BDF Realty’s Blog

Handyman: I was over working on your property and your tenant seemed to be really happy. Owner: You would be too if you were living rent-free. When tenants don’t pay, it is not good for anyone. Inevitably, things get put in motion. The owner gets upset and wants to know why they haven’t gotten their money. The property manager is spurred to issue threats to lower the hammer on non-payers. The...

“Charlotte Property Management Weekly: Talking To Your Tenant Will Cost You Money” New Article! #BDFRealty http://wp.me/pxPmI-6b ^BF

“Talk is Cheap.” (Keith Richards) “Talk can be expensive!” (Property Manager) There are “hands-off” owner clients. And then there are the “hands-on” varieties. The “hands off” clients just want to know the rent money is in their account on the day they expect. If there are repairs that are going to cost them money, they want to know that too. They just want the bare bone facts with no fluff....

bdfrealty.wordpress.com: Charlotte Property Management Weekly: When Tenants Want Out, Let Them Go: 3 Tips http://wp.me/pxPmI-66 ^BF

“Let my people go.” (Moses to Pharaoh) Happiness. Everybody wants it. That goes for tenants, property managers, puppies, you name it. To accomplish it, sometimes a change of scenery is necessary. I mean, you want to go where everybody knows your name. And they’re always glad you came. Right? Occasionally, we have tenants who are not happy with their home. They want to break their lease and...

“You want me to lock into a price today on a house that could be worth $30K less in two years? You’re crazy!” (Potential rent-to-own tenant) Human nature is a funny thing. There is a herd mentality that seems to be so tough to break. If everyone is buying, then it is the time to buy. When everyone is selling, it is time to sell. When everyone is doing nothing, it is time to do nothing. And so...

“You know you have a good compromise when both sides are slightly unhappy.” (Many Authors Credited) As a Charlotte property manager, my least favorite part of the job are the end-of-lease walk-throughs; that is, when the tenant moves out, and we visit the property to check out its condition. If there are damages, we need to decide whether they are “normal wear and tear” (no charge to the...

As a Charlotte-area property manager, we get contacted (usually via e-mail) by prospective tenants asking us if the owner is willing to accept less than the listed rental rate. This question gets asked before the tenant even looks at the rental home. I guess with the “new normal”, Group-On world we are living in, some might assume that consumers are not willing to look at something that isn’t...

“There are only two directions; you’re either growing or you’re dying. There ain’t no third direction.” (Tommy Callaghan, Sr. in “Tommy Boy”) Business is a funny thing; one is never allowed to be satisfied. If you start a company, grow it, and begin to cash flow it, then that’s good, right? Isn’t that the idea? I thought it was, at least. However, it really isn’t if you read the news, watch...

Question from client: “How long will it take for you to fill my home with a tenant?” Answer from property manager: “It should be in the next month or two, but I obviously can’t guarantee that.” Comment from client: “Okay, I completely understand. I wouldn’t want you to speculate about the result of an action that you do for a living and your company has executed repeatedly well for the past...