Part 7-Effective Marketing and Advertising Just like general real estate sales and service the importance of effective marketing & advertising cannot be underestimated when attracting perspective tenants for rental properties. The days of putting a sign in the yard with a phone number have long past. Part of best practices for professional property managers is to follow guidelines assuring they are giving the vacant property as much exposure as possible. Those guidelines s

Part 6-Accounting For All Funds Part of the fiduciary between homeowners and their property managers is the accounting of all funds. Best practices dictate an accounting of all funds collected on behalf of a property owner, and the use of “generally accepted accounting principles” (GAAP.). In addition, all documentation should include invoices and back up records to validate the balance sheet. The following information is a detailed blog on procedures that support GAAP sta

Part 5-Rental Property Inspections From signing of the lease to check in to vacating, professional property management includes the following steps to ensure best practices throughout the process. Property inspections are an on-gong process and should be maintained throughout the life of the lease. First Coast Realty takes these and additional step to ensure the ultimate in rental management relationships between tenant, management, and property owners. Effective and consi

Part 4-Tenant Placement Tenant Placement is the process of signing a lease or rental agreement on a residential property for rent. There are many steps from beginning to end to finalize a signed lease agreement. These steps include but are not limited to screening verifications of credit scores, tenant references, proof of employment/income, criminal background checks, and past evictions. It is important that landlords/property managers have knowledge of the landlord/tenan

Part 3-Landlord Tenant Laws It is important for both landlords and tenants to have knowledge of the Landlord-Tennant Laws. This information references the state of Florida. It is imperative that property managers and homeowners be up to date on the State of Florida landlord-tenant laws as they apply to property management. These laws include but not limited to the lawful conducting of background checks, anti-discrimination laws, eviction and inspection law, property inspec

Part 2-Property Management Programs for Property Owners Good property managers should offer property owners two distinct programs to choose from to meet their needs: a tenant placement or full month-to-month management program. Both programs should include the following common denominators. The Common Denominators Create marketing video Market property for rent in local Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and additional internet sites including Zillow, Realtor.com, Apartments.com

As we continue to work through the challenges of 2020, the real estate market continues to progress in a steady manner. Unlike the stock market, real estate generally is more stable. That stability remains strong in St. Augustine/St. Johns County Florida. The market statistics from October continue on a healthy trajectory and remain active with just a slight decrease in properties listed and sold. St. Johns County Real Estate Market Remains Active Median home prices took a sl

Effective communication is the fundamental key to successful property management.

First Coast Realty’s Property Management uses best practices for optimal results. The following begins our 8 Part Series of Property Management. We will address in depth each of these practices over the next 8 weeks. Our goal is to provide thorough and professional service to both homeowners and tenants, while utilizing technology to meet the ever-changing demands of the property management business. Good property managers keep up with these demands to provide the best se

As we continue to work through the challenges of 2020, the real estate market continues to progress in a steady manner.

Statistics have shown without professional guidance, properties have longer days on market (DOM) & lower selling prices. Let us examine...

Now more than ever, scams are on the increase. Rounding out the top 5 includes Medicare & health scams, prescription drugs scams, funeral and cemetery scams, tax refund scams, and rental property scams. The common denominators are one; the collection of (your) personal information, and two; the theft of your money by the scammer. For the purpose of this blog, we are going to focus on rental property scams. First, Avoid Craigslist Although rental property scams can be found

Staging your home for sale does not have to cost you thousands of dollar, thus decreasing your ROI.

A home inspection is an important part of the home buying process and a must for every home buyer. There are many difference types...

The following are 8 things to NOT do while going through the mortgage financing process.

While some people have been successful in selling their property themselves, most for sale by owner (FSBO) homes sales fail. Find out why...

Should I use someone to just find a tenant for my home and execute the lease, or should I hire someone to fully manage my property?

2016 was a whirlwind for the Johnson Family. We have exciting news to share with everyone. First, Gene came through quadruple bypass heart surgery and is as good as new. Second, we are blessed with our 2nd grandson, Luke William Johnson. And finally, the Johnson Family has been reunited as a real estate team! Announcing the 2017 opening of First Coast Realty complete with each Johnson family member as part of the team! William is the CEO and managing broker with Gene, Libby,