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.