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Welcome to American Residential! Weíre excited
youíve decided to call us home. And, weíre excited to talk about what it
means to live in an American Residential community!
As one of the largest operators of manufactured housing communities in the country, our goal
is to provide affordable home ownership and home rental opportunities to our valued residents.
What makes living with us so unique? Of course, our communities are conveniently located near
major metropolitan areas, highways, restaurants, shopping centers and local schools. And, youíll
often find desirable amenities like playgrounds, swimming pools and clubhouses.
But more than that, our employees focus on building inviting neighborhoodsóand creating
lasting relationships with and among our residents. Our†communities have opportunities to connect
with your neighbors through resident activities and holiday events. Ask your community manager
for more details.
Life at an American Residential community is all about just that: community! Itís about
coming together, living as neighbors and creating a better place to live for you, our residents.
As our team member reviews your paperwork today, youíll learn about your communityís
specific amenities, activities and features.
Together, after this video, youíll also review the lease agreement and community guidelines,
many of which weíll cover in this video.
If you have questions, concerns or just want to learn more, please just go ahead and askóweíre
here to help!
We've put together a set of community guidelines to help all residents make the most of their
experience at American Residential. While we ask our residents to follow the guidelines,
we also hold ourselves to the same standards.
Please remember that rent is due on the first day of each month. While we canít accept
cash, you can make a check or money order payable to the community.
Simply drop the payment off in your community office during business hours or in the drop
box after hours.
Need an even easier way to pay? Sign up for an electronic funds transferówith your permission,
your rent will be withdrawn from your established checking or savings account each month. That
means less work for you and a guaranteed on-time payment! If you prefer not to have the funds
withdrawn automatically, you can still use the online system to make individual payments
at your convenience.
And, as long as your paymentís on time every month, you wonít be charged late fees. Thanks
in advance for your timeliness and prompt payment!
Have you thought about homeownerís or renterís insurance? We highly recommend that you invest
in this valuable protection, and it is a requirement under your lease. If you are renting your
home from us, American Residentialís insurance policy only covers the structure of the home,
so in the event of property loss, your possessions wonít be covered. If you own your home, neither
your home nor your belongings will be insured unless you purchase homeownerís insurance.
There are plenty of companies that offer affordable policiesóby having your own insurance, you
can protect your home and belongings and enjoy peace of mind.
We realize you may have family or friends staying with you from time to timeóand we
want to welcome them into the community! Before any unauthorized occupants move in, we ask
that you let your community manager or team member know.
Youíll be asked to fill out paperwork that allows us to authorize their stay. The process
is quick and simple, but important, so that we can maintain the safety and well being
of all of our residents.
Letís take a minute to talk about home maintenance. Our residents and employees pride themselves
on great-looking homes and well-maintained grounds.
With that in mind, we have a few guidelines that help us all keep the community looking
beautiful!
Patio and lawn furniture are perfect for outdoor lounging; we encourage you to have your own,
but ask that all other furniture, boxes, appliances, lawn and exercise equipment and storage items
are kept inside your home or storage shed, if you have one.
If youíre interested in using a propane tank for home heating or the construction or installation
of any type of fence on the lot, please talk with your community manager first.
Like to hang-dry your laundry? Feel free to do so on an umbrella-type clothesline or standard
folding drying racks. Other types of clotheslines are prohibited, for reasons of safety and
appearance.
Your yard is yours to maintain, and we love when residents landscape around their homes.
Before doing so, though, youíll need to get approval from your community manager.
Keep in mind, too, that we all have to work to get rid of weeds, keep the lawn cut and
pick up garbage. If for any reason youíre having trouble staying on top of these responsibilities,
please talk with your community manager.
Now, when youíre not busy working, taking care of family and just keeping up with life,
you might want to kick back and relax.
For communities that have a clubhouse as part of the amenity package, you can make arrangements
with your community manager to reserve it for family parties, gatherings and other social
events. A deposit is required up front, but that will be returned as long as the clubhouse
is left in the same condition as before you rented it.
Many of our communities also feature a sparkling swimming pool! On a warm day or a long weekend,
thereís just no better way to relax. While each community has specific rules and hours
posted at the pool, we ask a few general things from all residents to help keep the pool clean,
operating and fun for everyone.
Guests are allowed to visit the pool but in limited quantitiesóand, they must be accompanied
by an adult resident at all times. Please check guests in at the community office prior
to visiting the pool.
Summerís cute shorts and sundresses are great to wear to the pool, just not in the pool.
We ask that you always wear proper swim attire, like one-piece suits, bikinis, swim trunks,
board shorts and the like.
Other clothing can wreak havoc on the chemicals, resulting in temporary closure of the pool
for repairs. Similarly, babies and toddlers must wear swim diapers and may not enter the
pool in traditional diapers.
Feel free to bring non-alcoholic beverages to the pool, along with plastic cups. Since
glass bottles and cups are breakable, they should be left at home. Alcohol and smoking
are never allowed in any of the pool areas.
Whether or not there is lifeguard on duty, you swim at your own risk. Never engage in
running, horseplay or divingóthe pool is just not deep enough!
Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Kids 14 or older can come to the pool
on their own, but if they bring friends, it must be with a parent.
The same goes with the playground: children under 14 will love running around the play
areas, but just need to have an adult supervisor. That way, all of our kids stay safe while
they play.
Speaking of kids, theyíre an active part of our community! After school, during breaks
and on the weekends, please make sure they have activities to keep them busy so theyíre
not left unsupervised.
Feel free to talk to your community manager about childrenís activities, too. Many of
our residents help organize events, tutoring sessions or other fun forms of involvement
for our children.
Have a special furry friend? Thinking of getting one? Each pet that you have needs to be registered
with your communityís office and properly licensed by the city.
While we welcome many types of household pets, we do have to restrict more dangerous breeds,
including, but not limited to: Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds, Pit Bulls and a few others.
Check with your community team member about other breed restrictions or if you have questions
about your own pet.
When pets are out and about, they need to always be leashed, with the leash being held
by an adult owner.
Though it might be tempting to tie pets up outside your house, please refrain from doing
so. Often, they can get so excited, they create a noise disturbance for neighbors, get all
tangled up or work themselves loose.
Finally, when walking your pet, stay within the designated walking areas, should your
community have them. And, for the enjoyment of everyone and the maintenance of our property,
please immediately pick up and properly dispose of all animal waste.
VEHICLE CONTROL
When you take a walk around our communities, youíll notice families out and about, friends
walking and kids playing. Thatís why we have speed limits posted throughout all communitiesótake
care to follow these, look out for children and always give way to bikers, golf carts
and pedestrians.
Most residents can have two vehicles at their home. Be sure to park cars in the driveway
when off-street parking is available and never on the lawn or other unauthorized areas in
the community.
Guests are welcome to park in designated guest parking areas or on the street, as long as
the visit lasts less than 5 hours.
At-home car maintenance is limited to a quick 30-minute tire change in the community. Any
cars left on blocks or jacked up beyond that time could be towed at the ownerís expense.
Have an RV, boat or other large vehicle? Many of our communities offer a designated storage
area for these items for a small fee. Please ask your community manager about the facilities
available at your community.
Of course, if you need to unload items from your RV or transfer furniture from a bigger
truck, the vehicle can be parked at your home but must be moved for overnight storage.
Trash: nobody likes it, but we all have to deal with it! And weekly curbside pick-up
makes it a little easier. Simply take your trash bins to your curb after 6 p.m. the night
before pick up. Then, bring the empty bins back in by the next evening. After all, no
one likes to drive around a community with trash bins lining the road!
In between trash pick-ups, make sure to keep bins out of sight from the street and make
sure your garbage is bagged. Put yard trimmings, including bundled limbs no longer than 3 feet,
in separate bags, and always break down cardboard boxes.
For the comfort of all of our residents, all
communities observe quiet time between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Make sure to turn down music
and take any gatherings inside. Your night doesnít need to stop at 10óit just needs
to quiet down!
If youíre renting a home from us, you can
rest easy knowing the quality of your home is protected through our quarterly maintenance
inspection program. This program gives us the opportunity to visit with our residents
and make sure that smoke alarms are working, air filters are clean, and key systems such
as plumbing and electric are in order.
In the event that repairs are needed, know that theyíll be scheduled and completed as
quickly as possible.
If you have a maintenance need at any time during the course of your lease, simply submit
your written request to the community manager. Weíll keep you informed about repairs every
step of the way.
In the case of an after-hours emergency, like an electrical outage or flooding, please contact
the communityís 24/7 emergency hotline and one of our helpful team members will return
your call every day of the year, no matter what time you call. This number is included
in the documentation you will receive today.
After you receive your paperwork today, you and a community team member will walk through
your home with a move-in inspection sheet. Your residence should be in great shape, but
make sure to record any problems, bumps, bruises or blemishes that you notice.
In the event that you move out in the futureóand we never want you to!óthis inspection sheet
will serve as a record of the move-in condition of the home. In order to ensure the full return
of your security deposit, your home needs to be in the same great shape it was when
you moved in.
If you do decide to move in the future, we just ask for 30-days written notice. Our staff
can offer suggestions about how best to leave your home in great shape, but here are a few
things to keep in mind:
Clean all surfaces, floors, bathrooms and appliances thoroughly, making sure to get
rid of all dirt or grime. Remove all trash, furniture and other belongings, even the items
you might not need anymore. And, leave your home in the condition that you would want
to move into: sparkling, fresh and clean!
Once you move out, a community team member will go through your home with the inspection
sheet. If the home passes inspection, youíll receive a refund of the security deposit,
less any utilities or other amounts that might be due.
We understand that circumstances change in life. And should the time ever come when you
need to relocate from our community, weíll be here to help. Our SoldSmart resale brokerage
program is available to assist you in selling your home should you choose to do so.
Please keep in mind that if you sign a supplemental agreement in consideration for a discount
on your home or other value that American Residential provides you when you move into
or during your stay at our community, you must obtain our consent before selling your
home or removing it from the community during the supplemental period, or you will owe us
for the value you received.
At the end of this video, your community team member will go through your lease, the terms
of your agreement and detail any fees that could be incurred along the way.
Youíll also receive a copy of the community guidelines, some of which we touched on in
this video. The guidelines are American Residentialís way of ensuring that our communities remain
places our residents are proud to call home!
Weíll include a few addendums, as well as a community information sheet with important
emergency, utility and phone company contacts. Be sure to have the utilities transferred
to your name within three days of moving in.
Lastly, if you love living here, please tell people about us! We welcomeóand valueóyour
referrals, whether itís a new renter or homeowner. And, as a resident, youíre eligible for a
bonus through our referral program. Ask your community manager for complete details.
We realize youíve received a lot of information today, so as you move in and start your life
at American Residential, feel free to call us or stop in the office to ask questions
whenever you have them.
Weíre here to help and are so excited to count you among our valued neighbors! Welcome
home!