Looking Toward the New Year
As another year ends, many people take time to reflect on the past year. Generally, this leads to setting goals and making New Year's Resolutions. Our company is busy reviewing 2016 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 resolutions for the upcoming year.
Continue Our Education
We start with continued education because it shapes and influences all our goals and resolutions. When we continue to learn more about the many complex facets of managing rental property, we immediately improve our services. It is important to take the time to attend workshops or seminars on Fair Housing, current lead-based paint legislation, mold issues, advertising opportunities, new marketing techniques, notice requirements, technology, and more. Increasing our knowledge, implementing new tools, and improving our landlord/tenant skills help reduce risk and liability for your property.
Continued NARPM Membership
One key source for education is our membership and participation in NARPM®, the National Association of Residential Property Managers. Monthly we receive a multi-page newsletter with important articles to update us on current housing issues and trends. The educational opportunities at state conferences, and national conventions, are always informative and first rate. Therefore, a definite New Year resolution is "to continue membership in this valuable organization."
Review the Code of Ethics
Ethics is simply good business and doing what is right. When we joined NARPM®, we agreed to abide by their code of ethics. Although we have always worked to conduct our property management business in a fair and ethical manner, it is always good to review the code of ethics periodically, and this is a "required company resolution" for any year.
Increase Marketing
Whatever the market, there is competition and a need to keep up with marketing trends. Therefore, we are always evaluating the online sources we use for marketing and our website. The Internet has become the advertising media of today and we will work to continue to keep up with this fast-paced and valuable resource in the New Year.
Reduce Vacancies and Strive for Quality Tenants
We will always work on this goal - "to reduce or eliminate the vacancy period, but never sacrifice the ultimate goal to rent to qualified tenants." While renting a property quickly is important, only good tenancy will ultimately improve the bottom line for our investors.
Continue Preventative Maintenance Measures
As always, we plan to use measures that will prolong the economic life of your rental property. This renews another resolution - "to continue preventative maintenance measures to prevent or reduce repair costs in the future."
Update Technology and Communication
Technology has great impact on our business with bookkeeping programs, web sites, Internet advertising, email communication, computerized filing, online statements, forms, and more. We have worked at implementing and improving technology in many areas of our office. Our goal is to continue to learn and use more technology with next year's resolution "to improve services and communication to our clients."
