How a Good Property Management Company Earns its Fees

A good South Bay property management company wants clients to feel that their fees are well-deserved. When Fred Leeds Property Management commits to a client, they ensure that all their management needs are met and that their investment property is protected and maintained to the fullest extent. Below are some guidelines for what to look for when looking for the best property managers—all traits we strive to possess.

Fast response time. There are multiple reasons why it’s important for a South Bay property management company to have fast response time. To keep tenants happy and ultimately maintain retention, requests and issues must be responded to and resolved as fast as possible. When someone’s living situation is problematic, they expect any issues to be rectified immediately so that comfort and safety are not compromised. At Fred Leeds properties, our goal is to respond and handle tenant issues as soon as they arise.

Another reason response time is crucial is that when units are vacant, leads must be answered as quickly as possible or else the potential tenant will pursue the next listing. By quickly responding to leads, answering questions, scheduling viewing appointments and vetting applications, the Fred Leeds Property Management staff makes it possible to find the quality tenants with potential for long term. Fast response to issues of late rent payments is also key.

Flexibility. Sometimes a property manager will be forced to engage in uncomfortable interactions with tenants. Good managers like those at Fred Leeds properties know that empathy and compassion go a long way. While it’s necessary to protect the landlord’s interests first and foremost, seasoned managers can show understanding to the tenants to help diffuse incendiary situations.

Screening experience. Landlords will benefit from the extensive screening procedures and experience the staff at Fred Leeds Property Management offers. By implementing strict screening procedures, performing market analysis, and offering impeccable statement accounting, owners can rest assured that their property is well-managed.

Brief Summary Of Fred Leeds Properties

Those men and women who are searching for a nice complex to live in might want to check out Fred Leeds properties. They can visit the property in person or check out the specifics online. Either way, they should like what they see and can report back to their families.

Most people can get a glimpse of certain characteristics of a property by looking at photographs online. This should help them get a feel for the process, and they may even find something at this preliminary stage that looks very intriguing.

Safety and security will clearly be important to most people. Families will want to live in a complex with low crime and with residents who care for each other. This will be especially crucial to families with younger children running around. They will want to know that the kids can play outside a bit without being in danger.

One of the best parts of living in one of Fred Leed's apartment complexes is the opportunity to become friends with people who live nearby. Knocking on some doors and starting some conversations is an excellent way to do this. In some instances, friends are made for life.

Location is what makes the world go round in many cases, and this is no different with rental property. Most men and women will want to live near to their places of employment if at all possible. For some families, this will play a major role in where they end up residing.
Ultimately, those people who are interested in looking into Fred Leeds properties have a number of ways to obtain good information. They can visit the places in person and ask staff members some informal questions. They might also do some research online, which should yield some solid answers.

If you’re trying to find a great building management firm in metro Los Angeles, then check out the Fred Leeds property management firm. Through their three decades of expertise in commercial and residential property management along with accreditation by the BBB you can be sure that your real estate assets is run according to professional criteria.

What Fred Leeds Property Management does for Landlords

There are many aspects of managing property that new landlords are unaware of. Let’s start with something that Fred Leeds Property Management does best—cultivating and managing long-term tenant relationships. This requires much more than collecting and depositing rent checks—even with the best tenants.

There’s a delicate balance when it comes to issues being solved, regardless of whether it’s the landlord’s or tenant’s responsibility. It’s important to have the perfect mix of directness tempered with good rapport and politeness. At Fred Leeds properties, we’ve mastered that balance, which helps us to keep both tenants and landlords happy as much as possible.

Professionals like the team at Fred Leeds properties are on call for emergencies and maintenance issues, 24 hours a day, every day. You never know when a situation will arise, so it’s best to always be prepared for issues that compromise the household’s safety and comfort. Our specialized team of contractors will solve the issue if we are unable to in-house.

Landlords often don’t realize that their life must be put on hold whenever tenant emergencies arise—this is exactly why you want the best South Bay property management company on your side. Whether you’re in the middle of an important business meeting or spending time with your family or loved ones, knowing that Fred Leeds Property Management is managing your rental units will give you unparalleled peace of mind.

More Tips for New Landlords

A major element that new landlords don’t realize or factor in when they plan their investment is the time commitment required to manage a building or property. At a minimum, new landlords should plan on spending 15 hours per month on whatever issues come up—and that’s not including any emergency situations. With a stellar company like Fred Leeds Property Management in your corner, you know that your investment will get way more than that minimum amount of attention.

If you have a full-time job, a family or other obligations, the type of duties that come along with property ownership can be daunting. The burden of the additional to-do list can cause lots of unnecessary stress—this is exactly why so many landlords employ Fred Leeds properties to lighten their load. If you’re a one-man show and would be managing your property yourself, it can easily be too much to handle, especially if you plan to have a personal life.

There’s also a significant learning curve for first-time property owners. Professional property managers like Fred Leeds properties have a team that specializes in tenant issues, legalities and compliance, in an effective and efficient manner. It’s all about the bottom line—if your full-time job will be managing your property, than it’s possible you don’t need to hire a South Bay property management company to take care of your beach cities investment. However, most rental properties are a side investment, and if you need to spend 15 hours a month or more, this can seriously detract from the return on your investment. Instead, for a small percentage of your rental income, you can hire professionals like Fred Leeds Property Management to handle the hassles and responsibilities associated with rentals. Now that’s protecting your investment!

What new landlords don’t know

Often times, when a new property owner plans to rent their units, they think it will impact their bottom line too much. Wrong! Hiring a company like Fred Leeds Property Management will not only save you time and hassle, it will ultimately make your bottom line greater than you imagines. The next time you consider managing your own properties rather than hiring a South Bay property management company, remember a few key things.

Thorough legal knowledge is necessary
If you don’t have a real estate background, the intricacies of housing laws and regulations can be overwhelming—unless, of course, you’re working with Fred Leeds properties. Property management is hardly limited to finding tenants and collecting rent. There are myriad compliance issues with Fair Housing Laws, as well as the need to protect your rights and handle messy situations like evictions and late rent. Plus, these laws are always changing, which requires landowners to constantly stay abreast. When you work with Fred Leeds Property Management, we ensure that all compliance issues are met and that your rights are protected.

Tenant screenings are not easy or straightforward
Finding quality tenants is critical to your success as a landlord. When a tenant doesn’t take care of your property or damages it, this can cost you money and hassle in the long run. When you work with Fred Leeds properties, we make sure to perform thorough background checks on potential tenants, and interpret the results using our years of experience.

Tips for Choosing the Best South Bay Property Management Company

You may have some properties that you rent out but yet you do not have enough time to manage them. This can be very frustrating as you will not be able to satisfy the needs of people staying ion your houses making you lose them and rent. It is advisable to get the services of a property management company to help you ease your work.

The first and very important tips when looking for a good company is finding out how much knowledge and experience they have in the local market. This will enable you to know if the firm really understands the local needs of tenants and if they have the ability to maintain the competitiveness of your properties.

Have an appointment with staff from the firm before signing any deal. During the appointment the company should be able to give you personalized information on how they are going to improve your income from your houses. The appointment will also help improve you relation with the company.

Ask the company for at least three references. Call up these clients of the company or visit them in person to get their view on the services the firm is offering. Be sure you get to know of the weaknesses and strengths of the company from them.

Many companies always want to keep the money collected in their accounts for long. This is because they want to use the money for other business. The agreement should be that the money be sent to your account as soon the rents are paid.

Does the company you go for have good relation with tenants? A good company is one that has good relation to tenants meaning you do not spend much on re-letting fees Make sure that the company is caring towards the tenants.

The last point that a house owner should consider before settling down wit a certain property management company is the amount of fees they charge. The fees should be cheap and yet with quality services.

Are you seeking out a highly-rated real estate management business around metro LA? Take a look at Fred Leeds Properties. They recently received an “A” review in the LA Better Business Bureau! Having 30+ years of practice in residential and commercial property, you can trust the knowledge and integrity they provide when serving both clients and tenants.

Demand for rentals rises as home ownership declines

As the housing market crashed, many people have shifted to rental situations—resulting in an increase in business for Fred Leeds properties. As this demand grows, we’re increasing the breadth and depth of our services, while maintaining the quality services we’re renowned for.

At Fred Leeds Property Management, we make sure that our property owner has peace of mind and that our tenants are just as happy. As consumers shift from investing in the housing market to renting properties, we’re further refining our skills and abilities, so we can provide the premier services of a South Bay property management company.

When you work with Fred Leeds properties, you can count on your properties being maintained to the fullest, and that you’re protected and taken care of. Here are some things you should look for when hiring an organization to manage your rentals—and what Fred Leeds Property Management strives to provide each of its clients.

1) Strong organizational and administrative systems

2) Thorough tenant screening and background checks

3) A professional, experienced staff

4) Comprehensive knowledge of all compliance issues

5) Goals to continuously improve business practices and increase profit

Building a Solid Network of General Contractors for Your Property

The team at Fred Leeds Property Management knows that whether a repair is big or small, having a solid network of trusted contractors is key to keeping tenants and landlords happy. It will lessen the stress that a South Bay property management company will suffer when urgent issues arise and ensures that pricing is honest and efficient. At Fred Leeds properties, we maintain a reliable network so that we can easily access the most cost-effective person for the job, as well as priority treatment, which can be very handy when a serious issues occurs.

Any good South Bay property management company should have list of specialists for issues like plumbing, electricity and heat, as well as a general handyman. At Fred Leeds properties, we also take the property amenities into consideration when building our networks, so that we have contractors who specialize in maintenance and repairs for swimming pools, fitness facilities and laundry equipment, among others.

To build this network, the staff at Fred Leeds Property Management checks into the contractor’s references, track records with other clients and also compares pricing. We learn about each specialist we work with, testing their knowledge and reliability, while getting to know them as individuals. Most importantly, we don’t get too comfortable—we always check their work!

A Good Network of Contractors is the Secret to Great Fred Leeds Property Management Services

A good South Bay property management company like Fred Leeds properties knows how to make the best of their contractor relationships. Having a solid group of contractors to work with who are reliable and good at their job is one of the keys to the success of Fred Leeds Property Management.

While every South Bay property management company isn’t expected to know how to handle the gamut of repair and maintenance issues, they are expected to have a contact that can provide a solution. You want to be certain that your tenants are happy and issue-free, so if you want to earn their loyalty and continued business, it’s crucial to get problems solved quickly and efficiently. Having a good network of contractors like we do at Fred Leeds properties will enable you to do that.

At Fred Leeds Property Management, we also know that one of the easiest ways to save money in the long run is to solve issues and fix problems as soon as they arise. For example, if you put off fixing a broken window, unsafe conditions may occur and result in an injury. One leaky pipe in an upstairs apartment can cause an entirely water-damaged dwelling below.

Property Management Red Flags

If you are not working with a property management company like Fred Leeds properties, chances are they may not be up to par. Here are some red flags to look for when working with another South Bay property management company.

High turn-over.
While it’s normal for staff to move on for reasons both personal and professional, if there is a high amount of turnover of either tenants or staff, then it’s definitely time to consider changing to a company like Fred Leeds Property Management. Too many changes in staff indicates problems with the company’s business practices and management techniques. We believe in keeping both our tenants and staff happy so that turnover is minimal.

Non-compliance.
Companies like Fred Leeds Properties make it a point to attend seminars and keep up to date on all changes in laws and other compliance issues that could affect landlords and their property. Make sure that your South Bay property management company does the same—the laws change all the time so it can be very easy to unknowingly fall out of compliance.

Outdated organizational systems
Fred Leeds Property Management ensures that all of our organizational systems are accurate and efficient. There should be strong systems in place for every area of the business, from accounting and tracking rent payments to a database of maintenance requests, vendors, etc. If your property manager is on point in these areas, then your worries will be minimal.

Is it time for you to switch property managers?

We’ve recently had an influx of new customers at Fred Leeds Property Management and have listened thoroughly to their reasons for changing property managers. Here are some red flags to look for that may give you a sign that it’s time to switch to a new South Bay Property Management like Fred Leeds Properties.

Lack of referrals

A good property management company should be expanding its network of referrals every year that it’s in business. If it doesn’t seem like your property manager is doing so, this means that existing tenants and clients aren’t confident enough in their services to make referrals. If this is the case, it may definitely be time to switch to Fred Leeds Properties.

Sporadic maintenance

Regular maintenance and timely repairs keeps the appeal of your property up and attractive to potential tenants, while keeping current tenants happy. Your South Bay property management company should have a comprehensive maintenance checklist and schedule that they adhere to.

Slow response time|

At Fred Leeds Property Management, we make it a point to respond to tenant issues and queries from potential tenants quickly and efficiently. We know that it’s in our client’s best interest to maintain prompt tenant communications and not miss out on new renters.

What Makes a Rental Property Unsafe?

At Fred Leeds properties, we know that it’s our job, as a representative of the landlord, to ensure that a rental property is maintained properly and in safe condition. Yet we know that it can be difficult for landlords or another South Bay property management company to determine what makes a property unsafe. The Fred Leeds Property Management staff is privy to some information on the factors that are considered in deeming a property at risk.

Landlords must be careful of any conditions on the property that creates an unreasonable risk of harm. Once made aware, whether by a tenant, an asset manager like Fred Leeds Property Management or another South Bay property management company, the landlord must repair the condition as soon as possible or they may find themselves liable for any injuries that occur.

Conditions that may pose a risk of harm include holes in floors or sidewalks, broken or cut glass, lacks of handrails along staircases, and no locks for windows in second story apartments where a toddler resides.

An important factor to consider is that the landlord or management company must be made aware of the unsafe condition. This is why it’s so helpful to have a company like Fred Leeds properties managing your rental units. Not only will we monitor the properties ourselves, but will quickly handle the repair of any such conditions that are reported to us. This enables the property owner to avoid the headaches these unsafe conditions can cause if, for example, the landlord is away on a business trip or vacation.

Creative Lease Strategies

When summer ends, a South Bay property management company may find themselves with tenant turnover. Even in some of the most desirable areas, there can be properties that may be difficult to rent. At Fred Leeds Property Management, we strive to keep our vacancy time low, while some property owners employ creative strategies for leasing.

At Fred Leeds Properties, we’ve seen some property owners and competitors use aggressive marketing and incentive offers to move units that are hard to rent. We’ve seen another South Bay property management company and private landlords waive pro-rated rent for a mid-month or early move-in. Since the alternative is to have a vacant property during that entire time, being able to offer this as a bonus to an applicant may offer an advantage.

The staff at Fred Leeds Property Management has also seen landlords offer a reduced security deposit instead of reducing rent. Since most renters worry about all the up-front costs associated with moving, this makes the financial hit more manageable at a time when it counts. These situations are ideal for a company like Fred Leeds properties to manage for landlord.

South Bay Property Management: It’s All About the Amenities

Even as rental markets tighten, Fred Leeds Property Management is witnessing some fierce competition for good tenants. The trend we’ve seen from potential tenants who are looking at Fred Leeds Properties or those managed by another South Bay Property Management company are seeking amenities. Property owners and investors who want to attract a high-income demographic of tenants are starting to increase the amenities at their units.

Some of the common niceties we’ve noticed among the units that we handle at Fred Leeds Property Management include stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops, but now it seems that investors and even other South Bay Property Management companies are seeing the benefits of providing on-site gyms, Jacuzzis, nice communal spaces, as well as housekeeping services, dry cleaning and underground parking. Investors who are willing to make the investment in such upgrades will definitely reap long-term rewards. At Fred Leeds Properties, we understand that amenities translate to low tenant turnover, full building and even waiting lists.

Handling Repairs Like A Pro

Fred Leeds Property Management manages the ins and outs of making repairs to rental properties like no other—that’s what makes us the best South Bay property management company around. While it’s no surprise that managing repairs comes with the territory, many landlords may drop the ball when they receive repair requests from tenants. Sometimes it’s easy to forget the importance of expeditious repairs when it comes to keeping tenants happy. However, at Fred Leeds properties, we make it a priority to handle repairs effectively and efficiently, so that both tenant and landlord are satisfied.

When maintenance issues aren’t handled properly, this affects the quality of tenants the property attracts. Landlords sometimes forget that, no matter what, there may be electrical problems, broken appliances, plumbing leaks, and issues with water heaters, among others. If they are not handled in a timely manner, this can result in bad write-ups or reviews, the inability to attract tenants, and ultimately, tenants’ vacating the properties. This is exactly why having a company like Fred Leeds Property Management manage your rental units is so fundamental. While landlords would rather save their money and collect rent than spend it on repairs, they’re forgetting the big picture and that having an empty unit for several months or experiencing early turnover costs them significantly more than the repairs would.

Another mistake that may come up if you don’t have a company like Fred Leeds properties managing your rentals, is allowing tenants to make their own repairs. While it may seem to save money at the time, it actually can end up costing way more if the tenant makes a mistake or hurts themselves in the process. No one wants a big, nasty lawsuit if that can be avoided. Only a best in the South Bay property management company will eliminate that potential liability and all the ancillary headaches for the property owner at the least amount of expense.

For more information, please visit www.FredLeedsProperties.com.

Making All Our Customers Happy

Fred Leeds Property Management works harder than any South Bay property management company to ensure that both tenants and landlords are happy. It’s a fine line sometimes, as it’s almost as though there are two customers—and the customer is always right… right?

What we do at Fred Leeds Properties is make sure that we provide the best, most attentive customer service possible. While there can’t always be two customers in a situation that are right, what we can do at Fred Leeds Property Management is make sure that everyone is happy.

We’ve kept our reputation as the best South Bay property management company by carefully following our time-tested strategy: 1) We carefully and sympathetically listen to our tenant’s concerns and issues. 2) We straightforwardly explain that while we may agree with some points there are reasons why the issues can’t be resolved in the exact manner that they’d like. 3) We then determine a way to meet the tenant halfway, in a manner that the landlord approves of.

What we’ve seen with Fred Leeds properties is that tenants are satisfied and happy when they feel like their needs and concerns are being listened and attended to. A compromise is always exacted and everyone feels valued and is, therefore, still happy.

Visit http://www.fredleedsproperties.com/.

Property Management and Pets

Every property manager, including those at Fred Leeds properties, at one point must make the decision to allow or prohibit pets. While many landlords do not want to allow them for fear of property damage, others think it’s a bad idea to prohibit them, because tenants will most likely have them anyway. Luckily, many pet owners are very responsible and will disclose their animal count and typically be very careful to prevent damage.

However, an issue beyond property damage that landlords and owners need to carefully consider is the possibility of dangerous pets. The staff at Fred Leeds Property Management works to stay abreast on this issue, and does everything possible to protect clients from the potential liability caused by dog attacks. Many South Bay property management companies enforce strict policies regarding vicious animals, as insurance companies tend to decline coverage for such pets. Some of the types of dogs that may be considered dangerous include: Alaskan Malamutes, Akitas, Chow Chows, Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds, Pit Bulls, Rottweilers and Siberian Huskies.

At Fred Leeds Property Management, we will help the landlord devise their policy by providing up-to-date information and statistics on dog attacks. When there is the potential of a life-threatening or fatal attack, this type of policy is a serious matter that must be carefully considered.

To browse listings of Fred Leeds properties or to learn more about the premier South Bay property management company, visit www.FredLeedsProperties.com.

Managing Tenant Issues: Electrical Problems

There are a myriad of tenant issues to resolve, which is why it’s so much easier to have a property management company like Fred Leeds Property Management on board to handle them when they arise. A tricky set of issues that every South Bay property management company is familiar with is electrical problems.

Maintaining rental units and housing complexes requires staff to regularly check the premises for loose and short-circuited wires to ensure that they are not stepped on, which can be a very dangerous situation and cause injury. The staff at Fred Leeds properties ensures that such situations are rectified immediately by installing signage to warn individuals to stay away from the dangerous wires and hiring an electrician to fix them as soon as possible.

Power outages are another common occurrence among rental units that can prove to be very irritating and inconvenient to tenants, which is an integral reason for providing immediate assistance through a company like Fred Leeds Property Management. Plus, it’s something landlords really don’t want to be bothered with, as they can happen at odd hours and in the middle of the night. Having the staff of a premier South Bay property management company like Fred Leeds Properties ensures that prompt service is offered to your tenants. People can get stuck in elevators, suffer from security issues or be significantly inconvenienced when working from their home office.

Browse our current listings of Fred Leeds Properties and learn about the best South Bay property management company at www.FredLeedsProperties.com.

Keeping Your Unit From Going Down the Drain

Plumbing is a key factor in keeping your premises clean and hygienic. Having a South Bay property management company like Fred Leeds Property Management handle plumbing issues eliminates significant headaches for a landlord while helping to maintain a professional image for your rental units.

Handling the maintenance of plumbing in rental units not only involves negotiating and managing payments, but also requires administrative work to ensure smooth relations with tenants. The staff at Fred Leeds properties are experts at dealing with the plumbing issues—since they are typically pretty urgent situations, our staff will quickly identify whether a situation will require specialized assistance from a professional.

While the professionals at Fred Leeds Property Management are well-versed in educating others on proper plumbing “etiquette,” such as what should and should not be flushed down the toilet, etc., they’re also skilled at determining the urgency of a situation. When larger problems arise, such as pipeline leakages and other issues that can potentially become costly, these will be handled safely and efficiently.

To view listings of Fred Leeds Properties or to learn more about the best South Bay property management company, visit www.FredLeedsProperties.com.

When Property Renovations are a Good Investment

At Fred Leeds Property Management, we’ve seen a lot of properties garner significant returns through property renovations, especially if when the owner plans to sell the property down the line. The key is to make sure that your home renovations add value to the property, without getting too extravagant.

Whether you’re involved with one of Fred Leeds properties or another property, keep the neighborhood  your unit is located in mind. You don’t want to exceed the ceiling of the area, because then it will take years and years to get your returns, if at all.  Certain upgrades are always a win-win, such as improvements to the kitchen, which tends to be the heart of a home, where families or couples gather to cook, eat and entertain. Installing new granite countertops, tile flooring or built-in appliances add instant value to your rental unit. At Fred Leeds Property Management, we’ve seen new appliances give a kitchen an entirely brand new feel. Bathroom remodeling can also be very key, yet very costly. Often times, simply replacing water fixtures and hardware will revitalize the bathroom.

Before you begin any major remodeling or renovation, fully assess your property’s value as well as the neighborhood that it’s located in. To browse listings of Fred Leeds properties, visit www.FredLeedsProperties.com.

Tenant Background Checks

There are so many elements to owning rental properties—it’s no wonder the services provided by companies like Fred Leeds Property Management are in high demand. In addition to worrying about collecting rental payments, there are concerns about damage occurring to your properties, as well as your tenant’s behavior and potential to be a liability. That’s why we recommend that, whether you’re or not you’re working with the team at one of Fred Leeds properties, you conduct criminal background checks on applicants before letting them move into your rental units.

A criminal background check will advise you of a potential tenant’s criminal convictions, including arson, battery, and other serious offenses, as well as minor criminal charges. Having this information allows you or your property manager to make well-informed choices regarding the tenants of your rental property.

Another important reason why the staff at Fred Leeds Property Management feels strongly about conducting criminal background checks is that it provides information regarding sex offenders that may apply to rent one of your units. While sex offenders are required to update their residences with governmental agencies in most states, they do not always abide by this law.

Keep in mind the importance of criminal background checks when deciding how to manage a property. To browse listings of Fred Leeds properties, visit www.FredLeedsProperties.com.

A Little Advice For Bed Bugs

A few of the staff at Fred Leeds Property Management have read some nightmare stories online about bed bugs—while they were not written by tenants of any Fred Leeds Properties, the staff at Fred Leeds Property Management want to share some tips for eliminating a bed bug problem.

Bedbugs are a rusty red color about the size of a lady bug. They live in the cracks and crevices in floors and walls, as well as folds and creases of mattresses, sofas, chairs and other soft furniture. They can actually dwell in a wide range of areas, from picture frames to electrical sockets—you simply cannot afford to leave anything unchecked.

The first sign of a bed bug problem usually is the appearance of bites—they can be very itchy and may appear in the form of a red rash or welts.  Be careful—scratching can lead to infection and may require a doctor’s visit and prescription. The best thing to do is to plan immediate treatment to eliminate the bed bug infestation.

To determine that you actually do have bed bugs, closely inspect your mattress and box spring, paying close attention to the areas around creases, folds, seam lines, buttons and handles. If your mattress or box spring has rips or holes in the fabric, you may want to consider buying a new one, as bed bugs will undoubtedly be living and breeding inside.

Often, the best treatment is to hire a professional to get rid of the infestation. Good housekeeping and general awareness is also essential in the prevention and detection of bed bug infestations, and in the preparation of treatment. Here are some tips for doing a heavy cleaning to help eliminate your problem:

1. Remove all infested bedding and coverings from soft furniture. Items that can be washed should be laundered at as high a temperature as possible. If you must throw them away, seal them in plastic bags to prevent the spread of bugs to other areas of the building.
 
2. Items which cannot be laundered can be put in a tumble dryer on a high setting for 10 minutes or more. Another option is to have them steam cleaned.
 
3. All furniture should be vacuumed inside and out to eliminate eggs and nymphs, which are very small and hard to spot. Use a steam cleaner to kill any remaining eggs or nymphs. Bed bugs cannot withstand heat above 450 degrees Celsius.
 
4. Clear out any cracks and crevices and seal them up for good! Vacuum thoroughly and then steam clean the carpeting. Make sure to seal and dispose of the vacuum bag.
 
5. Now apply your chosen treatment, whether it’s spray, fossil shell dust, bed bug traps—or the presence of a professional.

Visit www.FredLeedsProperties.com to browse through the current listings of Fred Leeds Properties.

The Personal Benefits of Hiring a Property Management Company

Hiring a management company like Fred Leeds Property Management to make decisions and deal with any issues that come up creates less stress in your life, and ultimately, leads to greater profit and increased value to your property.

Imagine being awakened in the middle of the night or at the crack of dawn due to an emergency phone call from a tenant. This can happen at other very inopportune times, such as the middle of an important business meeting, a special event or even a holiday. When you’re working with Fred Leeds properties, you won’t have to worry about that kind of headache, nor will you have to chase tenants who are late on rent.

Most importantly, when you work with a competent team like the staff at Fred Leeds Property Management, you won’t have to deal with evicting tenants who damage your property or break lease rules and policies. This results in the freedom to enjoy life, spend uninterrupted time with your family and take vacations whenever you want. You can be free from cancelling meetings because you have to go to your property for an emergency. Just knowing that the experienced staff at Fred Leeds properties are managing your properties will give you peace of mind.

Visit www.FredLeedsProperties.com to browse some of our listings and to learn more about Fred Leeds properties.

Emergency Preparedness

Emergencies can happen at any time. The staff at Fred Leeds Properties always has a plan so that they can mitigate damage and protect the safety of your tenants in case of an emergency.

In the event of a fire, earthquakes, flood or other unforeseen emergency, Fred Leeds Property Management makes sure that tenants are aware of how to evacuate the building, as well as what to do in the event they should remain in the building, such as when an earthquake occurs.

The staff at Fred Leeds Properties outlines what residents should do in case of emergency, and ensures that those actions can be taken in a smooth, efficient manner. We provide all tenants with pertinent emergency preparedness information upon move-in and if changes occur, Fred Leeds Property Management will update them in writing. Plans like this are integral to ensuring the safety of tenants, while reducing stress in situations that may cause anxiety. Landlords can be assured that we will do all we can to keep tenants and their property safe.

Visit www.FredLeedsProperties.com to browse current listings and learn more about Fred Leeds Property Management.

Simplifying The Eviction Process

Once in awhile, even among the best of Fred Leeds properties, there comes a situation where it is no longer in anyone’s best interest for a tenant to remain in a property. This results in the dreaded eviction process.

Often times, the tenant will leave without being evicted—unfortunately, this tends to be the case when a tenant owes back rent and can’t afford to pay it. They may leave without telling the property managers. When you have a company like Fred Leeds Property Management on your side, this type of situation can be less of a stressor for the landlord.

If a tenant owes you money, you usually need to find them to serve them with court papers. Fred Leeds Property management maintains stellar tenant records, which often become a great resource for finding places of employment and emergency contact information.

One great tip for finding a former tenant is to mail the tenant a letter (it can have nothing in it) after their mail stops being delivered. On the envelope, write “RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED.” If the former tenant has their mail forwarded, the post office will return your letter to you and provide you with the tenant’s new address. Then you can properly serve them.

Fred Leeds properties are very successful as property managers due to our ability to carefully prepare plans and execute them properly. Visit www.FredLeedsProperties.com to browse our listings and learn more about Fred Leeds Property Management.

Fred Leeds Properties

Working with a company like Fred Leeds Property Management makes renting much smoother for both landlords and tenants. It’s a great way to avoid any hassles when dealing with tenants and eliminates the stressors of handling repairs, routine maintenance and legal issues. The staff at Fred Leeds Property Management are well-trained and have extensive experience in managing a broad range of properties.

In addition to managing contractors and vendors, the staff at Fred Leeds properties screens prospective tenants, collects rent and arranges maintenance. They will be very motivated to find you reliable tenants who plant to rent for a long term, and will ensure the best possible transitions when there is turnover. They serve as your tenants’ point of contact in all matters. When a property is well-managed, like all of Fred Leeds properties, it provides the landlord can be worry-free while they are generating income.

Visit the Fred Leeds properties website at FredLeedsProperties.com to get more information and browse our listings.

Best Ways for Landlords to Handle Late Payments

When a tenant leaves prior to the end of their lease period, it can be some tricky navigation for the landlord. It’s such a relief to have a management company like Fred Leeds Property Management to handle these kinds of headaches for you. Our experienced staff has achieved very positive results for both tenants and landlords at Fred Leeds properties.

Depending on the length and terms of the lease, the process for handling these situations can vary. You never want to allow sympathy to cloud your judgment—the impact non-payment has on your business can be financially detrimental to you. It’s ideal to have a realistic plan for collection and dealing with delinquent accounts—in accordance with the law, of course. Set regular dates for when rent bills go out, a reminder or notice of late fees is sent, dates to call the tenant and when eviction procedures should commence. When you meet with Fred Leeds Property Management, we let you know exactly when those dates are and our plan of action for dealing with late payments or early lease termination.

If the tenant wants to make payments and catch up over time, set realistic payment dates and subsequent plans of action to ensure the plan’s success. Think of when you want the entire balance caught up and weigh the benefits of perhaps getting a new tenant versus letting the current tenant make payments.

Visit the Fred Leeds properties website at www.FredLeedsProperties.com to get more information and browse our listings.

Managing the Big Move-in Day

Moving day is always crazy—everything is happening at once, and you may be overwhelmed by all the last-minute details. Fred Leeds Property Management has seen many come and go, and we know that a little preparation and planning can make this day a piece of cake.

The Departure
Always plan to leave your old abode exactly how you would like to find your new one. Clean as much as you can before the big day, and then take a final walk-through before you leave. Whether you’re moving out of one of our Fred Leeds Properties or those of another South Bay property management group, your extra care will be much appreciated, and if you made a cleaning deposit, your wallet will benefit.

Confine Your Pets
The best thing you can do is have someone sit for your pets on the day of the move. If that is not possible, make sure to separate your pets into an area where they will not be in the way of the movers or have the opportunity to bark incessantly or alarm anyone.

Provide Refreshments
Setting out refreshments for yourself and the movers is a great way to add comfort and camaraderie to moving day. Set out water and snacks, or if it’s cold, hot chocolate and coffee. Order a few pizzas for lunch and everyone will love you—especially whichever friends you convinced to help you move.

Be considerate to both your old and new neighbors
At Fred Leeds Property Management, we’ve seen this a million times—the gigantic moving truck blocking a neighbor’s driveway. Make sure your moving truck doesn't block a neighbor's driveway! Try your best not to block the sidewalk with furniture and boxes and make sure the movers don't trek through your neighbors’ lawn or flowerbeds. It’s most considerate to move in the daytime, but not too early or too late. Make sure to throw your trash in the proper receptacle or take it to the local dump. If you need information as to the one closest to you, contact the staff at Fred Leeds Properties.

Why You Need Fred Leeds Property Management

Rentals are a great way to bring in money for a little bit of work. But one issue that may come up is not knowing about how to take care of them all at once. That is when people ought to know the reasons for the Fred Leeds property management. A few of the reasons to have this is it helps manage the property right, they can track all the problems the land has, they could have the regular maintenance scheduled, and they make sure the owner gets his checks each month.

Tracking the land properly can be difficult at times for some people. However, with these programs, it is simple to have the results that they want to because they will have another company taking care of the managing aspect.

Issues that arise with the rentals can be difficult to track at times. However, with the programs they can easily track these issues and determine what the root cause of all the problems really is.

Maintenance that needs to be done on a regular basis could be difficult to figure out at times. That should be when people need to know that they can use these programs to schedule all of that for them.

Getting the checks each month can be difficult at times. With these programs and companies, though, it will be easy to know that they get the check because without that they do not get paid either.

Being able to own multiple properties is something that many people can enjoy using. That is when people ought to be aware of the need to utilize the Fred Leeds property management programs. Once they know this will help them manage the rental, they could track all the issues a piece has, the program could ensure all maintenance is completed, and the programs may assist them in getting paid it will be easy to see why they should be used.

Are you seeking out a highly-rated real estate management business around metro LA? Then pay a visit to Fred Leeds Property Management. They have an "A" review in the LA Better Business Bureau! Having 30+ years of experience in managing all types of real estate, you can trust the knowledge and integrity they provide while servicing their clients and residents.

Fred Leeds Tips for Moving Day

Fred Leeds Property Management is happy to offer some tips for making the day of the move more bearable and even pleasant, whether you’re moving into one of our Fred Leeds Properties or not.


Make sure to not leave your old house or apartment until the movers are completely finished loading the truck and on their way to your new home. Make sure to sign the bill of lading before venturing to your new location, which we hope is one of our Fred Leeds Properties.

Little things can make a big difference—have fresh coffee waiting for the movers when they arrive and perhaps order pizza for lunch. This will help them warm up to you and help make it a more fun day for everyone. Also, keep bottled water in everyone’s reach so you can all stay hydrated.

Make sure that you or someone in your family is available for open communication and to answer any questions about any of the items to be moved. Let them know if you feel uncomfortable about an issue, but don’t micromanage.

Transport your high value items like paperwork (deeds and legal documents), family photos and scrapbooks, and jewelry yourself. This will give you a sense of ease about these items and ensure that you are less likely to micromanage the movers.

These simple tips from Fred Leeds Property Management may seem like common sense, but they are great ways to make the move less stressful and more enjoyable. Visit our website to browse our Fred Leeds current listings!

Fred Leeds Properties Tenant Testimonials

October 6, 2010

Debra Guerrero

Fred Leeds Property Management

1900 S. Sepulveda Suite 212

Los Angeles, CA 90025

Cell: (310) 403-0672        

Office: (310) 405-7644

Dguerrero@FLAGPropertyManagement.com

Dear Debra,

Thank you very much for your hard work, commitment and energy you put into managing my properties on Buckingham and Santo Tomas.  I sincerely appreciate your handling of all the situations that arise at the properties and I am certain they are in great hands!

You have been very helpful in helping me locate a carpet cleaner, a painter and a gardener.  It would have been a very difficult and time-consuming endeavor if not for you so I am very pleased to have you as a partner and I thank you.

I look forward to our continued partnership and friendship as we move forward into the 21^st Century and Digital Age.  Keep up the fantastic work at Fred Leeds!

Best regards and God Bless,

Fred D. Parrott, MD

Founder/Director

“Real Men Cook” Foundation

Obesity Prevention Initiative (OPI) Program

How to avoiding moving scams

Being scammed by a rogue mover is a horrible experience and a terrible way to start your journey at a new home. Fred Leeds Property Management is happy to offer you tips to protect yourself from such a disaster.

What we’re referring to when we talk about moving scams is when a moving company or individual deceives you with the intent to steal your belongings. At Fred Leeds Properties, we’ve heard all sorts of stories, from people’s belongings  being locked into the moving truck and held hostage until a “fee” is paid, deceptive original estimates, movers taking significantly longer than quoted and charging extra fees.

The most common way for these types of people to find you is on the internet. They create a website or work with a lead generation site that garners personal information in exchange for a free quote. Once they have your information, they will contact you with an estimate that is extremely low in order to entice you.

While rogue movers are unlicensed and uninsured, some scammers may be licensed, insured, and work under a legitimate name. The best thing to do is thoroughly research the moving company before hiring them.

Here are a few tips from Fred Leeds Property Management:

• Compare pricing from multiple moving companies. Steer clear when an estimate seems ridiculously low.
• Ask to see proof of proper licensing and insurance.
• Check the Better Business Bureau for reports or complaints.
• Ask for references from past customers and actually contact them.

Fred Leeds Properties wishes you the best of luck with your move! Browse www.FredLeedsProperties.com to see our current listings.