Property Management Companies in Columbia SC |How to Get Good Deals on Investment Properties

Property prices have been skyrocketing for the last decade and good real estate deals are harder and harder to come by, especially if you are looking to use the properties as rentals. With rent rising, now is the best time to get into the market and make a profit, if you can secure low-interest rate loans on great deals. Luckily, the property management companies in Columbia SC may have some tips and tricks that can help you find the best investment deals for your rental business.

Look Out of Town-
If you live in a big city and are only looking at properties around you, those real estate market will make you cringe. Home values are rising, and inventory is at an all-time low in many places around the country as people stay put amidst the COVID 19 pandemic. One thing that investors can do is check out the smaller towns and regions within a few hours of their home base if they want to stay close to their properties. Some investors have even been looking in other states like South Carolina where property management companies in Columbia SC can take their business off their hands and handle all the nitty gritty while owners are hundreds or thousands of miles away.

Do not Rely on the MLS-
Working with a realtor can be easy, but there are a lot of homes that are For Sale by Owners and not listed on Zillow or realestate.com. Make sure to check platforms such as Craigslist and even Facebook Marketplace for properties that are for private sale. This is also a great place to find investment properties for a low price that need renovations before habitation.

Have Your Preapproval Ready-
Deals go fast and you must be ready to strike with your offer as soon as you see the advertisement. Having a preapproval letter handy from your bank or mortgage company will help you be at the top of the list for accepting offers.

Owners and investors can also partner with property management companies in Columbia SC to be on the lookout for properties that are going up for sale. Most companies work with multiple owners and can often be vital in networking between owners to unload and pick up new properties quickly, all while still relying on the same property manager!

If you are ready to talk to a property manager and get the process started, call
Auben Realty of the Midlands
at .

Property Management Services Columbia SC | South Carolina Squatters Rights

One of the worst nightmares for owners and property management services Columbia SC is tenants who do not leave or refuse to leave after their lease is up. When people occupy a home, they are not supposed to live in, they are referred to as “squatters.” These squatters are not only people who might stay after the lease is up, but also people who break in, or friends that were not on the lease who try to stay after the original lessors move out.

Some people believe that squatters can get lawful possession of a home through a loophole called adverse possession which allows legal ownership of a property without having to provide payment under certain conditions. However, each state has their own laws, often called “squatters rights” that govern how these situations are handled.

Squatter’s Rights, Should I be Worried?

Squatters must occupy a home or property lawfully for more than 10 years before they can claim ownership of the property and get a deed or title in their name. These situations are unique to abandoned properties or properties that have been unclaimed through inheritances or other circumstances.

Squatter’s rights in South Carolina are not applicable to homes that are owned by someone or under contract with property management services Columbia SC. Investors may have to deal with tenants from time to time that do not want to leave after their lease is up, or when they are being evicted, but these folks are not squatters.

Property management services Columbia SC owners trust and work with regularly are adept at handling the legal side of evictions and tenants that violate their leases. These processes are often burdensome for owners, and a good property manager will be able to handle things from start to finish without the owner ever needing to come to court in most cases.

If you are ready to talk to a property manager and get the process started, call
Auben Realty of the Midlands
at .

Residential Property Management Lexington SC | Avoiding Discrimination

The Fair Housing Act is federal legislation that makes it illegal for most housing providers to discriminate against a tenant based on race, disability, familiar status, national origin, color, religion, and sex. Residential property management Lexington SC investors work with are trained and certified in Federal Fair Housing regulations, but it is easy for people to slip up and discriminate against someone in a passive way and without even realizing.

Our property managers have some recommendations you can follow to ensure you are always in compliance with the Federal Fair Housing Act.

Be Consistent-
The rules need to apply to everyone equally with no exceptions being made. If leasing agents working for a residential property management Lexington SC company are supposed to ask for a photo ID when showing a home to prospects, the leasing agent or property manager needs to ensure the practice is consistent. Same scenario applies to applicants that might not qualify for the home but offer to pay the full lease up front. If you allow one tenant to do this, you must allow all applicants the ability to do this.
Fulfill Maintenance Requests First Come First Served-
When it comes to maintenance, the crew might want to resolve smaller problems or quick to fix issues first; however, it is important that, unless there is a maintenance emergency, that all requests are addressed in the order they are received. Following this rule will ensure that your maintenance staff is not accused of discrimination.
Practice Giving Tours and Processing Applications-
If there are multiple people working in the leasing or property management office, try to spend time practicing having conversations with coworkers and roleplaying. When having a conversation with potential tenants, it can be easy to slip up and give out information that you are not allowed to, or accidentally discriminate against someone. Practicing your approach to showing homes and answering questions can save residential property management Lexington SC companies a fair housing violation lawsuit.

Partnering with residential property management Lexington SC companies to take care of your investment properties is always a fantastic way to make sure you are not violating the law. When you are on the hunt for the perfect partnership, make sure to ask if all the leasing agents at each company are certified in Federal Fair Housing laws.

If you are looking for property management in Lexington SC,
call Auben Realty
at .

Property Management Companies in Columbia SC | How to Make Carpet Last In Rental Homes

Property management companies in Columbia SC understand the burden of needing to purchase and replace carpeting with every moveout, and the strain it puts on investors. Between the price of materials, the cost of labor, and the time it takes away from being able to re-rent a home, carpet replacement can really put a dent in an investor’s budget for property maintenance. Luckily, there are a few ways you can make carpets last longer so that they do not need to be replaced every time!

Tips for Rental Carpet Care

Carpets are easy to damage and get dirty but property management companies in Columbia SC can take certain steps to make reduce the damage and keep carpets in good shape longer.

Hard Surfaces at Entryways- Many homes have carpeting in the rooms that contain exit doors. It is common for living rooms, sitting rooms, or foyers to have carpet; however, consider a hard surface for just in front of the entry. Tile, laminate, or hardwood flooring in front of the doors to create a 5’ x 5’ landing area will help reduce the amount of dirt, water, grass, and grime that is dragged into the house on your shoes from the outside.
Complimentary Carpet Cleaning- At least once per year, offer a free deep carpet clean to your renters. They will appreciate the above and beyond service, clean carpets, and property management services in Columbia SC will reap the benefits of reduced carpet replacements! This is a win-win for everyone involved!
Consider the Type of Carpet- There are many different types of carpeting. Some have longer fibers, others are denser, and there are even carpets that are moisture wicking and stain resistant! Carpeting such as polypropylene fiber carpet is the most popular, easiest to clean, and affordable. Nylon Frieze and nylon are also very durable and easy to clean.
Provide a Vacuum- Some property managers will go as far as to provide every home with its very own vacuum cleaner. This way, residents are guaranteed to have one on hand during move-in, which is often one of the messiest times. A vacuum cleaner will cost less than carpet replacement!

Keeping carpets clean and looking brand new can be difficult. Sometimes, no matter what precautions you take, carpet replacement will be inevitable. A property manager can help ensure the likelihood of replacement is reduced.

If you’re looking for property management in Columbia SC,
call Auben Realty
at .

Property Management in Columbia SC | Why Social Media Matters for Landlords

Once upon a time, a landlord could rent a house quickly by posting an add to craigslist and a sign in the front yard. Today, all the best companies doing property management in Columbia SC understand that social media matters—a lot. Not every property owner wants to focus on social media, it can be tedious and time consuming, but there are incredibly good reasons why you should be connected:

Most single-family home renters are between 25 and 38 years old. These young people rely on Facebook and Instagram to connect them with the world with nearly the entire Unites States population in this age range having access to the internet and a smart phone.
Images are everything and platforms like Instagram are perfect for showcasing your beautiful coastal homes if you work in property management in Columbia SC. The historic homes against beautiful Southern landscapes can skyrocket the algorithms and ensure your posts are seen.
Social Media is a wonderful way for property owners to post reminders or links to fun events happening in the neighborhood. They might also post information on bulk waste pickup, landscape waste collection, or other vital services. Social media is also most renter’s preferred way to find out about new homes for rent.
Marketplace on Facebook allows property owners to post rentals. Tenants have access to many different filters to narrow down the number of bedrooms and bathrooms they need, rent they can afford, and other necessities for the perfect rental. Utilizing the social media marketplaces to highlight your rental homes is one of the best ways that property management in Columbia SC for booking appointments and getting new interest.
Tenants and prospective tenants can leave reviews on your social media page that will attract new renters in the future. Many renters go to a company’s social media business page to check the public opinion on a landlord before signing a lease or paying an application fee.

One of the best ways to stay on top of your social media game is to hire a property manager that has excellent marketing skills. There is no time like the present to dive into your social media goals and see your investment explode with new opportunities.

If you are ready to make your investment the best it can be, call
Auben Realty of Columbia
at .

Property Manager | Spotting Fake Landlord References (Auben Realty)

Property Manager | Spotting Fake Landlord References

As a
property manager
, one application process you are in charge of is checking references for previous landlords. Checking these references is one task you never want to skip because references tell you vital information about your prospective tenant that may not show up on the background or credit check. If previous landlords didn’t report to the credit bureau or sue the tenant, you might not ever know if they paid rent on time or if they damaged the property. Many tenants who have had problems with landlords or a property manager in the past will ask their friends or family to provide false references, pretending to be a previous landlord. You can easily spot these fakers by following these tips:

Don’t tell them who you are. If you call asking for Joe Smith and they ask who you are, don’t say that you’re a property manager calling about a reference. You want to catch the imposter off guard by pretending to be a renter yourself. Inquire about available homes for rent, and if the landlord begins to humble over their words or suddenly hangs up, you know you’ve got a false reference.

When you ask questions about the tenant, the landlord should be able to give you details about that person including how long they lived at the address provided if they paid on time, and other details. If the “landlord” is vague or tells you, they can’t remember, these can be red flags for false references.

Search for the “landlord” online. If this person is a legitimate landlord, you should be able to find their name and phone number linked to rental properties or a property management company. You can also search the name on social media and see if they seem to be linked to the tenant such as being Facebook friends or listing each other as family. These are huge red flags for false references.

Taking the time to go through dozens of references every time you have a new property for rent can be tedious and exhausting. Consider hiring a
property manager from Auben Realty
to help you manage your rental home efficiently and with great return on investment. Call us today .