By Phoebe Chongchua, SD Real Estate Help, San Diego, CA It’s the kind of job that requires a lot of patience, and today being a property manager also requires keeping up with technology. Property managers work with many different personalities, which requires them to have some important skills that help make the job of managing properties a success. But they also need to keep up with where their future tenants are spending their time–online. Get Social. Interestingly, social media and technology play a critical new role in the job of property managers. Now, tenants and prospective tenants aren’t just stopping by to see a property; instead they’re on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other social media platforms learning about rentals in your area before they have even set foot in the neigh... 02/02/2012

A guest post by Ashley Halligan, Analyst, Property Management Software Guide Short-term rentals, of all natures, have become a hot commodity – and a controversial one at that. Short-term rentals can include vacation rentals and temporary housing, often sought by vacationers, business travelers, or people who have recently relocated while seeking long-term living arrangements. Either way, it’s become an ongoing topic of debate and an attractive investment opportunity for property owners and managers. In comparison to traditional rentals, short-term rentals can charge significantly higher rates given their nightly and weekly availabilities. Some property owners have earned as much as 25% of their mortgage in a single night. And during special events or peak rental periods in a given area... 01/04/2012

By Salvatore Friscia, San Diego Premier Property Management, San Diego, CA The city of San Diego has always had a strong military presence, and here at www.SDPManagement.com we are very thankful for the men and women of the armed forces who brave their lives each and every day to protect our country and freedoms. The military is a strong and considerable part of our local economy and we take pride in marketing our rental properties to active and retired military personnel. In doing so we also understand that “Service Members” of the military and their dependents are provided further protections under Federal law regarding tenancy rights. Under Federal law, a “Service Member” is classified as: · A member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard on active duty; or · A m... 09/19/2011

A guest post by Brian Davis, Ezlandlordforms.com, Moorestown, NJ Building a strong relationship with a new tenant and protecting your real estate investment is of paramount importance when crafting a lease agreement.  There are a multitude of considerations at this juncture that are essential to understand.  Brian Davis, Vice President of EzlandlordForms.com, is a seasoned landlord and top expert on landlord-tenant relationships.  Here he offers his top tips for new landlords as a helpful tool for navigating lease creation and the ongoing considerations of managing a rental property. 1. Understand the Fair Housing Act and how it applies to your rental.  When advertising for a new tenant, it is critical that landlords and property managers understand and comply with the Fair Housing Act... 08/18/2011

By Ben Holubecki, STML Realty Group, Glen Ellyn, IL Transfer policies are often a detail overlooked by landlords and property owners who own/manage multi-unit properties. A tenant requesting a move from one unit to another presents challenges and can add unnecessary and unexpected costs for property owners. Ignoring these requests or not addressing them properly can open landlords up to potential resentment from tenants and even legal liabilities if not properly documented. There are a lot of reasons why a tenant might request a transfer to another unit within the same property and there are positive and negative impacts resulting from this type of request. The most common reasons for these requests in my experience are: - Problems or issues with current neighbors - Maintenance issues ... 08/15/2011

By Geoff Roberts, Buildium, Boston, MA Whenever I’m asked what I do for a living, my go-to response is that “I work in marketing and public relations for a software company.” That’s a sufficient reply for most social situations, but on occasion I’m asked more specifically about my job responsibilities. Inevitably I’m stopped as soon as I mention “search engine optimization” or “SEO.” While this is a small part of what I do, I’ve found that it fascinates people – they tend to look at it as something of an enigma. “I’ve never understood search engine results” or “Google makes it all up anyways” are common responses, but the probing questions regarding SEO never stop there. Regardless of the industry you are in, search engine results are likely playing an increasingly important role in yo... 08/10/2011

By Jo-Anne Oliveri, ireviloution intelligence, Brisbane, Australia I see too many property management businesses either fail completely or forever fail to achieve their targets for many and varying reasons. It’s important, just like in any business, to understand and know your market. In order to create your business plan and targets you must know the market size, potential, averages, statistics and demographics. In this particular blog I’ll focus on the critical role market potential and averages play in the success of your business. Mistakes continue to be made in the property management industry because business owners focus on numbers and not income. There are many critical factors that can make or break the success and profitability of an agency. By understanding critical factors ... 08/05/2011