Blog

There are a few things that successful property managers and landlords are doing to market rental properties. Today, we’re sharing some of those ideas with you. Marketing Rental Properties Online With the internet and social media, there are endless opportunities to get your property out there. Good photos are always important. Utilize social media platforms and rental websites. A company website also helps, when you’re working with a management company. Some rental websites are for specific types of properties, like apartments and mu…

When you’re looking for a property management company, one of the most important things to talk about is their level of expertise and experience. You also want to know what designations they require from their managers and their staff. Today, we’re discussing what you should ask a potential management company, and how you should measure their services and fee structures. Ask About Employee Turnover When you’re discussing a management company’s staff, ask how long of a tenure their staff members typically have with the organization. In t…

As a landlord, whether you’re managing your own home or considering the services of a professional property management company, you need to know how to handle after-hours emergencies. What happens if something goes wrong in the middle of the night? We’re offering some tips on how to handle that. Tenants will call in for anything from a beeping smoke detector to a true maintenance emergency like a fire or a flood. At Invest West, we take those calls and assess the situation. Emergency maintenance is the most expensive type of repair when …

At Invest West, we manage properties in Clark, Cowlitz, and Clackamas counties, including the Portland and Vancouver metro area. We specialize in single family homes, condos, duplexes and apartments, along with HOA communities throughout Oregon and Washington. Today, we’re chatting with company owner Chris Barber about the history of the company, how it was established, and where it’s going in the future. Invest West and Property Management Leadership Chris’s father, Steve Barber, founded Invest West in 1979 as primarily a rental managem…

A major part of rental management is taking care of maintenance and repairs. Today, we’re sharing some information on how to find great maintenance for your investment property. Property Management Vancouver WA: Use High Quality Vendors One of most important things you can do is make sure the maintenance companies you talk to provide written estimates before doing any work. You should also require that they are licensed, bonded, and insured. Ask for proof of these things. Uninsured vendors might be willing to come out for half the pric…