Choosing a property management company
When searching for a property management company in the Bay Area to look after your real estate investment, we’ve outlined some considerations. These six pillars are the building blocks of good property management and the hallmarks of Bay Property Group.
Carefully vetted contractors that won’t break the bank
There may be easy, quick fixes like flipping a breaker or changing a light bulb, that does not necessitate a contractor. Whenever possible, our property managers will walk tenants through any remedies that the tenant can effectuate on his or her own.
In the event that work requires the skills of a professional, we have a pool of reliable tradespersons on speed dial.
Shoddy workmanship can lead to delays, expensive results, and worse, create inhabitable conditions and significant liability for the owner. Imagine, for example, a substandard job on a heating system that leads to residents suffering carbon monoxide poisoning.
All of the contractors Bay Property Group calls upon are licensed and insured. Proper permits are always pulled. Before a project starts, our clients know what it will cost - there are no hidden fees. If the work to be completed falls outside of our base management fee, our clients know well in advance. We take the guesswork out of the equation.
Technology built for residents and owners and residents who want an on-demand experience
In one intuitive, powerful platform, Bay Property Group provides a digital environment that will delight both rental property owners and residents. With a few points and clicks, tenants can pay their rent online and submit a repair request to our well-prepared maintenance staff on call to be deployed 24/7 if the situation warrants.
Owners will like the simplicity and ease of reviewing their accounting numbers and finding records in one streamlined place.
As for prospective tenants, they want and expect to view vacancies online and submit their rental application easily. We check that box, as well.
Using up-to-date information in leases, notices, and other important documentation
Is your lease a dinosaur? A recurring issue we have seen with many owners and, for that matter, other property management companies, is that stale, outdated leases and other documentation are still being used.
Landlords have never seen a more complicated era than what 2020 and 2021 have ushered in by way of new laws, regulations, and disclosures required.
At Bay Property Group, we don’t let the grass grow underneath our feet. We keep our leases and other paperwork up to date.
Tenant screening that gives you confidence in renting
Our duty is to protect and optimize your real estate investment, and this begins before the inception of the rental relationship. Good tenants are worth their weight in gold, while bad tenants can stop you from cash flowing, damage your property, and create havoc for neighboring residents.
This is why Bay Property Group leaves no stone unturned in the careful selection of tenants. Although we conduct rigorous credit checks and verify income, technology should not be used as a crutch - many blemishes could be concealed.
Blending online tools and old-fashioned personal sleuthing, our property managers will look for a positive rental history by asking pointed questions to past landlords, as well as asking for personal references. We want to glean as many details as we can about the applicant so that we can paint a picture of the applicant and make the most informed decisions with regard to their desirability.
Experience in the property management industry and depth of portfolio
An analogy we might use is the diverse cuisine you can experience on the food scene throughout the Bay Area. Some restaurants make good dumplings, others make trendy vegan food. You can visit other eateries to get the best prime ribs or come upon a seafood destination to find the best oysters and crab Louie. It’s highly specialized.
The types of rental properties are just as diverse but at Bay Property Group, we manage every variety very well. Whether it is a pristine building, affordable housing, a single-family home or multi-unit building, mixed-use building, and everything in between, our property managers have seen it all. We are uniquely qualified to oversee hybrid forms of housing like warehouses.
Whatever your palette, we can serve it and optimize your real estate investment.
Knowledge of the legal issues surrounding landlord-tenant law
There are many must-haves in a property management company, and knowledge of the law is one of them. Bay Property Group makes it a priority to train our staff on an ever-changing regulatory regime. Whether it is fair housing laws, rent and eviction controls, security deposit rules, and myriad other legal topics that can be maddening to our clients, our staff is well versed, and it comes from the top.
Our broker, Daniel Bornstein, is the founding attorney of Bornstein Law, a boutique law firm that focuses its practice primarily on representing landlords in all manner of thorny landlord-tenant disputes. Investment property owners can get peace of mind knowing that a property management company is intimately familiar with the legal landscape and has an attorney within arms reach.
