PropertyManagementMaven: February 2010

Albemarle county the fourth healthiest in the state

 

Via Charlottesville VA Real Estate, Bob Harris (Real Estate III):

One can't help but notice all the walkers and runners enjoying the scenic paths and streets of Forest Lakes. And no wonder Albemarle count is ranked the 4th healthiest in the state.

The study, by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, looked at factors including how long and well residents lived, social and economic factors and how much access people had to health care.

 

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Bob Harris, Associate Broker Real Estate III
1045 Carrington Place
Charlottesville, VA 22901
Office:  434-817-5888, Cell: 434-882-4296, Fax: 434- 817-9808

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    Make April 15th just another day.     http://www.Fairtax.org

Wallace S. Gibson, CPM * GIBSON MANAGEMENT GROUP, Ltd.
View our available rental homes online with photos and floor plans

"...to be a Virginian, either by Birth, Marriage, Adoption, or even on one's Mother's side, is an Introduction to any State in the Union, a Passport to any Foreign Country, and a Benediction from the Almighty God...." Anonymous

0 commentsWallace S. Gibson CPM * GRI • February 23 2010 11:54AM

Using Facebook or Twitter could raise your insurance premiums by 10%

 

This is scary!!!  I google prospective rental applicants as well as check their FaceBook and MySpace pages.

 

Via Ellie McIntire Real Estate in Howard County Maryland (The McIntire Team of Long & Foster):

TweetingSocial networking has become part of our day to day life and our business plan. Now it seems it may be detrimental to our wallets.

FacebookA news article Creepy insurance company pulls coverage due to Facebook pics highlighted a health insurance company that denied the claim of a Canadian woman who claimed to be out of work due to a deep depression, yet had pictures on Facebook of her having a good time at her birthday party.

The British online newspaper "The Telegraph" reports that now having a Facebook or Twitter account could give computer savvy criminals all the tools they need to know when your property is vacant.

"Services such as Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare and Buzz can alert criminals when users are not home, according to Confused.com, the price comparison service. Foursquare, for example, shows that people are in a specific spot and, more importantly, that the user is definitely not at home, Confused.com added."

"Criminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their information gathering, even using Google Earth and Streetview to plan their burglaries with military precision. Insurance providers are starting to take this into account when they are assessing claims and we may in future see insurers declining claims if they believe the customer was negligent."

This is food for thought when you make your next tweet!

 

If you or someone you know is thinking of Buying or Selling property in Howard County, Baltimore County, Baltimore City, Harford County, Anne Arundel County, Carroll County, Montgomery County or Prince Georges County. - or if you would like more information please give Ellie McIntire a call at 443-418-7668 or e-mail Ellie@LNF.com

 

Ellie McIntire

The McIntire Team

9171 Baltimore National Pike

Ellicott City. MD 21042

 410. 461 1456      

 410. 750 8781  (FX)

443. 418 7668       (cell)

E-mail:  Ellie@LNF.com

http://www.elliesteam.com/

We redefine the essence of service.

 

---

Facebook ProfileTwitter ProfileLinkedIn ProfileActive Rain Outside Blog

Google SearchYahoo SearchText Ellie McIntireEmail Ellie McIntire  

Wallace S. Gibson, CPM * GIBSON MANAGEMENT GROUP, Ltd.
View our available rental homes online with photos and floor plans

"...to be a Virginian, either by Birth, Marriage, Adoption, or even on one's Mother's side, is an Introduction to any State in the Union, a Passport to any Foreign Country, and a Benediction from the Almighty God...." Anonymous

0 commentsWallace S. Gibson CPM * GRI • February 23 2010 11:42AM

Yes! Blogging about NASCAR is GOOD for BUSINESS!!

Yes!!  Blogging about NASCAR will get you BUSINESS!!!

This morning I opened an e-mail from gentleman who expressed interest in having me look at his property as he and his wife will be moving from the area and they want to keep their home until the sales market recovers.

I called him and we discussed his home and the timing of his move.  When I asked him how he found me * I had stopped print ads to the area last year * he indicated he had found me online.  He and his wife will be moving to DAYTONA and in his home search of that area, my blog with Daytona as a tag line came up. He has been following my blogs about NASCAR and our local rental market and after he and his wife return from a cruise next week, I'll go see their home and we'll discuss the timing of their move and devise a rental marketing plan!!!

NASCAR ROCKS!!!

The End

Wallace S. Gibson, CPM * GIBSON MANAGEMENT GROUP, Ltd.
View our available rental homes online with photos and floor plans

"...to be a Virginian, either by Birth, Marriage, Adoption, or even on one's Mother's side, is an Introduction to any State in the Union, a Passport to any Foreign Country, and a Benediction from the Almighty God...." Anonymous

6 commentsWallace S. Gibson CPM * GRI • February 23 2010 11:03AM

FTC Acknowledges Widespread Data Breach

Late Monday afternoon the FTC * Federal Trade Commission * informed nearly 100 companies of data breaches of information about employees and customers.

The agency did not identify the companies, organizations except to say they were “private and public entities INCLUDING schools and local governments”.

The sensitive data about customers and employees had been shared from the companies’ computer networks and were available in internet peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing networks.

The potential for identity theft is substantial which is why the FTC issued the information on the breach.

"Unfortunately, companies and institutions of all sizes are vulnerable to serious P2P-related breaches, placing consumers' sensitive information at risk," FTC chairman Jon Leibowitz said.

"For example, we found health-related information, financial records, and drivers' license and social security numbers -- the kind of information that could lead to identity theft," Leibowitz said.

"Companies should take a hard look at their systems to ensure that there are no unauthorized P2P file-sharing programs and that authorized programs are properly configured and secure," he said.

"Just as important, companies that distribute P2P programs, for their part, should ensure that their software design does not contribute to inadvertent file sharing," he added.

P2P file-sharing software is used in a variety of ways including for playing games, making online telephone calls or sharing music, video and documents.

The FTC, in the notification letters to the companies and organizations, urged them to review their security practices "to ensure that they are reasonable, appropriate, and in compliance with the law.

"It is your responsibility to protect such information from unauthorized access, including taking steps to control the use of P2P software on your own networks and those of your service providers," the letters stated.

Wallace S. Gibson, CPM * GIBSON MANAGEMENT GROUP, Ltd.
View our available rental homes online with photos and floor plans

"...to be a Virginian, either by Birth, Marriage, Adoption, or even on one's Mother's side, is an Introduction to any State in the Union, a Passport to any Foreign Country, and a Benediction from the Almighty God...." Anonymous

8 commentsWallace S. Gibson CPM * GRI • February 23 2010 06:34AM

4th Generation of Earnhardt Dynasty Ready to ROLL!!!!

 

First there was Ralph, then there was Dale, then there was Dale Jr. and now there is Jeffrey Earnhardt, the 20 year old * 4th generation * of the Earnhardt racing dynasty.

Jeffrey is the son of Kerry Earnhardt, eldest of Dale's 4 children. 

Dale Earnhardt, Inc * DEI * is hoping to form a relationship with a satellite tem to field a car for Jeffrey who competed in 2 Nationwide races last year.

“Sponsorship has been very difficult and he certainly would like to get in the game, so as we look at 2010, it will be a race-by-race evaluation and continue with some partners that we have, like Key Racing,” DEI Executive Vice President Jeff Steiner said Thursday. “Nationwide is our target. We feel that’s probably the best spot for him to be.”

The partners could come from one of the 20 teams that are clients of Earnhardt Technologies, which provides engineering, parts technologies and parts sales to teams. Fifteen people work in that division, Steiner said.

DEI doesn’t field any race teams, but in addition to the technologies services division, it is a partner in Earnhardt Ganassi Racing and helps build engines as part of Earnhardt Childress Racing Technologies.

Wallace S. Gibson, CPM * GIBSON MANAGEMENT GROUP, Ltd.
View our available rental homes online with photos and floor plans

"...to be a Virginian, either by Birth, Marriage, Adoption, or even on one's Mother's side, is an Introduction to any State in the Union, a Passport to any Foreign Country, and a Benediction from the Almighty God...." Anonymous

6 commentsWallace S. Gibson CPM * GRI • February 22 2010 08:29PM

Google Buzz or Bust?

 

I ALSO Love all things GOOGLE!!!!

 

Via RE/MAX Victory:
I love Google! I even like saying it! It's a crazy time in technology when a company name, Google, is used in our everyday vocabulary. "Google it" has become a more popular term than "search for it online" meaning Google has become a verb...lol crazy! Anyway, I know many of you use Facebook, and less of you have become accustomed to tweeting on Twitter, but now there is a new "big kid" on the block as Google enters the Social Media game with Google Buzz. While I don't think this will become your everyday replacement for either of those two powerhouses, I do believe that Google Buzz will have it's place in the real estate game. For those of you that didn't or don't know already, Google Base (formerly a real estate search) is now integrated into Google Maps under search options on the right hand side. Try it out for yourself! So...how will this help you in real estate? Well, and I know this may be a stretch, but I think it's the ultimate goal for Google to integrate EVERYTHING. So when you have a property on Google For Sale, it will be identifiable on Google Maps. With the recent addition (after only a day) to mobile phones getting Buzz support to their Google Maps. This could mean that when people are searching for real estate on their phones, which is already happening. They are going to see reviews from others that have already been through that home. Seller's beware, you may get more than you bargained for with the ultimate feedback forum! As always, I'll keep you posted as to how this pans out!

Wallace S. Gibson, CPM * GIBSON MANAGEMENT GROUP, Ltd.
View our available rental homes online with photos and floor plans

"...to be a Virginian, either by Birth, Marriage, Adoption, or even on one's Mother's side, is an Introduction to any State in the Union, a Passport to any Foreign Country, and a Benediction from the Almighty God...." Anonymous

5 commentsWallace S. Gibson CPM * GRI • February 22 2010 01:09PM

The 5 MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS to ask when interviewing for a PROPERTY MANAGER.....


Unlike many jobs, property management is not an occupation best learned through trial-and-error. When there are people, property, and payments involved, it's essential to understand what you're doing, both legally and financially.

1.       “Do you do property management and general brokerage?” Ask it just this way so you can determine if they really want to sell your property or sell you more property.  If they do property management as a way to get or keep real estate clients, they are doing it as a “courtesy” and rarely have the experience, education or dedication to do the job properly.  When the going gets rough with your property, chances are they will be too busy to return your calls. 
    “Full time property management companies provide the best vehicle for overseeing your single family, detached residence in your absence.  The best ones for residential properties are NOT affiliated with real estate brokerage companies and do not depend on commissions for income.”  THE ABSENTEE LANDLORD’S SURVIVAL GUIDE (Second Edition * 1997)...Jack Rower

2.    “How long have you worked as a Property Manager?”.....NOT real estate....property management    While property managers may have the same state license requirements as real estate agents who sell property, property management is considered a “specialty” requiring direct knowledge of the field. Additionally, the more experience the manager has, the more expertise you will have at your disposal.

 3.       “When was the last time you took a property management course?”   Unlike the practice of real estate sales, property management is governed by specific rules that can be changed or altered in many ways....state legislature, case law, direct government regulations (Fair Housing/Discrimination) so having a professional manager who keeps abreast of these various changes is crucial to you as a client.   Again, the more knowledge that is available to you in the management of your investment, the less likely you will be unpleasantly surprised during your relationship.

4.       “What professional property management affiliations do you have?”  Most real estate agents belong to a Realtor organization.  Property managers, however, can obtain more expertise and education through such organizations as IREM * Institute of Real Estate Management; FARPNM * Florida Association of Residential Property Managers; NAA * National Apartment Association.  The more information and knowledge that a property manager has, the more information and expertise will be available to you in the management of your real estate investment.         
   
5.       “Do you own rental/investment property?”   While it is easy for a property manager to say “they feel your pain”, somehow it is easier to take bad news from someone who has been there....negative cash flow and all.  Be suspicious of a property manager who has all their “eggs” in the stock market.
   
Lastly, ask  yourself....would you rather pay a little more  for an experienced property manager, or pay a lot more to an attorney when your property manager makes a costly mistake in the management of your investment real estate.

 

Wallace S. Gibson, CPM * GIBSON MANAGEMENT GROUP, Ltd.
View our available rental homes online with photos and floor plans

"...to be a Virginian, either by Birth, Marriage, Adoption, or even on one's Mother's side, is an Introduction to any State in the Union, a Passport to any Foreign Country, and a Benediction from the Almighty God...." Anonymous

6 commentsWallace S. Gibson CPM * GRI • February 22 2010 12:27PM

For Accidental Landlords * Advice from Property Managers, Agents & Experts



Here's some advice for novices from property managers, agents and other experts:



• Talk to the neighbors: Make sure they know you'll be renting and encourage them to tell you about any issues that come up. Then check back in from time to time to make sure everything's working out.

• Know the laws: State and local governments regulate everything from how many smoke detectors must be installed in a house to how long landlords have to return tenants' security deposits. Failing to know the rules can lead to lawsuits, civil penalties or worse.

• Keep up with maintenance: Many owners assume that since a property is a rental, they don't need to worry about routine maintenance. Not so, say experts. Keeping up with repairs will help draw better tenants and will prevent bigger maintenance bills down the line.

• Study the market: Rental agents say many landlords set their rents based on their expenses, rather than on what the market will bear. Then they wonder why their units don't rent.

• Vet prospective tenants: Credit scores alone aren't enough. Dig into credit reports, verify income and make sure to call references. But make sure not to run afoul of discrimination laws, which bar landlords from rejecting tenants based on age, marital status and other factors.

Wallace S. Gibson, CPM * GIBSON MANAGEMENT GROUP, Ltd.
View our available rental homes online with photos and floor plans

"...to be a Virginian, either by Birth, Marriage, Adoption, or even on one's Mother's side, is an Introduction to any State in the Union, a Passport to any Foreign Country, and a Benediction from the Almighty God...." Anonymous

5 commentsWallace S. Gibson CPM * GRI • February 22 2010 12:15PM

Still haven't switched from incandescent light bulbs yet????

 

I am installing these in my rental properties when departing residents do not have working light bulbs on exit per their lease....my standard charge for this allows the purchase of these in bulk so that the next residents will get the benefit of lower power charges AND longer-life bulbs.  I am considering mandating them in the Resident Handbook since they are readily available now.

 

Via Mike Hogan, MBA, EcoBroker (Oakstone Properties):

Ok apparently there are a few of you still dragging your feet about changing to compact florescent light bulbs or LED bulbs from the dinosaur-like incandescent light bulbs. So I wanted to...ahem...shed some light on the issue to help you make the decision to switch.  

There are several variables to consider when buying light bulbs: price, lumens(brightness), watts used(how much energy each bulb consumes), lifespan, etc.

But before you go out looking for bulbs- consider what you want to achieve... Do you want to have the longest lasting bulb? Do you want the cheapest bulb? Do you want the most efficient bulb? Check out the chart below to help with your decision...  

  Incandescent CFL LES
Life Span(hours) 1,500 15,000 50,000
Avg Watts Used 60 13 3.5
Average Price/Bulb $1.35 $7.00 $25.00
50,000 hour expense $45.00 $23.33 $25.00

   

The incandescent light bulb will soon be a relic of the past. Short term- they are cheap- but as you can see from the above...over time CFLs are much lower in cost. This isn't even taking into consideration the energy savings of CFLs.

LED's absolutely use the lowest amount of electricity of the three types of bulbs. But the light emitted from the bulb is low when compared to the CFL. Another disadvantage of the LED is the light pattern. LED's tend to have a spotlight type of pattern. Lamps fitted with LED's will have a beam of light focused toward the ceiling as opposed to a more spread pattern like incandescents and CFLs.   While CFLs and LEDs obviously offer varying levels of benefits, I still believe CFLs offer the best bang for the buck.

CFLs offer the most light per watt of energy used. They are less expensive both on a per bulb basis and on an extended usage basis. Again this does not take into consideration the energy savings of the LED. When that variable is factored in the LED is likely a more cost effective option. But from the standpoint of the type of light emitted, overall cost and price, I still think CFL's are the way to go. But it depends on what you want.

 

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Wallace S. Gibson, CPM * GIBSON MANAGEMENT GROUP, Ltd.
View our available rental homes online with photos and floor plans

"...to be a Virginian, either by Birth, Marriage, Adoption, or even on one's Mother's side, is an Introduction to any State in the Union, a Passport to any Foreign Country, and a Benediction from the Almighty God...." Anonymous

0 commentsWallace S. Gibson CPM * GRI • February 22 2010 08:24AM

How to Determine the Type of Insurance You Need for Your Rental Property

 

This is excellent information that few landlords or property managers learn except THE HARD WAY....knowing how to advise clients on their property coverage is a part of our job.

 

Via G. B. Davis (Hyperopia Investments):

Owning the correct insurance coverage happens to be imperative if you are the owner of rental apartment. Not only does your insurance company take on the possibility for indemnity to your property, however it furthermore covers a person aligned with any injuries or accidents to other people that may well occur nearby.  You will go a long way in protecting yourself, your tenants and your rental agreement.

The kind of insurance plan apartment managers want to have falls under the catch-all term property and casualty insurance, which can something other than life and health. Know that, there does not exist such thing as a property and casualty plan. One can procure auto insurance, homeowners insurance, and in the case of apartment managers, building manager protector insurance, also known as building manager protection insurance.

While a building manager protector insurance document appears on paper to be just like the standard homeowners insurance document, there is a substantial difference concerning the two. Homeowners insurance primarily includes coverage for the belongings of the dwelling, while building manager protector insurance has significantly less coverage for belongings. Its focus is impairment to the apartment and liability for injury. Building manager protector insurance forms are created on a building that has 4 units or less. Everything above that turns into a commercial risk, which will require a commercial policy known as a habitational policy.

The document is in print as a package policy, which means that it covers most of what insurance companies call perils. These are causes of loss, like fire, theft, tornado, hurricane, wind, and water. The notion of risk is covered under the named insured, which is the building manager. This is an exceedingly vital point since when a claim is filed, a evaluation is made as to who is liable for the destruction. For instance, if a fire broke out in the dwelling because of of faulty wiring, then the building manager would be legally responsible, and their insurance would disburse for repairs and the replacement of any of the occupant's belongings that were destroyed. Know that, if the fire was caused because the renter fell asleep with a lit cigar, then the renter is liable not only for their own goods, but for the destruction to the dwelling as well.

Another significant part to building manager protector insurance is coverage for loss of money while the apartment is being fixed. As long as the destruction was caused by a covered loss, apartment managers are reimbursed because the house is not in a livable condition.

In addition to the dwelling itself, part B of the building manager protector plan covers any detached structure on the grounds like a guest house or a storage shed. These structures are covered for ten percent of the quantity of coverage on the building.

In terms of coverage limitations, there are 2 essential things to remember. With fire damage, which is a covered danger, the property manager's belongings would be covered, but not the occupant's.

Second, with loss caused by theft, one more covered peril, it is imperative to go over the coverage limitations in the policy. Many of these agreements have a $2000.00 limitation on stolen jewels. If you do not a have a floater on your policy, which means a type of insurance that provides additional coverage above the policy limit for property that is easily transportable, you will have to agree to the $150,000 no matter what your actual loss is.

There are reasons for loss that are not covered by building manager protector insurance, like floods, which make it a requirement for a separate policy. Earthquakes are another natural disaster that is not covered. By definition, a flood is precipitation that hits the ground before it comes into your dwelling. This is an significant distinction when the insurance company makes the determination if the cause of loss is going to be covered, because although a flood is not covered, water damage is. For instance, if the window blew out in a garden residence or a cellar apartment and water came into the apartment as a result of that broken window, then the destruction to the unit caused by that water would be covered.

There is the added issue of water damage caused by backup from sewers and drains. These types of water damage have specific coverage in a building manager protector policy, but there are limitations to that coverage.

When it comes to the question of whether or not all apartment managers should carry flood insurance, I believe that only those apartment managers who own property in the federally identified flood zones ought to carry it. Flood insurance is only written through the federal government's National Flood Insurance program, but it is sold through insurance companies. That is why flood insurance policies are the same from insurer to insurer. You can learn more about the program, and check to see if you are in a high-risk area, at their website.

Buying building manager protector insurance can be costly. The reason for the high price is that a building manager does not have any control over the behavior of a renter. Because that implies a excessive element of risk, insurance companies charge a large premium. In spite of the excessive cost, building manager protector insurance will be made more reasonably priced through discounts for having security alarms, especially monitored ones, criminal alarms, padlock locks, and fire extinguishers.

While it is critical to have the protection insurance provides it is just as valuable to reduce your dependency on it by following these steps.  I suggest:

1) Require that occupants buy renter's insurance. The price for coverage is not that costly. To Make sure 200,000 -worth of liability coverage costs a little lessttle less 100 per year.

2) Make sure occupants have current fire extinguishers that are easily found, like in their kitchen. Most fires happen between 12:00 pm and 6:00 am, which is not a time frame when most people are aware enough to know where they put the fire extinguisher.

3) Teach your occupant in the best way to turn off the water main. The number 1 cause of damage is water.

4) Do a twice per yearproperty inspection to make sure you do not have any hazards, like loose-fitting handrails or broken down boards on the patio that could lead to a liability lawsuit.

One ounce of prevention is worth one pound of cure; so remove the risk, and you will not have to file that claim. So, protect your rental agreement now!

Wallace S. Gibson, CPM * GIBSON MANAGEMENT GROUP, Ltd.
View our available rental homes online with photos and floor plans

"...to be a Virginian, either by Birth, Marriage, Adoption, or even on one's Mother's side, is an Introduction to any State in the Union, a Passport to any Foreign Country, and a Benediction from the Almighty God...." Anonymous

2 commentsWallace S. Gibson CPM * GRI • February 22 2010 06:56AM