Do You Have the Techno-Savvy to Screen Younger Tenants?
Veteran property manager Wallace Gibson of Gibson Management Group, Ltd., in Virginia responded to our article Is Your Lease Application Falling Short? with his own list of great tips, gleaned from forty years in the property management business. Here’s some of his sage advice:
Tenant Credit Checks
Running a credit check with a FAKE SS# with the information on an application actually CREATES a “credit identity” for that person – so that the NEXT time the information is requested it is actually THERE with ‘no credit’ reported….this should be a danger sign for would-be landlords…
If you’re thinking about spring and summer projects, here are a few things to consider before you start wandering down the aisles looking at deck stains:
I spoke with Rich Morrell in marketing at Cabot Stains, and he simplified the process somewhat, ”Making the right choice with stain comes down to what’s most important to you, aesthetics or durability.”
Stains come in a variety of opacities, are oil or water- based, and they both have advantages and disadvantages.
Remember, too, as you look at the selections of clear, tinted, semi- transparent, and solid stains, that the more pigment you add, the less you are going to see of the natural wood.
Do you want to see the natural wood color showing through on your deck? Then, you’ll want an oil-based stain. Oil soaks in and penetrates through the surface better and gives the wood a richer look. However, you’ll spend more time maintaining your deck since most of these stains last only two to four years.
Solid color, water- based stains have lower volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) and because of this, these stains are better for the environment. They are also more durable, lasting seven to eight years, but you’ll hide the natural look of the wood. Still, a water-based solution dries faster and cleans up easier.
Insights from a Property Management Expert: Make Your Own Repairs and Save Money
an interview with Michael Horn, VP Commercial Sales: Lowe’s
Michael Horn is no stranger to home repairs. He owned 27 rental units over the years, before signing up to help Lowe’s corporate develop it’s focus on property management and maintenance. This expert ‘do-it-yourselfer’ shares his tips for saving money by choosing to do some of your own repairs: (more…)
Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast has its headquarters this year in Biloxi, Mississippi. During a week long event, from May 11 through May 16, 2008, Habitat for Humanity’s Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project volunteers will build ten new houses in Biloxi, twenty more in nearby Pascagoula, and repair or rehab thirty more.
Another work project organization, created in 1998, and affiliated with Habitat for Humanity nationwide since 2007, is the Brush with Kindness program. It’s a network of neighborhood revitalization groups made up of volunteers from businesses, churches, and community outreach associations. This spring, they will all be out in force sprucing up these Gulf Coast communities that are still struggling with rebuilding, over two and a half years since hard hit by Hurricane Katrina. Volunteers paint, repair and build, and many socially responsible businesses make their efforts possible.
Although a prospect’s name typically is the first thing a landlord asks for, it is often incomplete on the application and lease. This presents a problem for enforcement of the lease agreement, evictions, subsequent collection efforts, and investigations.Make certain that you recorded the prospect’s full, legal name, including their middle name. This name should match all of the ID.
It is also important that the signature contains the full, legal name.
ARE YOU PLANNING TO INSTALL ON-SITE CHARGERS FOR YOUR TENANTS’ ELECTRIC VEHICLES?
Given the widespread popularity of the new electric vehicles, tenants will undoubtedly be looking for ways to refuel at home. With all of the considerations that go into this decision, it certainly is time to review your options and devise a plan for EV Charging Stations on your rental site.
As tenants transfer their auto fuel costs to their electric bill, questions arise over how to meter or offset the cost of charger usage, how to protect the stations from unauthorized use, how to prevent on-site accidents, how to offset the installation costs with tax deductions or incentive programs, and the affect on the property’s appearance.
TRICKS OF THE TRADE: Finding Honest and Competent Contractors
an interview with David Lupberger, Director of Consumer and Contractor Outreach: ServiceMagic
“I’ve heard it said that people spend more time choosing their TV set than their contractors,” begins David Lupberger, a twenty-year construction remodeling veteran, columnist and author, who heads consumer and contractor outreach for ServiceMagic. “I think that’s because, as consumers, they don’t know what to ask or what to expect.”
“One of the problems property owners face is the low barrier to entry in construction trades. Each state is different on it’s licensing rules, and that’s hard for consumers to keep track of.” ServiceMagic’s business model is to find competent contractors, to perform the due diligence, and match consumers to contractors in their area. But even without such assistance, a property owner can find competent technicians, and manage the construction process.
Brad Pitt loves the energy of New Orleans, owns a home in the French Quarter, and is helping rebuild the city. In August 2005, the Lower Ninth Ward was ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. Global Green USA, an environmental organization, partnered with Brad Pitt and the Home Depot Foundation in August 2006 to sponsor an international design competition.
Architects were asked to design a house five feet off the ground with a porch and three bedrooms with a selling price of about $150,000.Their goal, along with helping the displaced residents of the neighborhood come home again, was to demonstrate the energy savings available with green building.
The first sustainable housing community in the Ninth Ward is underway, and the project includes five homes and one eighteen unit apartment building built according to “green” standards. As an extension to his first project, Brad Pitt announced in December 2007 the creation of a new foundation called “Make It Right.”
TENANT BACKGROUND CHECKS: A Quick Tips Checklist for Finding Red Flags
While nothing takes the place of tenant screening reports and employment and personal references, here are some quick ways to check whether your prospective tenant is giving you valid information:
Ask the prospective tenant for rent receipts for the past three months at his current address:
Did he pay on time?
Is the address the same as on the application?
Is the name exactly the same as on the application
Take a look at the license plate on the prospect’s car:
Is the state consistent with the information on the application?
Is it the same number, and same make and model as the car listed on the application?
Look at the first three digits of the applicant’s social security number. Compare the number to the Social Security Chart provided:
Is this information consistent with the address history?
Cross check the social security number with other information received. Is the SSN the same as:
American Apartment Owners Association offers discounts on products and services related to your commercial housing investment, including tenant debt collection, tenant background checks, insurance and financing. Find out more at www.joinaaoa.org.
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Do You Have the Techno-Savvy to Screen Younger Tenants?
Like a house built on a strong foundation, your rental application can make or break:
If you’re thinking about spring and summer projects, here are a few things to consider before you start wandering down the aisles looking at deck stains: 
an interview with Michael Horn, VP Commercial Sales: Lowe’s
Habitat for Humanity
Although a prospect’s name typically is the first thing a landlord asks for, it is often incomplete on the application and lease. This presents a problem for enforcement of the lease agreement, evictions, subsequent collection efforts, and investigations.Make certain that you recorded the prospect’s full, legal name, including their middle name. This name should match all of the ID.
Given the widespread popularity of the new electric vehicles, tenants will undoubtedly be looking for ways to refuel at home. With all of the considerations that go into this decision, it certainly is time to review your options and devise a plan for EV Charging Stations on your rental site. 
“I’ve heard it said that people spend more time choosing their TV set than their contractors,” begins David Lupberger, a twenty-year construction remodeling veteran, columnist and author, who heads consumer and contractor outreach for ServiceMagic. “I think that’s because, as consumers, they don’t know what to ask or what to expect.”
Brad Pitt
TENANT BACKGROUND CHECKS: A Quick Tips Checklist for Finding Red Flags
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