property management
Once an International Business Corporation is formed, it requires a fool proof plan to protect its wealth and properties. This wealth may be in the form of cash, marketable securities and liquid assets. For protection, these assets can ideally be transferred to a Trust that is formed after consulting a law firm that is well versed in local law. In legal terms, ‘A trust is the right, enforceable solely in equity to the beneficial enjoyment of which another holds the legal title’.
It is now customary to form an Asset Protection Trust in a foreign jurisdiction which amounts to infinite protection of the properties of the offshore enterprise. Once the assets are assigned to a trust, creditors cannot retrieve them directly from the trust simply because that which is not in the name of the debtor cannot be retrieved from him.
Such an offshore trust is called an FAPT [Foreign Asset Protection Trust]. By virtue of being formed in an offshore jurisdiction it enjoys legitimate immunity from specific law procedures and is designed to ward off unnecessary and wealth depleting interference from the original area of business [unlike the offshore haven]. Even the law courts in the offshore jurisdictions are inclined to protect the Corporation in its haven, or else the raison d’etre of an offshore unit is lost.
Thus, indemnity from being forced to pay off creditors from the quantum of the Offshore Corporation’s wealth has made off shore Trusts a sure shot method of Property Protection and most tax havens are in the running to provide more and more debtor friendly regulations with a view to attracting more and more companies to avail of the haven provided by their respective jurisdictions.
What do property management companies do, anyway? What don’t they do? How much do they charge? Are they worth it?
Whoa there, tiger. We’ll answer your questions about property management, and succinctly, at that.
Landlords and rental building owners hire property management companies to assume all of the headaches involved with managing properties and tenants, allowing the landlord to spend their time in other ways. Typical responsibilities of a property management company include screening tenants, fielding phone calls from them, taking care of all repairs and maintenance, complying with rental laws (such as lead paint tests and disclosures), signing rental agreements and rental disclosures, etc. As an added bonus, they keep track of all the money that’s spent on each property, making your accounting a LOT easier. In a word, they do the everyday management.
What they usually DON’T do is pay your bills, such as your mortgage payment or property taxes (word to the wise: have your mortgage lender escrow for property taxes & insurance, ground rents, and any other recurring bills to save time). Property management firms typically don’t register your rental properties with local municipalities, either.
What do they charge? Property management companies generally charge in the 7-10% range, as a commission of all rental income collected (e.g. if the rent is $1,000, the management fee may be $70-100). This is no small fee every month, and constitutes a major disadvantage to using a management firm, especially when so many landlords only break even or have a small cash flow from their rental properties.
So now the hard part: are property management companies worth the expense?
The answer, of course, is that it depends. You may not be able to afford to pay a management company, if your rental only breaks even each month. But there is something to be said for being able to sleep at night without being woken up by obnoxious tenants calling to complain that the smoke detector needs a new battery, or having to spend your lunch break running out to show a rental property. The fact is that most landlords can handle the management of a few rental properties, but there is a critical mass at which point it no longer becomes feasible to perform property management duties for your rental properties AND do all of your other business tasks.
So my recommendation is to handle management yourself for your first few rental units, and get a crash course on managing rental properties. But when you can’t take it anymore, it’s time to pass the buck along to someone else, and get back to your primary business: making money.
With record-low home prices, many homeowners are deciding to rent out their property instead of putting it up for sale. This change in strategy for the future of their home may have created an unforeseen issue…property management.
You could now face new questions. Are there laws governing rental properties? Who is responsible for any repairs? How does one go about finding responsible tenants? These are all good questions, and one that can be answered by quality property managers. Here are a few things you should consider when thinking of hiring a property management company that I’ll refer to as the ABC’s of property management.
Ask – When seeking a property management company, ask questions to clear up any confusion you may have about the process.
How will they market your investment to achieve the best rental income and select qualified tenants? Are they current on all the landlord-tenant codes and laws? What procedures are in place for the collection and disbursement of monies owed?
Benefits – Consider the benefits to determine if hiring one is the right choice for you in your situation.
Reputable companies offer “peace of mind” to the owners while protecting their investment. These managers serve as intermediaries to resolve any issues between owner and tenant before they become major headaches. They can provide credible resources for maintenance of the home to guarantee professional work of any repairs needed.
Cost – Review your finances to see if the cost of hiring a manager fits into your budget.
Most companies charge between 8-10% of the monthly rent to cover their services depending on the extent of their involvement with your property. Marketing of your rental (Newspaper ads, internet, posted signs) is usually covered by this fee. The property manager will discuss any repairs that need to be made to the home and determine if the owner or tenant is responsible for covering those costs.
While these are just the basics when considering a property management company, this is vital information you need to familiarize yourself with to better understand the process. Before you hire someone, check to see if their services are in line with your expectations. If not, ask yourself if your expectations are too outrageous or if you need to seek a different company. Hiring a qualified property manager does not have to be a daunting task as long as you do your research ahead of time.