The biggest mistake a landlord can make is not screening a tenant before he or she moves in. Many times we hear about this happening and the landlord states that it was a friend of the family, or a member of the church, and so forth. The screening wasn’t done because they didn’t want to offend anyone or they just didn’t think it was necessary because the prospective tenant seemed like a good person. Just because you feel the prospective tenant will not take advantage of you does not mean that they will not and have not done it to someone else before. This property is your investment and you have to protect it from potential threats by undesirable tenants.

Screening tenants does not mean asking if they are going to be a good tenant for you because everyone will say yes. Prospective tenants should fill out an application and complete a comprehensive background check on each person.

Properly screening future tenants will spare you hardships that may follow. For example, late rent, complaints from neighbors or HOA’s, property damage, and the dreaded eviction. Screening will save you stress, time, and most definitely money!

Screenings will provide a glimpse of what type of tenant you will have. If a prospect has had an eviction or several collections, stay away! If they are fine with one eviction/collection on the record, they are fine with more! If an eviction is filed you will be responsible for costs which can be $600 just to file, as well as past due rents, additional court costs, and possible damage done to the property if they become disgruntled. If a tenant has a criminal record such as arrests or drug possessions, be very weary. This could cause problems with neighbors and additional problems for you. If they are on the sex offender or child predator list, take extreme caution in your decision if you allow them as you are taking on the liability of their actions. Individuals have a way of repeating behaviors and when it has been done before, the next time becomes much easier.

If you have made the decision to become a landlord and not hire a property management company, various sites offer screening services for a fee. Depending on the quality of the check, it can be costly but worth every penny! If you are working with a property management company, make sure they are conducting an in-depth background check including; credit, civil, criminal, eviction, employment verification, previous rental history, sex offender, child predator. Property management companies that are not conducting a thorough screening should be reconsidered. This should be your number one priority as well as your property management company’s to ensure qualified tenants are placed in the property and are free from a colorful and checked past.

Protecting yourself from the first pitfall of investment property ownership is simple. Screen every person who will reside in the home over 18 years of age always, every time, no exceptions! Serious applicants will comply. uncooperative prospects are typically not the best tenants for your property. Screening shows past behaviors and is very indicative of the future.

No one is perfect and most reports will have flaws. That being said, there are plenty of great renters! You can decide what your non-negotiables are on the reports. You do not have to decline everyone who has a collection but you can and should protect yourself.

Bottom line, getting the right tenants in your property is the first step towards a financially rewarding and hassle free investment property ownership.

The management team at All County® CFL Property Management is backed by over 20 years in the property management industry, including experience in managing both investment homes and apartment buildings in Central Florida. Our goal is to give our property owners the peace of mind with the knowledge that their properties are being managed by a reputable property management company.

We handle all marketing, tenant screening, lease negotiation, maintenance requests 24/7, and rent collection. We do not buy or sell properties, we focus solely on property management. Our property managers are licensed Real Estate Agents, members of the National Association of Realtors, Florida Association of Realtors, and Orlando Regional Realtors Association. You can rest assured that our professionals have the experience and credibility as property managers.

Checking Components will Save You Money in the Long Run

It is vital that your chiller is checked by technicians to ensure that everything is working properly. Failure to do so could put a strain on weakened components that need replacing as they struggle to cope with increased usage, combined with harsh weather conditions.

Engineers when servicing chillers know which components are most likely to have suffered through age and use, so they will pay careful attention when checking these elements, looking for fine cracks and other signs of wear and tear. They will know if you need to replace them before they stop working and cause further problems for the more expensive parts of your chiller system. Replacing the cheaper components before they fail will ultimately save you money as you will avoid more expensive repairs, possibly a loss in working hours and inconvenience to staff and clients when the chiller fails.

Helping You with Your Cash Flow and Budgeting

Regular maintenance avoids problems and possible expensive repairs but also helps with budgeting and cash flow. Regular programmes help you to avoid expensive one-off unbudgeted repair bills. Instead they enable you to know what costs to expect each month. More than this, a regular preventative and planned maintenance programme will prolong the life of your chiller system saving you even more money in the longer term.

A properly serviced chiller system will also be able to work at optimum performance, with less strain on the components. It will perform better and so be more economical to run, using less energy to reach its optimum working level.

Gives You Peace of Mind

A full winter check gives chiller users peace of mind and some companies such as GalxC are offering selected clients a free winter check, which is real value for money.

There are many simple and relatively cheap measures which will help maintain your chiller system. Ideally, you should have a regular maintenance programme, which should involve checking that the water never goes over 20 degrees and that the contactors are all in good repair, positioned correctly.

Regular preventative and planned maintenance programmes include cleaning and chlorination services by technicians. Engineers from reputable chiller service companies have the equipment and technical expertise to clean and check your chiller system thoroughly so you will be able to relax knowing that your chiller is working as efficiently as possible.

Winter Means Glycol – Has Your Chiller Got What it Needs?

Glycol (an anti freeze) must be added to chillers to prevent winter freezing. Glycol also needs to be added to chillers in the right mixture, which qualified technicians will be able to calculate. Water and glycol maintenance and treatment systems are a key component

to enabling your chiller to work at maximum efficiency. This should be part of your preventative and planned maintenance programme.

If you have not got a chiller service programme or a contract in place you should still be able to find a reputable company that will service your chiller without a contract. Should the worst happen there are also quality UK based companies that provide chiller service and breakdown cover 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on a single hourly rate.

Such companies are great news when you need to keep your business operational, but to avoid a false economy and reduce the likelihood of a chiller emergency it is far better to have a preventative and planned maintenance programme as part of your budget, rather than assigning chiller service payments to the cost cutting pile.

Don’t cut chiller servicing from your budget – it will be a false economy when your chiller stops working and you face expensive repairs bills.

Sure you’ve increased your sales and have retained some tenants in your units last year, but you are worn out and believe there’s a more efficient way out there! Yes, you have your manual system down to a science, from dotting “I’s” and crossing “T’s”, but you’re missing many crucial elements in your business, one of which is being mobile and being able to manage tenants and pay bills all in one place. You don’t want to just manage your business online, but you want the ability to do it anywhere in the world. All the other “bells and whistles” that come along with the software will be an added bonus for you right?

Ok, so to make your life a little easier and to help you decide what kind of Online Property Management Software Solution is right for you, you need a checklist to help you out!

Here are Eleven Steps to Selecting the Right Online Property Management Software
1. Research the Online Property Management Software Market – Surf the internet, read blogs to gain more knowledge on the state of the property management software market.
2. Prioritize Requirements – Start at a high level by identifying what challenges you want to solve and what your current system isn’t doing for you.
3. Present to Management – Prove that the benefits of the new software vastly outweigh the costs.
4. Build a List of Software Vendors – Start with a list of products eliminating systems that don’t serve your specialty, size of business or high-level functional requirements.
5. Educate the Vendors – The more the software vendors know about your needs, the better they can communicate how their software can help you.
6. Evaluate Live Software Demonstrations – See the system in action, great detail and keep track of your thoughts.
7. Score and Rank the Software Systems – Using a 1-10 scale, score and rank the systems you have evaluated.
8. Gather and Compare Price Quotes – Ask the vendors to provide a detailed price quote, including all the costs associated with the system.
9. Verify Vendor References- Ask your top choice to provide one or more customer references that share your division and business size.
10. Review License Agreement – Make sure you purchase enough licenses for the entire organization.

11. Last but not least, Re-evaluate your final choice before making your ultimate decision.

Following these 11 steps should definitely help you to make your New Year’s Resolution come true and get the Online Property Management Software Solution that is just right for your business!

No matter what kind of cleaning you require in your building space, knowing that the best building services maintenance crew has been hired for services will guarantee that the job is properly completed, and that the building will look its best once the cleaning and maintenance services have been completed. By taking the time to find the right company for the job, you will feel confident in knowing that they are going to be able to handle any job, no matter what kind of mess has been left behind for them to clean.

There are many maid and cleaning building services maintenance companies that one can consider, when they are choosing to clean a commercial building or property. By taking the time to compare the different companies, you can know that the job is going to be done well, and that the cleaners that are doing the work are going to be the best ones in the industry. Whether you hire a large company for the job, or whether you turn to a smaller local company to do the cleaning services, taking the time to find past customer reviews and referrals, and taking the time to read about the cleaners that do the job, is going to allow you to make the right decision as to which company should be hired for the job.

No matter how big or small the cleaning job is, or how large the commercial building may be, when you hire the best building services maintenance crew to do the work, you can feel confident in knowing that it is going to get clean, and that they will take the time to ensure the building looks its best. When you compare various companies, and take the time to learn about the services they offer, and what past customers have to say about those services, you can be rest assured that your building space is going to get the highest levels of clean that you are after.

As a commercial building owner, taking the time to find the best building services maintenance crew for the job, and knowing that they have the best materials and cleaning supplies to handle the job, is the most important thing to consider when choosing which company to hire for services. So, prior to making the final decision, comparing, reading reviews, and hiring the building services maintenance crew you feel most confident in, are things to consider as a building owner.

As a landlord, you need to be aware of your responsibilities. There are too many of them that one article would not cover them all. Reading a long-winded article about your duties could burn you out and take out the fun in investing even if it is serious business. What you need to do is to focus on small pieces of the puzzle one at a time and soon enough, you would have enough background to properly manage a rental property on your own.

One duty that you need to understand is the need for you to be proactive in the sense that you always ask your tenant if there is something in the property that needs to be fixed. The faster an issue is resolved, the better it is for you. Minor problems can snowball into large ones when not attended to in a timely manner.

This advice may seem odd to beginners since it would appear that you have no faith in the property that you are renting out if you regularly check with your tenant if there is something amiss with the property that needs to be dealt with. As you go on your journey as a landlord though, you would see that in the long run, it would work to your advantage and this task is not odd at all. In fact, it could be one of those little things that could encourage good tenants to extend their lease after the current contract is up.

Aside from stopping problems while they are still small ones, the fact that you constantly check with your tenants is one way you can show them that you care about them. Good relationship between landlord and tenant is very important for a rental property business to achieve success. By taking the time to check if everything is okay with your tenant, you foster that relationship and help it grow.

If you are going to work with a rental property manager, you can have them check with the tenants especially if you are busy with other things like a day job. It is always better though if you can spend the time to personally ask your tenants.

Association Management Services: Filling In the Gaps Where Help is Needed Most

Association management servicesare contracted based upon the exact needs of the governing body. While the responsibilities vary, a few basic duties remain prevalent among associations. An HOA must take care of building maintenance, contract for repairs, maintain public areas, and provide insurance. These tasks are typically included as part of the resident fees, making it imperative for the appropriate financial planning to be in place. Items left out of the budget may cause an association to request additional money, take shortcuts, or neglect important maintenance that decreases resident satisfaction as well as a potential increase in the risk of injury. Keeping the community clean and safe takes a large portion of the budget because numerous services such as trash pickup must be contracted out. Not taking these appropriate measures decreases the overall appeal of a neighborhood along with property value. Neglect of these important cost aspects leads to a more costly clean-up process that can be avoided by ensuring all portions of neighborhood care are properly included in the financial budget and backed by the reserve fund.

An HOA may use association management services to create a more solid financial budget, collect fees, and gain insight on upcoming maintenance costs. The on-site manager has daily contact with residents for increased knowledge about specific issues. They complete regular inspections to evaluate the condition of common areas as well as specific residences. This assists with budgeting in contracted services such as lawn care or building repairs. This manager oversees all contracted jobs to ensure the expense has been properly delegated to the right contracting provider. Fee collection is handled by the HOA management company to prevent hostility between members and other residents. If a resident is delinquent, the manager can take the appropriate actions to attempt collection. Management companies bring knowledge to the planning table that may otherwise not be attainable. The right company can greatly improve budgets to allow for better maintenance preparation and unknown costs.

* Preserve visual appeal
* Improve neighborhood integrity
* Address needs
* Resolve issues
* Increase the overall value of a community
* Maintain the value of each individual property
* To increase the power of residents when laws go against their interest

They complete all required maintenance, deal with resident complaints, and ensure fulfillment of needed services. Time constraints often reduce the amount of attention given to areas such as maintenance. A property management company assists with these types of tasks to improve the success of an association.

Home Owners Association Management: What Responsibilities Does a Professional Take Over?

Looking after daily management tasks is the main function of a professional company; however, they also help with accounting functions such as budgeting or secretarial tasks. Paperwork may be in the financial, tax, or general recording categories depending on where additional knowledge is required. Home owners association management professionals will appoint necessary people or vendors to complete repair jobs, perform common daily maintenance tasks, trash services, and for common area care. These yearly budget items are often contracted and monitored by an on-site manager provided for this purpose. This individual overseas all activity within the community, inspects the property, monitors all contracted services, and handles resident complaints.

A professional company will attempt to find major repairs early so they are remedied before becoming too costly. In some cases, an item such as HVAC servicing may be included in a future budget or as part of the reserve fund. This type of precautionary forecasting may be handled by the association but professionals remain a good resource during the financial planning process. Providers of home owner’s association management services also help with the tasks of interviewing possible contractors and are capable of negotiating lower prices for their services. The on-site manager will supervise the completion of these services as well as provides updates regarding work progress. An association receives monthly or quarterly reports containing current financial standings along with recommendations for improvement. Tax deadlines, expert legal advice, petitions, and other documents can be easily provided for by a professional service.

Quality providers may offer a helpline service for residents to report problems or make requests. A manager or other dedicated employee can resolve these issues quickly for the association thus increasing the satisfaction of residents. Management duties vary depending on the size of neighborhood being maintained. A property management company can help the governing body make improved decisions and reduce daily workloads for the betterment of the community. Using the expertise of professionals can lead to improved financial standing in addition to enhanced community operations.

Using a Management Firm to Remedy Resident Distrust

Responsibilities have grown extensively since the initial origin of these governing bodies. Maintaining common areas, minor landscaping, and a few contracted services were typical among any association; however, quite a few additional tasks have been put on this volunteer group. Today, an association must accommodate for the maintenance of private roads, neighborhood parks, utilities, enforce lot restrictions, and supply ample security. These functions were once handled by the government but have now become a standard responsibility of the community association. This increases the amount of funds required to maintain the neighborhood therefore causing an increase in the fees charged to individual residents. Management companies can curb any hostility or doubt by having someone available at all times to answer questions about maintenance or funding.

Association volunteers are responsible for contracting all necessary services, inspecting the neighborhood, collecting fees, completing maintenance, and handling resident complaints. Accomplishing everything required can be difficult due to various outside commitments. Limited communication, delayed resolutions, or inability to provide quick visual proof of fund usage causes an association to be doubted by all other local residents. Management service providers are hired by the governing body in an effort to keep everyone well informed and ensure all tasks are carried out correctly. Professional assistance allows associations to budget and collect funds for proper application.

The governing body directly affects property values as well as each resident’s quality of life. A thorough association should train anyone entering this leadership position, follow a clearly defined set of goals, have a collective vision for the community, and appropriately budget to accommodate unexpected expenses. Time constraints often make it more difficult to accomplish regular resident communication. This lack of involvement makes owners curious about the competence of their governing body. Managing the money aspects of a community requires strict procedures, proper forecasting, and knowledge of what is required by the neighborhood. Contracted services must be accounted for correctly because one missed expense can cause injury or residents to do without some necessity. HOA management firms assist in areas such as budget planning, tax preparation, and community upkeep when time strained volunteers seem to be losing trust among residents.

The past year, 2011, saw the market tipping in favor of investors or landlords. The reason is the lower vacancy rates. One of the main reasons for this trend is the housing bubble burst in recent years. With many people losing their homes due to foreclosures, they are forced to rent.

By taking into account this trend, a landlord would be able to formulate a plan moving forward. This means that they can take advantage of the future state of the industry to gain more profit. Also, if the trend is pointing to an issue that could raise problems for the landlord, he or she can take precautionary measures to protect the business.

One of the biggest assets landlords could have in predicting where the market is going in the near future is data gathered from recent years. By compiling data from years past, landlords would be able to set an informed prediction as to where the market is going. These important data can be easily found if the landlord knows where to look.

For landlords who are not familiar with gathering data pertaining to the trends in the market, there is always the option of working with good property management companies. They can easily be found that a quick search online would give you a shortlist of companies working in the area where your property is located.

Property management companies can be expected to provide insightful information to landlords. If the agreement between the landlord and the property manager includes a clause where the property manager has to provide planning support to the landlord, the latter can require the former to curate data about the industry which would be used to create a plan for the business.

Of course, it is important that the property manager that you are working with is a competent one. This is why choosing what property management company to work with is a very important step for landlords to make. It might sound too complicated but nobody said that investing in rental property is a walk in the park. It is a significant investment and you should treat it as such.

Pavement stencils are a quick and easy way to organize not only the traffic flow entering and leaving the lot, but they are also clear markers for areas in which parking is not allowed. Graphic stencils can mark handicap parking areas. Number stencils can clarify which spots are reserved for specific drivers. They can also be identifiers that coincide with property housing or rentals. When everyone knows exactly where parking is permissible, there will be less strife and frustration in the parking lot.

Pavement marking stencils are perfect for school lots. They can clearly mark areas reserved for bus stops, visitor spaces, staff, student drivers, and special services. Number stencils can also delineate play areas for specific age groups and abilities. Reminder stencils such as ‘Buckle Up’ can be placed at school exits to remind students of the importance of attaching their seat belts before they leave the parking lot. With clearly marked crosswalks for students and other pedestrians on the school grounds, the safety factor will be greatly increased. Once again, pavement marking stencils can create directional arrows that clearly define acceptable traffic flow when navigating through the lot.

Fire lanes are also a serious consideration when it comes to keeping space available near public buildings. In the event of a fire, there is usually little time to move vehicles to accommodate fire and rescue trucks. By using pavement marking stencils to keep these areas free of parked vehicles, the building is much better prepared for emergency service if the time should arise.

Employees hate coming to work only to find no place to park. By using number stencils or some other form of designated pavement marking, there will be fewer problems between staffing and customers or clients. In fact, special parking spaces closer to the building can be used as incentives for the Employee of the Week or the Employee of the Month. Most organizations designate a few spaces near the building for upper management. Because they often operate on tight schedules, this courtesy is much appreciated.

Short of hiring a parking lot management team, simple pavement marking stencils can direct traffic, organize parking, identify no parking zones, offer pedestrian walkways and reserve parking spaces for the handicapped, visitors or specific employees. Why spend a lot of money to correct safety and service issues outside the building, when painting directions on the pavement can solve so many problems before they happen? Consider specially designed pavement stencils for your parking lot issues.