Tag: houston property management

Post-Hurricane Harvey – Does the Houston Area Hold Opportunity for Investors?

By Vestpro Residential Services

There’s no doubt that Hurricane Harvey was one of the worst hurricanes that the Houston area has ever seen and one of the top natural disaster to strike the United States.

Now that it’s almost been one year since Hurricane Harvey it’s the perfect time to look back on the effects of the disaster and ask if the Houston area hold opportunity for investors? The answer is yes.

Hundreds of Millions Being Spent on The Houston Area

Investors large and small are snapping up thousands of properties flooded by Hurricane Harvey. From billion-dollar Wall Street funds to mom-and-pop flippers, they’ve already purchased at least 5,500 flooded homes, often for dimes on the dollar.

 In the process, they are transforming some Houston neighborhoods into block after block of rentals. They’re interrupting county plans to buy out flood-prone properties. And they’re leaning on the taxpayer-funded National Flood Insurance Program to protect them from future floods.

 “All we’re doing is perpetuating a cycle of flooding,” said Harris County Flood Control District operations chief Matt Zeve.

 Small and mid-sized private companies have dominated the post-Harvey market so far, some sending in executives from California, Colorado and Las Vegas. But now institutional funds, which woo wealthy investors with promises of double-digit returns, are dipping their toes in the water, too.

 The $4.6 billion Tricon Capital Group, of Toronto, wants to spend $600 million in Texas before the end of next year, according to area brokers trying to persuade the company to buy flooded homes in Houston. A $30 billion New York City private equity firm, Cerberus Capital Management, has picked up at least a dozen flooded homes among 980 it purchased after Harvey. A California firm, B&P Investment Group, is looking to spend $400 million, targeting homes flooded by the release of water from northwest Houston’s Addick’s and Barker reservoirs.

 “Four hundred million is a lot of money,” said Ryan Pina, president of the Orange County-based B&P. “We’re looking to go in and essentially rehab the city of Houston, bit by bit.”

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For property management in the Houston area contact Vestpo Residential Services at (832) 971-1841 or click here to connect with us online.

Does your Houston rental have a mold problem? Click here

One of the worst problems that every landlord faces is when they find out that their rental property has a mold problem.

Some unscrupulous landlords may try to paint over the mold and pretend it doesn’t exist. This is never a good idea because, the mold will only come back and could do much worse damage to the rental property than you really know.

What’s the solution to the problem? Learn how to diagnose mold in your rental property and find out how to eliminate this problem.

Mold Warning Signs

Mold does have a strange “pungent” smell especially when it’s confined to one or more areas of your home.

Mold typically lives inside walls of older properties or behind wallpaper but it can also grow within showers bathtubs or behind the toilet in the bathroom of your Houston Texas Rental Property.

A general “rule of thumb” is to search for mold in any area which might be prone to moisture in your Houston Texas Rental Property.

How to Clean Mold

If you have found mold in your Houston Texas Rental Property you can easily clean away surface mold yourself simply by using bleach to surface clean the area.

Make sure you let the bleach set for at least 15 minutes because this kill off any spores or fungicides yourself.

It’s also important to use a breathing mask and plus latex gloves when cleaning mold.

You should also use a dehumidifier to remove the humidity from the air as well but do not use a fan because fans will only spread mold spores.

Get Houston TX Property Management

For more information on how to deal with mold, or to get Houston Texas Property Management, contact Vestpro Residential Services, LLC today by calling us at (832) 498-0016 or CLICK HERE.

7 Reasons To Choose Vestpro To Manage Your Houston Rentals

There’s no doubt that owning Houston rentals can be an exciting thing to do because, you’re generating monthly cash flow while building long term wealth.

Sadly, owning rental properties can get complicated, especially as you add more properties to your properties to your portfolio.

Thankfully, owning rentals only gets easier when you hire Vestpro Residential Services to manage them.

If you’re “on the fence” about calling us to learn more about our property management services, here are 7 reasons to choose Vestpro to manage your rentals.

Why Hire Vestpro Residential To Management Your Houston Rentals?

#1 – Set the Right Correct Rates for Your Rentals

One of the biggest problems many property owners face is setting the incorrect rates for their Houston Income Properties.

We are your biggest asset in this area thanks to our market research, which will guarantee that we rent your properties for the right rates, insuring you have the right balance between stable monthly income and super low vacancy rate.

#2 – Collect Your Rent on Time

Another area where we will be an asset to your Houston Income Property portfolio is rent collection.

Over the years we’ve developed the right internal systems which will insure that your rent is collected on time every single month and deposited into your account or mailed to you.

#3 – Effective Property Marketing

As you grow your portfolio of properties you will find that one of the most time consuming duties is marketing a home, plex or property when you have a vacancy.

Vestpro has solved this problem for you. Effective property marketing is another of our biggest assets which will save you the time and hassle of property marketing yourself.

#4 – Choose the Right Tenants for Your Properties

Last of all, but most important, at Vestpro we will choose the right tenants for your properties by performing the following tasks including: credit check, income verification and reference checks so you don’t have to.

#5 – Property Management Maintenance

It doesn’t matter if you don’t mind cutting the grass or fixing toilets at your rentals yourself. Those things take time out of your day and are stopping you from growing your portfolio of rental properties. Thankfully, with Vestpro you won’t have to worry about doing maintenance again because our team of professional property managers will do it for you.

#6 – Customer Service 

Another benefit that comes from choosing Vestpro is that we will also be your first line of defense when it comes to customer service. You will never have to worry about taking calls from your tenants again because they will call us for their property management issues.

#7 – We Will Increase Your Return On Investment (ROI) From Your Rental

Last of all, but most important, another great reason to choose Vestpro to manage your rentals is we will help you to increase your return on investment from your rental property. How? Our team of experts will look out for your best interests and make recommendations (when needed) that will help to increase the ROI from your rental.

Contact Vestpro Residential Services

To get started with professional property management for your Houston Texas Rental contact us today by calling (832) 971-1841 or click here to connect with us today.

 

Houston Rentals
Get property management in Houston by contacting Vestpro Residential today.

 

Arctic Storm – How To Deal With Frozen Pipes In Your Houston Rental Property

By Vestpro Residential Services

HOUSTON, TX. – Over the last week we’ve been hit with one of the coldest storms to hit Texas in recent memory and you may have been woken up to frozen pipes in your Houston Rental Property.

Although frozen pipes are not uncommon, many people don’t know how to deal with them and if those frozen pipes are left frozen for too long they can cause a major problem for the home.

Thankfully, you can deal with frozen pipes yourself if you follow these simple tips:

How To Unfreeze Pipes At Your Houston Rental Property

Tip #1: Use a Hairdryer to Thaw Frozen Pipes

As soon as you suspect that a pipe has frozen, try to find the problem area. It might be in your basement. It might be under a sink. Pipes located along exterior walls are most susceptible to freezing, so that’s a good place to start. Run an electric hairdryer along your pipes to warm them up and get water flowing again.

How to Fix Frozen Pipes

Tip #2: Wrap Hot Towels Around Frozen Pipes

If you don’t have a hairdryer handy, try this technique. The hot towels may slowly thaw the blockage. This strategy is best used on copper or galvanized steel piping, as metal conducts heat. It will be less effective on PEX piping. As the towels gradually cool, you can place a bucket under the pipe and continually pour hot water over them. (It might be a bit messy, but if it works, it’s worth it!)

How to Fix Frozen Pipes

Tip #3: Wrap Frozen Pipes with Heating Cables or Heat Tape

Heating cables and heat tape can be a lifesaver when cold weather strikes.

Heating cables are self-regulating, automatically varying their heat output based upon the surrounding temperature. You wrap the cable around your pipes (ideally before they freeze–but you can do so afterwards to thaw them as well) and then plug the cable into a regular electrical socket. The cable can be overlapped to provide extra protection.

Heat tape is a flat tape coated in rubber. The heat tape must run flat along the pipe and cannot overlap itself. Be sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions for installation. Some heat tapes cannot be used safely on plastic, such as PVC water lines.

If you plan to use either heating cables or heat tape, measure the length of your pipes before heading to the hardware store. This will help you to determine how much heating cable or tape you need. The cords come in various sizes, usually ranging from 30″ to 80″. Once applied, the cords will help to slowly thaw your frozen pipes; and if left plugged in, they can prevent your pipes from freezing again in the future.

How to Fix Frozen Pipes

Tip #4: Crank the Heat to Thaw Frozen Pipes Behind a Wall

The first three solutions won’t do much good if you can’t access the frozen pipe. If the frozen pipe is located behind a wall, one of your best (and only) options is to crank the thermostat. Sometime, heating the problem area is all you need to thaw the blockage. To speed the process along, consider using space heaters and/or infrared lamps against the wall where you suspect the frozen pipe is located.

How to Fix Frozen Pipes

Tip #5: Find a Plumber with a Thaw Machine

When all else fails, it’s time to bring in the pros. Most plumbing companies will have at least one thaw machine on hand. A thaw machine is a small, portable unit that a plumber will connect between a working pipe and a frozen pipe. Once the connections have been made (which look similar to jumper cables), the machine will then shoot electricity from one end to another. This heat conduction process is usually enough to thaw even the most stubbornly frozen pipes.

How to Fix Frozen Pipes

Tip #6: Don’t Use a Blowtorch to Thaw Frozen Pipes

One thing that you should never do is use a blowtorch to thaw frozen pipes. It may seem like a logical solution, but the high-pressure heat could actually damage your pipes. You’re also creating a fire hazard if there are combustible materials nearby. Frozen pipes are bad enough–the last thing you want to do is burn the house down trying to fix the problem!

If frozen pipes continue to be an issue, considering hiring a property manager. An experienced property manager will be able to manage these stressful situations for you. They should also be able to give you sound advice on issues of all kinds, including preventing frozen pipes in the future.

Get Houston TX Property Management Here

For professional Houston TX property management contact Vestpro Residential Services today by calling us at (831) 971-1841 or click here to connect with us online.

Property Management Tips – How to remove a stain from carpet

One of your rental properties just came up for rent and after inspecting it you’ve found that more than one room in the property has stains in the carpeting.

What do you do?

Hire a professional carpet cleaner to clean the carpet?

The good news is that you can easily remove stains from any carpet yourself simply by following the tips in this video.

Get Property Management Here

No time to manage your rental properties yourself? No problem! Get professional property management by calling Vestpro Residential Services by calling us at (832) 498-0016 or click here to connect with us online.

Are you showing your appreciation to your loyal tenants?

During the process of owning rental properties in the Houston Texas area, or elsewhere in the United States, one of the very best things you can do is show your appreciation to your loyal tenants because, it’s easier to keep a long term tenant than it is to put your rental property back on the market and search for new renters that’s why in this article we will share with you our tips for showing your appreciation to your loyal tenants.

Host events

Hosting an event redefines your presence with your tenants. Beyond the person who collects their rent checks every month, you become a friendly and generous person. Bringing tenants together is both fun and fosters a sense of community, making them feel +more comfortable and connected to their residence. When people have personal ties, it makes leaving a less casual decision.

One great option is a summer barbecue. Even if you only have a few tenants, inviting them to a local park for a day of food and fun can adds the kind of personal touch to your business that will go a long way in bridging the gap between you and your tenants, and even between the tenants themselves. However, you should express caution where food is involved. Be aware of any food allergies or special diets among your guests. Have a black bean patty ready for your vegan tenant, or a lactose free cheese for your lactose-intolerant tenant. They will remember that extra kindness.

Create a beautiful environment

If your tenant feels good about where they live, they are far more likely to stay in place. Go above and beyond your state’s mandated . A clean and well-maintained community will help guide each tenant’s decision to remain with you, and a proactive approach to maintenance and repairs matters. Pay extra attention to entryways and porch spaces; peeling paint and cobwebs can make your property feel shabby. Stay on top of cleaning and repairs and you will not regret it.

Give personal gifts

A small token of appreciation on a tenant’s anniversary with the community or on their birthday, such as a gift basket or a gift card, are always good ideas. If you are in a position to be better acquainted with your tenant, a personal gift can mean even more.

If you know that a tenant enjoys classical music, a gift of tickets to a symphony or an outdoor concert builds a deep, personal connection that could they give staying with you extra consideration when it’s time to renew their lease.

Small tokens such as non-denominational holiday cards or birthday cards are a nice touch and another way to let them know you care.

Leverage referrals

Studies show that tenants who have friends nearby tend to stay longer. If you have several properties in the area, you could benefit not only in tenant retention, but also by asking your tenant to unofficially function as a marketer for you. If your tenant loves their home, they are more likely to refer a friend to you.

Get Property Management Here

For affordable and professional property management contact Vestpro Residential Services today by calling us at (832) 971-1841, connect with us online, or find us on Facebook.

 

Tips for Finding a Contractor You Can Trust

Are you planning on having some work done on your rental property? If so, one of the keys to success with maintaining rental property for the long term that also produces consistent cash flow is finding a contractor you can trust. If you are a contractor who wants to be trusted by people then there is an easy solution to this. You just have to make sure you have the correct business plan, why not check out something like this SGI which can help your business become more trustworthy. This will help get you potential clients. Moving on though, for those people who want tips on what to look for in a contractor you should keep on reading. Thankfully, we got you covered with these 11 tips that will help you to connect with the right contractor.

1. Insist on a license.

Don’t accept excuses like, “I haven’t renewed my license yet this year” or “It’s pending.” All of these coverages ultimately protect you, the consumer, with vital safeguards like insurance requirements.

2. Ask for referrals.

One of the best methods for finding a contractor that you like is to ask your fellow property managers who they use.

3. Check with state or county authorities.

They’ll have a record of any complaints or revoked licenses. Keep in mind that any contractor who’s been in business for a while may have a few complaints; what you want to be wary of is a negative pattern on their licensing record.

4. Use a General Contractor Firm.

General contractor’s licenses are more difficult to get. General contractors are accustomed to carrying insurance that protects both them and you, the customer, against damage that may be caused by their subcontractors.

5. Anticipate problems.

Jobs may not be completed as planned for a few reasons: a scheduling error, inadequate manpower, insufficient materials, or an injury on the job site. If you enter each job prepared for the worst, you’ll be more resilient in the face of unexpected issues.

6. Get multiple bids.

This is about more than getting the best price. A variety of bids will set a price range, and set your expectations for how the work will be done.

7. Don’t automatically take the lowest bid.

The lowest price, though enticing, may be because the company is using subpar materials or illegal labor; or they may be skimping on workers’ compensation.

8. Don’t pay for bids.

Reputable contractors will get their fair share of work from their own bids, without you having to pay just to get them to consider your project.

9. Get proof of insurance.

Specifically, you want to see proof of sufficient general liability, contractors liability, and workers’ compensation insurance as a minimum.

In addition, make sure that the total coverage amount is adequate in proportion to the size of the job and the nature of the building. If it’s not, you should feel comfortable asking the contractor to purchase more insurance.

10. Verify liability coverage.

Errors and omissions in professional liability coverage comes in two basic forms: “occurrence” and “claims made.” It’s important to understand the distinction.

  • Occurrence: Provides coverage for any incidents or accidents that occur during the policy period, even if you don’t file the claim or issues don’t even become apparent until after the policy expires.
  • Claims made: These policies do not provide coverage after the policy has expired, unless the contractor purchases tail coverage.

11. If you’re a landlord, consider a surety bond.

A surety bond is a kind of insurance protection for the landlord. The contractor pays a sum to a bond company, and in the event that the contractor fails to perform, the surety bond company pays a sum to the landlord.

Get Property Management Here

For affordable and professional property management contact Vestpro Residential Services today by calling us at (832) 971-1841 or click here to connect with us online.

5 Tips for Filling Vacancies at Your Houston Texas Rental Property

By VestPro Residential Services

HOUSTON, TX. – Do you own a Houston Texas Rental Property that’s not attracting the attention of renters and you can’t figure out why? Although this is frustrating when it happens the reality is that there could be one or more reasons why renters are showing a lack of interest in your rental property and the following steps will help you to get to the bottom of the problem and fix it.

Step #1 – Check Your Rent

Although every landlord wants to rent their Houston Texas Rental Property for the most money possible the reality is that some people may be listing their rentals for more than they should.

To figure out what you should be renting your property for you should do a comparable analysis of similar rentals in your area to determine if you should consider lowering your rent a little in order to attract more tenants.

Step #2 – Improve Your Rental Ads

Let’s face it, advertising is the lifeblood of our business because it’s what helps renters find our Houston Texas Rental Properties.

Sadly, many landlords are running poor advertisements that are turning away potential renters rather than attracting them.

Before running another rental ad you should first take better pictures and video of your rental property then take a look at your ad copy, rewrite the headline, and revise the body copy so that your advertisement talks about all of the benefits, features, and amenities that your rental offers prospective tenants.

Houston Texas Rental Property

Step #3 – Bring Your Houston Texas Rental Property Up To Date

If the last time you updated your Houston Texas Rental Property was before the start of the millennium, you should start making some updates now because new flooring, window coverings, appliances and fixtures in a rental property can go the extra mile with making a rental feel fresh, new, and updated.

Step #4 – Think About Allowing Pets

In 2017 there are more renters out there than ever before who are searching for rental properties that will allow pets. If you don’t allow pets at your Houston Texas Rental Property you should consider changing your pet policy because you will open up your rental to a larger pool of prospective tenants, just make sure to update your lease agreement before renting to someone with a pet.

Step #5 – Ask Your Current Tenants for Referrals

Last of all, but most important, if you have tenants living in your other rental properties you should consider asking them for referrals because the chances are that they might know someone who is looking for a rental and this will save you the time/money and hassle of having to advertise your Houston Rental Property.

Get Houston Texas Property Management

For affordable and reliable property management for your Houston Texas Rental Property contact VestPro Residential Services by calling us at (832) 971-1841 or click here to connect with us online.

New 1099 deadline change to impact businesses

Every year, tax season brings a variety of changes, from forms to regulations—and this year is no exception.

Beginning in 2017 (for the 2016 reporting year), many important deadlines will change. Filers will be required to send 1099-MISC recipient copies and submit the forms to the IRS by January 31, 2017, regardless of method (paper or e-file). This significant change to the deadline, which was previously February 28 for paper and March 31 for e-file, will undoubtedly dial up workloads and stress levels for companies.

To further complicate matters, the new filing deadline, as it relates to Form 1099-MISC, only impacts filers reporting non-employee compensation payments in Box 7. Although the overwhelming majority of 1099-MISC filers will report information in Box 7, there is bound to be some confusion.

As you are likely aware, many filers traditionally provide recipient copies first and wait for employees or vendors to review the forms prior to sending them to the IRS. This approach has allowed errors to be corrected and the fixed form to be filed to the federal government, along a new copy to the recipient, without creating a corrected 1099. The new reporting deadline all but eliminates this option, which we expect to result in more corrected forms being sent this year.

To avoid filing late and incurring penalties for noncompliance, it’s important to plan ahead for these new deadlines, form changes, and other deadlines. We also recommend reviewing the required data as soon as possible to allow extra time to edit errors or gather further information if needed. Click here to learn more!

Get Houston Texas Property Management Here

Do you need Houston Texas Property Management? If so, contact Vestpro Residential Services today by calling us at (832) 971-1841 or click here to connect with us online.

As long time property management professionals we can save you the time, money and hassle of managing your own rental properties especially when it comes to things like rent collection, maintenance, customer service and all of the other property management tasks that you might currently be doing yourself.

Let us show you the difference our services can offer you and how we can simplify your business so you can focus on growing your portfolio of rental properties in Houston, Humble, Kingwood and the surrounding area.

Humble Texas Property Management – How to Avoid Losing Renters

By Vestpro Residential

Are you searching for Humble Texas Property Management information? If so, you’ve come to the right place! In this article we will share with you actionable tips you can use to avoid losing renters.

Avoid Constant Rent Increases

The first Humble Texas Property Management tips we can offer you is to not raise the rent with each lease renewal because, the reality is that it’s not always a wise decision to increase the rent especially if you have long term tenants since it does cost more money to find a reliable long term tenant than it does to keep a tenant.

Always Handle Noise Complaints

When it comes to your Humble Texas Rental Property you should always treat noise violations seriously because, just about every tenant has a very low tolerance for noise so you should address the noise problem if it’s coming from a neighbor on the street where your rental is located, or another tenant in your rental property.

Humble Texas Property Management

Follow The Law If you have to Enter Your Rental Property

As long time Humble Texas Property Management professionals we can tell you that unauthorized entry is illegal in Texas and you have to follow the law if you plan on entering your rental property to show your rental to a prospective renter or get work done.

Always give your renters at least 24 hour notice in writing before entering your rental property and if you need to enter your rental property due to an emergency you should ask your tenant to sign a notice allowing you to enter the rental on short notice.

Don’t Allow Poor Maintenance

Last of all, but most important, another Humble Texas Property Management tip we can offer you is to never allow inadequate maintenance at your rental property because you will only be able to keep your tenants for so long before they become tired of living in a rental property that’s not been properly maintained.

Get Humble Texas Property Management

For the best Humble Texas Property Management contact Vestpro Residential Services today by calling (832) 971-1841 or click here to connect with us through our website.