Property Management Blog

Rental Fraud in Richmond, VA: How Common It Is, How It Works, and How to Avoid It

Rental fraud has become a persistent and increasingly sophisticated problem in Richmond, across Central Virginia, and nationwide. What was once limited to obviously fake listings has evolved into a wide range of schemes that exploit competitive housing markets, remote transactio...

Landlord Maintenance Responsibilities in Virginia: Legal Duties, Risk Management & Best Practices

Property owners in Virginia have both legal and operational obligations to maintain rental properties in a safe, livable condition. These obligations exist regardless of whether a property is self-managed or professionally managed, and they cannot be waived through informal agree...

Richmond’s Multifamily Shift: How New Construction, Institutional Investors, and Rising Expectatio...

Richmond has long been regarded as one of the strongest midsized real estate markets in the United States. Steady population growth, a resilient job market, diverse employers, and relatively attainable housing costs have positioned the metro as a favored target for both institut...

Why We Charge a Maintenance Coordination Fee (And Why It Saves You Money)

As a property owner, you want to understand every line item on your statement. That's smart business. One question we hear occasionally is about our 10% maintenance coordination fee, and it's worth explaining not just what it is, but why it exists and...

The Rent-Ready Partnership: Setting Your Richmond Property Up for Success

When you transition your property from owner-occupied to tenant rental, or from one tenant to the next, you're making a critical decision: deliver it in peak condition now, or pay significantly more at every future turnover.After managing properties throughout Richmond, we...

The Virginia Smoke Alarm Gray Area: Why § 55.1-1220 Creates Legal Confusion

In Part 1, this series covered why professional property managers install bedroom smoke alarms regardless of legal requirements: insurance carriers expect them, fire safety science proves they work, and the cost-benefit analysis is obvious.Part 2 addresses the question that actua...

Why Every Bedroom Needs a Smoke Alarm: The Insurance and Liability Reality

When a tenant is injured in a residential fire, insurance adjusters do not start by asking whether a property technically complied with the minimum code requirements in effect decades ago.They ask three different questions:Did the property meet current industry standards?What wou...

Understanding Wear and Tear vs. Damages: A Guide for Property Owners

As a property owner, one of the most common sources of confusion when managing a rental property is distinguishing between normal wear and tear and tenant-caused damages. Though somewhat subjective and ambiguous, understanding the difference is essential for maintaining good tena...

What's Next? Your Journey as a Professionally Managed Investor

You didn't plan to become a landlord. Maybe you relocated for work, inherited a property, or couldn't sell in a difficult market. But you made a smart early decision: you hired a property manager to handle the day-to-day operations.Now you're wondering—what happ...

Why First Impressions Matter in Richmond | 9 Proven Ways to Maximize ROI

Good tenants skip poorly prepared properties. It’s that simple. When a resident with options walks into a home with torn blinds, scuffed walls, peeling caulk, old odors, or signs of corner-cutting, they don’t negotiate—they move on to the next, better-kept prope...