As a property manager, it is never too early to be thinking about pest prevention methods. Many of these pests are not only a pain for communities, but some can even be trasmitters for disease, according to the Center for Disease Control.  Rodents, bed bugs, and mosquitoes are just some of the major pests that can appear during the warmer months of the year and terrorize residents.

Property owners can safeguard against pest infestations by following these recommended tips by Orkin and the NPMA:

Moving from one home to another can be a tedious job. Before you start thinking about making the move, there are three things that you might want to consider:

I. Budget

The financial burden can be pretty large, and can grow depending on the place you’re moving to; be it a move within the same city, between states, or to a different country.

II. Number of People

Whether you’re single or moving with your family, the total cost to move will vary depending on the cubic feet of items being moved; which directly impacts the size of the moving truck you use or the amount of movers you may need. It might be helpful to write down the number of items being moved, along with their weight and size before moving onto getting an estimate.

III. Time

The next thing to focus your attention on should be the time it takes to actually make the move. If the move is not properly planned, it can become a stressful production. One way to plan for the amount of time it will take for the move is to consider how long it will take to move large items, time spent loading everything onto the truck, time spent moving all of your items to your new location, and time and effort unloading the truck.

Consider these factors when budgeting your move:

• Mortgage
• Gas
• Deposits
• Utilities
• Basic expenses/Groceries
• Moving Estimate

To use moving calculator: http://www.movingguru.com/movingcostcalculator

There is a huge impact in the environmental footprint in the real estate industry, there are lots of ways to improve your home planning remodeling and renovation projects to make your living space more environmentally conscious.

Insulate Your Walls
Insulate your home and use less energy to heat and cool it. Newer homes tend to come with insulation, but they might benefit from more. Older homes tend to have less insulation. The Department of Energy recommends a home inspection to learn the R-value of the insulation before you add more. R-value is the resistance to heat; the job of insulation is to keep heat on the correct side of the wall (out in summer, in during winter).

Add Window Treatments
Window treatments can also help you reduce your heating and cooling costs, while making your home look a bit more stylish. Hang roman blinds or a pair of thick curtains in your windows to block the heat in the summer and keep cold air from seeping in through the windows in winter.

Choose Better Materials
Cabinets made from particle board might be held together with a formaldehyde-based glue, which is a carcinogen and pollutant that contributes to smog and reduces indoor air quality.

Dispose of Appliances Properly
Upgrading the older appliances found in your new home is a simple way to improve your home’s interior and cut the amount of energy it uses. Look for new appliances that have the Energy Star label, because they use around 15 percent less energy than non-labeled appliances.

Technology has develop lots of new features in the Real Estate industry, especially in facilitating daily tasks making them more automated. Having the power to control almost any appliance in your house, using the smartphones apps is the future of homes. There is a lot of potential to grow, in a particular market that is developing, the only downside is its price tag. “This is smart home technology” “All of this would be fabulous to install in apartment homes, except it costs about $50,000 a unit.”

Utilities, lighting, plug loads, doors, and windows are among components that can be monitored and accessed through smartphones, tablets, and other devices. At least two apartment developers are finding out how smart home technology can work for them. Forest City Residential Group and AMLI Residential are testing smart devices at some communities.

In these industry looking for success sometimes means differentiating from the rest, these developers are integrating new technology in communities expecting good feedback and good advice from residents to keep improvements.

Also, a very important factor is using technology to communicate with residents effectively and rapidly with new systems, this will allow them to improve their communication and customer service.

“Are HOA’s fining you for those horrendous oil spill stains on your driveway or on the street in front of you house. Have you tried everything from toxic degreasers, detergents, and even acid, only to find that when the residue runs into your yard it kills the vegetation – prompting new fines from the HOA?  You need a driveway cleaner that works!”

There are tons of products that can be utilize to clean your driveway. But, there is the perfect formula that can take all the old stains and leave the concrete spotless, the product is the Terminator- HSD. Terminator HTerminator-HSD-Concrete Cleaner is an Eco-friendly oil stain remover.

This efficient product can be used to remove tough oil stains from driveways and garage floors. Apart from home use, this biodegradable green cleaning product can be used to keep gas stations, parking lots, and auto repair shops free from oil stains.

Watch video to learn more about the product an application:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbryvYZIJx0

Visit Website: 

There are lots of reasons why is convenient to hire a property management company to have control of the property, since  you already know that dealing with tenants and problems with the property itself can be hectic.

1. Screening of Tenants

One of the biggest worries that many landlords face is finding good tenants. It is a hard job, but is crucial to have some detail background information from the tenant especially financial and criminal records.

2. Collection of Rent

It can be a pain to go to every property and each renter’s door to collect the rent monthly. You have a life beyond being a landlord. Your property management company will collect rent for you. Most companies will have the tenant bring or mail in the rent to their office.

3. Maintenance of Property

There is nothing worse than getting a phone call in the middle of the night about a clogged toilet or other repair issue. The management company often provides around the clock maintenance to make sure that everything is in working order. They will respond to these emergencies for you. They may have contracts with plumbing and electrical companies, as well as other people that are needed to keep your property maintained.

The solution is to hire a property management company that has all the tools needed to assist tenants and owners at the same time, building a healthy relationship for all parties.

Vacancies can come up at the most unexpected times. The end of a year, even though it’s a holiday season, is no exception. Neither are the early months of winter when fewer moves occur. That’s why property managers need multiple ways to attract new residents that work all year round. It’s also effective to have many clever methods that will fill vacancies as quickly as possible.

Here are a few more ideas for filling your vacancies as quickly as possible:

1. Gather contact information on local churches and synagogues. Ask for the name of the secretary or director of services. When vacancies arise email them pertinent information useful to their congregants.
2. Do you have a local Housing Authority in your community? If so discover how you can serve their housing needs. Ask them for their suggestions on how you can be a source of help.
3. Create your own list of reliable current residents with whom you’ve built strong relationships. Ask for their help in finding more people like them to be their neighbors. Residents feel respected when you offer them the chance to bring in referrals. A “thank you” gift is smart too.

Make sure you have a strong social media presence, it will give you free advertising and a overall strong background in the digital marketing.

Some people misuse the perception of being “Green”, just because it may not be as “cool” today to take your property management business in a “green” direction doesn’t mean it’s not rewarding. Besides all satisfactions and rewards come with the sustainable plan that could save you thousands of dollars.

The HUD in 2007 introduced their “Green Initiative” program, which gave initiative to property owners to rehabilitate their buildings using the sustainable Green Building principles. There’s also a Credential for Green Property Management (CPGM) you can qualify for. It offers management companies and owners a mechanism for meeting the training commitments to the HUD Office of Affordable Preservation (OAHP) if they’ve qualified for a “green restructuring”.

It isn’t rocket science to imagine that the kind of people who make excellent renters are also impressed with buildings updated to be both environmentally sensitive as well as healthier to live in.

Each of the following topics is covered in the credential training, with a cumulative total of at least 8 hours in these areas:

• Green Building Principles and Practices Overview
• Energy Efficiency
• Water Efficiency
• Integrated Pest Management
• Indoor Air
• Quality
• Green Operations and Maintenance

Other topics that may be included in the 16-hour requirement include:

• Green Site Landscaping, Xeriscape, Composting, etc.
• Green Building Systems
• Alternative Energy Sources (Solar, Wind, Geothermal, Combined Heat and Power, Co-generation)
• Energy Star (including indoor and outdoor lighting) and WaterSense Programs
• Recycling and Waste Reduction
• Resident Green Education

To learn more in regards to the Green program visit : http://www.naahq.org/learn/education/credential-green-property-management