Property Management Resources Blog

You’re exhausted by your search for the perfect rental. Your old lease is up soon, and you’re in a rush to find your new home. Suddenly, the ideal place floats across your screen. The photographs are gorgeous. It has everything you’re looking for and a few things you didn’t dare to include on your list. The location is perfect. It’s actually on the lower end of your budget. Your heart is beating in your ears. What if this was it? You reach out to the landlord and hear right back. They are out of the country on business and in a hurry to fill their space with a responsible party such as you. Would you like to move in next week? Could you please wire $2000.59 to this account based in Nigeria? Your gut tells you this is a scam. But what if it isn’t? You have already pictured yourself floating in the pool and waking up bathed in gorgeous natural light. 

Don’t do it. It’s a scam.

Rental rates affect both tenants and landlords, which is why it’s important to choose your rate carefully. Overcharging for rent could leave you with a vacant property that is difficult to rent out, while undercharging could stick you with extra expenses despite having paying tenants. Correctly determining how much you should charge for rent will help you avoid these problems.

Your tenant’s checks are bouncing. You notice some tenants' rent has been straggling in later and later as the COVID pandemic drags on. More landlords than ever before are considering offering online payment options for their tenants and many tenants report that they prefer to pay their rent online.  It might be easier to convert to an online rent payment system than you think.

Whether you’re in the market to hire a property manager for the first time, or looking to improve or upgrade your current property management services, focusing on the relationship between the landlord and property management company is wise. Improving the landlord and property manager relationship is likely to lead to increased tenant satisfaction and a harmonious and profitable daily experience for everyone involved.

Seattle is not the only area experiencing high demand for housing, but it certainly is among the hottest growing markets in the United States. Given this growth, many have considered selling off unoccupied or investment properties. However, the high demand for rental units will be sustained for the foreseeable future by the large proportion of renters in the area and the limited number of rentals available.

Every landlord trying to go it on their own has at some point wondered whether their blood, sweat, and tears were worth it. Though hard work is undoubtedly noble, your investment property doesn’t need to require a substantial investment of your time.

With the current high demand for housing in the greater Seattle area, the urge to sell off unoccupied or investment properties in 2022 is completely understandable. That said, there continue to be both long and short-term benefits to entering or remaining in the rental market.

Managing a residential rental property requires planning, research, and know-how. While we can never fully predict the future, best-practice budgeting and understanding the costs of managing a property will reduce headaches and nasty surprises for both property managers and tenants by ensuring that there is money in the budget if something unexpected occurs.

As you make the transition to a landlord, one important thing to keep in mind is insurance. Likely, you already have property insurance whether it’s built into your monthly mortgage or a stand-alone payment. But what about landlord insurance? Is it something you need, or is it an unnecessary secondary expense? Here's what you need to know about landlord insurance vs homeowners insurance and whether it’s right for you.

Many people around the country consider pets a part of the family, but pets can present their own kinds of challenges within a home. So the question is -  should you offer pet-friendly apartments or should you stick with a strict no-pet policy? Before you decide on the option that suits you best, here are some details to keep in mind.

Whether you own individual homes or an apartment building, real estate is an excellent investment. However, one of the biggest expenses to any property is maintenance. If you wait for something to become a noticeable problem before attending to it, you'll run the risk of both alienating your tenants and having to pay extra to repair bigger problems. The best way to prevent this from happening is to practice proactive maintenance. Here are a few landlord tips and tricks you’ll want to follow for all of your proactive maintenance needs.

The further you dip your toes into the world of rental property the more you'll discover just how much work it takes. With just one rental home, it is likely you performed much of the upkeep, tenant screening, and other basic services yourself.

Rental properties make excellent additions to any investment portfolio. A quality tenant is worth their weight in gold as they will respect the property, abide by the rules, and pay their rent on time. However, finding the best tenants isn't a one-way street. If a tenant is not treated with respect or taken care of, they will leave and find another landlord who understands the importance of excellent renters and keeping them happy. But how exactly can you keep a tenant happy, or even attract them to your rental property? Here are ways to avoid the dreaded housing turnover and find the ideal tenant.

It's been an interesting year in the Seattle housing market - rental prices have fluctuated while the demand for single-family homes has increased.

However, now that things are getting back to somewhat like normal, conditions may be set to change yet again. Here's a look at the top 5 rental trends in Seattle for 2021.

Long before potential tenants ask for a tour, in this market you need to learn about outside amenities and upgraded features you can install in units to enhance curb appeal. When potential tenants visit a possible new home, they are going to inspect a property not only to see if they want to live there but also how well you keep up your property. At a minimum this is what good tenants do, so be ready for your property to stand out from the rest to attract the ideal resident. Tenants who don't care about the property, what it looks like, or how it's cared for are less likely to appreciate what you offer, and may not treat it with the level of respect you'd like.

As a property manager, your time is valuable. You have a lot of things to worry about from drawing in new high-quality tenants to keeping your current tenants happy. One of the most powerful ways you can do both of these things at the same time is to take good care of your property's landscaping. Quality landscaping makes your rental property a nicer place to live. Best of all, good landscaping is a great way to boost curb appeal and that's a win-win for everyone.

When becoming a landlord, choosing which investment property to purchase may seem like the biggest decision to make. In actuality, the most important decision is who will handle the day-to-day operations of the property as this will determine the overall success of your rental.

It is common knowledge that the key to making a profit off your residential investment properties in Burien is keeping them occupied with long-term tenants who pay rent on a monthly basis.

If high levels of vacancy persist at your apartment complex or multifamily housing, you won’t see a significant return on your investment. Worst-case scenario, you may even struggle with your mortgage payments.