• Property Managed By Owner

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    The biggest mistake that property owners make when managing their own rental properties is procrastination. When issues are not immediately or quickly addressed, a decline in the condition of the property may occur or a decline in tenant concern and commitment to their leased space may begin the accelerated wear and tear on the property.

    A slow leak, if not fixed right away, will slowly degrade all that the water comes in contact with. Over-grown landscaping can tear up siding and footings as well as harbor unwanted pests. One bug can lead to an infestation if not treated quickly. Servicing and maintaining HVAC equipment is very important whether you have an agreement with your tenant or not, it should be made certain that filters are being changed regularly. A dirty filter could cause extensive damage to a HVAC unit over time.

    When a tenant reports a leak, overgrown tree, or bugs and the owner doesn’t respond to their concerns, this sends the message to the tenant that it is not an important issue and perhaps the owner does not care. If the owner does not care, then why should the tenant? Putting off a small maintenance issue is one thing, but forgetting altogether about the report is another. What method are you using to document the initial report of the problem so that you won’t forget about it? What if a small problem develops into a big problem and your tenant withholds rent? This can be legally done and could cause a property owner a very expensive headache.

    Another area that is easily procrastinated upon is when a tenant needs to be served a “Cure or Quit” notice. This is a notice that lets the tenant know that they are in breach of their contract and need to “cure” the problem or move out. When a property owner does not post a “Cure or Quit” notice, the problem could easily escalate out of control.

    The most efficient way to avoid procrastination is to utilize a property management software that tracks all communications between landlord and tenants, all maintenance requests, and that will easily and conveniently generate “Cure or Quit” notices as well as all other property management type documents. Most of these software programs are expensive and it may be more cost effective to use the services of a property management company.


    About Robin Birmingham

    Robin Birmingham Property Manager

    Robin joined Haedrich & Co.,Inc. as Property Manager with over 20 years of property management experience. She has worked for companies such as K2 Properties, Inc., Shaw and Associates, Inc., and Shasta Land Services, Inc. Robin is a licensed real estate salesperson. This, along with her extensive experience in property management, has made her a valuable asset for the property management portion of the current real estate sales, leasing, and consulting divisions of the firm.