Month: March 2012

5 Simple Ways to Green Your Property Landscapes

Posted on: March 21, 2012 by total

Landscaping may seem like a tiresome, tedious and expensive burden for property managers, especially when nature brings drought and other challenges. Factor in organic, all-natural and green landscaping, and it becomes even more daunting. But, environmental issues are at the

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Turning Your Property Website Into a Lead-Generating Machine

Posted on: March 15, 2012 by total

Today’s real estate professionals feel the need to be everywhere online in order to generate more leads–third party listing aggregator sites, Craigslist, social media, you name it. What’s more important than having your listings in as many places as possible

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Property Management: Mowing the Grass

Posted on: March 07, 2012 by total

Landscaping is important. In the property management business spring is when we set up for the summer pool season. Winter is the time to think about the spring growing season and how to best address grounds maintenance. Addressing landscaping, ground cover, plantings and soils seems like such a simple question. At the very least it takes pre-planning to assure fixed price contracts in advance of service. If a plant scientist were to survey the grounds of your income property assets their report would say some like: there are 55 “species” of plants and three invasive varietals that are negatively impacting sustainability. And your comment would be; “I only want my property to look good- neat and clean with green grass and pretty flowers. What’s all this talk about invasive species!”. Like farmers, property management requires having a well rounded skill set. Alas, we must rely on our subject matter experts to get us through the necessary gory details. For example, using the wrong seed in shady areas can be a flat out waste of money. The use of plants that require high maintenance should be avoided when a suitable substitute with lower carry costs is appropriate. Factor in water conservation. Some plants truly drink like elephants. The importance of ground cover in landscaping really comes into play when the conversation includes any word similar to soils erosion or basement leaks. When it comes to soil conservation, preservation and removing or re-directing run off we want ground cover to be our friend. This requires planning.

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Three Important Steps For Conducting Exit Interviews

Posted on: March 06, 2012 by total

Research has shown that a person who resigns from your property management company is leaving for one of three possible reasons: a new career opportunity, an unsolicited job offer or for a grievance that has not been handled correctly. Whenever a person resigns from your property management company for voluntary reasons it’s normally a surprise and it can be expensive to replace a valuable team member. This article will outline three important steps for conducting exit interviews, a process which will reduce employee turnover and improve profitability at the same time.

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23 Property Management Tips For Mastering E-mail

Posted on: March 03, 2012 by total

According to a recent survey by Matrix Information, two billion people around the globe have access to Internet-based services and E-mail. In addition, this report expects electronic commerce to grow from $1.6 trillion in 2011 to $3.2 trillion by the year 2015. Is your property management company ready for these exploding communication and marketing trends?

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Jail Time for Landlords After Apartment Fire

Posted on: March 02, 2012 by total

Landlord Tried to Report Terrorist Tenant ShareThis A vigilant landlord tried to flag his former tenant as a suspected terrorist 18 months before the man was arrested for terrorist activities. The former tenant is being held on charges of conspiring with undercover officers to conduct a suicide attack somewhere near the Capitol building. The tenant moved into the northern Virginia apartment after he apparently married the woman who was leasing the home, according to a news report

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Why Your Tenants Should Have Rental Insurance

Posted on: March 02, 2012 by total

Posted by Teresa on February 21, 2012 under Landlord Tips | When you screen prospective tenants for your rental properties , do you suggest that they obtain renter’s insurance ? Many landlords go beyond suggesting, and make it a condition of the lease—and for good reason. Renter’s insurance can protect you and your tenant

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7 Tips to Get Started Buying Bank Owned REO Properties

Posted on: March 02, 2012 by total

ShareThis by Lex Levinrad Please note that these tips are only for real estate investors that want to close on a property and NOT wholesale the property. These tips are for rehabbers that want to beat out the competition on an REO property and purchase the property

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How to Reject Tenants

Posted on: March 02, 2012 by total

February 19th, 2012 Whatever criteria a property management company or landlord uses to choose between or reject tenants, they must be applied consistently to avoid liability

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Protecting a Vacant Property

Posted on: March 02, 2012 by total

Property managers or owners with a temporarily vacant property might be wise to take steps so that it does not appear obviously empty, which in turn can discourage unwanted guests. Vacant buildings may be targets for theft, vandalism, or even weather damage. However, it is simple to reduce the risk of property damage without installing an expensive security system.

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