It can be challenging to find the best property managers in your area. Fortunately, if you know what to look for, then it should be easier for you to find the right person or the right firm to represent your investment properties and your tenants. There are several things you should look for before hiring someone to manage your rental properties in Cary, Apex, Raleigh or throughout the Triangle region.
1. Have a Creative Website
The internet is the first place that people look when they are trying to find a product or service they need. Property management companies should see the importance of having a professional website, like Barker Realty. The website should highlight the benefits of working with the company and understand the value they would bring to you, your tenants and your property. You're on ours now and here's the Owner Services page with loads of information https://barker-inc.com/residential-management-rentals/owner-services/.
2. Use Social Media
Many people also use social media to locate companies to work with and also want to view online reviews, too. LinkedIn and Facebook are some of the websites that you should check out to see how the property management company interacts with their customers, new customers, if they are responding to both negative and positive reviews, and so much more. One of the many great things about checking out a social media page is that you can see what our company does every day with pictures of work, seasonal specials, employee spotlights, and much more to help build trust in doing business with us.
3. Hiring is an Investment
Hiring a professional property management company or individual manager can get expensive. However, like most services, you get what you pay for. You may want to save some money and go with an individual, which is completely fine as long as they are providing you value and are responsive to your need and your tenants. On the other hand, you may need a bigger team with more resources, and that's when a company may be the best fit. Just remember, hiring a property manager is an investment into your overall portfolio. Go with experience. Go with responsiveness and reliability. But, always know they should have your best interests in mind at all times to benefit you and your properties in the long run.
4. Use of Technology
Property management is saturated with new technology from management software, billing, online applications, the list goes on. Consider the technology being used by a property manager or a company as part of your arsenal in delivering a smooth process for your tenants and how you can track the services being provided.
5. What Can Make You Stand Out
Key differentiators are a driving factor in the selection process. There are plenty of capable property managers in the Apex, Cary and Raleigh area and many other larger or growing cities throughout the country. However, what are you looking for that can set you apart as well from the competition? Property investors don't always think about this notion of how can a property management company make your properties stand out from all the rest. Ask these from your property manager when in the hiring process or looking to retain a company's services. You may be surprised and pleased with their responses.
Contact Barker Realty for more information about hiring the best property manager or a reputable property management company who will always keep your best interests in mind.
Benefits of Using a Property Manager for your Rentals
Investors in the real estate market typically don’t start out very big. Everyone has to start somewhere and most people end up living in the home before turning it into a rental after accumulating more financial resources. You have the opportunity to expand beyond owning a single property as a rental property investor to own and manage multiple homes.
Managing these properties includes maintenance, collecting rent, signing paperwork, and ensuring that the units remain occupied. If you’re investing in rental property as a secondary source of income, it might make more sense to work with an investment property management company to help with some of these tasks.
A good property manager represents their client’s interests well and can assist with screening tenants, ensuring the properties remain occupied and ensures fast repairs both during and in between tenancies. It’s crucial to stay in touch with your property manager for frequent updates and even driving by the properties themselves to see how they’re being maintained outside. Here are a few tips for investors thinking about hiring a property manager.
Long-term benefits
Don’t get too caught up in the short-term benefits of owning a rental property. There may be a few rough patches where you may need to spend more than you anticipated, but home values can increase over time. The potential for an increase in value is significant and typically less risky than other investments such as the stock market or savings account.
Stick with newer homes
Rental properties are a better investment if they’re on the newer side. Stick with houses that are no more than 20 years old to reduce repair and maintenance costs. You might need to repair the floors or paint the walls, but they aren’t as pricey as homes that are less than ten years old. If you want to do a complete and extensive renovation, feel free to buy a home that is 20 to 70 years old, but anticipate having to do significant structural, plumbing, or electrical work.
Contact us today if you are a rental property investor and think that you could benefit from hiring experienced Apex property managers to assist with your investment property management needs.
Since the moving process doesn’t end once you’ve signed the lease, we are pleased to offer Updater to all our residents. In case you’re unfamiliar, Updater simplifies the moving process by helping you save time on moving-related tasks.
With your Updater account, you can:
Purchase renters insurance
Forward your mail
Update accounts and subscriptions (such as alumni associations and magazines)
Connect your utilities
Find home services in your area (like cable and phone providers)
Schedule in-home moving estimates
Browse exclusive move-in offers
Share digital moving announcements with family and friends
We believe in customer service from start to finish, and offering Updater is one way we will continue to achieve this goal. Learn more about Updater’s featureshere.
When preparing rental properties for the summer, there’s a lot that needs to be done in terms of maintenance on the inside and outside of the property. Property managers in Cary should use this time to give their property a pre-summer makeover that will make the rental more attractive to anyone hoping to move in.
Summer-Ready Maintenance Tips
There’s no other season quite like summer that inspires families and friends to spend a lot of time outdoors. By taking care of their property and making it look its best, property managers will instantly boost the rental’s property value, while making renters feel at home. Read on for ways to make any rental summer-ready.
1. Get the Pool Ready
The pool is one of the most important amenities property managers must take care of before the summer arrives. Start by evaluating the condition of the pool and performing any necessary maintenance. Following any remodeling, managers should make sure the pool is clean and ready to use. Ensure the area around the pool is as safe as possible by either having a lifeguard available or signs posted.
2. Check the BBQ Grills
As the colder weather gives way to the warmer months of summer, property managers will want to make sure all of the grills are still in proper working condition. By keeping the propane filled and the grill clean, managers will ensure that renters can enjoy their summertime properly.
3. Keep a Maintenance Checklist Handy
Summer requires a different type of rental maintenance for property managers in Cary. Property managers should keep this in mind as they go over their regular maintenance checklist. This list will include maintaining the irrigation system, updating the A/C units, cleaning the community area, and any similar responsibilities.
4. Remove Fire Hazards
The heat of summer always comes with increased fire dangers. Property managers must take this into account by fire-safety apart of their summer rental maintenance. This can be achieved by removing any overhanging branches, flammable debris, or overgrown bushes.
Property managers can make their renters feel at ease and relaxed as summer approaches by performing their rental maintenance for the summer. Contact us for more information to help get your rental ready for the warmer months.
There are many people who are interested in investing in rental property as it can be a great financial move for a variety of reasons. Not only can investors make money off of monthly cash flow from the collected rent, but there is also financial benefit in the equity appreciation build-up over time. You are essentially having someone else pay your mortgage and insurance on a piece of property that can retain value or appreciate, especially in the Raleigh-Triangle market.
At Barker Realty, our property management company highly recommends conducting research before investing in real estate in your area to make sure it will be a great fit for your business or you personally. Talk with others. Talk with experts. Learn as much as you can about how investing in rental property could be a game changer for you and your portfolio. Here are some tips to help you along the way!
Find a Rental Property
The best rental properties are in areas that are growing rapidly. The biggest predictor of future price appreciation in an area is the growth of the population. In addition, a growing population will have many renters who are willing to live in your property.
With the competitive real estate market, it may be difficult to find a rental property that meets your needs. You should look for a property that will produce positive cash flow every month. You need to plan out your expenses with the property and then look at what the home will rent for. Hiring property managers is part of the rental process. These costs need to be accounted for as well.
Financing
Real estate investors need to understand how to use financing options for their benefit. Financing is the best way to purchase a rental property if you do not have the cash to do so. Some real estate investors borrow too much money and get into financial trouble. Instead of doing this, borrow money in a conservative way. This will help you reduce the overall risk that you have in an investment.
A good property management company can help you find the right loan for you. Many people who work for a property management company have years of experience in the real estate field.
Hiring Help
No one wants to answer calls in the middle of the night from tenants. Hiring property managers is the best way to reduce your stress while owning a property. You need to look at online reviews before making a decision on the company that you want to work with. You should work with a company that has quality customer service and support at all hours.
Rental property can help you get to the next level in your finances. However, be realistic with yourself. It’s not easy and it is not a way to get rich quickly, but it will help you build wealth over time when done the right way. With the strong housing market, now is a great time to look for an investment property in your area.
Contact Barker Realty today for more information about investing in real estate, rental properties, and overall property management services.
There are many excellent reasons to work with Barker Realty when you need professional management for your rental property in Raleigh. Today, we’re focusing on the three top reasons to consider hiring us to take care of anything your investment property needs.
Property Management Raleigh: Experience
Barker Realty is an experienced property management company. We have successfully managed and maintained rental properties in Raleigh and the Triangle since 1984. Our property managers are all licensed North Carolina Realtors with skill, experience, expertise, and persistence.
Property Management Raleigh: Excellence
All of our property managers and team members work hard to maintain high standards. We insist on excellence while we promote, position, and protect your property. For example, we use metrics to track the efficiency of our advertising and our lead management system. We can provide reports specific to your property’s activities at any time, and it can be as detailed as you need. We are also rigorous with our screening process. All of our tenant screening starts with extensive background checks, and we strive to place only the most well qualified residents in your home. During the course of the tenancy and between lease periods, we advise you about the necessary repairs that are needed at your home, and we maintain your property well to attract the best tenants and the highest rents.
Raleigh Property Management: Owner-Focused
As your Raleigh property manager, our responsibility is always to you – the owner. We work to minimize your expenses and maximize the value of your investment. We use a strong, enforceable lease which is comprehensive and includes a number of house rules we have developed over our 33 years of property management experience.
Please consider us for all your Raleigh property management needs. We would appreciate the opportunity to add value to your property with all of our expertise and local market knowledge. Contact us at Barker Realty; we look forward to hearing from you.
