Dave Poletti's Blog

Should I rent my property Furnished or Unfurnished?

Dave Poletti (Dave Poletti & Associates) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 12:38:25 -0700

Should I rent my property Furnished or Unfurnished?

We are often asked by property owners interesting in renting out their homes or a condominium is whether they should or could rent their property furnished as opposed to unfurnished. This is often due to a transfer out of town and not wanting to put the furnishings in storage.

While there can be some advantages to leasing a furnished property, there are many reasons not to.

Disadvantages

1.The potential market for a furnished unit is drastically smaller than an unfurnished one. Furnished housing represents less than 1% of the rental market! This means, finding a tenant can take much longer and vacancy rates will be much higher. This may mean longer periods that your property remains unrented and empty.

2.Tenants attracted to furnished units may not desire long term leases but short term ones such as 1 week to usually a maximum of 6 months.

3.Wear and tear of valuable furniture may be accelerated with tenant use versus owner use.

4.A detailed inventory is necessary prior to tenant moving in and following tenant move out to ensure contents of unit do not disappear.

5.Furnished units may produce an increased number of calls for malfunctions – not only appliances but items such as TV, stereo, even the toaster!

6. Condominium associations and owners resist long term rentals let alone short term. Most have do not allow short term leases or install high move-in/move-out fees per transaction.

Advantages

1.The unit can generate greater daily rental revenue, sometimes as much as 50% more income.

2.You are prone to attract higher quality tenants, for example those that are on assignment in the city through their work and that have higher salaries and corporate support from their companies.

3.No need to sell furniture at steep discounts or have them placed in storage.

4.Ideal for temporary no hassle relocation of owner to new geographies or a new home, without the need for a moving truck or large moving expenses.

Bottom Line

Unless your property is located in a weekly vacation destination, our suggestion for most owners is to bite the bullet and either bring your furnishings with you or put it in storage. Trying to lease your furnished property is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Don’t count on it.

In terms of demand, do you want 1% of the market or 99% of the market?

Dave Poletti & Associates

Property Management Seattle

Real Estate Services

AGC Building

1200 Westlake Ave N #1001

Seattle, WA 98109

206-286-1100

Email - info@davepoletti.com

Website - www.DavePoletti.com

Home of - "Seattle's Best Rentals"

Seattle Property Management: Renter Demand Reaches new High!!

Dave Poletti (Dave Poletti & Associates) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 10:57:40 -0700

Renter Demand Reaches new High!!

Vibrancy Evident As Renter and Investor Demand Rise Again. Zelman & Associates surveyed property managers on a just completed national survey, the demand for rental housing is at the highest level in the past 12 months. With Demand rising and Supply Tightening, Occupancy rises to a new High of 94.8%. This month, 9.4% of departing residents bought homes versus 10.7% over the last 12 months. The primary reason is due to the continued weak property sales despite some of the lowest interest rates in history. Rents in the Seattle market are holding relatively steady with a slight tick upwards after the holiday season is now behind us. The forecast is for a continued growth in demand this year.

Dave Poletti & Associates

Property Management Seattle

Real Estate Services

AGC Building

1200 Westlake Ave N #1001

Seattle, WA 98109

206-286-1100

Email - info@davepoletti.com

Website - www.DavePoletti.com

Home of - "Seattle's Best Rentals"

Seattle Property Management: Condominium Rentals on the Upswing

Dave Poletti (Dave Poletti & Associates) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:18:42 -0800

It appears the rental rates for Seattle Condominium homes may be on a slight rebound after a significant drop from a year ago. Demand has increased during the 4^thquarter of 2011. This is primarily due to the continuing unstable sales market. Potential buyers are simply on the fence about the future housing market. Many do not want to risk buying to find out the value may go down in the near future. Renting is a great short term option for most and the demand has certainly had a positive effect on the rental condominium market. High end Condos are starting to move as well. Amazon.com has had a big impact already on the downtown and South Lake Union neighborhoods in particular.

Dave Poletti & Associates

Property Management Seattle

Real Estates Services

AGC Building

1200 Westlake Ave N #1001

Seattle, WA 98109

206.286.1100

Email – info@davepoletti.com

Website – www.DavePoletti.com

Home of – “Seattle’s Best Rentals”

Seattle Property Management - Seattle Rental Market Update

Dave Poletti (Dave Poletti & Associates) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 17:55:21 -0700

- Seattle Rental Market Update -

The rental market in Seattle continues to be stable and the forecast is for a healthy market into next year. Prices have fallen slightly in the past couple of months but only slightly as supply has risen. Homes in the $1,500.00 to $2,000.00 are the highest demand and command 80% of the market. High end homes and condos still struggle with less than 5% of the tenant base.

Dave Poletti & Associates

Property Management Seattle

Real Estate Services

AGC Building

1200 Westlake Ave N #1001

Seattle, WA 98109

206-286-1100

Email - info@davepoletti.com

Website - www.DavePoletti.com

Home of - "Seattle's Best Rentals"

Seattle Property Management: BEWARE - Leasing Scam in Seattle

Dave Poletti (Dave Poletti & Associates) — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 12:23:11 -0700

Letter From the Housing Resources Group (in King County):

"We have had people show up at a few of our buildings expecting to have an appointment with a leasing agent in order to sign papers and move into an apartment. They are sent by a company called United Relocation Services or United Services. This company takes a $350 fee/retainer for “finding” them a unit, and purports to represent a broad cross section of property management companies. In fact, they seem to be giving victims a list of properties, ask that they check them out and let them know what they are interested in, then claim to be representing the property owner in arranging the lease. They tell the victim that the $350 covers screening and there is a chance that the property management company will take the $350 off of rent or deposits. The victim/renters then are sent to the property expecting to finalize the arrangements and pick up keys.

Should you have calls or visits from individuals who have been scammed, please tell them to contact the Fraud, Forgery & Financial Exploitation Squad of the Seattle Police Department at 206-684-8981. They accept calls between 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday."

Dave Poletti & Associates

Seattle Property Management

Real Estate Services

AGC Building

1200 Westlake Ave N #1001

Seattle, WA 98109

206-286-1100

Email - info@davepoletti.com

Website - www.DavePoletti.com

Home of - "Seattle's Best Rentals

Seattle Property Management: Changes to the Consumer Right's Letter

Dave Poletti (Dave Poletti & Associates) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 19:01:00 -0700

Dear Clients and Friends,

For many years now it has been required by the FCRA to give an applicant that has been denied or required to have a co-signer or increased deposit (anything other than a straight approval for tenancy) a notice called an Adverse Action Notice commonly known as a Consumer Right's Letter. This informs them of the adverse action taken by a landlord why, and how to go through proper channels to receive a FREE copy of their background check.

Now a new law is coming into affect as of July 21st, 2011. This affects the following:

"If you or your resident screening company use a credit score (www.myfico.com) as defined in FCRA Section 609(f)(2)(A), i.e., one used by lenders to arrange loans, in order to determine renter eligibility, AND, you take an adverse action, i.e., deny residency, charge a higher deposit, require a co-signer, etc., then you must provide the new credit score disclosure along with the adverse action notice (Consumer Right's Letter)

already required under FCRA.

• If you or your resident screening company use a score that is not a credit score as defined in FCRA Section 609(f)(2)(A) i.e., one that is not used by persons who make loans, AND You take an adverse action, i.e., deny residency, charge a higher deposit, etc., then you do not have to provide a credit score disclosure, BUT you must still provide an adverse action notice."

Dave Poletti & Associates

Property Management Seattle

Real Estate Services

AGC Building

1200 Westlake Ave N #1001

Seattle, WA 98109

206-286-1100

Email - info@davepoletti.com

Website - www.DavePoletti.com

Home of - "Seattle's Best Rentals"

Seattle Property Management: Service Members Civil Relief Act – Property Management update

Dave Poletti (Dave Poletti & Associates) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 19:00:32 -0700

Property Management Update - Service Members Civil Relief Act

Attention Landlords: Please be advised that there has been a change to the federal Service Member's Civil Relief Act, affecting military members who receive deployment orders.

Under the old act, if a member gave orders for deployment in the middle of a lease, that person was rent responsible for 30 days following the next time that rent was due. For example, if they moved out under orders on August 15th, then they would remaint rent responsible through September 30th.

Under the new law, they are only rent responsible for the 30 days following the notice and copy of the orders.

The new law als makes it clear that there can be no "penalties" for breaking the lease, including lease termination fees or repayment or rental concessions.

The Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act of 1940 was a law designed to protect military personnel while they served their country. The act allowed service members to devote their full attention to protecting and serving their country without worrying about things on the home front. In 2003, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act replaced the orginal, providing personnel with a larger umbrella of protection.

Dave Poletti & Associates

Property Management Seattle

Real Estate Services

AGC Building

1200 Westlake Ave N #1001

Seattle, WA 98109

206-286-1100

Email - info@davepoletti.com

Website - www.DavePoletti.com

Home of - "Seattle's Best Rentals"

Seattle Property Management - NWMLS – Just released statistics 06/11

Dave Poletti (Dave Poletti & Associates) — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 16:15:49 -0700

NWMLS - Just Released Statistics 06/2011

Based on the latest statistics from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, it looks like the market is down about 5% from a year ago. Here are the actual numbers:

Year-to-date pending sales are slightly under the total for the first five months of 2010 when sales were boosted by a federal tax credit. Through May 2010, Northwest MLS members had reported 35,454 mutually accepted offers; this year's total for five months is 33,612 (down about 5.5 percent).

Members reported 5,015 closed sales during May, about 5 percent fewer than the year-ago total of 5,290 completed transactions. For the first five months of this year, a total of 20,473 transactions have closed, which compares to 21,861 for the same five months of 2010 (down about 6.8 percent).

For the four-county Puget Sound region (King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties), pending sales through five months are at 97.6 percent of year-ago levels, while closed sales are at 95.6 percent of year-to-date totals for 2010.

Northwest MLS reports both pending sales (mutually accepted offers) as a barometer of the most recent sales activity, and closed sales (completed transactions).

Dave Poletti & Associates

Property Management Seattle

Real Estate Services

AGC Building

1200 Westlake Ave N #1001

Seattle, WA 98109

Email - info@davepoletti.com

Website - www.DavePoletti.com

Home of - "Seattle's Best Rentals"

Seattle Property Management - Seattle area sees fewer apartment vacancies, higher rents

Dave Poletti (Dave Poletti & Associates) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:32:57 -0700

Seattle Area Sees Fewer Apartment Vacancies, Higher Rents

For the first time in a few years, the rental market is really starting to pick up. Although November and December of 2010 were relatively slow for everyone, we saw a big jump in demand shortly after the first of this year. The only market that seems to be lagging still is in the high-end homes and condos where there is simply very little demand or an over-abundance of supply. We have not seen rents increase quite yet but it may be on the horizon. Here is a recent Seattle Times article:

**************************************************************************************

Things are looking up in Seattle's apartment market - if you're a landlord - with the region's vacancy rate dropping below 5 percent for the first time in several years.

Avalon Queen Anne is an apartment complex rising on Third Avenue West at the former Mountaineers site in Seattle's Lower Queen Anne neighborhood. Developed by Avalon Bay Communities, it is to be finished early next year.

Things are looking up in the Seattle area's apartment market - if you're a landlord.

The vacancy rate kept dropping over the past few months while rents kept rising, according to two recently released reports.

Both trends began a year or more ago. They will continue for at least the rest of this year, according to research firms Dupre + Scott Apartment Advisors and Apartment Insights Washington, the authors of the new reports.

Why? Basic economics.

"Supply and demand always counts for something," said Mike Scott of Dupre + Scott, "and this year there isn't going to be much new supply."

The number of new apartments in King and Snohomish counties slated for completion this year is just one-third the number of 2009, according to Apartment Insights.

Total new construction in those two counties plus Pierce, Kitsap and Thurston could hit a 40-year low, Dupre + Scott says.

What's more, demand is growing, both reports say. "The continuing decline in home values will ensure the overall preference for renting," Tom Cain, president of Apartment Insights, wrote.

The firms used different methodologies in compiling their reports but reached similar conclusions.

Apartment Insights surveyed apartment complexes with 50 or more units. It pegged King County's vacancy rate this month at 4.99 percent, the first time it's been below 5 percent since late 2007.

Dupre + Scott looked at projects with 20 or more apartments. It said the county vacancy rate in March was 4.3 percent, down from 4.9 percent last September and 6.8 percent two years ago.

Rents have risen, both firms reported, while the number of landlords offering incentives to lure tenants has dropped. So has the monetary value of those incentives.

Dupre + Scott predicted such concessions would all but disappear by the end of the year. Apartment Insights projected average monthly rents will increase 5 percent in 2011, in part because of an improving economy.

But other factors also are at play in the apartment revival. "Consumers are terrified about buying a home or condo today," Dupre + Scott wrote. "They are afraid prices will keep going down."

Dean Jones, owner of Realogics Sotheby's International Realty, disputed that. His firm is marketing condos in several downtown projects.

Buyers are coming back, he said, in part because of lower prices and new incentives. Those factors, plus low mortgage-interest rates and a shrinking condo inventory, suggest "the next two years in for-sale housing looks a lot different than the last two years," he added.

Rising rents are helping make for-sale housing more competitive, Jones said, especially among entry- and midlevel consumers.

For the most part, however, apartment buildings are filling up faster than condo projects. At The Bravern luxury project in downtown Bellevue, which converted from condos to apartments last year, a spokeswoman for developer Schnitzer West said about half the 443 units are leased - even though more than 200 didn't come on the market until October.

In Southeast Seattle, the first tenants are slated to move into the Station at Othello Park this week. It's one of the few new apartment projects slated to open this year.

Steve Rauf, president of developer Othello Partners, said about 10 percent of the 351 units next to Sound Transit's Othello light-rail station have been preleased - even though the model homes didn't open and the construction fence didn't come down until a couple of weeks ago.

He said he's offering one month's free rent, but almost certainly would have been giving more concessions two years ago.

"It's moved from a tenant's market to a landlord's market," Rauf said.

With demand apparently rising faster than supply, developers are rushing to fill the gap. Twenty-two of the 28 projects that have appeared on the agendas of Seattle design-review boards so far this year are apartment proposals.

Next month the boards will consider a 385-unit project in the University District, a 310-unit tower in Belltown, and a 202-unit complex in South Lake Union.

Most of those projects won't be ready for tenants until 2013. Will the market get overbuilt?

"There's a chance of a bubble," said Cain of Apartment Insights. "No one knows how many of these projects are actually going to be built, or what the market's going to be like in 2013."

For-sale housing could be more attractive by then, Cain said, "but it's going to take a few years for that market to bottom out and stabilize."

JIM BATES / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Dave Poletti & Associates

Real Estate Services

Seattle Property Management

AGC Building

1200 Westlake Ave N #1001

Seattle, WA 98109

206.286.1100

Email - info@davepoletti.com

Website - www.DavePoletti.com

Home of - "Seattle's Best Rentals"

Seattle Property Management - Landlord/Tenant Legislation Update!

Dave Poletti (Dave Poletti & Associates) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 15:18:45 -0700

Landlord / Tenant legislation update

Another legislative cutoff occurred on March 7. By that date bills had to be voted out of the house of origin to remain viable for this session. Despite this deadline, bills that could have an impact on the budget may still have some life left and could be revived as part of the budget process.

The following bills will not get further consideration this session.

DEAD BILLS

HB 1526: TENANT SCREENING. This had a hearing on February 17. The bill had three components. First, it requires a landlord to give a prospective tenant a list of the criteria that the landlord will use to screen the applicant. Second, it requires the landlord to give a denied applicant written notice of the reason or reasons for denial. Third, it prevents screening companies from reporting to a prospective landlord if an applicant has applied for a protection or no-contact order to prevent domestic violence or stalking. Tenant advocates did not think the bill went far enough, some landlord groups opposed the bill. WMFHA was neutral.

SB 5826: TENANT SCREENING. This bill was introduced on February 17, the deadline for getting a bill out of committee. This bill goes much further than HB 1526 and would prevent screening companies from reporting certain filed eviction lawsuits to prospective landlords. It did not get out of the Senate Housing Committee and is dead for this session. However, the chair of the committee indicates that he plans to have a work session on the bill before the end of the legislative session. WMFHA opposes the bill in its current form.

HB 1727: DEFINITION OF SERVICE ANIMAL. This bill was introduced on February 1 and significantly changes the definition of service animal. The animal must be trained to do work or perform tasks for a disabled person and the animal must be a dog. This bill never received a hearing.

HB 1778: UTILITY SUBMETERING. This bill was introduced on February 2. It appears to be patterned, in part, after the utility submetering ordinance that has been in existence in Seattle for several years. The landlord or utility billing company must disclose methodology to the tenant, there are limitations on the charges that may be imposed and copies of utility bills must be available to the tenant. The bill does allow RUBS billing but it must be based on number of occupants not on square footage. However, the bill also would require submeters to be installed in existing multifamily buildings with 3 or more units by January 1, 2018. If submeters were installed, the property would be exempt from all real property taxes for the year following installation of the submeters.

HB 1616: PUD LIEN AUTHORITY. This bill was introduced on January 27 and gives public utility districts (PUD) lien authority against real property that does not currently exist. It would also authorize a PUD to initiate lien foreclosure proceedings to collect unpaid utility bills. We are concerned that this bill would cease collection efforts against a tenant in rental property, allow utility bills to grow and then lien the property even though the tenant was responsible for payment of the bills

SB 5050: INTEREST ON SECURITY DEPOSITS. This bill is similar to bills that have been introduced in prior sessions that would divert the interest earned on security deposits to fund affordable housing. With interest rates earned on security deposits at an all time low and near zero percent, it is hard to see the benefit that would be gained by passage of the is bill. This bill also contains language that would make a violation of the security deposit return and accounting portion of the RLTA a violation of the consumer protection act.

HB 1126: CRIMINAL STREET GANGS. This 51-page bill has numerous provisions and was drafted by and introduced at the request of the attorney general. Most of the provisions give local prosecutors the ability to increase charges against and increase the penalties handed out to members of "criminal street gangs." The sections of concern to landlords allow a prosecutor to bring an abatement action against the owner of property where multiple criminal street gang related offenses have occurred. Although we believe that local prosecutors should be given effective tools to help them deal with gangs, we have concerns about the language in this legislation. A property can be declared a nuisance and closed for up to one year if there have been at least 3 unrelated gang-related offenses at a property in the past year. There is no requirement for the police or prosecutor to notify the owner of the occurrence of any gang- related offenses. A hearing must be scheduled within three days after the prosecutor requests it and the owner is only required to receive one day's notice of the hearing.

HB 1036/SB 5078: CONDEMNING REAL PROPERTY. These bills significantly modify the Community Redevelopment Law that has been on the books since 1957 and have also been introduced at the request of the attorney general. The CRL allows cities to acquire property through condemnation if the property is "blighted." The CRL requires a city to adopt an ordinance that determines areas in the city are blighted, acquire the property through purchase or condemnation and then use the property for a public purpose. These bills change the requirements of the CRL and allow a city to condemn property without having a public purpose if the property "poses a threat to public health, safety or welfare because of insanitary, unsafe or substandard condition of the premises or an unlawful use thereof." If the city adopts such an ordinance there will be a court hearing to determine whether the property is truly "blighted" and the court may allow the owner time to correct the conditions.

BILLS THAT MIGHT COME BACK IN THE BUDGET PROCESS

SB 5342: PROPERTY VALUATION APPEALS. This bill would lower the burden of proof that a property owner must meet when challenging a property valuation set by a county assessor. The burden of proof would be set at the same burden that any plaintiff has in a civil lawsuit rather than the current standard of "clear, cogent and convincing." The bill was amended in committee and reported out. The amendment lowers the burden of proof for hearings before the county Boards of Equalization and the state Board of Tax Appeals. It retains the clear, cogent and convincing standard for appeals that go to superior court.

HB 1661/SB 5283: TENANT VOUCHERS. These bills were introduced on January 20 and 28. Although they are not identical, each provides a funding source for rent vouchers that would be made available to low income tenants. The funding would come from an already existing $10 per document surcharge levied on each document recorded with county auditors. The bill would divert a portion of the proceeds away from construction and operation of government operated low-income housing and provides rent vouchers to low income tenants who rent from private landlords.

HB 1077; HB 1416/5289: B&O TAXES. All of these bills are attempts to modify the legislation passed last year that imposed B&O tax obligations on property management companies for the wages paid to onsite employees. HB 1077 would reverse the adverse B&O tax legislation passed last year but not until July 1, 2013. This bill has not been scheduled for a hearing. The other bills are more limited. They provide that if a limited partnership or a limited liability company owns the property and a housing authority is the sole general partner or sole managing member then the onsite wages are exempt from B&O taxes.

BILLS STILL ALIVE

HB 1266: CHANGES TO RLTA. This bill contains the changes to the RLTA that were agreed upon by the workgroup. Most of the changes are nominal because neither the landlord not tenant advocates were willing to make significant concessions during the negotiation process. This bill is now in the Senate for consideration. WMFHA supports this bill.

If you want more information about any particular bill, you can go to the legislative website http://www.leg.wa.gov click on "bill information" in the left hand column, and type the number of the bill that you want to review in the box entitled "search by bill number."

Dave Poletti & Associates

Property Management Seattle

Real Estate Services

AGC Building

1200 Westlake Ave N #1001

Seattle, WA 98109

206.286.1100

Email - info@davepoletti.com

Website - www.DavePoletti.com

Home of - "Seattle's Best Rentals"

Seattle Property Management: Legislative Day on the Hill – Property Management Legislation

Dave Poletti (Dave Poletti & Associates) — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 14:34:36 -0800

Legislative Day on the Hill - Property Management Legislation

On January 27^th, King County NARPM participated in the annual Legislative Day - Day on the Hill. The entire day was devoted to meeting legislators to discuss issues important to the rental housing industry. Over 150 people from housing associations throughout the state were in attendance including Leeann Ghiglione from Dave Poletti & Associates. This constitutes the strongest showing ever for this event.

Some of the issues discussed were the right to access public records for tenant screening, opposition to rent control and concerns about abatement of property without notification of criminal activity.

After the briefing, landlords and property managers were able to meet either with their legislators individually, or attend the group meetings where legislators came in to address everyone at one time. Legislators like to meet with their constituents and it makes it easy when there is more than 1 person to discuss the issues. Plus it makes a bigger impact. Legislators who made an appearance included: Rep. Ross Hunter, Rep. Jay Rodne, Sen. Steve Hobbs, Rep. Fred Finn, Rep. Larry Springer, Sen. Rodney Tom, Rep. Jamie Pederson and Rep. Troy Kelley. By meeting together it shows Legislators we have a strong united voice.

Dave Poletti & Associates

Property Management Seattle

Real Estate Services

AGC Building

1200 Westlake Ave N #1001

Seattle, WA 98109

206.286.1100

Email - info@davepoletti.com

Website - www.DavePoletti.com

Home of - "Seattle's Best Rentals"

Seattle Property Management - Dave Poletti Becomes president of the King County Chapter of NARPM

Dave Poletti (Dave Poletti & Associates) — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 16:19:24 -0800

Dave Poletti Becomes president of the King County Chapter of NARPM

Seattle, Wash. - January 28, 2011- Dave Poletti is the new president of the King County Chapter for the National Association of Residential Property Managers (NARPM). Mr. Poletti replaces Kellie Tollifson from T Square properties who filled this role for 2010.

NARPM is an association of real estate professionals who must have first-hand knowledge of single-family and small residential property management. The organization promotes high standards in business ethics, professionalism, continued education and fair housing practices. All members must pass a certification process that confirms that they meet these high standards.

Dave Poletti & Associates

Property Management Seattle

Real Estate Services

AGC Building

1200 Westlake Ave N #1001

Seattle, WA 98109

206.286.1100

Email - info@davepoletti.com

Website - www.DavePoletti.com

Home of - "Seattle's Best Rentals"

Seattle Property Management is now #1 on Google and Bing!!!

Dave Poletti (Dave Poletti & Associates) — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 11:24:22 -0800

Seattle Property Management is now #1 on Google and Bing!!!

Seattle Property Management - Dave Poletti & Associates website is now #1 on BOTH Google and Bing. Our efforts to increase traffic to our website with the ultimate goal of leasing vacancies have really paid off. We are receiving a high volume of leads from prospective tenants looking for quality rental properties. Although November and December are typically slow for renting properties, we remained busy. With our affiliation to rentals.com, seattle rentals.com, + the over 100 websites that we post to, our website receives over 16,000 hits per month or 500 hits per day! This is huge for a local property management company.

This boosted us to #1 on Google last Spring and now we are listed as the #1 property management company on Bing which are the two biggest search engines around based on volume. We will continue to add new features and enhance the renting experience for our valued residents and property owners.

Dave Poletti & Associates

Property Management Seattle

Real Estate Services

AGC Building

1200 Westlake Ave N #1001

Seattle, WA 98109

206.286.1100

Email - info@davepoletti.com

Website - www.DavePoletti.com

Home of - "Seattle's Best Rentals"

Seattle Property Management - Rental Market Update

Dave Poletti (Dave Poletti & Associates) — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 14:10:14 -0800

Seattle Property Management - While rents on small to medium sized homes have held their own, we saw a significant drop off on the upper end homes and condos in 2010. This is primarily due to an over-abundance of supply on the market. There are many homes and condos that are not selling in the soft sales market so owners are electing to rent them instead of taking such a large loss.

Tenants are really doing their research before deciding on which property to rent. In years past, the average tenant might look at 2-4 properties before making a decision. Now, with the ease of information available on rental websites, tenants can study the current property inventory and choose the best one that suits their needs.

As you can see by the graph, properties that rent for over $1,500.00 per month, are in much less demand than those over $1,500.00 per month.

As you can see from the graph, a home that rented for $2,500.00 a year and a half ago, (might) rent for $2,000.00 today. We do see a slight tightening in the market now but high end properties are going to continue to struggle this year unfortunately.

Good news however - demand remains high for 1 and 2 bedroom apartments, homes and condos in the moderate price range. We have been extremely bust in January after the holiday slowdown.

Dave Poletti & Associates

Proper Management Seattle

Real Estate Services

AGC Building

1200 Westlake Ave N #1001

Seattle, WA 98109

206.286.1100

Email - info@davepolett.com

Website - www.DavePoletti.com

Home of - "Seattle's Best Rentals"

Seattle Property Management - In the Clouds with Appfolio!

Dave Poletti (Dave Poletti & Associates) — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 12:16:53 -0800

In th Clouds with Appfolio!

We have been making upgrades to our internal systems and computers systems getting ready for our debut partnership with Appfolio software beginning January 1, 2011. We have researched the market for the past two years and finally came to the conclusion that Appfolio is by far the best product out there.

Appfolio is based in Goleta California and has quickly become the leader in the property management software industry for homes, condos and apartments. Appfolio is a cloud based format which is how most software will be hosted in the future for added safety and security. Our previous software company was great for many years but we felt they shifted their efforts to larger portfolio type management companies. As a reputable Seattle property management company, we wanted to ensure our tenant/owner/property information and communications were solid moving forward.

You will see a vast improvement in the look and feel of the monthly statements and reports. There are some new features coming in the near future as well. Tenants will be able to go online in a portal to see their current balance. They will also be able to make an ach online rent payment with no fees. Currently there is a small convenience fee to pay online. We want to eliminate this third party fee altogether for our residents altogether.

Dave Poletti & Associates

Property Mangement Seattle

Real Estate Services

AGC Building

1200 Westlake Ave N #1001

Seattle, WA 98109

206.286.1100

Email - info@davepoletti.com

Website - www.DavePoletti.com

Home of - "Seattle's Best Rentals"

Seattle Property Management - NWMLS home and condo sales statistics for December 2010

Dave Poletti (Dave Poletti & Associates) — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 13:44:12 -0800

Dave Poletti & Associates

Property Management Seattle

Real Estate Services

AGC Building

1200 Westlake Ave N. #1001

Seattle, WA 98109

206.286.1100

Email - info@davepoletti.com

Website - www.DavePoletti.com

Home of - "Seattle's Best Rentals"

Seattle Property Management - CRIMINALS AND SEX OFFENDERS A PROTECTED CLASS?

Dave Poletti (Dave Poletti & Associates) — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 15:39:26 -0800

Seattle's Office for Civil Rights has started discussion focused on finding ways to make it easier for convicted criminals to find housing and employment in the city. This seems like a logical idea, unless you're a landlord in Seattle and don't want to be forced to rent to criminals. However, if SOCR gets its way that's exactly what would happen under a proposal the office is planning on presenting to Mayor McGinn in January.

The proposal is a result of SOCR partnering with the Sojourner Truth Transitional Housing Program, a transitional housing group that provides housing and support for homeless, economically or emotionally oppressed women. The partnership kicked off their campaign for finding convicted criminals housing and employment by hosting a public forum on November 30th at Garfield Community Center.

The proposed law would make it illegal to discriminate against people in housing and employment based solely on an arrest or conviction record. The law would not apply to arrests or convictions that directly relate to an applicant's tenancy, such as a conviction for arson, or create an unreasonable threat to the safety or welfare of employees, landlords, tenants or property.

According to SOCR Director Julie Nelson, "Employers would still be able to ask about criminal backgrounds-arrests and convictions-but they wouldn't be able to use that in a discriminatory capacity." Interestingly, only two jurisdictions have similar protections for criminals: Madison, Wisconsin and Dane county in Wisconsin.

Washington State law already limits information landlords can receive about a person's criminal history. A consumer reporting agency may not report any records of arrest, indictment, or conviction of crime that, from date of disposition, release, or parole, which antedate a consumer report by more than seven years.

Having a screening policy for prospective tenants is necessary to ensure landlords get qualified, responsible tenants who pay their rent on time, can take care of the unit and will respect their neighbors. RHA ( Rental Housing Association ) President Julie Johnson commented "you don't want to rent to people with drug convictions. If they turn out to be growing [pot], or have a meth lab, federally, they could seize the property. This proposal would make landlords do the job that the state should really be doing, like providing transitional housing and employment to ex-felons. Property owners should be able to decide whom they rent to."

Most landlords choose to use a consumer reporting agency to help them make this decision, informing the landlord of a person's credit worthiness, credit standing, credit capacity, character, general reputation, and/or personal characteristics through credit bureau credit reports, criminal background investigations, civil record investigations, previous rental history and verification of employment.

The landlord's duties as imposed by the Washington State Landlord Tenant Act are to keep the premises fit for human habitation. Landlords are not equipped to monitor their tenant's behavior, or act as a counselor, and we have the right to select the most qualified applicant to rent our unit. An ex-offender may or may not fit those criteria.

Legal liabilities for the landlord, and the obvious security risk to other tenants, would also be a major issue. If the owner chooses not to rent to an applicant with a criminal history, they may be sued for discrimination. If they choose to rent to the applicant, and the applicant, now tenant, injures another tenant, the landlord may also be sued.

Interestingly, many local jurisdictions, particularly in suburbs south of Seattle (Auburn, Des Moines, Kent, King County), have enacted crime-free ordinances which require a landlord to evict tenants when a number of police visits have been made to the property. If a landlord does not evict the tenant, the landlord faces fines and inspections from the city. These laws, when combined with SOCR's open-door policy for criminals in Seattle, could lead to an increased criminal population living in Seattle.

RHA has met with SOCR, and begun discussions with council in advance of the legislation being introduced. At RHA's meeting with SOCR, Director Nelson commented that SOCR believes landlords are using the presence of a criminal conviction as a reason to discriminate against an applicant who falls under other classes that are protected, such as race or sexual orientation. However, the logical approach to these situations would be for SOCR to enforce existing laws regarding protected classes.

The implications of making certain types of ex-offenders a protected class is extraordinary and takes the debate about protected classes into uncharted territory. It is one thing to grant protected status because of something beyond one's control (race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, etc.), but quite another to grant it because of the (bad) choices one has made. The unstated premise upon which this kind of thinking rests is that one need never be responsible for the consequences of one's actions.

As rental housing providers, we have an obligation to maintain a safe and secure environment for all our tenants. Anything that compromises our ability to do this is not good for tenants or the community. RHA supports a housing-for-all policy. Rental housing can and does fulfill that need.

Dave Poletti & Associates

Property Management Seattle

Real Estate Services

AGC Building

1200 Westlake Ave N #1001

Seattle, WA 98109

206-286-1100

Email - info@davepoletti.com

Website - www.DavePoletti.com

Home of - "Seattle's Best Rentals"

Seattle Property Management - King County NARPM raises $3,054.00 fjor the "Northwest Children's Fund"

Dave Poletti (Dave Poletti & Associates) — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 17:24:06 -0800

Dave Poletti & Associates

Property Management Seattle

Real Estate Services

AGC Building

1200 Westlake Ave N. #1001

Seattle, WA 98109

206-286-1100

Email - info@davepoletti.com

Website - www.DavePoletti.com

Home of - "Seattle's Best Rentals"

Seattle Property Management - Carbon Monoxide Alarm Installment Requirement Postponed

Dave Poletti (Dave Poletti & Associates) — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 12:35:52 -0800

Today the State Building Code Council took action postponing the requirement that all existing multi-family housing units be equipped with at least one carbon monoxide alarm by July 1, 2011. The Council will now start a new rulemaking process that will allow time for further consideration of stakeholder interests.

New rules will likely be established by November 2011 and take effect July 1, 2012. It is expected that the new regulation will require installation of alarms in units by July 1, 2012. WMFHA will be seeking an exemption for those buildings that do not have a source of carbon monoxide.Without the action today, CO alarms would have been required in all new dwellings beginning January 1, 2011 and in all existing buildings by July 1, 2011.

After adopting regulations in November 2009, the SBCC received a number of complaints from a variety of groups and organizations including WMFHA and the lodging industry. The groups pointed out that the regulations had been adopted without giving stakeholders a meaningful opportunity for input and that the regulations, as adopted, would impose significant financial burdens on housing providers. WMFHA and other landlord organizations also pointed out that the International Code Council as part of its preparation of the 2012 codes is only requiring CO alarms in existing buildings that have fuel fired appliances or attached garages.

In adopting its Emergency Rule this morning, the SBCC stated that it would: 1) eliminate the requirement for installation of carbon monoxide alarms except where fuel-fired appliances or attached garages are present, and 2) delay requirements for installation of CO alarms in existing units. "This would allow further time for consideration of stakeholder economic interests and additional amendments."

Obviously, WMFHA is pleased that its efforts in cooperation with other landlord groups have been successful in delaying the deadline for CO alarm installation. However, there is much work remaining to be done on this issue and the WMFHA Government Affairs Committee will continue to work diligently to protect the interests of multifamily owners and operators. The Council will now begin a new rule making process aimed at adopting new, final regulations regarding CO alarms. As in the past, the Council will receive pressure from some advocates to require the alarms in all units regardless of fuel source in the dwelling.

Dave Poletti & Associates

Property Management Seattle

Real Estate Services

AGC Building

1200 Westlake Ave N #1001

Seattle, WA 98109

206.286.1100

Website: www.DavePoletti.com

Home of - "Seattle's Best Rentals"

Seattle Property Management - Not All Criminal Searches Are Created Equal

Dave Poletti (Dave Poletti & Associates) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 18:40:49 -0800

One of the main functions of managing properties is the leasing of vacancies. The most important part of leasing homes or condos is not how much money we can lease the property for (contrary to most owners beliefs). We feel, the single most important part of the leasing process is the screening of a potential tenant's application.

Years ago, because of the limited information available, you would simply pull a credit report, call landlord and employment references and make a decision. Now, we have access to perform criminal background searches. Now that this information is reedily available, we feel it is our duty and responsibility to our current residents and rental property owners to require a criminal background check on all residents who rent our properties.

However... not all reports tell the whole story. We are partnered with Orca Information screening services and have been for over 10 years now. In part, because Orca provides our company with the most accurate and current information when screening tenant applications.

Take a look below for instance at the several criminal searches run on the same individual. You will see Orca's report tells the true story in comparison to other screening reports out there. At Dave Poletti & Associates, we feel it is critical to use the best information available when screening applications for everyone's safety.

Dave Poletti & Associates

Property Management Seattle

Real Estate Services

AGC Building

1200 Westlake Ave N. #1001

Seattle, WA 98109

206-286-1100

Email - info@davepoletti.com

Website - www.DavePoletti.com

Home of - "Seattle's Best Rentals"

Seattle Property Management - Downtown Seattle Rental Condo’s show slight uptick in demand

Dave Poletti (Dave Poletti & Associates) — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 14:28:54 -0700

With a stagnant local economy, we had a slight tick up in prices this summer from the beginning of the year which was slow across the board. The over-abundance of downtown condos for rent has also affected neighborhoods like Queen Anne, Ballard, Greenlake, Capitol Hill and South Lake Union.

The most common question we have from our owners is "How long will it take to lease my condo?" Unfortunately, this is an impossible question for anyone to answer unless the rent is set so low it is the best value around.

Tenants still love the urban living. With all of the new amenities, restaurants and entertainment options, it is a vibrant way of living. Tenants have become savvy in this market. The ease of information makes it easy to shop and compare for a relative bargain. Many tenants are viewing 5-10 properties before making a final decision. Be flexible and have a streamlined application process ready to go.

Preparing your condo properly is critical in this volatile market. You have to make sure everything looks absolutely great, is professionally cleaned, and is in ready to move-In condition when showing. Be prepared as an owner to pay any move-in costs your association requires for your new resident in this market.

You have to market, market, market right now. High quality and professional looking photos are important. The use of video and virtual tours is not just for condo sales. It has become a great way to make a professional presentation and gain high interest.

Here is an example of one of our great marketing videos to attract high quality tenants.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkhhrqEqcho

Dave Poletti & Associates

1200 Westlake Ave N #1001

Seattle, WA 98109

206.286.1100

Seattle Property Management Services

Email: info@davepoletti.com

Website: www.davepoletti.com

Home of - "Seattle's Best Rentals"

Seattle Property Management - 2010 NARPM Convention - Seattle, WA - "Dare to Soar"

Dave Poletti (Dave Poletti & Associates) — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 16:29:25 -0700

The 2010 "Dare to Soar" NARPM ( National Association of Residential Property Managers ) national convention at the Sheraton hotel in Seattle, WA has just completed and it was a huge success. It was the 22^nd national convention for NARPM which is the leader in professionalism in the residential property management industry through networking, education, and a strict Code of Ethics. This was the 2^nd time NARPM held its convention in Seattle. The last time was 1998.

NARPM provides ongoing education directly related to property management excellence for companies looking to grow, and professional property managers who are challenging themselves to take their personal businesses to the next level through education, designation and innovation.

My very gdear friend and colleague Vicky Gaskill - owner and broker of Bell-Anderson Property Management in Federal Way, WA is our national NARPM president for 2010. Vicky is a natural leader in this industry and her entire staff did a great job at the convention this year. Bell-Anderson and Dave Poletti & Associates both received our official CRMC plaques at the awards ceremony held on Friday.

The CRMC ( Certified Residential Management Company ) designation is the highest award given to property management companies who qualify under the strictest of guidelines. We were audited by one of our qualified piers to ensure all conditions of receiving this award were met. There are currently only 44 property management companies in the entire country who hold this designation.

Leeann Ghiglione MPM Sr. Property Manager for Dave Poletti & Associates was this year's national convention chair person and worked very hard for months preparing for this year's event making sure everything went according to plan. As a result, Leeann received the "Presidents Award" for her dedication to NARPM going above and beyond the call of duty. Leeann ensured the entire week's long event was organized, productive and fun for all.

There were many new and veteran property management vendors at the trade show this year showing off their wares. We are always trying to stay on top of the industry with new products and innovations to stay on top of our field. We will be adding some great new features to our systems in the near future as a result. Stay tuned.

NARPM members are always trying to better the property management industry. We share with each other our knowledge and ideas with one another, fostering the collective good of the industry and the customers we serve. NARPM members are a very rare and unique group of professionals. I know that if I have a question about my office operations, procedures, or need a special lease form, I can simply call a fellow respected NARPM member from around the country and they would be willing to share anything with me gladly. This is just one of the many benefits NARPM has to offer.

I have been a NARPM member for over 15 years now serving on the King County chapter's board as President and Treasurer. I can honestly say that my affiliation with NARPM is the primary reasons for our company's success in the property management industry. I would encourage all property managers from around the country who want to maximize their professionalism in this industry to join your local NARPM chapter and get involved. You and your business will no doubt flourish as a result. You can contact me personally for further information.

Dave Poletti & Associates

Seattle Property Management

1200 Westlake Ave N #1001

Seattle, WA 98109

206.286.1100

http://www.DavePoletti.com

Seattle Property Management - Rental Vacancies Dropping because Home Buyers Wait Out Home Value Instability

Dave Poletti (Dave Poletti & Associates) — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 12:47:27 -0700

Rental Vacancies Dropping because Home Buyers Wait Out Home Value Instability

Landlords in the Puget Sound area have been pleased to see their vacancy rates drop from 7.2% as of last fall to 5% this year. This is according to The Apartment Vacancy Report Executive Summary just released this month. The nearly 2% improvement has been a pleasant surprise, with much of the change occurring in just the last six months.

We at Dave Poletti & Associates can concur with this finding as our inventory of homes, condos and apartments have been filling up relatively quickly this year. The only difficulty we have seen is in high end homes and condos where the demand is low. Newer townhomes have been moving pretty quickly in north Seattle as tenants see great overall value here.

Most economists recognize that this rapid improvement in the rental market isn't due to a turnaround in the economy. Rather, the improvement appears to be connected with the continued drop in housing values. Who wants to purchase a home when the value is going to continue declining? With the media continuing to cry about the woes of declining property values, renting for the present is beginning to look more attractive than ever before.

Actually, rents this spring were down 5% from the peak reached two years ago in 2007-2008. In previous recessions, landlords have been reticent to lower their rents. Not this time however. Now, rather than let properties stay empty, up to 60% of landlords have turned to offering rent incentives. Some are allowing pets where they didn't before. This has developed a solid occupancy base. This is a good position for rental properties to be in. As demand rises, apartment owners and investors may be able to begin raising their rates without fear of losing occupancy.

And demand is going to rise. A local economic forecaster is predicting that the Puget Sound area is going to see an increase of around 76,000 jobs over the next two years. Using forecast prediction models that have worked in the past, this equals an increased demand for apartment units of around 9,500. Based on existing development forecasts, which could change in the weeks ahead, there will be a 4,500 unit shortfall over the next two years.

When you compare that prediction against the opening of close to 6,000 units last year, there's going to be a shortage of rental units soon. The amount of new apartment units predicted for next year, 2000, is one of the lowest numbers of new rental units since 1972 or 1993.

Which Properties are Renting?

Across Puget Sound, properties built before 1965 are seeing the lowest vacancy rates at around 3.5%. Then there is a gap. Properties that have come online in the last three years have the next lowest vacancy rates, around 4.5%. This is despite the fact that these two-bedroom, two-bath properties typically rent for around $1,500- to $1,800- per month.

Of course the summary report also includes properties that fall between 1965 and 2007. Over 2,000 properties with 20-unit or larger apartment complexes were included in the survey. This means that a good cross-section for the Puget Sound area was included. The report shows that occupancy rates are going up overall as compared to last fall and this spring. This is good news for apartment owners and property management firms alike.

Dave Poletti & Associates

1200 Westlake Ave N #1001

Seattle, WA 98109

206.286.1100

Website: www.DavePoletti.com

Offering Seattle Property Management Services for 25 + Years

Seattle Property Management - City Council adopts Rental Housing Inspection Program

Dave Poletti (Dave Poletti & Associates) — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 12:13:50 -0700

Rental Housing Inspections in Seattle - A Move to Protect Renters from Sub-Standard Conditions

In a recent decision, Seattle City Light Council approved legislation designed to protect renters from rental housing conditions taht do not live up to waht the city considers minimum standards. This mirrors successful passage of legislation at the State level proprosed by representatives of both apartment owners and their tenants to improve the quality of rental housing in the State.

Commenting on the new legislation, Councilmember Sally J. Clark explained that "the vast majority of landlords in Seattle care about their renters and their investment, but a few don't." As chair of the Seattle City Council's Committee on the Built Environment, she was instrumental in bringing the legislation before the Full Council for a vote. She recognizes that "a rental licensing and inspection program isn't a cure-all for sub-standard housing, but we should preserve the ability to institute a program that safeguards the rights of tenants and property owners."

The Council's actions were motivated in part by legislation passed by the State Legislature. The Council had until June 10, 2010 to put its own inspection program in place or State inspection rules would have taken precedence, and Seattle's ability to design local inspection programs would have been forfeited. This means the current ordinance preserves the right of the Council to define the standards that will apply to rental properties in Seattle.

Rental property owners and managers can expect the specific details regarding rental housing licensing and inspection programs to change. The Council has until April 1, 2012 to finalize these details and put a final version of the law into effect.

What has Changed?

It is estimated that around 51% of all dwellings in Seattle are rented. The previous law only allowed city inspectors to enter a rental property upon the invitation of the tenant or owner. The new legislation will allow the City to move forward with a pro-active rental inspection program.

As part of the process of developing the City's comprehensive plan, the Department of Planning & Development (DPD) must prepare a report by February 1, 2011 that addresses the elements that need to be in place for the future licensing and inspection programs. The Council expects the DPD to work with stakeholders on establishing a law that is fair and balanced.

The issues to be discussed include:

•· Should the City require all units to be inspected, or will a sampling be acceptable?

•· What kind of inspection schedule should be established?

•· What is a reasonable frequency for inspections?

•· What standards should be set for passing or failing an inspection?

•· Should the scope and focus of the proposed rental housing inspection program be citywide or geographically focused?

•· Should inspections be limited to buildings with a certain number of units or to certain types of units?

•· Should there be exemptions in the legislation? If so, should they be expanded?

The DPD has also been asked to report to the City Council by July 1, 2011 with a report on its success with applying the powers granted by SSB 6459. SSB 6459 allows the City to seek an inspection warrant when evidence surfaces that a rental property has the potential to threaten the life or safety of the tenant. This information could also have an impact on the final version of this City legislation to be finalized by April 1, 2012.

Dave Poletti & Associates has built our reputation on maintaining the highest standards in building safety and maintenance for all the properties we manage. We continue to encourage and challenge all the property management companies and landlords to maintain a high standard of habitability for all residents.

Dave Poletti & Associates

1200 Westlake Ave N #1001

Seattle, WA 98109

www.DavePoletti.com

Offering Seattle Property Management Services for 25+ Years!

Seattle Property Management - How to Know if You Have a Carpenter Ant Infestation

Dave Poletti (Dave Poletti & Associates) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 21:29:41 -0700

How to Know if You Have a Carpenter Ant Infestation

Carpenter andts are one of the most common ants in the Northwest and posses the ability to destroy one of your most valuable investments: you home or rental homes!

Smaller male carpenter ants will begin crawling about as early as February and larger females will emerge a little later in the spring. Their outdoor activity primarily consists of workers traveling between foraging sites and their nests or moving a satellite colony into a structure, like your home.

Colonies generally consist of a queen, brood (larvae and pupae) winged ants, and workers. Older colonies usually have satellite colonies, in addition to the main colony, containng workers, older brood and often some winged males and females preparing for mating flights (swarming). (Makre sure your tenants know to contact you if they are seeing large flying ants, in or near your home. Their presence could mean that there is a nest close by or already within the structure.) Main colonies are often found outside in damp wood (tree stumps, wood piles, etc.) where young brood can be raised in high humidity.

Satellite colonies do not require high moisture and can thus be found in various locations like beneath insulation attics, subfloors, window frames or wall voids. The number of satellite colonies can vary from none to over 20, depending on climate and length of time allowed to infest.

Though carpenter ants do not eat wood like termites the damage cause is comparable because they excavate tunnels and galleries into the wood to store their food and young.

Carpenter Ant Facts to Keep in Mind:

The ants you see crawling around the home are often only 5-10% of the actual colony. During warmer months, carpenter ants are most active at night. People often mistake this for their absence.

Wood is not the only substance they excavate. They will choose other firm materials of similar density: foam, insulation, pressure treated wood, etc.

The can be different sizes or "polymorphic".

The queen can live over 20 years, and produces 10's-100's of thousands of young from one fertilization.

When looking to hire a professiona for Carpenter Ant treatment, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Have they been present in your home for over a year?

2. Have you seen them during the winter months?

3. Have you seen winged varieties prior to ther mating flights (swarming)?

4. Have you heard regular chewing noises especially at night?

If you answer, "yes" to any of these questions, you can assume that you either have a satellite or main colony nesting in your home. This level of infestation will most likely require professional treatment. If you answered, "no" to all of the questions but are still worried you have a carpenter ant issue, the colony may be residing near your home. Fortunately, this is a simple fix and preventative treatment should suffice.

Other conditions to look out for around your home and rental properties that may be conducive to carpenter ants and other pests are: Water leaks, drainage problems, trees or bushes touching the exterior of the home, fences touching the home (especially wood fences), and stumps or woodpiles less than 15 feet from the home.

Dave Poletti & Associates

Seattle Property Management

1200 Westlake Ave N #1001

Seattle, WA 98109

206.286.1100