All Forum Posts by: Duncan Taylor

There are many parts of the recurring workflows you can at least partially automate. But you aren't going to be successful unless you have well defined processes in place first.

For example, you want to automate the maintenance request process? Okay, what is your current process? Do they call you? Call someone else? Complete a form on the web that emails a request to someone? Or does it go into a PM solution and get routed to someone?

See a common thread there? Part of that workflow could be automated but it's unlikely it could be put on autopilot.

Let's take another example - rent collection. There are services that can debit the tenants account, put the money into your account and even send an update to your accounting system. But, what happens if the payment is not honored or has an issue?

Process first, automation where it makes sense second.

From the IRS...

http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc417.html

I'm closing on an under performing apartment building in WA next week with current gross rents over 2% of the final purchase price.

It will be even better once we get it turned around over the next 12 months.

@Sharad M.,

Any decent PM or CRM software would give you the ability to not only document your list but create a workflow to manage or enforce it.

What do you find limiting about the way you do this now that has you thinking about wanting it on-line?

If you engage in the renting and leasing activities and it is not incidental to your being a property manager, then you must be licensed.

It sounds like you can collect the rent, enforce the rules and perhaps do the evictions. But you couldn't negotiate and execute the leases.

From

http://www.irem.org/File%20Library/Public%20Policy/proplicensing1.pdf

Massachusetts

Real Estate Board

239 Causeway Street, Suite 500

Boston, MA 02114

(617) 727-2373

http://www.mass.gov/dpl/boards/re

Separate License Required:No

Limited License Offered:No

Does not license property managers. Although renting and leasing activities are covered under existing broker/agent law, if a property manager's only involvement in those activities is incidental to his involvement as a property manager, the exemption from licensure would still apply.

Did you read this link from my post above?

http://www.allpropertymanagement.com/propertylaw/property-management-law-in-massachusetts.html

Actually, since this will be your primary activity, you will need a broker's license.

http://www.allpropertymanagement.com/propertylaw/property-management-law-in-massachusetts.html

http://www.mass.gov/ocabr/licensee/dpl-boards/re/

Have language saying they are jointly and severally liable for the full rent amount and all damages.

That is awesome!

Are you a licensed broker or agent?