Is it time to buy a house?

No way. The economy has yet to turn around, and prices are going to keep falling.

Close, but not quite. If the market hasn’t bottomed out already, it’s getting there. It’s definitely time to start looking for a good buy.

Absolutely. There are great bargains out there now. You’ll kick yourself later if you don’t grab one soon.

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A property manager is required to look after property management tasks, but also the management of the financial and investment needs associated with the land and buildings. This holds true whether it is a single family home, a condominium complex, or commercial location. On the outside, these jobs appear to take only minutes, but the resources needed for the entire position of property management can be difficult for those who are not prepared.

A property manager is not only responsible for looking after property management tasks, but also the management of the financial and investment needs associated with the land and buildings. This holds true whether it is a single family home, a condominium complex, or commercial location. On the outside, these jobs appear to take only minutes, but the resources needed for the entire position of property management can be difficult for those who are not prepared.

Some Responsibilities of a Property Management Company
Part of a property manager’s job involves looking after the tenants and the rental unit itself. A property management expert is responsible for ensuring all of the units are rented. He or she will advertise any vacancies and select qualified tenants to save the owner’s resources. In fact, a property management professional can often perform this part of the job more efficiently because he already has a series of resources in place to get the most exposure and ensure tenant screening is accurate. This helps to fill empty units faster and increases the property’s revenue. The expert is also responsible for inspecting the space before and after a tenant moves out as well as all the financial and legal aspects of the damage deposits.

The property manager will also look after all of the needs of the building’s tenants. This can include having repairs and general maintenance duties performed in a timely and cost-effective manner, and paying and billing various tradesmen and vendors. He or she will also set the rent amounts, collect fees from tenants, and deal with late payers and NSF issues.

A property manager assumes an important customer service role since he or she is the third party between the tenant and owner. This means addressing concerns from both sides. This can include emergencies, lost keys, and situations that arise between business hours and at night. The quality of service the expert provides will ultimately determine the success of the owner’s investment since this factor is what keeps the home rented and may even build up a waiting list.

Why would you even consider a property manager? For one thing, you decided to invest in a rental property, but don?t know what to do next. You?re not alone. The realities of maintaining and running a rental property can quickly become overwhelming- even to the savviest investor. Many times, people choose to hire a property manager to help them in the day to day tasks, which could be just the answer you?re looking for. To help make up your mind if hiring a property manager is right for you, here are 10 reasons that could help influence your decision.

Why would you even consider a property manager? For one thing, you decided to invest in a rental property, but don’t know what to do next. You’re not alone. The realities of maintaining and running a rental property can quickly become overwhelming even to the savviest investor. Many times, people choose to hire a property manager to help them in the day to day tasks, which could be just the answer you’re looking for. To help make up your mind if hiring a property manager is right for you, here are 10 reasons that could help influence your decision.

Collecting and Depositing Monthly Rent Payments. If you’ve ever worked in the billing department of an organization, you know that securing payment from clients and patients can be difficult, not mention awkward. A property manager has his/her own systems in place to effectively collect rent and maintain on-time payments. Especially if you are a small investor, with a limited number of properties, not being able to maintain consistent payments is going to significantly affect your cash flow.

Rental Rates. A property manager is going to make sure your rental rates are competitive, which is the key to securing (and keeping) tenants in your property. Their job is to know the rental market, knowledge which most likely isn’t your forte.

Housing Regulations and Property Law. There is a multitude of applicable laws and regulations that you are going to need to abide by when renting and maintaining your rental property. These include local, state and federal regulations, as well as fair housing regulations (such as the ADA). A property manager can help you avoid lawsuits by keeping up to date and in compliance with these regulations.

Marketing and Advertising. A good property manager is going to have experience in offline and online marketing, as well as local direct mail opportunities, which will increase the exposure of your properties. Carrying a vacant property can be extremely expensive, and is an expense you want to avoid whenever possible.

Inspections. Being extra vigilant in the care of your rental property is critical to the maintenance of your investment. Through routine inspections, a property manager can find and repair problems before they grow into expensive endeavors. It is standard for property managers to perform inspections before a tenant moves in, during their lease, and after the tenant moves out.

Tenants. Securing tenants can be a time consuming process. Depending on the extensiveness of requirements for your rental properties, a property manager can take care of securing all criminal background and security checks, credit reports, employment verification, and previous landlord references. In addition all tenant disputes, conflict resolution and emergency maintenance will all go through a property manager, who will involve you at his or her discretion. In addition,

Access to Professionals. A property manager has existing relationships with maintenance workers, tradesmen, vendors, supplies and contractors that you do not have. This can save you significant time and money when it comes to maintenance on your rental property, not to mention ensuring quality work.

Time Management. By having a property manager that takes care of the routine daily tasks, you are free to focus on other investments and/or your own career.

Remote Locations. If your investment property is in another city or state, it’s simply not possible for you to oversee management and maintenance of the property and its tenants. A property manager can be where you can’t, and can take care of all the details you don’t have access to.

Money. Most property managers charge a percentage of the monthly rental rate which can range anywhere from 8-12%. The cost is actually quite nominal when compared to all the services a property manager can provide, which frees up your personal and professional time.

This article provided by AllPropertyManagement.com

If you’re a college grad about to rent for the first time — or even if you’ve been renting for years — it’s well worth it to plunk down the small monthly payment to cover yourself should the worst happen.

As college graduates begin to migrate from the dorms in a few short months, one item they may neglect in their move to the real world is a critical one: renters insurance. Renters insurance is an often-ignored insurance that covers everything from personal property to personal liability.

If you’re renting for the first time, or have been renting for years without insurance, you’ll want to consider purchasing some insurance. MSN.com debunks four myths about renters insurance, which just might persuade you to buy a plan:

1. My landlord’s covered
In most cases, a landlord’s insurance covers only structural damage to the building itself — and many landlord policies don’t even go that far if the damage is caused by a tenant. If you leave the tub running and it turns your floor into cardboard and dribbles downstairs, damaging your neighbor’s couch, you may be liable for the whole drippy mess. If your building went up in flames, your landlord’s coverage would include repairs, but only to the building, not to the possessions of tenants.

2. It’s out of my price range
Is $10 to $20 per month too much? For lower rates, you can raise the deductible. For more protection, you can pay more for replacement-cost coverage where the reimbursement is based on today’s replacement cost rather than original value.

3. I’m in a great building and I’m not worried about security
Renters insurance extends beyond on-premise theft and hazards. If your suitcase is stolen while you’re on vacation, you’ll likely be covered. Same with property stolen from your car. If you’re prone to barroom brawls, you might need more help than renters insurance, but you’ll probably be covered if you hurt someone. Speaking of injuries, you’ll also likely be protected if someone slips and sprains her ankle at your annual dance-a-thon; you may even receive compensation for legal defense costs in the case of a lawsuit.

4. My stuff isn’t really worth much
You might be surprised at how quickly all those books, CDs and kitchen appliances add up.

This article provided by Marshall Loeb, MarketWatch