PropertyManager.com

The Importance of Property Maintenance, Part 2

Posted on 09. Jan, 2012 by Mary Girsch-Bock.

If you find yourself neglecting the small items, you’ll soon be on the hot seat for more expensive repairs. Building managers can find themselves with a run-down, in-desperate-need-of-repair building a lot sooner that they think.

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Always Ask Residents if Something Needs Fixing

Posted on 20. Dec, 2011 by Lisa Trosien.

I remember when I first started in the apartment industry, someone told me to always ask my residents if there was anything in their apartment that needed fixing.

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The Importance of Routine Maintenance

Posted on 12. Dec, 2011 by Mary Girsch-Bock.

With marketing activity being ramped up in a tough rental market, property managers are sometimes guilty of neglecting property maintenance. Warning: you do so at your own risk.

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Energy Benchmarking Program to Include Multifamily Housing in Seattle

Posted on 01. Dec, 2011 by Bryan Ives.

The owners of around 8,000 buildings in Seattle, Washington were recently notified that they are now required to take part in the city’s Building Energy Benchmarking and Reporting program.

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Maintenance Manners Matter

Posted on 16. Aug, 2011 by Lisa Trosien.

Have you ever had your maintenance team members trained on the maintenance of the residents at your property? While it is critically important that your staff be able to correctly repair items like dishwashers, stoves and disposals, it’s also essential that they be able to repair and maintain relationships with your residents.

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DNA testing for Dog Poop

Posted on 19. Jul, 2011 by Nora Betz.

Property managers are getting fed up with irresponsible dog owners who do not pick up their dog’s poop on the property. A New Hampshire apartment community is requiring residents to hand over a DNA sample for their pet.

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What Property Managers Should Not Cut Back On In a Tough Economy

Posted on 12. Jul, 2011 by Mary Girsch-Bock.

In my previous article, Ways Property Managers Can Survive a Tough Economy, I discussed some areas where property managers can cut back in a tough economy in order to save some money without compromising the quality of their business. Here are some areas that you never want to cut back or skimp.

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Dangerous Hogweed Plant in New York State

Posted on 08. Jul, 2011 by Nora Betz.

Hogweed is a plant that when in contact with people, can cause dangerous burns, blisters and scars. The plant originated in Asia and was brought to the United States and is now spreading quickly. New York State has set up a hotline for people to call so that officials can destroy the invasive species. It is advised that property managers alert their residents of the dangers of Hogweed if you suspect that they may be at risk.

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Property Manager on Trial for Carbon Monoxide Deaths

Posted on 05. May, 2011 by Nora Betz.

On Monday, the McDaniel family was found dead in their rental home in Toledo, Ohio after being poisoned by carbon monoxide fumes during the night as they ran a space heater powered by a portable generator in the kitchen.

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Property Managers Receive Free “Energy Review” and Save Money

Posted on 29. Mar, 2011 by Marc Courtenay.

There might not any “free lunches”, but hundreds of utility companies around the nation are offering free consultations and reviews on how to stop wasting both energy and money. The idea is to figure out how to use less energy and yet make your rental properties more comfortable for residents at a meaningful saving in costs.

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Preparing Your Properties for Winter

Posted on 09. Dec, 2010 by Mary Girsch-Bock.

Depending on where your properties are located, you may find yourself spending weeks preparing them for the cold winter months. Even those in more temperate climates will need to do some basic housekeeping in order to keep maintenance calls in check.

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Five Easy Ways to Give Your Rentals More Curb Appeal

Posted on 09. Nov, 2010 by Marc Courtenay.

If your rental properties make a great first impression then potential residents will want to see what’s on the inside. This article will focus on rental properties with five units or less, and is especially applicable for rental houses.

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Property Management with Pizzaz: Properties That Attract Residents

Posted on 17. Aug, 2010 by Marc Courtenay.

We all want to attract good residents to the properties we manage. We can begin attracting quality residents by thinking like a resident thinks. A quality resident wants to live in a property that makes a positive, first impression.

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Bedbugs, Coming To A City Near You

Posted on 05. Aug, 2010 by Jonathan Brownfield.

The largest bedbug survey ever conducted suggests that bedbugs have become more prevalent throughout the country, not just New York City.

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Oregon Carbon Monoxide Legislation

Posted on 20. Jul, 2010 by Jonathan Brownfield.

Oregon’s Lofgren and Zander Memorial Act (House Bill 3450) went into effect Thursday, July 1. The new law requires Oregon properties to install carbon monoxide detectors if the property is sold or rented after July 1, 2010.

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Tips for Residential Property Managers Who Specialize in Single-Family Homes

Posted on 15. Jul, 2010 by Mary Girsch-Bock.

The typical multi-unit property manager usually has a solid system in place for managing their rentals. But what about the management companies who specialize in single family home rentals? How do their needs vary from the multi-unit property manager?

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Upgrade Your Properties with Local Art

Posted on 07. Jun, 2010 by Heather Blume.

I was an art student once, and I will tell you straight up that if you want something that will generate traffic, give you something to start conversations with, and will just plain out do those pictures your walls are currently sporting, college aged art students are about to become your best friends. Why? Because they need a venue to show their work.

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Yet Another 5 Inexpensive Ways to Improve Rental Properties

Posted on 05. May, 2010 by Marc Courtenay.

Property owners and managers are competing for new residents at an advantageous time. To compete effectively and economically, property managers are “turning up their imaginations” to make their properties more desirable. Here are five ideas to consider:

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Even More Ways to Improve Rental Properties Inexpensively

Posted on 19. Mar, 2010 by Marc Courtenay.

Yesterday I received an advertisement from a rental car company. It simply stated, “The next time you need a rental car call us and receive a free upgrade”, and they meant it.

The word “free” strikes a positive chord for us all. So if I’m a couple looking for an apartment or a rental home and I see the word “free”, I’m likely to investigate this offer.

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