Fireplaces....is yours safe ? - 12/31/09 05:24 AM
 
I re-blogged an earlier post by Chuck and since our area has had several horrible fires this fall, this is important for property managers who have properties with fireplaces.
I require residents to have chimneys professionally cleaned prior to use at their own expense.
 
Via Chuck Berg (Berg Design : Certified Home Inspections):
   "Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful!" That song may bring up images of serenity, but in the U.S. alone, over 3,400 people die yearly in residential fires, most occurring in the winter months. The most common culprits are space heaters … (2 comments)

New Shootout Rules will Allow some Great Drivers to Field Cars in Early February - 12/30/09 06:12 PM
I am glad that they have changed the rules and so that drivers like Michael Waltrip, John Andretti and  Kevin Harvick will get to drive.  It will be interesting whose cars John, Terry, Kenny and Derrick will drive - may spice up some sponsorship for some smaller teams or get some rides for some GREAT drivers!!!
2010 Budweiser Shootout Eligible drivers
… (3 comments)

Checkers (flags) and Wreckers (tow trucks) are ALL a part of NASCAR - 12/30/09 12:38 PM
Wrecks are a part of NASCAR * not particularly a FUN part * I remember where I was when I heard Dale Sr had crashed at Daytona (the RIC airport baggage carousel) so seeing them over and over on TV is memorable....some CRASH pictures from 2009

This is the second Daytona race where Kasey Kaine wrecked and took out Kyle Busch as the same time.  VA driver Elliott Sadler scrapes by in the #19

Night All-Star race from Lowe's with Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman, Math Kenseth AND Carl Edwards

Horrible wreck of Carl Edwards where he … (4 comments)

How I have SAVED money and CUT expenses for my Real Estate Business - 12/29/09 06:24 PM



Although my property management business is an S-corp entity, I am the chief, cook and bottle washer and as such I have found that by being totally and completely involved in the day-to-day operation, I can make decisions regarding my bottom line that may go against the grain of many corporate real estate firms.
These are some of the ways I have SAVED money over the past year.....
1)   I use USPS stamps and delivery confirmation, priority and express mail. I don't use FedEx or UPS and if I have to send something overseas, I use our … (14 comments)

Does your house need gutters ? - 12/29/09 06:06 AM
 
I'm re-blogging this to the property management group because it is SO VERY IMPORTANT in the inspection or property review process for us to look UP...toward gutters, overhanging tree limbs, chimneys, plumbing vents AND roofs 
 
Via Chuck Berg (Berg Design : Certified Home Inspections):
   Gutters and downspouts carry water from the roof away from the building, protecting the cladding system and the foundation. Gutters are also called troughs or eavestroughs. Downspouts are also called rain water leaders, leaders or conductor pipes. While not every home requires gutters and downspouts, those that do suffer dramatically if they are not present … (8 comments)

Road Trip brings Property Management Group Members TOGETHER!!!! - 12/28/09 03:40 PM
Eric and Lori Boyd bought me lunch today....yes, they live in Jacksonville, FL and I live in VA; however, Lori's sister lives in Fredericksburg, VA about an hour 20 min drive from my home and since their family was visiting  herfor the holidays. Eric suggested we get together  I drove to the Olive Garden on Rt.3 at I-95 and met them for lunch. Great time with lots of property management discussion and joking and the value of AR. I hope I was able to provide some insight and help in their establishing their property management company.  Judging by Eric's contributions on … (5 comments)

Some of the STUPIDEST Questions Rental Prospects Asked me This Year!!! - 12/28/09 05:53 AM
 
1) Will you hold this home for 3 months?  My lease does not end for 3 months!
2) Will you repaint the home?
3) Will you re-carpet?  I want to make sure it is clean.
4) Will you change the gas stove?  I’m afraid of gas.
5) Can I repaint if I paint it BACK when I move?
6) Will you take the deposit next month when I get paid?  I’ll sign the lease today.
7) Will you lower the rent for a longer term lease? I wrote an ENTIRE blog about this
8) Can I have my sister and … (13 comments)

How to Put Listings in Your ActiveRain Blog Sidebar - 12/27/09 05:24 AM
 
WOW!!!  This is FANTASTIC * I've seen listings on various blogs and thought they were an extra cost add on * Finding this is a REAL GEM.  Many property managers use postlets to post to Craigslist so this is EASY to do.  If you do all of the posts at the same time, you can keep track of which listings you have imported as the LINKS is active on your 'Manage' window!!!!
 
Via Fran Gatti - Realtor®, RDCPro®, Crescent City CA Real Estate (RE/MAX Coastal Redwoods):
How to put listings in your ActiveRain blog sidebar -
I have had many … (5 comments)

Vacating a Judgment – How to attempt to get rid of a judgment - 12/26/09 06:27 PM
 
I'm reblogging this as I think that property managers need to know the steps that their tenant/judgement debtor/defendants may use when they obtain a judgement.  
Frequently residents indicate they were not served which is a very common way to get the judgement vacated.  Having the proper service wording in the lease or following the steps outlined in the state civil procedures goes a long way....VERY HELPFUL INFORMATION!
 
Via Joe Orsak (Improve My Credit USA):
Vacating a Judgment - Attempting to Remove a Judgment
Has a creditor or collection agency filed a judgment against you or someone you know? If … (6 comments)

My December 26th was MORE Exciting than Christmas * My new Kindle Deliveries!!! - 12/26/09 06:01 AM
Yeap!!! I got up at ODark 30 today and turned on the wireless function of my KindleDX * Amazon had sent me an e-mail that my downloads were ready so I when I turned it on, I quietly got a cup of coffee and started checking e-mail TRYING to forget about the presents about to arrive!!!
Finally, I've downloaded Sarah Palin's Going Rogue and Ted Kennedy's True Compass.  I ordered when I was made aware that they were going to be available; however, the download date for BOTH was the 26th of December * Amazon did not want downloads to out … (8 comments)

Cleaning House--It is Time to "Fire" No Fewer than Ten Percent of My Clients!!! - 12/25/09 07:07 AM
 
This is also true in property management * maybe even more so.  Although I usually work with 2 year management agreements, I frequently fire owner/clients who are uncooperative and by doing so, I am able to meet the needs of other clients and take on new challenges and opportunities.....great and timely post!!!
 
Via Elliott S. Topkins Massachusetts Real Estate and Title Atty (Topkins & Bevans-etopkins@topbev.com):
The is no question that Jack Welch, the former CEO at GE, and now a frequent contributor on CNBC and other ffinancial forums is extremely full of himself. If you have read his books, he … (8 comments)

Judge me by my CAR!!! Men are from JEEP and Women are from LEXUS - 12/23/09 11:29 AM
Having driven almost 400 miles on our area roads since the snowstorm on Friday/Saturday, I have made some observations.
There are very few Toyotas and NO Lexus(i/es) parked on the side of the road still in snow.  There was an older Camry that I suspect is a hand-me-down to a teenager or college student. 
There are still LOADS of trucks * many 4WD on the road and one I saw this morning is upside down on its roof and I suspect it may be a new wreck as it was on a curve on an icy road.
There are numerous JEEPS … (8 comments)

Add To Your Investment In Property Management - 12/22/09 06:12 AM
 
Although I'll excuse the use of HE/HIM when referring to a property manager, this is EXCELLENT information for our AR property management pros.
 
Via Property Management In Atlanta - Carla Barnes (EOTM Properties, LLC):
 

 
Investment property management is fast emerging as one of the vital aspects of a successful realty investment. In spite of the currently dull phase of the housing market, investing in properties is still considered one of the most profitable and stable activities. To keep all realty investments profitable, it is important to ensure efficient assets management.
Managing a property that includes managing of … (12 comments)

Carl Edward's Family Christmas Card * Oh! She's writing about NASCAR again!!! - 12/21/09 11:42 AM
In the small world category, about 10 years ago a friend of ours introduced us to Jim Sterling.  Jim's sister is our friend's good friend from KC.  Jim came to Virginia and although our friend and Jim did not hit it off, Jim kept us on his Christmas card list.  A few years later Jim married Nancy Edwards, mother of NASCAR driver, Carl Edwards, and we started getting cards with Carl in the family photo.  The first card actually had a live-size cut-out of him in his firesuit because he was unavailable.
 
This appears to be the WHOLE FAM DAMILY!!!
… (12 comments)

No Travel * No Place to Go * Let it SNOW, Let it SNOW, Let it SNOW - 12/20/09 08:58 AM
Calculations differ so my guesstimate is 12 inches of snow on our cars and drive here in Keswick, VA.....Neighbor with a blade on his truck cleared our drive yesterday * my SoCal husband has a new JEEP and transferred his VIRGINIA vanity plate of WAVGUY to his new car....I grabbed camera from my car to take this picture before he destroyed the evidence.....Yes, it DOES snow in Virginia!!!

… (12 comments)

Las Vegas Area Renters - Be Careful - How to Find Out if the Home You Are Renting (or want to rent) is in Default - 12/18/09 11:19 AM
 
Unfortunately this was not originally placed under the Property Management group so I am re-blogging it as it really relates to our industry!!
 
Via Renee Burrows - Las Vegas NV Valley - Homes For Sale - SRES - SRS - AHWD - ABR (Encore Realty Group -Realtor>Estate>Probate>REO>Short Sale):
I decided it was time to update and rewarn all Las Vegas Renters and POTENTIAL Renters of the signs that your home you are renting (or want to rent) is in stages of foreclosure.
I perform many BPOs.  BPOs are Broker Price Opinions which means banks are just searching for opinions on list … (4 comments)

Area Tenants Want LONG TERM LEASES @ a DISCOUNT?! Good Luck!!! - 12/18/09 06:55 AM
Many new-hires coming into the area know their length of stay with their employer or school term and they want to sign long-term leases for 2 to 3 years and they are asking for a discounted rent.....they are SURPRISED when I say NO and NO!!!
Just like with a fixed term COMMERCIAL lease, there are escalating landlord costs with RESIDENTIAL properties also * taxes, insurance, HOA costs, repairs and maintenance.  To DISCOUNT the rent 2 or 3 years in ADVANCE of KNOWING these costs puts the property owner at an EXTREME disadvantage.  While the ATTRACTION of having a KNOWN resident (income … (3 comments)

2010 Florida Senate Race NOT As Good for Crist as Expected - 12/16/09 11:52 AM
A new poll has found that Florida Governor Charlie Crist's campaign for the U.S. Senate is currently in deep trouble. The new Rasmussen poll of likely GOP voters found Crist and his Republican opponent, Marco Rubio, are tied with 43 percent of the vote. This is a huge swing from just a few months ago when most experts believed Crist would win in a landslide.
The Florida GOP race is being followed closely by national political watchers to see what, if any, impact the tea party movement might have amongst GOP voters. In other political races, the "tea party" has threatened … (12 comments)

For those of you who do not APPRECIATE NASCAR!!!!! - 12/14/09 03:36 PM

Danica Patrick will be driving in the NASCAR second tier Nationwide (formerly Busch series) for approx 10 races for JR Motorsports (JR Motorsports is owned by Dale Earnhardt JR and his sister).  Patrick is the "Go Daddy" girl of TV commercials and JR has a long term sponsorship agreement with Go Daddy!!!
62 days to the Daytona 500!!!
 
 
 
… (10 comments)

Welcome to Obamaville Co's FASTEST Growing Community - 12/13/09 04:17 PM
 

 
According to KJCT, this sign is in front of a homeless camp off I-25 in Colorado Springs.  The question is "Who Put UP The Sign?". Mark Limonez, a homeless man living in the camp says the sign doesn't make him feel good about trying to get back on this feet.  He says he has never seen so many camps since he has been out on the street.
To some of the homeless, the sign's message says it all.
 
 
… (4 comments)

Landlords should be aware of their responsibilities in the case of Domestic Violence - 12/12/09 07:23 AM

http://www.legalmomentum.org/assets/pdfs/housing.pdf
The holidays are often hard on families and police and social services agencies ready for the calls during this season.  In the case of domestic violence, landlords have rights and responsibilities which are rarely understood or acknowledged.  The above pdf document has the guidelines by state and they update them as states pass or update legislation.  
The website www.legalmomentum.org  is an excellent source for state laws governing this issue for employment and housing.
 
… (6 comments)

For those of you who do not understand NASCAR!!!! - 12/04/09 09:40 PM
 

… (22 comments)

Why there will never be a FairHousingGate!!! - 12/02/09 12:20 PM
The term "gate" is now commonly being used to expose government fraud - Watergate is the DC landmark made famous by the burglars who broke into the DNC hq in the mid-70s....WATERGATE became the scandal that brought down the Nixon White House.
Several "gates" have come forward from IranGate involving guns for hostages; CamillaGate involving telephone conversations between Camilla Parker-Bowles and Prince Charles: and NOW we have ClimateGate involving the bogus science surrounding the Global Warming/Climate Change hysteria.
....But, there won't be a FairHousingGate....there SHOULD be, but there won't.  
Complainants (prospects or tenants) don't want the fact that they filed … (0 comments)

 
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Wallace S. Gibson CPM *

LandlordWhisperer

Charlottesville, VA

More about me…

Gibson Management Group, Ltd.

Office Phone: (434) 825-1933

Email Me

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