February 21, 2012
4:28 pm
by: Lisa Doughty

Hiring a Contractor

The California Department of Consumer Affairs Contractors State License Board (CSLB) states that anyone performing construction work in California totaling $500 or more (in labor and materials) MUST be licensed by the CSLB.

Here are 10 tips to make sure your contractor measures up to the standard industry “rules to follow”:

  •  Hire only state-licensed contractors
  • Check a contractor’s license number online at www.cslb.ca.gov or by calling 800-321-CSLB (2752)
  • Get at least 3 bids before letting 1 contractor start the work
  • Get 3 references from each bidder and review past work in person if possible
  • Confirm that the contractor has workers’ compensation insurance for employees
  • Make sure all project expectations are in writing and only sign the contract if you completely understand the terms
  • Never let payments get ahead of the work
  • Keep a job file of all papers relating to your project, including all payments
  • Never pay more than 10% down or $1,000, whichever is less–and do NOT pay in cash
  • Make the final payment only after you’re satisfied with the finished product

Lisa Doughty
Office Coordinator

 

Posted in basic information, education, maintenance, PRANDI, property management, referrals, Resources, Tips, vendors Tagged

February 19, 2012
12:18 pm
by: PRANDI Property Management

Recently Rented

We love to keep you in the loop of the “Recently Rented” properties that were snatched up in the PRANDI office just this past week! Here’s a list, as well as additional details, of our most popular properties that have just LEASED/ RENTED.

  • Nantucket Cove, San Rafael–3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom beautifully updated single family home with great water views leased for $3,400/ month
  • B Street, San Rafael–2 bedroom, 1 bathroom top floor condo with hardwood floors, private washer/ dryer, and covered parking leased for $1,575/ month (garbage included in the rent)
  • West C Street, Sausalito–Lower studio unit with 1 bathroom with a large private patio leased for $1,100/ month (PG&E, water and garbage included in the rent)

**Please note, these properties are no longer available and are OFF THE MARKET. To see a complete list of our Available Rentals and Current Inventory, please click here or visit our website at www.prandiprop.com for more information about our company.

Thank you!

Posted in Announcement, basic information, Blooming Rental Market, marketing, Office News, PRANDI, property management Tagged

February 16, 2012
11:03 am
by: Cristy Boucher, CSS

Great Time For Property Managers

Now is a great time to be in the Leasing & Property Management Business. Our industry is seeing new growth due to positive factors affecting the already negative real estate market. We love what we do, and have been successfully leasing and managing real estate invesment homes in Marin County for over 30 years!

We recently received this article from our friends over at Rentbits, a company for rental property searches, that we found truly interesting and wanted to share here:

In previous years, it was embarrassing to say you rent. Today, in most cases, it is embarrassing to say you own. According to the US Census Bureau, the U.S. homeownership rate has fallen about 1.5% over the past year (from 66.9% to 65.9%). For every 1% drop in the homeownership rate, it represents approximately 1 million new renters entering the rental market.

Rentbits GraphIn some cases, homeownership rates have fallen below some European countries. Italy for example, has an 84% homeownership rate. Along with Spain with a 78% homeownership rate.

High unemployment rates, difficulty in getting financing, changing demographics and increased foreclosure rates are adding to the deceleration of homeownership. In 2011, there was a 4% increase in the amount of renting households compared to 2010.

In the United States, homeownership is the least in states like California (56%), New York (54%) and Washington at (64%). States with the highest homeownership rates are Michigan (75%), Mississippi (75%), South Carolina (75%) and West Virginia at (79%).

Rentbits State GraphRental vacancy rates dropped to 5.6 percent in the third quarter of 2011, down from their record high of 8 percent in 2009, according to Reis Inc. This increase in rental demand is putting upward pressure on rental prices throughout the United States.  As more foreclosures and new apartment buildings enter the market, the rental rates should stabilize and reach equilibrium.

Renting is the new buying and this trend doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.

**For more information about our leasing and property management services or to rent your home in Marin, please call our office at (415) 482-9988 or visit our website at www.prandiprop.com

Cristy Boucher
Assistant Property Manager

Posted in Announcement, basic information, Blooming Rental Market, communication, education, Office News, PRANDI, property management, Resources Tagged

February 14, 2012
10:39 am
by: Roxie Mikolon, CSS

Staff Retreat

Last Wednesday (the 1st of February) our company met for our yearly 2012 Staff Retreat.  At the general meeting we were able to review policies, work flow and team rolls–as well as brainstorm for new 2012 goals.

We reviewed of our Vision Statement, which will continue to strongly state: we are the most trusted name in Leasing & Property Management, offering unparalleled customer service though effective communication, and 30 successful years in the industry.

As NARPM members we have marvelous opportunities to be on the cutting edge of technology, and continued education–including updates on new laws, legislation or other legal matters.

Our staff, made up of 12 wonderfully talented and professional employees, had some great ideas! All in all I think PRANDI Property Management is a great place to work.

–Roxie Mikolon
Assistant Property Manager

Posted in Announcement, basic information, communication, customer service, education, Office News, PRANDI, problem solving, technology Tagged

February 12, 2012
2:32 pm
by: PRANDI Property Management

Recently Rented

We love to keep you in the loop of the “Recently Rented” properties that were snatched up in the PRANDI office just this past week! Here’s a list, as well as additional details, of our most popular properties that have just LEASED/ RENTED.

  • Lochness Lane, San Rafael–4 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom unique single family home with over 2,600 square feet, complete with expansive views of the Bay, bridges, & Mt. Tam leased for $4,500/ month
  • Corinthian Court, Tiburon–2 bedroom, 2 bathroom recently remodeled condo with gorgeous SF & Tiburon vista views leased for $2,800/ month (water included in the rent)
  • Marin Center Drive, San Rafael–1 bedroom, 1 bathroom end-unit condo with fireplace as well as a large and private patio garden leased for $1,375/ month (water & garbage included in the rent)

**Please note, these properties are no longer available and are OFF THE MARKET. To see a complete list of our Available Rentals and Current Inventory, please click here or visit our website at www.prandiprop.com for more information about our company.

Thank you!

Posted in Announcement, basic information, Blooming Rental Market, marketing, Office News, PRANDI, property management Tagged

February 9, 2012
4:15 pm
by: Kaylee Carroll

Marketing Effectiveness | Listing Updates

My task this week was to take a long hard look at our Available Rentals to make sure the listings stand up against (and are strong competitors amongst) the other advertised homes in this current market. Looking for things such as an attention-grabbing title, descriptive and through/ thought-out text, as well as great property pictures to show off the best features is what I strive to do. My goal: to attract a prospective tenant’s attention, so my property management team can do their job and rent these properties quickly to a qualified resident!

Our property managers are always conducting their marketplace analysis to make sure the properties in their inventory are competitively priced based on their number of bedrooms and bathrooms, square footage, layout designs, and updates.  Together, with a great advertising team, we have been renting properties quite effectively this week. Check out Sunday’s post of our “Recently Rented” to see the inventory the managers have cleared in just a 7-day period!

Quality tenants. Quality Homes. Exclusively in Marin.

Kaylee Carroll
Brand Marketing Specialist

Posted in Announcement, marketing, Office News, PRANDI, PRANDI Website, property management, Tips Tagged

February 7, 2012
4:39 pm
by: Matt Borries

Now Servicing Novato

There is certainly a lot going on in our PRANDI office, and quite a bit to announce in the coming weeks ahead. But one thing I wanted to note today: We Are Now Servicing Novato. This has been something we’ve hoped to expand to for quite some time, and it’s now official!

PRANDI Property Management, Novato, CAA great place to live, Novato has a historic downtown with lovely stores and good restaurants. It is known for its unique Bel Marin Keys waterfront community, as well as the Marin Country Club Golf Course. And did you know?! Novato is the largest city in Marin with approximately 55,000 residents. What an honor to be able to expand to the rest of beautiful Marin.

We are quite excited about this expansion, and the ability we now have to serve even more residents and owners starting this week. Tenants, Owners and Realtors: Call us to today for assistance with your leasing, property management & specialized relocation needs at (415) 482-9988.

Matt Prandi Borries
Leasing Agent & Property Manager

Posted in Announcement, basic information, Blooming Rental Market, communication, customer service, Melissa Prandi, Office News, owners, PRANDI, property management, Reminders from PRANDI, Resources Tagged

February 5, 2012
2:28 pm
by: PRANDI Property Management

Recently Rented

We love to keep you in the loop of the “Recently Rented” properties that were snatched up in the PRANDI office just this past week! Here’s a list, as well as additional details, of our most popular properties that have just LEASED/ RENTED.

  • Morningside Drive, San Anselmo–3 bedroom, 2 bathroom remodeled Mediterranean-style single family home with huge deck/ grassy lawn area leased for $3,000/ month (gardening service included in the rent)
  • Mariner Green, Corte Madera–3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom updated Mariner Headlands townhome with additional office space and 1 car garage leased for $2,700/ month (water and garbage included in the rent)
  • Forest Lane, San Rafael–1 bedroom, 1 bathroom upper level condo with community pool, club house and tennis court leased for $1,250/ month (water & garbage included in the rent)

**Please note, these properties are no longer available and are OFF THE MARKET. To see a complete list of our Available Rentals and Current Inventory, please click here or visit our website at www.prandiprop.com for more information about our company.

Thank you!

Posted in Announcement, basic information, Blooming Rental Market, marketing, Office News, property management Tagged

February 2, 2012
11:01 am
by: Reidun Waage

Accounting | In Review

1099 Forms, Accounting BlogWhew! What a busy start to 2012! By the end of January, we were able to finish sending out the 1099s, which were all mailed to owners along with their Annual 2011 Summaries.  The independent contractor/ vendors also received their 1099s by the same deadline of January 31st. Now, we settle down to work on new expenses for the year 20-12!

Please contact the Accounting Department if you  have any questions at all, or if you need guidance with your 1099s at all.

Reidun Waage
Client Accounting Manager

Posted in Accounting, Announcement, basic information, communication, customer service, Office News, owners, PRANDI, property management, Resources, Seasonal, Tips, vendors Tagged

January 31, 2012
2:16 pm
by: Dana Esquibel

Problem Solving–with Your Trusted Agent

I have been at PRANDI for over 25 years, and I have leased and managed quite a few properties over that time—more than I can count, in fact. But everyday, I keep coming back for more!

Over the years, I have discovered that one of the most valuable keys to my relationships with my owners is trust. The trust (and respect) for one another that I build with my clients keeps us working smoothly and effectively together. The fact is, I don’t ask someone to trust me, I simply prove my knowledge of the industry, and work with my client hand-in-hand on a consistent basis.

Here are some of the practices I try to incorporate into daily life here at PRANDI as I work with owners, tenants, and the properties we manage.

I keep in touch on a regular basis: When a property is on the market, I contact the owner a few times a week to update them on the response I am receiving from their rental showings. Although I don’t personally handle the everyday maintenance of properties (Roxie takes the lead on this), I do read the correspondence coming into/ going out of the office with both tenants and owners.  When appropriate, I will make a comment, suggestion, or even get more involved in a particular maintenance situation.

I follow up: When a property has been on the market for a while or has not leased in a reasonable period of time, I make a plan with the owner to make changes to the listing as needed. Whether it be a physical change to overcome any objections I have heard from prospective tenants on their showings, changing the wording or an ad, or simply altering the listing price due to market demand, I talk to my owner and offer my professional suggestions. I also have regular meetings with my team partner Roxie Mikolon and together we determine any issues and how to move forward to handle them effectively.

I am patient: …and human, for that matter. We all make mistakes, but even when I do, I am honest with my clients about it. Patience is a key characteristic when working in our industry–and problems do come up that need to be handled immediately. We work with both owners and tenants and come up with solutions that are fair and acceptable to all involved.

My job as a Senior Leasing Agent & Property Manager can most definitely be described as a “Problem Solver.” Listening, communicating, and following-through with a plan of action (and doing it with patience) are the skills it takes to do the job I have, and are important to develop in order to gain trust with my clients.

Dana Sansing-Esquibel
Senior Property Manager & Leasing Agent

Posted in basic information, communication, customer service, education, maintenance, owners, PRANDI, problem solving, property management, Resources, solving problems with tenants, Tenants, Tips Tagged