The post Winter Steps To Help Your Spring Garden appeared first on Other CMS.

Get in the Habit: It’s no secret that people develop expertise through repetition — if you want to play the guitar well, you’re going to have to practice a lot. It can be helpful to set aside a specific time in your day for your hobby, which will help you enhance your skills, consistently reap important health and social-emotional benefits and reduce the chances you will drop the pastime. If you want to develop a hobby, the more consistent you are with it, the longer you will stick to it.

Partner Up: Strength in numbers is a powerful thing. Try finding someone else who wants to purse the same passion as you. Alternatively, you may want an accountability partner that you meet with regularly. Knowing you will have to talk about your progress and take responsibility is motivating.

Have Fun: Make sure you enjoy what you’re doing, at least most of the time. You need to be excited about the activity and not dread it. One thing to ask yourself is whether this activity is something you are legitimately interested in or whether it’s something you feel like you should do because of other people. Remember, this is about doing what you really love. Be sure to pursue your own passion and not someone else’s.

Reconnection: There are going to be days where you just don’t feel up to doing anything with your hobby, but you must fight that impulse. Think about the end goal or even how pursuing the hobby will be able to help you. It will remind you that what you’re doing is important.

The post Tips For Starting — And Sticking With — A New Hobby appeared first on Other CMS.

Spring brings with it the year’s prime wedding season, as brides not just in June but across the next six months take advantage of warm weather and abundant sunshine to plan ceremonies they and their betrotheds will remember and celebrate for the rest of their lives. Suffice it to say, hundreds of details and decision go into making that wedding day vision a reality.

The happy couple’s parents have a role to play in that process but what shape that takes depends greatly on factors ranging from economic necessity to the type of ceremony the couple prefers. As a parent, you want to do all you can to help; that said, you must be very careful not to overstep your bounds. With love in the air and weddings in preparation this spring, here are a few dos and don’ts for the parents of the bride and groom.

Talk It Over: As a parent, you are a generation older than the couple and as such might have outdated notions of what a 21st century wedding should look like. It is imperative to sit down early in the process and frankly discuss the matter with the engaged couple. Remember that weddings are a show of independence and are in no way a reflection of your parenting skills. Be careful not to meddle.

No Unsolicited Advice: Weddings are nostalgic occasions for parents, an opportunity to reflect fondly on their own nuptials of years past. But as parents, it’s important to keep in mind this is ultimately the couple’s day, not yours. Make it clear that you want to be a resource for the couple but keep your advice to yourself until they ask for your input.

Meet the In-Laws: Marriages extend your family ties so reach out to your child’s partner’s parents after their engagement to relish in the excitement. Traditionally, the groom’s mother reaches out to the bride’s mother but nowadays the order doesn’t matter. The important thing is to get in touch in the spirit of friendship and family.

Elbow Grease: The DIY wedding trend is on the rise because it allows for maximum creativity at minimum cost. The downside, however, is that it requires family members to pitch in more than usual. Be proactive by volunteering to tackle the most difficult tasks at hand. Also enlist the help of able-bodied family members and friends; you’ll be surprised how willingly they are to help out.

Circulate: Wedding receptions simply do not enable the couple to spend as much time with their guests as they’d like. The solution is for the parents to work the room and make guests feel welcome through conversation. Sincere wedding-reception small talk is better than no talk at all.Practice Makes Perfect: Not everyone is a gifted spontaneous speaker so if you want to make an impactful reception speech, write it down and rehearse it. Not only does this show love and support for the couple but it will empower you to speak clearly and effectively from the heart.

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At Harmony Communities, we feel strongly that each resident has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and singles know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community, making our communities not just passable, but peaceful, safe, functional, and beautiful.

The post Wedding Etiquette: 10 Things You Should Do as Parents of the Couple appeared first on Other CMS.

Limitations: Even communities that welcome pets might have specific limitations regarding types, breeds, size and number of animals. Again, to ensure you are accessing the latest information regarding these regulations, a phone call is warranted.

Licensed and Tagged: Some communities might not require you to make sure your pet is fully licensed, tagged and vaccinated but as the owner you should want to do this anyway. It’s a small step you can take to help bolster the community’s sense of security plus it will be extremely useful if you pet should wander off and get lost.

Keep Them on Leash: Suffice it to say, if you live in a pet-friendly community, it is always good practice to keep your dog or cat restrained and safe. Most manufactured homes lack standard fences between lots and this can become problematic if your pet develops a habit of going AWOL. Leash training is a must for pets, since it keeps them calm and relaxed around other people while also preventing them from escaping or losing their way home.

Spay or Neuter: As any animal control officer can tell you, each spring brings a new wave of stray puppies and kittens with no home and few prospects. Spaying and neutering your pets at the appropriate age is both responsible citizenship and a way to assure the successful co-existence of your pets and human friends. Remember to check community policies regarding spaying and neutering.

Don’t Leave Them Unattended: You may love your pets but others might find them a nuisance, particularly if they are prone to barking at neighbors or tearing up flower beds. And then there’s the fact that many people are allergic to cat dander. You get the idea —  giving your pets free roam of the community is one sure way to antagonize your neighbors. The answer is to know where your pet is at all times. Also be aware that some communities require a pet deposit as insurance against accidental damages brought about by your four-legged friend.

At Harmony Communities, we feel strongly that each resident has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and singles know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community, making our communities not just passable, but peaceful, safe, functional, and beautiful.

The post It’s Not Necessarily A Dog’s (or Cat’s) Life in a Manufactured Home Community appeared first on Other CMS.

Tell me about your journey with the company. What led you to work for Harmony Communities and how long have you worked there?

I have always had a passion for helping people. I initially went to school to become a nurse but quickly realized it wasn’t for me. I took a job with a real estate brokerage in Sacramento and fell in love with the industry. Three years later, I started working for Matt and his father, Bruce, at Partners Real Estate as their assistant and handling all of Partners’ short sales.

When Matthew (Davies) asked me to come over to Harmony Communities, I initially said no because I disliked property management – or so I thought. I’ve ended up making a home for myself and am having more fun here than I ever expected.

How has Harmony Communities grown since?

We went from eleven parks, three office employees with a construction staff of one to forty parks (and growing!), and nearly sixty people on our payroll, including four entire construction crews! We’ve just hired someone to organize our contracting staff.

As we’ve grown, we’ve initiated lots of new processes to make managing a portfolio of this size, well, manageable. We’ve also adopted a comprehensive property management software program that handles all the financials, rent collection, payment for our vendors, and even payroll in one place. It’s a huge timesaver!

Tell me about Harmony’s residents. Describe a typical household, or several households. How many people in the family, for example? Where do they work?

It varies by park. Residents who choose our parks that are located in the city, such as Bayshore Commons (San Leandro), are looking for a more affordable housing option that is close to work and cheaper than an apartment.

Shady Lakes (Fresno) residents are primarily farm and field workers. Forest Pines, located in the middle of the forest in Pine Grove, California, is home to many empty nesters and single adults. The majority of residents in Westward-ho (Ceres) are retirees. Santa Fe in Huntington Park – an industrial area – has a lot of factory workers.

Describe a typical day.

I never have the same day, ever. My days can be spent doing everything from responding to a city petition to filing new LLCs to training new employees.

I coordinate and oversee rent and utility fee collection with the community managers. I also work closely with the onsite property managers to help them set payment plans for late rent payments, manage park inventory, review their listings and sales, make sure they’re properly advertised for RVs, and so on.

What is most rewarding for you about working for Harmony?

I like helping Matthew and my property managers. It’s extremely fulfilling to be the person that everybody can rely on.

You said earlier that you thought you disliked property management, but you soon found out differently. What made you love it?

I didn’t realize how different every day was going to be. With real estate, every day was very much the same and I felt like I had learned everything that I needed to learn and could learn.

Now, I’m learning every single day. After realizing I would benefit from learning how to read the financials, I went to school, took accounting classes, and got a business degree. I’ve just recently received permission to take a course and learn to code my own reports.

I like to learn and that’s what I get at Harmony.

What is most difficult/challenging about it?

I don’t love some of the reporting I have to do, such as entering the meter readings into a spreadsheet. That’s not because it’s challenging; it’s just repetitive and tedious.

Some of the reporting is fun. Once a year, I create a Consumer Confidence Report, or CCR, for some of our parks which involves taking data from water systems and creating a report that we file with the city. The first year I did that, it was a challenge. Now that I have learned the process, it’s fun.

What do you enjoy doing for fun?

I play tennis 5 days a week, nearly every evening. I also take off Friday mornings and play during the day. Before Covid, I enjoyed traveling with my husband Eric – we love to experience new adventures together. We’re looking forward to traveling again soon. I have a dog – Special Agent Gibbs – that I love more than life itself.

Where do you see Harmony Communities in the future?

I’ve been here nearly ten years and I can’t imagine where we will be in another ten! If we went from eleven parks to thirty-eight parks in eight years – and probably twenty-five of those closed in the last four years – how much bigger can we get in the next ten? It’s crazy to consider and pretty incredible what we’re doing.

We’re going to outgrow this office and be two stories full of employees to keep up with the growth that’s happening at Harmony Communities. We’ve hired a lot of really good, smart people and I got my first assistant!

All in all, I see us continuing to grow and expand. Matthew’s not going to stop until he’s ready and I don’t see that happening any time soon.

The post A Passion for Helping People: a Q&A with Harmony Communities Operations Manager, Sherrie Johnston appeared first on Other CMS.

1. What are the requirements for bringing a home into the park?

Some parks have requirements about the outside appearance of homes in their community, including:

• Hardboard skirting;
• Decks on the front and/or back of the home;
• Age specifications of the home;
• Exterior material; and/or
• Window placement.

If these add-ons are required, find out the timeline for completing the work, which typically ranges from one to four months.

2. Are exterior modifications allowed?

If you plan to paint the exterior of your home or add a deck or other structure, you will likely need to get permission from the property manager first and even (in the case of an addition) need to present permits.

3. How do I pay my rent?

Online payment portals are becoming increasingly common and are a convenient way to ensure you don’t miss a month’s rent!

4. What is included in the rent and what additional fees are required?

Lot rent typically includes water/sewage, garbage collection, and upkeep of common areas. Cable television, internet, and other utilities may also be included. Be sure to request an itemized list from the community manager.

5. Who takes care of the hook ups?

You’ll want to arrange for electric, water, and sewage connections in advance so that you have these necessities in place come move-in day. Be sure to ask whether there are any permits you need to take care of in order to get your water and electricity turned on.

6. What are the park rules?

Does the park have any age restrictions (i.e., are children allowed)? Does the park allow short-term rentals? Even if you are planning to stay for good, you might want to know whether to anticipate an influx of weekend guests on the property. Make sure the park rules fit with your lifestyle. It also helps to know upfront about rules that can lead to fines or even evictions.

7. Are pets allowed?

Certain breeds and sizes may not be welcome in the park. If you’re a pet owner, you may also wish to ask park residents how friendly the park is towards pets. On the other hand, if you don’t own have any four-legged family members of your own, you might want to know about the park’s rules related to leash requirements and cleanup of pet waste.

8. How do you handle security deposits and refunds?

As with apartments and other rentals, property managers may require a security deposit, which he or she will hold until your lease expires. These funds are used for repairing any property damages that might have occurred during your stay and any leftover funds should be returned to you. Make certain that you understand the requirements for your refund.

9. How often does rent increase and how are tenants notified?

Notification requirements vary from state to state and some parks do not allow rent increases to affect current residents until it’s time to renew the lease. If you intend to stay in the park long-term, you may be able to sign a longer contract that locks in a lower monthly rate for a certain length of time.

10. What happens if I need to move out before my lease ends?

Job changes and family emergencies happen, so it’s good to know in advance what will happen if you must break your lease.

When deciding where to take up residence, advance planning is key. Asking these questions will help you find the community that is the best fit for you.

Additional resources:

Eight questions to ask before renting an RV space 

Frequently Asked Questions for Harmony Community Residents

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At Harmony Communities, we feel strongly that each resident has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and singles know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community, making our communities not just passable, but peaceful, safe, functional, and beautiful.

The post Ten Questions to Ask When Choosing a Manufactured Housing Community appeared first on Other CMS.

On the coast of Oregon in a town called Lincoln Beach sits the stunning beachside community known as Holiday Hills. From her home inside the community, Holiday Hills’ Community Manager Katy Eckman can watch whales, pelicans, baby seals, and more on the harbor, Depoe Bay. Baby sand dollars wash up on their beach. “It’s the most amazing place to live,” Eckman says. “When the tides are high, the waves will crash against the sea wall and over Highway 101 in Depoe Bay. The view is breath-taking.”

Located two-and-a-half hours from Portland, Lincoln Beach draws 10,000 visitors in the winter months and 30,000-40,000 visitors during the summer. “It’s definitely a tourist town,” says Eckman. “We can watch the Coast Guard practice their drills. Storm watching is amazing. People visit Depoe Bay to go deep-sea fishing, crabbing, or take a boat out to see the whales up close.”

She offers this word of warning for first-time whale-watchers who venture out to view these magnificent species by boat: “When they greet you, they stink!”

Holiday Hills: A History

Although Harmony Communities has only owned Holiday Hills since 2018, the park and many of its residents have lived there for far longer – some for twenty years or longer. Holiday Hills was first established by the Bodeker family in 1960, and at that time was primarily used for tent camping. Over the years, visitors began bringing camper trailers. When the park was passed to the next generation, Andy Bodeker’s daughter introduced RVs and mobile homes.

Andy Bodeker’s grandson took over the park in 2017 and though it had been his dream to own and operate the park, health reasons prohibited him from continuing to do so. He maintained ownership for one year before selling the park to Harmony Communities.

Community Improvements

Upon acquiring Holiday Hills, Harmony Communities quickly went to work making needed improvements. “They put new water lines in,” says Eckman. “And since the ground was already dug up for the water lines, they had our cable and power lines placed underground as well. Now there are no more wires all over the park.”

Holiday Hills, which receives rain as much as 300 days out of the year, had loose rock roads, so Harmony Communities paved the park’s roadways and installed driveway pads for all its residents as well.

“Harmony has done amazing things to the park,” Eckman says. “Everything they’ve done has improved our community.”

Full-time resident Cathy Richway-Roberts adds, “I feel very secure and safe here, and that’s important to me.” Originally from southern California, Richway-Roberts moved to Holiday Hills from Idaho two years ago. “I can’t think of a better place to live,” she says. “It feels like a little community, my home, and where I’m supposed to be.”

A Community That Looks Out for One Another

As in much of the country and world, 2020 brought its share of difficulties to the residents of Holiday Hills, not only with the Covid-19 pandemic but with the wildfires as well. The property was thankfully spared from any damage from the wildfires, which impacted areas about 15-20 miles away. Still, “we all pulled together,” Eckman says. “When we woke up, it was pitch red and hard to breathe. We were all ready to help each other.

That sense of community helped set the stage for what was to come when the Covid-19 pandemic hit. Although community-wide events have come to a halt for now – events like the annual potlucks Holiday Hills typically holds each summer were canceled in order to comply with guidelines concerning gatherings with people outside the home – people in the community still look out for one another. “It’s a family here,” says Eckman. “If someone is in trouble, we’re right there with meals and rides and whatever they need.”

The People Who Call Holiday Hills Home

An “eclectic group” of residents call Holiday Hills home, Eckman says, including many retirees and several families as well. Those who do work do so at one of the many hospitality jobs in the area, including the local gift shops and a nearby casino. During the winter, it’s difficult to find jobs, Eckman says.

Of the 94 spaces in the park, 83 are occupied and one-third of those by residents who consider their property in Holiday Hills a vacation home. Approximately 10-15 spaces are occupied by RVs, while the remaining spaces have double- or even triple-wide mobile homes. Holiday Hills doesn’t accept overnight guests, instead offering only month-to-month leases. “We don’t have a high turnover,” Eckman says.

A Typical Day for an Anything-But-Typical Community Manager

On a typical day, Katy Eckman begins her morning with a walk around the park to check for downed tree limbs. “It gets windy here,” she explains. Then she responds to her emails or gets a space ready to show as needed.

Mostly, she’s there for her residents and they know that well.

“During open deck time last summer, one of the residents gave Katy a crown,” recalls Richway-Roberts. “She’s very caring and if there’s something she can do to make the park a better place, she’s all over it. She’s taken people to doctor visits, has gone to their homes in the middle of the night. She’s our go-to girl.”

“I love my job,” Eckman says. “I am the perfect manager for this park because my heart and soul is in this park. No matter what kind of day you’re having, when you look through the window and see the ocean or go for a walk, it makes everything better.”

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At Harmony Communities, we feel strongly that each resident has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and singles know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community, making our communities not just passable, but peaceful, safe, functional, and beautiful.

The post Harmony Speaks: A Conversation with Holiday Hills’ Community Manager, Katy Eckman appeared first on Other CMS.

Most acquisitions require improvements – sometimes substantial – to improve both aesthetics and tenant safety. In an article for Multi-Housing News, Harmony Communities founder Matthew Davies discusses best practices for making necessary improvements to such properties without financially overburdening the residents.

The post Harmony Communities Founder Matthew Davies Shares the Ins and Outs of Acquiring and Operating Manufacturing Housing Communities With Multi-Housing News appeared first on Other CMS.

“This was a trailer park when Harmony bought it. Now they are turning it into a tiny home park,” says John – known as Johnny to his friends. “When they’re finished, it will be a community in every sense of the word.”

Bayshore Commons offers forty home lots – or spaces – and is slowly filling those spaces with new tiny homes. Currently, they have 21 tiny home units installed and eight of those are for sale.

Little House, Big Appeal.

What makes them appealing, Johnny says, is “they’re brand spanking new.” Many of the homes have a second floor loft, which appeals to many buyers. The homes have modern kitchen appliances, including mini stainless steel dishwashers, double door stainless steel refrigerators, and a stainless steel four-burner stove.

“The main office calls them ‘tiny homes,’ but I think they’re bigger,” says Johnny. “They feel like cottages.”

Community Improvements

“One of Harmony’s main priorities is cleanliness, keeping the park clean and safe,” Johnny explains. Since purchasing the property, Harmony made many improvements, including the installation of cameras and lights. “It feels nice, safe, and peaceful,” says Johnny.

Harmony Communities has plans to install an area for overflow parking and, upon acquisition, gave the community a makeover with a fresh coat of paint. “There used to be yellow homes everywhere. Now, there are different colors,” Johnny explains. “It’s bright and cheerful.”

The People Who Call Bayshore Commons ‘Home’

Residents of this growing community include a mix of working people and retirees. They enjoy proximity to shopping, restaurants, and Lake Chabot, which offers fishing, swimming, and twelve miles of hiking/biking trails.

A Manager Who Cares

Johnny is committed to maintaining a clean community and to serving both current and future residents by taking his time to assist them. He performs smaller, lightweight repairs as well as weeding and gardening, and says Harmony has a maintenance crew for bigger repairs. He also enjoys taking the time to show future residents the homes and apartments for rent. “I’m a friendly person,” he says. “I like talking with people.”

Bayshore Commons also has an apartment complex inside the park which includes eleven apartment units. “I grew up in apartments,” Johnny says. “I had a few landlords that were mean. I didn’t want to be like that. I wanted to be nice, friendly, understanding, and respectful.”  

And that he is, affirms Harmony Community’s Manager Sherrie Johnston. “John cares so much,” says Sherrie. “He goes above and beyond in everything he does.”

To learn more about Bayshore Commons or to arrange for a tour of one of the homes for sale, contact Harmony Community’s office at (209) 932-8747 or email info@harmonycom.com.

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At Harmony Communities, we feel strongly that each resident has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and singles know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community, making our communities not just passable, but peaceful, safe, functional, and beautiful.

The post Harmony Speaks: A Conversation with Bayshore Commons’ Community Manager, John Medieros appeared first on Other CMS.

At Harmony Communities, we want to do everything in our power to keep our residents safe. This includes employing professional groundskeepers to maintain landscaping and mitigate the risk of fires spreading, as well as providing our residents with information to help them prepare for and reduce their risk of damage to their home from fires and other emergencies. For a list of home maintenance steps you can take to prepare for a natural disaster, click here.

In addition to preparing your home and property, there are several steps residents can take to prepare their families in case an evacuation is required.

Three Steps to Prepare for an Emergency Evacuation:

1. Sign up for alerts through your local municipality and download local news/weather apps to your phone to receive notifications.

Your local electric company likely maintains contact lists in case they need to notify residents of power shut-offs. Contact them to ensure your mobile phone number and email address are up to date. In addition, your county may offer public alert systems via text, phone call, or email. Visit your local county government’s website to sign up for these alerts.

Many local news and weather apps also feature alert systems that can notify you when severe weather is anticipated near your home and/or your last known location. Be sure your notification settings are turned on so that you receive these alerts.

2. Have an escape plan for your family.

Make sure your family knows how to safely evacuate the home in case of an emergency and establish a place where you will reunite. Keep in mind that in emergency situations, cell towers can be overloaded so you can’t always depend on this method of communication.

3. Prepare an emergency supply kit.

If you do have to evacuate quickly, an emergency supply kit will include the necessary supplies to help keep your family safe. An emergency supply kit should include items like a flashlight and batteries, a first aid kit, nonperishable food, medications, and more. For a complete list of what you should include in your emergency supply kit, download our free printable.

Safety is paramount at Harmony Communities. In addition to supplying adequate lighting, improving roads, and maintaining landscaping to improve the safety of our communities. we have an emergency phone that is answered 24 hours a day. If any resident needs assistance, please contact (209) 670-6264.

Finally, the importance of homeowners’ insurance can’t be overstated, as it can provide coverage for your home and property in the event it is damaged or destroyed. You can find additional information on homeowners insurance for mobile homes in California here.

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At Harmony Communities, we feel strongly that each resident has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and singles know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community, making our communities not just passable, but peaceful, safe, functional, and beautiful.

The post Preparing for an Emergency: Keeping Your Family Safe During Wildfires and Other Natural Disasters appeared first on Other CMS.