rental: Pride and Due diligence
- 10/13/11 09:43 AM
Having pride in personal endeavors is the first step into a successful lifestyle and successful business outcome. If we as property manager begin to take pride in each home, and each owners account, as if it was our own, we will understand the views of each prospective and begin to give better customer service because of that. When taking on new accounts to manage, a property manager must do their due diligence to research the property, property taxes, any citations on the property, and if there is a current tenant, it is imparative to ask for all details on the home, … (1 comments)
rental: Quality Tenants, Quantity Rentals
- 09/29/11 01:47 PM
As a property manager we over see many things within a rental home. One of the key ingrediants to managing rentals is finding a good quality tenant that will both pay rent, and take care of the home. Here at Homepointe we rent on average 50-60 properties per month between 7 property managers. We have an applications department that processes applications, verifies previous rentals/owership, checks credit, and verifies income. We are very good at finding the right tenant for an owners property while minimizing evictions. At the same time it is our goal to rent any property withing 30 days of … (1 comments)
rental: Security Deposit Dispositons
- 09/29/11 01:39 PM
Security deposits are a very touchy subject when it comes between owners and tenants. More often then not, tenants do not want to pay for work or damages because of the way they left the property. Many times the excuse is "It looks better now than it did before!" That being said there are also many owners that confuse normal upkeep/wear and tear to damages that tenants are liable for. It is our job as property managers to make these lines clear and definite, and to advise our clients as experienced property managers that provide quality advise and yet do the … (3 comments)
rental: School Starting
- 09/27/11 06:42 AM
As school starts across our great nation families begin to settle down and the real estate market takes a turn towards slowing. Something about the warm weather and bright shining sun keep families moving and keep them looking for homes. Usually as the weather cools off, and in Sacramento often times starts raining, moving and looking at properties begins to slow down significantly. This causes rental prices to drop and means rental homes may be on the market even longer than the usual. At HomePointe we always try to rent the propery within the first 30 days. After 30 days so … (0 comments)
rental: Nearing the Sun
- 08/29/11 03:55 PM
As the summer season turns into fall, school is starting, and people are trying to settle down. The rental market is one ever changing force that is affected by many outside elements. However, this summer the rental market in Sacramento has been booming with the effects of short sales and foreclosures on the mind, many 1 time home buyers are switching to renting as opposed to the chance of another upsidedown disaster in the horizon. People can make a decision to rent because they are scared to buy, they dont have the funds to buy, or even because they have no … (0 comments)
rental: In the Public Eye
- 08/29/11 03:48 PM
An important role of a property manager is to be professional at all times. Property managers can never receive enough credit for the many things we deal with during a professional day at work. We are the fire fighters of the disaster. Putting out "fires" on a daily basis is part of the job description. Think back to when you were renting, or maybe you still are. How often do property managers get a phone call. When there is maintenance, problem paying rent, or maybe just the neighbor's dog keeps barking every time I walk by. Personally, I dont remember calling … (2 comments)
rental: Paying for the Service
- 08/29/11 03:39 PM
With any service comes a price. Sometimes the price is worth the outcome, sometimes it is not. For a property manager it is necessary to give a client what they deserve and what they are paying for, which is management of their investment. Sure we don't all have to be nice, charming, dashing young chaps, but what really matters is money. If our client's property has a renter that is taking care of the home, paying rent, and all bills are getting paid. I think we are doing our job. When our owner makes money, we make money. We dont have … (0 comments)
rental: Application Process
- 08/29/11 03:39 PM
One of the most important steps in managing a rental home is finding a qualified tenant that takes care of the home and pays rent. If we can succeed in this step, we will make everyone's life a lot easier. There are all types of people looking for a rental home. It is key to attract applicants that will be a good fit, while abiding by fair housing laws at the same time. Our first goal is to offer the rental at a competitive price that will attract prospective tenants looking for a certain rent price in a certain area. Don't … (3 comments)
rental: Keeping Tenants Happy
- 05/31/11 12:24 PM
After a tenant moves into a property they have a period of moving time that needs to allow for a little lag in maintenance time. Some owners are quick to blame tenants for necessary repairs to a property. However, we have to remember it takes weeks for some tenants to fully move into a property, sit down, and actually use everything in the home to find out if it is in working order or not. Depending on how long the property has been vacant often times plumbing will back up, sinks will begin to clog and the whole house, that was … (1 comments)
rental: Pets and Pet Dander
- 05/31/11 12:17 PM
Dogs are a man's best friend right? Well dogs are not necessarily the best friend of a property manager. At Homepointe we like to not take a security deposit AND a pet deposit, but we lump both deposits into one. This way we do not need to decifer what damage is caused by a pet and what is caused by human. If something is damaged or needs cleaning then it comes out of the lumped deposit. When it comes to cleaning up after a pet, the possiblities are endless. Our carpet cleaners are able to pull up the pad of carpet, … (0 comments)
rental: New Home, More Rent?
- 05/31/11 12:06 PM
There is often a preconceived notion that having a new build home will yield a higher rent. This is not always the case. When pulling rental comparables it is necessary to look at these items: 1. Where the property is located 2. How many bed/baths 3. Square footage of the property 4. Year built Althought these are a good indication of how much the rental market is charging, seeing the interior of the home can move the rental value up or down as much as $100-$400 or more in some areas. It is necessary that we do our due diligence as … (2 comments)
rental: Evictions
- 05/31/11 11:39 AM
No one wants to start an unlawful detainer, but often times it takes the hard shell of a Property Manager to evict a tenant from their home. Being the bad guy can mean the difference between income or a property that drains your checkbook. Another helpful tool is that of an eviction attorney. Using an attorney to complete an unlawful detainer can keep you up to date on any new laws as well as getting the job done right. As they say, you get what you pay for. Paying for a good attorney will insure you the best chances of getting … (0 comments)
rental: Panda Watch
- 03/31/11 03:55 PM
Its safe to say the majority of us have seen the movie Anchorman staring Will Ferrell. The whole movie they talk about "Panda Watch" and when the Panda at the San Diego Zoo is going to have its baby. Well, I was recently forwarded an email with pictures of pandas that were distressed and having to move from their homes due to the Tsunami in Japan. It's interesting to watch these bears frolic and play with such suffering and harsh weather surrounding them in the world. While aid helpers feed the babies with milk bottles I notice their bubbly eyes and … (0 comments)
rental: The Right way
- 03/31/11 02:51 PM
There is a right way and a wrong way of doing business. Take for instance a client that comes to a property manager because he/she is unhappy with their current manager. The client can never get ahold of the manager and does maintenance work at the property with out the owners conscent. In property management our main goal is to please our client and always keep their best interest in mind. I agree that sometimes we have to make decisions that involve sending out a plumber in an emergency or doing work when the owner is out of touch. But, the … (0 comments)
rental: REO's
- 03/31/11 02:45 PM
REO's or Real Estate Owned properties are factors that deeply impact our real estate market. As more and more REO's hit the market, prices drop, and inventory goes up. As of now it is reported that a new wave of REO homes will hit the market early in the summer of 2011, causing prices to plumit even farther than before... Let's Bear Down … (0 comments)
rental: Advertising
- 02/28/11 10:20 AM
HomePointe uses multiple media advertising sources that will get your property listed on over 20 different websites, including Craigslist at least once and week. For each of our properties we try to reach out to every possible tenant, whether it is through the internet, a 24 hour extension on a sign at the property, or our weekly open house showing's which we schedule twice a week and buy a full page ad through the Sacramento Bee. Each Saturay edition of the Bee will have a full page ad on the back of the real estate section with our complete weekend schedule … (0 comments)
rental: Out With the Bad, In With the Good
- 02/28/11 10:10 AM
Every owner wants to keep good tenants in their rental home. Long term tenants that take care of the property and pay rent on time, are always ideal. As we know this is not always the case. Especially in a multi-unit complex it is imperative to weed out any bad tenants. One tenant not paying ontime can quickly lead to 3 tenants paying late, or not paying at all. If we make an example out of 1 resident it is more likely for all of them to stay in line. This goes not only for rent but for after hour activities … (0 comments)
rental: Turnover
- 02/28/11 09:53 AM
We are not talking about apple turnovers or even cherry, our flavors are rental homes. The time spent flipping a rental home is always of the upmost importance. Each day a home or unit is unrentable, is another day of lost rent. It is important for owners to understand it is not always about getting 3 or 4 estimates and comparing the work to be done, but it is about chosing 1 or 2 bids, picking the most cost efficient and at the best price, and getting the work completed. For instance, if we have a rental home that the rent … (0 comments)
rental: Referral Fee for Real Estate Agents
- 01/31/11 11:07 AM
At HomePointe Property Management we offer to pay a referral fee for investment properties. If you have a client that recently purchased or may be considering selling to renting, give them our information below and we will send you a check for the referral once the property has rented. This is for all licensed agents. If you would like to meet in person or begin networking we always refer back to you if the client, or even if another client wishes to sell their property.
Andrew Pokorny | Property Manager apokorny@HomePointe.com Home Pointe Property Management 5896 South Land Park Drive, … (0 comments)
rental: Unwanted Visitor
- 01/31/11 10:54 AM
Rental properties are always vulnerable to break-in's and robberies when vacant. We always need to think ahead once a property has become vacant. Checking window locks, garage doors, back doors, and any other access point including crawl spaces can always leave a point of entry for an unwanted visitor. This unwanted visitor could be a person looking to steal copper pipes, an appliance, or even carpet. The visitor could just be wanting a place to stay that night because it is cold outside, or running from authorities. The other type of unwanted visitor could be critters looking for food or a … (2 comments)
Having pride in personal endeavors is the first step into a successful lifestyle and successful business outcome. If we as property manager begin to take pride in each home, and each owners account, as if it was our own, we will understand the views of each prospective and begin to give better customer service because of that. 
;)
;)
;)
