Managers should prepare a list of tenants who did not return the notices. I advise giving this list along with some blank notices to superintendents or other building employees and have them knock at the tenant's door and have it filled out on the spot.

This may seem like a lot of work, but is considerably easier than the DOH alternatives, and more importantly - it could save a child's life. Managers should also be collecting Lead Paint Notices at the same time as Window Guard Notices.

This is also a great time to check on the tenant's smoke detector to make sure it is in good working order. Furnish your employees with several spare detectors and batteries, again for on the spot repairs. A good tip for your staff is to supply them with a roll of heavy double stick tape. They use a piece of tape to hold the detector to the ceiling, freeing up both hands to insert the screws. This is a real time saver. Managers should have most, if not all 2000 year end duties completed. This includes conducting an audit/inventory of all 2000 files (do you have all 12 bank statements for each account, operating & Reserve, for each building?) and destroying all old files from whatever number of years your firm stores them.

Stephen Elbaz, nyarm, serves as Secretary of the NYARM Board of Directors and is President of Esquire Management Corporation - a full service management company in New York and New Jersey. Readers are encouraged to contact Stephen at 718-623-2300 or fax 718-623-2322 with real estate management questions, concerns, and helpful hints. Questions will be thoroughly researched and answered in this column