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Tips for Home Owners
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This portion of our website has been developed exclusively with our customers in mind. We've included links to other websites we think you'll find useful. We'll also be adding articles we think you'll find of interest. We know an educated customer is our best asset, together we work to maintain your community to the highest of standards.
We think you'll find these "Links to Other Websites" helpful:
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TREE REMOVAL IN WELLINGTON
Question: Where is the tree removal ordinance applicable?
Answer: The provisions of the ordinance apply to all property within the village.
Question: Can I cut down a dead, diseased or an invasive, non-native species tree
without a permit?
Answer: No.
Question: What are the criteria for obtaining a tree removal permit?
Answer: 1. Due to natural circumstances, the vegetation is irreparably damaged and/or is
non-functioning.
2. The vegetation is in danger of falling and is located too close to
existing structures so as to endanger them.
3. The vegetation creates unsafe vision clearance for pedestrain and vehicular
traffic.
4. The vegetation is located in the buildable areas of site,unreasonably restricts
the permitted use, and cannot be relocated on site due to viability
age, type, or size.
Question: Is a permit required if you are relocating the tree(s) within your property?
Answer: No, a permit is not required.
Question: Can I cut down the tree before I receive the permit?
Answer: No.
Travel Tips to Keep You and Your Valuables Safe
Before You Leave:
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Make sure your home looks lived in.
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Stop mail and all deliveries, or ask a friend or neighbor to make daily collections.
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Hide empty garbage cans.
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Have a friend or neighbor keep your yard maintained.
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Put an automatic timer on several lights and a television or radio.
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Leave your blinds or shades in their normal position.
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Leave a key with a trusted neighbor.
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Store valuables in a safe deposit box.
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Tell a neighbor you trust about your departure and return dates. Supply that neighbor with phone numbers in case of emergency.
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Ask the police department to periodically check your residence.
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Lock all windows and doors, including the basement and the garage.
While On Your Trip:
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Carry a minimum amount of cash. If you use travel's checks, keep records of the numbers separate and in a safe place.
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Keep a careful watch on your traveling tickets. Keep them in an inside pocket and not protruding from a pocket or bag.
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If driving, plan out your route before you leave. Have your car serviced and in good repair, including your tires. Always lock your car when it is parked and keep valuables out of sight in the trunk or glove box.
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Never pick up hitchhikers.
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If you have a cell phone carry it with you at all times.
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When you stop for the night, remove bags and other valuables from the car.
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Carry a flashlight with fresh batteries, flares, fire extinguisher and a first aid kit.
Pruning Trees for Proper Structure
Proper tree pruning is essential in developing a tree withstrong branch structure
and proper form. Trees that receive regular and appropriate pruning and care early on will require little corrective pruning when they are mature. Trees that have strong branch structure and a healthy root system is more likely to survive a traumatic event.
Often times improper pruning such as topping can cause health problems in the canopy. These problems are usually deadwood, decay, and sprouts that are weak and not properly attached. This type of pruning can also create a substantial amount of dieback in the root system. Each cut made to a tree is critical, branches unnecessarily removed will not grow back and improper cuts can never be undone. As you prepare for the upcoming year and storm season remember that proper and planned pruning is an important part of your safety preparation.
Safe Keeping
It is wise to keep important documents in a safe deposit or fire poof box. Some items to include: birth, marriage, and death certificates, mortgage and property deeds, insurance policies, divorce and custody documents, citizenship papers, military records and heirloom photographs.
Palm Beach Polo and Country Club
Property Owners Association Inc.
11198 Polo Club Road
Wellington, FL 33414
Avoiding Identity Theft
Screening and effectively overseeing employees in the home is crucial to avoiding identity thief. Criminals will target anyone with a social security number and a good credit score. Individuals, who lead a quasi-public life by sitting on boards, making large charitable donations, running a company, can be vulnerable because their affiliations often require them to reveal valuable information.
Individuals are urged to ask anyone working in the home, including temporary hires for seasonable work or a special event to allow a background check. A few strong signals that a problem may be pending is personnel problems like sudden debts, a child in legal trouble or a lifestyle change that is beyond their earning range.
One of the first steps is to avoid leaving important documents, pin numbers, spare credit cards, checkbooks or old bills lying around. You should take all personal records with you when you leave your second or vacation home or put them in a safe.
Keys are often not accounted for, in fact many times former employees who are no longer working for the household do not return the key. It is recommended to start a new system which only one employee has a key (when it is appropriate) and keeps a log.
When an individual lives between several homes or who travel often, they could use a mail forwarding service that receives all mail year-round and delivers it to a family’s current location. When traveling its is recommended to use your credit card for big purchases and use the local currency for everything else.
Children are ideal candidates for identity theft. A good suggestion is to give them a credit card with a small limit and linking it to the parent’s account, as an adult is more likely to notice quickly if problems arise. When children travel abroad, parents should encourage them to be more discreet and leave status symbols (wristwatches-jewelry-designer clothes) at home
CRIME PREVENTION TIPS
Parking lots are prime locations for theft of valuables out of vehicles and theft of the vehicle itself. A little planning on our part will help prevent these problems from happening. Our goal should be to make it harder for the criminal to make a living, not easier! The following tips will help us reach this goal:
1 Park your vehicle near other vehicles, pedestrian and vehicle traffic. Parking in an isolated area is a welcome mat for criminals.
2 Park your vehicle in a well-lit area.
3 Keep packages and valuables out of sight in your car.
4 Keep your windows up and your doors locked.
5 Criminals walk through parking lots looking for easy opportunities; unlocked cars, packages and valuables in plain sight.
Pedestrians also make themselves an easy mark while walking in parking lots. Usually they don’t even realize it? This can be corrected with a little forethought. The following tips will help make your visit a safe experience:
1 Walk briskly and stay alert, heads up, shoulders back. Criminals look for easy marks such as people who are slouched over, preoccupied, fumbling with packages, keys, etc.
2 Look around the parking lot and around your car for suspicious people. Walk away immediately towards areas where there are other people. Notify security or the police.
3 Be alert for noises and movements.
4 Avoid wearing visible expensive jewelry.
5 Have your keys in your hands, ready to open your car when you arrive. You don’t want to fumble with your packages or your keys while trying to get into your car.
6 Look into your car, front and rear seats, before entering.
7 Lock your car as soon as you get in!
8 If someone comes up to your car asking for directions, don’t open your door or roll your window down! Drive away!
9 Try to walk with other people and try to stay in well-lit areas.
10 If you are alone at night, ask security for an escort to your car.
*REMEMBER: “WITHOUT OPPORTUNITY, THERE IS NO CRIME!”
Gas Safety Tips
* Reduce risk of injury from scalding water; set water heaters at no greater than the recommened 120F. See manufacturer's info decal for instructions. Always feel water before use, to avoid injury. Never leave children unattended around hot water.
* Protect gas pipes from bending or breakage. Don't swing from pipes or tamper with flexible connector lines attached to appliances. Don't sit, climb or stand on, or tie bicycles or dogs to a gas meter. Don't plant vegetation within 3 ft of your meter.
* Teach your household and/ or customers to recognize the smell of gas. Gas is colorless and odorless. A chemical smelling like rotten eggs is added so you can detect a leak immediately.
* Have at least one approved fire extinguisher in your home. In addition, baking soda, salt or even a large pot cover can be used to extinguish grease fires on your stove top.
* Caution! Never store flammables, such as gasoline, near water heaters. Keep the area around & under the water heater clean and free of litter or flammable materials.
* Make sure that the gas flame in your appliance burns bright blue & not a sluggish yellow-orange color.
Additional Resourses
Village of Wellington
Official city governmant site includes links to every department, city council agencies, employment and information on parks and recreation programs. Services and contact information are easily optained here.
http://www.ci.wellington.fl.us/main.htm
Protect Your Home and Your Family
In many cases of home burglaries, thieves enter the house through a door or window that was left unlocked. The fact is, thieves are “lazy,” and many burglaries could be prevented by using simple strategies to deter them from attempting to enter your home. Keep in mind that there’s more at stake than your possessions – a significant number of violent crimes that occur in the home are committed during household burglaries.
Following are some tips to follow to protect your home – and your family – from burglars.
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Keep trees and shrubs around doorways, windows and porches trimmed. The bushes that provide privacy also give burglars a place to hide. Dense shrubs can even make for a makeshift ladder, helping a thief into your home through a window.
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Get involved in a “neighborhood watch” group. Local police departments can provide you with information on how to establish a watch group in your neighborhood.
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Consider installing an alarm system.
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Lock all doors and windows when you leave the house and when you go to sleep. Lock your garage door as well.
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Install a dead-bolt and/or a secondary locking system on doors that lead outside. Using a lock that can only be operated from the inside is an extra security measure.
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Remember that patio doors with glass panels can be especially vulnerable. Consider installing double-cylinder locks – the kind where you need a key to unlock both sides – so that a burglar can’t enter your home simply by breaking the glass next to the lock. Also, insert a board in the bottom of the door, to prevent the door from sliding.
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Be suspicious of anyone who asks to enter your home for any type of “maintenance” reason. There are numerous cases of people impersonating electricians or gas line inspectors who turn out to be dangerous. Always demand to see an official company ID.
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Install peepholes or even wide-angle viewers in your doors.
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Fasten air conditioner units securely to the window sill or window frame; otherwise, burglars can too easily remove the unit and enter your home through the window.
Replace burned out light bulbs quickly. Thieves like homes with inadequate lighting. Consider incorporating lighting into your landscaping or even installing floodlights to light the walls of your house.
FINDING A GOOD CONTRACTOR
SIMPLE STEPS TO SUCCESS AND WARNING SIGNS
FRIENDLY REFERRALS ARE NOT ALWAYS THE ANSWER...
SEARCHING RIGHT THE FIRST TIME
Start by making mental notes of the improvements and follow up with a worksheet that details your needs and budget. Be certain to highlight any item that may cost extra or be a special problem for you or your contractor.
Try to accumulate a large referral list. Start with online referrals, the local phone book and by asking experienced friends or those who have had work on a similar budget. When you have a top ten, call the Better Business Bureau or local consumer agencies ad check with the state licensing board to see their standing. This will narrow the choices. Then call your top three and proceed with prepared questions:
• Have you done any jobs like mine recently?
• Is this a budget you are used to working with?
• Do you want this job?
• Will it cost less or be easier if I pick up the materials? (Small jobs)
• My budget is $5,000. Can I get what I want for that amount of money?
RED FLAGS: SOME EARLY WARNING SIGNS
• Doesn’t have a contractor’s license to show you or a license number on a business card
• Had to call more than once to set up the appointment
• Doesn’t show up and calls you late to reschedule
• Says he is very busy but you will be worked in
• Says he only does big jobs but will try just for you
• Seems unfamiliar with what you are talking about or dismisses your point of view
• Starts puffing up the job needs right away
• Seems slick – you are uncomfortable or you have a bad feeling
• Offers no physical address
• Does not offer referrals or satisfied customers
• Says you don’t need a contract – likes to work informally
• Can’t quote actual costs and says he will work hourly until the job is done
• Says you don’t need permits- this is usually nonsense
Take your time making up your mind. Do not be swayed by fancy chat or good looks. Do not get personally involved or let your emotions take over. You will be very unhappy with a poor choice and in the end, you will pay the bills. So a good decision now will give you peace of mind and that is worth a fortune.
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