Property Management Archives

Top 7 Mistakes Landlords Make Starting and How to Fix Them

Save Money and Time with Your Short-Term Rentals

If you’ve recently become a landlord or are considering purchasing a second home for renting purposes, you’ve likely been introduced to a large bevy of responsibilities and duties you never expected you’d have. You can also find many mistakes landlords make. While renting out your property can be an extremely lucrative business venture, many enter the realm of rentals without proper knowledge or education on the subject and find it’s not as easy as expected. We’ve laid out the top mistakes landlords make when they run into, and the things you can do to avoid them. Top 7 Mistakes Landlords Make 1. Lease Issues Leases are the single most important thing to have completed before allowing someone to live in your … Read more

Reader Question – Can I Rent Out Property After Hiring A Property Manager?

by Hank Coleman

This is the next installment in the Reader’s Questions Series, which highlights questions emailed to me by you, the readers of Money Q&A.

Be sure to find out at the end of this article how you can receive a free copy of Dave Ramsey’s book, The Total Money Makeover if I feature your money question on a blog post. If you’re not familiar with Dave Ramsey’s book, you should run right out and get it. It’s one of the top ten best personal finance books you should read.

Today’s question comes from Jeff who asks about renting his house by himself even after hiring a property manager.

I have been working with a property manager for a few months now to try and find a renter for my home. My wife and I are moving and didn’t want to sell our home. After a few months of trying to find a renter, the property manager still didn’t have the home rented. I started placing my own ads for tenants and finally found someone. Can I still rent out my property to someone after hiring a property management firm?

This question raises a couple of red flags. It makes me wonder if you have chosen the right property manager. There are many questions to ask a property manager before you hire them to ensure that they are a good fit for your family and that you feel comfortable with their work. After all, you will be entrusting them with your most valuable asset, your home.

Coming To Grips With Paying Your Rent On Time

by Guest Contributor

Whether you have recently left home or full time education or your circumstances have changed, taking responsibility for paying your rent on your own can be a daunting prospect. Probably your most important outgoing will be your rent cheque, be that owed to a property management company, a private individual, local authority or a relative.

Paying your rent and in line with your contractual obligation takes some organization. For even more practical and clear advice on subjects ranging from universal credit to where to get help if you fall behind with your payments, visit the Money Advice Service.

Paying Your Rent On Time

Below is a list of things to consider for making sure pay your rent on time to your landlord.

Direct Debit

Renting a property and moving on in involves making important obligations to your new landlord. You will be bound to pay your rent on time and usually in full, unless your agreement has more flexible terms.

Scheduling your rent payment by direct debit is one way to minimize the risk of missing your payment date. Missed payments can lead to losing your deposit or even eviction.

By setting up a standing order from your personal bank account or from a joint account with your partner straight to your landlord’s designated account, you minimize the risk of riling your landlord or worse. And, it will help you in paying your rent on time every month.

Twenty Questions To Ask A Property Manager Before You Hire

by Hank Coleman

More homeowners are finding themselves as accidentally landlords recently. Whether you are moving for a new job or relocating to be closer to home, many Americans are finding that they cannot sell their homes for what they owe on their mortgages. But, do you know the right questions to ask a property manager?

So, if you are a landlord, the next question becomes whether or not you hire a property manager? A property manager will help you find tenants, fix problems with your home, and collect the rent or do you do it all yourself.

My wife and I have recently decided to rent out our home. And, we have decided to hire a property manager. We are currently interviewing three different companies that were recommended by friends and coworkers. Of course, this is not a decision to be made lightly.

Questions To Ask A Property Manager

Here are several questions that you should ask a property manager before hiring them.

How many properties do they manage? – One property manager than I interviewed limited the number of properties they handle per person so they can give your property the attention it deserves.

What are the costs? – Do they take an industry norm of 10% of the rent as a fee? Is there another feed every time the home is vacant and a new tenant is needed? Is advertising costs wrapped up in the monthly fee?