The only tenants you should have at your apartment building should be human beings and their pets. Not all living creatures are welcome into a home, particularly pests. Mice, roaches, and bed bugs are the most common apartment pests and some of the hardest to control. To avoid having your apartment building plagued with these unwanted visitors, here are some crucial tips for preventing pests in your apartments.   

State it in your rental contract to report pests.

Both the tenant and the landlord are responsible for pest elimination and control. The tenant should report to the property manager at the first signs or sight of a rodent, roach, or other critter roaming inside or outside their unit. To ensure this gets reported, state it in your lease agreement and how the failure to report pest issues may lead to withholding deposit. It may sound strict, but this measure should be taken seriously because pests can cause costly health consequences to other tenants and damages to your property.

Have your property manager do regular inspections.

Enforce the lease agreement’s conditions by having your apartment property manager do regular inspections. Tenants have the right to know when their units will be visited, and perhaps this will motivate them to be a little cleaner… Let’s acknowledge it: sometimes the occupants’ habits may attract or allow ants, roaches, or mice into their homes if they accumulate rubbish, junk, or food waste. Regardless, it is your responsibility to keep your apartment building pest-free and control pests at the first signs. 

Garbage and landscaping services.

Another tip to avoid pests in your apartment building is by keeping it clean on the outside as well. Hire private garbage disposal services to empty the dumpsters every week. Landscapers will prevent weeds from growing in the exterior of the apartment building so that rodents or other critters don’t build nests. A good property management company will have excellent referrals on the best services for hire to make sure your apartment building is in great hands.

At Aperto, we firmly believe superior operating results come from well-managed communities that focus on the needs of the people we serve. Providing a quality home environment for our residents with responsive and caring management is a vital part of our work. For more information about our property management services, visit our website!

Being a teenager can have lots of awkward moments. We are in that in-between being kids and adults, and debating whether dressing up in a costume and going trick or treating still makes sense. The truth is, you are now at a lucky spot in which you can do these activities and more! There are plenty of attractions out there that are more enjoyable during your teenage years, or if you prefer staying local, you can still have fun from home!

Have a movie night!

There are so many good horror movies available in your favorite streaming services! Plan a movie night for your friends! Let them know in advance which movies you are planning on seeing and have them vote or suggest any others! Make sure to buy snacks for your friends and to order some food!

Get lost – in a corn maze!

Corn mazes are fun and have the beautiful aesthetic and colors of the Fall. And some of them are haunted! Get out and play in your local corn maze. Get a group of friends or invite your family to get lost for hours inside one of these harvest labyrinths. Here are some fun corn mazes in Orange County that you should check out!

Take your younger siblings trick-or-treating!

Alright, you do want to go trick-or-treating, don’t you? We don’t blame you! Free candy is one of the best parts of Halloween! If you have any younger siblings, you can take them trick-or-treating under the excuse that you are doing it for them. By being their “supervisor,” you are not obliged to dress up. If you prefer, choose an effortless costume and kindly ask your little brother or sister to share their candy!

Everyone should be having a good time during the holidays. Ultimately, you set the rules on how you want to celebrate. How are you celebrating Halloween this year? Let us know in the comment section!

As property managers, we have to deal with plenty of tasks involved with the property we manage. Some of these duties will call for having direct conversations with the residents about behaviors that might be affecting others within the apartment community. As an example, some residents might complain about their neighbors’ choice of decorating the exterior of their apartments. So let’s discuss the reasons why ornaments might affect other apartment residents and some common sense rules you can talk about with your tenants.

While at first decorating or personalizing the exterior of an apartment sounds like a harmless choice, truth is certain ornaments can pose a safety hazard. Here’s a short list of what some apartment residents might choose to decorate their apartment’s entrance.

Plants.

Having pots and plants outside the entrance of an apartment can take too much space, especially when they are in hallways or stairs. Another resident could stumble upon them and fall. Have your tenants keep the area as clear as possible. 

Furniture.

The same logic goes for furniture and other ornaments. Only small tables and chairs can be outside, and these must stay by their wall or corner.

Doormats.

Doormats must stay close to the apartment unit’s door. Also, it should not have anything inappropriate printed! If you come across a doormat that has an inappropriate message or image, have a conversation with your tenant and ask them to remove it. You do not want anyone in the community to feel uncomfortable.

It all narrows down to the rules you’ve set in your apartments. If you are about to rent out a new property, make sure to include rules in the agreements you have the new tenants sign, and to schedule inspections. An apartment community should have an equilibrium, and all residents should feel comfortable.

At Aperto, we serve over eighty communities and take pride in providing a quality home environment for our residents with responsive and caring management. Visit our website to learn more about our property management services and contact us today!

What is the biggest worry of a property manager? Maintenance issues. It will make your residents not happy to live at your property if there is a constant need to call maintenance for repairs. Facts spread quickly, especially in today’s online era, and people’s curiosity gets fulfilled when they search for a service or establishment reviews. Yes, apartments get rated and reviewed too.

 

Upon (or before) acquiring a rental property, always check its reviews or talk to the previous owner to learn about the issues the building has had in the past. Whether it’s an old or new building, consider investing in the best infrastructural components, that way you ensure each resident is enjoying the utilities as they should without worrying about what will break next.      

 

Water heater.

People need hot water for their shower, laundry, to wash their dishes, and for other cleaning and hygiene purposes. The water heater should be of industrial-strength, and if it is a relatively large property, there should be more than one water heater placed on opposite sides of the building. Have a property manager discuss with the contractor about which would be the best choice according to the number of units and tenants that it will serve.

 

Power outages.

When building a complex from the surface up, the best is to invest in the infrastructure that will be effective and energy-efficient. The circuit breakers and fuse boxes should be in excellent condition and should be sealed with approved stickers (depending on which state you are in). Next, consider switching or advising your residents to switch to energy-efficient light bulbs. 

 

Leaks.

It all narrows down to the pipes and their condition. New technologies have advanced home innovation. Several companies such as Leak Defense System have developed sensors that will detect water troubles throughout your building!

 

In short, the best way to keep up with maintenance issues is to encourage open communication between property managers and residents that way they get solved before becoming bigger!

 

Aperto offers full-scale property management services, providing a complete and comprehensive leasing and rental assistance for acquisition rehabs, stabilized assets, and new property lease-ups. Combining proven management systems with regional expertise, Aperto provides unmatched service. Learn more here!

You’ve done it: the first rental property you own has begun giving its profits and now it’s time to invest again and purchase the one you saw advertised on your drive to the city. After having spent months, maybe years, tending to your first rental property’s needs, you begin to wonder if you should hire a property manager to assist you. Unless you know every single tenant-landlord law and regulation and have all the time in your hands to fully dedicate yourself to addressing your apartment or commercial building’s needs, then the answer to “should I hire a property management company?” should be “yes!”

Owning a rental property comes with many challenges, especially if you’re renting out a multi-family apartment building with over a dozen units. In some cases, having a resident manager comes in handy as she or he will handle repairs or any issues that come up in the spot. However, if there are many units in the building, and if you own more than one building, it is best to hire a property management company to ensure your investment is in good hands. Furthermore, if you do not live near your rental property, it is best to have professionals who will manage the property and its needs, saving you time and making it more convenient for everyone.

A rental management company is staffed by experts who will take care of every aspect of your property. They will handle contractor services such as landscape and maintenance, and very importantly, ensure rent is collected on time. The biggest advantage of hiring property management is that they possess the knowledge of tenant-landlord regulations and other property laws, meaning they will take care of more sensitive matters such as pursuing an eviction. If you own an apartment building that is part of an affordable housing problem, you want to ensure your building continues to receive the financial assistance or grants. A good property management company will have the experience necessary to make sure your building and tenants continue to abide by the rules.

If you decide to hire a property management company, make sure to speak to other property owners to get a good recommendation. Search for property management companies, and request to interview them. Property management companies are independent contractors, saving you the hassle of being an employer, although at the beginning you will have to invest the time to confirm they are the best property management for your properties. Expect to hear quotes ranging from five to ten percent of what you collect in rent.

At Aperto, our approach to property management is simple. We deliver consistent and meaningful value through our team and service. Learn more about our property management services by visiting our website!

 

Whether you own a single building with a few rental units or a large apartment complex with multiple buildings, it is always best to hire a property management company. It is an investment as there are many liabilities that come with renting out apartment homes and commercial spaces, but what’s better than outsourcing this task to the experts?

 

Knowledge is power. Trust is earned.

Research to find the best property management company.

 

To hire the best property management company, you must first do some research to ensure you will be passing along this responsibility to someone of trust and who offers the best property management fees. This last one is an important note to consider as it immediately reflects the quality of service you can expect from them. There are a lot of factors that go into calculating the price of property management, such as the number of units, their location, age of the property, etc. Most property management companies charge between 4 – 12 % of the monthly rent, covering with this their staff’s salary and the services they offer.

 

Know what you need and what you can get.

All property management company services may vary.

 

Make sure the rental management company you hire provides all the services you need. These can vary per region, as some areas may have different regulations or needs than others (say, apartments in the area of Illinois may need more preparation and maintenance during winter storms). You are paying for the management’s knowledge, such as landlord-tenant laws, maintenance costs, marketing your rental property to fill in vacancies, as well as investing in their ability to respond to tenants’ requests and complains, and ensuring rent is collected on time. So definitely do not cut corners when hiring a company that has an impeccable reputation and years of expertise.

At Aperto, we serve over eighty communities and we take pride in providing a quality home environment for our residents with responsive and caring management. Visit our website to learn more about our property management services and contact us today!

Owning a rental property is one of the most efficient ways to secure your financial future. By investing in an apartment complex, you will be receiving the return on your investment very fast as you are receiving rent money from multiple units.

Los Angeles has always been one of the top cities to invest in. There are many opportunities in LA, which make it a desirable city to live in. It is the summit of the entertainment industry, it has ideal weather, and it is close to beaches and other recreational areas. All of these are a guarantee that your apartment complex will always have tenants, and you will quickly begin making profits.

How to own rental property in Los Angeles.

Take a look at online listings. Compare prices and other factors such as location and the year in which the property was built. Keep in mind the following when searching for investment properties in the Los Angeles area:

• Location. Los Angeles County is extensive and spread out, so begin searching for the specific areas and neighborhoods that continue to rise in popularity. Find properties that are located close to each other and compare them side to side.
• Price. Other factors that will influence the price besides the location, are: the age of the building (older buildings may need repairs, more maintenance, or updates to keep with the city’s regulations), amenities (parking space, laundromat on location, access to freeways, etc), and if it is currently inhabited.
• Cap rate. You will notice that many multifamily buildings listings have a section that includes the “cap rate.” The capitalization rate is the result of a formula that factors the ratio of a rental property’s net operating income to its purchase price. Learn more about how to use cap rates as a rental property investor here. 

Finally, you should look into rental management companies that have experience with the type of apartment complex you are looking into purchasing or that you have purchased already. A good property management company will assure rent is collected on time and that your multifamily building is adequately maintained.

Aperto offers full-scale property management services, providing a complete and comprehensive leasing and rental service for acquisition rehabs, stabilized assets, and new property lease-ups. Combining proven management systems with regional expertise, Aperto provides unmatched service. Learn more here!

 

Times are changing. Recently, we’ve seen incredible advancements in social movements and technology, but with this tremendous growth comes some critical losses. One of the biggest losses we’ve seen in recent years is community. As we become more connected through digital means, we forget to link up with our IRL neighbors. 

Fortunately, for residents and community members surrounding the Aperto Property Whispering Pines apartments in Phoenix, Project S.A.F.E. (Safety Awareness Family Education) aims to educate residents and community members about safety issues they could be facing. Created by the Arizona Multifamily Association (AMA), Project S.A.F.E. features topics ranging from fire and pool safety to identity theft. For the last seven years, Whispering Pines has made it a goal to ensure the wellbeing of their residents and community. 

Every year, Whispering Pines and other participants in Project S.A.F.E. organize a community event centered around a specific topic and theme; in 2016 the Whispering Pines staff dressed as mimes to break the silence surrounding domestic violence. The themes always change, but the impact never will.

Though Whispering Pines and other apartment communities host these events, Project S.A.F.E. is open to the surrounding community. It’s a way to unite the local neighborhood under the banner of safety and camaraderie. In addition to district residents, members of city leadership and local business are also in attendance which truly helps the community feel united. Without the dedication of properties like Whispering Pines, and other members of the AMA, Project S.A.F.E. wouldn’t be the success it is today.

Hellen Keller said, “alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” It is with this mentality that Whispering Pines is looking forward to their next year of participating in Project S.A.F.E. Follow us at Aperto Property Management to see what they’ll do next. To read more about Whispering Pines and their involvement with Project S.A.F.E., check out page 19 of Arizona Multifamily Association’s May/June issue of Apartment News.

When it comes to sharing your apartment listings, the possibilities are truly endless. You want to be sure your listing is seen by as many people as possible, but where to start? It seems like there are hundreds, if not thousands, of sites where you can share your listings. To help, we’re outlining the best sites to share your apartment listings.

 

Your Property Management’s Webpage

Ideally, your property management company should be sharing your listings and driving traffic through their webpage. By optimizing basic SEO strategy, they can ensure your page is showing up in web search results. When potential renters visit their page they can see all your properties, any neighborhood information, and contact the property manager directly with any questions.

 

Apartments.com

If you want to show your listings on one of the most comprehensive rental databases available, Apartments.com is your best bet. They give potential renters more search filters than other sites and allow users to draw a map of their ideal region. One of the best things Apartments.com provides potential renters is a commute estimator tool; that way they can find something close to their work without any surprises.

 

Zillow

There’s a reason Zillow is one of the most established rental sites. Since its launch in 2006, Zillow established itself as a mainstay in the real estate world. It has information on over 110 million properties and allows potential renters to find listings based on their budget, location, and other important factors. Most recently, Zillow launched a feature where potential residents can apply to multiple listings at the same time; making it even easier for you to get leases.

 

Zumper

Though Zumper lists apartments like every other site, it offers a few extras. When a potential renter views a listing they can see a chart of rent trends in the area and an interactive map showing schools, bus stops, and the walkability score. Also, potential renters can easily customize their search based on budget, listing type, neighborhood, and so much more. Also, the Zumper app shows your listings in real-time, allowing potential renters to see a listing as it’s posted.

 

What are your favorite places to share your apartment listings? Any tried and true favorites we missed? Let us know in the comments.