catlinproperties

Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer Story

niki@catlinpropertiesinc.com (Niki Favela) — Wed, 07 Dec 2022 17:07:29 GMT

Read how the story of Rudolph came to be. Every Story has a beginning.....

As the holiday season of 1938 came to Chicago, Bob May wasn’t feeling much comfort or joy. A 34-year-old ad writer for Montgomery Ward, May was exhausted and nearly broke. His wife, Evelyn, was bedridden, on the losing end of a two-year battle with cancer. This left Bob to look after their four-year old-daughter, Barbara.

One night, Barbara asked her father, “Why isn’t my mommy like everybody else’s mommy?” As he struggled to answer his daughter’s question, Bob remembered the pain of his own childhood. A small, sickly boy, he was constantly picked on and called names. But he wanted to give his daughter hope, and show her that being different was nothing to be ashamed of. More than that, he wanted her to know that he loved her and would always take care of her. So he began to spin a tale about a reindeer with a bright red nose who found a special place on Santa’s team. Barbara loved the story so much that she made her father tell it every night before bedtime. As he did, it grew more elaborate. Because he couldn’t afford to buy his daughter a gift for Christmas, Bob decided to turn the story into a homemade picture book.

In early December, Bob’s wife died. Though he was heartbroken, he kept working on the book for his daughter. A few days before Christmas, he reluctantly attended a company party at Montgomery Ward. His co-workers encouraged him to share the story he’d written. After he read it, there was a standing ovation. Everyone wanted copies of their own. Montgomery Ward bought the rights to the book from their debt-ridden employee. Over the next six years, at Christmas, they gave away six million copies of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer to shoppers. Every major publishing house in the country was making offers to obtain the book. In an incredible display of good will, the head of the department store returned all rights to Bob May. Four years later, Rudolph had made him into a millionaire.

Now remarried with a growing family, May felt blessed by his good fortune. But there was more to come. His brother-in-law, a successful songwriter named Johnny Marks, set the uplifting story to music. The song was pitched to artists from Bing Crosby on down. They all passed. Finally, Marks approached Gene Autry. The cowboy star had scored a holiday hit with “Here Comes Santa Claus” a few years before. Like the others, Autry wasn’t impressed with the song about the misfit reindeer. Marks begged him to give it a second listen. Autry played it for his wife, Ina. She was so touched by the line “They wouldn’t let poor Rudolph play in any reindeer games” that she insisted her husband record the tune.

Within a few years, it had become the second best-selling Christmas song ever, right behind “White Christmas.” Since then, Rudolph has come to life in TV specials, cartoons, movies, toys, games, coloring books, greeting cards and even a Ringling Bros. circus act. The little red-nosed reindeer dreamed up by Bob May and immortalized in song by Johnny Marks has come to symbolize Christmas as much as Santa Claus, evergreen trees and presents. As the last line of the song says, “He’ll go down in history.”

Winter Season is Coming...

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 19:31:31 GMT

Tips to prepare your home and property

Every year, fall comes around and it can be daunting to tackle every little thing you need to do to prepare your home for the winter. Preparing your home does not have to be stressful. Here are some practical tips to get you started.

Check for drafts.

Check your windows and doors for a draft. If you feel air coming into your home, you’ll want to address this before the cold climate hits. Doors are pretty simple as you can just replace the weather stripping. But If it’s a window that needs some attention, you may have to replace the entire unit. Replacing windows can get quite expensive. Check with your local utility company for window replacement programs and rebates.

Clean out your gutters.

It’s good to clean out your gutters every season, but it is most important to do before the raining season starts because you don’t want them to get clogged. All the leaves on your trees will fall during this season and can easily get stuck in your gutters causing damage if the weight becomes too heavy.

Inspect your roof.

To get your home ready for fall, check your roof for any leaves, twigs, rocks, and other debris. You’ll probably see a lot more accumulate over the course of the fall season, so it’s good to make sure your roof is in good repair and clear before the raining season begins. This debris can fall into your gutter causing them to clog and not work properly. You will also want to check for missing roof tiles, shingles, cracks, etc. If you are uncomfortable getting on the roof, you can hire a professional to inspect and clean your roof.

Purchase winter necessities

Fall is a great time to host campfires with friends and family. So, stock up on firewood to last you through the whole season and through the winter too if you want to save yourself a trip. Purchase ice melt and check your snow shovel to make sure it doesn’t need to be replaced. It’s also a good idea to buy a window scraper and, depending on where you live, possibly snow tires.

Mulch or fertilize your lawn.

As fall approaches, you won’t need to mow and maintain your lawn as often as in the summer and spring months. So, before fall and winter start, mulch or fertilize your lawn. Mulch leaves and grass clippings into your lawn as you mow. This creates a rich environment for the microorganisms deep in your soil. This keeps the soil and your lawn in good condition creating deep thick green lawn all year round. Make sure you do not have a heavy layer of mulch on the grass.

Pack up chairs, tables, and other items.

Sadly, it’s time to pack up those lounge chairs, inflatable pools, and other summer outdoor furniture. You can still leave some of it out – it doesn’t have to go away for months in your shed until winter. If you want to have a campfire, for example, you might want a few winterized chairs and a table to enjoy the cool outdoor weather with your family. Make sure you store cushions, pillows, and rugs in a cool well-ventilated area to prevent moisture and mold.

Close up your trampoline, pool, and other outdoor items.

Cover your trampoline so that leaves and dirt don’t build up on the top and on the inside. Or take the pad off, fold it and store it. You can clean and winterize your pool with chemicals and cover it with a cold weather cover so that you can keep it nice and clean for when next summer rolls around.

Check the thermostat inside.

What’s most important is to not let the temperature inside your home get cold enough to freeze pipes in the first place. Some steps to take: set your thermostat to a temperature between 50° and 55°F—just high enough to prevent freezing inside your home. This range is also best to prevent mold and mildew from forming and grouted tiles from buckling. Insulate exposed pipes and hose bibs. Seal air leaks to stop cold air from blowing in. Common spots to inspect are around pipes, dryer vents, and electrical wiring.

Adjust your sprinkler settings.

To prepare your home for fall, you may not need to turn your sprinkler system off entirely. As it gets colder and wetter, you won’t need to water nearly as much as in the summer. Also remove all hoses from the bibs and cover with a faucet cover. Lastly disconnect water lines to plants and the garden to prevent freezing and cracking.

Test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Replace the batteries in your smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector so you know they will work efficiently and keep you and your loved ones safe through the fall and winter. Test your fire alarms system and review emergency plans with your loved ones. This is also a good time to stock up on emergency equipment and food.

Rinse off your air conditioning unit.

If you used your air conditioning unit a lot over the summer, make sure you rinse it off before fall hits. It will accumulate dirt, pollen, dust, and other small particles over time.

Purchase an air purifier.

As it gets colder, you won’t be opening your windows and doors as much to improve your ventilation. They are a great investment to improve your indoor air quality year-round.

Test your furnace.

You probably haven’t needed to heat your home for several months – which means your furnace has been a sitting all summer. Be sure to test it before it gets too cold so if you need to get it serviced for some reason, you aren’t doing it when your home is uncomfortably cold. Check/replace the filter.

Weed and cover your garden .

This is the best time to pull out your annuals and weed your garden. Purchase plant coverings for delicate plants that are not wind and winter hardy. Only cover when the temperature dips below 32 degrees. Clip and maintain Trees which may include staking our trees to make them sturdy against high winds.

Sort through your shed and garage.

Set aside a weekend and organize everything in your shed. Then, next summer when you need to pull everything out again, it’ll be easy.

Well, there you have it! Is your home ready for fall and winter? If not, feel free to print out the list and get to work! You can never be over-prepared, so the more maintenance you do, the better! Hopefully these tips will help you avoid costly repairs and problems in the future. By preparing your home for winter, you’ll be doing a lot of the prep for spring and summer as well!.

Hosting? Try this Delicious Chili Recipe!

Tue, 13 Sep 2022 19:22:06 GMT

Every year when the leaves begin to fall, the weather cools, football season rolls in and the smell of homecooked chili fills the air!

Ingredient Checklist

2 pounds ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
6 cloves garlic, chopped
⅓ cup chili powder
1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
1 ½ teaspoons dried basil
1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
1 (4 ounce) can diced green Chile peppers, drained
1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle beer
1 tablespoon white vinegar
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (sugg. - Tabasco)
2 teaspoons salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions
Step 1

- Finely chop onion and garlic

- Get a large saucepan and place it on the stove over medium heat (let warm)

- Once warm, pour in the chopped onion and garlic, stir

- Add in the ground beef and crumble it up

- Let cook until there is no more pink and onions are soft

- Once done, drain the grease and place the pan back on the stove on low heat

- Add in chili powder, cumin and basil to the beef, then stir to let the flavor cook in

Step 2

- Pour in the tomatoes, green chilies, tomato sauce, beer and vinegar

- Turn heat up and bring to a boil

- Occasionally stir

- Mix in brown sugar, hot pepper sauce, salt and pepper

- Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 3 hours

- After 3 hours, uncover and stir

Plate as you please and enjoy!

* Optional –

Serve with cheese, sour cream, chopped onions, chopped jalapeno, minced cilantro, crackers, or cornbread.

Or serve over Nachos, a hot dog, or corn chips.

Nutrition Facts

Per Serving: 305 calories; protein 22g; carbohydrates 19.1g; fat 14.4g

Recipe by Jenn Polk Touchdown Chili Recipe | Allrecipes

Moving or Planning To?

Tue, 15 Mar 2022 19:37:13 GMT

Who to notify about your new address ......

Moving can be stressful and we tend to forget the small things. In addition to the obvious moving basics like acquiring boxes and packing supplies and renting a truck or hiring professional movers, you’ll also want to make sure you’re notifying the right people and places about your move.

It’s better to do this earlier rather than later so that you don’t face potential hassles like missed bills or service lapses. Use this list to help you notify the right people when its time to make that move.

The Post Office

Start here, since notifying the post office of your change of address will get any mail sent to your old place forwarded to your new one for 12 months.

You can change your address online at Change Your Address and Other U.S. Post Office Services | USAGov and set it for a specific start date.

Do this at least a week (preferably two weeks) before moving day, otherwise there may be a gap between when you move and when your mail forwarding can begin.

Tax Agencies

Both the federal revenue agency and your state tax agency should be notified of your change of address.

The IRS provides an online form at Update My Information | Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov) where you can notify them of your new address.

For your state tax agency, go to your specific state’s government website and look for directions. In most states you can easily handle this online as well.

Social Security Administration

If you receive any sort of social security benefits, don’t forget to let the SSA know where you’re moving to.

Fill out their change of address application online or give them a call at (800) 772-1213.

Driver’s License or State ID

In WA state you can change your address online at WA State Licensing (DOL) Official Site: Change the address on your driver license or ID card .

If you are moving to WA from out of state, you will need to apply for a WA state driver’s license or State ID.

Gas and Electric

Get this done as soon as you know what your new address and the date that you’ll be moving, don't you risk a day or more without heat or electricity.

Arrange for shut off at your current place to happen at the end of moving day and for service at your new location to start either the morning of your move in or the evening before. That way, there will be no moving in the dark.

Phone, Cable, and Internet

Just like with the electric company, call your phone, cable, and internet providers to let them know of your change of address as early as you can.

This includes your cell phone provider since they’ll need to know where to send your bill.

Other Utilities

Depending on what sort of utilities you’re responsible for at your new home (and it may be all) you’ll also need to notify the water department, sewer utility company, and garbage/recycling company.

Renter’s Insurance

Be sure to let your renters’ insurance agency know where they need to transfer your policy to. With renters’ insurance, some landlords or management companies will want proof of transfer prior to your move-in date, so get this taken care of early. Keep in mind your rate may be affected.

Your Employer

Even if your paychecks are directly deposited into your bank account, you’ll want to let your employer know about your change of address to make sure pay stubs, tax forms, and the like go to the right place.

Bank and Credit Card Company

Give your bank and credit card company a call or see if you can make the change online. Don’t forget about any loyalty programs or credit cards you may have with specific stores.

Loan Providers

Yes, we all wish our student loans couldn’t find us, but if you move, you must let any loan providers know.

Insurance Providers

Notify the agencies that provide you with health insurance, dental insurance, car insurance, and life insurance. If you have health insurance through the federal marketplace, visit Healthcare.gov and follow the directions for reporting a life change.

Other Financial Agencies

If you receive services from other financial agencies, including a credit union, a credit reporting agency, PayPal, an IRA/401k administrator, and/or an investment account holder, give them a heads up about your new address so you don’t miss anything important.

Subscription Services

If you’re signed up for any magazines or other subscription boxes/services, change your address by emailing or calling their customer service department.

Clubs and Organizations

Notify any churches, clubs, organizations, and charities you’re involved with of your new address so that they know where to reach you with mailers. This includes your memberships to places like Costco or Sam’s Club.

Individual Service Providers

Let your doctor, dentist, veterinarian, etc. know about your new address. If you’re going to be staying in the area, they’ll need to know for mailing and billing purposes. If you’re moving further away, they may be able to assist you with referrals.

Friends and Family

Don’t forget this important group! You can just send out a mass email with your new information and Blind copy everyone on it.

Changing your address does take time, but it’s much easier to take care of it before any problems arise from missing mail, checks, and important information.

CPI Property Maintenance

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 17:48:44 GMT

Services We Offer:

At CPI we maintain a staff of talented maintenance technicians to meet almost every need for your residential and commercial maintenance needs. We take doing things right the first time very seriously. We strive to be as efficient as possible for the wide variety of property owners that we do business with. Property maintenance can be overwhelming to the unsuspecting new property owner, and we at Catlin make sure that we stay abreast of codes, laws, techniques, and best practices so that we can ensure an owner’s property is in good renting order.

Services that we offer:

Make ready maintenance: Or otherwise known as ‘Unit Turn’, is when we perform maintenance on a unit to get it ready for the next person to move in. We have the knowledge and expertise to turn a unit as a full remodel or as minimally as possible. It is all up to the owner’s discretion. We also utilize this time to perform a comprehensive maintenance check on all the fixtures, devices, plumbing, and more, as to take care of major things while the unit is vacant, as well as possibly prevent future maintenance requests. It is noteworthy to mention that there are some things that are required by law to take place before a new tenant can move in. For example, lock changes and carpet cleaning are among the easiest to recognize.

Commercial Tenant Improvements: Commercial is quite a bit different than residential in almost every way imaginable. One of the key differences is that when a tenant moves into a commercial space, they generally need significant changes made to the space to meet their needs. With our team of highly skilled carpenters and technicians we can meet those needs by customizing the commercial space accordingly. Some examples include moving walls, removing offices, building new offices, adding entry ways, removing entry ways, and much more.

Emergency Response: Preventing personal injury and property damage are the primary goals behind this type of maintenance. At Catlin we have an emergency line open 24hrs and through the holidays just in case something happens during those times. If, in any way shape or form, the property is going to cause bodily harm to someone, or there is something that we can prevent property damage by sending someone out, those things constitute an emergency. There are other things that are more subtle that are considered emergencies but in each case it’s important to have an experienced technician receive the call and ascertain whether we need to go out on emergency time or if it can technically wait until the next available business day.

General Maintenance: Keeping a unit in tip top shape requires communication between the property managers and the tenants. It’s a two-way street sometimes. Most of the time the tenant is the instigator of a work order, they will notice something that isn’t quite working right, or has become broken from normal wear and tear, or even something they have accidentally broken. The tenant can call in or use our online portal to generate a work order and we will get to the issue as soon as possible. There are varying degrees of priority on work orders. Some are required by law to be taken care of within 24 hours of notice such as power outages, or no water in the unit. Others are required by law to be taken care of within 72 hours of notice such as refrigerator not working, or a stove not working. Then for everything else there is still a requirement by law, where the tenants have a right to have conditions in their unit maintained in proper working order. It is a full-time job knowing these boundaries and meeting these requirements. At the same time, it is just good customer service, for the tenant and the property owner, to be prompt and efficient with repairs and costs.

Categories of Maintenance that we perform: Catlin Properties Maintenance Department is capable of a wide range of general contracting skills. We are capable of fixing, refurbishing, repairing, building new, and diagnosing/troubleshooting a wide variety of aspects of residential and commercial properties. Our skillset includes appliance repair, plumbing , kitchen/bath remodel, landscaping, painting, and much more.

Quick Tips and Tricks to Save Money: Anything preventative is always preferable over trying to solve a problem after it’s too late. Regular (annual or so) inspections of a property inside and outside can go along way to preventing serious damage.

Make sure anything that is supposed to keep water out is functional and doing its job. Window caulking and flashings should be intact, tub surround caulking should be intact. These two things can avoid extensive property damage. The last thing you want to do is replace primary structural members in your unit because a leak was allowed to go on for years. In-general if water isn’t where it is supposed to be then that is cause for concern. Given enough time, water will bore through concrete and cause serious problems wherever it is.
Check under sinks for leaks in drain plumbing as well as wall valves. It’s best not to store too many items under sinks so that when leaks occur, they will be noticed early on. This simple tip can avoid minimal to extensive property damage.
Winterization of a unit each year is a good idea. Covering external spigots can be the difference between a cracked water pipe and making it through the winter unscathed. Cracked water pipes can be very costly if this occurs inside of a foundation or in another hard-to-reach spot.
Avoid putting any grease in drains. This one is tough to get everyone on board with because not everyone understands that even small amounts of grease build up in pipes over time. Eventually it’s likely unavoidable but the more we try to keep grease out of the lines the longer they will last before needing a replacement.
If you are unsure of a maintenance issue, our team of maintenance experts are ready to assist you.

Need a larger remodel or tenant improvement project? CPI Construction is a division of Catlin Properties Inc. Give us a call to discuss how we can help! 360-636-2897

Let's Get Organized!

Wed, 27 Oct 2021 22:15:40 GMT

Do you have a hard time getting your stuff organized? Read more to see how you can fix that!

Have you ever spent hours organizing things in little baskets, boxes, jars, you name it, and at the end of the day you were so proud of yourself, and everything looks so good, but then two weeks later all your hard work had disappeared, and you were back to square one?

It’s almost just as much work or more to maintain that type of organization. Through trial and error, I have developed a system that is manageable.

First ask yourself some questions:

# 1 – Identify what is important to you. Decide how you want the area to function for you on an everyday basis. How often do you use this area? What is the flow of the area? How many people access this area?

# 2- Where do I start? Choose or create a system that is going to be functional and easy to maintain for you! Are you looking to declutter? Do you want to create a “space”, or do you want it to be utilitarian? There are many ways to organize an area. Do your research ahead of time and pick something that will work for you. There are many YouTube videos and Pinterest ideas.

# 3 – How long will this take? Set realistic time expectations to complete. This is very important. Organizing any space can be overwhelming but larger spaces need to be done in steps. Set a time frame and stick to it!

# 4 – What do I want to keep? Start small – select one section within an area at a time. Humans place different values on an item. What one person considers junk is another’s treasure. Create three areas. 1) Keep: These are items you cannot part with or items that you need. 2) Donate: These are items that you do not need, or do not hold significant value to you. Value can be identified as monetary or emotional. 3) Trash: These are items that hold no value to anyone; IE broken items, discontinued items, etc.

# 5 – How much will this cost me? Make sure you have all the materials needed to start, (nothing like not having enough hangers, shelving, etc., halfway through your project). Surprisingly this does not have to be expensive. Local discount stores and dollar stores have many of these items.

Not every system will work for every person, but I wanted to share one of my systems that worked for me:

I have a lot of stuff in my dressers, and closet; so much that it was a pain to find anything. I would have to practically pull everything out of the dresser drawer to find anything. I looked at a lot of blogs and YouTube videos on organizing clothes, closets, blah, blah, blah, and I came up with a system that I truly believed would work for me. I wanted to be able to pull out a dresser drawer and see everything in it immediately. First, I started with just my drawers of t-shirts and tops. As I pulled out all my t-shirts, and tops from the drawers, I sorted them by style; T -shirts one pile, basic tops in another pile, and the third pile was my “Get Rid Of” pile. I made the three piles on my bed (easier then piling them on the floor). I then was able to estimate how many drawers I would need for each style (T-shirts, Tops).

Next, I figured out how I was going to fold them so I could minimize the space needed and when I opened the drawer, I could see all of them immediately without digging through a stack of t- shirts, and it wouldn’t take any special gadgets or a lot of time to fold. Finally, I figured it out. Take the t-shirt and fold it in half (top to bottom) then fold it side to side (left to right, or right to left) doesn’t matter, then fold that in half, and then fold it in half again, you’re done…. (If it is a long t- shirt or top, then the last step can be folded in thirds.) I have been able to fit twice as many t-shirts/tops in one drawer, and I can see them all immediately.

This worked great! I decided to use the same idea with pants and shorts. The best thing - I have maintained this for more than a year. I did not need special folding boards and its quick and easy. The best part is I ended up with empty drawers! In the coming months I hope to share more tips on how to organize your space.

Home Maintenance during Fall

niki@catlinpropertiesinc.com (Niki Favela) — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 15:59:17 GMT

The cold weather is right around the corner, follow these tips to prepare your rental home for fall and winter.

With summer quickly becoming a fading memory, now is the perfect time to ready your rental unit for the cooler temperatures of not only the fall and winter weather but also the unpredictable weather that we have in the Pacific Northwest.

Outside Maintenance

· Rake up leaves so grass does not die or create molds and fungus.

· Disconnect garden hoses from outdoor spigots to prepare for possible freezing.

· Report any problems with standing water to your Property Manager.

· The days are shorter and darker earlier, therefore, be sure to remove any debris or object which could cause injuries.

· Trim bushes away from house and weed garden beds in preparation for winter. This is also a safety item around walkways as well.

· Turn on outdoor lights when appropriate, such as trick or treaters, but to save on energy bills, turn off during the day.

· Keep debris away from house and dispose properly to prevent unnecessary fires or pests.

· If you have a fireplace, NEVER put warm or hot ashes in a trash can. Instead, place in a metal container away from the residence until cold, then dispose of properly.

· If you put up holiday lights, please remove them when the holiday is over. Do not leave holiday lights on when you are not in the residence.

· If you have a live tree during the holidays, be sure to keep it watered and dispose of it properly and immediately after the holiday is over.

· Check indoor holiday lights and/or pre-lit trees carefully for safety and do not leave on when you leave the residence. Dispose of any possible hazardous lights.

Inside Maintenance

· Check the smoke alarms and CO2 monitor. If they don't work, try and replacing the battery. If that fails, report this to your Property Manager immediately.

This is an important safety item for you and your family.

· Change the filter if you have a forced air system. This is important to do throughout the year. It will lead to lower heating bills and help keep the air cleaner in your home.

· Check dryer vents regularly to remove debris. This will increase the efficiency and avoid a possible fire.

· Check your windows and doors for proper closure and locking.

· Close all windows and doors when leaving the resident to prevent rain damage and increase safety.

· If there is a fireplace in your residence, make sure the flue is open before lighting the fire.

· If when you do use your fireplace and there are any problems, immediately extinguish the fire, and notify your Property Manager immediately.

Pest Prevention

Ants become more aggressive with colder weather and try to come indoors. However, there are measures to take for prevention.

· To prevent ants from accessing your pet's food bowl, put a thin ring of petroleum jelly around the rim.

· Empty the garbage often and dispose of properly in garbage receptacles. Do not leave outside of your door.

· Keep food and spills cleaned up throughout the home to avoid attraction of ants.

· If you bring firewood in, do so shortly before you need it and do not store in the residence. Firewood attracts a variety of pests, including ants, and can transport them into your home.

For Additional Information https://www.alhpodland.com/blog/fall-winter-maintenance-tips-for-renters

Pit Falls of Self-Managing your Investment Property

Wed, 01 Sep 2021 20:47:02 GMT

"How hard can managing my own properties really be?"

THE PIT FALLS OF SELF-MANAGING YOUR INVESTMENT PROPERTIES

"How hard is it to manage my own properties?"

At some point in an investor must answer this question.

The answer is complicated and depends on the needs of your properties, your personal and business needs.

Here are few pitfalls to avoid when considering managing your own properties...

1. If I place a “For Rent Sign” they will come.

Finding Tenants is the first step to renting your property, but not just any tenant- the right tenant.

This process seems like a no-brainer; you put a sign in the yard that states “For Rent” and prospective tenant, will be begging for an application.

Depending on the property, there is a more work to do than just putting a sign up. Invest time and money into marketing your property. Some marketing may not cost anything, such as social media platforms, but you will need to spend the time managing these sites.

In fact, you may think you will have multiple people begging for an application. The reality is, there may be a lot of people seeking to rent and a lot of people vying for an application, but are these the right people? You’re effectively rolling the dice and gambling on your own investment. The wrong tenant can end up costing you hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars in lost rent, property damage, and legal fees.

Property Management companies like CPI have the capacity to reach thousands of prospective tenants with a wide range of marketing tools like radio, social media, online presence, open house, fliers, etc. This type of competition can leave the self-managing investor at a disadvantage. CPI has a proven system to screen tenants and make sure they are a qualified tenant meeting your expectations. This protects you and the tenant.

2. I don’t understand what my CPA is asking for?

Collecting rent is not just about receiving money monthly. There are rules and regulations pertaining to the handling of security deposits, what needs to be reported to the IRS, and how money is distributed. Accounting is essential to successfully managing your property.

Creating budgets, paying taxes and insurance, and making sure there is money for that rainy day project-such as new roof are all areas an expert property management company can assist you with.

CPI uses the AppFolio platform which integrates both the owner and the tenant. The tenant can pay their rent, make maintenance request, and communicate with their property manager 24/7. The owner can review their statements, look at inspection reports, view recent pictures of the property and much more. Our experienced staff and designated broker understand how real estate and accounting work.

3. Is self-managing your investment holding your portfolio back?

Not taking into consideration the amount of time and money you will spend on managing each property. Wouldn’t it make more sense to utilize these resources toward building your portfolio?

Let CPI take on the work of managing your properties, so you can build your portfolio.

4. “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and 5 minutes to ruin it” -Warren Buffet

Managing your reputation in the communities you invest in is just as important as managing your investment.

Tenants are 10x more likely to post a bad review about your property if they feel they had a bad experience. Poor customer service, maintenance issues, and tenant dissatisfaction can give you a bad name as a landlord, which can cause qualified tenants to look elsewhere. Remember when you self-manage, you must be on call 24/7-365 days a year.

CPI strives to make sure the tenant’s needs are met. We have a team ready to answer their questions and create solutions to any problem that arises. We have regular business hours as well as after hours for emergency calls.

5. My blood, sweat, savings, and tears went into that property

Whether you spent countless hours researching and buying a property, designed and built the property, inherited, or personally lived and remodeled the property, there is a personal attachment involved. It is difficult to have a level of separation allowing you to make emotionless decisions that will ultimately affect your investment.

CPI is a buffer between your personal attachment and the property. We can take a neutral stance and give you sound advice based on the market, history and overall health of the property. This will help you as an investor to have a hands-off approach and removes the risk of subjectivity, which will allow you to handle your investments.

6. It’s so much work to do annual inspections!

Annual inspections take time and can be tedious. If you live out of the area or state, these inspections can also be costly in travel expenses. Failure to complete annual inspections can result in costly repairs and damages to your property.

Tenants do not always report damage or a need for repairs. Annual inspections give you the opportunity to address the needs of the property. The inspections also provide a paper trail in case you ever need to prove damage occurred by the tenant. Annual inspections protect the owner and the tenant.

CPI’s team of property managers are expertly skilled in identifying problems and damages during annual inspections. Our Maintenance department of skilled carpenters, painters, and technicians can make the repairs to your property often while saving you money.

7. I don’t know Landlord/Tenant laws

Being a self-managing Landlord can get you into some sticky legal situations if you do not understand the laws and the constant changes in those laws.

Eviction laws are strict and knowing the relevant laws pertaining to the handling of an eviction will be vital once you are in front of a judge.

CPI has a team in place to review legislative changes that affect the many Landlord/Tenant laws. We believe in being proactive so that you do not have to be reactive. We will prepare all documents and attend court on your behalf.

We hope you have a good understanding of the “pit falls of self-managing your investment property.” If you are thinking about hiring a property management company; consider CPI to manage your property so you can truly enjoy your investment. Call us today for a free consultation; 360-636-2897

First Time Renter Tips

Tue, 10 Aug 2021 18:34:42 GMT

Are you ready for your first place?

CPI loves helping first time renters find their new home! Here are some considerations when you are looking for your first rental:

Budget

One of the largest considerations for first time renters is the budget. Rent is just one of the expenses of moving into your own place. Most rentals don’t include the cost of electricity or internet. Depending on where you rent, you may also be responsible for water, sewer and garbage, or other utilities. These amounts can vary greatly depending on the size and location of your rental. When comparing different properties, be sure to factor in these additional costs. You may also need to buy furniture and other household goods for your new home.

House or Apartment?

Both have advantages and disadvantages. Houses are typically the more expensive option, especially once you include utilities. House are usually larger and give you a little more freedom and privacy. Most houses will require that you maintain your own yard, so be sure that you are ready to mow a lawn and maintain flower beds or bushes. Apartments are usually less expensive, but with some trade-offs. Apartments tend to be smaller, and shared living spaces require extra consideration of noise and privacy.

Pets?

We love our furry friends at CPI! If you have a pet already, or know that you want one in the future, be sure to look for pet friendly rentals. Some properties may allow only cats, only dogs, or only pets of a certain size and breed. While a pet is priceless companionship, pet deposits, vet visits and all the extras can really add up. Be sure that a pet is in your budget before you commit.

Roommates

Splitting rent and utilities with a roommate can help make getting your first home much more affordable. It also comes with a lot of compromises and sacrifices. You and your roommate will both be legally responsible for the rent and any damages to the unit, so be sure that your roommate is someone that you can depend on. A roommate also needs to be someone who you can live with. Make sure that you discuss your expectations for things like cleaning, cooking and how you will divide household bills before you move in together.

Parking

Most rentals include some sort of arrangement for parking. Be sure to ask about the parking situation at each rental you consider, and make sure it will meet your needs, especially if you have more than one vehicle. Is there a garage, carport, driveway or street parking? Is the parking nearby and well lit? Are spots reserved, or first come-first served? Where will visitors to your home park?

Neighborhood

It is a good idea to visit the neighborhood you are considering at different times of the day and night. Are you hoping for a quiet residential feel, or maybe easy access to restaurants and bars? Are sidewalks, bike lanes, public transit, schools or other neighborhood amenities important to you? What is the crime rate like in the neighborhood? Is there cell phone service? Starting your search with an idea of what is important to you can help you save time and energy in finding the right fit.

Renters Insurance

CPI recommends that all tenants have renter’s insurance. Renter’s insurance protects your furniture, electronics and other items from damage due to fire, smoke, theft and water damage. While the landlord’s policy covers the actual structure, it won’t pay for items that belong to the renter. The average cost of renter’s insurance in Washington state is less than $15/month. This is a small price to pay for the peace of mind that renter’s insurance can provide.

Still have questions? Call us 360-636-2897, we are here to help you.

Why choose a Property Manager?

Fri, 16 Jul 2021 22:13:19 GMT

Why should you hire Catlin Properties Inc. (CPI) for your property management needs?

What Exactly Does a Property Management Company Do?

While every company is different, most property management firms follow the same basic principles. Understanding how property management companies operate and what to expect from them on a month-to-month basis can help you as a property owner decide whether hiring one is the right choice for you and how to find the best fit for your needs.

Property management companies act on behalf of property owners. Essentially, they serve as a third-party operator, handling the day-to-day responsibilities required to maintain and protect the value of your property. Companies like ours ( Catlin Properties Inc.) take care of these tasks for you.

Services typically include routine duties such as tenant application screening and rent collection, as well as handling unexpected situations like maintenance emergencies and, when necessary, evictions.

Managing a property yourself may seem like a good way to save money. However, many landlords underestimate the full scope of responsibilities involved. Property management goes far beyond signing a lease and collecting rent. There are many unpredictable situations—such as late-night emergency calls or urgent repairs—that require immediate attention.

Experienced property managers have the knowledge and systems in place to keep your property in excellent condition. They also help support your investment by ensuring tenants have a positive living experience. This part is important because satisfied tenants are more likely to stay in the unit, which reduces vacancy rates and helps improve the overall cash flow from your property.

Keep reading to discover how our team at Catlin Properties Inc. (CPI) can help you with your investment!...

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1. Application Screening

Good quality tenants follow the rules, pay rent on time, and opt for a long-term lease. Failure to properly screen the candidates may lead to acquiring occupants who only create problems or a revolving door of short term tenants. Solving these complications takes both time and money.

That is why CPI will assist you in the selection of suitable tenants for your property. Our thorough background checks include:

Credit Check
Bankruptcy History
Employment Verification
Eviction History
Criminal Records

When you partner with CPI, we help you pick the most qualified prospective tenants. We do this while ensuring there’s no breach of legal regulations like the Fair Housing Act.

2. Rental Pricing

Setting an accurate price is a challenge that almost every landlord faces. Both overpricing and undercharging can impact your investment. Overpricing leads to a higher vacancy rate and undercharging lowers your potential return.

CPI 's property managers are skilled and knowledgeable in the Cowlitz County market. We can assist you in finding the perfect price for your rental. We review market data to decide on the appropriate sum. In return, the rate is optimal for getting the best results from your investment.

3. Marketing

Strategic advertising ensures your property is seen by many prospective renters. CPI uses tested strategies for top results. We have of mix of marketing platforms that we use. Among these methods, you can find several social media platforms, radio ads, print material, and even the timeless ‘For Rent’ sign in front of a property.

4. Maintenance and Repairs

Regular maintenance and swift repairs ensure that your tenants remain satisfied, while keeping your investment in top shape. CPI has a in-house Maintenance Department with skilled maintenance technicians.

We have the ability to get your repairs done a swift and efficient time frame, often saving our owner's with our competitive rates. Our Property Managers have also vetted contractors, suppliers, maintenance workers, and vendors.

Utilizing these relationships gets things accomplished more efficiently compared to self-managing. Some repairs arise during emergencies. When this transpires, landlords have to deal with the additional stress that comes along with it. Having CPI manage your property keeps you away from the stress of dealing with emergencies 24-7.

5. Rent Collection

Steady rent collection starts with drafting a comprehensive lease agreement. Every contract should outline important terms, such as late payment fees and the duration of the grace period.

CPI handles the leasing process and we offer multiple payment methods and effectively communicate the payment guidelines to the tenants. Our AppFolio CRTM program makes it easy for tenants to submit payments online and for our Owners to see their payments.

6. Property inspections

Landlords inspect their properties for maintenance and check for upkeep. It’s a standard procedure to ensure that the rental units are habitable and safe.

There’s a requirement for move-in and move-out inspections as well. When you have multiple properties, all these inspections can add up and take a lot of time.

Let CPI take over these responsibilities. Our property managers conduct regular assessments to ensure everything is in order.

7. Evictions

No screening process guarantees full defense from every type of potential problem. Every now and then, landlords may face circumstances that leave them with no other choice than to proceed with an eviction.

For example, the tenant might cause significant property damage or fail to pay the rent. Evictions need to follow all legal protocols.

CPI will act on your behalf and ensure the proper steps are taken to avoid lawsuits. This is the only way to effectively conclude an eviction.

In summary -Why choose CPI?

One of the benefits of hiring CPI is that we take over the responsibilities of a property owner. The daily tasks are taken care of by our skilled team of professionals. They make the landlord’s life much easier.

Here are some snippets of a property manager’s timetable:

Determining the rent amount
Maintenance and repairs
Advertising the property
Applicant screening
Conflict resolution
Handling emergencies
Collecting the rent

Lastly the CPI follows all the legal regulations. In many cases, small lawful details make a difference. The skill of knowing what to anticipate resides in familiarity and wisdom.

The first step toward a suitable property management company is to reflect on your requirements. Many landlords opt for a full-service solution. This way you don’t worry about routine burdens anymore, but still, obtain monthly reports and continuous insights on how your rental is prospering.

CPI is a full service property management company ready to take the stress of managing your property , so you can enjoy the benefits of your investment.