleaned quite easily with a strong oven cleaner. All that baked on burnt food just melts away. Make sure you wear gloves, and try not to breathe it in.

Laundry

Develop a system for your laundry, knowing where to put dirty, clean, and “waiting to be folded” clothes will keep your floors and tables clean. When using your dryer clean out the lint tray before each load, this will save electricity and help prevent fires from starting. When loading your washer do not load it too full. Put clothes in untangled and evenly spread around the edges. This will help it not to rattle and shake.

Windows and Blinds

While cleaning your windows and blinds, talk to your children about window safety and proper window screen and blind usage. When leaned on, window screens can come loose causing potential injury. Children should not play with window blinds as cords from blinds can cause choking. Plus, they are easily bent with little fingers.

A good cheap cleaner for most hard surfaces is vinegar and water. It’s cheap and it’s not a harmful chemical.

Energy Saving Tips

Furnace/Air conditioning

Keep your vents open. Closing vents to redirect air away from some rooms to other rooms uses a lot of energy and does not succeed in separating the temperatures in individual rooms. The furnace just has to work harder.

Change your furnace filters every 6 to 8 weeks.  It’s amazing how hard the furnace has to work to blow air through a clogged furnace filter.  If you notice your furnace fan turning on and off frequently, this is often the reason.  In a new place? Fine dust from building materials takes a long time to work its way out of a new home so remember to check the furnace filter monthly. A new filter is only about $1 – $2 and will save you so much more.

Laundry

Heating the water used for laundry accounts for about 90% of energy used for washing your clothes.  Simply using the cold setting on your machine will cut out all the extra work your hot water tank has to do heating all that water.  Bonus * Using cold water will also help prevent the colors from running.

Dishwashing

Dishwashers require quite a bit of heat for the job they do, but when it comes to the end of the cycle there’s that heat dry option.  Skipping this last step will save a lot of energy.  Let your dishes air dry, and put them away later.

Electronics and small appliances

Do you really need five different clocks in your kitchen telling you what time it is?  A good rule to remember is that if it’s plugged in, it’s using energy. In other words, everything plugged into a live outlet is drawing electricity all the time; it doesn’t necessarily have to be running.  So if you’re not using the microwave, toaster oven, coffee maker, stereo, computer, TV, etc. unplug it.

Remember you are the one paying your bills, cut yourself a break!

About OnPoint

Onpoint Property Management is a licensed and bonded management company operating out of Winkler Manitoba. We manage properties in Winkler, Morden, Plum Coulee and the surrounding Pembina Valley. If you’re looking for a rental home, we’ve got a wide variety of houses, townhouses, and apartments to choose from. Check out our Current Vacancies page to see what’s available.

If you own rental property and are looking for a trustworthy property manager, visit our Owners page to see what Onpoint can do for you.

 

 

Roblin Estates