Comments for judycook.BIZ

Comment on Growing a Property Management Business by HeidiE

HeidiE — Thu, 17 May 2012 18:02:10 +0000

Ah, yes, how could I forget! Thank goodness I share with my broker but you’re absolutely correct!

Comment on Growing a Property Management Business by Judy

Judy — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:30:06 +0000

Ha! Yes, that’s exactly how it happened, Bob!

Comment on Growing a Property Management Business by Robert Frenchu

Robert Frenchu — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:36:57 +0000

“…agents are already familiar with 99 percent of the real estate law they need to know. The other one percent can be found easily.”

I can just imagine Judy Cook, sitting on her terrace, sipping coffee in the early morning light, reading this article, and coming to the above line. The spit take must have been magnificent.

Comment on Growing a Property Management Business by Judy

Judy — Wed, 16 May 2012 00:23:15 +0000

Excellent point, HeidiE! It’s not inexpensive, that’s for sure. And, don’t forget, although not required in some states, if you have any assets to protect, you’ll also want Errors & Omissions Insurance coverage. That’s a minimum of $2,500/year for a very small operation. Why? Well…. property managers seem to be first in the line of fire, when lawsuits are filed.

Thanks for reading and contributing!

Comment on Growing a Property Management Business by HeidiE

HeidiE — Tue, 15 May 2012 22:13:21 +0000

Another factor that may go unconsidered, at first, is the level of financial commitment involved. As a property manager doing business all over the Las Vegas Valley, we are obligated to maintain licenses in: State of Nevada, City or County Business License in whichever jurisdiction the brokerage office is located, AND a city business license for each and every city any one of your properties may be in.
Personally, this is over $1,000 annually in addition to any professional dues required by GLVAR, MLS, RED, etc…
Thank goodness I have the volume to support these expenses but starting out is tough and requires much consideration!

Comment on Violent Residents – Guilty by Association? by Judy

Judy — Thu, 03 May 2012 13:23:53 +0000

Just saw this piece, this morning: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/01/domestic-violence-economy-study-police_n_1467805.html?ref=business&ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009

Comment on Violent Residents – Guilty by Association? by Judy

Judy — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:06:08 +0000

I agree with you, Pat – opening the rental app evaluation process to subjectivity can indeed increase the property manager’s risk of appearing to discriminate. I’m a big fan of drawing hard lines in the sand, when it comes to evaluating rental prospects. However, given the circumstances outlined by HUD in that internal memo, I can see how a zero-tolerance policy on prior evictions could have an unintended consequence of discrimination. It’s challenging for a property manager to walk that line – protecting the owner’s interests, while staying on the right side of fair housing issues.

Comment on Violent Residents – Guilty by Association? by Pat

Pat — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:26:16 +0000

We will look at the factual circumstances behind any problem a rental app surfaces because I think it is good business. There are times when bad things happen to good people. But lets recognize that opening a rule to subjective interpretation makes the PM vulnerable to the potent charge of “not treating all applicants the same.” I have no respect for HUD policies in evaluating discrimination complaints because, in my opinion, many of their people at all levels have agendas that they push at the expense of objective evaluation and the PM gets caught in the middle. Let’s grant that elimination of discrimination must be a priority goal for us all, but the HUD world of Fair Housing rules and arbitration could have been invented by George Orwell. Want examples?

Comment on Rottweilers, Shepherds, and Pitbulls, Oh My! by Judy

Judy — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:34:27 +0000

Hi Diana. Thank you for your comment.

Landlords absolutely DO have a say in whether they’ll allow animals in their rental properties. If the animal is classified as a “pet,” the decision is made much easier. However, if the animal is an accommodation for someone with a disability, the decision is a more difficult one. As discussed, federal Fair Housing Law requires us to make “reasonable” accommodations, if requested to do so by a renter with a disability. The term “reasonable” is vague, and so much depends on the individual circumstances. Thankfully, most communities have local Fair Housing organizations that can help the parties reach a mutually-agreeable arrangement. If you’re located in Nevada, Silver State Fair Housing Council is an excellent resource for both the landlord and tenant. Their website is http://www.SilverStateFairHousing.org

Thanks for reading!

Comment on Rottweilers, Shepherds, and Pitbulls, Oh My! by Diana Dodson

Diana Dodson — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:06:57 +0000

I was surprised to see Shepherds on the list. I have “met” many pit bull dogs that were sweet as well as these other breeds however IF they do bite their bites are more severe. Chihuahas are known to bite but rarely do they kill. I think homeowners should have some say in who they want to rent to and if animals will be allowed.