Maintenance Requests

July 24, 2017 10:19 am

Maintenance requests should be prioritized by need.  Habitability issues come first:  Leaks, stoves, working plumbing. Followed by convenience issues: A/C, hot water, microwave.  Lastly aesthetic issues: settling cracks, window trim, interior door knobs, light fixtures, screens, fans. 

All maintenance requests need to be in writing.  Work orders should be filled out properly by either the manager or the resident.  The work order should be as detailed as possible, and have all relevant information.  This should include the tenant’s contact information, pet information, any relevant data related to the repair, and an appointment time (if applicable).  Try not to tie your maintenance technician’s hands by locking them down to 2:15 PM appointment, rather try to give them a range of time that the tenant agrees to.

Category: Property Maintenance Tags: ,


I Think My Resident Skipped Out, What Now?

May 15, 2017 2:41 pm

If you suspect a resident has vacated the premises without giving proper notice, then you must first verify that they have indeed left.  If your voicemails have gone unreturned, then you may post a 24 hour notice to enter on their door, and enter the following day.  Based on what has been left inside of the unit, it is possible to verify if the resident is no longer living there.  For example, are the utilities turned off?  If so, you may move forward with possession. Just make sure that you take a lot of photos of the unit.  If the tenant has skipped out, you may charge the tenant 30 days’ worth of rent on their ledger to compensate for lack of notice (in California).  Then you may proceed with turning the unit over for the next resident.

Category: CA Renting Practices Tags: , ,


THE LEASING OFFICE HUNT

March 15, 2017 10:09 am

There is an old expression in the hotel business, “we set our prices at the lobby.” This means that the way you design and furnish your office directly affects a prospective tenant’s opinion regarding your property’s market rates, even before they see the apartment. You can set positive and realistic expectations by making sure that your office is clean, tidy, with pleasant aromas. Your office should be freshly painted with nice floors, framed floorplans hanging on the walls, and very few personal items. Your office hours should be clearly posted with all relevant phone numbers and have a “will return by” clock.

Secondly, make sure that your prospects can find the leasing office with ease. You don’t want them focusing their energy on finding the office, rather than evaluating your product. Creating an easy-to-follow path to the office, followed by a top-notch office interior, will markedly improve your leasing efforts. Let your prospects relax as they peruse their new homes, rather than hunting for the leasing office.

Category: Renting and Retention Tags: ,


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