D & K Property Management Services

Usually held the 2 nd  Saturday of May, the USPS collects non perishable goods.  On hiatus in 2020, in a slightly different format in 2021, it went back to normal last year (2022). Sat May 13, set your non perishable foods near / close to your mail box. The Letter Carriers will pick it up as they deliver mail. The BEST news of all about this program is the food stays local by going to the food pantries in the communities where the food is collected...and NOT to the larger food distribution organizations. For more info, please go to:     www.nalc.org/food     OR      https://www.nalc.org/community-service/food-drive If you're unable to set out food, I encourage you to go through your food pantry and put together a bag of donations and drop it off at your local food pantry.  For a list of food pantries in the northeast Ohio area, go to  https://hungernetwork.org/find-help/find-food/ . Karen Bostwick, Broker D ...

Every few months, there is quiet rumbling of forcing landlords to consider more equitably Section 8 prospective tenants.  This is usually at the local / municipality level (multiple cities in the area, multiple cities in the state). Below is an article about a state law that would make it mandatory state wide. https://www.journal-news.com/ohio/bill-would-require-all-ohio-landlords-to-accept-section-8-vouchers/URTGZYV3BRHXZPMVYIWXWABS64/ If an owner moves their management to me, I will honor any sec 8 tenants in that portfolio.  However, I often discourage owners from accepting sec 8 tenants for several reasons.  These tenants are usually harder on a property vs a tenant who is paying their own way.  CMHA does not always offer a competitive market rate for rent...it's almost always lower than what a private tenant would pay.  Never mind factoring in time for the move in inspection, the whole move in process takes weeks to months to complete...resulting in lost in...

The city of Lakewood is considering changing its rental property code.  Aside from the required rental registration, there is no city inspection of a rental to ensure the property and unit(s) meet code. Some municipalities in the area have something similar.  No decision has been finalized as of the published article (below).  But this is certainly something to watch for in the coming months. https://www.cleveland.com/community/2023/04/lakewood-considering-change-to-property-rental-code.html If you are a real estate agent, regarding the buy and sell of properties.  We work WITH licensed real estate agents...YOU keep the buy and sell transactions.  Every.  Single.  Transaction.  Guaranteed.  D & K Property Management Services Karen Bostwick (440) 590-5925 KarenMBostwick@yahoo.com https://dkpropertymgmtsvcs.blogspot.com/ Broker License 2018002999

The City of Cleveland is exploring the opportunity to assist renters.  Specifically, the intent is to help renters who are behind in their rent, facing eviction, and or needing funding to move to a new place due to a recent eviction.  Compared to the prior rental assistance program related directly to the COVID-19 pandemic, this program does not have that contingency included.  BUT, the focus of this program is more to prevent an eviction and or to help in the aftermath of an eviction. As a property manager in the NEO area (Cleveland included)...as an investor in the City of Cleveland myself...I don't believe this is a wise program.  It is simply is a continuation to incentivise tenants to use this as a free pass. With the COVID19 funds, especially towards the end, I saw too many tenants get up to 6 months of free rent.  Inevitably, the tenants didn't have the funds needed once it was again their responsibility to pay rent again.  After 6 months.  Will...

The City Mission, which is 1 of the charities I support, often has homeless come in with nothing more than the clothing on their backs.  These kits are basic toiletries that give them a sense of self worth.  This spring, I am donating $135, representing 3 sets of kits ($45 each).  I challenge you to see how you can help a local homeless shelter.  Please see the link here for more info. https://www.thecitymission.org/comeback-kits/ This is a great article about a 10 year old girl who took the initiative to help out The City Mission as well.   https://www.cleveland.com/community/2021/03/girl-10-completes-campaign-in-which-she-collected-donations-for-women-and-childrens-shelter.html Karen Bostwick, Broker D & K Property Management Services (440) 590-5925 KarenMBostwick@yahoo.co m https://dkpropertymgmtsvcs.blogspot.com/

I don't mean to sound like a dead horse, but I'll step out on a limb and do just that. In recent months, I have seen 2 situations where NOT getting an inspection has back fired.  In the 1st instance, the buyer did not do due diligence in knowing the area where the house was purchased.  Scarier worse is he did not do an inspection as a condition of purchase.  We've come to later find out the wiring is a fire hazard waiting to happen...not if...but when.  Some prior owner had electrical work done and it was a hodge podge of inferior work.  Work that can cause a fire, damage property, and possibly cause death.  In the 2nd instance, the furnace broke down.  Again, it was a hodge podge of pieces parts.  1 HVAC company condemned the unit as the belief was there would be too many (quantity) and expensive repairs in the future.  The company that did the 2nd quote (and eventually make the repair) said the furnace was a 11k BTU but the house only neede...