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10 Steps to Prepare your Rental Property for Cold Weather

10 Steps to Prepare your Rental Property for Cold Weather

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It’s fall, and we can look forward to turning leaves, trick-or-treating, and football weather. But a long with the good comes the work, especially if you own a rental property.  If you don’t have a good property manager working for you, it’s important to inspect your rental property before cold weather comes. If things are not prepared, damage and safety issues can cause you and your tenant problems. Safety issues can endanger your tenant’s health, as well. Make sure you take at least the following 10 Steps to prepare your rental property for cold weather before the 1st freeze hits your neighborhood.

1. Gutters

Clean out rain gutters before fall leaves are frozen in place. Consider adding a gutter guard to make future cleanings easier. While up there cleaning, check for leaks and cracks, and repair them.

2. Roof

Ice can form in branches and leaves, so make sure to clear them all from your roof. Check for missing shingles or any damage that could cause leaks. You might want to schedule a professional inspection.

Eyeball any trees overhanging your roof, and cut them back. One good ice storm can bring a tree down on your roof.

3. Landscaping

Clear walkways, driveways, and porches of leaves and debris. Trim trees and branches. Cover or store outside furniture. Clean up after pets to eliminate under-snow surprises!

4. Windows and Doors

Remove all window air conditioning units and make sure all windows are closed and locked with a tight seal. Visually inspect all windows and door frames – if there are any air leaks, caulking, weather-stripping or replacement may be required.

5. Heater

Have the heater properly inspected and cleaned. Change the filter.

6. Perimeter

Ensure siding is stable and secure. Animal-proof your rental property by checking for cracks or holes and covering entry points.

Take some time to inspect any concrete on your property like driveways and walkways. Fill cracks before water seeps in, freezes, and widens them.

7. Exterior Piping

Turn off outdoor faucets and drain pipes. Detach garden hoses. Insulate any faucets that may freeze.

8. Chimney

Inspect fireplaces, chimneys, flues and vents. Have a professional come clean and inspect the chimney for signs of obstruction or hazard prior to the season’s first use.

9. Safety Inspection

Test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.

10. Property Manager

If you find fall preparation a bit overwhelming, consider hiring a property manager. A good property manager will make sure your rental is ready for fall. Call All County® today to see how we can help you with the 10 Steps to Prepare your Rental Property for Cold Weather.

August 2019 Local Real Estate Stats for Colorado Springs

August 2019 Local Real Estate Stats Colorado Springs

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August 2019 Local Real Estate Stats Colorado Springs: What does the real estate market in August tell us about rental homes? Home prices are still rising and there are less active listings in the Colorado Springs metro area. This means more people are having trouble affording to buy a new home, and the PPAR market needs more rental homes. If you have investment property you’d like to rent, call us today at (719) 445-7172 Here are some of the numbers in the PPAR region for August. You can read more by clicking here: https://ppar.com/MarketTrends.aspx

Total Residential Sales: 1,542

This number is up 0.8% from last year, pretty much staying the same.

Total Active Listings: 2,194

This is down a whopping 9.1% from August of 2018, but about the same as last month. Steady as she goes.

Median Price of Home: $330,000

Still rising, up 4.8% from last year at this time, but down a bit from last month.

Average Days on Market: 22

Down a big 15.4% from last year. One of the statistics you want to be down, so this is good news for the market.

Summary

Home prices are still rising. The PPAR region still needs more rental homes so that people who can’t afford to buy but still want a nice home for their family can find a rental.

What do the August 2019 local real estate stats for Colorado Springs tell us about rental homes? It’s a great time to have a Colorado Springs investment home, and a great time to rent a home in Colorado Springs! Check out our available rentals at: http://allcountycs.com/available-rentals

Call us today at: (719) 445-7172 for more information about renting out your home in Colorado Springs. We handle single-family rental homes, as well multiple family dwellings.

All County® is here for you!

Property Manager's Responsibility to Protect the Public

Property Manager’s Responsibility to Protect the Public

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All County® Colorado Springs takes property management seriously. We study and enforce the standards of professionalism expected in our field. Here are the property management standards of professionalism that we take an oath to follow. The 1st article of the property management standards of professionalism addresses the property manager’s responsibility to protect the public. It says, “The Property Manager shall protect the public against fraud, misrepresentation, and unethical practices in property management.”  You can read more about our story here: https://allcountycs.com/about-us/our-story/.

Property Manager’s Responsibility to Protect the Public

The National Association of Residential Property Managers (“NARPM®”) promotes a high standard of business ethics, professionalism, and fair housing practices. All property managers who are members of NARPM® must abide by the following Code of Ethics and Standards of Professionalism (the “Code”). You can read more here: https://www.narpm.org/code-of-ethics/

The Property Manager:

  1. Shall endeavor to eliminate, through the normal course of business, any practices that could be damaging to the public or discredit the profession.
  2. Shall cooperate with the governmental agency charged with regulating the practices of Property Managers.
  3. Shall comply with all relevant local and state ordinances regarding real estate law, licensing, insurance, and banking.
  4. Shall comply with all federal and state antitrust laws and shall follow the NARPM® Antitrust Policy and any related procedures.
  5. Shall not reveal confidential information of Clients, Tenants or others except as required in the course of performing their duties or as otherwise required by law. The Property Manager shall take all reasonable precautions to protect confidential information.
  6. Shall use reasonable efforts to ensure that information on their website, or that of his or her Firm, is current and accurate. If it becomes apparent that information on the website is not current or accurate, then the Property Manager shall promptly take corrective action.
  7. Shall make sure their website does not contain any deceptive metatags or other devices/methods to direct, drive, or divert Internet traffic in a deceptive manner or to otherwise mislead users. The website shall not manipulate listing content in any deceptive or misleading way.
  8. Shall disclose all details on the availability of rental properties to prospective parties on a regular and timely basis.
  9. Shall make every effort to not exaggerate, misrepresent, misinform, or conceal pertinent facts in the advertising, leasing, and management of property.
  10. Shall make reasonable attempts to remove from the Internet listings for rentals that are no longer available.

Following the Property Manager’s Responsibility to Protect the Public is one way we protect those we serve. If you are in need of a property manager, call All County® today! (719) 445-7172

We’ll make sure you have responsible property management.

August Colorado Springs NARPM Chapter Meeting

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August Colorado Springs NARPM Chapter Meeting

August Colorado Springs NARPM Chapter Meeting: As a company, we know that the better property managers we are, the better we can serve our owners and residents. One of the ways we accomplish that is by keeping our NARPM (National Association of Residential Property Managers) membership current, and staying active in the organization.

Scott has been a NARPM president in the past, and we attend the monthly meetings as part of our membership.

If you’re looking for a property manager in Colorado Springs, give us a call today! (719) 445-7172

Met with Vendors

At our monthly NARPM C/S Chapter meeting, we met with vendors to ensure we hire only top notch service help to work on our properties. 

August Colorado Springs NARPM Chapter Meeting
Met with Vendors

Networked with Others in the Industry

The meeting is a good place to exchange ideas and concepts with other Colorado Springs property managers. Our bookkeeper Jim Rickman CRMB met with other bookkeepers to discuss best practices.

August Colorado Springs NARPM Chapter Meeting
Networked with Others in the Industry

Got Current on Property Management Landlord Law

Each month has a topic centered around issues in the Colorado PM industry, and more specifically in Colorado Springs. Classes are taught by experts. 

August Colorado Springs NARPM Chapter Meeting
Got Current on Property Management Landlord Law

Received Important Training

New PM laws have recently passed in the State Capitol. All County® believes training is essential in order to ensure we are up on all new legislation and other polices.

August Colorado Springs NARPM Chapter Meeting
Received Important Training

If you’re looking for a place to rent in Colorado Springs, visit this page on this website: https://allcountycs.com/available-rentals/

Happy Tenants mean Higher Profits

Happy Tenants means Higher Profits

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Most people get into real estate for profit.

Want good ROI (Return on Investment) from your residential investment properties? Keeping your units rented is one of the most important parts of getting that return. But keeping your property rented can be difficult, and take loads of time and effort. If you hire a property manager, how much will it cost? Believe it or not, good property management can help make your investment more profitable than if you ran it yourself. Here are a few tips about how happy tenants means higher profits.

Selecting Tenants

You want stable renters in your properties. You want tenants who will pay their bills and take care of the property. Therefore, tenant screening is very important. However, doing this by yourself can be burdensome. Property management companies have processes to screen tenants thoroughly, to make sure you get the most stable renters. All County® uses one of the most thorough screening companies on the market to get an extremely detailed background and screening report for every applicant. This will keep your vacancy numbers low.

Changing Tenants

Your tenant turns in their intention to move. What do you do now? We require a 30-day notice before a tenant leaves, and show your property while they’re still in residence. All County® takes care of the lease renewal and makes sure you always have a quality tenant.

Keeping Tenants

Studies have shown that tenants will stay at a property longer if it is well maintained and their maintenance requests are taken care of quickly. All County® performs regular inspections of the property to ensure proper upkeep. We have a maintenance portal including an emergency line that rings through to our phones, assuring punctual help for tenants. Our vendors provide us with great service at the lowest possible prices. Happy tenants are stable tenants. This will please your tenants, and happy tenants means higher profits.

Call All County® Today

You have Colorado Springs investment property, and you want it to be profitable. To make profit, you need low vacancy, and that means happy tenants. Tenants want a well-maintained home.

All County® Colorado Springs can do it all for you, so you have time to expand your business. Visit: https://allcountycs.com/property-management/services/ for more information on how we can help you find and keep the very best tenants.

Ready to let us do the heavy lifting? Call All County® today, at: (719) 445-7172. We’ll make tenant management easy for you!

July 2019 Local Market Real Estate Statistics

July 2019 Local Market Statistics

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July 2019 Colorado Springs Real Estate Statistics

July 2019 Local Market Statistics: What does the real estate market in July tell us about rental homes? With home prices skyrocketing in the Colorado Springs metro area, more people are having trouble affording to buy a new home. The PPAR market needs an influx of homes to rent. If you have investment property you’d like to rent, call us today at (719) 445-7172 Here are some of the numbers in the PPAR region for July. You can read more by clicking here: https://ppar.com/MarketTrends.aspx

Total Residential Sales: 1,661

This number is up 4.4% from last year, and is actually a new record for homes sold in July!

Total Active Listings: 2,199

This is down 7.1% from July of 2018.

Median Price of Home: $332,000

Still rising, up 7.8% from last year at this time, when it was $310,000. As home prices rise, the market needs more rental homes.

Average Days on Market: 23

Essentially the same as last year when it was 22 days, showing a stable market.

Summary

What do the July 2019 Local Market Statistics tell us about rental homes? Home prices are rising fast. There are just not enough homes in the price range most people want in the PPAR region.

It’s a great time to have a Colorado Springs investment home, and a great time to rent a home in Colorado Springs! Check out our available rentals at: http://allcountycs.com/available-rentals

Call us today at: (719) 445-7172 for more information about renting out your home in Colorado Springs.

All County® is here for you!

2 Organic Ways to Control Ants

2 Organic Ways to Control Ants

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Ants.  No matter where we live, we all combat these unwanted invaders.  Here at All County® Colorado Springs Property Management, we keep our properties safe from ants organically whenever we can, using home remedies. This not only keeps the environment safe, but protects our tenants’ children and pets. Here are 2 organic ways to control ants.

Vinegar Repellant

The strong smell of vinegar blocks ant pheromones, an ant’s main form of communication. This confuses the ants, keeping them out of your house. Mix 1 cup vinegar with 1 cup water in a spray bottle. If you see a trail of ants, follow it to the opening or crack they’re climbing through, and spray well.  This will mask the scent trail.

Borax Ant Killer

When ants eat borax, it interferes with their digestive system and eventually kills them. But the ants last long enough to take it back to their nest and share it with other ants. It works for any type of ant. The important thing to keep in mind is that you need a variety of liquid and solid baits for it to work best.

Although it seems like ants will eat anything in sight, adult ants only consume liquids. But larvae can eat solid foods, and turn them into a liquid that the queen eats. By using a combination of solid and liquid bait, you’ll make sure to eliminate the entire colony.

Solid Borax Bait

Use solid bait to kill the colony. To create the bait, mix 1 part borax with 3 parts sugar. The borax will kill the ants, and the sugar will attract them to the borax.  Shake the mixture well and spread it where you’ve spotted ants.  It takes a week or so to kill the colony.

Liquid Borax Bait

Use the liquid bait to kill the adult ants. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 ½ tablespoons borax
  • 1 ½ cups warm water
  • A jar
  • Cotton balls
  • Shallow dishes

Shake borax and sugar in the jar until well mixed. Pour in water and stir until dissolved. Place cotton balls in the shallow dish and soak with borax solution, then place them anywhere you’ve seen ants. Use as many cotton balls as you need to address your ant infestation. Store extra solution in a cool, dry place.

That’s it!

Using a combination of vinegar and borax treatments, you should have your ant problem under control in no time. All this with the added benefit of little or no danger to the environment, your kids, or your pets. Make sure to repeat these steps at the first sign of ants returning.

We hope this All County® information about 2 Organic Ways to Control Ants was helpful. Call us at: (719) 445-7172 with any questions you may have about this article, or to talk to us about your property management needs.  Let’s Rent Your Home Today!

5 times you'll be glad you have a property manager

5 times you’ll be glad you have a property manager

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Managing your own investment property may seem like the thrifty thing to do. After all, a property manager will charge you to manage your rental home, so why not do it yourself?

One reason is that an experienced property manager, spending no more money than you would spend yourself, can easily and efficiently manage your property while you live your life. He knows the most reliable vendors to use to maintain your home, the appropriate legal experts to deal with problem tenants, and has the infrastructure to handle issues that may arise at inconvenient times.

Here are 5 times you’ll be glad you have a property manager.

1. Late night phone calls

A good property management company will have an emergency contact line tenants can call in case of an important problem. If you’re managing your property yourself, this call will come to you. Imagine your cellphone ringing at 2:00 AM, with a tenant insisting that their clothes dryer isn’t heating up properly.

An emergency? The tenant says they have an interview in the morning, and they need to wear their lucky shirt. But what can you do about it during the night? This is an appliance. Is it even your responsibility?

If you have a property manager, the emergency line at their office will to take the call, reassure the tenant that someone is listening, determine if the dryer really is your responsibility to fix, and inform the tenant about how to put in a maintenance request.

All you have to do is read the email from your property manager once the problem is taken care of.

2. A needed vacation

Your day job has been taking all your time, so you plan a vacay with the family. A well-needed trip to the mountains to spend family time under the stars. But as you’re packing the car, a hysterical tenant calls to say that she is filing for divorce, and wants the locks changed on her house immediately.

The tent goes back in the closet, and your son goes back to his video games. Instead of time with the family, you are off to change the locks on your rental home.

A property manager will have well established procedures for this situation. While you’re cooking hot dogs by the fire, your property manager will handle the issue.

You can throw your line in the water.

3. Evictions

Do you enjoy taking time off from work to go to court? Do you know the legal requirements and procedures for an eviction? This is one part of renting that most landlords would like to pass on to the experts.

A property manager has legal experts they work with, making sure that every step of an eviction is handled legally and with a minimum of problems. Then they’ll find you a new, highly-qualified tenant.

And you never have to see the inside of a courtroom.

4. Neighbor Complaints

You’re at your day job, about to give a presentation in a big meeting. But your phone rings. It is an irate neighbor, the guy who lives next to the tenant in your rental property.

Apparently, your tenant’s poodle has been pooping in the neighbors yard. The neighbor is angry. He wants you to go talk to your tenant, NOW.

If someone manages your property, this call would have gone to his office. Your property manager knows how to deal with neighbor complaints, and stops the neighbor feud before it gets out of hand.

You’d be giving a great presentation at your meeting, never even knowing about your tenant’s poodle.

5. Weather Damage

A record-breaking snow storm hits Colorado Springs (sound familiar?), and not only are your trees down, a 50-year-old pine has fallen on your mother’s roof.

But can you go help your mother? No. Why? A tree actually crashed through a window at your rental property, and your tenant can’t wait for help.

A good property manager will be on this in a second. He has vendors on call to take tenant calls and immediately get out to the property to remove the tree and fix the window.

You can go to your mother’s house and help her out.

Summary

These are just some examples of things you might (and probably will) face when you try to manage your own property. Although a property management company will have some up-front costs, overall, you may end up spending no more than you would have in trying to do everything yourself.

And as illustrated in these examples, a lot of stress and effort will be avoided by hiring the right company.

Are you interested in what a Colorado Springs property manager could do for you? Call All County® Colorado Springs today to get a free assessment of your investment property. (719) 445-7172

You’ll be glad you did!

June 2019 Colorado Springs Real Estate Statistics

June 2019 Colorado Springs Local Real Estate Stats

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With home prices skyrocketing in the Colorado Springs metro area, more people are having trouble affording to buy a new home. The PPAR market needs an influx of homes to rent. If you have investment property you’d like to rent, call us today at (719) 445-7172 Here are some of the numbers in the PPAR region for June. You can read more by clicking here: https://ppar.com/MarketTrends.aspx

Total Residential Sales: 1,651

This number is down 4.9% from last year, reflecting rising home prices.

Total Active Listings: 2,123

This is down 1.7% from June of 2018.

Median Price of Home: $331,000

Still rising, up 16% from last year at this time, when it was $285,250. As home prices rise, the market needs more rental homes.

Average Days on Market: 24

This number usually goes down during the summer. Last year it was 21, showing DoM is up 14.3% this year

Summary

Home prices are rising fast. There are just not enough homes in the price range most people want in the PPAR region.

What does all of this mean? It’s a great time to have a Colorado Springs investment home, and a great time to rent a home in Colorado Springs! Check out our available rentals at: http://allcountycs.com/available-rentals

Call us today at: (719) 445-7172 for more information about renting out your home in Colorado Springs.

All County is here for you!