Property Project Management

How Is Your Vendors Insurance?

Posted on February 24, 2012

When you're a property manager, learning how sufficiently your property is covered is essential. You need to be sure that you have insurance covering damage stemming from fires, flooding - as well as any variety of unexpected things that may happen. That's the reason a good property manager actively works to acquire good insurance with lots of coverage that's also affordable, which ultimately allows for peace of mind.

On the other hand have you taken into consideration the vendors you hire? Is he or she insured? Do they possess the insurance necessary to cover damages if things go awry?

To find the answers to these questions, you'll need to first know that your vendors' insurance provider's scores are grades provided to insurance companies in an attempt to rate how well these firms have the ability to take care of claims. Whenever you function as a property manager and need your vendor to have insurance coverage (all the time), paying attention to the ratings given to insurance companies ought to be an aspect of your vendor hiring process. But before making any decisions, be aware of these three key facts.

1. The ratings work exactly like they did in school

That's right, this portion of the process is very straightforward. An "A" rating for the insurance company implies that the insurance company is typically capable of paying out claims and has been doing a good job with their customers. You'll find individual rating scales for every company, but throughout the entire spectrum, you should expect that an "A" rated company will do significantly better than a "B" rated company. Easy, right?

In addition, you'll more than likely come across a few more specific sorts of ratings from individual rating companies. For instance, you know A is better than B, but you're not really sure what to think about an AA, or BBB. While these could be based upon the individual insurance rating agencies, normally, expect that any "AA" is much better than an "A," which is much better than a "BBB," and so on. But evaluate the ratings of one's vendors initially and you'll end up with a sound foundation to develop a working relationship on.

2. Grades really mean something

In school, if you ever got a B versus an A on a sixth-grade social studies project, it wasn't exactly the end of the world. But when you take a look at insurance "grades," or insurance company ratings, you'll need to never forget that ratings really mean something.

Generally, the ratings make reference to the capacity of the insurer to provide finances for claims people file - put simply, how good the insurance company is at offering coverage. As a general rule of thumb, you would like your vendors to possess more coverage, consequently it typically follows that you will also want your vendors to have insurance companies with higher ratings.

3. Ratings aren't the complete picture.

While ratings are definitely an essential element of the system for property managers to locate dependable vendors, it is not the entire picture. Do not hire service providers according to their insurance alone - instead, make certain that the insurance they already have is a foundation for potential future business and not the only determinant in which company you contract.

Tenant Screening Is a Must!

Posted on February 14, 2012

Tenant screening is an economical process, and it is usually possible to successfully pass the charge to potential renters. It is an efficient measure to guarantee protection on your rental property as well as the current tenants. Additionally it is crucial that you get tenant screening, it is an important tool for successful property management. It becomes a significant step to increase the return on your investment in the properties you manage. Tenant screening is a crucial process, one that most landlords and property managers shouldn't conduct business without having. Understanding whom you do business with is a hallmark of ensuring your property and assets are cared for appropriately.

Finding good tenants is a tough job and you can't rely on chance to find them. There has to be an objective selection procedure that helps you choose trustworthy tenants. Tenant screening services can present the property owner with all the necessary background screening information on a potential renter. They will run a credit screening along with a background screening and inquiry into whether the person has rented before and from whom. This will let homeowners know whether they are taking a risk in renting their property and if everything will go smoothly.

Tenants are not one hundred percent credible that is why there is a great demand for a tenant screening checks before a tenancy contract can be approved. There are those people who are like terrorist taking advantage of the landlord's weakness. They use the property of others for their selfish purpose. The kind of tenant a landlord has will determine the success and failure of the business. The problem is that landlords do not have enough time to do background screening because of their busy schedule, so the tendency is they will just rely on the information they have in hand without getting more comprehensive information.

The costs of bad tenants can be enormous, but can be measurably avoided by good tenant screening practices. As a landlord or property manager you need to be concerned about numerous aspects affecting your business. These include protecting your assets which is protecting your property/apartments, creating a safe environment for your residents both old and new and safeguarding your reputation and the reputation of your apartment complex, homes or duplexes. If word gets out that your real estate is filled with thugs and criminals, the chances of you attracting good responsible tenant's decreases dramatically. Running a tenant screening, national criminal background screening and social security identity verification on applicants before you sign a lease with them should be a requirement in the real estate management industry.

Tenant screening is an effective approach to determine the tenant's background, which includes credit screening. It has become an integral component of smart landlords and a part of standard procedures. It has therefore become the intelligent approach to maintaining a safe, comfortable and pleasant place for people to rent. It is a recommended fair housing practice to encourage a consistent application process. Tenant screening will reveal whether the prospective tenant pays his or her bills on time, including credit cards and loans.

What to Look For in a Commercial Tenant Today

Posted on February 4, 2012

In commercial property today it is common for vacancies to develop in the tenant mix and property. This presents an ongoing problem for the landlord with the cash flow projections and income from the property.

Extended vacancy factors in commercial property are to be minimised where possible through planning and lease management. You need to know what to look for in a tenant and how to find them.

A good leasing manager or property manager will add significant value to the leasing process and the stability of the tenant mix. They have the ability to tap into the local tenant enquiry and read the requirements of tenants in this market.

When vacancies occur there are major costs to find another tenant. Here are the main ones:

  • Loss of rent
  • Loss of outgoings
  • Costs of new lease documentation
  • Costs of new lease incentives
  • Commissions and fees to fill the vacancy

So how can you fix this? You can simply develop a tenant mix strategy and a lease management plan. They become a key part of the commercial property management processes provided by the real estate agency.

To implement these strategies you must know what to look for in a new tenant. The following list will help. You can add to the list subject to the needs of the property and the plans of the landlord.

      1. The tenant should in the first instance qualify as a stable business with an established history of operation. Get some details from the tenant regards the business history. This should be provided by the accountant acting on behalf of the tenancy.
      2. Talk to previous landlords from other properties that they have occupied. See if there are any problems of occupancy or defaults under the terms of the leases in the property.
      3. Speak to the property manager in the last property they occupied. Ideally the property manager should give you a positive assessment of the tenancy operation in their earlier lease.
      4. Develop a clear understanding as to the occupancy demands of the tenancy and the business. Will that business clearly fit into the property and vacancy you have available?
      5. The permitted use for the new tenancy should be clearly defined to specific tenancy usage. This will help you in any new lease situation or assignment or sublet.
      6. The new tenancy should not conflict with any existing tenants in the building. This can be by type, operation, or customer profile.
      7. The new tenancy and the lease term should suit the landlord's investment plans. On this basis, the term of new lease should suit the age of the property and any expected renovation or relocation activity that may be required.
      8. The new lease to be created should be balanced against any other lease expiry and adjacent tenancy in the same property. Ideally your new lease expiry should avoid any adjacent leases expiring at the same time; and therefore creating a heavy burden on the income for the building and the landlord.
      9. Get details from the tenant regards the intended fit out layout and construction. It is likely that you will require plans and drawings from a tenant to fully understand these factors. Any changes to building services as a result of tenant occupancy can be very expensive.
      10. It is wise to get some form of bond or bank guarantee as part of the new lease occupancy. It is common for this amount or guarantee to reflect between three and six months rental occupancy costs.
      11. The intended lessee for the new lease should be a legal entity that can be correctly described on solicitor prepared lease documentation.
      12. If the subject property is financed through a mortgagee, you may need the approval of the mortgagee to the intending tenant and the actual lease to be created.

These are some of the main issues to be considered when finding a new tenant for the property. These items can be structured into a checklist and added to as part of the lease or property management process.