🏡 Setting Up a New Home

Internet, Television, Phone

We recommend Operators obtain this service in their personal name or ask the House Manager to obtain these services in their personal name. Obtaining telecom services in the name of a company will incur far higher costs on a monthly basis. Because this is a residence, it is appropriate to obtain residential telecom services through a local provider.

All Operators must provide free high-speed wireless internet (WiFi) to all homes. Typically, a local internet provider can also provide other services, including television and phone, at a discount if you bundle them. We recommend trying a few different vendors, including the local cable TV company, Verizon Fios, satellite providers, and others. Multiple providers often means lower rates, so we encourage you to shop around.

The modem and router should be set up in a common area accessible to the residents and centrally located so wireless internet service can reach all areas of the home. We recommend using a WiFi extender if there is insufficient internet coverage in farther areas of the home. These extenders can be found on Amazon or other retailers and are relatively inexpensive. Typically locating one WiFi extender on each floor is sufficient.

Minimum Requirements: 400 megabits per second (mbps).

All Operators must also provide television service to residents in common areas. Some Operators decide to purchase a TV package offered by their internet service provider, but this is not required. Some Operators have found that they can save a significant amount of money by obtaining television service from one of the following alternative vendors:

• YouTube TV

• Fubo TV

• Roku & other plug-in devices and various subscriptions

   

Electricity

Electricity service is the responsibility of the Operator. Contact your local electricity service provider to start service. We recommend you start service in the name of your legal entity.

Your home may be heated by a variety of sources, including oil, natural gas, propane, electricity, or other less-common heating sources. You should be aware of the heating fuel required by the heating system(s) in your home, and the procedure for obtaining fuel and paying for it.

Heating Oil | Heating oil needs to be ordered on a regular basis and is delivered to your home by truck. Arrange for automatic delivery with a local oil company.

Natural Gas | Natural gas comes in to the home via a pipe and has a constant flow. Natural gas is metered when entering the home and is billed typically on a monthly basis. This is a contract service and must be arranged for with the provider, typically a large utility company but sometimes a municipality itself.

Propane Gas | Propane is bottled gas which, like oil, requires delivery on a regular basis. We recommend you arrange for automatic delivery with a propane company in your area.

Water and sewer services are most likely handled by your municipality and billed to the owner of the building. Most leases pass on the cost of water and sewer to the tenant, in this case, the Operator of the business in the home. Be prepared for these bills and be mindful of when they are due.

Waste management requirement and services vary depending on home location. Some Operators enjoy being located in cities that pick up trash and recycling for free. Some cities charge a small fee per barrel to pick up trash and recycling. Some cities charge a per-bag fee for trash collection. Some (not many) cities do not offer curbside pickup.

Operators are required to develop a plan for trash disposal. We strongly encourage the use of the 3 R's: Recycle, Reduce, and Reuse. Recycle whatever can be done so properly. Reduce the size of trash to maximize space in bags and barrels. And finally, try to reuse whatever you can to save it from the landfill.

1. Check to see if your home is served by free trash pickup

2. Etc.

Some Operators contract for and outside company to handle landscaping and snow removal services. However, you may want to consider having these duties performed by residents as part of their home chores, depending on the volume of work required, and liability concerns. 

We recommend all Operators consider using a pest control company to perform regular inspections and treatments for pests in your area. This could include ants, bees, bats, mice, roaches, bedbugs, and other pests. Pests can pose a health risk, and will certainly create an unattractive environment for residents. We encourage you to carefully weight the benefits of hiring a pest control company for regular service

Security services are occasionally used by Operators. This could take the form of video or entry point monitoring, or other forms of home security. These services are not used often, but are worth considering.

The sign in station should have the below items and be kept clear of third party information, mail, or other clutter. Sign-in forms are to be thrown away after 30 days. If an area for third party items is desired, consider a separate area for these things, or general clutter.

• Sign-In Binder. Blue binder with sign-in and sign-out forms, overnight request forms, grievance forms

• Marketing Material. Tri-fold brochures and post cards

• Resident Resources

Establishing television service? Read our article on utilities and contract services. Seating must be provided.

Ensure the computer is set up, able to access the internet, and hooked up to the printer.

Make sure the laundry area has some commonly accessible laundry soap prior to the home opening.

Emergency contact information, evacuation and exit plans, and procedures in the event of an emergency must be conspicuously displayed. They should be framed and hung in an easily recognizable area in brightly colored frames, labeled appropriately. Posters should be professionally printed on appropriate poster board material.

Individual state certification requirements may include additional forms. Please check with your state’s certification requirements for more information.

• House Rules

• Emergency Procedures: Must have House Manager name, phone number, and address written on it

• Grievance Policy

An evacuation plan must be prepared using a floor plan of the property for each floor of the building. This plan must be a drawing of each floor with clearly indicated egress pathways and exit doors (or stairs leading to exit doors). This is required for certification as well. A plan for each floor, including basement, should be prepared and posted on that floor.

If you are leasing a home from Vanderburgh House, we will be able to provide you with this plan.

• Resident names and phone numbers

  • Chores and responsibilities

  • Wi-Fi password

  • Notes and notices

Each home should have an initial supply of essential items to be kept in a common area for use by the residents. Once the home is open, residents will replenish these items from their House Supplies Budget.

Naloxone (Narcan) must be made available above each toilet in the home with spare naloxone located in the House Manager’s room. Each toilet should have at least two doses, and the home itself should have at least ten doses at all times. Check the expiration date on the naloxone periodically to make sure it is still current. There are many places where naloxone can be obtained for free, including at the pharmacy using a “standing prescription” or at community organizations.

• Summer: lawnmower, weed trimmer, hand trimmers, rakes, shovels, landscaping tools

• Winter: snow shovel, ice pick, ice melt

• Maintenance: tool set, snake for drains, extension cords, bolt cutter for abandoned padlocks

• Cleaning: broom and dust pan, mop and bucket

• Smoking: designated smoking area with butt can

Optional Items

• Exercise Equipment

• Riding Lawnmower

• Snowblower

• Raised Garden Beds

• Details in this section to be determined.