Buying to Let Guide - UK Rental Property Management

Buying to let top 10 guide Buying to let This is where most developers end up. Once executed, this can prove to be money for old rope. Ok thats a bit pushing the point, but here i can teach you some really useful tips on how to let with very little fuss. The essetial element is to first consider the previous chapters as just as important as the monthly cheque you receive from your tennants. In effect the two are very much releated. So re-read those chapters before you get to this exciting chapter on how to but to let.

My 10 Steps to success Ok i'm going to make this very easy by revealing my 10 steps. Follow this and you will succeed, ignore a step and you may struggle. Here goes...

1. Find the right area to buy into and make some appointments with local letting agents normally estate agents will be able to offer help with letting too .

2. Once you've picked their brains to assess the state of the lettings market (and discovered what type of properties are most in demand) you can begin the house hunting game. Get several viewings under your belt to get a feel of the market.

3. Talk to mortgage providers early on in the game to ensure that you find the best deal. If you have a personal financial advisor, they will do this service free of charge, use this free service, it may save you money and time along with our useful free development guide on this site.

4. Once you've found a suitable property put in an offer and be patient. What you might think is a silly offer may prove to be a bargain, remember you can always increase your offer.

5. When your offer on the property is accepted you'll need to get a licensed conveyor or a solicitor to deal with the legal and financial paperwork.

6. This is the step that can seem to go on forever, the survey and searches.You will also need to get it valued. Then you'll be in a position to finalise your mortgage arrangements with your finance lender.

7. Who will property manage ? Once you've been handed the keys you'll need to decide whether you are happy to manage the property yourself or if you want to hand it over to a letting agent.

8. The chances are that the house will need some work doing on it, so it's best to get the workmen in there as soon as possible. You will find our buying to let profit calculator useful at this point.

9. If you're planning to let the property furnished it makes long-term sense to invest in solid/ robust furniture (ideally carboot sales house clearances or local auctions are an ideal way of sourcing good solid furniture without putting costs through the roof).

10. Before your tenants take control of the property, do make sure that they are clear on the terms of your contract to avoid any later possible complications.

Rental Property Management http://www.rentalpropertymanagement.co.uk
The Authority on Buying to let property in the UK Your free property development guide

Should You Use a Property Management Company or Manage Your Real Estate Investment in Florida?

When considering investment properties, first of all, it must be determined that it is profitable and a good idea to purchase rental properties. Let?s talk about this aspect. Owning rental property produces rental income which, if after expenses are deducted produces a profit, would be viewed as a good investment. Add to this the possibility that property has the potential to increase in value over time and you have some solid reasons to purchase investment properties.

If the rental income is paying more than the monthly mortgage amount leaving some excess for home repairs, it is possible the home could be paid off entirely by renters. At some point in the future, this same home can be sold with the seller receiving the full value of the property. Sounds like you can?t go wrong in owning rental properties. But is this true? It all depends on whether the investor has thoroughly completed their homework.

If you are presently considering an investment in rental properties, be sure you do some thorough research. It?s important for the property investor to gather adequate information before committing to rental property ownership. Searching the internet, reading real estate publications, attending seminars, and speaking personally with property investors is a great beginning that will place you on the road to making a wise, informed decision. Starting up a business is a little like real estate investment. Knowing the facts and putting time into the purchase gives you a much greater chance of success. Doing your homework can prevent disastrous property investment decisions. Why a Real Estate Investment in Florida? There are many issues that need careful consideration before making a final decision on property investment. These include the location of the property, Are you interested in an urban or rural location? What is the condition of the property, how much maintenance will be required to keep it in good working order? What are your financing options? What do taxes run on that particular piece of property in that location? How will you select tenants?

These are all vital questions that could determine the success or failure of your venture. Let?s refer to the first and probably most important of questions to ask regarding property investment. What location will you choose? In searching for the best possible location, it is important to look at trends among renters. The American population continues to grow with a gain of about one person every 14 seconds. Where are all these new people coming from? An increase in our own population and immigration account for this strong growth. With this in mind, it is safe to say there will be a continued need for housing in the future. Concerning the immigration population, California, New York and Florida lead the list, in that order, in new residents. What a potential pool of people to pull from! Looking at the cost of real estate purchase in these three states, a real estate investment in Florida ranks among the most reasonably priced. Along with the strong immigration growth, Florida is a hot tourist destination, making it an ideal location for the purchase of rental property.

Real Estate Investment in Florida ? Where is a Good Choice?

Along with having the 3rd highest rate of population growth, the high tourism rate is definitely a great reason for a real estate investment in Florida. With its year-round temperate climate and vast array of attractions, both natural and created, it is the ideal location for family holiday vacations. Families and singles return again and again to enjoy the delightful holidays Florida offers. Deciding where to purchase your real estate investment in Florida may be a difficult decision. Tourists in Florida are searching for sun and fun. A real estate investment near the beach, from Key West in the south to Jacksonville in the north and east from Daytona Beach to Fort Myers would offer good returns on your investment. Beach lovers will pay top dollar for rentals near the ocean. Let?s consider Central Florida as a wise real estate investment. Walt Disney World has made Orlando the 3rd favorite tourist destination for overseas travelers. Only Los Angeles and New York City rank higher. With its resplendent and numerous lakes, tropical landscaping and modern, clean skyline, Orlando, the largest city in Central Florida, has aptly earned its title of ?The City Beautiful?. Along with the biggest drawing card of all, Walt Disney World, theme parks such as Universal Studios and Sea World, have made Orlando one of the largest markets in the world for tourism. 2.6million international travelers flocked to Orlando in 2004, according to the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, a 12 percent increase from 2003.

Real Estate Investment in Florida ? Where in Central Florida?

Having established the fact that Central Florida is a hot tourist market, it would stand to reason that a real estate investment in Florida, particularly the Central Florida area, would make good business sense. But how would one go about locating a desirable area and property for this investment? A beginning search would lead you to researching properties listed with the major real estate companies or visit craigslist.org in your area. Deciding which type of property is important. Do you prefer a single family residence, a townhouse or condo? Keep in mind that townhouse and condo purchases may offer onsite property management services. Will your real estate investment in Florida purchase be in a new development, or in an established, older area? Purchasing rental property in a new development often offers pre-construction prices which can be substantially lower than prices post construction. Are you available to manage the property, or do you wish to employ a property management company to take care of the details of property upkeep, record keeping and renter booking? Doing it yourself can save you 6 percent and more of the cost of rent, but can end up costing you if you don?t know what you are doing. If you do not plan on living in close proximity to your rental property, it would be wise to consider spending some extra dollars to employ a property management company. This will save you headaches and time, your own time for property maintenance and the time it takes to locate renters.

Real Estate Investment in Florida ? Consider Davenport, Fl Considering a real estate investment in Florida, just 5 miles southwest of Disney you will discover the quiet, quaint town of Davenport, Fl. Its central location yet off the beaten track give it an appeal all its own. Davenport, Fl is only 2 square miles in size. With its small town appeal, it is an attractive rental option for tourists. Davenport, FL is under 30 minutes from Universal Studios, Sea World, Disney World and other Orlando attractions. It is just one and ? hours from Kennedy Space Center and within an hour?s drive to Tampa (home of Busch Gardens) and Cocoa Beach. After a hectic day at the major tourist attractions, what a welcome respite it would be for renters to lodge in this quiet location which is surrounded by orange groves. Convenience is another drawing card with a Super Wal-Mart, open 24 hours a day, just nine miles away. Kissimmee is just a short drive with its spectacular nightlife entertainment options such as Arabian Nights and Medieval Times. Family oriented Kissimmee attractions, Green Meadows Farm and the Silver Spurs Rodeo are also nearby. The small town environment of Davenport, Fl offers a quiet stay that is near all the most popular attractions, including theme parks, family spots and great shopping and dining, located not far from the Florida Mall, outlet malls and the Orlando Mall.

Bimini Bay, Davenport, Fl

Located in Davenport, Fl in close proximity to Walt Disney World, is a brand new development, Bimini Bay. On 80 acres, 360 three bedroom two bath townhouses are ready for purchase. The Davenport, Fl townhouses are turnkey ready with fully equipped kitchens, appliances and all that is needed to set up house including linens. There will also be 360 fully equipped one bedroom apartments. The planned amenities include a resort pool, two movie theatres with stadium seating, a major chain restaurant, a large Club House, a pool, lazy river, water slides, exercise room, tennis and volleyball courts along with many other features. The best part about an investment in a townhouse at Bimini Bay, Davenport, Fl is that the property maintenance aspect is taken care of for you. The investor reaps the benefits of ownership such as property appreciation and the ability to stay in the purchased property for a minimal fee without the headaches of property management. The onsite management team takes care of maintenance, markets the property and secures renters. The investor receives the same rental income each month, making this a low stress investment. At the beginning of this article, there was discussion on managing rental property yourself or obtaining a management company for this purpose. Purchasing property at Bimini Bay ensures the on-site management will handle all the issues of property management, while allowing the investor the advantage of a steady income along with the benefit of using the property.

Lisa Carson
Real Estate investment in Florida Expert
http://www.biminibayresortinvestment.com
Offering the only Guaranteed Monthly Rental Program in Orlando Florida for Florida investment Properties

Rental Property Management - Ten Questions

Why hire rental property management? Because doing it all yourself is the surest way to make your real estate investment experience a bitter one. You also have more time to find the next deal when there is someone taking care of the details for you. Hire a good property manager, but first ask the following questions.

1. How much is the fee? Fees vary around the country from as low as 4% of gross rents for larger buildings, to as high as 12% for single family homes. Be sure the fee is clearly stated and understood.

2. What other properties do they manage? It is best if they handle rental properties that are similar to yours. It is also helpful to drive by their other properties to see how they are maintained.

3. Who will actually handle your property? It is best if one person handles your building all the time. They should also have some experience. Get their name.

4. What costs extra? Is it extra for showings? Do evictions cost extra (beyond the legal fees)? Any other extras?

5. How is the fee collected and when? Will you be billed, or will it be deducted from your account directly? Monthly? Quarterly?

6. What type of advertising? How do they advertise the units and what does it typically cost you?

7. Cost and time to prepare units? What is the typical cleaning fee on a vacancy, and how long will it normally be before it's rented out again?

8. What needs owner approval? What dollar amount needs your authorization, and is this negotiable?

9. Hours of operation? What are their business hours, and who takes weekend calls?

10. Accounting? What reports do they send? How often? How are accounts set up?

There are probably other questions you'll have as well, based on your particular needs and the particular property. Ask everything up front, and you'll have fewer misunderstandings. With good rental property management, real estate investing is a lot less stressful.

Steve Gillman has invested real estate for years. To learn more, and to see a photo of a beautiful house he and his wife bought for $17,500, visit http://www.HousesUnderFiftyThousand.com

What to Look for in a Property Management Company

?Management is nothing more than motivating other people.? -Lee Iacocca

If you are interested in making money through rental properties you may want to consider hiring a property management firm. New investors want to believe they can do it all themselves and in the process save money. Unfortunately, they get overwhelmed quickly and their exciting investment venture turns into way more work then they expected it too. Property management companies to all the dirty tasks for you. This frees up time for you to seek out your next profitable investment. If you are interested in hiring a property manager you might want to consider the following questions.

Make sure you ask the management company how much their fees are. The national average for management fees is about 4% of the income made on large rental properties. However it can be a good deal more for single family homes, sometimes over 12%. Make sure you understand the fee, payment schedule, and services upfront before you sign a contract and hand over any money. Ask about direct withdraw from you checking account. Streamlining your business is the best way to make sure you are using your time wisely and on the right things.

Be sure to ask them what other properties they managed and the address for a couple of them. This way you drive by and see the kind of outdoor work they do. In addition, you do not a company which usually handles apartments to take care of your family residences or vice versa.

You want to ask who will actually being handling the property and speak directly with that person. It is never too soon to open the lines of communication with the people you are hiring. Make sure this person has experience and can prove it.

Ask what types of advertising do they use. Do they place ads in newspapers, online, magazine, or on the television. How much will advertising cost.

What is the typical cleaning fee for a vacancy and how much time will it take to prepare the place to be rented again.

When are they open and how can they be reached after hours.

Renting properties is a great way to make extra income. The smart and experience investors can even quit work and live entirely off real estate options. However, do you not let yourself become overwhelmed. If you feel like you can not handle your properties yourself hire a management company. This will allow more time for you to do what you want and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Visit the Global Investment Institute and signup for our free Online Investing For Beginners E-Course at www.Global-Investment-Institute.com Investment webmasters or publishers, please feel free to use this article provided this reference is included and all links remain active.

Financial Planning and Interest Only Mortgages - Property Management Business

I have observed many changes in my life over the course of living it, and I can tell you that as you grow older, Caution will become your friend; when you're young, you simply throw him to the wind. As you get older, you wait for him to blow by, and then you reel him back in, why? Caution has only a few friends, but several adversaries: Haste and Waste; after several trips around the block with these two, Caution begins to look like a much better friend. Part of the requirement for being a friend to Cautious, is that you take the time to examine all your options, and make a good sound decision. This is when I was introduced to Financial Planning, 401(k) s, Retirement Funds, etc. I've told this from a story standpoint, but it is in all honesty, the truth. As you get older you do become more cautious in your investments, with your time and your money. Interest only mortgages are one of those options, that if you're investing in real estate for the short term, and you've consulted with a reputable financial advisor, you might want to consider. Investment portfolios do not generally include real estate, so more than likely this is a business venture or an investment business. In either situation, financial planning is a must. This is one of those options, that should however, be considered only after careful planning and thought. The trade off, may be or may not be to your benefit. Long-term investments, those with capital gains, and purposes other than a quick profit, I don't' believe are candidates for the interest only mortgage. The interest only mortgage doesn't offer much in the way of building and growing investment value, because you simply never increase the value of the asset to you. You increase the value of the loan for the lending institution, because you are continually providing a profitable situation for the lender. Your principal investment responsibility never decreases. What about the short-term implications and your financial planning? Well, this leaves many doors unopened and many avenues unexplored. However, given the fact that you're considering the impact of the interest only mortgage product on your financial planning expectations, there aren't very many "short-term" considerations open for discussion. The only short-term advantage to interest only is that your monthly payment is often very low during the term of the interest only payment. When you consider the impact your 401(k), an MSA, an IRA, or any other tax deferred savings or retirement program can have on your bottom line, the interest only mortgage doesn't really have that much to offer in the realm of tax savings, or tax deferment; yes, it's true that your mortgage interest is tax deductible, but not on a one-to-one ratio. Tax deferred retirement accounts, even SEPs, for the self-employed individual have a one-to-one ratio of tax savings. Another long-term financial planning consideration: when you would normally have paid out a regularly amortized loan, you will still be paying on the interest only mortgage. What could the potential savings be, for you, if you weren't still paying on a mortgage? The time value of money is a concept that few consumers ever learn to appreciate. It means the dollar you have today, will be worth less tomorrow than it is today, therefore saving today yields a much better benefit than waiting until you're 35 or 40 to begin saving and planning for retirement. Quite often, your home is your greatest asset, and is the only savings that many consumers have managed to accumulate. If the only payments you have made were for the interest due on the principal, you effectively have no accumulated savings. Now, that might not be an issue for someone in their 20s or early 30s; however, by the time you reach your 40s, you have begun to contemplate retirement, and ways to save for that phase of your life. As I stated earlier, caution and good sound financial planning may determine that an interest only mortgage will benefit you greatly. But, I would only consider this option only after I had taken time for careful consideration and good financial planning.

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Property Management in Louisville

Whether you are just getting started with a few projects in Louisville or are a long time property manager you know that you have quite a busy task ahead of you. Property Management in Louisville is not nearly as simple as it once was. Due to increasingly rigid city codes, a rise in required paperwork, contracts and more, being a property manager is a time consuming venture. There are many time and money saving options available to managers, but none are as effective as the use of property management software

Many property managers have given property management software a try and had great success with it. Not only has it saved them time and money, but it has organized aspects of their business that were previously a mess. Others have yet to even give management software a try because they fear it won't be flexible enough to fit their personal management needs. Contrary to these ideas property management software is actually quite versatile and an excellent aid to property managers.

• Product Management Software Versatility

Many property management software systems are exactly as one may fear. They are tailored to one type of management style and will only work if you manage your property in the way the software is set up to run. This type of software may be good from some beginners, but property managers, for the most part, are incredibly creative and intelligent and want to manage their properties in their own way. If you are that type of property manager you need to find a software program that is flexible enough for varying business plans. A program that is intended for the management of thousands of properties will not work for someone who is only managing ten or twenty properties. A good software program will allow you to manage your properties in the way that you choose to be best suited for your business plans.

• Features

Management software should come equipped with many useful features, but frequently those features are not actually included. Some software programs will list all of the things that they can do, but once you actually purchase them and put them to use you learn that those features are not standard, but come with a monthly fee for their use. A good software program should come standard with all the features it advertises. They should be included in a low monthly fee, and not in addition to the previously quoted fee. You would not buy a car just to find out that in addition to your monthly payments you also will be required to pay a brake light and headlight fee. The same is the case with property management software.

• Online Capabilities

In the modern internet age we live in, it is becoming more and more important to be able to run our businesses over the internet. A business that is not internet friendly is an unprofitable business. This is another thing to consider when choosing property management software. You need a software program that you can use on the internet and whose functions are internet friendly. It would be a detriment to your business to not be able to have this option available. An internet friendly software program is a must.

In general property management software can be very useful when collaborated with your property management in Louisville if you find the right software for your needs.

Kent Fairbourn is an avid sports fan and Client Account Specialist for 10x Marketing. Go now to see how Buildium can help you manage your properties.

Kent Fairbourn is an Account Specialist for 10x Marketing

Property management on Costa del Sol

Now that you have purchased a villa or apartment on the Costa del Sol, Spain, you now face another decision: property management or finding a company to look after your property. Whether your villa is in Fuengirola, Mijas Costa, Benalmadena or Marbella, you need to be sure that the property management company will provide you with all the services you require such as maintenance, cleaning, property administration, holiday rental services, building and refurbishment.

Multi Property Services - gives owners of Costal del Sol property who are interested in letting out their villa or letting out their apartment the confidence and piece of mind in knowing that they can gain the financial rewards of short- or long-term rentals while protecting their property and interest. Here are some tips for you if you are looking for a company in Fuengirola, Mijas Costa, Benalmadena or Marbella to manage your property or letting your villa or apartment.

Property inspections - the company you select should check your property on a weekly basis. Inspections should include a check of all plumbing, baths, toilets and making sure all showers are off and all other fixtures are in working order. It should also include an inspection of electrical outlets and small appliances, again to ensure that they are in perfect working order.

Outdoor inspections - includes the checking of lawns, gardens, and the pool for any damage. The rental property management company should make sure that the sprinkler systems and pool filters are working. The company should also regularly inspect for any pests or vermin.

Property administration - The rental property management company will ensure that utility payments, taxes, and other bills are paid in a timely manner. They should also provide you with a monthly report.

Property inventory - the property management company will go through the property with you, making a thorough property inventory and using that as the basis for checking the apartment or villa after guests have departed.

Cleaning services - Prior to the arrival of guests, the rental property management company should arrange to have your villa or apartment cleaned and prepared for letting. Some companies may, for an extra fee, also offer a greet and meet service for guests.

Mail pick-up - Any mail should be picked up from the property and forwarded on to the owner.

When you do find the right rental property management company, then owning a property in Fuengirola, Mijas Costa, Benalmadena or Marbella will be both a personally and financially rewarding experience. To learn more about subjects like costa del sol property management please visit the web site at: http://www.multipropertyservices.com

Georgi Mollov - Search engine optimization - SEO and SEM

How to Choose A Property Management Firm

When you are comparing the services and fees of property management firms it's a bit like comparing apples and oranges. How do you accurately evaluate the sum total of all the various fees and expenses so you can estimate your annual net revenue? Are there hidden charges and monthly administrative fees that reduce your income? What is a fair commission rate to charge? In Incline Village, the range of property management services and fee structures runs the gamut from bare bones to deluxe.

If you are perplexed and confounded by these issues, then you are not alone. It seems that many property management firms (especially in the vacation rental business) try to nickel and dime their clients to death with excessive charges for cleaning, maintenance, credit card fees, administrative charges, processing fees, the list goes on and on.

Some firms in Incline Village charge a monthly administrative fee on top of the commission that they earn for managing a property. One can make an argument in favor of charging monthly administrative fees for short term vacation rental properties as they require more hands on attention to paper work with guests always coming and going. But charging this type of fee to the owner of a long-term rental property when all the paper work is done up front when the lease is signed is merely a form of gouging and should not be tolerated.

Processing fees are another bone of contention. Why should an owner or an owner-guest pay a processing fee? Companies that engage in this practice are trying to squeeze every penny possible out of the people who are really their clients. If you, your extended family or your guests have ever been charged a processing fee for making a reservation to occupy your own property, then you should seriously consider finding a firm that has more respect for you as a client. Cleaning fees are another area that merits scrutiny. As a property owner you should not be forced to pay a cleaning fee every time you use your place, especially if there are no paying guests coming to the unit between your personal visits.

Also, you should not be required to pay exorbitant sums for the annual "spring cleaning" that many firms insist on doing. If your property is supposed to be cleaned thoroughly after each paying guest, then why does it take several hours and cost hundreds of dollars just to clean a 2 or 3 bedroom condo in the spring time? Are the cleaning services padding their bills? Should you as a property owner and client of the firm have excessive fees extracted from you just because someone at the management firm claims that it took X number of hours to do the work in a unit that should have been reasonably clean to begin with? If you're skeptical about the charges for "spring cleaning", then it's best to either do the work yourself or hire a reputable independent cleaning service. The place will look just as good and you will save substantial amounts of money each year.

It is not easy to find the right combination of great customer service, reasonable commission rates and high-quality care for rental properties. You can expect to find 2 of the 3, but finding all three things is very difficult. Since many firms in this business tend to experience high levels of staff turnover, finding a firm with a well-trained and stable pool of employees should be your first priority. Even if you have to pay a slightly higher commission rate, you will more than make up for it with increased bookings, better service and fewer problems.

On-line booking capability is another big issue, especially when you realize that searching on the Internet is rapidly becoming the research method of choice for both vacation rentals and long term rentals. Any firm that does not offer this service is way behind the times and should not even be considered. The Internet is a great tool for both marketing rental properties and managing the vacation rental business. Just having a web site with pictures and text is not sufficient in these competitive times. If you are working with a property manager who refuses to set up on-line booking by the time you are reading this article, it's time to change services and go with someone who cares enough about you as a client to market your property 24 hours a day on the Internet with on-line booking.

You can find more information about real estate and property management at http://www.InsideIncline.com.

Remember, when the rental office is closed, the only way that someone can book your unit is on-line via the Internet. If your property manager does not offer this service, you are losing business. Customers who search on-line normally want to book on-line and they will go somewhere else if they cannot book your property at the moment they are ready to make to a buying decision!

Don Kanare of Lakeshore Realty, Incline Village, NV is a former business consultant from the Bay Area who uses his entrepreneurial and problem solving skills to help his clients achieve their goals. Don received his Bachelor's Degree from Boston University in 1977 and relocated to the west coast shortly thereafter. Don is an avid fan of the Tahoe lifestyle and enjoys skiing, hiking and outdoor adventures

Real Estate Property Management: Is There a Tenant in the House

 You?re about to take the plunge and buy your first investment property. Should you buy something that you can live in, something you can develop and sell on, or should you buy a designated rental property? If you are going to choose the last option then you need to do your homework first. There are different types of tenancies and every one of them should be handled differently. If you do decide to opt for rental property investment then check out the property investment forum at http://www.singingpig.co.uk/articles.aspx#propertyInvestment
to find out more. It may be more complicated than you think. So before you make your final bid, or put your money on the table, you should ask where there is a tenant in the house.

Some properties that are sold at auction already have sitting tenants. Real estate property management is not for the beginner. To begin with you would need a substantial sum of money behind you if you have set your mind on rental property investment. Then, if you still think you are up for real estate property management you need to do your homework. The property investment forum will give you some insight on what you need to know. For a start rental property investment is not the same as other investments, real estate property management can be a big headache for the uninitiated. The market changes from day to day so what works for one person at a certain point may not work for you at another. You should make sure that your finances are such that they can support you through a period when property market prices go down rather than up.

So you take the plunge and you?re now in the business of real estate property management. You need to make sure that you?ve done your cash flow forecasts because you have to have sufficient funds for property maintenance. Landlords who don?t carry out proper maintenance not only upset their tenants, they could fall foul of the law and find themselves in a worse financial position. Rental property investment may be a good proposition if the place is empty when you buy it because sitting tenants may have a regulated tenancy which means that you could find yourself getting less than the market rental rate. This where the property investment forum can be really helpful because it gives a breakdown of the different types of tenancies.

Sometimes people are anxious to make money in property development but are not fully prepared for all the hard work that needs doing or the problems they may encounter. You shouldn?t be too quick to give up the day job. As this article has already pointed out the property investment market is not static and unless you have some money to fall back on you could find yourself in a lot of trouble. When it comes to rental property, as contributors to the property investment forum point out, if the property has sitting tenants then you will not make the money you might have anticipated. You may see tenants as your bread and butter but sometimes they are more of an expense than an investment.
Julie-Ann Amos is an international professional freelance writer/author and consultant, writing for www.singingpig.co.uk. She recommends their property investment forum at http://www.singingpig.co.uk/articles.aspx#propertyInvestment. For more information on her writing services visit www.exquisitewriting.com.

Complementing the job with Property Management Software

What is property management, a property manager, much less Property Management Software? These terms are fairly self-explanatory and they serve an important function when dealing with rental property and acting as a liaison between a tenant and their landlord.

Before we get into the role and the importance of property management, let's talk a little more about their responsibilities and the roles of a tenant and a landlord. Afterwards you'll understand better where Property Management fits into the whole picture.

The Tenant-Whether they're college students, single residents, or families, various tenants have one purpose in mind; to temporarily rent a home at a reasonable price. Things such as location, price, and quality of the overall home (furnishings, appliances, etc.) will all be taken into consideration. A tenant's responsibility will be to maintain the quality of the landlord's property including furnishings, appliances, as well as the overall interior and exterior of the property while living there. In the event that the landlord's property is damaged, the tenant is held accountable for the damages. This responsibility is almost always covered in an agreement/contract agreed and signed upon the tenant before moving into the landlord's property.

The Landlord-Landlords make profitable earnings from their real-estate, so a continual check on the maintenance on their property will constantly be beneficial. Landlords are responsible for generally updating the furnishings inside the property. Some of these basic essentials include couches, an entertainment system, kitchen appliances, desks and bedding mattresses to name just a few. In a lot of cases, a landlord is physically unable to be an on-site manager of his/her property, usually because they are living out of state or are too busy or overwhelmed to handle the many properties they may own. It is up to the landlord how involved they want to be with corresponding with their tenant. Generally, most landlords will use a mediator to control the business matters with their tenants.

The Importance of Property Management

Property Management serves as that mediator between the tenant and the landlord. Property Management helps both parties in the following ways

Benefiting the Landlord

*Advertises landlord's property to prospective tenants

*Handles all correspondence and assistance with tenants

Benefiting the Tenant

*Fast, local access with on-site management for tenants

*Serves as a neutral party with objective problems of landlord's property.

Property managers have the potential to fulfill a vital role to their clients with the right tools. An important resource such as property management software will help better organize the manager's role as the mediator between the tenant and landlord. With the internet being a popular medium to worldwide users, managers using this software will have the online edge to communicate with their clients at a faster and more efficient pace.

If you are a landlord seeking to take over your own property management affairs, this online software will help you get a jump start on the various duties of property managers. If you are a property manager overwhelmed by your current work, look at your many online software options to help ease your management duties and help you to become a stress-free manager.

Buildium's line of Property Management Software centralizes all the aspects of managing your properties into one simple online software system.

Some Important Facts Of Property Management.

 

The real estate market, specifically property management market for United Kingdom and Spain, evolves constantly and requires all experience and commitment of management professionals to satisfy the necessities for construction, buys and sale of buildings for more demanding clients every day.

And why I say this? Then, the property market is more and more competitive, actually: new companies are born, the technologies innovate constantly and produce new materials, the geographic breach is not more a limit thanks to the increasing and solid commercial relations generated through the Internet, and the receiving public is allows of competitiveness and quality of the present properties management services.

Therefore, it is strategic and relevant that management professionals fuse in an only quality service those points that the receiving market delay of them. A qualified service that integrates:

? Simple and realistic budgets.
? Projects to the measurement of each one of clients.
? Excellent yield at price/quality relation of project.
? Excellence of external contracted services.
? Flexibility, security and confidence.
? Fluid communication channels.

All these points of property management interrelated to each other and verified throughout the process, to principle to aim, establish a relation that offers clarity and confidence between involved parts.

It fortifies communication channels, it clarify the aims and it is the most effective instrument at the time that it is necessary solve no predicted questions that arise like result of new ideas and modification made during the same project development.

The present challenge is create communication channels between the different professionals from the sector to generate integrating strategies, which satisfy a demanding market.

The constant qualification, the multi-sectorial relations, handling of new technologies, the international projection and a solid position through the time are factors that will contribute to that the management of properties be an integral service more and more sophisticate and attractive.
Eloi Ruart. Chartered Surveyor & Arquitecto T?cnico. http://www.hfpmanagement.com eloi@hfpmanagement.com

Property Management Spain

Property Management Spain

Would you hand over the keys to your house to a stranger in the street? I am guessing the answer would be no - unless you have a property in Spain of course!

100's of owners of Spanish property hand over the keys to their holiday homes to property management companies and letting agents on a regular basis. Many of these owners have been met at their own property by any of the increasing number of expats operating this type of service from home illegally.

Property owners can be sucked in by pretty websites or adverts in local papers, by people offering them all types of services - cleaning, management, maintenance, rentals - generally at a cheaper rate than legal companies offering the same services. Owners then presume that they are getting better value for money (ie a cheap service) and hand keys to these individuals along with the consequent risks.

Citrus Iberia Property Management has been operating since 2002, at which time there were very few companies offering these services to Spanish property owners. In the last two years, the market has become swamped with individuals designing websites and running local ads offering the same services - the difference is that a high percentage are not legal.

For owners of Spanish property who need someone on hand to take care of things in their absence, or require a rental and changeover service, it is advisable to contact several management 'companies' in the area in which your property is located. Many (including Citrus Iberia), will offer to meet you at your property when you are next in Spain. This is necessary as the company needs to see the property to give a quote on services and required, and to judge what income may be generated from rentals. However, at this stage do not part with money or keys. Insist on a follow up visit to the offices of the company, or perhaps visit their offices before they visit your property. Contract can be signed, keys handed over, and any monies paid once you are safe in the knowledge that you are dealing with people who are not going to disappear overnight.

Instead of wasting your holiday time, check out these services before you leave. Searching the internet for property management services in Spain, can reveal a vast number of results. Make enquiries to various websites offering the type of services you are interested in, ask if you can meet them at their offices when you are next in Spain.

I have already done this research myself - a staggering 85% of replies were from people happy to meet me at the property, but unwilling to let me have an office location! Try it yourself - many will insist on meeting you at the property - or even a local bar! Others will not reply when you become insistent, which I take to mean that they have no office.

You wouldn't dream of handing over your house keys to a stranger in your home country, so why do it in Spain?

I have worked in the holiday rentals business for the past 6 years and now run Spanish Villas Spain, part of Citrus Iberia (CB) a British Estate Agents, Property Management, holiday & long term rentals Company on the Costa Blanca.