RentWise Property Management

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Ultimate Guide To Preparing Your Property For Winter

Winter is coming! I know, Fall just arrived, right? It is hard to believe that it is almost time to talk about snowy days and crisp air. Property Managers are always thinking ahead, so it is time to tackle some strategic planning before the snowflakes fall. We have created this ultimate guide to help you get ahead of the seasons and avoid any snowy situations.

Planning ahead for the winter months is one of the most important parts of maintaining a property, especially a rental. Tenants depend on their property managers and property owners to keep their homes safe and secure when inclement weather hits. Not only does being proactive keep future costs down, but it also protects you from a potentially costly liability. Here are some of the best tips to ensure that your property is in tip-top shape before the seasons change:

Have Your Furnace and Chimney Inspected & Cleaned

Tenants typically don’t think about the HVAC system in their home until it is time to turn them on. One of the largest dangers, when the seasons change, is a faulty HVAC system or a malfunctioning fireplace. This is a recipe for disaster as both can cause fire and release carbon monoxide into the home if they are not performing properly. While your inspection is being done, it is a good idea to ensure that the ductwork is clean and that the chimney is free from debris. This takes us to our next suggestion.

Inspect Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors

With cooler weather comes the use of the furnace and/or fireplace if your property has that feature. Tenants are asked to test their smoke & carbon monoxide detectors each quarter. One of the largest hazards in the cooler months is fire or carbon monoxide poisoning. The fireplace and the furnace have been lying dormant for many months and the tenant will likely assume they are functioning just fine and turn them on.

Clean your gutters

Fall is awesome and beautiful but also can leave a mess at your property. Another suggestion to prepping your property for winter is to ensure your gutters are free of leaves, branches, and other debris. If your gutters are full, it will weigh the gutters down. Also, ice may accumulate in the gutters from improper drainage. The extra weight from snow/ice/debris may cause the gutters to fall off your home while damaging the exterior in the process.

Inspect The Roof

The extra weight of snow and ice on a roof that is not in great shape can act like a ticking time bomb. This may cause leaks or even collapse of the roof into your rental. Having a certified roofing contractor giving your roof a good once-over will ease your mind and inform you of the remaining life of your roof.

Drain Sprinklers and Wrap Exterior Pipes

Draining sprinkler systems and wrapping exterior pipes and spigots will prevent leaks and frozen pipes. Standing water in pipes or irrigation systems will almost certainly freeze. This causes the pipes to crack and sometimes burst which in turn can cause water damage and a large mess to clean up!

Trim Trees

This is a tip that sometimes gets overlooked. Snow and ice love to sit on tree branches. If there is a tree close to your property you do not want the tree to break and fall on the property or other exterior features.

Inspect Exterior for Trip and Fall Hazards

Inspecting and repairing any trip and fall hazards is one of the most important steps you can take in getting your home ready for winter. Cracked sidewalks, broken handrails, loose decking are all liabilities and require your immediate attention. This is true anytime, but especially when mother nature is in control in the winter.

Check Trim on Doors and Windows

Increased drafts inside a home will cause the HVAC system to work harder. This means added wear and tear on your furnace and your property which will result in additional costs sooner than later. Having an energy-efficient home not only protects your pockets from a costly HVAC replacement, but it also keeps your home in great shape by keeping the elements outside where they belong.

As you can see, there are many effective ways to protect your property. We care about our property owners and tenants just like our friends and family. We would love to have you as part of our RentWise Family! For more information on how we make things “Less Hassle, More Happy”- visit us here! 

Taskmasters: Who Are They and Why Do We Use Them?

 

Property management is a multifaceted industry. Between onboarding new clients, resident applications, inspections, maintenance requests, and more- our days are busy! Have you ever wondered how we get it all done? I’ll share one of our secrets with you: utilizing a preferred vendor, Taskmasters. Our mission is to provide excellent service and do it with the highest quality of tools and technology. We strive to be the best. And using a specialized service such as Taskmasters allows us to focus on our property owners and residents and meet their needs in record time. 

So, who are they? Taskmasters Idaho provides additional expertise to our arsenal of professionalism and efficiency. RentWise manages many types of properties. We believe our vendors are the best in the business and take our service to the next level. Furthermore, Taskmasters specializes and assists with a wide variety of property management services, here are a few that we may utilize: 

Sign/Lockbox placement or drop off

Notice services such as placing 24-Hour and 3-Day Notices to enter the property with the resident

Move-out condition report

A final move-out condition report is indisputably one of the most important functions of a property manager. An unrushed, thorough condition report after a tenant vacates a property is in the best interest of all parties involved. Not only does the report include a floor-to-ceiling inspection with a written survey, but it also includes photos of any notations made. This allows us to compare the initial move-in condition report to the final move-out documentation. 

Exterior Surveys

Visual surveying of a property needs to be completed from time to time. This helps us to address any compliance issues and allows us to act quickly to remedy the situation.  Exterior surveys include a photo of each property and a compliance form sent to us if there are any issues spotted. Additionally, while this survey is being completed, there is no disturbance to the resident or owner and it is a quick and efficient way to confirm that the property is kept in great condition. 

Pet Checks

We love pets! However, sometimes pets can cause damage. A pet check includes a photo of the pet as well as a visual survey of the property for any damage. This protects our residents as well as the property owner. 

Vacant Property Checks

Keeping an unoccupied home safe and secure between showings is imperative! Conducting vacant property checks helps to provide our property owners with peace of mind that their investment remains in tip-top shape for the next resident.  The checklist includes: plumbing checks and testing functionality, ensuring that the home is secure and locked, confirms that utilities are on and functioning, removing any flyers or debris from the front entry, verifying signage, visually inspecting for pests. 

Our motto here at RentWise is “Less Hassle, More Happy”. We believe that you should love what you do and have fun doing it! Not only do we love our clients and our residents, but we also love our team of vendors too! Let us show you how hiring the right property manager can be a game-changer for your investment! We can’t wait to connect with you! Read more about our property management services, and give us a call at (208) 949-3083!

Benefits of having a Virtual Property Management Company

One trend that you may have heard a lot about recently is having a “Virtual Office.” As your property manager, we strive everyday to ensure that we are providing outstanding, convenient, unmatched service to our clients and residents. We are able to continue to do this by being a virtual business.
There are many reasons why going virtual is beneficial, here are 5 reasons below:

The ability to manage properties
anytime, anywhere

Being virtual affords us the ability to assist and manage our properties from anywhere in the world. The market is always changing. We are able to update property metrics and listing information instantaneously. We are able to market properties quickly and update our social media information. This is a surefire way to know that the business can continue running smoothly no matter what is going on in the world around us. 

Keep operating costs down

We do not have a brick and mortar office. This allows us to source the funds elsewhere that we would otherwise be spending on building upkeep; such as maintaining reasonable property management fees.  We invest in the highest quality of applications and technology to provide a seamless experience for our investors and residents. This includes a revolutionary owner and tenant portal to pay rent, submit requests and view importation documentation. 

Communication

Communication is one of the largest components of successful property management. Being virtual allows us to take this to another level. We have the ability to reach all of our clients and tenants at once.  We are able to send out financial reports and updates to our investors in real-time. This makes it easier for property managers to make recommendations and maximize your earning potential based on market trends. We always keep your bottom line in mind. Being virtual cuts back on vacancy times due to the effectiveness of electronic screening and leasing. 

Documentation

Our property management team has the ability to access all documents and records from their own workstation. This keeps our service consistent and efficient.  Any announcement, request, or interaction comes with a time stamp. As a result, we are able to keep thorough records and document each interaction as it happens, to avoid any misunderstanding.  Through our state of the art software, we track maintenance requests and send out status information quickly. Additionally, we are able to send out digital invoicing and collect rent digitally for accurate record keeping. All of this is done to maintain consistency and continuity for our clients. 

Health and Safety

Nothing is more important to us than keeping our clients safe and secure. The past few years have proven challenging for every industry. Here at RentWise, we were already running as a virtual property management company prior to COVID-19,  so there were no adjustments needed to continue our daily responsibilities. Running a virtual office minimizes daily staff, walk-in, and vendor contact. This is exponentially important as we are all able to maintain a healthy work environment by keeping our distance. Keeping ourselves as well as our residents, investors, and vendors healthy is a guarantee that we can continue providing consistent service without delay. Our virtual dynamic also affords us the opportunity to conduct training on a more frequent basis. 

 

It is our ultimate goal here at RentWise to be the best in the business. We take pride in our team and the properties that we manage. If you would like more information on how we can help make owning an investment property “Less Hassle, More Happy”- we would love to speak with you! Give us a call at 208-949-3083 or email courtney@rentwisepm.com

The importance and types of insurance for property management and vendors.

Managing the property of clients can be very rewarding. As professionals, we always have the best interest of our clients in mind. We must also consider many factors, such as awareness of all of the potential risks we may face and how to protect the business. The risks may vary but can include vandalism, theft, legal and/or lawsuit compensation, fire, and so on. Having adequate insurance coverage helps to protect our assets and keeps the business running. 

We also require the vendors that we hire to supply insurance. This protects the property owner, property management, the tenant, and of course the vendor. This may include auto liability or a general liability policy. Ensuring that each one of these vendors has adequate coverage in line with their type of business operations is key. 

Some examples of insurance for a property manager and vendors include:

 

Property Management

  • Professional Liability Insurance(Sometimes called Errors and Omissions insurance or E&O) The types of claims that fall under professional liability may include:
    Tenant Discrimination- a potential or current tenant claims that property wasn’t rented to them or faced harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, children, or national origin.
    Wrongful Eviction- While the lease is still valid, a tenant believes they were unlawfully evicted. They may sue for damages such as the cost of moving, lost wages, the cost of the replacement lease/deposits, etc.
    Property Damage by Error-failure to inspect fire extinguishers and fire caused damage to the property where it could have been prevented with a fire extinguisher. Failure to investigate complaints or maintenance requests(such as noise, pets, pet, plumbing) that may result in further damage to property.
  • General Liability Insurance-The types of claims that fall under General Liability may include:
    Property damage- The example is similar to the Professional Liability claim. Damage was caused to the property whether it be a failure to inspect, investigate or mitigate. It also includes accidentally damaging a tenant’s property during a showing or walk-through.
    Resident injury- This includes failure to maintain safe public premises for tenants and guests such as handrails, trip and fall hazards, snow and/or ice removal (depending on the lease contract) electrical hazards, environmental hazards.

Vendor/Contractor 

  • General Liability Insurance– sometimes called Commercial General Liability Insurance. Two of the main concerns with a General Liability Policy are:
    Property Damage– a vendor damages the property while performing a service or maintenance request. This could be accidental or negligence.
    Customer or tenant injury– ie: if you tripped over a vendor’s toolbox and needed medical attention.
    Commercial Auto Liability- covers property damage or injury caused by a vehicle used on the job.

 

Our Why

As a property management team, we act on behalf of the owner and treat the investment as if it is our own. We are experts in property management as this is all we do, so rest assured it is our only priority.  Learn more here about the benefits of doing business with an experienced, dedicated, team of professionals who take pride in the success and protection of our clients.

 

 

 

 

Holiday shopping that gives back, yes please!

I don’t know about you but holiday shopping always kind of sneaks up on me and then it’s time to either jump online for some amazon prime shopping or head to the dreaded storefronts for that perfect gift. But what if holiday shopping had an extra bonus of giving back! I mean why not? You are most likely going to give gifts, what if they had an even bigger purpose? That seems like a win-win to me!

I have a very big family so it can be a little overwhelming to try to find something for each member so this year I did something a little different. I decided to gift everyone something that would hopefully not only bring a smile to their face but potentially a whole lot more faces.

Holiday gifts that actually give back!

I’m sure there are a ton of great non-profits out there but I found a few really amazing companies that I thought deserved mentioning as their missions align with my core values as a person and as a company. As we all know, every little bit counts and I encourage you to check these companies out year-round and not just at holiday time.

The first company is called Ten Thousand Villages – you can read more about their mission here. In part, they are asking that we as a population, “shop with intention”. I could not love that any more than I already do! Their products are handmade and specifically designed for unique gift-giving. I purchased little handmade terracotta “good luck pigs” that are handmade in Chili by a mother and daughter. When they arrived I unwrapped them to find each one every so slightly different in design. If you want to purchase these as well, click here.  There are a plethora of options to choose from so you just can’t go wrong.

The second company I stumbled upon is called Project 7 – more about their mission and purpose can be found here. They focus on 7 basic needs worldside. Hunger, environment, homelessness, clean water, education, health and peace and they literally put money were their mouth is by selling gourmet chewing gum! I always put a little candy or gum in my stockings so this was perfect! I bought a variety pack so I could sample some of them and it is awesome! It also comes in adorable packages that are easy to transport.

The third company I purchased products from is called Happy Day Brands and was in part started in an effort to feed the hungry. More about their good works can be found here. I was so extra excited about this one because it was founded right here in Boise, Idaho so those profits truly go back into my community and that makes me very happy. They sell coffee, superfood mixes, chocolate, oatmeal and more. I purchased the oatmeal and while I haven’t personally tried it I have a feeling that it will be delicious after I read the list of organic ingredients they use.

I plan to place all these items in a cute little dollar store gift box and BAM – a holiday gift worth giving (back)!

If you are ever in need of a gift-giving idea or you have questions about the services we provide please reach out! We would love to get to know you and show you how owning an investment property can be LESS HASSLE, MORE HAPPY! RentWise Property Management. 

Quarterly Exterior Surveys

Quarterly Exterior Surveys

We understand that we are your eyes and ears and make it a priority to make regular exterior inspections. We do that for several reasons that include ensuring that the tenant is obeying any HOA requirements, verifying the yard is being well kept in a manner consistent with the lease requirements, noting any potential issues with the exterior of the home & more.

One such area we focus on is the roof. Especially after a large snowfall or a bad wind storm, this area is vulnerable and we want to take note of any visual concerns regularly so they can be addressed as soon as the issue is noticed. We are looking out for your interest!

Looking for Boise Property Management for your rental property? Give us a call today at 208-949-3083 or find out what your home will rent for with our FREE Rental Estimate.