Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Friday, November 6, 2015
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Cape-Fort Myers has highest rent spike in America
The average rent for a single-family home in the Cape Coral-Fort Myers area spiked 23.6 percent in the past year, according to data released by RentRange, making it No. 1 in the country.
In a separate report, ALN Apartment News released statistics recently showing that for apartment complexes with 100 units or more, the median rent in this area increased 14.6 percent to $1,099 while occupancy increased 0.6 percent to 96.6 percent.
Ranked third on the RentRange list for single-family homes was Sarasota, up 17.6 percent.
California and Florida dominated the list, with seven of the top 10.
In Cape Coral-Fort Myers, the average single-family rent for the third quarter of 201 was $1,540.27, up from $1,246.50 a year earlier.
Randy Thibaut, owner of Fort Myers-based Land Solutions real estate brokerage, said that “You’re seeing this happening because there was a lot of inventory of homes bought by investors who bought to rehab and later sell. It was further compounded by REIT’s that bought portfolio of homes.”
As a result, he said, “The price of a new home has gone up 30 to 50 percent in the last 24 months and priced a lot of people outside the market. I don’t know when it’s going to stop.”
The RentRange data shows that cities in the South and West generally had the greatest increases in home rental rates, while cities in the Midwest and Northeast experienced smaller increases.
But that doesn’t mean Southwest Florida is a landlord’s paradise - markets in the Midwest and the central U.S. often generated higher yields than many markets in California and Florida.
"While, not surprisingly, California and Florida are experiencing the largest rental rate increases, further analysis reveals that markets in Alabama, Texas, Kansas and Ohio actually produce a much higher average yield," RentRange CEO Walter Charnoff said in a written release Monday.
Connect with this reporter: @DickHogan (Twitter) or email dhogan@news-press.com
Friday, October 16, 2015
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Saturday, September 26, 2015
Saturday, September 19, 2015
20 Top Traits of Successful Property Managers
Over the past 23 years we have been able to observe many property managers. Some come and go, some are great, and some are… well, we won’t say here. The very top property managers, whether they work in multi-family or manage single family homes, all seem to exhibit some common traits. Ask yourself if you possess these traits, and if not, why. Many of these traits develop over time, some faster than others. In property management and life in general, there are basically two ways to learn. You can learn from your own mistakes, or learn from the mistakes of others. The latter way is preferable, a lot less painful and often way cheaper. How do you learn? Education and associations.
Soak up as much education as possible, and join your local apartment association or property management association. You best sources are to go straight to the National Association of Residential Property Managers (NARPM) www.narpm.org if you primarily manage single family homes, duplexes, tris and quads, or the Florida Apartment Association at www.faahq.org if you are in multi-family management. Once you get into these websites, you will find the contact information for the association that fits your needs. Until that time, here are some of the top traits we observe.
1. Top Property Managers continually get education.
2. Top Property Managers are cautious and paranoid.
3. Top Property Managers expect the best but are prepared for the worst.
4. Top Property Managers know when to deny an applicant and can spot the warning signs.
5. Top Property Managers can quickly and easily communicate with owners and residents.
6. Top Property Managers don’t rely on their memory.
7. Top Property Managers use checklists for all tasks from application to move-out.
8. Top Property Managers inspect regularly and proactively spot problems.
9. Top Property Managers embrace technology.
10. Top Property Managers abide by the “Golden Rule”.
11. Top Property Managers emotionally remove themselves from all situations and treat everything as a business.
12. Top Property Managers have complete control over the resident.
13. Top Property Managers have complete control over the property owner.
14. Top Property Managers refuse to manage below par properties.
15. Top Property Managers know when to “fold” and settle a matter to avoid litigation.
16. Top Property Managers get involved with their local property management council or committee.
17. Top Property Managers don’t just learn new ideas, they implement them.
18. Top Property Managers have a form or notice for almost everything.
19. Top Property Managers know that systems, policies, procedures and checklists are the key to success.
20. Top Property Managers call on more experienced property managers and their attorney when they are unsure of an action and always take advantage of free legal advice.
by Harry Heist, Attorney at Law
4020 Del Prado Blvd Unit B3 Cape Coral, FL 33904 | homeqwestrealty@gmail.com | O. 239.770.5429 www.homeqwest.com
HomeQwest Realty Group, LLC – SW Florida Homes and Houses for sale. Cape Coral Fl Homes and houses for rent or lease, SW Florida Land for sale, acreage and general Property Management and Real Estate Information
Friday, September 18, 2015
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Friday, September 4, 2015
What your email address says about you and your business.
What your email address says about you and your business.
For some, email is a means to an end. For others it’s their life
line for taking care of business. So when you sign up for an email address,
what does it say about you? Most people don’t seem to read into this but here's
the harsh truth: Whether you know it or not, some people judge you the moment
they see what comes after the "@" in your messages.
At the risk of flirting with internet snobbery, here is a
look at the place where ISPs and personalities meet.
@gmail: If you’re
using a gmail account this states that you are up-to-date with technology and
have decided to stick with the big boys. When technology changes you know that
Google will be right there with you, if not at the forefront. It’s free and
with Google chat, maps, calendar, drive, translator, voice and a great low rate
for extra cloud space, you’ve got all the tools you’ll need in one spot. Some
people don’t like the threaded email feature but once you figure out how it
works you’ll realize it makes sense to have a single conversation tied
together. Especially when you search through your archives to find that one
conversation you need again. You're most likely a Millennial (ages 18-34)/ Very
cool Generation Xer (35-49)
@yahoo: If you’re
using a gmail account this states you are somehow tied into an exterior Yahoo
product that will only work if you have a yahoo email account. Somewhat dated
but some people like the underdog role. Their interface is cluttered with pop
up and side ads and it’s very confusing to use it for business purposes. Yahoo
has a great web hosting package and software to boot but it requires a yahoo
email account to access them. Most people have Yahoo accounts, which they only
use as an address to provide on sites they expect to flood them with spam. You're
most likely a Generation Xer (35-49)
@mac/@icloud: Die
hard, die hard, and one more time for my friends in the back row, die
hard. You're a Mac'er for life.
Everything is right with the world when you're using an Apple product. You are
not part of the stuffy corporate structure. You kick back with your Vans and your
Mavi’s and glide through your work with ease and efficiency. All your gadgets
are synced. If you download a song (legally) on your cell, it's waiting for you
on your laptop/desktop. Same goes for any documents you work with. Computer
viruses you say? What's a virus? Virtually nonexistent in your luxurious world.
Oh look, there goes another unicorn. Aren't they so pretty? You are an
artist, a musician, a producer, a designer or an editor. Stay thirsty my
friends. You're most likely a Millennial
(ages 18-34)/ Very cool Generation Xer (35-49)
@hotmail: It was founded in 1996 as Hotmail and was
acquired by Microsoft in 1997 for an estimated $400 million and launched as MSN
Hotmail, later rebranded to Windows Live Hotmail. Now a days there’s nothing hot
about Hotmail. The word itself is pretentious. You probably work too much or completely
shut down when the word technology is uttered, or you too are pretentious. Hotmail is the 'Walking Dead' of email
addresses. It belongs in the email address graveyard with the likes of:
Excite.com, Lycos.com, usa.net, Netscape.net, Juno.com and Netzero.com. Demons be
gone! You're most definitely a Baby
Boomer (50+)/ Very fuddy duddy Generation Xer (35-49)
@outlook/@live:
Ah Microsoft. You are the horse before the car was introduced. You took us out
of the dark ages long ago and only lead in two categories today - WORD and
EXCEL. Your browser is a nightmare, your operating system, no matter which one
you pick, is like roller-skating with one wheel missing. If you’re using an
outlook/live email address, you were probably the king of your office back
in the day. Remember those days when MS-DOS and floppy disks were all the rage?
My how we laughed. Once again, if you’re using this format you’re most likely
tied into an external product that will only work if you use their dreaded
email service. Bummer. You're most
definitely a Baby Boomer (50+)/ Very fuddy duddy Generation Xer (35-49))
@comcast/@verizon: Okay.
You are getting very sleepy, only when I snap my finger will you awake. For
those of you that don't know, you need to know. Using an email address from any
cable or cell phone provider is not a good idea at all. Not because there are
no real beneficial extensions offered but because if you ever decide to change
providers, guess what? You lose all your emails and contacts. Whoosh, just like
that - gonzo! Don't do it. You're most definitely a Baby Boomer (50+)
@aol: Nostalgic: adjective - experiencing or
exhibiting nostalgia, a sentimental or wistful yearning for the happiness felt
in a former place, time, or situation. You've probably had the same e-mail
address since 1999. You also might be in your sixties. If you send an e-mail
from an aol account, the recipient is likely to expect it to be spam, a forward
of some thoroughly debunked conspiracy theory or pictures of kittens. I get the
sense that people with aol addresses have just been too lazy to upgrade or are
just stuck in a time warp. I always do a double take when I see them because I can’t
believe it’s still in use. It's like seeing someone walking around wearing a Member’s
Only jacket. Get off my lawn you darn whipper snappers! You're most definitely a Baby Boomer (50+)
@owndomain: Finally the last of the bunch. You’ve decided
to take no allegiance to any established Fortune 500 company's free email
services. You have a good chance of being skilled and capable around technology.
You’re telling the word that this is my
email address, I own it and no one else outside of my company can use it. You
mean business damn it. But behind the scenes we all know that you’re tied into
your web hosting service who offers domain names and email addresses and are
paying extra money for it. Sorry, it doesn’t mean you’re a force to be reckoned
with. It just means you have extra scratch to play with. Don’t get me wrong,
having your business name be the leader is a plus because the personal names
before it will always change. Kudo’s for having extra scratch. You're most likely
a Generation Xer (35-49)
One more final note: If
someone tells you’re their email address is www.clueless@blank.com please, don’t let
this person touch a computer ever again.
4020 Del Prado Blvd Unit B3 Cape Coral, FL 33904 | homeqwestrealty@gmail.com | O. 239.770.5429 www.homeqwest.com
HomeQwest Realty Group, LLC – SW Florida Homes and Houses for sale. Cape Coral Fl Homes and houses for rent or lease, SW Florida Land for sale, acreage and general Property Management and Real Estate Information
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
1439 SE 22ND TER CAPE CORAL FL
$1,350
SE Cape Home w/ Large Fenced in Yard For Rent
LAWN CARE INCLUDED ~ Rent this perfectly located, move in ready SE Cape
Coral home. 3 Bedroom, 2 Bath, 2 Car Garage. 1578 square feet under air. Large
Fenced in yard. Tile throughout. Next to Veteran’s Pkwy and Del Prado Blvd,
within walking distance to shopping, entertainment, and fitness centers is
overloaded with quality features. Pets allowed on a case by case basis.
Driving Directions
Del Prado Blvd N Left 22nd Terr Right 15th Pl Left 22 St
Left 15th Ave right 22nd Ter
This home is being leased by HomeQwest Realty Group, LLC
Please contact: TAMARA JASCULCA
Licensed Real Estate Agent
tjasculca.homeqwest@gmail.com
239-600-1725
Lease Application Terms
It is our Company policy to collect a credit/background/application fee of
$65.00 per adult over age 18. Upon approval of your rental application, an
amount equal to the monthly rent payment is required to secure the lease, no
rental unit shall be reserved until this payment is received.
At lease signing, the first and last month rent payment is collected with the
initial payment becoming your security deposit. Any money collected in
advance will be held in a non- interest bearing Trust bank account. All or part
of the security deposit will be returned to you at lease end but is subject to
possible claim by the owner if damages are detected upon move-out inspection.
Payments
All payments may be paid through our website, in person or by mail by charge
card (fees apply), cash or money order. We do not accept personal or business
checks during this process.
Listing description is subject to change without advance notice. We
do not take responsibility for content in this ad found on other home
rental websites.
Friday, August 14, 2015
Gorgeous SW Cape Coral Pool Home For Rent
(CAPE CORAL FL)
$1850 / 3br - 1817ft
POOL & LAWN CARE INCLUDED
Location, Location, Location - Gorgeous SW Cape Coral Pool
home located in the popular Beach Parkway area. 3 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom, 2 Car
Garage with a Den. Very popular floor plan with nice open feeling. Double door
entry, large living/family room, den/office behind French doors, breakfast bar
with open kitchen, dining area, pantry closet, pool bath doubles as the guest
bath. The master suite features a large walk in closet, sliders to the lanai,
double sinks, walk in tiled shower and large linen closet. Fresh paint, new
carpets and pool and lawn care included. The pool and lanai area provides ample
outdoor space for relaxing and entertaining.
Driving Directions: Chiquita Pkwy to WEST on Beach Pkwy,
north on SW 17th PL, property will be on the left side of the street.
This home is being leased and professionally managed by
HomeQwest Realty Group, LLC.
Listing description is subject to change without advance
notice. We do not take responsibility for content in this ad found on other
home rental websites
Contact
Joseph A. DeLuca
Licensed Real Estate Broker
jdeluca.homeqwest@gmail.com
239-834-8654
Joseph A. DeLuca
Licensed Real Estate Broker
jdeluca.homeqwest@gmail.com
239-834-8654
Terms
It is our Company policy to collect a
credit/background/application fee of $65.00 per adult over age 18. Upon
approval of your rental application, an amount equal to the monthly rent
payment is required to secure the lease, no rental unit shall be reserved until
this payment is received.
At lease signing, the first and last month rent payment is collected with the initial payment becoming your security deposit. Any money collected in advance will be held in a non- interest bearing Trust bank account. All or part of the security deposit will be returned to you at lease end but is subject to possible claim by the owner if damages are detected upon move-out inspection.
Payments:
All payments may be paid through our website, in person or by mail by charge card (fees apply), cash or money order. We do not accept personal or business checks during this process.
At lease signing, the first and last month rent payment is collected with the initial payment becoming your security deposit. Any money collected in advance will be held in a non- interest bearing Trust bank account. All or part of the security deposit will be returned to you at lease end but is subject to possible claim by the owner if damages are detected upon move-out inspection.
Payments:
All payments may be paid through our website, in person or by mail by charge card (fees apply), cash or money order. We do not accept personal or business checks during this process.
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU
All too often we see claims made by managers and owners against residents for what is really ordinary wear and tear. Let’s get real people. Sure, residents do absolutely destroy units sometimes. However, this does not justify getting extremely picky and almost vindictive when it comes to ordinary wear and tear. Ask yourself how you would react to the charge, or more importantly, how a judge would react when he or she grills you to death about why you charged the resident for the damage. A judge’s attitude towards the manager or owner in an eviction is typically far more favorable than a judge’s attitude in a small claims security deposit case, in which the resident spent the time and money to sue YOU. In small claims court, you will need to prove each and every charge. If the resident gets back one dime, you could be on the hook for thousands in attorney’s fees awarded to the resident. It is a massive gamble?
4020 DEL PRADO BLVD, B3, CAPE CORAL, FL 33904 | homeqwestrealty@gmail.com | O. 239.770.5429 http://www.homeqwest.com
Description: Cape Coral FL Property Management, Annual Rentals Cape Coral FL, Long Term Rentals Cape Coral FL, Homes for Rent Cape Coral Florida, Cape Coral Florida Rentals, Cape Coral Rentals, Cape Coral
Saturday, March 28, 2015
Landlord
4020 DEL PRADO BLVD, B3, CAPE CORAL, FL 33904 | homeqwestrealty@gmail.com | O. 239.770.5429 http://www.homeqwest.com
Description: Cape Coral FL Property Management, Annual Rentals Cape Coral FL, Long Term Rentals Cape Coral FL, Homes for Rent Cape Coral Florida, Cape Coral Florida Rentals, Cape Coral Rentals, Cape Coral
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Facebook Review
4020 DEL PRADO BLVD, B3, CAPE CORAL, FL 33904 | homeqwestrealty@gmail.com | O. 239.770.5429 http://www.homeqwest.com
Description: Cape Coral FL Property Management, Annual Rentals Cape Coral FL, Long Term Rentals Cape Coral FL, Homes for Rent Cape Coral Florida, Cape Coral Florida Rentals, Cape Coral Rentals, Cape Coral
‘Fake soldier’ should be charged with impersonating a public officer, misleading use of badge or uniform
18 U.S. Code § 702
Whoever, in any place within the jurisdiction of the United States or in the Canal Zone, without authority, wears the uniform or a distinctive part thereof or anything similar to a distinctive part of the uniform of any of the armed forces of the United States, Public Health Service or any auxiliary of such, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.
We found out about this douche-bag from **** **** FL (we were asked not to name this person), telling us at the office that he was a highly decorated sniper for the military and now only takes contracts for special operation projects. He had been on multiple deployments and received high military honors. This fake would always dress in complete camouflage gear and was always carrying a hand gun, which was not registered I'm sure. He duped two shit-for-brains at the office into believing every word he told them and he also convinced them to let him move in with them which eventually led him to run their household. So much so, I later found out they funded a marijuana grow house using company funds.
So before I continue with everything this douche did while posing as one of America’s Finest, lets look at his recent rap sheet:
MARIJUANA-POSSESS OVER 80 GRAMS
MARIJUANA-PRODUCING MFG WI 500 FT OF SPECIFIED AREA
DRUG EQUIP - POSSESS AND OR USE
DRUG EQUIP - POSSESS AND OR USE
MARIJUANA-PRODUCING MFG WI 500 FT OF SPECIFIED AREA
DRUG EQUIP - POSSESS AND OR USE
DRUG EQUIP - POSSESS AND OR USE
I couldn't take it any more so I asked a co-worker to look into whether this douche was telling the truth. This co-worker was a ex-vet and had a brother-in-law who was an active Army Recruiter. With a couple of emails sent back and forth the truth was finally revealed. This fraudster had taken the military test twice but failed both times and was never accepted into any form of Military Service. NEVER!!
It's incomprehensible how someone could lie about this with a straight face and accept the admiration of the public as if he was deserving. He would even go as far as stating that he had Post traumatic stress disorder.
Thanks CC for providing the information that shed light on this lowlife douche bag.
For those of you who REALLY served for this country...We Salute You!!
Sunday, March 22, 2015
How to Painlessly Switch Property Management Companies
How to Painlessly Switch Property Management Companies
HomeQwest Realty Group, LLC
There are times when a rental property owner (long term or short term) desires to change the property management taking care of their property.
Here are a few keys points you should follow if you are going to be firing a property management company and hiring a new one.
4 Steps to Changing Property Management Companies
1. Explore New Management Companies
The first thing you will want to do if you are looking to change property management companies is talk to other management companies who you might want to hire. A good place to find other management companies is to simply drive around and look at who is managing properties in the same neighborhood and compare how the upkeep of these houses to your current situation.
Another idea is to ask your neighbors who they use to manage their property, or you might want to ask a realtor who sold you the house who they might recommend. After you have at least 2 possible management companies, reach out to them and set up an interview. After the interview process, pick the management company that you are most comfortable with.
2. Review Your Agreement
You will want to review the legal agreement you have with your current management company to see if there are any grounds for immediate termination and to ascertain when the current agreement expires. If you’re happy with the current management company and you are leaving because another company is offering superior services for a cheaper price, then you might want to simply let the agreement expire on its own.
If this is the option you choose, send them a letter notifying them of your wishes not to renew with them; many times these agreements roll over or renew on their own if no notification is provided. On the other hand, if you are really unhappy with the current management company, then you should terminate the agreement immediately. Your rental property is an investment, and any long term neglect of your property can have a detrimental effect on the value of the property. You must realize this is a business, and it is not personnel.
3. Notify the Old Management Company
You can do this either through a letter or over the phone.
If you do it over the phone or in person, also follow it up with a termination letter. Whenever you terminate an agreement, it’s always best practice to have it in writing. In the letter, outline why you are leaving, the actual date you want the agreement to be terminated, and the name and contact phone number of the new management company.
4. Follow Up
Every 3 months or so, it is a good idea to check on the property and make sure the management company is doing what they are supposed to be doing. If the management company knows you will make unannounced visits to your property, they will do a better job than if they know you will never come by and check on it.
Any time you are looking to make a change, it is hard, and it can be very stressful. One of the things I would consider doing before you simply fire the current management company is to send them a letter explaining your displeasure in their services. This letter should explain in detail what you are upset about, how you would like the issues resolved, and a date by which you would like to have the issues corrected.
A good company will have a representative call you immediately to discuss your displeasures in greater detail, and they should follow back up with you well in advance of your stated deadline. If they do not, then this should send off alarms to you that your business doesn’t mean that much to them.
Are you happy with your current management company? Have you ever had to switch management?
Please email us your comments telling us your company management stories!
What do you like most about your manager and what you don't like about your manager?
What do you like most about your manager and what you don't like about your manager?
With over 40 years of successful land development, construction management and portfolio asset management experience, Call me to see how I can help you: (239)834-8654
Joseph A. Deluca
Licensed Real Estate Broker
jdeluca.homeqwest@gmail.com
239-834-8654
Joseph A. Deluca
Licensed Real Estate Broker
jdeluca.homeqwest@gmail.com
239-834-8654
Saturday, March 21, 2015
Is your "property manager" no good for your "rental property"
Is your "property manager" no good for your "rental property"
Raise your hand if you're in this situation
HomeQwest Realty Group has over 40 years successful experience managing various types of properties. Along the way we have worked closely with many professionals building relationships and exchanging knowledge.
Our goal is to give you the ability to more securely maintain an asset or the flexibility to move on to greater potential wealth.
No two properties are the same, call for a quote specific to your property (239) 770-5429
4020 DEL PRADO BLVD, B3, CAPE CORAL, FL 33904 | homeqwestrealty@gmail.com | O. 239.770.5429 http://www.homeqwest.com
Description: Cape Coral FL Property Management, Annual Rentals Cape Coral FL, Long Term Rentals Cape Coral FL, Homes for Rent Cape Coral Florida, Cape Coral Florida Rentals, Cape Coral Rentals, Cape Coral
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Monday, March 2, 2015
Why Most Single Family Property Managers Suck
Why Most Single Family Property Managers Suck
Common Complaints
Insufficient value provided. Most single family property managers charge 50% to 100% of the first month’s rent for leasing services (to locate a qualified tenant) and 8% of all gross rents for ongoing property management services. Property management services usually include managing tenant move-ins, turnover, contractors, and any/all tenant interaction. They also may charge extra for project management or evictions. Based on my experience, the most critical item is locating a qualified tenant. However, because property managers get paid regardless of the type of tenant that leases the rental home, they generally make more when problems occur. So it’s not necessarily in the property manager’s best interest to locate the best quality tenant, but an okay tenant that might be close, but doesn't quite meet the qualifications. Accepting a less than qualified tenant to rent your property will open you up to all sorts of potential problems like late or missed rents, significant property damage, and possibly eviction proceedings.
Padding contractor charges. Though I’d rather not generalize, I am qualified to say that many property managers pad contractor estimates in order to make extra income when managing investor properties. They may do this because either (1) they are just plain greedy and they can, (2) they don’t feel they’re generating sufficient fees to justify their property management business, or for a variety of other reasons. If you're not getting a bill from their 3rd party vendor you're getting screwed! Remember, these types of property managers make more money off of a BAD tenant than a GOOD tenant. Someone needs to pay for their maintenance managers salary and that person is YOU.
Poor service quality. Slow or completely non-responsive to tenant repair requests. If property management is their main business, property managers will likely be managing over 100 rentals in order to generate sufficient income to make it a viable business. Being responsive to requests and providing a high quality of customer service is quite difficult when you’re managing over 100 different properties and tenants and the income generally isn't great enough to enable the property manager to hire additional personnel.
Poor training. Most of a property managers staff is hired based on some basic skills but mainly because they fit their budget. $10 - $12 per hour is a 'You get what you pay for' scenario. They're not trained well and are regarded as 'minions'. So if you're losing money off of your investment property, this would be the reason.
Getting your rental disbursements late? Ahh, the property managers 'cash flow' dream. Tenant pays rent by the 4th, owner sees a check after the 20th. Unless they deposited this check via a pigeon, there is NO reason for this delay other than cash flow problems or basic laziness.Why is property management of single family rentals such a difficult business? There are several reasons for the poor service quality. It’s usually not their main business. Most are real estate agents or brokers managing single family rentals do so part-time. It’s not their main business because they (1) tend to generating more fees from transactions (representing buyers and/or sellers) or (2) they do not manage enough properties to generate sufficient income to live on. For these reasons, the majority of individuals, usually real estate agents/brokers, who decide to start a property management business usually give up or go bankrupt.
Many of the problems may be alleviated by requiring property managers to be certified and have other credentials before they are allowed to provide property management services. The lack of required education and certifications enables anyone to hang a shingle and begin providing services even though they are not qualified to do so. Requiring additional certifications and educational requirements would help add credibility to the property management field. A real estate license isn't enough nor is a brokers license. Both just qualify you to do business, it doesn't give any type of merit as to knowing what the hell they're doing.If your manager is not producing, kick them to the curb and find someone that will. And find a manager that doesn't charge a termination fee. If you're already tied to a property manager that sucks and you have a hefty termination fee it may just be the best money you ever spent to get rid of them before you really get taken to the cleaners.
Okay so that's the ranting part. Now, ALL PROPERTY MANAGERS DON'T FALL INTO THIS CATEGORY. There are some out there that are well qualified and are good at what they do. The trick is to weed out the bad apples. Ask questions before committing. How many years of experience is always a good start. Credentials should be your second question. And always ask to have direct access with the Broker. An absentee Broker makes for an absentee staff.
Good luck.
(Jon Strishak -2014)
HomeQwest Realty Group has over 40 years successful experience managing various types of properties. Along the way we have worked closely with many professionals building relationships and exchanging knowledge.
Our goal is to give you the ability to more securely maintain an asset or the flexibility to move on to greater potential wealth.
No two properties are the same, call for a quote specific to your property (239) 770-5429
Big Brother is watching
Big Brother is watching
Some things you might not know: Your smart TV is probably watching you watch it. Your office photocopier is recording everything you duplicate. Your smartphone can identify you by the way you walk, the way you hold it, and may also be recording you. The app you downloaded has now siphoned your name, e-mail address and place of residence and reported back to its parent company.
160,000 Facebook accounts are compromised per day, and the company loosens up your privacy settings every time they update the terms of service — not that they’ll tell you.
Google reads your Gmail and sells your personal information to advertisers. Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn also sell whatever data on you they've got.
Nordstrom and Home Depot track your movements through their stores using Wi-Fi and your cellphone.
Disneyland tracks visitors via sensor-enabled bracelets that they supply; the company records everything the wearer does, says and buys, and then — if that wearer is 13 or over — sells that data to others.
In 2010, the Nielsen company, which measures TV ratings, broke into PatientsLikeMe, an online forum where those suffering from chronic illnesses ranging from cancer to Parkinson’s disease to mood disorders gather. Why? To swipe data to sell to the pharmaceutical industry, among others.
homeqwestrealty@gmail.com | O. 239.770.5429 http://www.homeqwest.com
Description: Cape Coral FL Property Management, Annual Rentals Cape Coral FL, Long Term Rentals Cape Coral FL, Homes for Rent Cape Coral Florida, Cape Coral Florida Rentals, Cape Coral Rentals, Cape Coral
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Saturday, February 28, 2015
Vice Special Report: Killing Cancer Sneak Peek (HBO)
Vice Special Report: Killing Cancer Sneak Peek (HBO)
Treatment that has revolutionized how we treat cancer and the best action for a cure
Vice goes inside the world’s most cutting-edge cancer research labs to follow the pioneering doctors and researchers who are changing the face of modern-day medicine and meet some of the cancer survivors who have already been saved by this revolutionary medical breakthrough.
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
How to protect a Property Management Firm from sexual harassment of a tenant by handyman or staff member
How to protect a Property Management Firm from sexual harassment of a tenant by a handyman or staff member
The Fair Housing Act prohibits sexual harassment by a property management staff member against a tenant. Staff members who engage in sexual harassment against tenants face civil, and sometimes criminal, penalties.
Appalling as it may sound, I recently spoke with a new female tenant that was inherited from another property management firm. When explaining to her that we will need to schedule a home inspection she informed me that the maintenance technician from the previous property management firm was trying to schedule a home inspection and would send text messages laced with 'come on's" One of them read: "How about I schedule the inspection for 3am? Have the mimosas ready!" Inappropriate is far too nice a word for this type of behavior. There are a number of things a property management firm can and should do to protect themselves and to ensure the safety of others that have to do business with the company.
In order to minimize the potential for being hit with a sexual harassment complaint or potential damages, housing providers should take the following steps:
1. Establish a sexual harassment policy
A. Policy should be to explain what behavior is unacceptable and what the penalties for violations are.
B. Know what sexual harassment is, how it happens, etc.
2. Inform employees of the established policy prohibiting sexual harassment.
A. Post in office and provide copies to all employees.
3. Monitor compliance and respond swiftly when complaints arise.
A. Take action when you hear off-color remarks, if sexually-oriented materials are brought into the workplace or work environment, etc.
B. Review policies with employees at least once a year.
4. Employ a gender-diverse employee base.
A. Have both males and females on staff. This should discourage a good ol’ boy or girl work environment where persons may feel free to make certain statements, etc.
5. Do not have a reputation for permitting sexual jokes, inappropriate comments, innuendos, or touching.
6. Do not permit sexually suggestive visuals or objects to be brought into the housing management/maintenance environment. These may create the potential for a complaint, do not reflect a professional image, and contribute to an offensive, hostile, and intimidating environment. In addition, these items may be used as evidence in a sexual harassment complaint.7. Do not permit employees to refer to persons of the opposite sex as “honey,” “dear,” “sweetheart,” or other similar expressions.
Common sense would suggest that in cases of legitimate sexual harassment the victim would have notified the landlord long before any lawsuit were filed. One of the first questions a judge would ask is, " When was the first time you brought this concern to your landlord's attention?"
If this scenario should ever happen to you, please call the police and file a complaint. There needs to be a zero-tolerance for this behavior and perpetrators need to be STOPPED!
homeqwestrealty@gmail.com | O. 239.770.5429 http://www.homeqwest.com
Description: Cape Coral FL Property Management, Annual Rentals Cape Coral FL, Long Term Rentals Cape Coral FL, Homes for Rent Cape Coral Florida, Cape Coral Florida Rentals, Cape Coral Rentals, Cape Coral
Property Management Companies
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
YOU MEAN I CAN’T USE THAT ROOM
YOU MEAN I CAN’T USE THAT ROOM
Your owner tells you that one of the bedrooms, closets, shed, storage area, cabinet, or area of the house is not to be used by the resident. You show the home and forget to mention this to the resident. The resident then moves in and does not have access. You get the phone call. Is the resident entitled to have access? Yes. Unless an area, item or personal property of the owner is specifically excluded in the lease agreement, the entire premises can be used by the resident. Always be aware of this, and always ask the owner prior to renting if they intend that anything is off-limits to the resident, or you will have a lawsuit or a dispute on your hands.by Law Offices Of Heist, Weisse & Wolk P.A
Description: Cape Coral FL Property Management, Annual Rentals Cape Coral FL, Long Term Rentals Cape Coral FL, Homes for Rent Cape Coral Florida, Cape Coral Florida Rentals, Cape Coral Rentals, Cape Coral
Property Management Companies
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