Dear Landlords: “Customer Service” is an “Attitude” not a “Department”

I have been managing properties for over 16+ years and I am still amazed at the things I hear come out of the mouths of landlords. Most recently I saw a fellow landlord and property owner at one of my favorite shopping stops: Home Depot. For the sake of conversation, let’s call the landlord Mike. Now mind you, Mike is one of the “good guys”. He takes care of his properties and his residents and I do not recall ever […]

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Tips for Apartment Renters: Be prepared to explain to the New Landlord why you are ready to move now

If you are interviewing a landlord on the phone and he asks you why are you moving, then the answer that you give him may reveal more about your rental situation than you think it does. If you are downsizing to a smaller apartment, then that makes perfect sense. Or let’s say that you are in a two-bedroom apartment, and now you are looking for a larger apartment, maybe a three or four-bedroom apartment. Then that makes perfect sense too. […]

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Tips For Apartment Renters: Read the rental ad before you call the Landlord to save everyone’s time

Probably the second biggest mistake prospective renters make before they call the landlord, is not reading the entire ad. A lot of the questions you may have, are probably already answered in the text for the ad. Say for example, you see an ad for an apartment for rent on Craigslist, Zillow, Trulia, HotPads or some other apartment rental resource. The landlord has already taken the time to figure out how much rent he’s asking for. They have already listed […]

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Belaire Property Management: Welcome to our new office in Fitchburg MA

Welcome to our new office! Searching for a place of our own Since 2001 we have been managing small to medium size properties from Ayer to Athol in Massachusetts along the Route 2 commuter corridor. We have written hundreds of leases with residents, renovated scores of rental units for our clients, and learned a lot along the way. For the past three years we have felt the growing pains for space to have a professional location to conduct out business. The […]

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Landlord and Property Manager’s Fall/Winter Property Checklist

This past week we were all tracking Hurricane Matthew and watching the devastation and destruction left in its wake. It is hurricane season now and we all have our eye on the weather. Well folks, this is New England so you’d better not blink or you will find your self covered in snow before you know it. It may be hurricane season now, but you should be prepping all of your rental properties and buildings for winter while there is […]

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Property Manager Screening Tips To Find Better Renters

I have had discussions with all types of landlords big and small that have been renting apartments for decades and the consensus is the same; screening for good residents is job number one. The entire Landlord/Tenant relationship depends on having a pre-qualified renter who will respect the other residents, respect the property, respect the rental agreement, and pay the full rent on time when due. This is the cornerstone to running a successful rental business and you must be firing […]

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Buying a Rental Property and thinking about becoming a Massachusetts Landlord?

Recently one of my Real Estate Colleagues sent me the following email looking for advice in buying their first Massachusetts Rental Property. The following exchange is a reply to that inquiry that you may find helpful as well. And all of this was written from memory before my morning coffee.  %^)) _______________________ Hi Brian, As always, good to see you again at last week’s NEREIA meeting. You always keep the presenters on their toes! I have a favor to ask. I am in the […]

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