Attract renters by ensuring your properties are kid-friendly and child-safe!

Property owners know, every apartment must be safe for every age (and the Fair Housing Act protects all families who wish to rent). Rather than looking at child-safety as another task on your to-do list, savvy landlords know that appealing to families is important. Families with kids are often stable, responsible renters—here’s how to create a child-safe property to attract great tenants.

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Spring cleaning doesn’t stop at the front door!

Spring is a time of renewal. As the flowers bloom and the birds return, rental agreements start to reach their conclusion. Whether in a college town where students leave for the summer, or a complex where wedding season means couples move out and into their first home, spring often brings “now renting” signs. Potential renters often decide whether or not to consider a building at first glance. To avoid vacancies, it’s crucial you increase your building’s curb appeal.

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Knowing how to prevent frozen pipes will help you protect your properties from major disaster and damage.

When pipes freeze in your rental properties, the results can be disastrous. Prevention is the key to averting crisis. There are plenty of steps for property managers and landlords to take, to ward off disaster. Educate your renters on preventing frozen pipes and the signs to watch for, before it’s too late. Here’s what every building owner needs to know.

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The ideal tenant is within your reach. Rental property repair and improvements are a worthwhile investment to increase occupancy in your building.

The rental market is growing, particularly in urban areas. More people are opting for the convenience of renting and living in town—which is great news for property owners, particularly in cities. While you can’t change your building’s location, simple property repair, improvements and upgrades will easily increase your appeal to the ideal tenant. Not only will upgrades boost your occupancy, you’ll retain great tenants who are willing to pay a little more for their ideal property.

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Are you considering opening your rental properties to pet-owners?

Many Property Managers are changing restrictions on their units and buildings from pet-free to pet-friendly. If you’re wondering why, here are the benefits.

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As seasons come and go, so do renters. Here’s how to advertise a property for rent and find prospective tenants during the off-season.

As a building manager, it’s tough to know how to find good tenants. No time is this truer than the off-season. Whether you’re in a college neighborhood when students leave for the summer, or you’re trying to fill vacancies when the weather turns cold, finding your ideal prospective tenant is a challenge. You can end up with decisions you’ll later regret. Here’s how to find good tenants you’ll want renting long into the future, even when the leasing slump is over.

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Is the extra money and effort it takes to furnish an apartment worth the work?

Property owners often make tough decisions as to what perks they offer their renters. For many years, utilities-included rental options (heat, energy and water) were a competitive advantage. Nowadays, additional specialized markets have arisen to address more specific renter needs (like small-space studios), so property owners must adapt and offer new services to fit these changing market needs. One such marketplace is fully furnished apartments. Some renters don’t want the hassle of moving furniture into an apartment or worrying about choosing décor. Others have temporary situations, like work or school, which makes a fully furnished apartment very appealing. But is the the extra money and time it takes to furnish an apartment worth it for landlords?

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Until the time is right to put some big money back into your rental property, you can improve the look and feel of the building by making small, inexpensive enhancements.

Rental property improvements are never a bad idea. An updated look often lures in new tenants, while current tenants appreciate seeing maintenance staff around fixing pieces in public areas. The challenge of property improvements is mostly cost. The time spent fixing something up plus the cost of the materials can really cut into a budget if not properly considered. On the other hand, it’s possible to recoup some serious revenue if those improvements lead to great tenants who stick around for the long-term. Let’s take a look at more than 10 great ways to spruce up a rental property for prospective tenants.

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A well-built community makes your property more than a building; it makes it a home for tenants and a hub for an excellent reputation.

Although the common belief is that tenants of a certain age seek to move to warmer weather or assisted living facilities, that’s not always the case. Naturally occurring retirement communities, or NORCs, have been discussed by urban planners since the 1980s. Much like neighborhoods that grow around ethnic and economic backgrounds, these communities grow around residents living and ageing together in the same building for many years. Many of these communities have developed programs to offer social and healthcare services to their members, but you can make your building more attractive to such a community by offering amenities and services that appeal to their demographic. The twist? Many of these features also appeal to younger tenants, too!

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It’s time we talk about a flooring alternative that looks great and will save money. What’s not to love?

Landlords often use time between renters to spruce up the space. Apartment walls get painted, bathrooms get new fixtures and nearly everything else gets cleaned up. Flooring is often overlooked in these refreshes because of the idea that it’s a project that will take far too much time and money. Many landlords also only consider two options when thinking flooring. Hardwood floors are memorable and popular if you have them in the unit, otherwise carpeting is considered the only cheap alternative. Well, there are more options available to property owners that are cheaper, easier to maintain and can revitalize a unit better than a new roll of carpet.

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