Keys to Comfort: Navigating the Rental Journey with Hope Property Investments

Unprecedented Heat Wave Summer 2025: Summer Prep Do’s and Don’ts

by Hope Property Investments on 06/26/25

Your AC Isn’t Lazy, It’s Just Overworked
by Hope Property Investments

Let’s cut straight to it:
Is it hot in your house during the day right now?
Yeah, probably.

We’ve had over 35 AC calls this week alone—and we get it. You’re uncomfortable, frustrated, maybe even questioning your life choices (or at least your thermostat settings). But here’s the hard truth that no one really wants to hear:

If it’s 100 degrees outside and your house is sitting around 78 to 80 inside…
That AC is working.

We know that’s not what you want us to say. But that’s HVAC reality in Georgia when the heat index goes full scorched-earth mode.

So, instead of sweating it out in frustration, let’s talk Summer Prep Do’s and Don’ts—practical tips to make your home more comfortable without breaking your system (or your bank account).

DO: Use a Fan in Every Room

Fans don’t cool the air, but they cool you.
Moving air helps sweat evaporate faster, which makes your skin feel cooler—even if the room temperature hasn’t changed.

Bonus tip: Ceiling fans should rotate clockwise in summer to push heat up and away.

DON’T: Expect Arctic Temps (or even chilly ones) at High Noon

Your AC is not a miracle worker. Most systems can only cool your home about 20 degrees below the outdoor temperature.
So if it’s 100 outside, 78 inside is actually a win.
Trying to set it at 68? That’s a quick way to freeze your system, raise your power bill, and possibly end up with a completely shut-down unit.

DO: Set Your AC Smartly

We recommend:

During the day: Set your thermostat at 78 degrees (or 76 if your system can handle it)
After sunset: Adjust to a cooler setting for comfort

Your system runs more efficiently at night, and you’ll get better results once the sun goes down.

DON’T: Bake Cookies at 3PM

Running your oven, stove, or dryer during peak heat hours only adds to the indoor heat load.
Try to use heat-producing appliances after 8PM.
Avoid anything that makes your AC’s job harder than it already is.

DO: Cover the Windows

Natural light looks nice, but it brings a lot of heat with it.
Close your blinds, curtains, or shades—especially on the sunny sides of your home.
Blackout curtains work best, but even basic coverings help.

DON’T: Block Your Vents

That couch, rug, or laundry basket sitting on top of your vent? Move it.
Blocked airflow means your AC can’t do its job.

Make sure both supply vents (blowing air out) and return vents (pulling air in) are fully clear and unobstructed.

DO: Change Your Filter

We say it often because it matters. A clogged air filter can make your AC freeze up, restrict airflow, and trigger service calls that result in charges to your account.
Change your filter monthly. It’s one of the easiest ways to help your system perform better.

In Summary:

We’re in the middle of an unprecedented heat wave. Your AC system is doing the best it can in brutal conditions. Here’s how you can help:

Use fans in every room
Set the thermostat to 78 during the day
Avoid using the oven, stove, and dryer during peak hours
Keep blinds and curtains closed
Make sure vents are clear
Change your filter

Still having issues? If your unit is frozen or acting strange, turn it off and submit a work order in your AppFolio portal.

We’re here to keep you cool and comfortable—one filter, one fan, and one smart thermostat setting at a time.

—
Hope Property Investments
770-583-8864 | tenant@hopega.com
www.hopega.com

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Why Your Toilet Hates Paper Towels

by Hope Property Investments on 06/26/25

The Plumbing Dos, Don’ts, and Flush Fails of Hope Property Tenants Past

Let’s talk about your toilet.
Not your Pinterest-perfect powder room or your “coastal farmhouse” inspired bathroom décor—no, we’re talking about the real MVP: the pipes, the flush, the sacred system that takes what you send and spirits it away.

Unfortunately, some tenants treat this delicate hero like it’s a garbage disposal with confidence issues.

Spoiler: your toilet hates almost everything you’re tempted to flush.

The Top Offenders:

1. Paper Towels

They look like big, strong toilet paper.
They’re marketed like the helpful cousin of TP.
But flush one and suddenly you’re starring in “Clogged: A Drainpipe Thriller”.

Why Not?
Paper towels are designed to absorb and stay strong, even wet. That’s the opposite of what you want in plumbing. They don’t break down and instead lump together like a high-fiber horror show.

Toilet mood: Betrayed.

2. “Flushable” Wipes (a.k.a. Liars in a Wrapper)

They say “flushable.”
The package shows a happy little swirl.
But real plumbers call them "fatberg fuel."

Truth bomb:
These wipes don’t disintegrate—they just float around your pipes like lost dreams until they merge with grease, hair, and other unmentionables to create a costly clog.

?? Tenant mood: Shocked at a $475 plumbing charge.
?? Your lease says: Don't do it. Your wallet agrees.

3. That Super Cushy Toilet Paper

The one that feels like clouds and costs more than brunch?
Yeah… your toilet hates that too.

Why?
Ultra-thick TP doesn't break down easily. It bunches up, clogs faster, and puts your system under pressure—especially in homes with older pipes or septic systems.

Pro tip: Go single-ply and thank us later.

4. Anything That’s Not Toilet Paper or… You Know

Let’s just list it, because we’ve seen it all:

Cotton balls
Q-tips
Dental floss
Kitty litter
Feminine products
Diapers
Hair (yes, hair?!)

If it didn’t come from your body or say “single-ply toilet paper” on the label, put it in the trash.

Real-Life Flush Fails (Yes, These Happened)

“The Birthday Bash Backup”
Tenant flushed leftover party napkins. Called us when water came up instead of going down. Party was over.

“The Baby Wipe Mystery”
Tenant swore they “only flushed two.”
The plumber pulled out a football-sized clog made of wipes, hair, and sadness. Cost: $575.

“The TP Tower”
Triple-thick toilet paper + never changing the roll = slow drain that led to a septic backup. (Fun fact: septic tanks and thick TP are mortal enemies.)

How to Keep Things Flowing

Use single-ply TP
Never flush wipes, even if they say they’re flushable
Trash everything else
If you’re on a septic system, be even more careful (and cease water use if it backs up!)

Not sure what to do?
When in doubt, email us: tenant@hopega.com
Or just ask yourself: Would this belong in a sewer museum?

In Summary:

If your toilet could talk, it would say:
“Respect the flush.”
Because when it clogs, guess who’s footing the bill?

(Answer: You.)

Be kind to your plumbing, and it will return the favor.

—
Hope Property Investments
We love smooth flushes and happy tenants.
?? 770-583-8864 | ?? tenant@hopega.com | ?? www.hopega.com

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Your AC Isn’t Broken—It’s Just Fighting for Its Life

by Hope Property Investments on 06/17/25

A Hope Property Guide to Surviving Southern Heat Like a Pro

Welcome to the season where the pavement sizzles, your car becomes a sauna, and your air conditioner starts to question its life choices.

We know it’s hot out there — especially in Newnan, Grantville, Hogansville, and all our surrounding Georgia towns. When the heat index hits 100°F or higher, your HVAC unit is officially in survival mode.

Let’s break it down:

Why Is It Still 80°F Inside?

Here’s the science-y but important part:
Most HVAC systems can only cool the air about 20 degrees lower than the outside temperature.

So if it’s 100°F outside, your system is doing its absolute best to get your home to 80°F. If your home hits 80–85°F during peak afternoon heat but cools down at night, that’s actually a sign it’s working properly — just under extreme heat stress.

How to Help Your AC Help You

Here are seven solid tips (backed by real HVAC science and your lease) to keep your home as cool and comfortable as possible:

1. Set Your Thermostat for Sanity, Not Arctic Tundra

Cranking your thermostat to 65°F won’t make it cool faster. It’ll just make your AC run endlessly.
Best Practice:

Keep your thermostat set at a consistent 78°F when home (The Department of Energy recommends homes sit at 78 degrees in the summer for ideal energy-efficiency, but this may be a little too toasty for some. Setting the AC between this temperature and 72 degrees is generally a good balance of comfort and energy efficiency for most users.)
Set it a few degrees higher when you’re away
Trying to drop it below 70°F in extreme heat? You’ll end up with a sky-high power bill and a very tired system (sometimes frozen)

2. Become a Sun-Blocking Ninja

Close your blinds, curtains, shades — whatever you’ve got. Sunlight = heat.
Less sun inside = less work for your AC.

Bonus points if your curtains are blackout or thermal. You don’t need to live in a cave… but we’re not saying don’t try it either.

3. Change That Air Filter. Seriously.

We say it often because it’s that important:
Dirty filters don’t just slow your airflow — they can clog the coil.

And guess what happens when that coil is clogged? Your system freezes up, your AC stops working properly, and you get hit with a repair charge. Yes, even if you run and put a clean filter in right before we arrive — we can tell.

Changing your filter is your responsibility per your lease, and not doing so results in:

Coil damage
Costly repairs
A minimum $100+ HVAC charge added to your account

Pro tip: Change your filter when you pay your rent. Easy to remember, easy on your pocket.

4. Clear the Air (Vents and Returns, Too!)

Make sure:

Vents aren’t blocked by furniture, rugs, or piles of laundry
Return vents (those big ones) are open and breathing

Your AC isn’t psychic — if air can’t flow, it can’t cool. Free the vents.

5. Keep Doors and Windows Closed

We love a breeze as much as the next person… but open doors and windows let in hot, humid air that your system has to fight off like a knight in a very sweaty battle.

Every “just for a second” moment adds up. Stay sealed.

6. Use Fans (aka The AC Sidekicks)

Fans don’t cool the air, but they make you feel cooler by moving air across your skin.

Use ceiling fans (or floor fans) where available or place a room fan strategically in high-use areas. Pro tip: Run your ceiling fan clockwise in summer to pull heat up and away.

7. If Your Unit Is Icing Over… TURN IT OFF

If you spot ice on your outside AC unit, that’s not “extra cooling” — that’s a problem.

Turn it off immediately and put in a work order notating that it is frozen
Let it thaw
Then call us and let us know when it has thawed!

We can’t repair a frozen unit. Give it time to melt before we send a technician.

In Summary: Your AC Is Not a Superhero — But It’s Trying

When the heat hits triple digits, your HVAC system is doing everything it can to keep you comfortable. Help it out by being smart with settings, airflow, and sunlight — and change your filter regularly to avoid expensive problems.

Still concerned?

Submit a work order through your AppFolio portal

We’re here to keep things cool — in every sense of the word.

Stay hydrated, stay shady, and yes... change your filter.

—
Hope Property Investments
tenant@hopega.com | www.hopega.com

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“Grass Is for Growing, Not for Parking”

by Hope Property Investments on 06/17/25

A Sitcom-Worthy Guide to Outdoor Do’s and Don’ts from Hope Property Investments

Meet your new neighbors on Lawnmower Lane:

Jamie – trying their best but… not reading the lease
Chris – friendly next-door neighbor and unofficial HOA of the block
Betty – the account manager who’s seen it all
And one yard that’s about to go from “welcome home” to “what happened here?”

Scene 1: The Driveway Dilemma

Jamie pulls into their new home at 34 Lawnmower Lane and thinks,

“Driveway’s full… no biggie—I’ll just park on the grass.”

Cue angelic thunder and a giant sign flashing:
“$25 A DAY FINE – DO NOT PARK ON THE GRASS.”

Why Not?

It kills the lawn
It damages underground systems
It costs money to fix
And it’s a lease violation

That vehicle is getting towed faster than you can say “I was just unloading groceries!”

Chris from next door leans over the fence, sipping coffee:

“Hope’s got a rule: if it’s green and grows, don’t park on it.”

Scene 2: The Trampoline Tragedy

Jamie sets up a brand-new trampoline for their niece's birthday party.
Kids are bouncing. Laughter fills the air. Until…

The lease says:
"No trampolines allowed. At all. Ever. No exceptions."

Why? Because they’re a massive liability. And a shortcut to court if someone gets hurt. That $100 birthday party could cost you $500 in fines and a lease termination notice.

Chris gives Jamie a look.

Scene 3: The Pool Problem

July heat kicks in. Jamie buys an above-ground pool at the local mega-mart—36 inches of splashy fun. They fill it up, post it on TikTok, and forget the rule...

No above-ground pools over 13 inches high.
Anything more? Must go. Fast.
Even the shallow ones need to be emptied after every use and kept off the grass.

Betty calls:

“Hey Jamie, it’s not a waterpark. Please remove the pool by end of day—or expect a fine and potential lease action.”

Scene 4: Welcome to Trash Mountain

Jamie’s weekend project? Cleaning out the garage.
The result? A front-yard display of:

3 tires
1 busted recliner
A mattress
A mysterious “vintage” treadmill

Big mistake.

Hope Property Investments does not run a landfill.

Tires? $50 per tire removal fee
Furniture? Not allowed in the yard
Mattresses? Please… just don’t

Chris walks by and mutters,

“That’s not ‘curb appeal,’ that’s ‘court date waiting to happen.’”

Scene 5: Lawn of the Living Dread

Jamie lets the grass grow knee-high. The shrubs have become a jungle. There’s even a vine trying to open the front door.

Lease Rule 3.1: You are responsible for yard care.

Mow the lawn
Pull the weeds
Trim the bushes
Keep it tidy

Fail to do so? We’ll hire pros, and you’ll get the bill.

Chris, now holding hedge clippers like a lawn ninja, offers this wisdom:

“If the Amazon rainforest is creeping into your living room, it’s time to mow.”

Final Scene: Redemption Arc

Jamie reads the lease (finally), fixes the yard, ditches the pool, parks in the driveway, and becomes the outdoor MVP of Lawnmower Lane.

Betty sends a cheerful email:

“Great job bringing everything into compliance! Thanks for keeping your home—and our neighborhood—beautiful.”

Moral of the Story

Your lease isn’t just paperwork—it’s the playbook to being a great tenant. When it comes to the outside of your home, here’s your cheat sheet:

Park in the driveway or designated spaces
Never park on grass
Keep lawn, bushes, and flowerbeds neat
No trampolines or tall pools
No tires, appliances, mattresses, or mystery trash piles
Be proud of your yard—and your lease record

Need a refresher on your outdoor rules?
Call us at 770-583-8864 or email tenant@hopega.com
We’re here to help you thrive—not just survive.

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How to Be a Dream Tenant (and Avoid Nightmares!) with Hope Property Investments

by Hope Property Investments on 06/17/25

Let’s set the scene…

Location: 18 Imagination Lane

Characters:

Jamie – new to the neighborhood, first-time renter
Chris – friendly next-door neighbor and low-key lease expert
Betty – the account manager with the clipboard of destiny
The House – a lovely 3-bedroom rental with hardwood floors, a tidy lawn, and lots of potential

Jamie had just moved in and was ready to start their rental journey. They were responsible, excited, and totally unprepared for all the things renters sometimes forget.

Enter Chris, waving from across the driveway:

“You got the welcome email, right? With the lease PDF? Oh buddy… let’s talk about the Do’s and Don'ts before things get wild.”

DO: Pay Your Rent On Time

?amie's Story: Jamie forgot to pay rent until the 7th. That small delay? It cost them a 10% late fee plus a call from Angel reminding them court costs and a $250 attendance fee apply if things escalate.

Reminder: Rent is due on the 1st, late on the 5th, and not paying is serious business. Use your portal at AppFolio and keep those funds ready!

DON'T: Disconnect the Utilities

Jamie thought, “I’m not using the gas stove yet—I'll just wait to set that up.”
Wrong move. The utilities must be transferred into your name within 24 hours or risk a $100 fee, disconnection, and the landlord having to get involved.

Chris chuckled, “You ever tried showering in the dark? Don’t be Jamie. Just call the utility companies.”

DO: Let Us Know If You’re Leaving (Even for a Month)

Jamie’s cousin needed help across the state. Jamie left for 3 weeks with no heads-up. Cue a wellness check, frantic phone calls, and unnecessary worry.

Lease says: Let us know before extended absences, or you might return to a whole lot of confusion.

DON'T: Start a Petting Zoo or Surprise Puppy Rescue

Jamie brought home a surprise foster pit bull, thinking it was “just for the weekend.” Fast forward to a $500 fine and a very awkward visit from Betty.

Pets need prior approval, a $300 deposit, and no pit bulls, Dobermans, Rottweilers, or exotic animals are allowed—no matter how cuddly they are.

DO: Take Care of Your Yard

Jamie was shocked when their lawn turned into a jungle. Guess what? Hope Property sent a landscaping crew and billed Jamie for the overgrowth.

Yard maintenance is your job—mow, trim, weed. Even leaves! (Yes, seriously.)

DON'T: Store Tires in the Yard (Or Mattresses, Pools, or Grandpa’s Couch)

Jamie hosted a garage sale that ended in the yard looking like a landfill. A $50-per-tire fee and notices later, Jamie learned: the yard is not a storage unit.

No trampolines, no above-ground pools over 13”, and NO PARKING ON THE GRASS (that’s a $25/day fine, folks).

DO: Submit Maintenance Requests the Right Way

Jamie texted “my fridge is dying ??” to Angel at 10 PM on a Sunday.
That text? Lost in the weekend shuffle.

Use your AppFolio portal for work orders. Always. Then call during office hours (8:30–5). Emergencies aside, it's the smoothest way to keep your place in shape.

DON'T: Use the Toilet Like a Trash Can

Jamie flushed paper towels, wipes, and who-knows-what else. Cue a $475 plumbing bill and a big mess.

Only flush single-ply toilet paper and, well... you know. Anything else goes in the trash. Trust us.

DO: Change Your Air Filters Monthly

Jamie ignored the HVAC filter. Their AC quit during a July heatwave.
Turns out, repairs for a dirty filter are on YOU, and it’s never less than $100.

Buy a stack of filters and make it part of your monthly routine!

DON'T: Paint the Living Room Hot Pink (Without Asking)

Jamie’s “creative vision” required repainting three walls. Hope Property required it be returned to original condition—and Jamie had to pay for it.

No remodeling, painting, or structural changes without written permission.

DO: Enter a 30-Day Notice & Complete Your Obligations

Jamie thought giving a verbal heads-up was good enough. They didn’t file the official 30-day notice, left the place messy, and never returned keys. They lost part of their deposit and racked up fees.

Here’s how to avoid that:

Submit your 30-day notice in writing through the google form. .
Allow showings for new applicants (you’ll get a 24-hour heads-up).
Leave the home in clean condition and return all keys.
Don’t assume anything—complete the checklist so your deposit comes back with no deductions.

DON'T: Smoke Inside (Seriously.)

One slip-up, a few cigarette butts, and a surprise inspection = $500 smoking violation. Second time? Eviction.

Smoke outside, clean up after yourself, and make your home fresh-air approved.

DO: Get Renter’s Insurance

When Jamie’s laptop got stolen from their car parked in the driveway, they were out of luck—no renter’s insurance.

Your lease requires coverage of $100,000 liability minimum. It's peace of mind that saves you when surprises hit.

In Summary: Be the Jamie Everyone Loves (Not Learns From)

Read your lease (or call the office—we'll help break it down).
Treat the house like it's your own.
Communicate early and often.
Follow the golden rule: Don’t surprise your landlord.

At Hope Property Investments, we want to see you thrive—not just survive. Respect your lease, and you’ll enjoy stress-free renting—and keep Chris off your lawn with that “I told you so” look.

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