8 Ways We Help Self-Managing Owners

For investment property owners who are self-managing their rentals, the decision to hire a property manager isn’t always straightforward. For many, it may be difficult to justify the additional cost. Some prefer to retain control over their rental properties. Others may believe that nobody can look after their investment as well as they can. While these are all legitimate reasons, self-managing a rental property is a lot of work. Between screening tenants, handling maintenance and repair requests, and staying current with new rent control laws, running a rental property is a full-time job.

Recently, on the Rent Portland Homes by Darla Andrew YouTube Page, our business manager, Arely Sanchez, shared eight ways we can help self-managing owners. These aren’t low-impact areas, either. In every way, our goal is to take care of our owner’s investment, while maximizing the rewards and minimizing the headaches.

1. We Photograph Everything

At the beginning of every engagement, a Rent Portland Homes by Darla Andrew representative takes hundreds of property photos. We like to see what the property looks like, so we can track its condition over the years and maintain a detailed property record. We send these photos to every owner, along with a narrative, so that they see everything we’re seeing.

2. We Conduct Annual Rent Assessments

This is a crucial step many self-managing owners overlook. Every year, our team makes sure your property’s rental rates are up with the market to maximize potential revenue. These annual rent increases aren’t typically significant. However, by making small increases each year, owners avoid the sticker shock of a large rent increase that comes all at once.

3. We Employ Nine Staff Members with Over 35 Years of Experience

When it comes to property management, expertise is invaluable. Our clients benefit from our combined knowledge every single day. Regardless of the situation, someone on our team has dealt with it before and can provide practical strategies and solutions, so you remain successful. It’s hard to put a value on that kind of support.

4. We Use the Latest Technology

Each of our clients uses our Appfolio software, which provides 24-hour access to owner statements, completed work orders, security deposit details, and rent rolls. At the end of each year, owners can access their essential tax information as well. We find this process improves transparency and enhances trust with our valued clients.

5. We Commit to a 48-Hour Turnaround for all Repairs

Handling essential repairs are a critical way to protect your property and service your tenant. We offer our clients the option to be as involved in this process as they want. They can choose to complete the repairs themselves, use our in-house handymen, or hire one of our 100 local vendors. This flexibility gives owners more control, and, in many cases, can end up saving them money.

6. We Advertise on All Platforms

A rental property is only profitable when someone is living in the home and paying rent. With that in mind, great property managers do everything they can to limit the downtime between tenants. At Rent Portland Homes by Darla Andrew, we commit to an aggressive digital marketing strategy for each of our available properties. This includes Zillow Premium — which means your ads come first — as well as Facebook and Instagram.

7. We Conduct Live Walk-Through Videos for all Our Properties

Everyone is extra busy these days, which means it’s sometimes difficult for potential tenants to attend in-person showings. That’s why we conduct live walk-through videos for every available property. With these videos available, it’s easier for prospective tenants to see a property and make the decision to apply. We’ve also been known to do face-time showings for out-of-state clients as well. Anything to get your property rented and putting money in your pocket each month.

8. We Document Everything in Detail

Before a new tenant moves in, our representatives conduct extensive move-in documentation, which includes taking 400-800 photos of the property. We repeat this process at move-out, so, that in the event of any disputes, the property condition is clearly documented in photo form. Tenants also sign off on a detailed checklist with each property. This process helps protect our owners from unexpected costs as well as preserving the condition of the property over the long term.

Contact Us for More Information

After reading this list, the value we bring for every self-managing property owner quickly becomes apparent. Not only do we work to maximize your investment’s return. But we also protect your investment as if it was our own. If you’d like to learn more about how we can help you manage your rental property, contact us today. You can speak with Darla or Arely by calling our offices at (503) 515-3170 or by filling out the contact page on our website. We can’t wait to show you why we’re Portland’s best property management company.