How To Find A Property Manager Who’s Got Your Back in Redwood City

Let’s admit the fact, here in Redwood City, it is possible to manage your own rental properties by yourself but hiring someone else to do it for you is a great idea!

Finding the right property manager can be a difficult task. If you are just getting into real estate investments or considering it for the first time, you may not know by which criteria you should judge the different management firms.

Knowing the right questions is half of the battle. While I can’t tell you which manager you should use, I can help suggest items that you will want to cover when interviewing different companies.

Finding a Property Manager That Fits Your Needs

There are a number of different types of property management companies. It is extremely important to find a property manager that specializes in your area of investments. If you are looking to invest in residential properties, make sure to look for firms that specialize in this area.

A company who normally manages commercial properties may not be equipped to deal with issues that come up with residential properties. They may not have a system in place to deal with situations that arise from regular tenants.

Another important qualification to consider, which may sound obvious, is to determine whether a property firm actually manages properties. If you are looking in local directories or the phone book, you may find some firms that are primarily interested in selling properties. You may not be able to determine the services that they offer from their name or short description, so it would be important to call and ask prior to setting up an appointment.

How to Choose the Right Property Manager

It is important to consider multiple real estate management firms when making your decision. If you go with the first one that you find, you may regret it later. Once you cover the basics and determine which companies you would like to meet with as potential managers, it is important to cover all your bases.

The best way to accomplish this is to come in with a list of things that you want this property manager to offer. You don’t have to show the list to each firm, but having a checklist to make sure your investments are secure is a great way to start.

You want to be able to determine which firm will provide you with the best services for the least amount of commission. There are a number of services that you want to make sure to include in your checklist. Here are some of the important ones for me:

• How they advertise vacancies: A great management firm will be aggressive in their advertisements. You don’t want your property staying vacant for too long. Remember that you have to bear the burden of any vacancies, not the management firm.
• How they show properties: The process they use to show properties can not only describe the precautions they use, but also whether it will be successful in obtaining quality tenants. For example, if they only show properties Monday-Friday 9am-5pm, this will decrease your odds of getting a tenant with a regular job.
• How they screen tenants: This is really important. Make sure that they are using background checks. A simple background check can find any negative history and keep you from huge losses. All it takes is one bad tenant to turn you off to rental properties.
• How they go about collecting past-due rents: Any legitimate firm will have a process in place. Make sure that it sounds like a good one.
• How they control maintenance costs: You always want to make sure that they will keep up with regular maintenance and to find out before hand of their processes.
• How to deal with after hour emergencies: If they don’t have a system in place for these types of emergencies, why would you pay them money in the first place?
• What type of accounting they offer owners (you): It is always good to find out what kind of accounting services they offer. Remember that great accounting means less work for you when taxes season comes.
• What’s their fee structure: Finding a property manager for an appropriate fee shouldn’t be too difficult. From surveying the market that I live in, these typically run 6-12% of the rent, but various firms may have different fee structures.
• What type of liability insurance they have to protect you from lawsuits: This one is really important. You always want to be covered in this business.

Final Tips to Make the Decision

If you find yourself trying to make a difficult decision between two companies, you want to make sure to read the fine print on the contract. Another thing to consider is whether this company will help you build your real estate business beyond the properties that you already own.

If they seem like a firm that is going to help you be successful and even help you find properties, your odds of finding a property at a great price and thereby increase your cash flow just increased.

After all, finding a property at a wholesale price can go a long way to making it a profitable venture. Establishing a great relationship with a property management company is an important step in real estate investing and something that should be done with care.

No More Falling Prey to Foreclosure Rescue Scam!

I read an article today about an Austin, Texas man (Frederic Alan Gladle) that was sentence to 61 months in prison for participating in a foreclosure-rescue scam.  He stole about $1.6M from distressed homeowners.  He convinced them that he would be able to delay the foreclosure up to 6 months for $750  a month.

When I read this article today in the DSNEWS.com dated 05/04/2012 by Esther Cho, it just breaks my heart when I get a bank foreclosure and I have to go out to the property and so many times, the former homeowner is in the house shocked that I am knocking at their door.  I go on about my speech how the house is now been foreclosed on and that the bank wants their house back.

They break down and tell me that they have either hired an attorney to help them with their loan mod and signed up for some type of service like Frederic Alan Gladle offered above, all but a lifeless dream and a scam.  These homeowners put all their hopes into these people and at the end of the tunnel they are the ones losing.

If you are a distressed homeowner out there, please do your own loan modifications so that you know it is being done right.  Do research on a company before paying them so that “they can save your home”.  9 times out of 10 it is a scam.

Short sales these days are a great alternative to a foreclosure.  If you have not missed a payment and short sale your house.  You can potentially purchase a home in the few following months with FHA.  Please call me with any questions, I am here to help you in your most difficult time.

It Started with a Childhood Sketch

Since childhood, I started to draw houses in a more detailed way. I don’t know why, but every time I draw them, it feels like it will be my house soon.

For the psychologist Carl Jung, building a house was a symbol of building a self. In his autobiographical Memories, Dreams, Reflections, Jung described the gradual evolution of his home on Lake Zurich. Jung spent more than thirty years building this castle-like structure, and he believed that the towers and annexes represented his psyche.

Now, I still don’t have my own house since I’m only 20 years old but my work deals with real estates and houses. I work with Christina Nguyen a  Real Estate broker in Redwood City, Itosca Properties as her Virtual Assistant. I never imagined myself working with real estates, but chance brought me here, can we call it destiny?(haha).  House for me has  more deeper meanings which are dream,inspiration, security, success and  family – these five words I believe are the most desired things that every person wants deep in their hearts. All of us need a house no matter how big or beautiful it is. It’s for everyone and we deserve to have one!

So if houses we live in are so significant, what about the houses we imagine? What do our wishes say about our life style and who we are?

I always love these photos of houses so can you now identify what kind of person am I?

It’s TRUE: Painting Front Door Makes Property More Saleable!

Since property owners wants a quick sale, worrying less about cleaning windows and buying fresh flowers,they rather spend more time repainting the front door and replacing old gates, according to new research.

As the 2012 HSBC Home Improvement Survey shows, many owners have false impression regarding factors which may really help them to sell their property. Over half of UK householders, some 52%, plan to spend time over the Bank Holidays during spring making home improvements. The research revealed the smaller jobs around the house can help homeowners to sell their property. 60% of property valuers said that to de-clutter is the most considered way to increase a property’s chance of selling quickly for a healthy price. Also, cutting the grass and repairing paint chips will also improve house selling prospects. However, over two thirds, 69%, of home owners also consider cleaning the windows is a worthwhile activity, compared to just 44% of the property experts. In addition, while 63% of the experts said that repainting or varnishing a front door would make a difference, only 23% of homeowners identify this. Householders are also advised to worry less about putting rubbish bins out of sight or washing the car, and focus instead on repairing old fences and gates.

To help enhance property value and saleability, many householders rather spend the Bank Holidays on DIY projects. However it is often the smaller jobs like painting the front door that can make all the difference when looking for a quick sale,’ said Peter Dockar, head of mortgages at HSBC.

There are also some conflicting opinions. Buying fresh flowers to put indoors will make a difference according to 38% of owners but just 7% of experts believe it would do so. But there is agreement when it comes to putting new plants in the garden or in pots on a terrace with 20% of both groups thinking it will make a difference.

According also to survey, potential increase in property value as a result of home improvements has dipped in the past year.

The survey found that refitting or altering a home, although advantageous, may not provide equal level of financial return in today’s market than may have been the case in previous years.

Being Successful is Like Being an Oak Tree

“The strongest oak tree of the forest is not the one that is protected from the storm and hidden from the sun. It’s the one that stands in the open where it is compelled to struggle for its existence against the winds and rain and scorching sun” -Napoleon Hill.

We can say that ‘real’ growth in life happens when we are eager to risk and widen our abilities; when we are willing to put it on the line for change. It is easy to live with the same crowd, making the same thing we have constantly done. In short, we like things that have a system of activities that will only lead us to the same result we have always gotten.

Surely, you have challenges to face right now. Move forward and take them head on. It is always good to think stepping up to the opportunities that lie just beyond the tests. For now, you may be in darkness, but the fact is, the light is right around the bend. When you overcome the difficulties facing you, you will then be able to drink in the sunlight of accomplishment to recharge your battery.

One thing is for sure: everyone is like that oak tree. The only difference is that we can replant ourselves regularly if we needed to. If that tree takes root in the forest, it will live its whole existence there while we can continue to move out into the open. We have a tremendous advantage, so why not dare using it? Move out into the open today and tomorrow will be too much rewarding.

Cheers for success..wohooo!
 

Real Estates – Our Passion,

Welcome to Itosca Properties.

I created this site to express my opinion and listings on Real Estates and to help people make an informed decision before buying Real Estate.

Because there are so many scams on the internet nowadays, it really difficult to know who may really help you in buying a house.

Well, this is a good news for you: I’ve cut through all the hype and revealed the facts that will help you decide whether our Real Estate Listings are good for you or not. We will be posting our listings here as they become available plus will give you continuous updates about important real estate trends  that you will surely enjoy.

Feel free to go through my website and get to know more about Real Estates. If you have any questions, please go to the contact page.

Thanks for visiting my website!