northern california property management: Is It Time For A Property Management Checkup? - 03/25/14 12:05 AM
Rental property is a dynamic investment, subject to changing market trends and the current condition of the properties in your portfolio.  One of the simplest ways to stay on top of your real estate investments is by conducting an annual property management checkup.  Whether you’re an active investor involved in the day-to-day of rental operations, or a passive investor with a property manager in place, understanding how your assets are being managed is critical to making informed investment decisions.
Each property management checkup should be customized to the unique features of the investment, such as property type, target tenant, location, management practices and investment … (2 comments)

northern california property management: Effective Rental Property Inspection Strategy - 03/24/14 01:41 AM
Implementing an effective rental property inspection strategy is one of the most important functions of property management.  Whether an owner inspects themselves or delegates the task to a property manager, inspections should be performed on a regular basis according to the terms of the lease and in the best interests of the owner and the tenant.
An efficient rental property inspection strategy includes both scheduled and as-needed inspections.  For most properties, we schedule two seasonal inspections: Fall to prepare for cold weather and Spring to prepare for warm weather.  Normally these are sufficient to verify that all systems are functioning, maintenance … (2 comments)

northern california property management: Prioritizing Rental Property Repairs and Maintenance - 01/19/13 03:51 AM
Whenever a repair request or complaint crosses a landlord’s desk, they need to assign a level of urgency to the task.  Like any business, rental property doesn’t automatically dispense monthly cash like an ATM.  Tenants and the property itself require constant care and attention.
Here are the four levels of priority we assign to rental property issues and opportunities as they become known.
1.    Health and Safety.  Any conditions that pose a risk to the health and safety of tenants, residents* and visitors must be addressed immediately.  In addition to a list of plumbers, electricians and other service providers who offer … (5 comments)

northern california property management: 5 Tips For Rental Owners Conducting Property Inspections - 11/07/12 05:25 AM
Walk-through inspections of residential rental property should be done twice each year – usually in fall and spring.  These inspections benefit the owner and the tenant by ensuring that the property is in good condition and that no problems exist that could result in complaints or vacancies.
Here are five tips to help rental owners conduct semi-annual inspections of their properties.
1.    Ask tenants if they have any issues.  These could be with the property, neighbors, or anything else that could affect their use or enjoyment of the property.
2.    Check heating and cooling systems thoroughly.  Whether going into a cold … (2 comments)

northern california property management: Investigating Problem Tenants - 09/22/12 01:37 AM
Eventually all landlords have them – problem tenants.  The problem could be merely late or unpaid rent, but equally as common are complaints from neighbors about noise, smells, trash, illegal parking, or just plain “suspicious activity.”  Here are some tips that owners and property managers should consider as they investigate problem tenants and work to resolve the problem.
1.    Start a file immediately.  From the first moment you become aware of a problem, start a file.  Note every contact with the source of the complaint, the tenant, and any potential witnesses.
2.    Seek out the facts before assigning blame.  In my … (6 comments)

northern california property management: Regular Inspection Of Rental Property Can Save You Money - 08/04/12 05:32 AM
Recently, I was up late working with the TV on when Spike TV’s “Worlds Worst Tenants” came on.  I’d only seen the promo’s before that night, but after watching for a few minutes I thought to myself, “that’s me!”  The show features three Southern California property managers handling some nasty tenant confrontations and evictions.  As a broker practicing Northern California property management, I’ve been in several situations like those featured on the show.  If you are a current or hopeful rental property owner, visit their web site (Worlds Worst Tenants) and check out a few episodes.  What you learn from watching … (3 comments)

northern california property management: Property Management Services Á La Carte - 02/13/12 07:44 AM
Investors with small real estate portfolios often own just a few single family homes, condos, or small multi-family buildings, but they actually represent the largest number of real estate investors in America.  Some are full time investors, while most are part-timers who find themselves torn between the desire to manage their own properties and the need to focus on their primary career, family or other investments.
For small investors with several irons in the fire, support from a professional property manager who offers á la carte property management services provides the balance they are looking for.  As noted in the chart … (1 comments)