BMG Team Completes Management Training

BMG Rentals Property Management Team Completes Intensive Management Training

Members from the Salt Lake and Idaho Falls locations completed over 40 hours of training while in Boise attending the National Association of Residential Property Managers (NARPM) Northwest Regional Conference. The coursework included Owner/Client Relations, Ethics, and Maintenance: Basics and Beyond. "Continuing education within the management area I specialize in is critical to my ability to stay current on the issues affecting the property management industry," says Wyatt Wetsel, Maintenance Coordinator at the Idaho Falls office.


The professional course work provided through NARPM is taught many times during the year in various metropolitan areas. Members often travel from across the country to attend these NARPM classes. They are unique to the real estate industry as the specifically address the needs of the single family residential property manager. 


There are currently over 3500 members of NARPM, the nation's only professional organization for managers of residential properties, from single family unit to 4-plexes. Members represent over $20 billion in residential rental properties nationwide.


The instructors of these courses are veterans in the property management industry. See their information below:

Suzanne Cameron, MPM^® RMP^®

Suzanne Cameron, MPM® RMP®, began her real estate career in 1978, specializing in residential property management in 1981. She has been the president and broker of Around The Clock, Inc., CRMC®, in Kent, Washington since 1990. Her company added a condo and homeowners association department in 1992 and a sales department the following year. She manages and supervises fifteen personnel. She has been an active member of NARPM® since 1994. She started the King County Chapter the same year and helped to start five other chapters in her region while serving as a Regional Membership Coordinator form 1995 to 1997. She was a NARPM® National Director from 1995 to 1998 chairing the Legislative and Publications Committees and was chair of the last Midyear Conference in 2002. She has also served on the Membership, Convention, and Certification Committees.

Tony Drost, MPM^® RMP^®

Tony started First Rate Property Management, Inc. (FRPM) in 1995. FRPM currently manages over 800 units and employs 13 people. He has a BA Degree in Operations Management, which gave him the tools to be an effective manager. However, Tony credits his involvement with NARPM® for the real financial success and streamlining of his company. Over the years, Tony has applied what he has learned from NARPM® and its members, and has delegated the day-to-day operations to staff members. He focuses on strategic planning for the company and is constantly seeking out new ways to become more efficient. Tony learns something new at every NARPM® event and looks forward to networking with you.

 

10 Spring Maintenance Tips

10 home maintenance tips for spring

Man cleaning gutter image via Shutterstock.

The sun is peeking out and the plants are starting to blossom, so it must be about time for spring chores again. Here's my annual spring checklist of important issues to tend to around the house.

1. Roofing repairs: If you suspect winter storms may have damaged your roof, it needs to be inspected. (If you're not comfortable with the height or steepness of your roof, hire a licensed roofing contractor for the inspection.) Look for missing or loose shingles, including ridge-cap shingles.

Examine the condition of the flashings around chimneys, flue pipes, vent caps, and anyplace where the roof and walls intersect. Look for overhanging trees that could damage the roof in a wind storm, as well as buildups of leaves and other debris.

If you have roof damage in a number of areas, or if older shingles makes patching impractical, consider having the entire roof redone. Also, remember that if the shingles have been damaged by wind or by impact from falling tree limbs, the damage may be covered by your homeowners insurance.

2. Check gutters and downspouts: Look for areas where the fasteners may have pulled loose, and for any sags in the gutter run. Also, check for water stains that may indicate joints that have worked loose and are leaking. Clean leaves and debris to be ready for spring and summer rains.

3. Fences and gates: Fence posts are especially susceptible to groundwater saturation, and will loosen up and tilt if the soil around them gets soaked too deeply. Check fence posts in various areas by wiggling them to see how solidly embedded they are.

If any are loose, wait until the surrounding soil has dried out, then excavate around the bottom of the posts and pour additional concrete to stabilize them. Replace any posts that have rotted.

4. Clear yard debris: Inspect landscaping for damage, especially trees. If you see any cracked, leaning or otherwise dangerous conditions with any of your trees, have a licensed, insured tree company inspect and trim or remove them as needed.

Clean up leaves, needles, small limbs and other material that has accumulated. Do any spring pruning that's necessary. Remove and dispose of all dead plant material so it won't become a fire hazard as it dries.

5. Fans and air conditioners: Clean and check the operation of cooling fans, air conditioners and whole-house fans. Shut the power to the fan, remove the cover and wash with mild soapy water, then clean out dust from inside the fan with a shop vacuum -- do not operate the fan with the cover removed.

Check outdoor central air conditioning units for damage or debris buildup, and clean or replace any filters. Check the roof or wall caps where the fan ducts terminate to make sure they are undamaged and well sealed. Check dampers for smooth operation.

6. Check and adjust sprinklers: Run each set of in-ground sprinklers through a cycle, and watch how and where the water is hitting. Adjust or replace any sprinklers that are hitting your siding, washing out loose soil areas, spraying over foundation vents, or in any other way wetting areas on and around your house that shouldn't be getting wet.

7. Check vent blocks and faucet covers: As soon as you're comfortable that the danger of winter freezing is over, remove foundation vent blocks or open vent covers to allow air circulation in the crawl space.

While removing the vent covers, check the grade level around the foundation vents. Winter weather can move soil and create buildups or grade problems that will allow groundwater to drain through the vents into the crawl space, so regrade as necessary. Remove outdoor faucet covers. Turn on the water supply to outdoor faucets if it's been shut off.

8. Prepare yard tools: Replace broken or damaged handles, and clean and condition metal parts. Tighten fittings and fasteners, sharpen cutting tools and mower blades, and service engines and belts in lawn mowers and other power equipment.

9. Change furnace filters: Now is the time to replace furnace filters that have become choked with dust from the winter heating season. This is especially important if you have central air conditioning, or if you utilize your heating system's fan to circulate air during the summer.

10. Check smoke detectors: Daylight Savings Time snuck up early again this year, and that's usually the semi-annual reminder to check your smoke alarms. So if you haven't already done it, now's the time. Replace the batteries, clean the covers, and test the detector's operation before it's too late.

If you have gas-fired appliances in the house, add a carbon monoxide detector as well (or check the operation of your existing one). CO2 detectors are inexpensive and easy to install, and are available at most home centers and other retailers of electrical parts and supplies.

Posted by:  BY PAUL BIANCHINA, FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012.

Protect Yourself From Craigslist Rental Scams

As featured recently on the Channel 8 and Channel 3 news in Idaho Falls, we are seeing an increase in the number of Craigslist scams on rental properties. Check out the news story here then read below on how to avoid being a victim.

Top 5 ways to tell if the add is a scam:

1. The person listing the property and asking for money is not local

2. They can't get you in to see the property

3. They want you to send money out of the country

4. They are unable to provide you with a receipt or lease agreement at time of payment

5. If the rent price sounds too good to be true it probably is . . .

Consumers should ask a lot of questions and tour the property before sending anyone money. They should also get a lease agreement and deposit receipt when paying. These types of scams are easy to avoid if you have the right information. Contact a professional property manager and they can help you determine if you are being scammed.