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Commercial real estate property management organizations might have to brace up for a low-key business period in the coming times because the investors have turned away from investing in new ventures, even though the financial crunch that the business assets industry and other related industries are facing seems to be of a temporary nature. Industry optimists feel that the success of the assets industry that is in a drowning stage now, is certainly going to resurface again in the coming times. Hence, the short termed pessimism prevails over the long termed optimism of the investors who are restraining themselves from making any investments in fear of encountering losses.

Any good commercial real estate property management organization will observe that since the global credit crunch, many of the financial institutions have stopped providing loans to the business investors. In this way, many businesses belonging to other industries are also suffering. The global economy has plummeted to significantly low levels and is not showing much signs of escalating in the coming times. But this does not seem to be extinguishing the hope of the assets industry optimists who feel that the industry has the capacity to withstand the adversity and recover well.

The commercial real estate property management organizations will appreciate the fact that banks and financial institutions have started attaching stringent clauses to the repayment agreements. The high interest rates of the loans are turning away the prospective purchasers of business assets. The economy forecasts look pretty uncertain and there is unemployment everywhere.

The stock broking industry is also undergoing a crisis. Added to this, tenants who are seeking places for business establishments want to hire for short periods of time, making hiring out assets a less profitable business for the investors. All these factors are making prospective investors significantly apprehensive about investing in business assets. As a result the availability of assets is increasing by the day. For example, storage facilities may look for a buyout if their investors want out. This is a good opportunity for someone in the position to find self storage and acquire ownership of a turn-key business.

The commercial real estate property management organizations might have realized by now that there are no takers for the assets that are available even if they are located in very good locations and have a good market worth. The buyers of assets are not interested in the hired accommodations business opportunity. On the whole, the capitalization rates have risen. Banks and financiers do not want to extend loans for purchasing sites. The equity buyers have doubts about the performance and worth of the assets. Assets with enhanced market worth are the ones that are being in demand at present.

The commercial real estate property management organizations feel that the sales will increase only when the financial markets start showing signs of definite recovery and the money lending policies of the financiers stabilizes. For the present, the assets investors are neither buying any new assets nor selling their existing assets. They are just conserving the assets that they have at present and they want to get through the crisis as soon as possible. A number of people are expecting the credit crunch to leave any room for financial recovery. The financiers are also expected to come up with more reasonable lending conditions with the necessary quality assurance measures to avoid such catastrophe in the future. The interest rates are expected to be reasonably priced so that the investors reconsider their decisions of drifting away from the business. However it will take a while before things are brought back to normal.

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Do you like numbers? Do you like research? Do you like taking pictures? Do you like paperwork? Do you like helping people? If you answered yes to all of these questions then you might consider working for some real estate appraisal management companies. People that work in real estate appraisal often work with several different businesses. This job is specialized work that requires some special training.

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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This market, at best, is unstable. Many people and families are deciding not to stay in their house any longer and start to rent again. They believe that by renting they can escape the pressures of adjustable rates and personal property tax. Even though most people think going to an apartment is the way to go, they are actually wasting their money. They are giving money to a property owner that is paying on the overall building, which the individual customer use to do when they had a home.

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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There is a property management company located in the Midwest that specializes in taking run-down government housing areas and turning them into places where people are proud to live. This family owned property management company has been doing this for over 80 years and has won numerous awards, not to mention made many needy families very happy.

This is a highly specialized niche that this property management company has chosen to focus on. They have to constantly remain up to date on governmental policies and codes. This property management company works closely with the Federal Housing Administration so they are able to comply with all of the rules and regulations.

This property management company first finds a subsidized low-income government housing project that has fallen in disrepair. The buildings are falling apart, the area is crime-ridden, and the tenants live in constant fear. Drug transactions are commonplace, gunfire is frequent, and the police are constantly called to the area. People living in the housing units are afraid to leave their homes. They often will pack their trunk the night before they leave town and leave all of the lights and radios on, so no one knows they are not at home. Children are not permitted to play outside. These are the types of conditions that this particular property management company concentrates on.

This property management company informs all of the tenants of the new rules that must be abided by, or they are no longer welcome to live in the area. Guns and drugs are not permitted. Drug sniffing dogs are used to go through the housing units to detect any illicit substances. 

Then this property management company refurbishes the interior of each apartment. They get rid of all pests and rodents that may also be living in the buildings. They paint walls, lay new carpet, and repair holes in doors. The property management company puts in new and updated appliances. Furnaces and air conditioners are modernized and brought up to code. The property management company makes sure that smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are in good working order.

Not only does this property management company work on the buildings, but they also work on the morale of the residents. The property management company puts in playgrounds and neighborhood gardens. They designate an apartment or nearby building as a community center. Adults are able to take classes in computers or child rearing or to attain their GED in this community center.  Children can get help with their homework or play games or have birthday parities in the center. This property management company knows that giving people a building to live in is just half of the battle.  The spirit and the self-esteem of the people living in the buildings are just as important!

This property management company knows that turning these dilapidated areas into a neighborhood where everyone is proud to live is a win-win situation for everyone. The value of that particular property and surrounding properties increases, therefore increasing property taxes. Less public funds are spent on the constant police and law enforcement presence. Drug dealers and other criminals know they are no longer welcome and take their business elsewhere.

This particular property management company does an excellent job of taken blighted and crime infested government housing units and turning them into places where people are proud to call home. And this property management company knows that helping to enrich the lives of the residents is just as important as fixing some buildings.  Reinvigorating the community is of the utmost importance!

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Storage-Mart on Griffin Rd – Dania Beach, Florida

Wine Storage

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Apartment property management businesses have several things in common with condominium property management companies. Obviously, both types of management firms are responsible for seeing that the property is well taken care of, thus the name!  However, there is a major difference between the two situations. Apartment buildings are full of renters and the tenants of buildings working with a condominium property management firm are made up of many owners. These are two groups of people with entirely different mindsets.

Both the apartment and the condominium property management companies are responsible for all of the maintenance and upkeep of everything that is outside of the buildings. This includes the actual structures, the yards, the driveways, the swimming pools, etc. 

As far as the buildings go the apartment and the condominium property management firms all need to make certain everything is neatly painted, the roofs are shingled, and the gutters remain free of debris. The yards need to be carefully landscaped, the trees trimmed, and the flower gardens weeded. Driveways, and the streets in the area if they are private, need to be patched and repaired, and cleared of snow and ice. Swimming pools need to be covered in the off-season and safe and clean during the summer months. But there are very different reasons for the apartment and condominium property management companies to be concerned with all of this attention to detail.

A rental company is concerned about their own investment, or at least the investment of the property owners for which they work. They are concerned with keeping the area looking nice so as to appease current tenants so they will continue to be good renters. The management company also wants everything to look great to attract new and responsible tenants to the building. 

A condominium property management company actually works for the people residing in the units. These people have worked long and hard to purchase their share of the American dream of homeownership, and they are relying on the condominium property management employees to help complete that dream. These owners purchased a condo so they would not have to mow the grass, rake the leaves, or shovel the sidewalks themselves.  They purchased their unit so they could watch someone else do it, the condominium property management employee! 

But, of course, these homeowners want to be as proud of their surroundings as if they had maintained everything themselves. Keeping up the grounds under the watchful eye of so many homeowners can be nerve-racking for a condominium property management company to live up to.  If the tenants become disappointed with the way their neighborhood looks, they can always band together and terminate the condominium property management company.

Pleasing curb appeal is vital to any type of multi-family dwelling. It is important to have a dependable and trustworthy apartment or condominium property management company to rely on.

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StorageMart Shermer & Willow Northbrook, IL 60062

Boat Storage

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Many people start off as a FSBO or For Sale by Owner when they are trying to sell their home. Oftentimes these homeowners learn they are in over their head. This is when a real estate broker management company is brought into the picture. With their experience and expertise a real estate broker management firm is able to get a much quicker, and usually a much more lucrative, sale than the naive FSBO.

A real estate broker management company is able to provide many unique services to someone selling their house or condominium. Initially someone from the real estate broker management company inspects the home and does a comparative cost analysis, better known as a comp. A comp matches up this home to others in the vicinity that have either sold recently or that are currently on the market. They compare the two properties according to square footage, the convenience of the floor plan, and how well each location shows to a prospective buyer. The real estate broker management company can then determine the most competitive amount at which to price the home.

After completing the comps and determining the price the next step for the real estate broker management firm is the most important, and expensive, part of the job – marketing the property. The real estate broker management company needs to get the word out to the public about the home. It is important to let the ideal buyer know that their perfect new home is now on the market!

A real estate broker management company has several recourses available to market a home. Obviously an attention grabbing For Sale sign in the yard is essential, but it is not enough. Having pamphlets attached to the sign in a waterproof display case will allow anyone driving by to immediately get some important information.

Newspapers and free booklets list many homes for sale. Pictures of the properties, the section of town where they are located and other pertinent information is all included in this printed material.  Many people make it kind of a hobby to peruse these on a regular basis. Newspapers are also used to advertise Open Houses.  An open house is a great way for a real estate broker management company to allow potential buyers to check out the home in person. Potential buyers are able to walk throughout the property. They can scrutinize the size of the closets, inspect the layout of the kitchen, check for mold in the bathrooms, etc. Many people feel more comfortable going to an open house than contacting a real estate broker management company and setting up an appointment. It also allows the real estate broker management company employee to greet many house hunters at once, while at the same time answering all of their questions. 

The Internet has become the most important tool for real estate broker management companies. With just the click of a mouse all of the information on the website can be entered, changed, updated, etc. This is a long and involved process when dealing with printed material. And the Internet is extremely convenient for anyone shopping for a new house. Buyers are able to surf the net from work, or at the coffeeshop or from home anytime, day or night. Shoppers are able to take a virtual tour of the property for sale without even getting out of their pajamas!

Using a real estate broker management company is a great way for a homeowner to get the word out about their house they are trying to sell!

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StorageMart Rt 59 & Lake Street (Rt 20) Elgin, IL 60120

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Recently, across the country, police have taken numerous reports on storage unit burglaries. Several items were taken from a storage unit located in an east coast town property management business. The report said that someone cut the lock from the customer’s storage unit and removed his property. The items stolen include a pair of skis and 3 mountain bikes. The monetary value loss is estimated over 5,000 dollars.

In the same area, several thefts occurred just after the New Year holiday, with one in which reported a 70,000 dollar loss. Thieves broke into a locked storage unit, stole and damaged the self storage customer’s hobby storage items located at the property management business. 

The big issue here is that these self storage and property management businesses advertise and boast that their property is safe and secure, but what exactly does that mean. You can say that your food storage is safe and secure in a Tupperware container; cars are safe and secure because they are locked; computers are safe and secure because of virus protection. But the truth is food still goes bad, cars are still stolen, and computers still catch viruses despite all of the protection. Safe and secure if a very general term, but it convinces people that their storage is out of harms way. Using a rope to secure your boat to a dock will keep it safe from drifting out to sea, but anyone can untie a sailor’s knot and steal it. So if you are renting a storage unit, how do you know your possessions are as safe and secure as led to be by the property management business?

Find out what storage and property management businesses mean by safe and secure. One property management businesses definition of safe and secure may be simply a small padlock. Other definitions may include a fenced in well lighted property. Though these are nice features, the two police reports above took place on brightly lit fenced in self storage properties. But the customer’s storage unit was still broken into despite the property management business offering security. The truth is that self storage and property management businesses can offer more security then padlocks and bright lighting.

A state of the art self storage property should come with state of the art security features. So when you are shopping for a storage unit and the property management business says his property is safe and secure, ask him what exactly is involved. It should include video surveillance. Video surveillance not only keeps an eye on your storage unit, they discourage thieves from trying. A thief is more likely to rob a storage facility without cameras than one with cameras. No one wants to be caught on take doing something that will land them in jail. So they will find an easier target. Also check if they use pin pad access. Only paying storage unit customers have access to these types of property management business facilities. Some storage properties have alarms and motion sensor lighting.

Do yourself a favor. When you shop for a storage unit don’t just shop for the cheapest price, find a place where you will get the best value for your money. Paying a little more per month for extra security may save you money in the long run.

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Stellar Management Real Estate

Franklin location, 1138 New Highway 96 W, Franklin, TN 37064

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You have read some other blogs about being Green and this blog is a reminder that StorageMart is having a Build It Green Design Challenge. What is the Build It Green Design Challenge? This is a call for submissions for designs that will help protect present and future areas of our Earth.

Categories for Entry include:

Energy Positive Designs/Structure
Gray Water Solutions
Sustainable Construction Materials
Urban In-Fill Strategies
Carbon Negative
Bottom Line Results
New Conveniences and Amenities
Wildlife/Natural Habitat-Friendly
Re-Used and Recycled Materials
Energy Positive

What can you do to make your self storage facility more Green? If every owner and property manager could make one change, it would mean a lot to the movement to be more environmentally aware. You can help the self storage industry become a leader in green construction and design. Making those small changes in you self storage property makes you aware about being more eco friendly; everyone can do his or her part to help the environment. 

Ideas like:
Solar panels
Vegetation grown on the roof for insulation
Reclaimed water
Composting areas for customers
Green building materials
Recycled materials for building
Wind mills for energy

Why you should submit your designs?

• The submissions remain your property so why not share
• Participants will receive free publicity for ideas and designs
• It’s a great chance to pass along your earth friendly ideas to the masses in the self storage industry
• Each category winner gets to promote his or her ideas for even more exposure

Are you ready to submit?

Send your 200-400 word summaries or description and the URL to Tron (see number below) and put green design in the subject field of your email. If you would like the official contest rules then call 866-639-1715 for information. Submissions remain the property of the designer, so share your ideas with us.

We have gathered an excellent judging group from various fields. From green furniture design to real estate to property management, but all these people have a desire to promote the well being of our planet and to make sure that the earth will sustain many, many generations to come. StorageMart recognizes the need to be pro active in this fight to save our planet from its own people. 

We have already been given the thumbs up from the self storage industry as a whole for this project. Why not join StorageMart and all of the other concerned property managers and property owners in being green in 2008? Let us show the rest of the world how great the self storage industry is by committing to a more environmentally friendly doctrine.

Storage Concierge is your premier Storage, Storage Unit, Car Storage, RV Storage, Furniture Storage, Boat Storage, Yacht Storage, Self Storage finder.
 

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A huge storm is making its way across the United States this week.  It started by bringing high winds, mudslides and flooding to many people on the West Coast.  There were huge amounts of snow in the mountains leaving people stranded on snowmobiles and roadways.  By the time it reached the Midwest this storm system collided with warm moist air from the Gulf coast, causing thunderstorms, hail, and tornadoes.  This storm hopefully will ease up as it heads eastward.

All along its path this storm has caused huge amounts of damage for property management teams to deal with, including Columbia, Missouri.  Buildings have been destroyed, towns have been flooded, and roofs have been blown off.  It is essential that all damage be assessed as soon as is safely possible.  (Fixing a hole in the roof during a thunderstorm is a ridiculous idea.  However, covering it with a tarp as soon as the sun comes out will prevent further damage until something permanent can be done.)

After the cleanup is done, take a good look around.  Is that huge tree leaning a bit too much?  Are the tiles on the roof of your shopping mall looking rather worn?  Do those shutters keep banging the windows on that apartment building?  Is the vegetation on that hillside above your self storage complex gone because of a California wildfire?  A good property management team works on repairing problems before too much harm can occur.  Remember, there will be another storm, and an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

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Is going Green on your mind for the start of the year? Here are some ways you can Go Green and help the environment.

• Check with your city about local recycling programs. Many are free or are included in your trash pickup.
• Buy a container to store your recycling materials in. You will find it very easy to recycle when you have the area and container to do it in.
• Use your shredded paper for storing away household items or sending packages to relatives.
• Look into recycling your old cell phones that are in the junk drawer or that the kids are playing with. Many cell phone stores have drop off areas that you can put your old cell phones in so they do not end up in the landfill.
• Turn you thermostat down (cooler) a few degrees in the winter and up (warmer) in the summer to reduce your heating and cooling consumption. 
• Look for Green products at your local store.
• Buy local produce and shop locally for items that you need. This helps the local economy and the local farmer.
• Walk or bike to your destinations or keep your vehicle running correctly and your tires inflated to the correct psi to help with fuel economy.

Of course there are many things you can do to Go Green. If everyone can do just a little bit, it will help. See what you can do this year to contribute to the Go Green campaign.

Written by Natalie Thomas, TQAS executive.

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