Yet Another 5 Inexpensive Ways to Improve Rental Properties

Property owners and managers are competing for new residents at an advantageous time. Depending on the area, more people are looking for rental properties now than last year at this time.
One reason is that fewer people can qualify for mortgages. Thus, there are fewer qualified homebuyers.

We are also hearing anecdotally that many areas are still experiencing higher-than-normal vacancy rates.

So to compete effectively and economically, property managers are “turning up their imaginations” to make their properties more desirable. Here are five ideas to consider:

1. Remove old or tattered window coverings and replace them with inexpensive Venetian-style blinds. Choose neutral colors and models that are easy to replace.
2. Install portable “odor-eating” air purifiers. If your rental units smell clean, prospective residents will notice. You can also buy some inexpensive plug-in room deodorizers and create the ambiance you think pleases the nose.
3. Replace the knobs and handles in the kitchen cabinets if possible. Any qualitative touches you can add to your kitchens including sufficient lighting will make your rental feel more like home.
4. Yes, as we mentioned before, consider putting up a new shower curtain and rod in the bathroom. If you want to go a step further, add a bigger, nicer mirror as well. They are not expensive, and many times, the bigger the mirror, the bigger the bathroom looks.
5. Make sure the inside of the refrigerator is extra clean and smells great. You can add to the appeal by placing some fresh-baked cookies inside the refrigerator. Offer one to your prospect, and they will remember how kind and thoughtful you were.

Property managers would be wise to leave a lasting impression on everyone who comes to look at a vacant property. One way is to have an attractive, color flyer or brochure with a list of all the advantages of being a resident at the property you manage.

Don’t be afraid to add creative touches. Something as inexpensive as placing a couple of flowering indoor plants on the kitchen counters may brighten the interior and indirectly remind the prospective resident that your property is livable and cozy.

As property managers, we have to be careful when sizing up potential residents. If we also remember to be friendly and courteous, we will brighten their day and leave a positive memory about your property.

NEW LUXURY APARTMENTS, THE TIMBERS, IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION

Neighborhood leaders have been hopeful the redevelopment efforts in Hazel Dell would help sprout subdivisions and make the region attractive to new residents. The opening of The Timbers, a 45-unit luxury apartment complex located walking distance from the NE Hazel Dell Avenue Target and new retail district called Hazel Dell Towne Center, demonstrates the area is well on its way to its revitalization goals.

The Timbers apartments offer amenities usually found in high-end, downtown buildings - granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, 9 foot ceilings, underground parking, and a club house with gym, sports lounge, and special events room.  The Management Group, Inc., a local property management company, is currently accepting rental applications for The Timbers’ one, two, and three bedroom apartments.

“Hazel Dell is an ideal neighborhood for a new apartment complex,” explains Carmen Villarma, President of The Management Group. “Residents can walk to Target or Safeway in 5 minutes and be on the I-5 freeway in 3 minutes. The accessibility of the area is highly desirable and, with more people making Hazel Dell their one-stop shopping destination, we anticipate The Timbers will be popular with professionals, retirees, and families wanting luxury and convenience.”

Sharif Burdzik, with Riverview Community Bank and Vice President of the Hazel Dell/Salmon Creek Business Alliance (HDSCBA), says, “The HDSC Business Alliance welcomes new and redevelopment projects to the Hazel Dell area. We support plans with the mission of improving land use. The Timbers is a valued addition to the community.”

“The Timbers project will absolutely help with the revitalizing of the Hazel Dell area,” agrees Vicki Fitzsimmons, Board Member of HDSCBA and Financial Advisor at Edward Jones. “Drawing new residents to Hazel Dell will not only benefit the local businesses and economy, but encourage industries and corporations to consider Vancouver a rewarding location to establish themselves and grow.”

The Hazel Dell/Salmon Creek Business Association provides a positive forum for business owners, employees, neighborhood associations, and community representatives to gather and share information and common issues impacting the Hazel Dell/Salmon Creek area. Their website (www.hdscba.org) has information about upcoming sponsored events, association membership,

and news about matters affecting the community – most recently the requested sidewalk improvements along Highway 99.

Supporting community leaders from the Vancouver Chamber of Commerce and the HDSC Business Alliance will be present at The Timbers’ ribbon cutting Thursday, December 5^th, from 4 – 6pm (cutting at 5pm). Local residents, business owners, and community members are invited to attend the ceremony. For more information about The Timbers, visit www.thetimbersvancouver.com or phone (360) 448-7908.

# # #

For more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Carmen Villarma,  please call 360-397-0334 or email: Jennifer.Riddle@TMGnorthwest.com

How to make your apartment look and feel bigger!

Follow Practical Tips to Make the Most of Your Living Space

One thing you can't do as a renter is make your apartment bigger. But, when it comes to decorating for small spaces, there's nothing to stop you from making your apartment look and feel bigger. In fact, the good news is there's a lot you can do to make that happen.

Remember how your apartment looked the day you moved in? Your place was certainly no larger that day than it is now, yet it probably appeared bigger to you. An apartment almost always looks its biggest when it's empty, and once you start to add furniture and decorations, your home will tend to start looking and feeling smaller.


Fortunately, with smart planning and careful decor decisions, you can minimize this effect and help make even small spaces look and feel bigger.

Ideas for Making Your Place Look And Feel Bigger

Here are some suggestions to make your apartment look and feel bigger:

• Use light colors. Thinking of painting your apartment walls? Consider this: Light colors tend to make a room look bigger, while dark colors may have the opposite effect. Say you're expecting a baby girl and want to paint your nursery pink. If you fall in love with a certain pink color, strongly consider choosing a lighter shade of it. Most paint manufacturers offer palettes that show how lighter or darker shades appear, as well as small paint sizes so you can sample one or more colors at home.
  
  It's always a good idea to buy a sample of any color you're considering to see how it looks on your wall before you redo the room. Very often, people are surprised to see that the color they liked looks darker than they thought, possibly because of the lighting in the room.
  
  In addition to wall colors, if your rooms are on the small side, consider staying away from dark colors or wood stains when it comes window treatments and furniture.
  
  
• Declutter. Keeping your apartment looking organized and free of clutter creates a sense of openness and serenity. Try to keep your desk clear of papers, drink bottles, and the like. If you must keep documents on your desk, instead of in a drawer, arrange them into neat piles, rather than give the appearance of a disorganized or scattered mess.
  
  
• Be more selective with wall decor. When it comes to wall decor, you have so many options. But before you rush to fill up your walls with framed pictures, prints, and the like, consider placing a limit on the amount of wall space you'll cover. If your walls are almost completely covered with hangings and other decorations, they can start to feel like a busy mosaic that threatens the open feeling of a room.
  
  
• Leave breathing room around furniture. If you're buying, say, a bedroom set, it can be tempting to buy more pieces than you need, especially if you get extra savings with additional pieces. But just because a piece of furniture "fits" doesn't mean it's the right choice for the room. You have to consider the room's decor, as well. Pieces of furniture crammed into a room may provide maximum storage, but such an arrangement can lead to a busy feeling. Going sparser with furniture creates more open spaces in a room, which makes the room look and feel bigger.
  
  When it comes to a specific spot in your apartment that you're trying to furnish or decorate, try to leave some breathing room between the edge of the furnishings or decor and the boundary of the area.
  
  For example, say you have just over 42 inches of space between the trim of your bathroom door and that of a closet door. You find a console table you love that measures 42 inches wide. Perfect, right? Not really. While this table might technically fit in the space, it will almost certainly create a stuffy feeling in the room. A table that measures 34 inches in width allows for breathing room on either side. When you look at the space, you'll see the table along with some extra space on either side that gives the feeling of openness.
  
  
• Keep the air fresh and clean. To make your apartment feel -- and not just look -- bigger, you should consider the air quality as well. Weather permitting, keep a window or two open to allow fresh air to enter your apartment and stale scents to escape. Consider adding plants and room fresheners to enliven the air as well. An apartment that feels stale or stuffy can be stifling.
  
  
• Lighting. Make sure your apartment is adequately lit. Dim lighting casts a shadow on your home, making colors appear dull. This, in turn, can create the feeling that a home feels smaller than it really is.
  
  Open blinds and other window treatments during the day to let the sunshine in. (This can also help keep heating bills down.) Check the maximum wattage limitations for your lighting fixtures. If you're using 60-watt bulbs on a fixture that allows for up to 100 watts, consider changing your bulbs if you feel the lighting is inadequate. If your apartment doesn't have much or any overhead lighting, floor lamps can do the trick to illuminate a room. When it comes to lampshades, opt for lighter-colored, more translucent ones that allow more light to permeate the room.
  
  
• Mirrors. A mirror is both functional and decorative, but it's also illusional. Have you ever walked into a restaurant and, until you saw your reflection on a long mirrored wall, you weren't quite sure whether the restaurant was twice the size? I'm not recommending that you plaster your apartment walls with mirrors, but the point is that a large, well-placed mirror or two can give the impression that your apartment is bigger than it is. Plus, a mirror that has a frame to match the colors and style of your room also serves to enhance your apartment's decor.

Reference About.com

The Management Group
Property and HOA Management in Vancouver WA and Portland OR
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How To... Create A Cozy Space With Ease

How To... Create A Cozy Space With Ease

Because of the tough economy, many long-time homeowners are now finding themselves returning to the days of renting. When you are living in “someone else’s” house, it can be hard to make it feel like your own. Follow these easy steps to make your rental house feel as comfortable as your favorite reading chair.

Many former homeowners are deciding to rent instead, free of mortgage constraints. Even though it is nice to avoid the property taxes, interest rates and falling home values, it can be difficult to transition from owning a home you can do anything with to living in someone else's home with rules to follow. These steps will help you go from feeling like a guest to being ready to host your first get-together.

Step 1: Read the rules

Read through your entire rental agreement for guidance on what you can and cannot do to the interior and exterior of your home. If you do not see information on things like painting walls, hanging pictures or moving items that are not your own, ask for clarification. Get any and all clarification in writing.

Step 2: Work with what you have

If you are unable to paint, put holes in the walls or change the landscaping outside, start looking for creative alternatives to make the home feel more like your own. When you are unsure of whether a change will be within the guidelines of your rental agreement, check with your landlord. It never hurts to check and doublecheck -- and check again.

Step 3: Find alternatives to paint and wallpaper

There are many attractive options for decorating walls that can be easily removed. For kids' rooms, there are wall decals that will make you forget you ever pined for paint. If you want to spruce up your room or add some spice to your kitchen, try sites like Etsy or Allposters.com for unique wall decor ideas.

Step 4: Hang pictures without holes

If you can't stand an empty wall or a hallway that isn't lined with photos of your family, don't despair. Many manufacturers now make products that will hang your pictures or artwork without a single nail. Try products from the 3M Command line that allow you to hang pretty much anything without ever picking up a hammer.

Step 5: Scope out stand-alone decor

Wander through the aisles of your favorite store for home supplies and you can find stand-alone options for anything, from holding your toilet paper to displaying your wine collection. There are countless ways to work with a "no hammer and nail rule" in your rental find. Even a potted plant in the corner or a lamp you love can make you feel at home again.

Step 6: Liven up your landscape

Maybe you had a gorgeous garden at your last home or loved planting flowers every spring but now you don't have the space or the privilege to rearrange the landscaping outside your house. Spend some time at your local nursery and find a hanging plant or two. If you have some must-haves when it comes to growing your own fruits and vegetables, you can always plant them in clay pots or even grow herbs on your windowsill or balcony.

Step 7: Enjoy!

Whether renting was your first choice or your only option, there are countless ways to bring your own sense of style and make it work for you. Spend a little time channeling your creative side and your rental house will be a home in no time!

Reference:
Jessica Watson
She Know How To

The Management Group
Property and HOA Management in Vancouver WA and Portland OR
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Apartment Ideas - Focal Points

Creating a dramatic focal point

Having a focal point is essential to a good design. All compositions needs a centre of interest for the composition to make visual sense. Creating a focal point is one of the most important design step you can take – it will help you to create order and a feeling of balance in your apartment.

Natural focal points

A natural focal point Some focal points occur naturally in your apartments architecture such as fireplaces, alcoves, picture rails and feature windows. These features will draw the eye to them giving you a feeling of structure and balance the room. Consider yourself lucky if you have a focal point in your apartment already as this will make furniture arrangement much easier as the point of focus has already been established for you.

Making a focal point stand out!

Fireplaces are excellent focal points as they are visually captivating and appealing and also provide a source of warmth and comfort. You can easily make your fireplace area the 'star' of the room by dressing up the mantle, hanging a mirror or a picture above it and adding fireplace accessories or by simply painting the area in a bold colour to make it stand out even more.

Fabrics that are colourful or have interesting texture or patterns are a great way to create visual interest. Add drama to a feature window by framing it with curtains made from vibrant and luxurious fabrics – keeping in mind the bolder the pattern or colour the more visual attention it will get.

Joanne Vanderhoef
Media and Marketing Specialist
Reference: Apartment-Ideas.com

The Management Group
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Tips: Your Home's Energy Use

How We Use Energy in Our Homes

A home energy assessment (sometimes referred to as an energy audit) will show what parts of your house use the most energy and suggest the best ways to cut energy costs. You can conduct a simple home energy assessment by doing it yourself (DIY) or, for a more detailed assessment, contact your local utility or an energy auditor. Also, you can learn more about home energy audits and find free tools and calculators on energysavers.gov, the Residential Services Network or the Building Performance Institute.

DIY Energy Assessment Tips

• Check the insulation in your attic, exterior and basement walls, ceilings, floors, and crawl spaces. To determine the insulation R-values in different parts of your home, visit the Air Leaks and Insulation section.
• Check for air leaks around your walls, ceilings, windows, doors, light and plumbing fixtures, switches, and electrical outlets.
• Check for open fireplace dampers.
• Make sure your appliances and heating and cooling systems are properly maintained. Check your owner's manuals for the recommended maintenance.
• Study your family's lighting needs and look for ways to use controls—like sensors, dimmers, or timers—to reduce lighting use.

How can I decorate effectively in a small apartment?

How to go about decorating your apartment depends a good deal on the space itself, and smaller apartments or studios often require a special approach. Here are some things that might make the task a bit easier:

• Mirrors can make the place look significantly larger.
• Opting for smaller furniture can help make more space.
• Consider putting some items in storage to make the apartment more livable.
• Take advantage of empty space for storage, such as under the bed.
• Utilize some organizing pieces, such as a bookcase or shelving unit to maximize vertical space.
• Add rods, shelves and cubes to your closet space to free up the living area for decorating and keep it from looking cluttered.
• If you are painting, add a darker color to one wall (often called a focal wall) to give the room more depth and style.
• Keep the overall color of small apartments light to make them look bigger.
• Use angles when placing furniture. It can help prevent areas from feeling closed off and give a more open, airy impression in your space.
• Buy "double duty" pieces of furniture that have storage built in. Look for things such as footstools that have a removable top and coffee tables with drawers in them.

Advantages of Leasing From a Property Management Company

The real-estate market is so massive and so popular today that it gave birth to a lot of third party companies. Consequently, without real-estate, these businesses will fall. Property management companies, for example, are so dependent on property rental that it will render completely useless should the former seize to exist. It's undeniable though that those who managed to ride on the wave of a booming trend are ingenious in a way. Instead of competing with many others who are already on the trend, they did something else to benefit from it without much competition. Also, real estate management companies are easier to form. It is more on the selling and persuading side of the business, no capital or any sort of monetary risk required.

Aside from managing properties - keeping them in good condition and running - it is also part of a real estate management company's duty to keep the units occupied. Without tenants, the business would become a liability because of mortgage and taxes. Filling in a vacancy is a crucial and painstaking process that will require landlords, good property managers, and property management companies. It's better to invest a bit higher on good ones than have it cheap and see your property go unoccupied for extended periods. You didn't decide to do real-estate to see something like this.

On the other hand, if you're not a landlord, what exactly can real estate business companies do for you? If you're looking for a place, you can go directly to a property management company and ask for one. They will process all of the necessary paper on your behalf and a wide array of properties are already existent in their portfolio for you to choose from -- whatever fits your taste and lifestyle. No need to go to anywhere else for more choices. If you decide to deal directly with owners, you will have to meet landlords one by one which takes too much time and effort.

Property management companies also give you an array of payment options to choose from, be it cash, postdated checks etc... You won't have to worry about being scammed for they are guaranteed legal. Similarly, if you're a landlord, property business companies will give you reliable property managers who will manage everything about your properties for you so cash will keep on flowing every month with very minimal effort on your side. They make sure the properties are fine round the clock, and they answer to repair concerns at ridiculous hours at night. However, concerns have to be urgent enough to be legible for a prompt response.

Regardless of whether you're a tenant or a landlord, professional management companies will come off advantageous for you. Make sure though that when you utilize the service a real estate management company, you are certain that it is legally operating with a business permit, and is anchored to the ground with an establishment. Preferably, you'll choose the ones with a proven track record or ask your friends for recommendations.

Courtesy Rental Choice

Three Secrets to Profitably Renting Your House to the Right Tenants

It’s not easy being a landlord. You have to get your house ready to rent. You have to advertise to get perspective renters. You have to select the right renters. And then you have to be at their beck and call in the case that they have a problem with the house. And then you have to collect the rent when they’re late or evict them when they don’t keep their promise to you. What a headache!

Or you can learn the secrets to being successful landlord and put all those headaches behind you. Here are three secrets to successfully renting out your house.

SECRET ONE: SCOPE OUT THE COMPETING PROPERTIES

To find out what you need to do to maximize your success, tour competing properties in your immediate area, acting as if you are prospective renter. You can find out how the other landlords treat their prospects and steal their best methods and make them your own.

Make sure that you pick up copies of their marketing material-that is what they give prospective renters to take away to remind them of what they saw.

Ask for a rental application to see what kind of things they’re looking for. Ask if they have a sample lease agreement that you can review. Not every landlord will make this available to you, but it’s worth asking for. (Look at my other articles for a free rental lease that you can use as an example.)

If you want to have the complete experience, fill out a rental application and see how you’re treated. You can just say that you found some other place or changed your mind if they pick you to rent the house.

If you do this with half a dozen properties, you’ll get a great idea of property conditions, rent ranges, and terms and conditions that are common in your area. If you’re new landlord, this experience can teach you a lot in very short time.

With this information it will be easy to see if it’s worth it for you to rent your home, or if you want to let somebody else manage it, or if you want to put on the market to sell.

SECRET TWO: MAKE YOUR HOUSE VERY DESIRABLE

If your house is just like every other house on the block or like every other apartment in the building, it will be difficult to attract a great renter that will take care of your house and pay the rent on time.

On the other hand, a clearly superior home will attract better renters and allow you to command a higher rent. The kind of people who you want as good tenants will be embarrassed by a dingy and worn-out home. They won’t want to bring their friends and family into that environment.

This means you need to invest a little extra in the house to make it look great. With the information you gathered from Secret One, above, you can decide how to put minor upgrades into your home that really stand out from the competition.

I do simple things like upgrade light fixtures, install new flooring and carpeting, replace the kitchen sink, replace the bathroom sink, and replace the drip pans on the stove so it looks fresh and clean.

Consider fresh paint or carefully touch up the walls so everything looks clean and tidy.

I also make sure that the property is absolutely spotless, with clean windows, clean entryway, and professionally cleaned carpets. I also replaced all the light bulbs with maximum wattage bulbs so that the house is as bright as possible. A dark house doesn’t show well but a bright house moves fast.

SECRET THREE: SET YOUR RENT AT LEAST 10 PERCENT HIGHER

 A slightly higher rent then the competing properties won’t scare away the type of renters you’re looking for, but will move along the cheap skates that you don’t need in your house. And besides, it will be worth it to your renters because your house looks so much better since you’ve followed Secret Two, above.

To make your higher rent stick, create a marketing page that calls out all the valuable capabilities and features of your home.

Courtesy Rental Choice

Landlord Tenant Disputes Can Be Avoided

Landlording is all about educating yourself on making the right decisions.

Finding and keeping good tenants is the biggest task that a landlord has to face every day if he or she is to stay in business long term. In order to get the most out of your income property, you have to find renters who are responsible and willing to maintain your property in good shape. There are many important landlording resources and tools on how to find good tenants, but the important part is to know how to keep great tenants and retain the edge over your fellow landlord competitors.

There are things you need to do, and others to avoid to find and keep the right tenants. While there are many good tenants out there, there are also bad apples that need avoiding and a diligent assessment regime will help sort the good from the bad. Any responsible tenant will be happy to answer your questions during the application process, will understand why they are being asked for the information and willingly provide evidence of a clean track record to secure a good property. After all, if they withhold or give you false information, you let them know up front that you are going to verify all the information given to you through a background and criminal check.

If you want to know how to find good and reliable tenants, the first place to start is with the right advertising. Many landlords use just one or two avenues, and this can be a mayor mistake. You need to use as many advertising outlets as you can. Be smart about this process, if you are looking for good tenants, don’t advertise where most likely you’ll attract the opposite. Make sure you have good photos that show the property off to its best and ensure that all information is up to date and correct facilities are included to avoid wasting everyone’s time. Research the price of rentals in your area and rather than undercutting the price of other landlords why not offer 1 month free or a free gift such as a TV or a computer. Perceived value by the tenant and less money given away over the year on your part. Start advertising with your local papers, professionally made signs and try the website based agencies that offer a good country wide service also.

The next step in the process is screening. In order find out how to keep great tenants, you need good tenants to begin with. You need to do background checks on any of your potential renters, and while some of these resources are free, the most thorough services cost money. Trying to save a few dollars here can cost you thousands later. You can offset these costs by charging a fee to your applicants. Not only do you need to run a credit history, but also a criminal background check as well, delinquencies on rental payments,evictions etc. It’s not enough to just get references, but you call these people as well. There is also nothing better than meeting with your tenants in person as not only will this open the relationship but you will also have a gut feeling if things are not right.

For some tips on how to keep great tenants; be straight talking and up front with your renters. Present your property well from the outset and if your tenants have a problem in the residence, be prompt about fixing it. Have a list of emergency numbers to give them if they can’t get in touch with you. These are just a few tips on how to find good tenants, and how to keep great tenants once you’ve found them. Happy landlording!

One Lake Place Apartments Vancouver WA

ONE LAKE PLACE APARTMENTS	Starting from$750
5264 NE 121st Avenue Vancouver, WA 98682 (360) 892-4000 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (360) 892-4000 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Condo style living in 1, 2 and 3 bedroom floor plans in gated community that backs up to greenbelt! These brand new apartments each come with their own garage and are waiting for you to move in! To apply, please go back and click on Vancouver, WA homes for rent and choose the actual unit you wish to apply for.

Unique Info:
W/D Hookups
Trash Paid
Gas Fireplace
A/C in Most Units
Built-in Microwave
Patio/Deck
Location: View Map
Email: ONE LAKE PLACE APARTMENTS