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Invest in Your Property’s First Impression

Author: cl@ss
Categories: Real Estate Investment
Invest in Your Property’s First Impression

Some properties make a great first impression. It’s called curb appeal and paying attention to it can make your property easier or more difficult to find, while also helping you keep good tenants. 

Time to fix an existing eyesore

Take a good look at your investment property through the eyes of a prospective tenant. What is your first impression?  If you don’t want to live there, it’s time to make some changes. Address any peeling paint and lackluster landscaping right away. If you ignore curb appeal, all the high-end interior finishes in the world won’t make much difference. Your property will stay vacant, and your portfolio will suffer.

Prevent the ugly with regular maintenance

Sticking to a regular maintenance schedule is the most effective way to keep your property in tip-top shape, looking its best to attract your ideal tenant. Don’t neglect seasonal landscape changes, especially tree and hedge pruning. Touch up exterior painting when and where it’s needed. Add finishing touches when you can, and don’t be afraid to spend a little money. The return on investment you receive by achieving 100 percent occupancy justifies the relatively low cost of exterior maintenance. 

Enlist tenants’ help

Current renters can help keep your property looking great, or they can ruin its drive-by charm. Ensure your tenants do their part to keep trash and non-running vehicles off your property. Also, encourage them to add their own tasteful touches to their home’s exterior, such as potted plants.

Create a lasting first impression with Class A Management

If your investment property needs help with curb appeal and creating a first impression that attracts your ideal tenant, Class A Management is ready to take on the challenge! The development services offered by our experienced team can help you decide on the best exterior (and interior) remodels or upgrades to heighten the appeal of your property.

Contact Class A Management today to keep your property from becoming a slum (or at least looking like one). We know what renters want and can use an objective eye to create a property that is in high demand. 

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Engaging Tenants in Sustainability Efforts

Author: cl@ss
Categories: Sustainable Living
Engaging Tenants in Sustainability Efforts

The property management world is going “green,” but it’s no longer just a marketable catchphrase. It’s an industry mandate. Responding to consumer demands drives the rental market to provide specific amenities and adjust rents accordingly. Answering the clarion call to sustainability is no different. Energy efficiency and sustainable building are cost-effective for investors and renters alike; so, it’s time to jump on the bandwagon and let tenants know we’re in this together. 

By engaging tenants in sustainability efforts, you will encourage tenant loyalty and make your property more attractive to prospective tenants searching for environmentally friendly living spaces. 

Energy efficiency boasts immediate cost-savings

Eco-friendly choices like LED lighting and Energy Star appliances don’t require much electricity. That means lower utility bills for renters. Renters who know how much money they’ll save on energy costs with upgraded insulation or windows are more likely to support sustainability efforts when their homes become temporary construction zones. Use one of the government’s handy energy calculators to let residents know how much money they can expect to save. 

Informing your tenants about potential savings will help with engaging tenants in conversations that could lead to attracting other tenants so you can get and maintain maximum occupancy rates. 

Technology is key for green marketing

Communicating with residents through technology channels is a great way to educate them about sustainability initiatives. Engaging tenants via social media, resident portal webcasts, or even simple text messages is a great way to keep them connected and informed. For the more results-oriented clientele, smartphones equipped with thermostat-control apps allow them to monitor energy savings and will help them buy into eco-friendly community upgrades.

Build community with sustainability initiatives

Encourage residents to learn more about and use the apps and digital environmental tools that support your property’s sustainability goals. A curbside recycling program, community composting, or even an electric vehicle charging station shows management’s dedication to eco-friendly initiatives. Regular communication from management and within the community will keep renters engaged.

Class A Management: Engaging tenants for decades

It always helps to have a property management team in your corner who knows how to build sustainable initiatives and communicates them to your tenants. With over three decades of experience, our professional asset managers are at-the-ready to assess your property and give you the information you need to make decisions about creating a more sustainable community. 

Contact our team today to learn how you can better manage your investment property to create lasting tenant loyalty. 

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Use Tenant Search Efforts to Scout Great New Hires

Author: cl@ss
Categories: Property Management Tips
Use Tenant Search Efforts to Scout Great New Hires

It’s been said that the most expensive aspect of multifamily investing is replacing tenants, but that’s only half true. Any employer can tell you that replacing professional staff members can be just as costly— to your bottom line and business reputation.

Finding long-term tenants and building their loyalty to your community’s brand is important, and it’s just as important to do the same when hiring leasing and maintenance team members. Especially among Millennials, finding a job that offers purpose and identity is essential. Productivity suffers as much as 60 percent among employees that aren’t engaged, so scout your new hires like you would great tenants—recruit for the long-term.

Start with your brand

Every community has unique selling points. Find yours and build your branding effort around what makes your rentals feel like home. Build your tenants’ sense of community with a cohesive marketing effort that includes external and internal messaging. Hiring should be a natural extension of those external messages and should emphasize that working for you means becoming an essential member of your community’s family.

Follow industry best-practice leaders

The best in the business focus on building a pervasive and inescapable corporate culture of excellence. Just like great long-term tenants get extra perks at the best apartment communities, employees that embody the highest levels of customer service and professionalism are rewarded. Upper management and owners need to get boots on the ground and be seen setting the example for how employees, especially new hires, are expected to act. Personal attention to top-notch employees will have a huge influence on culture and overall job satisfaction, so put in some face time with your best hires.

Ask for feedback

Annual tenant surveys can help apartment managers spot gaps in customer service and maintenance, and annual employee surveys can highlight threats to morale and culture. How employees feel about their work environment directly affects their loyalty and job satisfaction. Take feedback and suggestions seriously, and implement changes that let your staff know you’re listening and that you value their hard work and dedication.

Need a recruiter to find new hires? 

It’s our specialty! Class A Management will help you build and maintain a culture that builds loyalty and recruit staff to meet and surpass your expectations. Our team has decades of experience providing comprehensive management services for many properties across Texas. Contact us to discuss your investment property staffing needs. 

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Carbon Monoxide and the Device That Could Save Renters’ Lives

Author: cl@ss
Categories: Preventive Maintenance Tips
Carbon Monoxide detector

As responsible landlords, it is our duty to prioritize the well-being and safety of our tenants. One crucial aspect of tenant safety that often goes overlooked is the presence of carbon monoxide in rental properties. In this article, we explore the significance of carbon monoxide monitoring and provide valuable insights into how landlords can protect their tenants from this silent, yet deadly threat.

Understanding Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can be emitted from various sources commonly found in homes. These sources can include gas appliances, heating systems, fireplaces, and even automobiles. Being aware of the potential dangers associated with carbon monoxide is the first step toward safeguarding your tenants’ lives.

The Risks Posed by Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide poisoning can have severe consequences, ranging from flu-like symptoms to unconsciousness and even death. Given that it is virtually impossible to detect without proper equipment, it is imperative that landlords take proactive measures to prevent exposure and protect their tenants.

Installing Carbon Monoxide Detectors

These devices are designed to alert occupants when carbon monoxide levels reach dangerous thresholds, allowing them to take immediate action and evacuate if necessary. Landlords should place detectors in strategic locations throughout the property, particularly near potential sources of carbon monoxide.

Regular Maintenance and Inspections

Maintaining a safe living environment goes beyond simply installing detectors. Regular maintenance and inspections of gas appliances, heating systems, chimneys, and ventilation systems are necessary. By scheduling periodic checks, landlords can identify and address potential issues promptly, reducing the risk of carbon monoxide leaks.

Educating Tenants on Carbon Monoxide Safety

While it is the responsibility of the landlord to provide a safe living environment, educating tenants about carbon monoxide safety is equally important. Consider sharing informational materials or hosting brief sessions to raise tenant awareness. Encourage them to report any unusual symptoms or concerns as soon as they are detected.

By prioritizing carbon monoxide monitoring and taking proactive steps to mitigate the risks, landlords can create a safer environment for tenants. Remember, protecting lives is our primary objective as responsible landlords. By addressing the threat of carbon monoxide, we can help ensure the well-being and peace of mind of everyone residing in our rental properties.

Need some help managing the day-to-day operations like this? Lean on our team of experts. Contact us today by calling 817-295-5959.

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How Online Videos Can Increase Occupancy Rate

Author: cl@ss
Categories: Property Marketing
How Online Videos Can Increase Occupancy Rate

Rental property video tours are highly undervalued. In reality, they’re the workhorse of around-the-clock marketing plans that can create buzz about your property and make it the hottest place to live in your town, boosting your occupancy rate. 

Don’t have any videos of your property doing all the work for you? Here are three reasons why that’s a mistake.

1. Visual appeal

A bulleted list of amenities can appeal to some rental property shoppers, but a video tour or simple slide show is far more persuasive. If a picture is worth a thousand words, a video adds much more value to someone who can see inside their new home.

2. Timely

Prospective tenants can get much more information from a three-minute video tour than by reading through a lengthy list of amenities. Their eyes can see details that your words might not describe as well, and it’s a quick way to give them all the information they need about your property while respecting the value of their time.

3. Searchable

Search engines love videos. If you’re not using video tours of your properties, you’re missing out on a lot of exposure. Link to your videos from articles, social media posts, and a YouTube channel to cast the widest possible net for new renters. It’s important to promote your videos properly to maximize your audience.

Videos are popular online because they’re engaging and convey a lot of information. They’re a real estate sales tool that works just the same for rental properties. If your property’s video shows up near the top perspective tenant searches, that keeps your property top-of-mind and occupancy rates high.

Boost  your occupancy rate with Class A Management

Creating visually appealing images and videos to promote your investment property is essential to attracting tenants. Class A Management can help you create videos and other marketing tools to attract tenants, then provide excellent property management services to keep them. 

Learn more about our comprehensive services. 

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1904 Thousand Oaks Drive, Burleson, TX 76028 Mon-Fri: 9 to 5 817-295-5959 info@classamgmt.com

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