The number of U.S. housing markets on the mend rose by five to a total of 263 in June, according to the National Association of Home Builders/First American Improving Markets Index (IMI), released today. The list includes entrants from 49 states and the District of Columbia.

Would you like an easy way to track the performance of your property management SuperStars? Will a large on-site activity board really make a difference? You bet! This article will give you three easy ways to improve the performance of the properties you manage because what you see is what you get!

Setting up your on-site
activity board:

Moving to a new house, condo, or apartment this spring? Before filling your home with furnishings, there's something you might want to do first: paint. Experts of every stripe - from realtors to authorities on painting -- say that one of the very best times to do interior painting is just before moving into a new home. Here are six reasons why, according to Debbie Zimmer, paint and color expert for the Paint Quality Institute:

Reason #1

The guide to successfully turning units

Dear Maintenance Men:

What’s the best way to handle move in, move out and billing efficiently?

A: Portland General Electric has several suggestions to make all of these processes easier for multifamily property managers and owners.

Move-in/move-out account transfers
You should contact PGE five business days before a tenant’s move date, so we can record account and meter information. There are two ways to contact us with this time-sensitive information:

The most common competency listed for virtually all job descriptions is good communication. A new white paper just published by the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM®), explores just what it takes for real estate managers and practitioners in other fields to become effective communicators, and therefore better leaders.

Today property management is a different industry than it was 20 years ago, much different. As managers progress technologically so do their clients. These clients want 24/7 access to their property data and expect constant communication. Managers who are accountable, flexible and work to integrate new technology into their process are poised for immediate and future success

As market conditions change, many leasing consultants are eager to use rent concessions and other incentives to entice people to rent at their communities. Yet even when there are few vacancies, it’s hard to break the habit of readily promoting a “bargain,” rather than the value received for the price. The following concern was recently brought to my attention by a property management company:

Following the strongest cement consumption gains in seven years in 2012, cement consumption growth will continue in 2013 with a 6.2 percent increase. According to the latest forecast from the Portland Cement Association (PCA), the majority of market recovery will occur in the second half of 2013.
"Recessions correct imbalances generated during boom periods," Ed Sullivan , PCA chief economist said. "Few economists doubt the generation of a large pent-up demand during the past several years. The question is, when the economy will unleash its potential for strong growth?"

Highlighting the economic strength of the apartment industry in front of Congress, Tom Bozzuto, Chairman and CEO of the Bozzuto Group, represented the National Multi Housing Council (NMHC) and the National Apartment Association (NAA) before a House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee recently.

Can’t attend the 2013 NAA Education Conference & Exposition in San Diego, or are going to miss a great session? Don’t despair—you still can enjoy the best education sessions in the apartment industry, including video!

NAA and NMHC unveiled a new integrated campaign targeting policymakers on May 6.
Titled “Apartments. We Live Here,” the campaign utilizes print, radio and digital ads, direct mail and an informational storytelling website experience. It highlights the 35 million apartment residents building their lives and the $1.1 trillion economic contribution the industry and its residents add to the economy each year.

Spring has sprung and so have leaks, cracks, weeds, you name it

Spring has sprung… it’s maintenance season! After the winter thaw come the winds, the rain, the leaky pipes and roofs, the cracked paint, the weed surge, the potholes, need I say more? It’s a time when property maintenance becomes a frantic rush to stay ahead of the routine schedule, so you can also tackle the unplanned issues.

This is also a time that puts your retention rates at risk.

The Landlord Times is the leading source of news and information for landlords, property managers, apartment owners and other rental housing professionals. Our Utah edition in the official publication of Utah Apartment Association.

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With more than 260,000 rental units in Utah, there are thousands of security deposit disputes each year. In many of these cases, the dispute comes down to a disagreement between the landlord and tenant over damages and cleaning. This problem is best solved with a thorough and detailed inspection process.

Housing cost burdens among working renters rise for third straight year; cost burdens remain steady but challenging for working owners.

Buried under mountains of property management paperwork? Do the projects seem to never end? Imagine how good you would feel if every day you could start with a clean and organized desk? Well dream no further! By following the three powerful tips listed below, your dreams will become reality!

Setting up your system:

Qualifying prospective renters can seem especially challenging when you must establish their eligibility to rent based upon income. While it is necessary to determine if callers and visitors can qualify to rent at your community, coming right out and asking someone for their annual income can be perceived as an invasion of privacy. (Would you like a total stranger to ask: “How much money do YOU make?”) Recently the following question on this subject came up:

Dear Maintenance Men:
My tenant has a toilet that has little cracks in various places. It has small cracks, but no leakage. I looked online and they said you could epoxy it or replace it...but you must do something. How can you tell what will work? What would be the best thing? Also, do toilets just crack over time? (“I read your column every time! That and the Legal Corner one.”)
Kristina

Dear Kristina: