Peter Bubel+ by | Sep 4, 2017 | Blog, Peter Bubel, Property, Property Management, Real Estate
Appfolio: Property Manager
Appfolio is a company providing software solutions to property managers and members of the legal industry. Its blog, run by the former property management blog PropertyManager.com, offers advice on everything from creating a team to knowing the law. Subscribe to this blog for a wide variety of informational articles. Or, even though it’s no longer being updated, trawl through the back catalogue of PropertyManager.com, where you can find all sorts of other great links.
Let’s Talk Property Management
Let’s Talk Property Management isn’t just a property management blog. It’s also a place where you can connect with other property managers, ask questions of the experts, and share your own experiences. The blog (located on the site under the button marked “Learn”) has great advice for renters and landlords alike, written by both contributors and blog staff. Start from most recent, or sort the results by viewership, likes, comments, or verification.
First Light Property Management
This isn’t the most user friendly blog I’ve seen. Google searches don’t always turn it up (if you’re having trouble, you can find it at http://firstlightpropertymanagement.com/blog/) and the site itself has a lot of white space that you have to scroll through. But with some poking, you can find articles on anything you could want to know about property management–from how to move when you have kids or pets, and how to save money on your property taxes. For best results, scroll down to the categories list to narrow down your search.
BiggerPockets
Like Let’s Talk Property Management, BiggerPockets is a social network, not just a blog. You can create an account to network with other property managers, seek out advice or experiences, or share your own. Even without a login, you can explore the forums, or read the blog, which offers general money-saving advice as well as property management tips. No time to read? BiggerPockets also has a podcast, so you can enjoy it working out or on your commute.
Property Management Insider
It’s easy to fall into a black hole on this site, which is packed full of blogs, slideshows, and other resources. The blog covers everything you care about, from the market to the impact of the millennial generation, and some things you didn’t know you cared about, like paint technology. In addition to property management, there are also blogs in the categories of Revenue Management, Expense Management, MPF Research, and Apartment Marketing
Peter Bubel+ by | Aug 14, 2017 | Blog, PA, Pennsylvania, Peter Bubel, Reading, Sports, Travel
Reading, Pennsylvania (pronounced with a short E, for non-locals) is a destination for cyclists, pretzel lovers, and visitors to the Reading Pagoda. But it’s also a good town for sports fans. The two biggest teams in town are the Fightin’ Phils, a minor league baseball team, and the Reading Royals, a professional hockey team.
Fightin’ Phils
The Fightin’ Phils were established in 1967 in Reading under the team name Reading Phillies. They retained this team name until 2012, at which point they officially adopted the team name Fightin’ Phils.
The Fightin’ Phils hold four league titles (from 1968, 1973, 1995, 2001) and four division titles (from 1995, 2000, 2015, and 2016.) Their current manager is Greg Legg and their general manager is Scott Hunsicker. In 2007, the stadium saw its ten-millionth fan arrive for a game.
The Fightin’ Phils are not represented by one clear mascot. Their logo features either a P with a fist coming out of it or an ostrich with its wings held in fists. However, on the field they are represented by the Fightin’ Phils band, which is comprised of Screwball, a baseball-headed creature that plays the drums, Change-Up the Turtle, who plays the bongos, Blooper the Hound Dog, who formerly played tambourine but has since taken up the guitar, Quack the Duck, the singer, and Bucky the Beaver, who plays the electric bass.
Royals
The Reading Royals began in 1991 in Columbus, Ohio, under the team name Columbus Chill under the leadership of president David Paitson and coach Terry Ruskowski, formerly of the Chicago Black Hawks, Los Angeles Kings, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Minnesota North Stars. Before moving out Reading, they paved the way for professional hockey in Columbus, which now hosts the NHL team the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Well-known former players for the Royals include Yataka Fukufuji, ryan Finn, James Reimer, and George Parros. The Royals have held a past rivalry with the former Johnstown Chiefs (currently the Greenville Swamp Rabbits), the Elmira Jackals, and the Trenton Titans. Currently and are currently rivals with the Penguins-affiliated Wheeling Nailers.
The Royals made it into the 2017 playoffs, but were eliminated in the first round. The team was destabilized going into the playoffs, due to the unexpected firing of head coach Courville the day before qualifying.
The Royals are represented by a roaring lion in the team colors of purple, silver, and black.
Peter Bubel+ by | Jul 13, 2017 | Blog, Peter Bubel, Property Management
As a property manager, this is one of the oldest stories: a property that has a whole lot of potential, but have got a long way to go before that potential is realized. “Fixer-Uppers” can be great investments, and more often than not are, but at the same time, it goes without saying that getting a return on that investment requires a lot of time, effort, and of course money. Before you start working on a fixer-upper, it pays to know what you’re getting yourself into. I recently read a post on the site Zillow, sharing some things you should know if you’re going to work with a fixer-upper. Here they are:
Check out zoning: Municipalities have their own zoning districts, each one with their own specific laws about what’s permitted where. If you want to research the zoning requirements for an area, visit the municipality’s website, or reach out to a staff member with any questions you may have.
Call in an inspector: Home inspectors are great for figuring out any structural issues so they can advise you on what needs to be fixed and/or replaced. Find an inspector that isn’t too biased but also, more importantly, is going to be working for you. Inspectors know to ask about things other people would never even know about, but will save a world of trouble in the future.
Hire a contractor/architect: Architects and contractors can offer a unique take on how you can improve a place, as well as point out if a home’s load-bearing walls can be moved. Look for references when you’re looking for a contractor; you want somebody you can trust and who can offer good insight.
Research tax incentives: Many regions, particularly bigger cities or up-and-coming places, offer tax credits for improving the value of a property. Do your homework and see if there’s anything available for you!
Peter Bubel+ by | Jul 11, 2017 | Peter Bubel, Property Management
When I first got a smartphone, I was amazed at how many different “apps” I could download onto my little handheld device. Whether I wanted to play solitaire or get an update on baseball season (go Phillies!), it felt like there was an app for just about everything. And since then, there are only more apps. Best part? There are a lot of apps to facilitate property management! I didn’t know about a lot of these, but then I read an article talking about a few of them. So I thought I would share them with you:
AppFolio: If you need to fill a vacancy fast, then AppFolio lets you post an ad over numerous platforms. Instead of limiting you to AppFolio, it lets you post on all of the top ad sites with literally the tap of a finger. If you want to see what’s working, it even offers stats and reports!
Houzz: This interior design app connects property managers with people across various industries: architects, decorators, contractors, you name it. It also offers a forum so you can get input from professionals.
RentTracker: If you have a lot of tenants who you need to keep track of, then RentTracker lets you keep track of their payments. Tenants are also able to use the app to pay their rent, and it sends them email receipts.
PayByGroup: If, as often happens with multiple tenants living in a single building, there’s more than one person paying rent, then this is a great app, allowing property managers to see who is paying what. It’s typically used for vacation rentals, but it works just as well for residential renting.
My Inventory Manager: If you’ve got multiple properties spread out, and have trouble keeping track of all of them and what’s in them, then My Inventory Manager helps you keep track so that tenants won’t take any of your stuff when they leave.
Happy Inspector: Through an organized approach to property inspections that eliminates the pen and paper checklists, Happy Inspector claims to reduce the time spent on creating inspection reports by an impressive 80 percent.
DIY Landlord: This landlord app lets managers organize their properties by unit, lease, and tenant information. It also allows them to enter rent payments and expenses, as well as run financial reports, then put those into a PDF to send to tenants.
Yardi Mobile Solutions: This app, more geared towards the real estate side of the business, allows professionals to archive emails and review contracts, deals, and leads. Sort of like a jack-of-all-trades app, it helps with inspection data, lets maintenance techs access their work orders from the field, and even lets property managers quickly approve invoices.
Peter Bubel+ by | Jun 10, 2017 | Blog, Pennsylvania, Peter Bubel, Property, Property Management, Reading
There are a number of job opportunities out there, but what’s important is that when you do find a job, you like where you are. Property management is one such career that you could consider. It includes maintenance of buildings, overseeing the collection of rent, managing statistics for the properties which are under management, helping tenants move out, and essentially everything related to the rental of property.
Now, if you’re wondering whether this is the job for you, here are a few reasons why you should consider it:
1. You will be working with a variety of people
You will be working with clients, tenants, subordinates, supervisors, contractors and a number of other people. Here, you’ll be responsible for resolving conflicts, negotiating contracts and a number of other things. This will help you develop your people skills and give an edge to your professionalism. Also, by working alongside different people, there are great chances that you could run into someone who might have a major impact on your career.
2. Opportunities for growth
If you are a person who wants to take their business to the next level and keep advancing, property management is the right job for you. The property management field is growing with numerous opportunities in corporate sectors and field management. It is a great way to take your career to a higher position and keep progressing.
3. Rewarding income
Are you looking to make some good money? This is totally the industry for you! You’d be pleased to hear that property managers are paid really well. The average annual salary of a property manager ranges between $45,000 to $65,000. It can increase as you gain experience in the field and get more number of properties in your portfolio.
4. You won’t have to sit in your cubicle the whole day
This is the exciting part of the job. Who wants to sit at a desk for a whole 8 hours? Also, consider the health conditions that you’ll be exposing yourself to by doing so. You don’t have to worry about that anymore. In property management, you’ll be making visits to the sites in your portfolio, while also managing administrative tasks.
5. You don’t need any particular degree
You are probably worried whether you have a qualified degree for the job. Well, you don’t need a specific one as such. If you have good communication skills, morals and a good amount of motivation, you’re set to go! The company will be training you anyway.
Peter Bubel+ by | Jun 4, 2017 | PA, Pennsylvania, Peter Bubel, Sports
The baseball franchise the Philadelphia Phillies, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the oldest franchise in all of the American sports. It was formed in the year 1883 by Al Reach, a professional baseball player, who named it The Phillies. Let us look at the franchise’s ups and downs, through the years.
The 1800s
The first game was played on May 1, 1883 at Recreation Park. The inaugural season wasn’t that much of a success as they only won 17 games out of 98. Harry Wright joined the team in 1884, as manager. In his first season, they came in sixth place. In the year 1885, they had their first win with a record of 56-54, with third place. By the year 1889, the Quakers had won four seasons in a row. However, that year was a defeat for them with a 63-64.
1893 was Harry Wright’s last season being manager. The Phillies secured a 72-57 this season. In the year 1898, after two losses in a row, the Phillies came in sixth with a record of 78-71. 1899 was their peak, when they came in third with a record of 94-58; this has been their best season to date.
The 1900s
The Phillies kicked off the start of the 20th century by finishing in third place. 1901 was the first time that they came in second, with an 83-57 record. 1903, following the collapse of a balcony at Philadelphia Park, partners Al Reach and John Rogers sold the team.
In the year 1904, the Phillies had lost 100 games. And in 1924, they had come to be known as one of the worst baseball teams. After 17 years, in the year 1949, the Phillies came in third again with a record of 81-73. In 1960, the manager, Eddie Sawyer quit abruptly.
The 1970s however were a Golden Era for the team. They had the most number of successes. The team won 3 division titles during the decade. In 1980, the team won their first world championship. The 1990s however, were again quite a hard time for them.
The 2000s
In 2001, the team gained a new manager, Larry Bowa. In the year 2008, the Phillies won their second World Championship. By 2009, the team was beginning to gain the respect that they had been seeking for years. They were team that everyone wanted to beat in the National League.
In the year 2010, the Phillies had the best baseball record in the franchise. However, in the year 2015, the team went on to set the worst record. In 2016, after so many losses, the team had nowhere to go but ahead. Who would have thought that a 130 years ago, when the team was formed, they’d come so far?
