Property Management Blog

As a real estate investor, you know that time is of the essence. Typically, most investors I know are highly leveraged. They have a mortgage to pay every single month, and the bank doesn’t accept any excuses as to why you’re late or a month behind. Renting out your Chico rental property fast is important, and it’s something not every investor thinks about with a new investment.

In the previous blog post I talked about the importance of not just showing your properties, but selling your Chico rental property to potential residents. I can’t underestimate how important this is. Any company that goes out of business, or loses money does so because they didn’t sell enough of their products or services in the quantities necessary. Selling is an important skill no matter what business you’re in and it’s something that we can all improve on. 

In this complex world of millions of options and tough decisions it’s nice to come across a no-brainer every now and then. It’s like when you go to your favorite lunch place and they tell you the sandwich you want to order is on special and you can get it for a cheaper price and it comes with a side and a drink included. I love those moments. Sometimes I’ll say out loud “why wouldn’t I do this?” It’s an easy decision.

If you are actively looking for great residents to fill your investment property then not only are you a property manager, but you are also a salesperson.

Now, being in sales, it would greatly benefit you to know how to develop the skill of selling. So, I’m going reveal the most important question you need to ask to sell something. It’s basic, but very powerful for you to grow your business and get your properties filled quickly. 

Chico’s rental market is hot, giving owners the many benefits of raising the rents while the vacancy rate continues to hover around 1%. However, although these market conditions are great for owners, it has made it difficult for renters in the Chico area, causing the income to rent ratio to be less friendly then other markets. Apartment List gave Chico an overall grade of "C" for housing affordability for families.   The local news agency “Action News” just ran an article concerning the rating, included below.

“I want to invest in rental property management so I can meet some nice people and make friends,” said nobody ever. Managing Chico rental property is a business and must be treated as such. Although nobody has said the statement above, there are plenty of rental property owners who have had similar thoughts in the back of their minds. It’s tough because there are those owners who may have had a bad experience with a property manager and now want to right the wrongs. They want to be the nice manager. 

The life of flooring in a Chico rental property can last anywhere from a few years with low grade carpet to decades with high end tile or hardwood floors. Typically, if you’re a long-term rental property owner, odds are you’ll have to replace flooring in your rental. As someone in the rental property management industry, many owners ask me which flooring solutions are the best for rentals. The answer is – it depends. 

If you’ve managed property in California for any length of time you understand there are many laws that must be followed or you could end up in some very hot water. These laws are constantly changing every year and you need to be aware of what laws have been passed and what you as a property manager must do to comply with them. There are a number of new laws, but let’s look at two major ones that will affect all rental property managers in the state.

Bed bug infestations have been rising at alarming rates across the nation. In hotels, houses, and apartments there are hardly any places where people sleep that are immune to the effects of these parasitic insects. Unfortunately, if you're a rental property manager of any kind there’s a high chance that you’ll have to deal with the reality of these unwelcome pests. So, it’s time to prepare yourself for that moment when you come face to face with these nasty insects. 

Pot, weed, Mary-Jane, wacky-tobacky, no matter what you call it, recreational Marijuana is now legal in California. For some people, these aforementioned names are cringe worthy and bring up thoughts of commercials on MTV with a man dropping an egg on a frying pan and saying, “This is your brain on drugs.” For others, these names bring up memories of a care-free time in college when they lived dazed and confused. No matter what your stance or view point on Marijuana, if you own investment rental property in California, you’re going to have to get familiar and become educated with this new law. It’s high time we cut through the haze and get some clarity about what this means for you. (I promise, I’ll try to keep the puns to a minimum).