D & K Property Management Services

As a property manager, the 1 phone call I cringe more than anything is about kitchen plumbing being backed up.  95% of the time it's because grease or food is clogging the plumbing. It had gotten so bad early on in our management practice that we specifically put it in the lease about who (the tenant) is responsible for this type of maintenance call.  We also have it written that if they fail to address it during their residency, we will deduct the appropriate charge from their security deposit.  Usually, this problem doesn't go unnoticed.  In an apartment building and or duplexes, if "ground zero" doesn't say anything, it's usually backing up into the unit next door or the unit below. Here is a link that goes into the technical terminology about it. https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1FRUoTwVB6/?mibextid=oFDknk Karen Bostwick, broker D &K Property Management Services KarenMBostwick@yahoo.com (440) 590-5925 https://dkpropertymgmtsvcs.blogspot.com/

Various different religions encourage different acts of acknowledgement during the Lenten Season.  Sort of along the lines of spring cleaning, some are encouraging folks to declutter during lent.  I challenge you to find a (1) way to declutter. While the obvious is declutter physical items, you can also declutter financially, mentally, and physically (personal self). Financially, are there "subscriptions" and or memberships that you're spending money on monthly but you don't take full advantage of.  Are there yearly memberships you forget about until it's too late to cancel.  As a suggestion, could you use this money on financial donations to the local charity of your choice?  Many non profits won't object to even a $15 monthly donation if you're set up on an auto pay. Physically (personal self)...even if you're within an ideal weight, perhaps it's just taking time to enjoy a walk a few times a week.  And, this doesn't always mean getting a gym...

This past Feb, city council for the City of Cleveland passed the Resident 1st Legislation.  There are now additional tasks local agents in charge must certify in order for your property to be legally registered. Aspects of it include: Property taxes are current. Common area utilities (water, sewer as the example) must be current. If the property has 4 or more units, a licensed HVAC contractor must sign off on its operation. A local agent in charge must be designated...this person becomes legally, financially, and physically responsible for your property. The owner (if not an individual) must have a good standing certification with the Ohio Secretary of State). The property must be lead safe certified.  This is with the new more stringent process that will take longer to complete and cost significantly more. The bigger implications I'm anticipating is at the new year Cleveland Housing Court will want proof of this compliance at time of eviction filing for the court to consider ...

On (Dec 3 ), I encourage you to find an organization close to your heart to donate your time, treasures, and talents (it's not just about the money).   Ideas include… but more importantly , choose the charity closest to your heart :   Cleveland Kids Book Bank:   https://www.kidsbookbank.org/ The City Mission      https://www.thecitymission.org/ Cleveland Zoo Society      https://www.clevelandzoosociety.org/   Valley Riding      http://valleyriding.org/ Project Linus      http://projectlinus.org/ Spread the Bread      https://www.spreadthebread.org/ Ronald McDonald Charities (their house, their mobile dental unit)     https://rmhc-neo.org/home.html Applewood Centers      http://www.applewoodcenters.org/ LENSC      http://www.lensc.org/ Project Learn Meals on Wheels      https://www.mea...

Previously, the City of Cleveland only required essentially a lead clearance test to show a property was clear of lead hazzards.  Because the number of cases of children with elevated blood levels had not reduced in the 2 1/2 years this program was implemented, the City is now requiring a full fledged Lead Risk Assessment.  This requires additional reporting, additional testing (2 sets of samples are now required), AND the landlord must also get tenant(s) signed disclosure that the tenants know about the Lead Risk Assessment report itself AND the work required to be done.  The disclosure and related work would then be updated as part of the city's rental registration portal.  An occupant license / rental registration would not be issued until the work is completed by a Lead Abatement Contractor and / or RRP Contractor.  The Lead Abatement Contractor is licensed with the State Health Dept.  The RRP Contractor is licensed with the US EPA. This went into effec...

Services are never free.  I get & understand that owning an investment property can be expensive.  But I challenge that notion.  You get what you pay for (not just in a monetary manner). When you have a rent ready vacant unit, what are you doing to vet your prospects?  Are you relying on just a pulse (I STILL shake my head at how many owners do this!!).  Are you taking the 1st person who literally has cash in hand?  Does a prospect want to pay rent now at move in but wants to pay off the sec dep over time?  Do you get prospects who have paid so much in application fees but can't seem to get approved? If you're not vetting tenants properly, don't then complain that they become late payers soon after move in; or that they need to be evicted long before their lease expires.  When you do get possession of the unit after an eviction of a tenant not properly vetted, don't then complain the cost involved to turn the unit is as high as it is and the l...

As a property management company, we offer a wide range of services.  Property management, leasing up vacants, turning vacants, maintenance, and evictions.  We also have auxiliary services of lead safe certification, HVAC (install & clean & checks), and pest control. While we are proud to offer services in an a la cart manner, we do bill in advance of services in many cases.  Our rates would be spelled out in our management agreement.  In some cases, depending on scope of work, we can provide incremental billing. But, in all cases, for all services, if payment from the owner is not timely received, our services will terminate.  We've just had too many owners sign the mgmt agreement (knowing what our rates are) then balk at paying, yet they still want services.  Or, the owner wants to change terms of payment and or challenge the cost of the services we provide midway thru the process (again, after they've already signed the agreement and know what ou...