ARE YOU TOO BUSY?

Are you too busy?  Or should I say, have you taken time to relax?  That may be the better question.

This time of the year everyone is busy with friends and family get togethers, Christmas parties and holiday functions.  It is amazing to me that in September, life is just moving along, then Halloween hits and it gets busier than Thanksgiving and wow, things have really progressed.  Then Christmas and New Years....I get it!  We all do it.

My suggestion for the holidays:  take it in strides - enjoy it.  Visit friends and family and actually spend time connecting.  Don't do the "hey, how are you?" bit, but really enjoy each other.  When was the last time you stopped by someones home or office unannounced just to say hi and connect? Cup of coffee or tea anyone?  For me, I love doing that.  I am all about relationships. I love a great chat, smiles and hugs from people who unexpectedly say "I was thinking about you" and decided to call or stop by.

I bet you can relate!  Remember those days when no matter how stressed or busy you were, when a little baby or puppy enter the room, everyone stops!  For a few moments -  all you can think about is how sweet, how cute - all of the stress disappears.  I love that feeling!  So, what little steps can we do to get that feeling again?

If you have a moment, or actually TAKE a moment and call, stop by or even email someone who has not been present in your day to day but is your friend or family member.

Reap the benefit of making someone else's day and you will see that it actually makes the difference in your day.

Merry Christmas everyone...take a moment to make someone's day!  Sometimes, all it takes is a smile.

MERRY CHRISTMAS! Fun Facts about Christmas

How do you ensure lease is followed?

Honestly! Did the tenant tell the truth?

While security background checks are certainly required and definitely necessary to help you make a good decision in picking your tenants, there is only so much that a background check can tell you. Is your tenant telling you everything?  Ok, they probably have good financials and a credit score that helped them qualify, but are they honest? Are they clean? Will they respect the terms of the lease? Most of all, will they take care of the home?As a Landlord, it is important that your property is well taken-care of and your tenants are respectful in regards to the upkeep of the home BUT what about the conditions of their lease they agreed to? Do you have peace of mind and feel confident that the lease will be complied with?  Lease compliance is important and part of how you can check on this is making a habit of regular property inspections. 

WHY INSPECT?

An inspection allows you as the landlord or your property manager to check up on your property and make sure that there isn’t any violations to the lease. What do you look for?  There are possible code violations that could be anything from tenant-related violations to building violations.   Your tenants may not be looking for deferred maintenance items and report them timely.  There might be outstanding tenant issues that require some resolution for example, un-authorized occupants in the home, the arrival of an un-authorized pet or type of pet in the property, subletting, etc.. .  These are some of the items that are not permitted per the lease agreement. Building violations could be mechanical or appliance related, or about the wear and tear of the property itself. Overall, many aspects of the lease can be evaluated for compliance during an inspection. By making a habit of regular property inspections, you can stay aware of the condition of your property and have the peace of mind that the home is being maintained. 

It is important to remember, however, that nobody likes a pesky landlord! Regular inspections can be done timely, allowing you or your property manager to evaluate the property and respect the privacy of the tenant at the same time.  It is a great idea to inform the tenant ahead of time when the lease is signed that regular inspections will occur to confirm the property is being well maintained.

Want to take the extra step? 

Hire a professional property manager who has a scheduled time to check your property, submits written reports of the findings and has the ability to receive maintenance requests from the tenant.   Letting the tenant know that the condition of your property is a top priority for you as a landlord is very important. It’s not difficult to assure lease compliance with a little extra care and the right management company.

When Hiring a Professional Property Manager, Call Top Notch first at 928-772-4801, email at topnotchprescott@gmail.com or check out our website at www.TopNotchPrescott.com for more information. 

What do you look for in a Property Management Company?

Happy Thursday!

People that own investment properties either self manage or hire a professional management company to handle the rental.  I often wonder why would someone self manage?  So, I started asking the question and discovered the majority of the people that self manage have had poor experiences with a property management firm.   I would say, why let a poor experience with 1 company ruin it for you?  I propose you research and look to giving another shot to a company that is Top Notch and above your past experience.  So, call us and we can help explain why.... 928-772-4801 or just email over your questions.  We would be happy to answer them.

Here is a list of guidelines you could use when considering a professional property management company.

Top 5 Reasons to Hire a Professional Property Manager

1. Make More Money! Many property owners do not want to hire a property manager because of the cost involved. You may not realize that you will actually make more money in the long term due to the increased care of the property which keeps your property in great shape.

2. Save Time!Being a Landlord can be a full-time job tracking rent payments, collecting late fees, dealing with complaints and repairs, prepping the property for new tenants, finding vendors, and dealing with bad tenants. Who needs the stress? Relinquish these ongoing responsibilities to a property manager you can rely on.

3. Avoid Problem TenantsWhen hiring a property manager with experience, they will know exactly how to find the best tenants and screen out potential tenants with a bad history. Checking credit, criminal background, rental history and verifying ability to pay rent.

4. Do you REALLY Know the Law?How much do you really know about the laws that apply to being a landlord? One of the biggest advantages to hiring a professional property manager is the ability to avoid some legal downfalls. Having a full understanding of all the state and federal laws, professional property managers can avoid breaking discrimination laws, assist an eviction if it became necessary, which will be handled in a way that will save you time and money while staying within the boundaries of the law.

5. Property Managers Serve as Liaison Between Owners and Tenants                                    When using a professional property management company, a property owner is able to keep a professional distance from their tenants. Getting too personally involved can result in being too lenient on certain issues or too defensive about certain types of complaints. Renting out a property is a business and it is much easier for a professional property manager to keep things on a strictly professional level. Should an issue arise, a professional property manager is better prepared to deal with the problem effectively.

Click here to check out our website or Call Top Notch today to find out which of our services best suits your needs. 928-772-4801