Blog Post

Myth-understandings of Property Management Companies

Dustin Edwards • Feb 14, 2020

Activities of Property Management Companies Go Beyond Collecting Rent

Home for Rent Sign
Over the years we have found that common misconceptions about the roles and duties of a property management company can lead to frustration or worse yet an owner who constantly struggles to manage a property themselves. While you certainly could manage your property/properties yourself we wanted to breakthrough myths to help you decide if a property management company might be the best fit to help with your real estate portfolio.

Myth #1: All you do is collect rent

This is the #1 item that we hear from prospective clients prior to them enjoying the service of a property management company. There is no doubt that one of our most important duties to our clients is that of collecting rent, but that is far from the only task that we handle on any given month for our client’s properties.

Consider just a few of the following activities that we complete on a given month for a property:
  • Get a tenant into a property after they lost their keys
  • Called, schedule, and coordinated three tradesman to provide proposals on a new air-conditioning unit
  • Scheduled a handyman to fix a leaky faucet (yes it happens daily)
  • Evaluate rental applications including Pet Screening and background checks
  • Perform a rental analysis to ensure the current rent is maximizing the yield for our client and helping to maintain top tenants
  • Reviewing updated housing laws to ensure properties and policies adhere to both local and state laws
And the list goes on and on. Collecting rent for our owners is a vital task; however, it is only one small item that we tackle with pride daily.

Myth #2: I'm Paying Even When There isn’t a Renter

Having a vacant property means you are taking on an added expense without the benefit of the income. If you had to pay a property management company on top of the mortgage then that really would be frustrating!

While we can’t speak for every property management company however at Beach Cities Property Management we can assure you that we don’t charge you while your property remains vacant. When your property is vacant we are not making any income and we are spending money, investing our time, and putting in effort to attract new prospective tenants. A vacant property is one where no one wins which means we are working hard to find you the best possible tenant.

Myth #3: Showing a Property isn’t that Hard, Why Should I Pay for it?

It would be nice if you could hold your rental property open for a few hours and along came a tenant that had perfect credit, presented to you their financial background and was ready to move in the next day but unfortunately that doesn’t generally happen. The reality is that finding the right tenant comes down to effective marketing for tenants, evaluation of applications and ensuring the property is available to be shown at a variety of times.

Take for example the below times we have for showing on just one of our available rentals:
Rental Property Showing Times
Now ask yourself, can you make yourself available for each of these times and maintain your current work demands?  

Along with innovative technology to make our rentals available more than most we do this as our full time job which means we make ourselves available to find the best tenants. Showing property is just one of the many tasks we complete as part of our engagement with clients.

If you have a myth-understanding we didn’t mention, we invite you to give us a call at (562) 888-0247 and we can share how we could help. When you want to see how your property could do on the rental market simply request our Free Rental Analysis.

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By Dustin Edwards 01 May, 2024
Everyone wants to feel safe in their homes. As an investment property owner, it's up to you to decide whether or not to include security measures in your property. Many of the costs associated with the security measures can be included in the rent, meaning not only can you keep your property safe, but you can earn more income in the long run. However, you would still want your tenants to have renters insurance to protect their assets. Today, we’ll discuss the top five security measures you can add to your property and why they're beneficial to you and your tenant. Security Cameras Cameras are probably one of the first security measures people think about when asked about security. Cameras provide more benefits than just surveillance. They provide an extra level of security for the safety of the tenants and their belongings. Additionally, security cameras can be useful when repairs are required. Cameras can aid in supervising repairs and maintenance to ensure you’re receiving the agreed-upon work. During vacancies when the property is empty, security cameras can help keep the property safe from potential intruders. Doorbell cameras are incredibly popular now. They provide the aforementioned safety of a camera that can be accessed remotely, as well as the ability to communicate with visitors. Although one must be careful never to say you're not home, just say you're unavailable to strangers. Security Lights Security lights with motion detectors are another effective tool when adding security measures to your property. These lights brightly if a potential intruder attempts to get near your home. They can provide enough illumination to see the intruder or, at the very least, scare them off. Nowadays, you can find a combination of security cameras and motion-activated security lights, such as the floodlight cam wired plus from Ring . Additionally, because these lights only turn on when motion is detected, they’re more cost-effective than traditional lights with a switch. Illuminate the Property Light generally deters intruders as it's more difficult to hide. Adding lighting to the landscaping can increase the security of the property while creating a relaxing atmosphere. Lights can also be used in other areas of the property to accent features such as trees, benches, or artwork. This can help your property stand out while giving your tenants an additional feeling of safety. Keyless Entry Keyless entry is seen as both a convenience feature and a security feature. They usually use an electronic passcode, biometric data, or grant access through a smartphone app. Physical keys can be lost, stolen, or duplicated. You reduce the risk of unauthorized entry by eliminating the need for a physical key to enter the property. Many keyless entry systems include several features, such as remote locking and monitoring. Although keyless entry is a great new technology for keeping your tenants and properties safe, they’re best used with other security systems. Security Company Nothing beats having an extra pair of eyes on your property for security. This is where security companies like ADT and SimpliSafe come in. While companies may deal with security in varying ways, they aim to protect your investment. While safety is the primary role of a security company, remember that many tenants may be willing to pay more for a premium amenity like a home security company. Keeping your property and tenants safe is incredibly important to the longevity of an investment property. If you’re looking to improve the security of your Long Beach rental property or need help managing your beach city rental property, we invite you to call us today at (562) 888-0247 or fill out our Owner Application online .
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