What does a Property Management Company Do?

Property Management companies have the responsibility of dealing with prospective and current tenants. If you have a rental property, you will need to market it, screen the new tenants, collect rent handle maintenance and repairs, respond to compliants and take care of evictions. A good property management company can do all of this and save you time, money and all of the frustration that comes along with managing tenant relations.

Hiring a property manager has many benefits, but it can also be expensive, and that is why so many people choose not to do it. However, in many cases, working with a property manager or property management company should be considered more of an investment than an expense!

If you don’t live near the property, management can be invaluable, if not necessary, for many issues that will arise. Also Property Managers often have the experience to find the "best" tenants, the resources to market your property in ways that you cannot, the ability to collect rent in an effective manner, and the local contacts with maintenance and repair contractors that can actually end up saving you money!

And if that doesn't sell you...remember that one wants to receive late night calls about stopped up plumbing, or manage the crisis situation of an unexpected ice storm!

Fee structures vary, however, generally, Property Managers receive 5%-10% of the collected monthly rent for the management of the property. There is also a charge of equal to 1/2 of the monthly rental amount for procurring a new lease as a "bonus", which is sometimes paid at the end of the year depending on the type of property and the property management company.

In the end, a Property Manager should save you time and plenty of work--if not money too!

Charlotte Property Manager

Kuester Property Management

Looking to Lease?

Are you looking to lease a commercial space for your business? There are several factors to condisider when trying to find the right place... that is, afterall, why they say: Location. Location. Location!

The first thing to do is to find the right part of town to locate your business. Is Uptown Charlotte your best bet, or is suburb Fort Mill, SC more your speed? Do you need a stand-alone office, or a high-traffic retail spot. Identifying who your clientele is, and where they are will help you choose the right types of locations.

Once you have narrowed it down to a genre of locales, you can start looking at specifics and what is available. Check out thet Kuester site for available properties in your area. Here are some other factors to consider:

1) Are there other businesses in the immediate area that would compete with you?
2) Are there businesses in the immediate area that complement your business? (i.e. a restaurant and an ice cream shop).
3) Is there enough parking for your customers/clients?
4) Does the area have foot traffic?
5) Is the location near a major roadway?
6) What is the rent price?
7) Is there area growing or established?
8) What kind of upfits will you need to have done?
9) When will the space be available
10) What are the contract terms?

If you are interested in learning more about the available properties that Kuester has to offer, just check out our website at www.kuester.com.

Are you a Property Manager? Here are 10 Tips!

The property management business is an important one for so many people who rely on our services--property owners, tenants and the communities we serve. While we certainly want property owners in our areas of Boone, Myrle Beach, Charlotte, Fort Mill and Concord to work with Kuester, we know that the rest of the country certainly is in need of the best from their property managers as well, so we have put together a few tips to help the new or struggling property manager.

1. Make a good first impression. Dress professionally and make a great first impression. How the you look and behave during the first meeting will set the tone for your relationship with the tenant--and then, of course, continue to treat your tenants with the utmost respect and professionalism, even in times of stress. The effort will go a long way.

2. Consider allowing pets. Many property management companies will no longer allow pets, so being pet-friendly will give you a competetive advantage. But remember to set and enforce a pet-policy, so that any damage is anticipated, paid for by the tenant and repaired in a timely manner.

3. Be organized and follow strict procedures. A disorganized or unprofessional project manager appears as if they don't care. Make sure your presentation packets, checklists and paperwork is in order before you meet with tenants.

4. Keep the property well-maintained. Even if it's outdated in areas, a clean property can overcome many objections. Wash the windows, manicure the yard..show some pride of ownership.

5. Be generous for great tenants. Offer special discounts for tenants who sign a multi-year lease, or set up auto-pay through their paychecks or banks.

6. Follow a regular schedule. Let them know that you will be accessing the property every other month for a maintenance checkup. Ask the tenants to put any non-emergency maintenance items on a list on the refrigerator so you can address them on your visit.

7. Remember their birthdays. A birthday card goes a long way! By sending a little card and note on their birthday, you are showing that you care about them as more than just a monthly rent check.

8. Include the washer & dryer. While a washer & dryer--and to a lesser extent a dishwasher may seem like luxeries to many--to some this is the kind of thing that will make-or break the deal. Be the option with the extras - and you will get more interest in your units, (plus you can re-coup the cost by charging a marginally higher rate!)

9. Offer an incentive. Everyone loves an incentive--so offer a free month if they sign this week, or throw in the upgraded cable, but never offer the first month free, give new tenants their birthday month free, or the 13th month, after they pay the first 12 (a "baker's dozen"). This way you wont get tenants just looking for a free place to live before they move on.

10. Be present. Be available. Lack of communication can quickly break down the tenant/landlord relationship. Respond to their questions and concerns promptly.

Kuester Property Management: Concord, Boone, Myrtle Beach, Fort Mill, Charlotte

News: Kuester Names Among the 10 Largest Real Estate Firms in Charlotte

We are pleased to announce that Kuester was named among the top 10 largest real estate firms in the Charlotte-Metro area.


The Charlotte Business Journal ranked the Kuester Companies #8 in terms of local employees and #25 in terms of commission-only brokers.

Besides our strong presence in Charlotte, we also have offices in Boone, Fort Mill, Myrtle Beach, and Concord.

If you would like any information about Kuester, property management, HOA's, or available property in our service areas, please contact us at: 888.600.5044.

The Relationship between the Board, HOA Management and the homeowner

 It is sometimes found in the Charlotte HOA management industry and beyond that the property management company is looked at as the "bad guy" due to the requirement that it send written notification to homeowners where there is a violation of the Association Covenants and Restrictions. Most times, the first contact that a homeowner may receive from one of our Charlotte property managers at Kuester is a courtesy letter.  This letter is not a violation notice, just an initial communication from us to let the homeowner know that something might be going on that they need to look at before it gets worse.  When communicating with homeowners, we constantly encourage them to remember that we are contractually bound to partner with the Board of Directors in its fiduciary duty to uphold the Association's Covenants and Restrictions in the manner that is described by South Carolina or North Carolina homeowners association law.  We always strive to work in a friendly manner to meet the challenge of dealing with homeowner’s concerns or possible escalating problems by acting as mediator so neighbors need not deal with neighbor issues.  In the South Carolina and North Carolina property management and HOA management industry, we feel our superior communications and service make us the best.  Give us a call today at 888.600.5044 to discuss how we may be of assistance to your community or homeowners association.  You can also visit our website.

Virginia Graeme Baker Act Governing Public Pools

REMINDER:

As pools across the United States open for the summer, we want to put out a reminder to all North and South Carolina Homeowners Associations that all public pools and hot tubs are now required to install anti-entrapment drain covers meeting the ASME/ANSI A112.19.8-2007 standard. If there is only a single main drain, a second anti-entrapment system must also be installed.

While the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act was actually established in 2007 by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, it went into effect on December 19, 2008.

The act was named after a 7 year-old girl named Virginia Graeme Baker, who accidentally drowned in a hot tub, due to the suction from a drain that pulled the child under and trapped her there.

Although enforcement of this law is left up to each state and may not have active enforcement until 2010, we are advising all North and South Carolina Homeowners Associations to replace their current drain covers with anti-entrapment drain covers, since very few drain covers installed before 2009 meet the standards.

For more on this Act, visit the US Consumer and Product Safety Commission on the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act.

This way, everyone can be sure of a SAFE and happy summer!

Charlotte Property Manager

Kuester