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.