bay area 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)

bay area 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)

bay area property management: Napa Valley Property Management: Problem Tenant Solutions - 04/22/13 10:10 AM
Residential property owners know that problem tenants will always be with us, which is why our Napa Valley property management services include leasing and general management, plus specific solutions to common, but difficult, tenant problems.
Problem tenants are a significant drag on management resources.  In addition to often causing significant property damage, they also drive off good tenants in a multi-family facility.  No amount of screening will eliminate them completely, but addressing problems early can reduce their negative impact on operations and profitability.  We offer these Napa Valley property management services to do just that:
   ·   Regularly scheduled inspections1 - … (0 comments)

bay area property management: Lafayette Property Management: Problem Tenant Solutions - 04/22/13 09:54 AM
 
Residential property owners know that problem tenants will always be with us, which is why our Lafayette property management services include leasing and general management, plus specific solutions to common, but difficult, tenant problems.
Problem tenants are a significant drag on management resources.  In addition to often causing significant property damage, they also drive off good tenants in a multi-family facility.  No amount of screening will eliminate them completely, but addressing problems early can reduce their negative impact on operations and profitability.  We offer these Lafayette property management services to do just that:
   ·   Regularly scheduled inspections1 - Quarterly, … (0 comments)

bay area property management: Palo Alto Property Management: Problem Tenant Solutions - 04/22/13 09:27 AM
Residential property owners know that problem tenants will always be with us, which is why our Palo Alto property management services include leasing and general management, plus specific solutions to common, but difficult, tenant problems.
Problem tenants are a significant drag on management resources.  In addition to often causing significant property damage, they also drive off good tenants in a multi-family facility.  No amount of screening will eliminate them completely, but addressing problems early can reduce their negative impact on operations and profitability.  We offer these Palo Alto property management services to do just that:
   ·   Regularly scheduled inspections1 - … (2 comments)

bay area property management: Fairfield Property Management: Problem Tenant Solutions - 04/22/13 08:32 AM
Residential property owners know that problem tenants will always be with us, which is why our Fairfield property management services include leasing and general management, plus specific solutions to common, but difficult, tenant problems.
Problem tenants are a significant drag on management resources.  In addition to often causing significant property damage, they also drive off good tenants in a multi-family facility.  No amount of screening will eliminate them completely, but addressing problems early can reduce their negative impact on operations and profitability.  We offer these Fairfield property management services to do just that:
   ·   Regularly scheduled inspections1 - Quarterly, semi-annual, … (0 comments)

bay area property management: Tips For Spring Rental Property Inspections - 04/10/13 11:40 AM
It’s Spring – time for rental property owners or their property management company to conduct walk-through residential or commercial rental property inspections.  As I’ve discussed in many online articles, rental units of all types should be inspected several times each year to head off any small problems that might become major if not corrected early.
Inspections two or three times per year benefit the owner and tenants by ensuring that the property is in good condition and that no problems exist that could result in complaints or vacancies.  Here are just a few tips for conducting walk-through inspections.
1.    Ask tenants … (2 comments)

bay area 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)

bay area 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)

bay area property management: 5 Things Rental Property Owners Can Do To Boost Profits In 2013 - 11/02/12 09:47 AM
To get a head start on making your rental properties more profitable in 2013, consider my five easy things you can do now to get ready.
1.    Inspect your units. Look for unreported items that require maintenance or repair.  Also look for signs of tenant abuse, lease non-compliance, and occupancy by residents that are not on the lease (overcrowding).
2.    Conduct a market analysis.  Conduct a full market rent analysis to establish how your units compare to competing rentals in the area.  Identify changes or upgrades that would make your property more competitive and generate an acceptable return on investment.
3.    … (1 comments)

bay area property management: Preparing A Rental Property Business Plan For 2013 - 11/02/12 09:13 AM
Rental property owners in much of the U.S. are looking forward to improved market conditions in 2013.  To prepare, many are drafting a simple rental property business plan to document how they will operate their properties and achieve their business goals.
The purpose of the business plan is to state current conditions, identify measurable goals for the coming year, and provide a roadmap to achieve those goals.  Drafting the plan doesn’t need to be a time-consuming and burdensome task.  I recommend a simple, three part plan which can usually be contained in 10 pages or less – including financial data.  Here … (1 comments)

bay area 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)

bay area 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)

bay area 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)