Property Management in Akron & Canton OH

Make Sure Your Lease Agreement is Bulletproof for 2012

Keeping up on the ins and outs of lease agreements is something a Property Management company does for a client rental property owner. But for DYI property owners, it can be a challenge to keep up with issues that are beginning to trend and the legalities that they may implicate. The start of a new year is always a good time to maximize a property owner’s protections that are written in to lease agreements. This year’s emerging property management trends point to a couple areas of special interest.

Pet policies are coming into scrutiny with more and more of the population utilizing service animals. HUD has taken the position that the Fair Housing Act applies not just to service animals, but to “companion” animals as well, so a comprehensive review of any restrictive pet policy warrants consideration in 2012 lease agreements.

Nonsmoking Provisions are also trending as potential hot potatoes for 2102. More and more judges across the country are allowing tenants with related illnesses to sue their landlord because of secondhand smoke. Not only is it clear that nonsmoking is the future for profitable rentals, but the converse is also true. It may be time to add a nonsmoking policy to your lease agreement. Existing leases which allow smoking will need to be grandfathered in.

A lease agreement that doesn’t allow for periodic inspections or the right to evict a tenant in the case of crime or disorderly behavior could leave a property owner vulnerable in today’s legal climate. Dozens of cities across the country have begun imposing fines on landlords who do not evict problem tenants – in some cases fines are being assessed every day until the tenant has been evicted. Property owners need ironclad lease provisions to protect themselves - and give their tenants a good reason to behave. Tenant guests must also be considered in the lease agreement with wording that spells out how long a guest can visit before being required to sign a lease. This will avoid potential problems for property owners and reveal any offenders during the background check.

Also, victims of domestic violence gained added protections in 2011. For instance, it now may be illegal to evict the victim of domestic violence or their children if the crime was committed by a guest or co-tenant. 

Lawyers are reporting an uptick in the number of lawsuits initiated by tenants over security deposit deductions. For this reason security deposit rules must be clearly spelled out in the lease agreement. And tenants today are more likely to contest an eviction, especially the ones who are living rent-free. A lease agreement should not leave room for a dispute –inappropriate or illegal provisions in a lease can cost the property owner in court. There have also been a number of disputes reported where landlords and tenants simply disagree on who is responsible for what. For instance, one northern city is seeing a record-breaking number of icy sidewalk complaints this year. If the landlord isn’t clearing the snow, and the tenant says they don’t have to either, chances are the local municipality will be doing it, and billing the landlord. Utilities are another major area of dispute, as a number of towns have started billing landlords for their tenants’ delinquent water bills.

A good lease agreement clearly states rights and responsibilities so there is no room for confusion, and the property owner has a way to collect from the tenant if need be. For more information about bulletproofing your lease agreement, contact the Property Management professionals at Hayes Realty.  www.hayesreality.com.

The Basics of Property Management

Property management companies perform a wide range of services that save landlords time and efforts while getting the maximum possible profit from their property. The property management company is a liaison between the owner of the property and the tenant. Property Managers, such as Hayes Property Management, provide a buffer for those owners who want to distance themselves from their tenant constituency. The most important duties of a property manager usually include the following basic functions. Hayes Property Management takes these basics one step further to offer property owners a comprehensive management service.

Screening applicants’ credit history, criminal history, rental history and determining their ability to pay is a key function of any property manager. Hayes Property Management screening includes national background checks for any past evictions or criminal activity in all 50 states. No leases are signed without the final written approval of the property owner. All forms including rental application and lease are attorney approved and meet all Federal and State of Ohio mandated disclosure regulations.

Collecting and reporting rent and deposits is a critical element. Hayes Property Management collects all monies from deposits and rents and can deposit them directly into a property owner’s account and email them a copy of the deposit receipt. Quarterly statements are also provided. Hayes Property Management can track income and expenses for the property owner to determine profitability.

Maintaining the property in a proper manner is key to the operation. Hayes Property Management takes tenant calls 24/7, and schedules all repairs to the property owner’s specifications (with prior approval). They will maintain and keep rental property in good condition, handling and coordinating routine and emergency repairs, avoiding unnecessary repairs to save the property owner money.

Managing vacancies is the primary task of any property manager. An important function of property management is to advertise the property. The Hayes Realty professional team consists of over 50 licensed agents and a full administrative staff that are fully engaged in property management and promotion. Advertising is included in the monthly property management program. Hayes staff field all inquiries and conduct all showings in a professional manner.

What makes Hayes Property Management unique is the way they service their property management clients. Hayes staff are available to property owners 24/7 by cell phone. Hayes Property Management handles residential or commercial real estate and has the marketing know-how to reach potential renters and the experience and resources to keep out potential bad renters. This equates to minimal vacancies and maximum income for property owners.

Hayes Realty provides property management in Akron and Canton Ohio as well as property management services throughout Stark and Summit Counties in Ohio.  Hayes Realty provides Tenant Management, Rental Management, and Apartment Management with excellent follow up to the property owner.  Call today for details and information on their very low property management fees.  Clickhttp://www.hayesrealty.com/company/property-management-request.php to request more information!

Hiring a Property Manager

When hiring a Property Management Company it is important, and its the law, to hire only a Property Manager that is licensed through the state to legally provide real estate services for others for a fee.  There are many "fly by night" un-licensed contractors who call themselves property managers.  Don't be scammed by one of these people who promise they can "do everything" and fill your properties.  Step one in "doing everything" in property management is to get licensed!

Please feel free to contact Hayes Realty's Property Management department today.  Simply click on this link  http://www.hayesrealty.com/property-management.html to view and request more information, or call Brad Hayes at 330-936-1947 and our property management team can help you manage properties in Akron/Canton or anywhere in Stark, Summit, or Tuscarawas counties.

Property Management Canton/Akron, Ohio

The first step in the property management is to advertise the property. It's the best way to attract the tenants. Soon the prospective tenants start calling and the next step is to show them the property and to interview them. It must be done professionally. And property managers know how to do it correctly. During the interview the manager should learn all the demands and requirements of the tenant. It's a big mistake to choose that tenant who is ready to pay the highest rent and you know nothing else about him. So the prospective tenant must be screened very carefully. Only after that the agreement (one of property management forms) can be signed. Besides, property management companies take care of many other managing problems. They are responsible for legal procedures and financial operations. It means that the property manager should control the tenant's rent payment. Rent must be paid by the tenant in well-defined terms. Property management company is also responsible for handling and organizing of all the necessary maintenance work of the property. Every month the property manager should prepare a property management report for a landlord which reflects the current state of affairs as for his property.

As you can see a wide range of services provided by property management companies can help landlords save their time and efforts but for all that to get maximum possible profit from the property.

Hayes Realty provides Property Management in Akron and Canton Ohio as well as Property Management Services throughout Stark and Summit Counties in Ohio.  Hayes Realty provides Tenant Management, Rental Management, Apartment Management with excellent follow up to the owner.  Call today for details and information on our very low property management prices.  Click http://www.hayesrealty.com/company/property-management-request.php to request more information!

Thinking of renting your home?

 Once you become a landlord, it's your responsibility to provide a safe and healthful home for your tenants. Your city will likely require a home inspection before you rent out your home for the first time. Make sure your home is up to code before inspectors show up.

In addition, an updated and clean home will not only increase your likelihood of finding a tenant, but it will also allow you to charge higher rent. How you do this will vary, depending on the condition of your home. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Cleanliness is key. The cleaner your home is, the easier you can find a tenant.
• Make sure all rooms are freshly painted.
• Any valuable or unique light fixtures should be removed.
• Make sure to fireproof your home.
• Look at your plumbing; fix any leaks and toilet problems. If you're keeping the water bill in your name, install low-flow showerheads to cut down on water use.

Some key points to management profitability

While buying a property at a good price might seem like a great start on a rental property business, it is vital to implement an effective management system to keep the tenants happy, the property well maintained and the cash flowing. Remember, a great rental realty investment system will

• Help a landlord or management firm find suitable tenants who will respect the property and care for it well so that the property suffers nothing more than just normal wear and tear.
• Ensure that rental property management staff respond to all requests for repairs and get it fixed as soon as possible at the most affordable rates.
• Keep the tenants happy and satisfied so that the property will not be frequently vacated due to poor management.

Look for customer service when searching Property Management companies.

 When you call up property management companies, pay close attention to their customer service. Not only will you be dealing with the company on the regular basis, so too will your tenants. You don't want to choose a management company that you don't feel you can communicate with. When you consider customer service, include the promptness with which they reply to your inquiries as well as the friendliness of the employees.

Hayes Realty provides Property Management in Akron and Canton Ohio as well as Property Management Services throughout Stark and Summit Counties in Ohio.  Hayes Realty provides Tenant Management, Rental Management, Apartment Management with excellent follow up to the owner.  Call today for details and information on our very low property management prices.  Click http://www.hayesrealty.com/company/property-management-request.php to request more information!

Property Management Canton/Akron, Ohio

 If you are a landlord having some rental apartments to manage, you must be considering hiring an expert for real property management . However, considering the very fact that there are so many different companies in the market, you may find it a daunting task to choose the best manager for your buildings. You may also be worried about the fee that these managers charge for the job. In fact, that is the reason why many people prefer to do the job themselves. But, it is very important for you to understand that managing rental apartments and the various issues related to that is not at all an easy thing. Most landlords end up having a bitter experience because they are not trained for the job of real property management . Therefore, it is always advisable to hire a management professional to take care of all the details instead of doing it all yourself.

When working with Hayes Realty, you are working with State of Ohio licensed Realtors who will look out for your best interests. Don’t be fooled by the companies that say they are property managers but have no license or education about the laws and regulations regarding rental real estate and are operating in violation of State of Ohio law. Call or email us today. We look forward to working with you!

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