As a property manager, you should ensure that all tenants get satisfactory services without asking for more operational costs. That will help your business get profits. With the payment of taxes, utility bills, and maintenance costs, it may be challenging to reduce the operational costs. However, the following five tips can help you save money from your rental property and provide tenants satisfactory services.
1. Always Provide Regular Maintenance
Check that all the parts of the building are well maintained at all times. One of the most expensive areas to maintain is the roof. Ensure to remove all the debris and leaves that grow on the roof to avoid damages that may cause leaking and spending hefty amounts on repairs. When it comes to the gutters, make sure you check for any leaks early enough to avoid damages on the siding, interior walls, and ceiling and eventually costly repairs.
When the roof is in good condition, you will avoid expensive repairs and other parts of the building. You can maintain the roof without the need for hiring an expert. However, if you notice any leaks, don’t hesitate to contact a repair expert. It would be best if you also did the small landscaping, painting, and other property tasks.
2. Find Ways of Reducing Water Bills
You can only reduce water bills if there is a reduction in wastage of the same. Start by checking for any leaks in the pipes, toilets, showerheads, and other fittings. Leaks can leave you paying 10% more than you should on water bills. Low-flow showerheads also help in reducing water wastage.
You should also install dual-flush toilets since they help in saving water. Also, introduce laundry self service whereby tenants will have a central place to do their laundry. You can install water-saving laundry machines for them to use.
3. Use Green Energy
These days, most property owners and managers have gone green. Going green helps in the reduction of energy consumed in households and increases energy regulation. You can install smart lighting systems that allow tenants to control their home lights from any locality.
Ensure to improve the natural lighting in the rental building and use LED bulbs instead of incandescent ones. Additionally, install energy-efficient appliances on the property. Also, make sure to improve the building’s insulation.
4. Reduce the Rent to Minimize Revenue
Although this may sound unreal, you’ll be surprised at how strategic it is to have flowing cash. If you lower your property’s rent than similar ones in your area, you will never lack tenants. However, make sure that the building is well maintained. When the property has full occupancy, you’ll avoid paying advertisement and listing costs. You will also save time and money that you’d have spent to keep going to the property to meet people looking for rental spaces.
Also, if you have no tenants in your apartment, you’ll still need to pay taxes and other periodic maintenance charges. However, avoid lowering the rent too much, so you don’t lose more than the amount you get from having a full occupancy. Do enough research so that you don’t charge too low from other similar apartments in your neighborhood.
5. Contract a Tax Appeal Professional
If you are a property manager, you know the amount of money used to pay property taxes. But do you know it is possible to appeal for property taxes? Well, you can contact a professional to do it for you. There are times when you may be required to pay high taxes. However, that is not how real estate taxes should be.
Before paying the exaggerated taxes, you should contact a tax appeal professional to request a tax reduction for you. An expert will locate any loopholes in assessing your building based on the local market, property size, and age. When they do that, you’ll only pay the correct tax amount and not the presented figure.
The Bottom Line
Property owners and managers need to understand that rental income is not always guaranteed. As a property manager, it is therefore vital for you to find ways of reducing the expenses to avoid incurring losses. The above five tips are some of which you should consider if you want to save money. However, choose only those that suit your situation.
