• A kitchen that has an adequate number of well organized cabinets has great market value. The residential property management team can get a plan designed by an architect for adding cabinets to the kitchen. The number of cabinets required, their sizes, the number of shelves in each cabinet and the layout of the cabinet should be planned. The kitchen should not look cluttered with a large number of cabinets. It should look spacious even when the cabinets are placed. The cabinets should not be placed high on the wall because it will be difficult to access, more so, if one has to access the cabinets frequently.

• The residential property management team should see if the kitchen is well ventilated and has adequate fresh air supply. There should be an abundance of light and fresh air in the kitchen because this is the most probable place for harboring pathogenic microorganisms. The place should have at least one window through which air flows freely. If it is not there then it should be made. The kitchen should be well illuminated too. The place where cooking is done is the one that needs the maximum illumination. Fluorescent tubes can be used in the kitchen.

• The concept of the kitchen is redefined in the present times. Gone are the days when the kitchen used to be a place where housewives or cooks used to spend hours together toiling to make some good food. The residential property management team should educate the owner about how a sophisticated kitchen can increase the market value of his entire house. But sophistication does not mean that one brings in a whole lot of items and simply shoves them here and there in the kitchen. All the items including stoves, ovens, dishwasher refrigerators, telephones, television sets and the dining table should be arranged well.

• One major aspect of kitchen architecture is the work triangle, at the vertices of which are the cooking place, the sink and the storing area. The residential property management team will have an idea of the different layouts of the work triangle. There are five types of work triangles in all. They are namely, the single wall arrangement, the L Shaped, the U shaped, the G shaped, and the corridor type.

In the single wall arrangement all the three work areas are in a single line and these are suitable for small kitchens. The L shaped arrangement has two work areas in a row along the wall and the third one at right angles to one of them. This allows for a lot of space in the kitchen. In the U shaped arrangement the three work areas are aligned in the form a U and it is an efficient arrangement as the work areas are not disturbed by traffic. The G shape is a modification of the U shape with an extra space for appliances. The corridor also called the gallery arrangement consists of closely placed work centers. The residential property management team should let one know the arrangement that is best suited for his kitchen.

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You do not have to have a degree, you do not have to be a specialized agent, and you do not even have to be an expert when it comes to houses and land. One of the most popular directions that many ordinary people go when pursuing real estate property management is with the buying of houses, fixing them up, and selling them at an extremely fast turnover rate for great profits. This is often called house flipping, and in many places has become a very popular part time or even full time job for some people.

Of course there are always risks involved with anything on this scale, but the best advice to follow if this is something you are interested in is to begin on a small scale. Buy a house that does not need major or extreme repairs, perhaps just some new carpet, a new paint job, maybe some strategic landscaping and a new furnace, etc. You do not want to begin with something on a large scale, such as a house that may have foundational problems, or needs a new roof, has termite damage or perhaps even requires being gutted and starting from scratch. These are houses that someone with experience will be able to look at, assess, and decide whether or not they will turn a good profit after the expenses of the flip. But if you are inexperience and unfamiliar with the housing market to a large degree, you should steer clear of these houses for a while.

If you flip a house and make a profit, even a small profit, a few times, you will begin to get the feel for your local market, the good communities and neighborhoods, and become more familiar with what to look for in houses. Only after you have given yourself this time to become familiar and experienced with this type of work, whether it is a side job or otherwise, will you be able to successfully move on to bigger and better, making your profits rise.

Of course there are many ways to employ real estate property management and flipping houses is merely one of them. It is something that many people not only make money from, but enjoy greatly. Buying and selling houses with fast turnover time can be exhilarating and fun, almost like decorating and fixing your own house, and in the end you get the satisfaction of not only making someone happy by finding their dream home, but you also get to walk away with possibly a large profit. The profit you make from one house can go into the overhead for the next, making it possible for you to spend a little more every time, thus make more money every time. If you do it correctly, this job can only get better and better.

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Another job of a property management services company is to assure the homeowner that they will not need to worry about the maintenance of the interior or exterior of the home, pool cabana, 6 car garage, tennis courts and pool. If the estate is on the larger side, it can take a small crew of people to keep up with all the work the land and the buildings will need. On the other hand if the estate is smaller, one person or two can keep up with all the duties that need to be done.

Having a full time handyperson is very convenient and can save a homeowner money in the long run. The handyperson will become familiar with the ins and outs of the buildings and property and the homeowner will not have to call someone in from the outside because the pilot light is out. Meeting with the handyperson to make a list of duties for the maintenance of the property is essential. Communication on how you want your property managed will be welcomed by the handyperson. They will want to please you and by being on the same page as you, all the duties can be done around the home and land.

Be prepared to shell out some big money for a person to provide full time personal property management services for your home or estate. In larger jobs the handyperson will actually have a small residence on the property so that they are close if any emergencies should arise.

In the medieval times, kings and queens had a staff of people to maintain the castle and the surrounding land. Oftentimes a man would be responsible for the handyman duties and the wife would do laundry, cook or garden. The couple could live in a small cottage on the edge of the property and be paid a small sum of money for necessities. This was the perfect arrangement, the man and wife could live a decent life with a roof over their heads and a steady wage coming in. Job security was a must and the man and wife went beyond their duties to make sure that the king and queen favored them.

You will not find many kings and queens in the want ads looking for someone to provide property management services . But you might be able to find this type of work by looking in the yellow pages. Some companies will hire crews of people to go around and service different properties. This allows the crews to be more efficient and get the job done quickly with more manpower. Property management services can be a good job and it can be a good service depending on your income and whether you need a job or you need the service. Hail to the king and his great looking castle.

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You first must know about the real estate business and what it entails. Having an idea about what goes on in the housing and land market is essential in being a competent appraiser. Many real estate companies will have their own in house appraiser or they will sub contract one when a job is needed. You must also be good with numbers and spreadsheets because you are dealing with housing prices, loan rates, and mortgages.

Being able to compile and research land and real estate information is also a key component of this job. This is because most housing and land prices can be different depending on the neighborhood, area, or even city and town. It is important for the appraiser to be able to gather information about properties surround the land or home in question. Current selling prices, square footage and school districts will also play a big part in the appraisal.

Taking pictures of the property is also a job for someone working for real estate appraisal management companies. Pictures can document the exterior of the structure or home and the land that the property sits on. The interior is also included with emphasis on additions or any specialized features of the structure or home. The pictures are added to the report and kept on file at the office. Digital photography has been a huge improvement for real estate appraisal management companies because you can see the photos as soon as you take them, insuring that you have gotten the correct photo at the right exposure. You also do not have to wait for film to be developed or wait around for the roll to be finished to take it to the developer. This saves time and money for the appraiser.  

So after all of this information is gathered and the numbers crunched the person or business paying for the appraisal will sit down with the appraiser and go over the report. Before selling or buying many people utilize the services of real estate appraisal management companies. Another reason someone might need these services is when they are refinancing their home or land. The property must be appraised before anything else can be done. This is to ensure that the property has value for the current owner or future owner.

Real estate appraisal management companies usually charge a flat fee for their services. This fee includes all the above information and sometimes more information can be completed for additional money. Because of the expansive knowledge that the appraiser must have, they usually make an above average salary themselves. The appraisal then becomes certified and a copy can be obtained for your use. Some states require that real estate appraisers be licensed and registered. This is also for the safety of the customer because much of the information gathered is confidential and should not be shared with anyone not involved with job.

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So why do people go condominium versus an apartment. Well the most common answer to this is you own everything within the four walls and you do not have to do any of the maintenance outside your walls. You are putting your money towards your facility and eventually you will own your space. Now, what is above is not always true at all facilities. With some condominium property management companies, they require more of you as a tenant. With your signature, you will be agreeing to what part of the property you will take care of.

When you are looking for a condominium, if that is your home of choice, you want to make sure that you have a good condominium property management company managing your facility. Most condominium property management companies are listed on the Internet and you can do a full background check on them. When you sign the contract to own your condominium, remember it is just like owning your home but without having to do the maintenance on it. So let us talk about what you have to do in terms of living and maintaining the space and what the management company will have to do.

The condominium property management company is most likely in charge of maintaining the common elements and sometimes some elements that might be limited. Whereas you as the owner of the unit, are in charge of everything that is in the unit. Common elements are all portions of the condominium other than the units. Portions of the walls, floor, and ceilings/attic are considered part of the common elements. Any portion serving more than one unit or any portion of the common elements is a part of the common elements for definitional purposes.

The unit means a portion of the condominium designated for separate ownership or occupancy, the boundaries of which are described in the declaration. The boundaries of each unit are defined as the interior unfinished surfaces of exterior perimeter walls, middle of interior demising walls, floor, ceiling/attic below nine feet above finished floor, doors and windows of unit, any wallboard, plaster, paint, tile, wallpaper, etc. All spaces, interior partitions, other fixtures and improvements, within the boundaries of a unit, are part of the unit.

Now some of the elements are limited that you or the company might need to pay. Limited common elements could mean any air conditioning or heating units, chute, flue, duct, wire, conduit, bearing wall, bearing column, other fixture, whether located within or outside of the boundaries of a unit, which serve only that unit or are allocated solely to that unit. Any shutters, awnings, window boxes, doorsteps, stoops, porches, decks, balconies, entryways, patios, exterior doors and windows, other fixtures designed to serve a single unit, but located outside the units boundaries are limited common elements allocated exclusively to that unit.

So make sure, when you are looking to move into a condominium that you can still own but not have too much of the maintenance, make sure that you know what you and your condominium property management are responsible for. You do not want to end up on the short end of the stick you believe that you do not have to pay for something that is the condominium property management companys responsibility.

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The first duty in home staging for a real estate broker management representative is to make certain that the house looks really good from the outside. This is referred to as curb appeal. If a house does not have great curb appeal, then potential buyers will just keep on driving. They will not even stop to take a look inside.  No one will ever know if it was the perfect house for them, because they will never bother to look at it.

Staging the curb appeal of a house can be labor intensive, but it does not have to cost a lot of money. The seller and the real estate broker management employee will want to make sure that the paint and shutters on the house look okay, the garden and bushes are free of weeds, and that the lawn is mowed and well groomed. The yard needs to be kept watered so everything will look as colorful as possible. The real estate broker management company wants to make sure that everyone driving by wants to come inside and check it out.

Once the potential buyer gets inside of the home, the real estate broker management employee wants every person viewing the home to get that warm and fuzzy feeling. Their hope is for everyone to be able to see themselves and their family living in that space. The best way to accomplish this goal is to completely de-clutter and de-personalize the space.  This is one area where a real estate broker management employee can be very helpful for the seller. 

After living in a house for a while a homeowner does not realize how much stuff they truly have. An outsider from the real estate broker management firm has a far more objective point of view as to what is really necessary, and what is really personal. Furniture needs to be kept to a minimum. Closets need to be cleaned out and well organized. All personal pictures need to be put away. The potential buyer needs to be able to picture themselves living in this space, and that they will convince themselves that they will always keep it tidy and free of clutter. Real estate broker management firms often recommend that a seller rent a self storage unit for a few months to store all of their extras while the home is on the market.

Obviously everything needs to be extremely clean. Yes, prospective buyers will run the proverbial White Glove test behind the refrigerator, on the hood of the stove, and behind the toilets. Pets and their things need to be removed from the area if possible.  The dog and his dog bed can maybe stay at Grandmas house, while kitty and her litter box stay with a neighbor.

A real estate broker management company will often recommend a few tricks for the homeowner while trying to sell their house, like lighting a nice fire in the fireplace. This will give house hunters a welcoming feeling, while at the same time let them know that the fireplace is working and has been properly maintained. Bake some cookies or put some bread in the oven. Again, this shows would-be buyers that the appliances are working.  Plus, it is sure to give anyone that warm and fuzzy feeling that the real estate broker management company is hoping for!

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New construction in the residential sector today is at a standstill.  However, in the commercial field it is burgeoning.  Many people who are in real estate and construction management have switched into the commercial aspect of the field so that they can keep working. 

Building commercial real estate is not that much different than building residential real estate.  The concept is the same, but the process is more involved.  You often have to consider engineering plans, subdividing property and plat approvals when working in real estate and construction management. 

In many cases, those who work in real estate and construction management are called project managers.  A project manager will oversee the development of a new construction site.  This can be either a residential subdivision or a commercial building.   Real estate and construction management will entail making sure the Contractors Sworn Statement is correct and collecting lien waivers from all of the subcontractors and material suppliers. 

Anyone working in the real estate and construction management field should have a thorough knowledge of the real estate laws in the state where they practice as well as the new construction laws.  Real estate laws differ from state to state and it is imperative that lien laws are followed to the letter. 

Another important aspect for anyone working in the real estate and construction management field is familiarity with the city or municipality in which the properties lie.  This is imperative as the construction manager will most likely have to work closely with the municipality when it comes to getting permits and inspections passed.    An adequate knowledge of the building codes for the municipality is required. All real estate and construction managers should be up to date on all permits and codes that are required by state and city laws.

People who usually go into real estate and construction management have experience in the building industry.  They may be builders or general contractors.  Many builders whose business did not survive the real estate market crash are involved in this aspect of the real estate industry as it can be quite lucrative.

If you are planning on getting into real estate and construction management, you should have a complete knowledge of the real estate laws, especially as they apply to new construction, in your state.  A background in new construction is also desired, whether it was that of a job superintendent or a builder.  Keep in mind that residential and commercial real estate are different animals and will require different knowledge.  Classes in real estate construction management can also be very helpful, but most management companies or developers will be looking for people with experience to join their real estate and construction management team. 

The difference between those working in property management and real estate and construction management is that those in real estate construction management work on the property prior to the sale.  This means that they are in charge of making sure that the contractors or sub contractors do the work, meet with approval from the municipality, and are paid in a timely manner.  Those workings in property management assist in running the daily operations of business after the property has been built and open to the public.

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First came the treasure hunt for the water shutoff valve. Our home is about 30 years old and unlike more updated homes, the valve wasn’t conveniently located between the two water pipes under the sink. Joel and I spent at least an hour looking for a valve. Finally, we just shut off the water to the entire house.

Shortly after doing so, I realized this meant that we had to have the sink reconnected by the morning so we could have running water. And that’s when I became the victim of Do-It-Yourself mania!

The cabinetry holding the sink had been custom made and apparently put there when the house was built. It was badly outdated and had countless layers of paint. (The cabinet doors didn’t even open because the previous owners had painted them shut).

On TV, the comical host and carpenter exchange How To tips while they show all of us viewers how easy it is to remove a sink and countertop. If only it were that easy in real life! I sincerely hope that whoever built that cabinet built the rest of my house because not even a gale force wind could knock it down. It took me over 2 hours to demolish the structure.

We thought it would be smooth sailing once that beast of a sink was out, and after I had a few war wounds from the hundreds of nails poking out of the boards. Wrong again! Tiling is apparently not a 2 hour job; it’s more like a 6 hour job. At least it is for me. When I was ready to mix my cement, I had to laugh. Where was I going to get the water? I had the water shut off to the whole house!

Luckily, the grocery store was open in the middle of the night. The cashier looked at me rather funny when all I purchased was 6 gallons of water. Nonetheless, I got the water we needed and I spent the rest of the night kneeling in a very small space for a very long time.

I’ve learned my lesson not to bite off more than I can chew next time. And take it from me, they make it look way too easy on TV. Plus they have all the fancy tools and techniques.

Written by Sarah Little, TQAS Director

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During different times of the year, the caller’s storage needs might change. In the winter, they might be in need of a storage space due not wanting some of their belongings to get to cold. This would be an advantage for those facilities that have climate control. During the spring/summer months, you might hear many home remodeling storage needs. 

Many people out there do not think of calling a storage facility when they need to do some remodeling. They can get their belongings completely out of the house so they possibly won’t be damaged. Some local storage options offer a free truck or a mobile vault to suit the caller’s needs.

So depending on the time of year, the caller’s needs will change. Be aware of this and be able to create some value around why they should store at your facility. With your ability to identify why their needs and accommodate them, your facility will reach capacity.

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The branches were falling on our porch just inches from the house. We were one of the lucky ones because the tree and its branches never fell on the roof or our house. My neighborhood has tall oak trees and mature pine trees in almost every yard. Just two houses up the road, a tree fell onto the garage of one home. At least two trees fell over and pulled down power lines across the road.

It was a breath of fresh air when we saw the tree cutters rolling in from neighboring states, some from as far away and Louisiana and Colorado. They quickly cleaned up the mess, all except for the mess in my back yard.

My homeowners policy doesn’t cover tree removal unless the tree falls onto the home and because our back porch isn’t a covered porch, it isn’t considered an extension of the home.

Even though it looks like I’ll be cutting up a tree with the next thaw, I’m counting my blessings. Many homes were damaged and are now in need of some major home remodeling and repair. The huge tree in front of the boys’ windows didn’t lose one limb or ever threaten their safety.

Written by Sarah Little, TQA Director

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1. Make sure garden hoses are unhooked and outside faucets are winterized
2. If you have an older home you might want to put clear plastic coverings over the windows to prevent cold air from leaking in
3. Keep patios empty so that snow and ice removal will be easier
4. Rent a self storage unit to store away those grills, bikes, patio furniture to keep them out of the weather
5. Check you dryer vent to make sure it is in good repair and clear of any lint buildup
6. Check trees on your property to make sure they are not close to any power lines
7.  Use your garage to park cars (garage- park cars, that’s a great idea)
8. Keep you walkways and sidewalks clean of snow and ice
9. Be a good neighbor and help out someone in need

These are just a few tips on how to make your home, yard and garage survive the winter a little better. A self storage unit is a great way to get some of those extra garage items out of the way so your vehicle will fit. Call your local self storage business for information.

Written by Natalie Thomas, TQAS executive.

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Have you ever noticed that on those shows they start by clearing out the room? Do you ever wonder where they put all that stuff? I bet they rent a local self storage unit or have a mobile storage unit dropped off outside the home.

Self storage goes hand in hand with home renovations and remodeling projects because it makes the process easier. Not having to trip over the couch because it’s propped up in the hallway or not chipping the china cabinet because you’ve stacked all the kitchen pots on it may just save a marriage or two.

The cost for renting self storage on a short term basis is relatively inexpensive and well worth the peace of mind you’ll get in knowing your items won’t get paint spilled on them. If your remodel results in an ever-growing to do list, long term self storage often has its benefits by offering extended stay discounts to tenants.

They say the most important step in any home renovation is the prep work. Consider self storage one of the key ingredients to a successful home renovation.

Written by Sarah Little, TQA Director

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