If your advertising isn’t exactly bringing renters in the door, take a few minutes to assess your existing ads. Attention to detail—and the essential property marketing elements outlined in this ForRent.com infographic—will soon have your conversion rates climbing as quickly as your occupancy rates. Your bottom line will thank you.
At Class A Management, we know advertising. We’re ready to help your property reach its full potential using this tactic and others. Contact us today to learn more at 817-295-5959 or at .
Winter is the favorite time of the year for most of us. The excitement of Christmas and New Year is in the air but not knowing how to winterize your property could get you in trouble. Here are a few ways to do so:
1. Exterior pipes
The responsibility to keep the exterior pipes insulated becomes high-priority during the winter season. Completing this task can help you prevent any unwanted pipe breakage.
2. Shut the windows
Pull any storm windows down. This will build yourself that extra layer of protection. Remove the screen outside of all windows.
3. Maintain cleanliness
Remove debris by cleaning ledges, chimneys and exhaust systems.
4. Quick fix:
If the bottom of the doors are left with gaps then the chance of heat being lost increases. A plastic “door sweep” or a towel kept along the bottom of the door will be a simple and an easy solution to keep the warmth intact indoors.
5. Curtains:
A set of beautiful curtains will not only bring a refreshing feel to the place but it will also help in keeping the place warm.
6. Change filters:
To maintain efficiency, change all the filters and get the mechanical systems checked.
7. Turn the direction of your fan:
When you turn the direction of the ceiling fan clockwise, the heat is forced to stay in the lower direction.
8. Air conditioning window units:
If any air conditioning window units are not installed correctly, properly insulate them or simply remove them for a season.
Making yourself ready for the winter will help you and your family enjoy the holiday season blissfully.
About three years ago, I wrote an article on the popularity of raising backyard chickens, and why it might not be a bad idea to consider allowing tenants to keep either individual or shared coops on your property. If you were among those who laughed at the idea, it may be time to reconsider.
According to the Worldwatch Institute, “Raising backyard chickens is an extension of an urban farming movement that has gained popularity nationwide. Home-raised livestock or agriculture avoids the energy usage and carbon emissions typically associated with transporting food.” Additionally, the quote from my last article begs repeating:
Backyard chickens have become so mainstream that retailers from Wal-Mart to Williams-Sonoma carry coops. Cities from Portland, Ore., to Portland, Maine, have revised their laws to allow small flocks. After more than a year of study, the Richmond County City Council (WASH) this spring agreed to allow residents to keep up to four chickens. Rob Ludlow, the owner of BackyardChickens.com, said his community forum has grown from 50 members to 200,000 in the past six years.
Yet, avoiding energy usage and carbon emissions aren’t the only reasons why people are turning to the chicken way of life. A more sustainable way of obtaining food is a major driver, but companionship is just as important for many chicken-raisers.
As a property owner or manager, the thought of chickens may give you heartburn. The noise…the smell…the noise…it may be hard to see the benefits. Yet, it’s really not the chickens who are loud…it’s roosters. And, you can have one without the other. Roosters are only necessary if tenants are asking for baby chicks. Chickens lay eggs without them and are relatively quiet on their own. In fact, any noise they make is akin to a small yard dog. They also are relatively low maintenance, and can be kept clean with proper care.
As far as true benefits, we learn from research that a growing one’s food, in effect, “gets people together, fosters tenant loyalty, and encourages further community involvement. Loyalty? Absolutely. It comes from the desire to watch the chickens grow and experience the fruits of one’s own labor.
Ready, set, coop!
If you’ve been approached for chicken coop approval, you’re not alone. Apartment managers everywhere are feeling the pressure. But before you say ‘yes,’ you must first make sure your property is zoned to allow them. If you find that it is, then my best recommendation is to include a clause or amendment in your lease that is specific to the construction and maintenance or participation of the coop and its residents. There should also be language about tenant accountability for rehoming the chickens and discarding the coop if and when there is no longer interest in maintaining them.
Or…you can just call the professionals at Class A Management. Chickens? We got that covered, too. Call us today at 817-295-5959, or send us an email to .
Tenants like to decorate for the holiday. How can they do so without causing damage so that they can get their security deposit back once the lease is up?
The holiday period is filled with festivity, friends, family and delicious food. Being a renter, you may not be able to put to use all the decorative ideas due to restrictions put by the property manager. Whatever it is, here are a few removable and nail free solutions to decorate your home:
Christmas tree:
Christmas tree is something that each one of us loves to have for the Christmas festival but may not have the space that it takes up to put out. Therefore, think of making use of washi tape for the outline of the tree on an empty wall. Also, the dummy ornaments could be made out of washi tape. Another option is that you cut triangular shapes out of old pallets, fill it with green color and also make a simple trunk.
Damage free hanging lights:
One of the simplest ways to decorate is to put up lights on the outdoor. Make use of ready-made stuff in the market to help you hang your lights and other decorations intact. Also, use of fairy lights in the living room and bedroom gives a very serene touch to your decorations.
Stocking weights:
When it’s the festival of Christmas, mantles and stockings go hand in hand. Decorative stock weights help you fix the stockings to the mantle without the use of nail. Do not over load your mantle, put in only that much your stocking weight can hold.
Tension rods:
Consider using tension rods to hang garlands and wreaths without harming your woodwork. Use the correct size of tension rods and put it up at the window.
Holiday card display:
Don’t know where to put up all the holiday cards you have received from your friends and family? Make use of picture ledge. For an extra personal touch to add to your decor, starry string lights could be used. The picture ledge can be easily removed and also made use of for the next year.
Paper decorations:
The command hooks cannot hold on to a heavy weight, therefore making handmade paper craft to give you the perfect feel of holiday season is got to be your option. Use metallic colored papers and make banners. Also, the feeling of decorating your place by yourself is satisfying.
Decorate your rental space without worrying about your landlord’s restrictions. Don’t be afraid to take an extra step in being creative and wait for Santa to fetch you gifts!
A swimming pool isn’t necessarily the top-billing amenity your renters are seeking. While they may expect outdoor gathering spaces, today’s renters also expect that you’ll provide their internet service in a wireless format. The good news is that they’re also willing to pay more for it.
Expanding coverage expected
Just a few years ago, prospective tenants would have been satisfied with a few wi-fi access points in shared areas like the pool and clubhouse. An overwhelming majority of respondents in a recent poll said they now expect community-wide wireless internet. They also expect to be able to stream unlimited video, as many residents opt out of traditional TV and head instead to Netflix and other online entertainment sources.
Smart homes trending
Renters want the convenience that new technology offers, and that includes security systems and other environmental controls they can operate from a smartphone. If they forget to lock the front door, they want to be able to open an app and lock the door remotely. They want to see how much energy they’re using, and they want to be able to monitor what’s going on at home even while they’re away. All this connectivity is going to require forward-thinking property owners to set up two wireless access points with huge bandwidth—one for smart house programming, and one for internet access—and it’s going to have to be reliable.
It’s important to say here that a majority of apartment-dwellers still say they also want a manager on-site. Contact Class A Management to take care of your residents, as well as their internet needs. Call us today at 817-295-5959 or e-mail, .
