In this tough economy some opportunists are breaking into vacant rentals for a variety of reasons. The vacancy is a beacon of warmth for those without housing. People are finding vacancies by driving through neighborhoods, searching the internet and reading the paper. Once inside the home they use the heater, bathrooms, etc and often conduct illegal activities while the owner is away. Once comfortable they may also sell the appliances and other portions of the property--I have seen carpet and tile pulled up and sold as well as copper piping, doors, windows , etc. Vandalism is often an issue.
Owners and property managers can protect against this by simply going inside the vacancy two to three times a week. At Homepointe, we show all of our vacancies 3 times weekly. We show and enter each property 3 times a week whether prospective tenants show up or not. We are able to see if any forced entry has occurred and our frequent presence deters bad guys from accessing the home. Some tips to prevent breakins is to keep a light on at night, keep the grass mowed and pick up or cancel mail and newspaper delivery. Everything helps protect your investment.
James Safonov
As temperatures continue to drop it is very important for property owners to protect their investments. Make sure your pipes do not burst by turning off your water at the main shut off valve and leave each of your sinks, showers, etc slightly open to allow the remainder of water to drain out completely. Standing water in pipes will expand as the water freezes causing your pipes to bust! This can cause serious damage to your rental and your pocket book. Be proactive..it only takes a moment. Another simple step is to wrap your exterior hose pipes with towels or other insulation to protect them as well.
James Safonov
Homepointe Property Mangement
We are seeing above average activity for rentals in the greater Roseville area. Investors and seasoned landlords are utilizing our company in incredible numbers during the typically slowest time of the year. As Roseville continues to perform as a high end rental community, our agents are helping new investors and old hats find quality tenants at a record pace. The greater Roseville area has a tremendous inventory of quality rentals--these homes and condos attract a high end clientele of tenants who appreciate the emergence of high end restaurants and shopping merely miles from their doors. As always we preach competitive pricing--a high quality tenant paying 5% less monthly will always outperform a moderately qualified applicant paying above market rent. Please contact me with any questions you may have. I am always happy to assist you in your future purchase.
James Safonov
Homepointe Property Mangement
The Home Owners Association in Natomas has voted to revoke club access to future tenants effective Decermber 8, 2008. One of the most beneficial aspects of owning a rental in Natomas Park has been the access to the community's club house, gym and pools. Without much notice, the HOA has determined that all future tenants are prohibited from utilizing the club privileges. All existing residents enjoying access to the club privileges will see their rights revoked once their leases expire. As I make my living working with investment property in Natomas I am takiing the initiative to reverse this decision. How fair is it to investment owners in a down economy to further depress their investment with this decision? Rents will definitely suffer with the revocation of the right to enjoy club access. Why should investment owners pay the same monthly HOA dues as owners who occupy their homes when the right to use the club is not an option? If we cannot band together to right this wrong perhaps we can at least amend the bylaws to reduce the premiums of those who cannot utilize the club privileges. I would appreciate feedback from anyone who can assist me with this effort.
James Safonov
Homepointe Property Management
This a brief reminder of the mandatory City inspection program that has been instituted. City tax records will be used to identify subject property. All owners of rental property will be required to pay a nominal fee for the interior inspections of their respective rental property. The City of Sacramento is making it mandatory for all landlords to either be present during these inspections or designate a local agent to represent them. After passing the inspection during the initial year, owners will be able to apply for self certification to satisfy the annual inspection requirements. Those who qualify for self certification will still have the annual fee--and a small percent of these will be audited periodically. For additional information please contact me directly at Homepointe.
James Safonov
Homepointe Property Management
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
Powered by the ActiveRain Real Estate Network
© 2009 ActiveRain Corp. All Rights Reserved