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10 Reasons You Should Hire A Property Manager

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 03:59:49 GMT

Hiring a Property Management Company to manage your rental property has a lot of advantages. Consider these ten reasons before you make a decision.

1) Maximize Your Income

Your primary goal, and that of your Property Manager, is to maximize the profitability of your rental property while maintaining the value of your property over the long term. The best Property Managers implement policies, procedures and practices that successfully achieve these goals for investors and rental property owners.

2) Maintenance Emergencies

Your Property Management Company is on call 24 hours per day. While you rest peacefully your Property Manager is watching over your investment property; ready to employ the resources necessary to handle any maintenance emergency that may arise.

3) Rental Advertising

When you hire a Property Management Company you are tapping into a large pool of prospective tenants. Your rental property is listed for rent on dozens of rental websites. Your Property Manager answers and responds to phone calls and emails on a daily basis so you don't have to.

4) Tenant Screening

Your Property Management Company makes rental applications available to prospective tenants who want to apply to rent your property. Your Property Manager will screen all applicants to ensure only qualified tenants are approved.

5) Rental Agreements

Rental Agreements are reviewed and signed by your Property Manager, with no extra work on your part. An effective Rental Agreement covers a wide array of terms and conditions designed to protect you and your rental property.

6) Inspections

Your Property Manager will complete a visual move-in inspection and take photos of your property before tenants move in. When tenants move out of your property the process is repeated. Thoroughly documenting the condition of your property is an often overlooked yet crucial step in the renting process.

7) Rent Collection

Your rents are collected by your Property Manager each month and deposited into a FDIC insured bank account. You receive a check in the mail or an electronic bank deposit each month. No more trips to your property to collect rents.

8) Financial Reporting

Your Property Management Company will send you an owner statement each month so you can keep track of income and expenses for your property. Every January you will receive a cash flow report and a corresponding tax form. In general, your Property Manager can provide you with a variety of reports to assist you in making important property related decisions.

9) Education

An experienced Property Manager is educated on fair housing laws, civil code, health & safety code and other important laws impacting rental housing in the state of California. When you hire a Property Manager you have a wealth of knowledge on your side.

10) Evictions

You are less likely to end up in eviction court when an experienced Property Management Company is overseeing your rental property. Navigating the eviction process is complicated and time consuming. If the need to carry out an eviction arises your property manager can coordinate the entire process for you from beginning to end.

To learn more about the benefits of hiring a property management company contact one of our experienced Property Managers.

Maintenance Emergencies At Your Rental Property

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 02:23:44 GMT

If you own a rental property chances are your Residents will some day report a maintenance emergency that requires an immediate response. Your property management company is on call 24 hours per day. While you are working, enjoying your free time and resting peacefully, your property manager is watching over your rental property; ready to employ the resources necessary to handle any maintenance emergency that may arise.

The most commonly reported maintenance emergencies involve water, gas or electricity.

Water Emergencies

Gushing water can wreak havoc on your rental property if not mitigated quickly. Busted water pipes, broken drain lines and failing water heaters all have the potential to create serious damage to your rental property.

Do you know who to call at 5 AM on a Sunday when your Residents report water gushing through a ceiling? Your property management company has established valuable relationships with reliable and reputable plumbing services, ensuring access to a licensed plumber 24 hours per day.

Your property manager will assess the extent of water damage to determine if water extraction or restoration services are necessary. Water and moisture in walls, carpets and other flooring must be removed within a 24 hour period to prevent additional damage and to protect the health & saftey of your Residents.

Gas Emergencies

If your Residents smell natural gas or suspect a gas leak in the home they should leave the home and call PG&E immediately.

Signs of a possible gas leak include:

Sulfur like smell or rotten egg smell
Hissing, whistling or roaring sounds
Damaged connections to gas appliances
Dead or dying vegetation in otherwise moist areas over or near pipeline areas
Unusual soil movement or bubbling water

In most cases a gas leak can be easily repaired. A pilot light may need to be re-lit or a gas line connection may have become loose. If PG & E identifies a more serious problem a technician will issue a report of their findings and require that repairs are completed before gas can be turned back on.

Depending on the nature of required repairs your property manager will assign a licensed plumber, general contractor or HVAC technician to complete the repairs required by PG & E. As a rental property owner you should hope for the best and be prepared for the worst. Eliminating a gas leak often requires the replacement of a gas appliance, a water heater or even a furnace.

Electrical Emergencies

Although electrical issues are less likely to result in emergencies, a true electrical emergency can be catastrophic if not taken seriously.

If the electricity goes out your Residents should reset the circuit breaker to determine if the problem is a short-circuit in the home's electrical system. If other homes in the neighborhood are dark, the problem is likely a power outage. If so, there is nothing your property manager can do other than instruct Residents to call the electricity company for more information.

Some electrical calls are different, and should prompt an immediate response from your property management company. Electrical failures or malfunctions cause thousand of fires in U.S. homes each year. Some electrical fire dangers are hidden inside the walls. An experienced property manager who knows the warning signs can keep an electrical fire from happening in your home.

If your Residents report circuit breakers that trip or fuses that blow repeatedly your property manager will request that a licensed electrician conduct a wiring inspection of your rental property as quickly as possible. Upgrading old, inadequate or damaged wiring is the most common resolution to most electrical issues.

Our experienced property managers in Modesto are equipped with the knowledge and resources to protect your rental property when maintenance emergencies arise. Contact our office today to learn more.

3 Ways To Maximize The Profitability Of Your Rental Property

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 02:23:44 GMT

Your primary goal -- and that of your Property Manager -- is to maximize the profitability and value of your rental property.

Our experienced Property Managers implement an array of procedures,policies and practices to deliver a comprehensive scope of property management services. Here are three of the ways Countryside Property Management can maximize the profitability and value of your rental property.

We Have a Winning Team

The members of our dedicated team are the most customer focused in the industry. Residents contact and visit our office locations regularly, to pay rent, request repairs and maintenance, and to otherwise request assistance for the rental homes they are occupying. We strive to provide each Resident with a positive experience each and every time.

Good renters seek out good Property Managers. Our superior customer service contributes to a high rate of retention for quality Residents, reducing vacancy periods and turn-around expenses, and ensuring a more consistent stream of rent income from your rental property.

We Are Proactive About Market Changes

Our Property Managers are highly tuned to changes in the rental market. Changes in market rents are closely monitored to determine the most appropriate timing and amounts for rent adjustments. A proactive approach to changes in the rental market maximizes your gross rent income over the long term.

We Network Extensively

Countryside Property Management has developed an extensive network of high quality home maintenance and repair vendors. We work with dozens of vendors throughout California's Central Valley, all of which have been carefully selected to provide the highest quality workmanship and the most competitive prices available. Maintenance coordination is provided by our expert staff at no extra cost, reducing your overall costs for repairs and maintenance.

Learn more about the benefits of hiring an experienced Property Manager to manage your Central Valley property.

The 5 Most Important Questions To Ask Before Hiring A Property Manager

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 02:23:44 GMT

Have you decided that you need professional Property Management for your rental property? Maybe you have already searched for local Property Managers using Google or Yelp, checking your local phone book, or asking your friends and relatives for recommendations. You have narrowed down your list of potential Property Management Companies to a handful or less. Now it's time to start asking some questions. Here are the five most important questions to ask before hiring a Property Manager.

1) How Much Does Your Property Management Service Cost?

This is the question property managers hear most often, and rightly so. If you are considering Property Management Service you need to know what it's going to cost.

Residential Property Management Companies charge a leasing fee for tenant placement, followed by a monthly management fee for on-going Property Management Services. Leasing fees may be a percentage of the first month’s rent or a flat fee, usually paid when qualified tenants rent your home or apartment. Expect to pay as much as half of the first month’s rent for leasing services and monthly management fees ranging from 7% to 9% of the monthly rents.

Avoid hidden fees or additional fees for maintenance coordination, annual inspections, advertising and other day-to-day tasks performed by your Property Management Company. Make sure all fees and charges for service are straightforward and clearly explained in the Property Management Agreement. Most importantly, make sure you understand not only the costs associated with hiring a property manager, but also the value you will receive in return.

2) What is the Term Length of Your Property Management Agreement?

A one-year management agreement is most common among residential property managers. Some property management companies may offer contracts with shorter terms and higher fees.

Be wary of excessive cancellation fees for terminating a management agreement before the term expires.

3) How Do You Screen Prospective Tenants?

Property management companies have pre-established rental application requirements for qualifying prospective residents. Applicants must submit rental applications and other pertinent information to your property manager for processing. A professional property management company will require a separate and complete rental application for all adults who will be residing in your property.

The rental application should be easily accessible in your property manager’s office or on a company website. Make sure your property management company provides prospective residents with the ability to submit online rental applications 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Online rental applications streamline the application and screening process, ensuring that your property rents to qualified residents as quickly as possible.

4) How Frequently Do You Inspect the Properties You Manage?

At the very least your property manager should complete a health & safety inspection of your rental property once every twelve months, and an exterior drive-by inspection at least once every three months.

Periodic inspections ensures that your rental property meets minimum habitability requirements and is free of any safety hazards. Periodic inspections also ensure that your residents are properly caring for your property.

5) How Do You Handle Repairs and Maintenance?

Planning and coordinating repairs and maintenance for your rental property can be complicated and time-consuming. A professional property manager employs a variety of resources to ensure your property is properly maintained and compliant with local, state and federal laws. Some property management companies directly employ maintenance staff to complete repairs and maintenance when needed, while others hire only third-party vendors to work on your rental property.

Make sure the property manager you hire contracts only with vendors who are properly licensed and insured; including general liability insurance and worker’s compensation insurance when applicable. Ask about dollar limits on repairs and the process for handling after-hours and weekend emergencies.

Do you have other questions about Property Management? Contact one of our experienced Property Managers for answers.

countryside-pm

10 Reasons You Should Hire A Property Manager

Hiring a Property Management Company to manage your rental property has a lot of advantages. Consider these ten reasons before you make a decision.

1) Maximize Your Income

2) Maintenance Emergencies

3) Rental Advertising

4) Tenant Screening

5) Rental Agreements

6) Inspections

7) Rent Collection

8) Financial Reporting

9) Education

10) Evictions

Maintenance Emergencies At Your Rental Property

Water Emergencies ﻿

Gas Emergencies

Electrical Emergencies

3 Ways To Maximize The Profitability Of Your Rental Property

We Have a Winning Team

We Are Proactive About Market Changes

We Network Extensively

The 5 Most Important Questions To Ask Before Hiring A Property Manager

1) How Much Does Your Property Management Service Cost?

2) What is the Term Length of Your Property Management Agreement?

3) How Do You Screen Prospective Tenants?

4) How Frequently Do You Inspect the Properties You Manage?

5) How Do You Handle Repairs and Maintenance?

Water Emergencies