Apartment Cleaning,
Maintenance & Upgrade Tips

Here are some tips to tenants on things they can do themselves to improve their living experience here at Seashore Oaks.

There is a maintenance department that can cover most of your other needs. Remember some of their services DO COST YOU MONEY. Ask them when you call. Their number is (228) 374-7773 (for 4 & 6 story bldgs only).

Here is BHA's Maintenance Charge List as of June 10, 2024.

Renters Insurance

Monthly Cleaning

Fire Alarm Battery

Kitchen Upgrade Ideas

Shower Upgrade Ideas

Sealing Windows for Tropical Storms

Changing Light Switch Wall Plates

Annual Things To Do

Renters Insurance

While not mandatory, it can be very beneficial to have renters insurance.
The Editor uses GEICO Renter's Insurance which cost about $25 to $45 a month, depending which options are chosen. It covers most everything except for flooding/storm surge waters (which is not an issue for most at Seashore Oaks). It covers loss from theft, fire, and wind damage from things like hurricanes. It even covers damage to your apartment and your neighbors' too if you set off your sprinkler and it creates water damage for all. Without insurance, you would be personally liable (have to pay) for damage to the building and replacement of the contents for you and your neighbor's apartments. Most renters insurance also covers a rented storage unit if you have one.

This can set one's mind at ease. I know some have clawed their way back to a more stable home from having little to nothing. Having renters insurance can help prevent that from happening again by restoring you if a disaster occurs.

Monthly Cleaning

Set one day a month in which you regularly:

pickup around the apartment
dust the furniture and
sweep or vacuum the floor
scrub the toilet and bathroom sink

Mopping the Floor is recommended at least every other month and done prior to the monthly visit by Pest Control. Use something like PineSol for cleaning and then another round with something like 'Mop & Glo' to make it shine. Use a scrub brush on hard stains or very dirty floor areas.

Fire Alarm Battery

DID YOU HEAR A CHIRP?

In Seashore Oaks (6 story), the Red Fire Alarm is wired into the building and has no battery backup. The White Round Fire Alarm is for the individual apartment, is also wired into the building, BUT DOES HAVE A 9 VOLT BATTERY BACKUP.

IF YOU HEARD A CHIRP you need to replace the 9 Volt Battery in the White Round Fire Alarm. Recommend a premium alkaline 9 volt replacement because it lasts much longer.

It is the tenant's responsibility to keep a fresh battery in that fire alarm or face a $50 fine.

HOW TO CHANGE THE 9-VOLT BATTERY (watch the video)
DO NOT ROATE THE ACTUAL FIRE ALARM, because that will unnecessarily take it of the wall. LOCATE the little arm poking out on the side of the alarm. IT SWIVELS OPEN, that's the battery compartment. Simply pull the 9 volt battery out and replace it with a new one.
WHEN TAKING OUT THE OLD BATTERY, PLEASE REMEMBER the direction of the two connectors on the battery AND INSERT the new battery in the same way. No wires to disconnect and reconnect, just drop it in.

Kitchen Upgrade Ideas

Under Cabinet Hooks

In the photo, there are two types of under cabinet hooks used. One has a screw type head and the other is a stick-on pad with a drop-down hook.

Water Purifier

Available at most local department stores and major online stores, water purifiers are a popular upgrade option for the kitchen faucet. Most are simple and non-destructive to attach. This one only took about 20 minutes of reading and work time.

Turn 1/2 the Range Top into a Dish Drying Area

Let's be honest, some of our apartments have very small kitchens with hardly any counter space. One tenant took 1/2 their burners out (2 of the 4), which left plenty to still cook with, and put a silicon dish drying mat in its place. The Silicon mat is high heat resistant, so being next to the 2 remaining burners AND placing a hot pot on it is perfectly safe. The Silicon Dish Drying Mat was bough off of Amazon.

Underneath the Silicon Drying Mat, the tenant wrapped the burner drop bowls in plastic wrap, then place two saucers to help fill the empty holes.

Shower Upgrade Ideas

Shower Thingies

Simple and non-destructive (using no screws or nails) modifications in the shower are great ways to make your experience better. The photo shows a shower hook and soap holder that are attached using non-permanent adhesive pads.

All the items seen were bought off Amazon.

Sealing Windows for Tropical Storms

Tenants in the 6-story building we have noticed slight flooding inside during tropical storms and hurricanes. While, this building is the oldest on the property and also has older windows, those is the other buildings should check the quality of their window seals.

ADD WEATHER STRIPPING TO WINDOWS. While a mop and a bucket solves this, adding thin weather-stripping to the windows also solves this too. Use a 'silicon' or 'rubber' type, not foam. Door/Window Weather stripping is available at most local and online stores.

Hurricane Season runs June through November.

Changing Light Switch Wall Plates

They take less than 5 minutes to replace and make a very noticable difference. I don't know about you, but the light switch wall plates get a lot of use and the ones that come with the apartment are sometimes already well worn (dirty) and often have a bit of paint on them.

Almond color plates are easily and cheaply purchased locally and online. Sometimes you can go a few dollars more for a specialty ones too.