This article is the first one from a 2 part series. The second article is: How to Select a Good Managing Agent.

Do you manage your own investment property? How much time and energy does this take on monthly basis? Is it worth it?

The question we will explore in these two articles, is whether or not is worth your while managing your own investment property.

Why use managing agents?

The main problem with managing your own investment property is usually the time and energy it takes on monthly basis. You have to carefully screen tenants, maintain applications, do the credit checks (those cost as well), ensure the lease agreements are correct and up to date with the law, inspect the properties on regular basis, collect rent, organize repairs and so on.

Due to these factors and others, some times it just may be a better choice to appoint a managing agent, or maybe not. Lets first explore the value a good managing agent can provide.

What is the value in a good managing agent?

A good managing agent will ensure that you are compliant with relevant laws and acts related to your property and the business of renting. Some of the other things good managing agents can provide, include:

* Finding and thoroughly screening tenants to ensure you get a reliable and responsible tenant.

* Signing lease agreements and making changes to them when necessary.

* Ensuring that the rent and any utilities are collected on your behalf.

* Inspecting rental properties at the beginning of lease agreements and at the end of the lease.

* Managing rental deposits and refunds once properties are inspected.

* Maintaining and providing you with monthly statements, which document all financial transactions relating to the property.

* Maintaining and providing you with an itemized annual account at the end of each financial year.

* A big time saver is arranging and organizing necessary repairs to the property.

* Dealing with tenants and trying to resolve disputes when they arise.

The last point is very important as it can take lots of heartache out of the process. Landlords tend to get emotional about their property, they are often not objective. While a good managing agent can deal with disputes with a “clear head” and resolve issues FAR more easily.

Good managing agents can provide advantages. Such advantages can be of a financial nature or just a hassle reducer.

However, selecting a good managing agent can be a totally different story. If you want to know, read the article: “How to Select a Good Managing Agent”.

In the second article we will first explore some factors in selecting a good managing agent and then conclude with the value of hiring such agent or just managing the property yourself.

Watch the video related to property manager

Hedge Fund Manager Hugh Hendry Brief Report on the state of the Chinese Economy in Early 2009. www.eclectica-am.com

Help answer the question about property manager

Real Estate Investment sounds like a cool thing to do during the weekend but the problem arises when you start having to many properties to handle. The solution to your real estate investment problem would be to hire a property manager who can then run your property for you and deal with any problems that may arise. The key is to get a reliable person who can then do any repairs or maintenance work for you.

This article will highlight three additional reasons why you might want to hire a property management company to look after your real estate investment property for you.

Firstly, you might be a busy professional or business person during the weekdays and you do not want to run around looking for a plumber or roof repairer sometime during the week. Time is valuable also if you have several properties that you own and it does not make sense to baby sit your properties.

Thus you would do well to remember that your monthly income is dependent on the number of deals that you can find to add to your real estate investment portfolio. Get your focus right and you will make more money from your real estate investments.

Secondly, proximity is a key issue. One real estate investment author states that he does not own property unless it is within one mile from his own residence. If you want to look after your own properties it is fine but you must be able to go down and take a look if there is any issue arising from your properties.

Note that returns from both offshore rentals and capital appreciation currently in places like Dubai might prove more lucrative so if you are looking into offshore real estate investment, hiring a property management company is a must. Similarly, if you are looking at investing in property outside the state that you reside in, it will be necessary for you to hire a property management company to look after your property.

Thirdly, if you are new to the type of property class, you might want to consider employing the services of a property management company. For example if you have been involved in residential real estate for a long time and you decide to expand to commercial real estate, you might not be familiar with the documentation, the procedures and the possible problems that may arise from such real estate. Hiring a property management company therefore may help you solve some of your transition problems and like mentioned earlier free you to explore other real estate investments.

In conclusion, real estate investment property when done on a small scale in your locality may be okay for a while but when your investments start getting numerous and unwieldy, you might want to tap on the services of a property management company to help you manage your properties thus freeing you to look for more property deals.

Watch the video related to property management

CEO David Novelo talks about some of the advantages of using Capital Property Management. For more information please contact CPM at www.capitalmgnt.com

Help answer the question about property management

Jackson Hole properties are a perennial favorite with people who want a slice of adventure or just want to sit back and enjoy the wonderful sunset after a hard day at work. If you are on the look out for a suitable property, seek the services of a professional realtor. The realtor can provide you a listing of all available properties in the area and the ones that meet your criteria.

Types of Jackson Hole Properties

Residential Properties: Jackson Hole offers an exhaustive range of residential properties that suit a variety of budgets. The choice of size is also quite large, ranging from studio apartments to compact condos to luxury townhouses. Location is yet another deciding factor; for you may want a home that is located near your work, or your children’s school. Many people relocate to Jackson Hole to be near world class skiing facilities. Amenities surrounding the property may also influence your purchasing decision. Apart from schools, families also consider proximity to after-school activities, such as arts and sports. Art lovers may prefer to stay near the art galleries and arts organizations. Lovers of shopping and fine dining may prefer Jackson Hole properties that are close to the town square of Jackson, where there are opportunities galore. Finally, consider the price of the property.

Commercial Properties: Depending on your business, you can find properties suited for industrial or warehouse purposes. Your realtor can secure the best deal for you, and if you are lucky, you may end up with a property that will give you an amazing view of the mountains and the forests.

Among the region’s choicest residential and commercial properties are the ones that follow green building practices, such as the use of sustainable construction materials and solar panels. Also, since the place is a haven for tourists, investing in the right property can ensure significant return on investment and an income for life.

Apex specializes in fulfilling your property-related requirements in the area. From property management to luxury rentals and real estate, Apex has been working with its clients for more than a decade to establish high standards in real estate management practices. Apex can help you with your real estate needs, such as finding the perfect vacation rental, protecting your estate, selling your home, or helping you find that dream home. Please visit http://www.apexjackson.com/ for assistance.

Watch the video related to property manager

A world first in the optimization of labour and quality management for hotel housekeeping, Optii Keeper addresses the key problem areas of labour costs, consistency of product delivery, communication and effective training mechanisms – within one complete solution. www.optiisolutions.com

Help answer the question about property manager

If you follow the economy and business news, you will know that the foreclosure of homes is increasing rapidly when the economy enters recession. Many people are losing their jobs when the economy is in crisis and consequently homeowners cannot make their mortgage payments. If you manage to control your personal finance and still have spare money to spend, this situation can become a good opportunity for you to invest in property.

You may think that you should not do this thing because you are taking advantage of other people misery. However, you should understand that foreclosure of homes happens not only because this single misfortune reason. Some people are facing foreclosures because they bought homes with the purpose of profits in mind. They miscalculate, fail to turn the investment into profits, and miss the mortgage payments, which lead to foreclosures. Others are forced to go to foreclosure because of their own mistakes. They are not responsible in managing their finance and spend their money without thinking ahead. In the end, they cannot pay their mortgages and foreclosures are unavoidable.

As you can see, there are many factors that can cause foreclosure of homes. It is difficult to determine why a particular house is sold through a foreclosure auction. Therefore, you should not think too much and just see this situation as a given opportunity that you need to grasp. Furthermore, if nobody buys the foreclosed properties, squatters may take advantage and stay in those places. They can increase the crime rate in the area. Empty houses are also not good for the surrounding community because they will decrease the values of surrounding houses. By buying these properties, you are actually contributing to the community.

Buying foreclosed properties

Even when the economy is great, foreclosure of homes still happens. If you want to get information on foreclosed properties, you can check local newspaper and real estate agents. You should try to contact some banks to get information. Banks are running a money lending business, not property management. Therefore, they are happy when someone wants to buy their foreclosed homes.

It is a normal practice to sell foreclosed homes much lower than their actual values. This is the reason why this is a good investment opportunity. You have to negotiate strongly with banks so you can get a good deal. You have to remember that you should never make decision directly when you see a cheap home. You still need to see the property and make sure that they are worth the value. If you need to spend a lot of money to do repairs and improvements, then it may not be a good investment. Perhaps you can hire a professional appraiser to asses the value of the home before you decide to buy one.

Watch the video related to property manager

ALDAR Properties PJSC is a leading property development company, with strong investment and management capabilities. ALDAR was established primarily to create world-class real estate developments for the nation of Abu Dhabi, whilst providing a stable and profitable investment portfolio for all our investors. We are dedicated to achieving new standards of innovation, excellence and value in urban design and sustainable development. Our priority is the immediate and future benefit of Abu Dhabi and its residents. The company is owned by leading Abu Dhabi institutions, founder shareholders and over 20616 investors throughout the UAE. aldar’s principle corporate shareholders include: * Mubadala Development Company * Abu Dhabi Investment Company * Abu Dhabi National Hotels Company * National Corporation for Tourism & Hotels * National Investor Central to the success of ALDAR are over 200 multi-disciplinary staff providing expertise and knowledge from around the globe.

Help answer the question about property manager

Water conservation is a growing trend among municipalities, townships and through-out the multi-family apartment industry. In a three year study by the “National Multiple Family Submetering and Allocation Billing Program”, the potential savings in the apartment sector from requiring residents to pay for their water consumption separately from their rent, found that billing residents for their water usage by direct metering could reduce annual water consumption by an average of 15 percent. This latest research supports the apartment industry’s known fact that people always place greater value on things that they pay for. Not only do residents use less water when they are paying for it, but it also makes them more aware of the importance of immediately reporting plumbing leaks. A balanced and well implemented utility billing program is one of those rare issues that water companies, regulators, water conservation groups, property management companies and apartment / condominium owners can all be united. American Accounting and Billing Service (AABS) a nationwide full-service utility billing company with the reputation for the lowest billing fees and highest-rated customer service department has compiled a few benefits of why apartment owners and property management companies should install automated meter reading (AMR) water metering systems.

Water sub-metering immediately increases property value and cash flow more than any other ancillary service or comparable capital investment.

A water submetering system provides for the fair allocation of the property’s water and sewer utility costs among its tenants (Allocation or Ratio Utility Billing do not always allocate fairly, according to the USEPA) so residents are happier. Tenants billed for actual water usage will be able to directly affect water consumption and utility costs by becoming more knowledgeable and responsible users.

Water submetering has been shown to decrease water consumption by as much as 8,000 gallons per unit per year according to the USEPA, when compared to non-metered properties thus conserving one of our nation’s most valuable resources.

Water and sewer rates and other utility rates are rising as much as 10% or more per year on average. Some areas of the country have seen water rates double in the last year. A water submetering project will protect the property owner from the rising water and sewer utility costs.

The property owner can increase the NOI immediately because payback is fast and monies formerly allocated for water and sewer utilities can be reallocated for maintenance and or renovation, a project which further increases property values.

These benefits are achieved without increasing the workload on the property’s staff and without the associated liability and costs of monthly visits by a utility meter reader.

Implementing a third party water sub metering billing program helps to conserve water and energy and protect the environment.

“There is no question that our business has grown steadily for the past five years because owners are now realizing that water and sewer costs can be avoided by putting in place a successful third party billing system” says Sam Kordares, AABS President. “We here at AABS are now expounding on the notion of water conservation through water submetering to include tapping into the municipality and township sector” Kordares says. Having everyone responsible for their own water usage is the first step to conserve one of earth’s most precious resources.

Watch the video related to property management

www.hopestreet.ca This is a video explaining how Hope Street Property Management works with details on how our managers advertise vacant rental property, screen tenants, collect rent, etc.

Help answer the question about property management

National contractor Seddon Property Services has sealed a £2.5 million deal to maintain hundreds of homes across North West England.

The three year, partnering agreement involves cyclical maintenance to social housing properties managed by the Regenda Group in North Cheshire, North Manchester and Merseyside.

It follows a successful working relationship between the painting and property maintenance company and Bolton-based Regenda.

Andy Woodhouse, Seddon Property Services Regional Manager in the North West, said: “We have worked successfully with Regenda for two years after winning tenders for pre-paint repair and painting work.

“We are delighted that this has led to a formal partnering agreement between Seddon and Regenda for 2009 to 2011.

“We will be working side by side with Regenda on community projects and we have agreed to give two people each year the chance to train for a career through apprenticeships.”

The apprentice positions are being advertised through Regenda’s tenants’ newsletter so that a tenant, or member of a tenant’s family, has the opportunity to launch a new career.

This partnering agreement covers four of the Regenda group’s housing associations; Limehurst Village Trust (generally known as LVT) in Oldham, Templar Housing in the Macclesfield and Stockport areas, West Pennine Housing Association in north Manchester and Maritime Housing Association on Merseyside.

Seddon Property Services will carry-out cyclical external pre-painting repairs, painting work and improvements to wooden double glazed window units.

Mr Woodhouse added: “The work will be carried out from Seddon’s offices in Stoke-on-Trent, Liverpool and Preston. Many of our staff work in the areas in which they live which is something that, as a company, we regard as important. The partnering agreement will help to provide sustainability to the local communities by providing job security for local people.”

Bernard Gallagher, Regenda Group Chief Executive said; “We are delighted to join forces with Seddon for the next three years.

“The Partnership will result in crucial benefits for our residents in the form of an efficient and better value for money service, apprentice employment opportunities and sponsorship of local community projects – all aimed at improving our neighbourhoods and the quality of life for our residents.”

Seddon Property Services works in partnership with several of the country’s largest social housing providers.

Community involvement is a feature of many of the partnerships, with Seddon staff working alongside housing associations to stage community events and help local projects. 

ENDS

Seddon Property Services has its headquarters in Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent and regional offices across Britain. It is part of Seddon Group Limited, one of Britain’s major privately owned construction companies, with an annual turnover in excess of £250 million, which employs 1,750 people.

Seddon Group is a corporate partner of The Christie, one of Europe’s leading cancer centres.

Press release issued by Jane Shepherd, Shepherd PR. Contact 01538 308685/308099 jane@shepherd-pr.com

Seddon contact – Mike Gabriel, Marketing Manager – 01782 599511

Seddon Group Ltd

P.O. Box 13

55 Duke Street

Fenton

Stoke-on-Trent

ST4 3NN

Watch the video related to property management

Initially formed in 1982 as Monroe Management Company, Treystar is a diversified real estate investment company specializing in the development and management of Retail Shopping Centers and Office Buildings within the Greater Kalamazoo market, as well as The Moors Golf Club. We are a team of professionals who bring a successful combination of experience, creativity and sound management systems to real estate projects. Our broad experience, established ties with the Kalamazoo business community and team approach to management results in sound development strategies and a proven track record of investment success. Treystar properties stand out due to the dedication and implementation of property management systems that are tailored to each propertys special attributes.

Help answer the question about property management

Hotel industry runs on the essentials of proper management at its every stage. For everything to function in the right order a record needs to be maintained in an organized manner. As the hotel business expands, the task of data organization and maintenance becomes even more cumbersome. This is where Hotel Management System comes to rescue. They are computer software that takes control of the data corresponding to the various functioning aspects of a hotel.

The software is an integration of various modules, which cater to the different aspects of hotel management. For example hotel staff management, hotel reservation and hotel accounting are taken care of by the various modules in a single software entity. Many software companies have put together more areas of hotel management into their software. Hence, the software is referred to as Property Management Software(PMS) since many other features are clubbed within the basic hotel management chores.

There are numerous advantages of the hotel property management system. Some of the benefits that hoteliers reap from the management system are:

The complexity involved with managing of data is reduced considerably. All the logs and records can be easily stored in a digital form without any hassles and otherwise necessary paperwork.

All the operations like booking & reservations, check-ins, checkouts etc. are available on screen and can be carried out through a few clicks of mouse. Therefore, the overall efficiency of the hotel staff and the management system is increased.

Clients can book the rooms and other services through hotel website directly. This leaves no room for any third party involvement.

Many other tasks such as database for back office, scheduling of hotel events, staff management, hotel tasks and jobs, hotel services can be controlled and monitored by a single system.

Thus, we see that a hotel software works wonders for the hotel managers. So, next time you move into a hotel and see the receptionist smiling, you know that it is the hotel software making her job easy!

Watch the video related to property management

An interview with Mel O’daniels General Manager with Nexus Vacation Property Management Software

Help answer the question about property management

After a late kick off it was Seddons who came out guns blazing. A couple of stray passes from the home side allowed the Seddons to penetrate the backline, with Mark Standing hammering home the second of two early goals for the visitors. Crabtree stuck at it however and began to step up their game accordingly.

In the period that followed Joe Mallon pulled back a goal for Crabtree after some good interplay from John Osborn and George Georgiou led to a scrappy goal-mouth scramble with Mallon nutmegging the oncoming keeper. Substitute Bobby Shah levelled for the home side soon afterwards with an audacious lunge in the penalty area. More goals from Nadeem Ghous-Chaudary and Joe Mallon followed before Seddons pulled it back to 4-3.

The game was won at this stage with Luke Cunningham and Andy Soteriou suring up the Crabtree defence and picking out passes for playmaker George Georgiou and warrior John Osborn to feed attack after attack. Cunningham continued to organise the defensive ranks throughout the tie with iron grit. Throughout the game Goalkeeper Rob Robertson had complete command of his penalty area, bravely going to ground on a number of occasions and pulling off a string of impressive saves.

Mike Babb was on form for Crabtree Property, scoring a hat-trick overall, the pick of the bunch coming in the latter stages of the first half. More excellent interplay from Cunningham and Georgiou allowed Babb to finish with a trademark top corner emphatic finish from just outside the box. Crabtree finished the first half in form and in control of the game, leading by seven goals to three.

In the second half Seddons tightened up their defences and made things more difficult for the home side. Mark Standing was a handful and broke the backline to score twice more while Daniel Robins worked tirelessly for the visitors.

It was to be Crabtree’s night however with Nadeem (The Flaming Goose) Ghous-Chaudary completing his hat-trick and Bobby Shah finding the net again for a double. A late consolation for the visitors was testament to their fighting spirit and all ended on positive note with good sportsmanship all round.

Crabtree Team: Rob Robertson, Andy Soteriou, George Georgiou, Luke Cunningham, Bobby Shah, Mike Babb, Nadeem Ghous-Chaudary, Joe Mallon, John Osborn

Man of The Match: Luke Cunningham

Watch the video related to property management

Macquarie Goodman sees ‘good demand’ for industrial properties in Asia; Macquarie Goodman: 18 industrial Esatte assets in HK, 9 million square feet of space, occupancy level above 97%; Analysis by Daniel mcdonald of Macquarie Goodman Asia MD

Help answer the question about property management

Thanks in advance!

Cyprus property is prides itself as one that is rich of choices. The properties in Cyprus and the neighboring Greece are simply one of the best. This ranking is based in the beauty of the property and the value of property. You would not regret the purchase of real estate property in Cyprus.

Some of the famous Cyprus property that has remained a favorite for property buyers both within and out of Cyprus includes country homes and golf properties.

May be it is best to first explain the picturesque environment that Cyprus sits on to provide an idea of just how much valuable an investment in Cyprus would be. Generally speaking, the many waters and the hills that make Cyprus are just like no other place. The large volume of water means that the gardens can always remain green and lush. This is what magical Cyprus offers to golf players.

Besides the beauty that is associated with the property in Cyprus, three other reasons make Cyprus the natural property investment destination are great property management options, good after sale services and easy to understand and process payment services. Let us review each of these benefits of buying from Cyprus.

After sales services:

Upon buying a property, every new owner simply wants to occupy the property. But this is always far from true given the fact that there is often need to spruce up the investment. Services such as electricity, water, interior designs, landscaping and garden care, housecleaning and arranging for security, making plans for access to a golf club next door are essential and must be completed before one gets in. Arranging for these services can be a nightmare as it may take a long process locating the appropriate service providers and negotiating for the best prices. This is where buying from organized Cyprus properties agents who will provide you these services as an after-sales services is a good bargain.

Payment Services:

Making payment can be complicated if you do not understand the legal implications especially on taxes. There could be lots of tax rebates or tax holidays that only a well established dealer in real estate with a good tax lawyer would be able to understand. Besides the taxes, a good dealer in Cyprus properties should help secure the myriad mortgage financing offers.

Property management options:

Finally, if you are a foreign investor seeking to get a share of the secure property market in Cyprus, seek the services of the best in Cyprus developers. This way you will not fall to scams.

Watch the video related to property manager

Rihanna was in New York over the weekend discussing a possible big screen debut. According to the New York Daily News she was in New York to discuss a possible remake of 1992s Whitney Houston/Kevin Costner film, The Bodyguard. Apparently had expressed interest in film before the Chris Brown assault and had been looking at scripts. She is looking to possibly reprise Whitney Houstons lead role and Channing Tatum has been rumored to be the leading candidate take on Kevin Costners character. Now, Lindsay Lohan who had been wanted by the Beverly Hills police seems to have cleared everything up. Apparently she made a change to her alcohol education classes stemming from a 2007 DUI. She apparently didnt get along with the instructor and switched courses. When she was late to her new course, the instructor notified police and then the warrant was issued. Today her lawyer explained why she was late and the warrant was revoke. And Paris Hilton said she felt violated after her cell phone which had been stolen back in 2005 showed up on Craigs List. It turns out a Manhattan hotel manager was arrested after he allegedly tried to sell the phone for 5000 on the site. The manager is being charged with criminal possession of stolen property which could land him in jail for up to 1 year. Finally President Barack Obama will stopping by The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Thursday! This is unique because it will mark the first time a president has been a guest on a late-night talk show, although former President Bush did stop by the set of Deal or no Deal.

Help answer the question about property manager