These are facts and requirements that you will certainly want to be aware of...
Not a Rental
The Suite is not a separate rental unit... it is a home share arrangement. The greatest challenge has been how to explain that even though it will definitely feel like a separate apartment, but with much greater privacy than you would be used to in any other shared arrangement, technically - per City code - all of the rooms except the bedroom are "shared" with the homeowner. Unlike any other housemate/roommate situation, there are two kitchens, multiple bathrooms, and two laundrys, thus practically speaking there is no need to share any rooms. So technically and legally shared, practically speaking not shared.
The homeowner has a "knock-and-wait" policy when the housemate is home, or may be home, or could be home, in order to extend the level of privacy one step further - in how many other shared arrangements would you find your housemate knocking? When the homeowner knows the housemate is out, he can legally access The Suite, except the bedroom, without notice... but the need for this is fairly rare, and homeowner advises housemate of entry later.
What this really means to the housemate is that even though it seems like a totally private single-person apartment, the homeowner does technically have the right to enter without notice to access storage, make repairs to temperature sensors (that are outside of the bedroom), or turn off lights that have been left on, etc. Again, entry by the homeowner, whether the housemate is home or not, is rare... unless the housemate makes a habit of leaving lights on or water running.
The Suite is part of the homeowner's personal residence, and the homeowner expects the housemate to treat his property with the greatest respect. Access to the homeowner's portion of the house is not extended to the housemate.
Items Required @ Move-in
Housemate is required to provide a full-size (aka "double") mattress pad that will be placed over the fluid-resistant mattress pad that the homeowner provides. The pad provided by the homeowner must remain on the bed at all times, obviously housemate's pad can be removed for washing.
The slip cover provided for use on the sofa, must remain on the sofa at all times.
Basements vs. Natural Light
Basement apartments by their very nature are limited in natural light, especially during Pullman's grey and rainy winter months. The SpringWater Suite is unfortunately not gifted with many windows or lots of natural light. The homeowner is willing to replace existing CFL bulbs in the kitchen with full-spectrum CFL's (FSCFL's) if housemate would medically/emotionally benefit (these bulbs are relative expensive). Note that changing to FSCFL's will drastically change The Suite's otherwise warm ambience to a much cooler tone.
Furniture That Stays
Several pieces of furniture are offered for housemate's use. Some of the pieces have been used by every housemate, other pieces only by a few... it's up to you. The full-size bed and sofa, however, are not optional... they must stay in the bedroom due to the impossibility of moving large pieces of furniture in and out of that room. The sofa actually had to be disassembled in order to get it into the room. Previous housemates have placed their larger sofas in the living area adjacent to the kitchen.
Height Restrictions
Anyone OVER 6'-1" in height may find the 6'-4-1/2" to 6'-10" ceilings uncomfortable. Don't make your decision based on these measurements... ceiling heights have not been an issue for past tenants as tall as 6'-3".
Low spots:
Weight Restrictions
The wall-mounted toilet cannot hold any person (tenant or visitor) over 350 lbs. Obviously standing on the toilet for whatever reason is disallowed, unacceptable, and dangerous... not to mention how expensive it is to replace an extended bowl toilet (well over $1,000).
Allergies
Persons with allergies should be aware that there are cats living in other parts of the residence, and past housemates have owned dogs. Cats have never lived in The Suite, nor have they been allowed into The Suite. The Suite is quite separate from the cat-occupied areas of the residence, however the forced-air furnace is common to both areas. The carpet is cleaned by a professional service before each new housemate.
Smoking
Non-smokers are preferred, but outside-only smokers will be considered. A self-extinguishing disposal container is provided on the patio for smoking housemates and visitors. There is ABSOLUTELY NO SMOKING ALLOWED INSIDE, and housemate will be evicted for doing so.
Drugs
The manufacturing of, possession of, or use of illegal non-prescription drugs or illicit use of prescription drugs by housemate or housemate's invitees, inside or on the grounds of SpringWater is absolutely forbidden and is just cause for issuance of a 3-day eviction notice per Washington State Law. Use of illegal or illicit drugs off-site is housemate's choice/problem, however housemate should make sure that such use does not lead to misuse/abuse/damage of surfaces, fixtures or appliances, or inhibit their ability to have the money necessary to meet payment deadlines.
Timely Payments, Late Fees & Bounced Checks
Homeowner expects timely payments of the monthly reimbursement. Late charges are always assessed if the payment is late. The first late fee is charged at one minute after noon on the 1st of the month, the second late fee (15% of the reimbursement) is charged at one minute after noon on the 5th day of the month. There is a charge for bouncing a check and even if the original payment was made before the deadline, late fees are added on. There won't be a second bounced check because after one bounced check you will be required to pay by money order or bank cashier's check.
Invitees & Parties
During any period that the housemate hasn't paid the reimbursement, or still owes any portion of it, overnight houseguests, dinner parties, and parties aren't welcome... "you have to pay to play".
Cell Phone Service Limitations
Cell phone service may be limited or unavailable inside The Suite due to the brick exterior and thick foundation walls - so far only AT&T users have had issues at times. The Suite is wired for up to 2 land-lines (connection and service would be at additional cost to housemate)
Parking
There is NO regular off-street parking, nor any garage or exterior storage for bicycles available, and none can or will be offered.
The homeowner is not responsible for providing street parking or a regular parking space for the housemate, nor is the homeowner responsible for clearing street space of snow and ice for housemate's parking. Parking on street has NEVER been an issue, loads of well lit space right in front, BUT housemate will need to clear a space of snow for parking - if plows see a parking space cleared they will avoid creating a snow burm there.
Driveway parking is offered only on 3 ocassions and for a limited time (a) move-in/out, (b) for 3 nights during the City leaf pick-up in November, (c) during periods where snow burms have grown high and housemate is unable to park without blocking the driving lane.
IF driveway parking is offered, the homeowner is NOT responsible for digging out the housemate's snowed-in vehicle, whether immediately around the vehicle for access, drifting snow in the driveway itself, or snow plow-created burms at the entrance to the driveway. It will be up to the housemate to take whatever means necessary - without damage to homeowner's property - to free the vehicle.
Shower Use Restriction
The homeowner has found that it is absolutely necessary to disallow water usage by the housemate during the weekday hours of 7:00 - 8:00 AM (holidays excluded) so as to not severly scald the homeowner while he is taking a shower. This is nothing more than a safety issue. Housemate is asked to not flush the toilet, run the dishwasher, run the clothes washer, take a shower, or run a sink faucet fully open during this period. If housemate knows for a fact that homeowner's shower is over (by whatever means, a phone call between 7:00 - 8:00 AM is fine), water usage is no longer an issue for that day. Water usage on weekends is not restricted, however housemate should listen carefully for running water through pipes in the walls.
Bathing Facilities
There is no bathtub available - but there IS a stand-up shower with glass door. Use of the timed exhaust fan is required during and for a period of 30 minutes after a shower - this is the only way to avoid a possible future mold or mildew problem.
Laundry
The clothes washer and dryer are not full-size units. The dryer is 110, not the standard 120, therefore it takes longer for the clothes to dry. The dryer vents into the laundry closet (through a filter) - the reasoning behind the rule that the bathroom exhaust fan and range hood fan must be running anytime the clothes dryer is.
Cooking
The stove and oven are both electric powered. The housemate is required to use the exhaust vent built-in to the microwave anytime food is cooked on the stove or in the oven.
Kitchen Storage
Although storage space in the kitchen is plentiful, there is only one cabinet that is reinforced for the storage of dishes and glasses. Most people don't realize that the standard mounting of kitchen cabinets does not factor in the added weight of dishes, and that in most rentals you could be just a stack of plates away from the entire cabinet pulling away from the wall and crashing to the floor. Although the other cabinets in The Suite's kitchen can hold dishes and glassware, the reinforced cabinet is placed in the most design-effective location... just to the right of the sink, and above the dishwasher.
General Storage
There is no storage space for bicycles or other outdoor equipment, and none can be offered at this time.
Internet Connection
Internet connection options are limited to (1) high-speed broadband, (2) dial-up, (3) DSL. Options #2 and #3 will be at additional cost to the housemate. What is included: Hard-wired high-speed broadband Internet. Connection must be made via RJ-45 EtherNet jacks. A WiFi router is not included, but housemate can provide their own in order to facilitate a wireless connection to the Internet.
Digital HD-DVR/Receiver
Homeowner will provide ONE of the following devices upon request without additional charge:
**Connecting a TV directly to a cable jack will provide basic channels without a digital receiver.
Equipment Deposits
At the homeowner's discretion, there may be refundable equipment deposits.
Temperature
The temperature is maintained between 68 - 72 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter in order to keep the natural gas portion of the service bill under $500 per month. The housemate is not allowed to use their own personal space heater, however, homeowner offers a portable oil-filled space heater at no addtional charge unless it's use causes the electric portion of the serivce provider's monthly bill to exceed a pre-set formula (refer to next topic below).
Additional Reimbursement Charges for Excessive Electric Use
IF and only if housemate elects during his/her tenancy to use the supplemental oil-filled space heater that homeowner offers (or uses a disallowed space heater owned by housemate*), for any month where service provider charges for electric service exceed the monthly average ($92.85) + $50, the housemate will be charged the following month for the full difference. There is no such charge for an increase in natural gas (whole-house heat) charges, thus during extremly cold winters where the furnace works overtime, housemate will not be required to pay more for natural gas.
z = electric bill (1 period), x = average monthly charge based on recent 12-months, y = $50, n = difference charged to housemate, and added to following month's reimbursement
Not a Rental
The Suite is not a separate rental unit... it is a home share arrangement. The greatest challenge has been how to explain that even though it will definitely feel like a separate apartment, but with much greater privacy than you would be used to in any other shared arrangement, technically - per City code - all of the rooms except the bedroom are "shared" with the homeowner. Unlike any other housemate/roommate situation, there are two kitchens, multiple bathrooms, and two laundrys, thus practically speaking there is no need to share any rooms. So technically and legally shared, practically speaking not shared.
The homeowner has a "knock-and-wait" policy when the housemate is home, or may be home, or could be home, in order to extend the level of privacy one step further - in how many other shared arrangements would you find your housemate knocking? When the homeowner knows the housemate is out, he can legally access The Suite, except the bedroom, without notice... but the need for this is fairly rare, and homeowner advises housemate of entry later.
What this really means to the housemate is that even though it seems like a totally private single-person apartment, the homeowner does technically have the right to enter without notice to access storage, make repairs to temperature sensors (that are outside of the bedroom), or turn off lights that have been left on, etc. Again, entry by the homeowner, whether the housemate is home or not, is rare... unless the housemate makes a habit of leaving lights on or water running.
The Suite is part of the homeowner's personal residence, and the homeowner expects the housemate to treat his property with the greatest respect. Access to the homeowner's portion of the house is not extended to the housemate.
Items Required @ Move-in
Housemate is required to provide a full-size (aka "double") mattress pad that will be placed over the fluid-resistant mattress pad that the homeowner provides. The pad provided by the homeowner must remain on the bed at all times, obviously housemate's pad can be removed for washing.
The slip cover provided for use on the sofa, must remain on the sofa at all times.
Basements vs. Natural Light
Basement apartments by their very nature are limited in natural light, especially during Pullman's grey and rainy winter months. The SpringWater Suite is unfortunately not gifted with many windows or lots of natural light. The homeowner is willing to replace existing CFL bulbs in the kitchen with full-spectrum CFL's (FSCFL's) if housemate would medically/emotionally benefit (these bulbs are relative expensive). Note that changing to FSCFL's will drastically change The Suite's otherwise warm ambience to a much cooler tone.
Furniture That Stays
Several pieces of furniture are offered for housemate's use. Some of the pieces have been used by every housemate, other pieces only by a few... it's up to you. The full-size bed and sofa, however, are not optional... they must stay in the bedroom due to the impossibility of moving large pieces of furniture in and out of that room. The sofa actually had to be disassembled in order to get it into the room. Previous housemates have placed their larger sofas in the living area adjacent to the kitchen.
Height Restrictions
Anyone OVER 6'-1" in height may find the 6'-4-1/2" to 6'-10" ceilings uncomfortable. Don't make your decision based on these measurements... ceiling heights have not been an issue for past tenants as tall as 6'-3".
Low spots:
- kitchen ceiling over sink, 6'-8"
- 6" wide beam over opening to living/dining/study, 6'-3-1/4"
- living-dining-study area, 6'-4-1/2"
- bathroom doorway, 6'-3"
- bedroom doorway, 6'-4" to 6'-2" (this is a step-up)
- all other doorways, 6'-4"
- most other ceilings, 6'-10"
Weight Restrictions
The wall-mounted toilet cannot hold any person (tenant or visitor) over 350 lbs. Obviously standing on the toilet for whatever reason is disallowed, unacceptable, and dangerous... not to mention how expensive it is to replace an extended bowl toilet (well over $1,000).
Allergies
Persons with allergies should be aware that there are cats living in other parts of the residence, and past housemates have owned dogs. Cats have never lived in The Suite, nor have they been allowed into The Suite. The Suite is quite separate from the cat-occupied areas of the residence, however the forced-air furnace is common to both areas. The carpet is cleaned by a professional service before each new housemate.
Smoking
Non-smokers are preferred, but outside-only smokers will be considered. A self-extinguishing disposal container is provided on the patio for smoking housemates and visitors. There is ABSOLUTELY NO SMOKING ALLOWED INSIDE, and housemate will be evicted for doing so.
Drugs
The manufacturing of, possession of, or use of illegal non-prescription drugs or illicit use of prescription drugs by housemate or housemate's invitees, inside or on the grounds of SpringWater is absolutely forbidden and is just cause for issuance of a 3-day eviction notice per Washington State Law. Use of illegal or illicit drugs off-site is housemate's choice/problem, however housemate should make sure that such use does not lead to misuse/abuse/damage of surfaces, fixtures or appliances, or inhibit their ability to have the money necessary to meet payment deadlines.
Timely Payments, Late Fees & Bounced Checks
Homeowner expects timely payments of the monthly reimbursement. Late charges are always assessed if the payment is late. The first late fee is charged at one minute after noon on the 1st of the month, the second late fee (15% of the reimbursement) is charged at one minute after noon on the 5th day of the month. There is a charge for bouncing a check and even if the original payment was made before the deadline, late fees are added on. There won't be a second bounced check because after one bounced check you will be required to pay by money order or bank cashier's check.
Invitees & Parties
During any period that the housemate hasn't paid the reimbursement, or still owes any portion of it, overnight houseguests, dinner parties, and parties aren't welcome... "you have to pay to play".
Cell Phone Service Limitations
Cell phone service may be limited or unavailable inside The Suite due to the brick exterior and thick foundation walls - so far only AT&T users have had issues at times. The Suite is wired for up to 2 land-lines (connection and service would be at additional cost to housemate)
Parking
There is NO regular off-street parking, nor any garage or exterior storage for bicycles available, and none can or will be offered.
The homeowner is not responsible for providing street parking or a regular parking space for the housemate, nor is the homeowner responsible for clearing street space of snow and ice for housemate's parking. Parking on street has NEVER been an issue, loads of well lit space right in front, BUT housemate will need to clear a space of snow for parking - if plows see a parking space cleared they will avoid creating a snow burm there.
Driveway parking is offered only on 3 ocassions and for a limited time (a) move-in/out, (b) for 3 nights during the City leaf pick-up in November, (c) during periods where snow burms have grown high and housemate is unable to park without blocking the driving lane.
IF driveway parking is offered, the homeowner is NOT responsible for digging out the housemate's snowed-in vehicle, whether immediately around the vehicle for access, drifting snow in the driveway itself, or snow plow-created burms at the entrance to the driveway. It will be up to the housemate to take whatever means necessary - without damage to homeowner's property - to free the vehicle.
Shower Use Restriction
The homeowner has found that it is absolutely necessary to disallow water usage by the housemate during the weekday hours of 7:00 - 8:00 AM (holidays excluded) so as to not severly scald the homeowner while he is taking a shower. This is nothing more than a safety issue. Housemate is asked to not flush the toilet, run the dishwasher, run the clothes washer, take a shower, or run a sink faucet fully open during this period. If housemate knows for a fact that homeowner's shower is over (by whatever means, a phone call between 7:00 - 8:00 AM is fine), water usage is no longer an issue for that day. Water usage on weekends is not restricted, however housemate should listen carefully for running water through pipes in the walls.
Bathing Facilities
There is no bathtub available - but there IS a stand-up shower with glass door. Use of the timed exhaust fan is required during and for a period of 30 minutes after a shower - this is the only way to avoid a possible future mold or mildew problem.
Laundry
The clothes washer and dryer are not full-size units. The dryer is 110, not the standard 120, therefore it takes longer for the clothes to dry. The dryer vents into the laundry closet (through a filter) - the reasoning behind the rule that the bathroom exhaust fan and range hood fan must be running anytime the clothes dryer is.
Cooking
The stove and oven are both electric powered. The housemate is required to use the exhaust vent built-in to the microwave anytime food is cooked on the stove or in the oven.
Kitchen Storage
Although storage space in the kitchen is plentiful, there is only one cabinet that is reinforced for the storage of dishes and glasses. Most people don't realize that the standard mounting of kitchen cabinets does not factor in the added weight of dishes, and that in most rentals you could be just a stack of plates away from the entire cabinet pulling away from the wall and crashing to the floor. Although the other cabinets in The Suite's kitchen can hold dishes and glassware, the reinforced cabinet is placed in the most design-effective location... just to the right of the sink, and above the dishwasher.
General Storage
There is no storage space for bicycles or other outdoor equipment, and none can be offered at this time.
Internet Connection
Internet connection options are limited to (1) high-speed broadband, (2) dial-up, (3) DSL. Options #2 and #3 will be at additional cost to the housemate. What is included: Hard-wired high-speed broadband Internet. Connection must be made via RJ-45 EtherNet jacks. A WiFi router is not included, but housemate can provide their own in order to facilitate a wireless connection to the Internet.
Digital HD-DVR/Receiver
Homeowner will provide ONE of the following devices upon request without additional charge:
- a standard digital cable TV receiver, or
- a digital cable TV HD receiver, or
- a digital cable TV HD DVR/receiver and DVR service (w/ on-screen channel guide, and digital music). The DVR adds the ability to record 2 programs and watch a third previously recorded program all at once.
**Connecting a TV directly to a cable jack will provide basic channels without a digital receiver.
Equipment Deposits
At the homeowner's discretion, there may be refundable equipment deposits.
Temperature
The temperature is maintained between 68 - 72 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter in order to keep the natural gas portion of the service bill under $500 per month. The housemate is not allowed to use their own personal space heater, however, homeowner offers a portable oil-filled space heater at no addtional charge unless it's use causes the electric portion of the serivce provider's monthly bill to exceed a pre-set formula (refer to next topic below).
Additional Reimbursement Charges for Excessive Electric Use
IF and only if housemate elects during his/her tenancy to use the supplemental oil-filled space heater that homeowner offers (or uses a disallowed space heater owned by housemate*), for any month where service provider charges for electric service exceed the monthly average ($92.85) + $50, the housemate will be charged the following month for the full difference. There is no such charge for an increase in natural gas (whole-house heat) charges, thus during extremly cold winters where the furnace works overtime, housemate will not be required to pay more for natural gas.
z = electric bill (1 period), x = average monthly charge based on recent 12-months, y = $50, n = difference charged to housemate, and added to following month's reimbursement
Formula: z - (x + y) = n
Homeowner's monthly electric use remains static throughout the year. The electrical consumption of homeowner's appliances, devices, and lighting have been measured and logged. Based on 11 years of experience, homeowner has found that about 2/3rds of all electric use is by housemate, mostly from supplemental electric heat.
*Homeowner employs multiple temperature sensors to make sure that The Suite's temps do not drop to uncomfortable levels in cold weather. As a by-product, sensors also reveal if unauthorized supplemental heating sources are being used by housemate.
Access
There is no separate entrance. Semi-private access is through homeowner's back door, pantry, and laundry room at this time. Separate doorbells are provided for both the back door and West security gate (in case you opt to have the gate locked during your tenancy). Having a pizza delivery person ring the West gate bell can give you that little extra time to get up the staircase.
Water Seepage
As with most Pullman basements, there is some possibility of minor leaks during the melting phase of a heavy snowfall if the ground becomes saturated - the foundation is concrete, and concrete is porous afterall. There has never been a flood or substantial amount of water in the 40+ years of ownership, thus it is highly unlikely. IF there is leakage, it is housemate's responsibility to take whatever action is necessary - without damaging the homeowner's property - to clean it up, and make sure that no furnishings provided to the housemate are damaged by the housemate's in-action. This is a "home share" not a rental, thus the housemate has greater responsibilities - this is one of them.
Security
Some outside areas are monitored by CCTV cameras, and the back yard has thermal intrusion sensors. There are no video or audio recording devices inside the residence, and nothing outside is positioned to record activity inside.
Housemate's Required Maintenance
Housemate is responsible for keeping all interior floor surfaces between the outside door and the Suite door (incl. entry, staircase, and laundry) clean. Housemate is also responsible for the shared maintenance of the brick patio - leaf removal (sweeping, raking, blowing, washing), snow shoveling.
Recycling
Recycling is mandated by the City of Pullman, and is required by the Home Share agreement. The following materials must be recycled: PETE 1 plastics, HDPE 2 plastics, aluminum, tin/steel cans, glass, and cardboard. Most other materials, except PS 6, are also collected in the homeowner's recycling center, but housemate is not required to recycle those. A small recycle sorting area is also just outside housemate's door for daily sorting of materials. Housemate is asked to move their own recycling to homeowner's recycling containers on the patio in time for curb-side pick-up.
Wildlife
The homeowner has found that it is now necessary to disclose that there are squirrels, raccoons, quail, and skunks, along with other creatures, living in or passing through the back yard along with visits by neighborhood cats. While the squirrels sometimes come up to the doors or other objects around the exterior of the house, they will not stick around if you or your dog are nearby, and they will not come into the house unless you leave the back door open and walk away - this is why there is a rule about not leaving the door open unless your body is actually passing through it. The raccoons are not afraid of humans, but will normally slowly move away if you approach them - otherwise, they are dangerous if you or your dog corner them (raccoons normally only come out after dark). Skunks will not spray unless they feel threatened, so talking softly and leaving a lot of room as you walk around them is suggested (they also patter their front feet before they spray - so you have warning). Over 49 years, none of the backyard wild animals or neighborhood cats have ever used the patio as a toilet.
The purposeful killing of any wildlife within SpringWater's boundaries will result in immediate termination of your lease.
Fall Leaves
The Vibernum "bush" that fully covers the patio, drops it's leaves quite late in the season, usually after the first or second snowfall. The leaves get shoveled (with the snow) up into piles. As the temperatures warm up the leaves tend to start to decay before the next freeze. There is a slight odor during this period (similar to the smell of walking through the woods during the same conditions), which along with the "dangerous and dirty" squirrels has been a problem for one former housemate - but no one else. The patio is not, as that housemate demanded, a toilet for squirrels and neighborhood cats. Like you wanted to hear any of this.
Privacy
Living in a home share, much like a roommate situation, may naturally reveal information about homeowner's and/or housemate's activities. Most revelations will go completely unnoticed, but other events, noises, conditions, or ocurrances could also prompt action or cause concern... such as noticing a light on continually, continually hearing water running, or hearing water running but not hearing an exhaust fan at the same time. If you are someone moving from a single-family home and this sort of shared knowledge creeps you out, you might better consider an apartment where you won't know what the neighbors know or care about you and your activities - even though they actually will know.
*Homeowner employs multiple temperature sensors to make sure that The Suite's temps do not drop to uncomfortable levels in cold weather. As a by-product, sensors also reveal if unauthorized supplemental heating sources are being used by housemate.
Access
There is no separate entrance. Semi-private access is through homeowner's back door, pantry, and laundry room at this time. Separate doorbells are provided for both the back door and West security gate (in case you opt to have the gate locked during your tenancy). Having a pizza delivery person ring the West gate bell can give you that little extra time to get up the staircase.
Water Seepage
As with most Pullman basements, there is some possibility of minor leaks during the melting phase of a heavy snowfall if the ground becomes saturated - the foundation is concrete, and concrete is porous afterall. There has never been a flood or substantial amount of water in the 40+ years of ownership, thus it is highly unlikely. IF there is leakage, it is housemate's responsibility to take whatever action is necessary - without damaging the homeowner's property - to clean it up, and make sure that no furnishings provided to the housemate are damaged by the housemate's in-action. This is a "home share" not a rental, thus the housemate has greater responsibilities - this is one of them.
Security
Some outside areas are monitored by CCTV cameras, and the back yard has thermal intrusion sensors. There are no video or audio recording devices inside the residence, and nothing outside is positioned to record activity inside.
Housemate's Required Maintenance
Housemate is responsible for keeping all interior floor surfaces between the outside door and the Suite door (incl. entry, staircase, and laundry) clean. Housemate is also responsible for the shared maintenance of the brick patio - leaf removal (sweeping, raking, blowing, washing), snow shoveling.
Recycling
Recycling is mandated by the City of Pullman, and is required by the Home Share agreement. The following materials must be recycled: PETE 1 plastics, HDPE 2 plastics, aluminum, tin/steel cans, glass, and cardboard. Most other materials, except PS 6, are also collected in the homeowner's recycling center, but housemate is not required to recycle those. A small recycle sorting area is also just outside housemate's door for daily sorting of materials. Housemate is asked to move their own recycling to homeowner's recycling containers on the patio in time for curb-side pick-up.
Wildlife
The homeowner has found that it is now necessary to disclose that there are squirrels, raccoons, quail, and skunks, along with other creatures, living in or passing through the back yard along with visits by neighborhood cats. While the squirrels sometimes come up to the doors or other objects around the exterior of the house, they will not stick around if you or your dog are nearby, and they will not come into the house unless you leave the back door open and walk away - this is why there is a rule about not leaving the door open unless your body is actually passing through it. The raccoons are not afraid of humans, but will normally slowly move away if you approach them - otherwise, they are dangerous if you or your dog corner them (raccoons normally only come out after dark). Skunks will not spray unless they feel threatened, so talking softly and leaving a lot of room as you walk around them is suggested (they also patter their front feet before they spray - so you have warning). Over 49 years, none of the backyard wild animals or neighborhood cats have ever used the patio as a toilet.
The purposeful killing of any wildlife within SpringWater's boundaries will result in immediate termination of your lease.
Fall Leaves
The Vibernum "bush" that fully covers the patio, drops it's leaves quite late in the season, usually after the first or second snowfall. The leaves get shoveled (with the snow) up into piles. As the temperatures warm up the leaves tend to start to decay before the next freeze. There is a slight odor during this period (similar to the smell of walking through the woods during the same conditions), which along with the "dangerous and dirty" squirrels has been a problem for one former housemate - but no one else. The patio is not, as that housemate demanded, a toilet for squirrels and neighborhood cats. Like you wanted to hear any of this.
Privacy
Living in a home share, much like a roommate situation, may naturally reveal information about homeowner's and/or housemate's activities. Most revelations will go completely unnoticed, but other events, noises, conditions, or ocurrances could also prompt action or cause concern... such as noticing a light on continually, continually hearing water running, or hearing water running but not hearing an exhaust fan at the same time. If you are someone moving from a single-family home and this sort of shared knowledge creeps you out, you might better consider an apartment where you won't know what the neighbors know or care about you and your activities - even though they actually will know.
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