Ever wonder how pharmaceutical companies and car manufacturers come up with names for new products? They spend megabucks on companies that specialize in branding. When I was ready to launch my company, I checked my budget to see what was allocated for branding and discovered that coffer was empty. But thanks to social media I…

That is often the first question a potential client will ask when I answer the phone. It is a fair question and of course an investor needs to know how my services will impact his bottom line. My simplest response is I offer a range of services and prices depending on your needs. But there’s…

Nobody likes a vacancy as it means nobody’s making money. Keeping a vacancy as short as possible is one of the most valuable things a property manager can do for an owner. Owners first need to budget for vacancies and expect them. It’s unrealistic to expect 100% of your units will be 100% occupied. Even…

You’ve moved in and you’re staring at the four walls which are just looking …so…white. Your landlord has said no painting allowed. How can you feather your nest and express your personality while staying within the parameters of your rental agreement? Area rugs are a good solution for floor coverings. Check the garden department as…

Moving is expensive and getting most or all your security deposit returned can significantly defray those costs. Check your rental agreement to see if you are required to give notice before vacating. If organization is not your forte and you can’t put your hands on it ask your landlord for a copy. Usually you cannot…

You’ve found a place you love and can picture all your stuff in it. Now it’s time to turn in your application. What are your chances of being accepted? We look at 3 main things: how’s your credit, how’s your income and what does your current and possibly former landlord say about you? If you…

You have a vacancy; no rent is coming in and you just looked at your checking account and hmmmm seems to be a vacancy there too. Keep in mind that quality properties attract quality tenants. Right now, at the very least, make sure the unit is freshly painted in a neutral color and take the…

Yes you can run a criminal background check on rental applicants but be very careful how you use the information as it’s very easy to violate fair housing laws. If you are going to run criminal background checks you must disclose that on your application and you must run the check on every applicant. If…

…the bedbugs bite. We all know that creepy childhood ditty but bedbugs are no longer a problem from the past that we read about in Dickensian novels but a current reality due to the banning of DDT and other pesticides that kept them in check If you own rental property, especially multi unit property you…

Given the niche area of rental properties I manage, i.e. single family homes and small apartment buildings I see roughly two types of property owners. One is someone who is a landlord by accident. Maybe they tried to sell their home and couldn’t get the price they wanted to so decided to lease it out…