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Preparing Your Properties for El Nino
Written by Mary-Girsch-Bock. Published on November 12, 2015 on Property Manager.
While preparing for winter weather is a common occurrence for property managers throughout the country, the preparation for this year’s winter may be slightly different. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has predicted the return of El Niño this winter; one of the strongest on record. The return of El Niño means a shifting weather pattern, increasing the likelihood of increased moisture across a wide swath of the U.S.
With El Niño expected to impact Southern California, as well as Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, through Texas to Florida, the chance for inclement weather in these areas increases dramatically. And while this changing weather pattern can create havoc for most of us, property managers face a more daunting task; preparing their property for the possibility of increased inclement weather. And while none of us can accurately predict what the weather will be in the coming months, it’s important for property managers to be ready for the possibility of increased wet weather and intense storms. So what are some of the steps property managers can take today to be better prepared for the possibility of El Niño affecting their properties?
Institute of Real Estate Management Young Professionals Mixer
You are invited to the Institute of Real Estate Management Young Professional’s cocktail networking mixer at Bakersfield’s brand new Temblor Brewing Company, Thursday September 24th at 5:00pm. Complimentary craft beer, appetizers, raffle prizes and vendor expo!
Don’t miss this opportunity to network with professionals in the real estate & management industry; including Bakersfield Young Professionals, Chamber of Commerce, KGET, Energy & Agriculture Young Professionals, local businesses and more!
Want To Save Money On Your Move? Follow These 3 Tips
Written by Allie Johnson. Published April 2015 on Self Storage Moving Blog.
Planning a move? The price tag can be as hefty as that gargantuan leather sofa the movers have to muscle onto the truck.
A professional move can cost from under $1,000 to $15,000 or more, the Moving.com moving cost calculator shows. The total price tag depends on how the moving company charges, how much stuff you have and how far you’re going.
But you can take simple steps to keep more of your money. Here are three key ways to save on any type of move, from DIY to full-service.
1. DOWNSIZE TO SAVE DOLLARS.
Whether you’re moving yourself in a rented truck, paying local movers by the hour or hiring a moving company that charges by weight, shedding excess stuff can trim your moving bill.
Donate, sell or toss anything you don’t love, need or use, said Ann Bass, president and owner of A Lighter Move, which provides moving consulting services. Pay special attention to bulky, heavy stuff. Here are four types of items you should consider unloading before your move:
Books and magazines. Books are heavy, and a whole collection can be pricy to move, Bass said. “The litmus test is, are you really going to read it again?” she said.
Food in your pantry. There’s no reason to pay movers to pack and lug 80-cent cans of tomatoes or $1 boxes of pasta across the country. “Eat it or give it away,” Bass said.
Top 5 Questions to Ask Potential Tenants (and What Not to Ask)
Written by Laura Agadoni. Published Monday, July 27, 2015 on Landlordology.
Congratulations, you’ve advertised your rental property, and people are responding!
But now what? How do you know which potential tenant to pick?
The right tenant can make your life a dream, but a bad tenant can cause you stress, aggravation and money.
The best way to help ensure you’ll have a good tenant is to have a tenant screening process that you use for every potential tenant.
As such, it’s critical to treat all potential tenants the same way, so you don’t violate the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination onseven protected classes, plus whatever classes your state and locality has.
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California Landlords & Property Managers Now Face Strict Water Conservation Restraints
Written by Dave Roberson. Published Thursday, April 2, 2015 on Silicon Valley Property Management Group.
In a historic move California Governor Jerry Brown issued an emergency order and declaration of water conservation rules which are now imposed on everyone in the state with the exception of farmers. There will be fines and potential rate hikes for residents that fail to hit stepped-up conservation targets as the state endures the fourth straight year of severe drought conditions. Governor Brown has issued water-saving orders for 25 percent statewide reduction in usage which includes bolstering enforcement of water waste, requiring drip irrigation at new construction projects, eliminating rouge farmers who divert water illegally from irrigation channels, and implementing an investment strategy in new water-saving technologies.
What Do The Mandatory Water-Saving Measures Mean For Landlords?
First of all landlords and property managers must be mindful of these new strict rules. A prudent course of action would be for all landlords and property managers to direct their tenants to the new rules and restrictions by providing a hard copy or emailed copy of them. The rules and restrictions can be found at http://www.water.ca.gov/waterconditions/declaration.cfm.
Secondly, in order to avoid an over use condition to audit each tenant’s usage of water, and monitor any changes in the tenant’s behavior.
Commercial Real Estate Gets Technical
Written by Jamie Henry. Published on Wednesday, May 20, 2015 on Canadian Real Estate Magazine.
The commercial real estate sector will see changes from emerging technologies, according to a report from Colliers International.
The firm said that various shifts in technology will mean that companies will require different solutions for their commercial space. Retailers, for example, will increasingly use 3D printing to create products, reducing the need for large stock storage facilities.
However, this could cause location issues for such businesses as 3D printing is classed as light manufacturing and would need to be located in an area zoned for that purpose. It could mean that retailers will shift from traditional space or that they would require two premises.
Two other emerging technologies that are of particular interest to the real estate industry include drones and virtual reality.
Unmanned aircraft (drones) allow commercial agents to survey and offer remote viewings at a far lower cost than using a helicopter and camera operator. Colliers expects drone-captured videos to become the standard for property overviews within months.
13 Tips For Hiring The Best Moving Company
Written by Laura McHolm. Published Tuesday, April 30, 2013 on Huffington Post.
Come May and you usually think about Mother's Day, May poles, flowers and Cinco de Mayo. But did you also know that it's the kick-off to the busiest time of year when most of us move to new homes? Yes, May is National Moving Month. So, put down your posies and pick-up those cardboard boxes. Better yet, before you start packing, now's the perfect time to start planning a smooth move and the best way to do that is to hire a great and reputable moving company. Who knows, they may even end up doing the packing for you.
I know, you were thinking you would just Google "moving company." Sure you will find a zillion moving companies, but are you ready to hand over your baby grand piano or your prized 1977 go-go boots into any stranger's hands? So, how do you choose the mover you can trust? One who knows how great you look in those boots and wouldn't dream of letting anything happen to them? Well, aren't you lucky because in honor of National Moving Month, here are some handy tips on what to look for when hiring a mover.
First, when choosing a moving company, checking their reputation is crucial. A great reputation saves you time and money. And, a great reputation equals great rates. No one ever says: "oh yes, I LOVE this company since they just made me overpay for their crappy service." So, if you take away only one tip: It's to choose your mover based on reputation.
Keeping Pets Safe Around Plants
Written by Steve Asbell. Published June 25, 2015 on Zillow.
Gardens are wonderful places for pets. They provide entertainment, room to exercise and cool shade in the afternoon. However, many of the most common and seemingly innocuous garden plants are also poisonous to your furry friends.
The apples and oranges we humans enjoy, almost all flowering bulbs, and some of the most popular houseplants all share one thing in common: They are dangerously toxic to cats and dogs.
Plants ranked eighth on the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ (ASPCA’s) list of top pet toxins in 2014, and of the roughly five percent of calls made to the organization’s Animal Poison Control Center that involve plants, most were regarding houseplants rather than those grown outdoors.
Before we even cover the poisonous plants, let’s focus on the biggest dangers. Insecticides ranked third on the ASPCA list, and lawn and garden products came in tenth. Keep all chemicals out of reach, and if you’re getting your lawn sprayed, allow at least a day before letting your pet on the grass.
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