I have seen a lot of hocus-pocus repair work in my years in the property management business, but this one takes the cake. Long story short: One of our roofing contractors went to fix a roof leak at one of our HOA’s in Los Angeles and THIS is what he found: Yes, that is a […]

An act was passed in February that’s ultimately going to open new doors of opportunity for real estate and property management officials. The FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act requires that the FAA “accept and support” drones–or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)–in United States airways. While awaiting the new stipulations to be defined and […]

Once again, we welcome one of our team members – Rhoda Hu – to the Property Management 2.0 Blog. Happy November, everyone! -Trevor #WinterIsComing —– With cooler temperatures upon us, now is the time of year that many enjoy snuggling up by the fireplace to keep the cold away.  We, at First Light Property Management, […]

Pests such as rats, bedbugs and roaches are a common fear among apartment dwellers, but the truth is that they can be a bigger nightmare for the property management team. Pest management is an essential part of taking care of a living, breathing investment property, and sometimes it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the […]

If you have ever been in a pre-1940s New York City apartment building, you may have noticed the mind boggling array of pipes leading every which way possible.  The pipes shoot through corridors, up stairwells, down walls, ride on top of other pipes – all with seemingly no logic at all.  So what happens when […]

Tip #1: Perform a “Drip Inspection”. Some landlords and owners forget one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to save water: Check for dripping faucets and running toilets in each unit. The simple task of inspecting shower heads, faucets, and toilet connections for drips or runs can save hundreds (and in some cases thousands) […]

There are many reasons to rent an apartment in stead of buying a home these days. One reason that is frequently overlooked is the customer service you receive as a renter from a property management company. Instead of having to find the right handy man, plumber, electrician, etc – one call or email to your property manager and the issue is on schedule for repair. As a renter, you do not have to worry about who is going to fix what and when and for how much – your property management has got you covered!

An apartment building of 10+ units will generally benefit from having an on site laundry facility. Residents enjoy the convenience of doing laundry in their own buildings and owners enjoy the extra revenue. The downside, of course, is the repair cost, which can add up once the machines fall out of warranty. Service technicians for a washer or dryer can be in excess of $200+ per incident, never mind the lost revenue if a machine is out-of-order and waiting for new parts.

Increase apartment rental rates in a recession? Preposterous, you say! Yes, it is – IF you have not been keeping up with the maintenance needs of your tenants and over all customer service.

California Assembly Bill 1020: Swimming Pools – Effective January 1st, 2010. This bill is basically California’s answer to the Federal Virginia Grahame law that was passed late 2008. The new bill makes it a state law that landlords and owners install anti-entrapment devices on all public pools, new or old.