Ways to Help Your Property Manager
Ways You Can Help Your Property Manager
Property management companies can lend a helping hand for busy owners looking to make a profit out of their investment. Whether it’s collecting the rent or performing regular maintenance, property managers are always busy. Sometimes too busy to do everything on time. Luckily, with a little help from homeowners, property managers can do their job more efficiently, keeping your property in tip-top shape while allowing you to enjoy the extra time and money with those you love.
MAKE SURE YOUR PROPERTY IS READY TO RENT BEFORE YOU HAND IT OVER
Appearances are everything in the rental market. Handing over a clean, empty property that is ready to be leased will attract prospective tenants and show your property management company how you expect your house to be kept. On the other hand, if your house is a mess, you’re sending a message to prospective tenants and your management company that the maintenance of your investment isn’t a priority
DOUBLE-CHECK THAT EVERYTHING WORKS
Nothing wipes out the joy of moving into a new house only to find out that essential fixtures and appliances aren’t working. However, you can prevent problems from developing by making sure that everything is working before you hand your property over.
Light fixtures should be in good conditions and with working light bulbs. Bathroom and kitchen faucets should work and have no leaks. Fire alarms should have new batteries. Anything that doesn’t work or isn’t needed should be removed from the property, so as to avoid frustrating the tenants or overburdening the management company’s repair staff.
TAKE ALL OF YOUR PERSONAL ITEMS WITH YOU
Whether it’s by accident or on purpose, many property owners end up leaving personal objects in the property. This happens especially in places like the garage or the attic. This is can lead to trouble down the road.
Leaving personal items in a property encumbers everybody. When your new tenant moves into the home, they shouldn’t have to deal with items that don’t belong to them. You also risk having your personal items stolen or damaged. This also affects the property management company that is caught in the middle. Save yourself the hassle and make sure you remove all of your personal items before turning over your property.
GIVE YOUR WALLS A THOROUGH CLEANING
Tenants expect to be able to move in immediately, not having to scrub the floor and walls for hours. Your property may be old and have a few issues with its fixtures, but keeping it sparkling clean will make it more attractive for your future tenants. So make sure that there’s no dust or stains on the floor. If you have carpets get them cleaned by a professional.
GIVE YOUR WALLS A MAKEOVER
Your walls don’t have to be freshly painted, although it does help. But the better they look, the easier it’s going to be renting the house out. So make sure that you fill any hole, scrub the walls, or change the wallpaper if needed. Tenants can be picky when it comes to walls, especially if they are dirty or are painted with strange colors.
LEAVE ALL THE UTILITIES PAID
By visiting your house, prospects expect to get an idea what it will be like to live there. That’s why it’s important that there is running water so that the toilets and the sinks work. Leaving the electricity on is also a must since many tenants visit in the evening and need the extra lighting. Depending on the season, your AC or heating system will also be needed to keep your prospects comfortable.
FILL OUT AND RETURN ALL THE PROVIDED PAPERWORK
Every form and document we submit to the owners is necessary for our business activities. That’s why we have a rule of never marketing or leasing a property until the owner, or tenant, has delivered all the information and paperwork we have requested.
SHARE ALL THE INFORMATION YOU CAN WITH YOUR MANAGEMENT COMPANY
Where is your property’s electrical junction box? Does the house have a propane tank? Where is the water shut-off located? These are just some questions that you should answer when handing over your property. They will save you time and many phone calls from your property management company.
GIVE COPIES OF YOUR RULES TO YOUR PROPERTY MANAGERS
These will be passed on and explained to your tenants so they can comply with the neighborhood rules. No tenant can be held responsible for breaking a rule if he doesn’t know the regulations to begin with.
GIVE THEM YOUR FULL CONTACT INFORMATION
Perhaps the most obvious one, your company needs your full contact information. This includes your current address and phone number, to get a hold of you. The easier it is to talk to you, the quicker your property manager will be able to make repairs in your property or solve other issues that need your authorization.
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Most things are usually on hand but should be stocked up and easily accessible. If it turns out the hurricane has changed its path, at least you will have known you were ready.
Lynn Grosso, director of HUD’s Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Enforcement Office, told the Land Use, Property Rights & Environment Committee that a predatory cottage industry has developed for assistance animal certifications. Consumers are being misled to believe that an online verification letter—often provided by unlicensed medical professionals at a cost of a few hundred dollars—guarantees them the right to have an animal in multifamily housing regardless of pet policy, she added.
Mr. Brown is Board Certified in Condominium and Planned Development Law and is an active member of its Committee, where he serves as Chair of the Safe Harbor Subcommittee. He is also a member of the legislative review group, and is tasked with reviewing and providing comments and edits to the legislation affecting community associations each legislative session. Mr. Brown also served with the Auxiliary Committee, reviewing and editing various chapters in the 4th Edition of the Florida Condominium and Community Association Law, published by the Florida Bar. Mr. Brown also sits on the Real Property Litigation Committee, where he chairs the Judicial Litigation Support and Education Subcommittee, and the Problem Studies Committee of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of The Florida Bar. In addition, Brown was recently appointed by the President of The Florida Bar to the Condominium and Planned Development Law Certification Committee where he will now review and approve applications of attorneys seeking to become board certified in Condominium and Planned Development Law.
A great way for you to be seen by readers each month. Our Publication is sent throughout Florida’s Management Industry, Management Companies, Board Members for the Condo and HOA Industry read the Florida Rising Magazine each month. This digital magazine is Interactive, What this means for you and your companies is: All ads and Company Listings are linked to either your website or the membership page on our Website Directory. We know readers want to learn more about companies or need to contact you they will be able by clicking on your listing ads.
Along with the pages that SFPMA uses to inform our members and our Followers, we have Groups that are open to everyone. This way we can send out and promote the information about us and member companies that work together in the Property Management Industry. One of our goals is not letting our members just sit on a directory. Supporting each member company and information; getting this information out to readers new members and our industry is important to us!
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