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The most common phone calls a property manager can expect is a maintenance request. In fact, a property manager with multiple homes to manage will probably receive several of these calls per day. If the property manager works for a large real estate corporation, that company will field dozens of maintenance requests daily. There are a few common repairs that a property manager can expect and should always be prepared for.

Broken Appliances-Appliances are used frequently and subject to wear and tear over the years. While some tenants may take care of the stove, refrigerator, or dishwasher, other tenants aren’t as careful. Unless the appliance is broken due to tenant damage, the property manager will be responsible for making repairs. This also includes heating and cooling units.

Leaking Water-When a tenant calls about a leaky roof, this could be a sign of a much bigger problem. Roofs are subject to a lot of weather damage, wear and tear and can develop leaks. When there is a storm and the tenant call about water dripping from the ceiling, the roof may need a patch. There could also be problems with the drainage away from the house (gutter system).

Faucets Dripping or Leaking-Leaking pipes are a common problem in single family homes and most renters don’t know what to do. Pipes could be leaking below the sink or the faucet could be dripping. These are easy fixes for someone that knows what they are doing, but the property manager will frequently need to send maintenance to resolve these issues.

Bug Infestation-Not every call about bugs leads to a diagnosis of an infestation. Depending on where the property is located there may be several different insects or rodents that are prone to getting into homes. Tenants may call about a spider they see on the wall, gnats accumulating in their kitchen, or beetles congregating on their patios. Depending on the situation there may not be much a property manager can do to keep outdoor pests, and some indoor pests at bay. Using pest control services between tenants is a great way to control bug problems inside the home.

If you’re a property manager be prepared to field maintenance issues like these and hire maintenance men that know how to resolve these issues.

Property Manager Nightmares Bed Bug Infestations

Property Manager | When tenants call with maintenance issues, the last problem a property manager wants to hear is there is a potential bug infestation. A spider or two hiding in the closets, especially in a home that hasn’t been lived in for a while is common, but when your tenants begin to report bug bites, itching, and seeing many bugs, a big problem may be on your hands.

Most bug infestations can be taken care of with a quick call to the pest control vendor you work with and a few sprays around the home, but there is one type of bug that a property manager fears–bed bug.

What Are Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are small insects that feed on warm blood from live animals. Bed bugs are wingless and cannot fly. Bed bugs are hard to kill and have been around for thousands of years, but they are visible to the naked eyes. Adults can grow to .25 inches but after feeding they bloat double the size.

Bed bugs like to live in soft, dark spaces where humans are in frequent contact such as beds, couches, chairs, clothing, and other surfaces. The bugs commonly feed between 12 am and 5 am, when humans are sleeping and do not notice the small bites.

How a Property Manager Gets Rid of Bed Bugs

There isn’t much the property manager can do to get rid of bed bugs other than call pest control and instruct the residents on how to get rid of bed bugs. Getting rid of bed bugs usually takes multiple treatments.

Bed bugs are most commonly brought in when tenants change. Bugs are brought in on furniture that is infected. One big problem that a property manager will face is when the tenant believes there were bed bugs in the home before they moved in. to avoid these types of accusation the property manager needs to make sure that the rental home is inspected and treated for pests after each move out. Records should be kept on all treatments and inspections for rental homes.

When tenants call with maintenance issues, the last problem a property manager wants to hear is there is a potential bug infestation. A spider or two hiding in the closets, especially in a home that hasn’t been lived in for a while is common, but when your tenants begin to report bug bites, itching, and seeing many bugs, a big problem may be on your hands.

Most bug infestations can be taken care of with a quick call to the pest control vendor you work with and a few sprays around the home, but there is one type of bug that a property manager fears–bed bug.

What Are Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are small insects that feed on warm blood from live animals. Bed bugs are wingless and cannot fly. Bed bugs are hard to kill and have been around for thousands of years, but they are visible to the naked eyes. Adults can grow to .25 inches but after feeding they bloat double the size.

Bed bugs like to live in soft, dark spaces where humans are in frequent contact such as beds, couches, chairs, clothing, and other surfaces. The bugs commonly feed between 12am and 5am, when humans are sleeping and do not notice the small bites.

How a Property Manager Gets Rid of Bed Bugs

There isn’t much the property manager can do to get rid of bed bugs other than call pest control and instruct the residents on how to get rid of bed bugs. Getting rid of bed bugs usually takes multiple treatments.

Bed bugs are most commonly brought in when tenants change. Bugs are brought in on furniture that is infected. One big problem that a property manager will face is when the tenant believes there were bed bugs in the home before they moved in. to avoid these types of accusation the property manager needs to make sure that the rental home is inspected and treated for pests after each move out. Records should be kept on all treatments and inspections for rental homes.

Property Manager Nightmares: A Trashed House

When property manager is your career, it’s a given that you have walked into some unbelievable situations involving your rental homes. One thing a property manager always dreads is taking that first step through the front door after a resident has moved out and turned in their keys. Sometimes, we are pleasantly surprised that the tenants follow the lease rules on moving out. They leave the home in great condition and even have the carpets shampooed. Then there are other tenants. These tenants leave holes in the walls, food in the fridge, bug infested furniture, nasty bathrooms, and ovens caked in grease. A trashed house is a property manager’s worst nightmares.

How Can A Property Manager Avoid A Trashed House?

The property manager can only do what the law and lease say they can about damages to a home caused by the tenants. A reputable property manager will have a lease that includes everything the tenants are responsible for upon move out. Carpet cleaning, window blinds replacement, and a deep cleaning are often considered the tenants responsibility.

Another option is for the property manager to include in the lease exactly how much will be deducted from the rental deposit for those tasks such as cleaning fees, carpet cleaning and damages. In some cases, if damages exceed the amount of the deposit the property manager is entitled to send a bill for damages to the previous tenant. This depends on the laws in your city and state however.

The most important thing that a property manager can do to avoid a trashed house is to screen tenants. Screening a tenant does not include mean to just run the credit and background check (although you need to do these things first). Call the prospective renter’s previous landlords and employers to get the best idea of the type of renter the prospect will be.

When a home is damaged beyond reasonable expectations, sometimes legal action is necessary. Make sure that you contact the appropriate legal representatives for the rental company and property owner.

Rental Homes Charleston | When you are looking for cities to invest in rental homes, Charleston South Carolina should be on your investor’s radar. Everyone knows that Charleston is a historic town located on the coast. There are miles of beaches and abundant cultural diversity, nightlife, and family activities. Anyone who enjoys the sun and loves the south will be thrilled to own a rental home in Charleston. When you are investing in real estate, there are other important demographics and statistics you need to consider about a city before purchasing property there.

Why Rental Homes Charleston?

Charleston South Carolina has a population of approximately 130,000 people. The entire Lowcountry region is home to nearly 1 million people however and there are dozens moving to the area every day. When looking specifically at the city of Charleston, however, there are many reasons why investors are interested in rental homes Charleston.

Home Value vs. Rent-The median home value in Charleston is $269,400 which is a very affordable home value for investors. The area is considered suburban with rent being nearly $100 more than the national average. The average rent for a two-bedroom home in The United States is $949 and the average rent in Charleston specifically for the same type of property is $1,052. Depending on where you are living in Charleston rent can range anywhere from $949-$1700 per month.

Rental Market-46% of residents in Charleston rent. This is nearly half of the population meaning somewhere around 60,000 people are looking for rental homes. Charleston is the prime rental market for college students, Millennials, and families. Charleston has been ranked in the top 30 best cities for millennials to live in the United States as well as the top 35 for the best overall city and best city to retire.

Safety- Rental Homes Charleston is safer than the national average. When it comes to burglary, theft and other property crimes, Charleston is far below the national average. Violent crime occurrences are also lower than the national average making the city an attractive location for families.

When you purchase rental homes in Charleston, make sure to hire the best property management company to ensure you earn the best Return on investment.

Property Managers | More investors than ever are looking at Charleston, South Carolina as the ideal place to invest in real estate. Investors come from all over the United States to renovate rental homes Charleston due to the unique history and beautiful, colonial architecture that is still abundant in Lowcountry.

If you are looking at investing in rental homes, Charleston is the best place to do so. The city has a growing population with an average of 34 people moving in every day. There are miles of stunning beaches, historical sites throughout the state of South Carolina, and has Charleston has been named the United States number one city by Travel and Leisure Magazine on several occasions.

The average rent for a single-family home in Charleston is $950-$1700 per month which can be a great return on investment for investors in rental homes Charleston. However, managing the day to day activities that are involved in managing rental homes Charleston can be a headache for investors, especially when they own multiple single-family homes.

What Does Running A Rental Property Look Like?

If this is your first time turning properties you own into rental homes, Charleston is a great place to start. However, you will find that a lot of your time is needed when you are managing rental homes Charleston all by yourself. Marketing, showing, leasing, inspections, maintenance, rent collection, eviction, cleaning, and turning the single family home is a lot of work. You must always be available for maintenance emergencies. Charleston is on the coast. Keep in mind all the different types of emergencies that can arise due to location alone.

When you hire professional property managers to take over your rental homes Charleston, you will have peace of mind in knowing that every detail of managing your home is taken care of by the best. A professional property manager can market and rent your home quickly, take care of evictions without having to bother the investor, organize maintenance, collect and process rent, and keep your tenants happy so that you don’t have to.

Property Management | Nearly 60% of investors believe that adding single-family rentals to their portfolios would be worth the risk. Half of those investors are in no way interested in conducting the day to day business of property manager, however. Investors who buy and flip houses can hire a property management company to take over all the daily tasks related to renting that property out and running the rental business for the investor.

Often, when people think of the word property management, they think of large, multi-family apartment complexes with a leasing office and maintenance on site. Multi-family property management is a large segment of the market, but there are many investors who like to purchase homes and rent them out to just one family. These types of residences are called single-family homes.

Single-family homes are likely to be managed by a landlord or property manager. A landlord is a person who owns the home and manages the property and rental business. A property manager is hired by the owner of the home to manage the rental business in their stead.

Why Hire a Property Management Company?

Being a landlord is great fun for some, but a real headache for others. Landlords must market their rental homes, show the property to prospective renters, screen tenants, handle the leasing paperwork, and that’s just some of what a landlord must do beforethe home is occupied.

After renters move in, landlords must be available to handle maintenance requests, general questions, complaints, rent payments, evictions, lease renewals, and any problems that may come up when tenants are living in the home.

When tenants move out, a landlord must do an inspection, determine if the deposit is owed back, turn the property so that it looks brand new again including fixing anything broken, replacing carpets, repainting, and a deep cleaning. A landlords first time cleaning out a rental is one he will never forget!

When you hire property management you are hiring a professional company that will handle all these business tasks for you while you sit back and collects the profits!

Rental Homes Charleston | One of the reasons that rental homes Charleston are popular on the beach is because of the amazing weather that Charleston receives throughout the year. Seabrook Island, Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s Island, Folly Beach and Kiawah Island, offers the most amazing rental homes Charleston can offer to long and short-term visitors. More than ever before, property owners are renting their homes out to vacationers and short-term renters while they themselves are not occupying the home. There are a few things that you want to let your renters know about their beachfront rentals however.

1. Raised Homes Equals Less Flooding.Beach front rental homes Charleston are susceptible to flooding from flooding and hurricane weather just like most coastal homes. When you are looking for rental homes Charleston beach properties, you should check out the homes that are raised first. For the same reasons, you should also way sure your rental insurance covers flood and storm damage.
3. Pay Attention to Trees and Shrubs. When drainage on a rental homes Charleston property is poor, there will be few trees and other greenery able to grow around the property. If you see a lot of trees, especially mature ones, landscaping such as bushes, and shrubs, and no muddy patches when you are viewing a rental homes Charleston beach property, you can trust the land is drained well.
5. Consider Off Beach.If you want to enjoy the beach but don’t want to worry about high tides and waves, consider rental homes Charleston properties that are off the beach. There are many rental homes that are only a few blocks from the coast. Most rental homes Charleston that are multiple stories tall are often in view of the water, even if not sitting on the sand.

Rental homes Charleston beach properties have a high turnover rate at the end of summer. If you are looking for vacant properties in Charleston, check for new listings in August/September. Scott Properties can help keep you in the loop with updated properties available.

If you own rental homes Charleston, South Carolina, then one thing your tenants must always be aware of the hazards of living near the ocean. Prepare your renters for what they need to expect about living near the ocean before they sign their lease and move in, especially if they are not local!

1. Hurricanes-This one is a no brainer. If you live by the ocean you must be prepared for hurricanes. Make sure to let your tenants know what their responsibility is as far as hurricane proofing and what you will be providing or doing for them. You should also make sure your tenants known when hurricane season is. Consider giving them handouts about hurricanes and coastal risks.
2. There is Sand Everywhere-Even if your rental property is not located on the beach it is likely that renters will experience sand in their home or find it in their vacuums. Sand is part of life when you live on the coast, especially if you have a rental home Charleston because the city is right on the beach!
3. Salty Breeze-Ocean breezes are salty, and the breeze can be much cooler than the temperature outside. Most people who have rental homes Charleston find themselves wearing layers when not in the height of summer. The weather is also unpredictable when you live near the ocean with storms that can breeze in without much notice.

People who search for rental homes Charleston want to live in the city because of the rich culture and proximity to the water. When you live within steps of the beach there are water sports, boardwalks, live entertainment, and beautiful landscapes in your backyard. There are drawbacks to living so close to the water however and your renters need to be aware of all that costal living entails.

Property Management | Great! You rented out your home and they signed a one year lease. That is a great milestone to reach as a property manager, but now the real work begins. You will have maintenance requests to respond to, rent that will need to be processed, and you will need to ensure your great tenants will want to renew their lease with you. Property management companies have many tips and tricks for helping tenants feel welcomed and happy throughout their entire lease term.

1. Acknowledge Tenants Whenever Possible-Tenants want to believe that their landlord or property managers care about them. Renters like to know that they are people and not just rent checks. When someone applies for a rental home, you will most likely need their birthdate on the application. Send a birthday card to tenants to make them feel special.
3. Be Timely with Resolutions-When tenants have a maintenance request property management companies must prioritize based on emergency or severity. Be upfront with tenants about how long they need to wait before a resolution. Always try to fill maintenance requests within three business days and let tenants know when any follow-up is needed.
5. Welcome Gifts-Property management companies that make their renters feel appreciated will retain them longer. Offer new tenants welcoming gifts or make sure the rental home already has a roll of paper towel on the counter and a roll or 2 of toilet paper in the bathroom (we all forget about the little things on moving day!). Put a magnet on the fridge with all the pertinent phone numbers that tenants will need and a rent due date reminder. These little things go a long way when it comes to lease renewals. For residents who choose to renew, offer them a thank you gift such as new blinds, a carpet shampoo, or $50 off their next month rent.

Resident retention is something that a property management must be good at to stay profitable and successful. Don’t skip resident tension in your property budget.

The property manager is often made to be the bad guy with some tenants. The property manager is the person who calls tenants when they are late on rent, adds the late fees onto the account, must deliver the eviction notices. Property managers are often the bearer of bad news and the person tenants only speak to when they are having a problem.

One of the key characteristics of a successful property manager is the ability to have positive relationships with tenants. As a property owner, you never want tenants to be so at odds with the property manager that they are demanding for your information. You hired a property manager so that you wouldn’t be involved in tenants disputes, right? There are a few things you can do to help your tenants and property managers have great relationships.

1. Give Notice-If you have been the one managing your own rental properties you should give notice to the tenants that you will be hiring a property manager. Do not shock your tenants by thinking you are leaving them high and dry.
2. Have a Meet and Greet-Before you hand over the reins to a property manager, hold a meet and greet so that your tenants can meet the new property manager face to face. You can let everyone know who the knew person in charge is.
3. Give Your Property Manager a Budget for Tenant Relations-If you really want to improve relationships between your property manager and tenants give them a budget for tenant relations. Allow the property manager to purchase a potted plant for each residence in the spring to put on their porch, or a new welcome mat each year after the snowy season. These small touches will show your tenants that the property manager cares.

Hiring a property manager is a big decision that can over very well or very poorly with tenants. Make sure to start off tenants relations on the right foot by doing the three steps above!