Being a Good Neighbor

A good relationship and an easy rapport with your neighbors is a beautiful aspect of life.

It is generally not easy for people get to know their neighbors well, and an almost impossible feat if one lives in another country and only visits his apartment casually.

That's why I always try to make a point of getting to know our client's neighbors, at least well enough to keep in constant touch.

This policy paid off well recently when a neighbor of one of our clients called late in the evening to let us know that water was coming out from under the door of our client's apartment, and oozing into the building's hallway. We were able to be there in time to avert a major disaster. A water pipe had burst in a wall, flooding the apartment.

Our client's daughter is a newly-wed and all of her wedding presents were stacked in one of the rooms in the apartment. Had water gotten to this room, all of the presents, which included electric appliances and electronic items, including linens and furnishings would have been totally ruined.

Needless to say our client was delighted to find out that the damage that was caused was only minimal. In addition, he was so glad to be able find out about the emergency during the day as there was no need for him to be alerted late at night.

Owning a home in Israel is a privilege and an honor. We wish all Israel apartment owners that they may relax and enjoy the fruits of their investment

Water in Jerusalem

One of our U.S. clients , an absentee Jerusalem apartment owner, received notice that a water leak emmenating from his garden is causing water damage to his neighbor's apartment below.

His neighbor began a renovation project in his apartment and his builder had found this leak during demolition work.

His neighbor requested his authorization to proceed with their joint repair work, a project that can stand no delay.

Being 7,000 miles away, our client called and asked us to intervene on his behalf. 

We immediately sent our expert building assessors to his neighbor's apartment to get first hand information about the matter from his builder.

Our assessors found that there indeed was a leak, and that it was caused not by a fault in our client's garden but rather from a large drain pipe that was common to the entire building.

Our client was very much relieved to find out that instead of joining an expensive joint repair project, the vaad habayit,  the building's maintenance company, would be effecting this repair at no cost to the building's residents.

Being far away and out of reach of your property should not be a liability, and we at Jerusalem Property Management make sure that you can enjoy your investment as much when you are away from it as when you visit.

Instead of worrying about posible problems you shoud be enjoying the fabulous views of the Judean hills and the Jerusalem mountains.

Leave all of your worries to us, and enjoy life.

Throwing Your Sins Away

It is a Jewish tradition to throw one's sins away on the holiday of Rosh Hashana. Most people search for a fish pond, a nearby lake or stream, sometimes a fish tank. (I'm not kidding.) When we lived in Brooklyn many years ago, we walked for miles to Kings Highway to stand in a crowd 15 deep, looking kind of at a little hole in the ground that supposedly had water in it. Um, not, really the best way to observe the ceremony of Tashlich (throwing our sins to the fish).
On Saturday night after Rosh Hashana, my clients from Ashkelon called to share what an amazing Rosh Hashana experience they had. For the first time in their family's collective life, they did Tashlich in a b-i-g way. They walked five minutes from their apartment to the Mediterranean Sea. And there, they threw all the sins that they could think of right out to the fish. They really felt that they had celebrated Rosh Hashana in a special way this year.
That's what owning a home in Israel is all about - experiencing Jewish life to its fullest. I was so happy for them, and I was even more pleased that I was part of making everything feel special for them. When they arrived at their apartment in Ashkelon, everything was set up the way they like it, and the fridge was filled with everything they chose (even Arizona Ice Tea).
Owning a home in Israel is a dream come true.
Wishing everyone a happy healthy new year, peace and all good things.

Kitchen with a View of History

An Efrat apartment that I manage for absentee owners recently received a new kitchen. I dropped in on the work every day to make sure it was done exactly as the owner had requested. One day I arrived just as the workman was cutting the hole for the sink. Aghhhhhhhh! He had placed the sink just left of the kitchen window. The sink was supposed to be exactly under the kitchen window, so that when someone was standing at that sink, doing the Shabbat dishes, or every day pots, s/he'd be able to look out on the hills of Gush Etzion, hills of history and inspiration.
I was able to stop the saw before the marble was cut, and the sink was placed, exactly where it had been intended. Phew!

The Hills of Gush Etzion

The Hills of Gush Etzion really are laden in history. We learn that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob walked on a path parallel to Efrat, called Derech Avot (path of the patriarchs). Our mother Rachel was buried right near here, because she died "Derech Efrata", only a few kilometers outside the Efrat city limits. There are many Bible tales from Efrat and Gush Etzion. Even one of the Chanukah stories took place right across the road.

Efrat is not only one of the most beautiful towns in Israel. It is made up of the nicest people around. And it stands on hills of history.

Home for the Holidays

As Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur and Sukkot approach, Jews from all over the world are truly coming "home for the holidays." Yes, a Jew may live in New York or Denver or London or Paris, but Israel is home, and as the holidays approach, Jerusalem is the destination.
This week will be a busy one for me. I will have to make sure that the home of each of my clients is clean and tidy, that all electrical appliances are in good working order and that the fridge is filled with whatever each family needs. It's a drill I know very well, and one that I am excited to do, because when everything in each apartment is just right, I know it means that the family is coming home. And that's a great feeling for me, and for all our brethren.

For those of my clients who live in Jerusalem, there's so much to look forward to. Before the holidays, there's the rush to prepare. On Yom Tov, there's holiness in the air, absolutely everywhere. And there is no sight more exciting and heart-thumping than the sight of dozens and then hundreds and thousands of Jews making their way to the Kotel (the Wailing Wall) for prayer services. There at the foot of the Temple Mount, the words of prayer reverberate against the walls and in everyone's soul.

Got to go get ready for another family. They're coming home for the holidays.

Ashkelon - Water Inside/Water Outside

Water Inside
While visiting the Ashkelon apartments that I manage, I found a leak below the kitchen sink in one of the most modern flats. Leaks are tricky things. If you're not a plumber, "playing" with the pipes in your home could cause more damage than you can imagine. So, I shut down the main water line and called two plumbers that I work with in the area.
The water had already created a little puddle in the kitchen, but because I'd been there very recently, it hadn't leaked enough to create any damage under the cabinets, the furniture or in the neighbor's apartment below.

Apartments, especially those of absentee landlords, must be checked frequently to prevent damage from leaks or other problems.
Water Outside

Ashkelon is a popular place for vacation apartments. This apartment overlooks the Ashkelon marina. The sea is so beautiful all year round here. The city of Ashkelon itself is a lovely place to live and vacation. If you've never been there, it's kind of like North Miami Beach. It's a beautiful place for a stroll. And there are loads of parks for the children here.

The population is upper and upper middle class. There are many hi-tech industries in the area. And best of all for the kids, it's got the Ashkeloona Water Park.

Ashkelon is a great place for a vacation home, and if you can't be here to watch over it all the time, that's why I'm around.

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