No smoking on the premises.

No pets allowed, not even to visit, without written
permission from landlord.

Rent is late after 5:00 p.m.on the 3rd day of the month. (unless you pay on the 15th, then after the 18th it is late) If late, a 10% late fee is applied and is to be paid within 10 days of notice in a separate check (or cash) from the rent check. The rent can be dropped off at 426 Main Ave. in Brookings.

Rent is to be paid in the form of ONE check, if not, the fee for multiple checks is $10.00 per check. (does not apply to late fees)

Tenant is responsible for:
Snow removal within 24 hours
Keeping the grass cut (mowing)
Removal of leaves from the gutters twice a year (Spring, Fall)
Raking of leaves and disposing of them by November 15th
Leaf bags are available at grocery stores. Please note that the city does not pick up leaves that are not in these ‘prepaid’ bags.

What to Do?

Locked out?
Suggestion…if you have AAA, call them at 1800-535-8399 or AAA Dakota Locksmith 692-7545. If not, call me and I will come (if I am available) and unlock the door for you for a $20.00 fee. (please note damage to the door or door lock from forced entry will cost far more than $20.00) Additional keys will be made for the cost of $5.00 per key.

Returned Check?
If you write a check for rent and there are insufficient funds available, a $35.00 fee is applied and is due and payable upon notice. This also constitutes late rent and late rent fees apply. I only allow this once. The rent from then on will have to be in the form of cash, money order, or certified funds.

Subletting?
No subletting allowed! If you are thinking of subletting, consider this, You are responsible for the premises and will remain responsible for the entire lease period. You will not be released from this obligation. If you sublet to someone and they cause damage or neglect the conditions of the lease (paying rent for example) you are responsible for their actions or lack there of. No subletting allowed. I have never had any luck with subletting as a landlord, and it has almost always ended badly for everyone.

Questions?
If you have questions or requests, you can email me at wika@wika-investments.com Since we are all very busy people, I have found that email (except in the case of an emergency) works the best. It is convenient way to communicate in the busy world we live in.

Need Repairs? Email me a list of repairs and I will send someone out in a timely fashion. wika@wika-investments.com

Clogged Sewer?
Call the Plumber - Courtesy Plumbing 692-6076
Typical sewer clogs are located under the sink in the p-trap (drain pipe that looks like a ‘P’ or an ‘S’) and are usually a result of hair or a q-tip in the drain. If the toilet is clogged, it is usually the result of toilet paper wads, disposable toilet brushes, sanitary wipes(wet-naps), pens and pencils, and/or women’s sanitary products. If the cause of the clog is sanitary products (toilet paper, disposable toilet brush, women’s products), then it will be your responsibility to pay for the plumber. If the clog is caused by tree roots or a broken sewer line or other mechanical failure, then I pay the plumber. Please note that most of the rental houses have had the sewer and waterlines updated (new) in the past couple of years by the City of Brookings. Wika Investment is not responsible for damages to personal property or loss of occupancy due to sewer clogs or backup. Tenant is responsible for cleanup of personal items that were damaged and tenants are also responsible for any damage to the structure caused by lack of action and/or clean-up(mold, damaged sheetrock, for example).

High Heat Bill?
Make sure all windows, storm windows, and the front door are shut. When I drive around Brookings in the winter, I am surprised how many storm windows and front doors are open. Also, check the furnace filter and contact me if you need a replacement, this will make the furnace run more efficiently. Next, try setting the heat at 68 degrees. It can cut up to a third off the heat bill by turning the thermostat down from 72 degrees to 68 degrees. Keeping your house like ‘Jamaica on Spring Break’ is not very economical. To keep warm in the winter, people typically wear a T-shirt and a sweatshirt or sweater over top. This will help keep you warm when you are inside or outside. At night, put an extra blanket on the bed. (Warning! Electric space heaters can overload circuits and cause fires! Keep them away from curtains, clothes and other flammable items) Lastly, keep in mind the rising cost of natural gas prices. If you get a bill and you are shocked at the cost of heating, it may not be that the house is hard to heat. It is the escalating price of fuel (natural gas) and when it doubles, it is a shock to everybody. Keep in mind that the cheap cost of heating is a thing of the past and the cost of natural gas is up 70% in 2005.

Snow and Parking
Parking in the Street when it Snows If you park your car in the street when it snows, you have until midnight to move cars. The snow plow comes down the street after this time and you will get a parking ticket or worse yet, towed! You can return your car to the street after the plow goes by.

Blowing Circuit Breakers?
Be careful not to overload circuits! Plugging an Electric Space Heater into an outlet with other items can overload the circuit and can cause fire. Never use extension cords with Electric heaters! Dorm Fridges and Freezers need their own dedicated 20 amp circuit to run on. Very few rooms in houses have such circuits except for kitchens. The one in the kitchen is usually already being used by the fridge or microwave. Dorm Fridges, Freezers and Electric Space Heaters are usually not a good idea for they may overload the circuits, blow fuses, and cause fires.

Internet Ready?
Most rentals lack the wiring needed for room to room networking and internet connections. Since you are not allowed to modify the house without landlords permission, running wires is not a good solution. Besides that fact, the wires will get in the way and you will be tripping over them. Well, there is an easy solution for this problem, wireless routers! Wireless routers cost from $19 to $59 and you don’t have to run wires!

Smoke Alarms and Light Bulbs
The replacement of the 9-volt battery is the responsibility of the tenant. Modifying the smoke detector or removal of the battery is against the law. If the City of Brookings, on its surprise rental inspection, discovers that the smoke detector has been tampered with, had the battery removed or not replaced, there may be fines or penalties. Replacing the light bulbs is also the responsibility of the tenant. If at the end of the rental lease period that light bulbs haven’t been replaced and/or the smoke detector battery is missing or needs to be replaced, you will be charged for their replacement. So do yourself a favor and save yourself some money (and maybe even save your life!), make sure that the smoke detector works and replace those light bulbs.

Additional Provision
1. Gutters and downspouts need to be cleaned out by November 15th, or the gutters will be cleaned and the tenants will be charged at the rate of $25.00 per hour for service.
2. Lawn needs to be mowed in a timely manner. If the landlord has to present more than two notices for lawn maintenance, then the lawn services will be provided for the tenant at the cost of $25.00 per occasion.

Wika Investments • 426 Main Ave • P.O. Box 500 • Brookings, SD  57006
Phone: 605-691-7273 • No calls after 5:30 pm • Fax: 605-692-9632