Property Management News

3 Critical Electrical, Fire Safety, & HVAC...

Develop a maintenance checklist for your rental property around the critical areas of electrical, fire safety and HVAC. No. 1 – Electrical Maintenance Checklist Here are the most important electrical considerations for landlords: Outlets – Use a tester to check outlet wiring, polarity, and grounding. Hire an electrician to ground any un-grounded outlet. Electrical panels – Seek a licensed electrician’s help to decide when to replace an electrical panel and, especially, any fuse box. Old wiring – Upgrade your building if it has older wiring. Replace 2-prong outlets with modern 3-prong outlets so your tenants don’t have to use extension cords or adapters. Any “knob... Read more

Construction projects can be overwhelming, and choosing an equitable contractor is crucial to ensuring that your project is successful. With so many contractors,...

No, the federal government isn’t coming for your gas stove. But new legislation and research could point the way to an electric future   Blue teardrop-shaped...

Remodeling a bathroom is a great way to update a home and increase its value. Whether it’s a full-scale renovation or just a minor rehab, the cost of remodeling a...

The majority of landlords are subject to a variety of risks from time to time. In most cases, landlords will be held responsible for any resulting injuries if it can be...

Can You Detect Smoking in Furnace Filter?

Can you test a furnace filter to detect smoking and nicotine in your rental property is the question this week for Ask Landlord Hank. Remember Hank is not an attorney and is not offering legal advice. If you have a question for him please fill out his form below. Dear Landlord Hank, Can nicotine be detected in a furnace filter that hasn’t been changed in three years? (It is now a no-longer-smokers furnace in the rental.) How reliable is it to test a furnace filter for nicotine? –Carol Hi, Carol, If you’ve had a smoking tenant in your property for quite some time, just changing the filter is not going to be sufficient to get rid of the smoke smell in your system to detect... Read more

We've all heard the age-old saying "the kitchen is the heart of the home," but are islands—the standalone workstation that often doubles as a place...

Eighty-seven percent of residents consider amenities when signing or renewing a lease. That is, according to market research by Joe Duffus, CEO of Builders Design, and...

Do you want to see ChatGPT solving a real-life problem? It helped New York resident Svetlana used to make her landlord fix amenities before raising the rent. The AI bot...

Beyond selling your property, there are other reasons to get an appraisal such as refinancing, appealing tax assessments, or applying for other loans. Before getting a...