Houston Property Management Tips

Over the years, courts have made many rulings based on the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, URLTA. When faced with a difficult case between Landlord and Tenant, a judge will often consult the fine points of this Act before rendering a decision. Important Landlord/Tenant Law often stems from these judgments. A number of st...

Pests can be a problem any time during the year and are a common occurrence in the property management industry. If you check the dictionary, there are varying definitions for pests - here are three common ones. An insect or other small animal that harms or destroys garden plants, trees, etc. An annoying or troublesome person, ...

There have been incredible weather events happening all other the world - earthquakes and tsunamis in Japan, tornadoes throughout many states, and flooding along the Mississippi to name a few. Insurance is a necessity for investment property. You pay with the hope that you will never have to use it for unforseen events. With all the diff...

Fair Housing law defines retaliation as an act of harm by the owner, manager, or agent against a resident or applicant because that resident or applicant has asserted their fair housing rights. This important legislation protects the right of the applicant, resident, prospective homebuyer, or loan seeker to file a discrimination case, or...

What IS a Rental Emergency? It is important to understand what a rental emergency is. Depending on whose perspective it is, whether it can be owner, tenant, vendor, or property manager, it can mean different things when it happens. The definition from Wikipedia is An emergency is a situation that poses an immediate risk to he...

Carbon monoxide is another area of risk management that has been creating new laws in many states. Currently, at least twenty-five (25) states have legislation on carbon monoxide detectors requirements. Please note that various states have different requirement in their laws. Federal agencies are working on legislation to encourage all s...

It is natural to want to obtain the highest rent possible when your property is vacant. A long vacancy can cause frustration, anxiety, and anger. However, holding out for more money can be more costly than you think. When this situation occurs, it is better to use a mathematical approach. Write down the expenditures for your investmen...

No investor wants to hear that there is a possible or definite lawsuit to defend. Although there are times you cannot avoid legal actions, most of the time, property owners can by being proactive. Here are seven positive steps to follow to reduce your risk. Never ignore necessary repairs. Habitability is at the heart of landlord/ten...

As another year ends, many people take time to reflect on the past year. Generally, this leads to setting goals and making resolutions for the New Year. Our company is busy reviewing 2010 and planning on how we can improve our property management services to you, our clients. Here are some of our key property management goals and resolut...

Water is a necessary element to support life and when it concerns rental property, water usage must be available to tenants. However, water can be destructive. This can come from an act of nature, such as a serious flood or hurricane. If there are repairs left unchecked in a rental property, water can cause anything from minimal to major...