A recent publication by SafeWise named 4 cities in RPM Select territories as the safest cities in California

SafeWise, the leading experts in home security systems, compiled a report of California’s 50 most safest cities based off their security system research paired together with recent FBI crime data. Of these 50 cities named in the publication, four cities lie within the territories Real Property Management Select operates and manages rental homes.

The highest on the list at #8 is Lincoln, CA. Northeast of Sacramento, this quaint town has just over 44,000 people and seems to be quite an “up-and-coming” city. It ranked #27 on the “Top 100 fastest growing cities from 2000 to 2008” (http://www.city-data.com/city/Lincoln-California.html). Even with this growth, the town seems to stay one of the safest places to live in California.

The next highest is Windsor, CA, at #30. With roughly 7 square miles, this small town just north of Santa Rosa has only about 27,000 people but comes in over the national average for cost of living. Also, the unemployment percentage is below California state average. With a violent crime rate 35% less than the National average, Windsor seems like a great place to enjoy that small-town feel more safely.

Following Windsor, is Benicia, CA, at #40. This mild-weathered city is located on the waterfront of the Carquinez Strait and offers spectacular views with its homes located on rolling hills. In 2012, the population was counted at 27,426, and surprisingly listed as only having one (1) fatal accident count in 2010, and no fatal accidents caused by drunk drivers. Yet again back in 2007, there were no fatal accidents by drunk drivers and only 3 fatal accidents for the year. Overall, Benicia has shown to be a highly desirable place to live by both owners and tenants.

Lastly is Petaluma at #43 out of 50. This North-Bay town is located just west of Napa and boasts housing prices about 16% over the California median of $355k. Petaluma is noted as the birthplace of David Banks, the writer and actor who is most widely known for his work on The Richard Pryor show. It also offers a short half hour drive to Bodega Bay beach to enjoy some California sunshine. With an overall crime rate of about 47% lower then the U.S. average listed on City-data.com, Petaluma may be the next best place to call home!

While there is no place like home, we all want to feel a sense of safety and security. Safety should never be taken lightly and we encourage all owners and tenants to do their homework before moving to a new city. Although as real estate professionals we cannot give out crime or neighborhood information, we always suggest to browse the Internet or contact the local non-emergency gaziantep escort police department to get crime information about a new town or location.

To see the SafeWise list of all 50 cities named as the safest in California, please visit safewise.com. Most data stated in this blog was found on City-Data.com.

Real Property Management Select Sacramento is proud to offer Lincoln property management to property owners and investors in Lincoln, CA.

Discover the pros and cons of tablets in the real estate industry…

A few years ago, the iPad came came onto the scene. All conversations regarding tablets began and ended with the iPad. Apple’s first debut of the device in 2010 quickly became the most popular solution due to a combination of interfaces, apps, and fascinating features.

This year, Apple is headlining the way for tablets but the race is getting closer with new contenders. Tablets powered by Google’s Android OS are gaining shares and fans alike, while Microsoft is launching out new devices as well.

With options expanding for the tablets, how do you know which is best for you? From various surveys, both the iPad and Nexus will work for most real estate and property management companies. Both have an expansive set of apps to choose from, and the number keeps growing into the hundreds of thousands each year. Each app has a main function to help with your day-to-day work. The Surface from Microsoft does have some beneficial qualities, such as a detailed display and the ability to use Microsoft Word and Power Point. However, the down side is that it is relatively new, in the early stages of development, and only has about ten thousand apps available. It also boasts a huge storage capacity, but most of that is taken up by the operating system.

For people who look at price first when buying, you should consider the Nexus. This device has a 7 inch screen, can be bought in the low hundreds, and has access to over seven hundred thousand apps. In comparison, the iPad mini is a couple hundred over the asking price of the Nexus, but features an 8 inch screen, and eight hundred thousand apps.

The ideal use of a tablet is to replace other productivity tools (such as a computer, phone, and camera). Granted, the tablet has only been around for three years, and the have come a long way in storage space, size, data capacity, etc. But they aren’t quite versatile or powerful enough to replace your computer. If you have Wi-Fi access for your tablet, you can use it to prepare presentations for potential owners, look up information on your property server, and find/share information with other employees. It is great for notes, and content entry at best.

However, don’t just look at the negatives. By spending a little extra money here and there you can add some tools to enhance your tablets use. You can buy keyboards with Bluetooth connections to make it easier to type. A case will allow you to easily carry a tablet, prop it up, and keep it gaziantep escort bayan covered. A stylus can enable you to write on the screen to enter notes faster. Last but not least, are the apps that come with the tablet. There are apps that calculate costs, create move in/move out reports, provide rental estimates, easy access to online storage, schedule appointments, and scan/sign documents.

While smaller devices are easier to carry than something the size of a book or chair, larger ones make it easier to read and watch videos. The best way to find the right tablet for you is to head to your local electronics store and try them out for size.

What are today’s renters really looking for? What do they expect, and where are they living? This infographic dives deep into today’s rental market.

By the year 2015, the number of renter households in the United States are expected to hit an all-time high of 46.8 million, According to Rachael Wachstein. It’s estimated that huge numbers of these new people renting homes will be Millennials.

Along with this growth in the rental property market, there will come increased competition in the property management industry. It’s imperative for property managers and rental property owners to maintain their rental homes, and present them to potential renters as inviting and appealing in order to stay on top of the rental market.

As a professional property management company in Fairfield, CA, Real Property Management Select works hard to provide quality rental properties to renters on the search for a place to call home. Our systems have been proven for 25+ years, and we have numerous clients who are willing to back that up. Hiring a professional property manager can save you thousands in costly mishaps and mistakes. Give us a call for a Free Consultation.

Check out this infographic published by RPM for some great information.

One of the biggest attractions that go overlooked by homeowners is curb appeal. Find out why, and how you can avoid making the same mistake.

What is curb appeal? Is it worth the effort? Will it break my bank? Those are a few questions homeowners will ask themselves when they plan to put their home up for rent. But lets start at the beginning – what is “curb appeal”? Curb appeal is how attractive your home is on the exterior. Things that make up the attraction range from the front lawn, flowers or bushes, front windows, and paint to name just a few. How well these items are maintained will determine how much curb appeal your home has.

As a homeowner, you might be thinking, “No one really bothers about the outside of the home, it’s the inside that really pulls in the prospective tenants.” That simply is not the case. Curb appeal is everything to tenants! It’s the first impression that they get and it will decide whether or not they will even consider looking inside. If you are trying to rent your home, you want to bring in people, not make them drive away. If your home has chipped paint, mud for a lawn, dead plants, and oil stains in the driveway, do you think you will be able to rent out your home? On the off chance you just might. But it would have attracted the wrong kind of tenants – the kind of tenant who will most likely treat your property poorly. You don’t want that, believe me!

Lets say you put on a fresh coat of paint, have the lawn full of green grass that has been manicured to perfection, clean windows, and stain-free driveway. You will have a much better chance of leasing your property much faster, AND you will manage to bring in the right kind of tenant who will take care of your home the way you would want it to be taken care of. In the long run, curb appealing you home is worth the effort and can save you future headaches.

Sounds like the thing to do, right? But now the voice in the back of your head is saying, “If I curb appeal my home, it’s going to cost a lot of money – money I don’t have.” Now-a-days most homeowners don’t have a lot of money to throw around to improve the curb appeal of their home. So don’t fret, you’re not alone! We have entered an age where DIY websites and books are all the rage, so people don’t have to pull out their Franklins anymore. Below are a few tricks you can do to spruce up the exterior of your home:

• Weed and water your lawn on a weekly basis.
• Trim all surrounding bushes and mow the lawn.
• Make sure your gutters are secure and clean of leaves and debri that might be hanging over the edges.
• Put a brand new doormat in front of the door.
• Make sure your windows are sparkling with cleanliness and screens have no tears.
• Replace any lights that are burnt out or broken.
• Place new bird feeders around your home or clean the ones you have.
• Make sure your fence is in good condition. Replace any planks that are broken.
• Put a fresh coat of paint on the front of your home.
• Remove any personal items, children, or pet toys from the front of the house.
• Replace outdated hardware such as mailbox, doorknobs, and fixtures.
• Dress up the front door with a splash of color or add potted flowers on the sides.
• Add shutters or accent trim to exterior windows and lining of the home.
• Make sure the drive way is clean of oil stains and weeds.

Doing just a few of these things will greatly enhance the curb appeal of your home in no time at all. It will not only give a great first impression to prospective tenants, but will help make them feel like they are already home.

Real Property Management Select has helped hundreds of property owners enhance the Curb Appeal of their rental properties. Do you need help turning your house into a home? Call RPM today to find out what we can do for you.