Property Management: Best Practices at Limnios Property Group

Property management in Perth, Western Australia is a tricky job that requires a wide variety of skills. From being able to identify the needs and desires of tenants, to juggling finances and maintenance, property managers must be reliable, organized, and excellent problem solvers. But with so much on their plate it’s easy for them to neglect some of these tasks, which can have disastrous consequences for all involved.

The best practices for property management that we will discuss are:

  1. Scheduling and Quality Control
  2. Time Management
  3. Budgeting and Financial Accounting
  4. Property Management Training and Development
  5. Customer Service
  6. Tenant Relations
  7. Accommodating the Disabled.
  8. Legal Documentation
  9. Emergency Planning
  10. Maintenance and Repairs
  11. Tenant Move-in/Move-outs
  12. Evictions and Lease Terminations
  13. Insurance and Liability Issues
  14. Property Presentation and Marketing

Scheduling and Quality Control in managing rental properties

Scheduling is a vital aspect of property management


Landlords, as owners of rental properties, need to understand that they are in the business of providing living spaces for people to live and make their homes. Professionally managed properties are usually cleaner, safer and more pleasant places to live. Having a quality management system can make a big difference in the perception of value provided by your property.

The well-being and safety of the tenants is essential to everything else. This is why it is important that you have a solid management system in place, one that limits damage due to neglect on your part or on the part of your personnel.
order to maintain the sequence of activities. The checklist may also contain fields in which a property manager can record notes about specific steps or issues encountered during implementation activities.
We will now discuss best practices in time management for property managers managing rental properties.

Time Management Best practices relating to property management


In order to be an effective property manager, management personnel need to develop an excellent ability to manage time. A successful property manager will have to juggle the needs and wants of tenants, while simultaneously attending to maintenance requests, problem solving and financial matters. Time management is essential for success in this business because it will help you stay on top of issues and prevent them from spiraling out of control.

We will now examine Budgeting and Financial Accounting Best practices for property managers managing rental properties.

Budgeting and Financial Accounting Best Practices for Property Managers


The budget should be prepared by the manager/owner in order to clearly communicate with the owners or shareholders as to where the funds are being allocated. It should be prepared with the information the other managers or owners will need to know, so that the Manager can make decisions in a timely manner and take action to solve any problems as they arise. The budget is also used for reporting purposes.

The function of a budget is to provide an accounting of expenditures across all departments of your organization. The purpose is to audited and approved by management before going into effect. As important as it is for anyone who handles money, it’s especially important for property managers because of the great number of expenditures involved in managing rental properties.
Managing these expenditures can be very challenging, especially when you are trying not only to meet budgets but do everything that tenants might ask you to do.

Next we will discuss best practices for a property manager in relation to training and development.

Training and Development: Best practice for Property Managers


Staffing your rental property with the right personnel is essential to maintaining a consistently high level of performance. Recruiting, hiring and training staff to provide quality service is an integral part of any property management business plan.
Training for the supervisory staff should include the basics of the job, and should also focus on developing skills in decision making, conflict resolution, and maintenance/repair techniques. Other training might be needed depending on the duties that are required by each position in your establishment.
Training for staff who provide services to clients (such as customers) will likely be different from that which is provided to employees or those who work directly with other employees.
To be an effective property manager you must be able to delegate responsibilities effectively.

Best practice for property managers who service landlords and property owners


A property manager who provides good service to their landlord or property owner should be able to maximize profit and minimize expenditures. When a property manager maximizes profit and minimizes expenditure, they increase the chances of success for the business. Top 3 ways that a property manager can do this are:
-Identify needs as they arise in each area of the company
-Be able to work with staff efficiently and effectively
-Manage financial information effectively

But equally important to being a good property manager is not simply providing excellent service to landlords, but also to provide an excellent experience to tenants.

Tenant Relations


The most important points to focus on when dealing with tenants are providing a good experience, and listening to your tenants. The tenant wants safety, security, cleanliness and a comfortable living space.

Working with the tenant to find ways to meet their needs is the core of what you do as a property manager because it is your job to be the liaison between the tenant and the owners/landlords. Good communication skills are essential in being able to identify these needs and solve problems before they become big issues for either party involved.

Now let’s discuss how property managers need to accommodate the needs of the disabled.

Best practices for Property managers in relation to accommodating the disabled


Property managers who manage rental properties have many duties that must be completed. It is very important to ensure that you accommodate the physical and mental needs of your tenants. You must also ensure that you are complying with the The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA).

It is important to remember that under the The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA), all public accommodations must be accessible by those with disabilities, which includes tenants in your rental properties. If a tenant has a disability which makes it difficult for them to move around the property, or if their disability prevents them from accessing all of the units in their home, it is illegal for them not to be accommodated.

Best practices for property managers with regard to Legal Documentation


Property managers are responsible for ensuring that most legal documentation is correct and dealt with on behalf of the property owner.
The main things a property manager must focus on with regard to legal documentation is :
-Maintain accurate records
-Provide legal notices to tenants for any reasons (such as nonpayment, or material damages) which can include:
-Eviction notices (if necessary)
-Repair notices
-Owner/Lessor notifications of intent to take legal action against the tenant in court.
This is a general overview of what a property manager must do with regard to legal documentation.

Emergency planning for rental properties: Best practices


Property managers must be prepared for any emergency that might befall a rental property. The best way to ensure that you are prepared for an emergency is to ensure that it won’t happen in the first place.
Property managers must take measures to ensure that no events occur which could cause significant damage or injury to the people who are using their properties. It is important to note however, that your focus should not be restricted by what emergencies you might personally face.

Maintenance and Repairs

A property manager must ensure that the buildings, grounds, and all of the equipment on the rental properties are in good repair. If a maintenance issue arises, property managers will do their best to resolve it as soon as they are able. However, if an emergency happens which prevents them from addressing it immediately, they will have representative handle any maintenance requests until the situation is resolved.

It is very important to be clear with tenants about what happens when there are repairs that need to be done. One of the biggest and most time consuming activities for a property manager is dealing with maintenance and repairs.]

Tenant Move-in/Move-outs


Property managers do all the heavy lifting when it comes to tenants vacating or moving into a rental property. The main things a property manager must focus on is making sure that the property is clean and well-maintained for the new tenants.
You must also ensure that you are complying with any regulations which state what time you should be finished with repairs and maintenance.
No matter how many times a tenant might move into or out of a home, it is important to communicate any changes to them. Not only will they appreciate knowing what will be happening around them, but they may also decide that they want to move into your home regardless of what was said to them previously. For this reason, it is important for you to be able to communicate effectively with your tenants so as to minimize any surprises they may have when they arrive at their new home/property.

Best practices for eviction notices and lease terminations


One of the most difficult and uncomfortable aspects of property management is dealing with evictions and lease terminations. Evictions can be taken for a number of reasons, but it always comes down to the landlord/property manager’s right to do what they deem necessary to ensure that their property is safe, secure, and well maintained.
The main things a property manager must focus on are:
-Informing the tenant that they need to vacate the premises.
-Allowing tenants time to correct any problems they may have before issuing an eviction notice.
-Informing tenants of the reasons for eviction (where legal)
-Having all legal documentation completed properly prior to signing anything.
-Promptly following through with law enforcement regarding any issues regarding tenants who are evicted from their rental property.

There are best practices for a property manager regarding Insurance and Liability Issues


Insurance and liability cover is important for landlords because it protects them from financial loss.
While there are best practices for how a property manager should address these two concepts, it is important to note that it is always up to the individual property manager to determine what works best for them and their rental properties.
Although there are no specific best practices in relation to insurance and liability, it is important that a property manager do their research and make sure they are properly covered before they take on any potential risks.

Property Presentation and Marketing


The most observable aspect of property manage is how they present a rental property to potential tenants. This is particularly important if you want to achieve a high occupancy rate.
Best practices
-Provide tenants with information regarding the property (location, etc.) in an easy to understand format
-The condition of the property should match what was advertised.
-Advertise properties for tenants which are convenient for their needs and their lifestyle.

Property management is a business where there are many different variables which are always changing. This makes it very difficult for someone to predict what will happen with regard to their financial risk, without having been through the process themselves and being able to look back on past situations and see how they have been handled.

Conclusion

In this blog post we discussed some of the factors which a landlord must take into consideration to ensure that their property management team is running smoothly. We also discussed the various best practices which can help you to achieve an occupancy rate which will make your rental property more attractive to tenants. The information provided in this post is intended for educational purposes only, and should not be relied on as legal advice.