One Tenant Has Left, And It Is Time To Prepare For The Next One.

 

 

 

Preparing Your Rental Property for a New Tenant

We act as Landlord for our clients, and when one tenant leaves, it’s time to prepare for the next. Ensuring a smooth transition is key to maintaining a positive rental experience. Here are the essential steps we take as property managers to get the property ready for a new tenant:

 

1. Inspect and Clean the Property

The first step is a thorough inspection to identify any damages or necessary repairs. Addressing maintenance issues, such as plumbing or electrical problems, is crucial. The property must be cleaned thoroughly, with all items in good condition. If needed, replace items due to wear and tear, and consider hiring a professional cleaning company for a deep clean.

2. Complete Any Necessary Repairs

Fix any damages identified during the inspection. This may include repairing or replacing appliances, damaged flooring, cupboards, or shower heads. Ensure all AC units, ceiling fans, and appliances are functioning properly. If AC units are due for servicing, now is the time to take care of it.

3. Conduct a Full Inventory Check

Review the existing inventory list from the previous tenant’s move-in. Verify that no items are missing or damaged. If discrepancies are found, inform the previous tenant and advise them of any costs associated with replacements.

4. Perform a Move-In Inspection

Before the new tenant arrives, conduct a detailed move-in inspection. Document the property’s current condition and note any pre-existing damages. Share this information with the tenant during the move-in process to avoid future disputes regarding the property’s condition.

5. Hand Over the Keys

On move-in day, provide the tenant with two sets of keys and have them sign off upon receipt. Ensure the keys cover all major entrances, exits, and any secured areas like cupboards or safes.

6. Conduct a Walkthrough with the New Tenant

Accompany the tenant on a walkthrough of the property on move-in day. Show them the entrances, exits, light switches, emergency exits, and storage areas. Demonstrate which keys operate which doors, ensuring they feel comfortable in their new home. Leave your contact details with the tenant for any future needs or questions.

 

By following these steps, we ensure a seamless transition between tenants, maintaining the property’s condition and enhancing the rental experience for everyone involved.

 

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Direct Barbados: 1.246.622.4466

Freephone UK: 0800 0885574

Toll Free US/CND: 1 866 404 9600

Email: experts@blueskyluxury.com

 

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Owning a single rental property or a portfolio of homes both offer attractive opportunities for real estate investment. Choosing whether to self-manage your properties or work with a property management company is one of the most important choices you’ll have to make as a property owner. Both strategies have advantages and disadvantages, and your decision will have a big impact on how well your investment performs. To assist you in making an informed choice, we’ll examine the pros and cons of self-managing versus working with a property management company in this blog post.

 

PROS OF SELF MANAGEMENT

 

Cost Savings

Perhaps the greatest advantage of managing your property is the ability to save money. You will not be required to pay monthly management fees, which can range from 5-10% of the rental income. This allows for significant long-term savings.

Direct Control

Self-management gives you complete control over making all the appropriate decisions for your property. You have the power to handle tenant screening, repairs, and maintenance, thus ensuring that everything is kept up to your standards.

Closer Tenant Relationship 

The practice of self-management helps you create a more personal relationship with your tenants or guests. This can result in improved communication and a clear understanding of their expectations and concerns.

Flexibility

You have the flexibility to make your own decisions without the hassle of consulting with a property manager. This agility can be crucial in time-dependent situations.

 

CONS OF SELF MANAGEMENT

Time-Consuming

Managing a property can quickly become a very time-consuming endeavour. Dealing with tenant or guest complaints, maintenance requests, and other daily responsibilities can become challenging, especially if you own a multitude of properties.

Lack of Expertise

Unless you have experience managing properties, you may lack the knowledge to efficiently resolve any complex issues that may arise. This may sometimes lead to costly errors or legal complications.

Fatigue and Burnout

The stress and demands of property management, particularly if you have troublesome tenants or constant maintenance issues, can lead to burnout and hurt your overall quality of life.

Location Dependance

Self-management can become problematic if you do not live near your property. You must be able to respond promptly to any issues that may arise at any given time.

 

PROS OF HIRING A PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY

Experience and Expertise

Property management firms have the skills and experience to handle almost anything that comes their way, from big renovations to daily administrative work such as rent collection and paying bills. They are frequently more efficient than an inexperienced owner.

Time-Saving

By hiring a property manager, you free up time to focus your attention on other investments or hobbies while decreasing the stress and time commitment that come with self-management.

Access to Networks

Property management businesses typically have a pool of trustworthy contractors and service providers through whom they can often secure discounts on repairs and maintenance, thereby lowering the owner’s expenditure.

Legal Knowledge

Property management businesses are knowledgeable about landlord-tenant laws, thereby reducing the risk of legal complications and ensuring compliance with local regulations.

 

CONS OF HIRING A PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY

Management Fees

Property management companies charge a management fee, which may dip into your rental income. The owner needs to compare these fees to the benefits they receive.

Reduced Control

When you hire a property management company, you relinquish some of your control over your property. They make decisions on your behalf, which may not always align with your preferences.

Service Quality

Not all property management companies offer the same level of service. It is essential to do your research and select a reputable company to ensure your property is well taken care of.

Written by:  Selena Kirton

 

Stay in touch, we love to hear from you!

Direct Barbados: 1.246.622.4466

Freephone UK: 0800 0885574

Toll Free US/CND: 1 866 404 9600

Email: experts@blueskyluxury.com

 

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Safety checks and disaster preparedness are essential for ensuring that individuals and communities are ready to handle unforeseen emergencies. These measures can help individuals minimise the impact of disasters and recover more quickly. The following outline provides a brief overview of the key aspects of knowledge safety checks and disaster preparedness. Have a quick read below; even if it is just a refresher, it will only take 1 minute and a couple of seconds.

Safety Checks

Schedule annual fire safety checks on fire equipment.

• Routine checks of electric cords for fraying
• The routine removal of lint from dryers and quarterly serving
• Routine checks of the balcony and staircase railings and balustrades
• Routine checks on stored BBQ bottles for leaks
• Routine checks of windows, doors, gates, locks, safes, security systems, and night lighting to guard against theft
• Routine changing of lockbox codes and gate access codes
• Locking of exterior taps to reduce trespassers on the property
• Ensure the first aid kit is topped up with supplies.

Disaster Preparedness

This list is primarily hurricane-related.

• Store patio or outdoor furniture or items that can be blown away or damaged.
• Close shutters on properties with shutters.
• Set the sun blinds in the open position.
• Ensure all windows and doors are secured.
• Trim trees as needed.
• Clear roofs, storm drains, and gutters
• Sandbags are in place for beachfront properties.
• Turn off the LP Gas supply.
• Service backup generators and ensure LP gas or diesel supply tanks are filled.
• Battery-operated radios, lanterns, or flashlights in place
• Set fridges and freezers to the coldest settings.
• Guests are aware of the nearest shelter identified, along with directions.
• Guests have supplies of non-perishable food items, water, and medication.
• Guests should be aware of what to do during and after hurricanes.

Written By: Sandra Pollard-Bostic, Blue Sky Luxury Property Manager

 

Stay in touch, we love to hear from you!

Direct Barbados: 1.246.622.4466

Freephone UK: 0800 0885574

Toll Free US/CND: 1 866 404 9600

Email: experts@blueskyluxury.com

 

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You have just purchased your new holiday home and want to decorate and set it up for rental.  

Our Property Management team at Blue Sky Luxury Barbados has lots of experience helping new owners set up and manage their new holiday homes. Here are some tips on how to set up your property as a Short Term holiday rental.

• Stick to a neutral color palette. Most guests prefer soothing tones. A color palette of white, tan, or grey,  is also timeless, so it saves you time and money as it relates to updating your decor. If you love color, then add a pop of color to your neutral palette. This way, you inject a bit of personality and your style while making your guests feel comfortable. 

 

• When choosing furnishings – select durable materials that will withstand multiple uses. Some suntan lotions may ruin materials such as suede or velvet so ensure that you understand the quality of the furnishings you are purchasing.

 

• Most of us love ‘knick-knacks’ but we recommend that you keep your decor welcoming and reduce the number of  ‘knick-knacks.  For the period that guests are renting, they want to feel that it is their home.  Reduce or eliminate personal items, especially personal photos, and breakable valuables.

 

• We highly recommend white linens – at least 3 sets.  White linens are easy to wash, they help create a feeling of calm and provide the perfect backdrop for a pop of colour!  Have one set in use, one set in the cupboard, and one in the wash.

 

• Cutlery, crockery, and glassware – Our rule here is: your property can hold 10 guests maximum so have at least maximum capacity of the property plus 50% more. I.e 15 glasses

 

• Ensure that usable items such as electronics are in good working order.  Don’t keep an old radio ‘just because’.  If it’s there, make sure it is in good working order, if not remove it.

 

• The team at Blue Sky Luxury always recommends best practices as it relates to protecting the environment. To economise on electricity – use LED or energy-saving bulbs.  We also recommend that you purchase Inverter type AC units. This helps to reduce your electricity bill and your environmental footprint.

 

• Ensure that your Internet package is reliable and has adequate coverage – especially if your property is a large one Make sure it is the fastest speed available. 

 

• Install a water tank.  When water outages occur, you want to ensure that your guests have access to potable running water. If there are also adverse weather conditions, you want to ensure that you can assure guests that they will always have access to the necessities.  

 

• Choose a good Property Management company that will treat your property as their own. We cannot reiterate this enough. Most owners are not on the island and you want to know that you have a trusted partner to protect your assets. A full-service company is ideal. This way, you get better rates and better service for your property all in one place. A full-service company with great Reservations, Concierge and Guest Services, and Human Resources departments, can assist you in hiring the right staff for your property.

 

Written By: Pamela D’Andrade, Blue Sky Luxury Property Manager

 

Stay in touch, we love to hear from you!

Direct Barbados: 1.246.622.4466

Freephone UK: 0800 0885574

Toll Free US/CND: 1 866 404 9600

Email: experts@blueskyluxury.com

 

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Congratulations on taking the leap and investing in a property! Rental homes are a long-term investment. If well-maintained, a home will continue producing income for decades. Your new purchase offers passive income and limited maintenance and repairs responsibility. Of course, you also have the freedom of an amazing business opportunity, which over time increases in price.

The First Steps

Now that you are ready to enter the rental market, let us look at how to get you there, stress-free, with competent guidance from our property management team. Having Blue Sky Luxury as your Property Managers brings tangible and intangible benefits. We do more than oversee the running of your property. 

Our Property Management team provides responsible management:

•  Property cash flow 
• Oversight of your budget, with the goal of reducing your running costs
• Preventative maintenance
• Utility monitoring
• Inventory management
• Building audits
• Fire and safety checks

We will also provide a monthly expense statement and quarterly manager’s reports. Once you have determined whether you will be renting furnished or unfurnished, we can enroll you to our Blue Sky Luxury group plan that offers the best rates for building and contents insurance. We will complete a Property Manual with a list of certified technicians. Regular scheduled servicing and preventative maintenance visits guarantee that your equipment operates at optimum proficiency. Benefits include extending the lifespan of your home inventory and keeping your home in pristine condition. Once you have secured a rental, we will carefully read the lease to ensure tenants uphold their contractual obligations.

At handover, the water and electricity metres are read, and an inspection is completed with the tenant. Service and maintenance checks are performed. These checks include steam-cleaning furnishings, Air Conditioning maintenance, and servicing fire safety equipment. We document any concerns and provide a copy of the inventory, keys, gate fobs, and equipment operating instructions. This makes it hassle-free for the tenants’ departure.

During a tenancy, we will promptly coordinate and fix any landlord-related tenant issues, inspect the external areas, and coordinate onsite work at the property. We will also schedule an interior inspection to ensure tenants maintain the property as agreed. We will continue monthly monitoring to ensure that rents are collected and utility payments remain up-to-date.

So, what are you waiting for? If you are reading along and are excited about the prospect of being a landlord and this sounds like a suitable long-term investment for you, then take the next step with us, the property management experts.

Written By: Diana Tasker, Blue Sky Luxury Property Manager

 

Stay in touch, we love to hear from you!

Direct Barbados: 1.246.622.4466

Freephone UK: 0800 0885574

Toll Free US/CND: 1 866 404 9600

Email: experts@blueskyluxury.com

 

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Small home projects in Barbados can become a hassle and very time-consuming.  Things often work on “ Bajan time “, and this cuts into time spent on the golf course, at the beach, or sipping on a sundowner.

The property management team are experts at all things home maintenance.  This is what we do!

We are skilled at ensuring small projects around the home are tackled as quickly and efficiently as possible, so that you can enjoy your home, and not spend your time in Barbados around home projects.

We Work with the Best

Each property manager has a team of skilled and high-quality contractors and suppliers on call. These relationships are paramount to ensuring that we can have someone on property the moment we need them in an emergency, and who we trust to maintain your property throughout the year. Equally important, these contractors work with our property management team to ensure basic maintenance projects are handled smoothly and to the Blue Sky Luxury standard.

When your air conditioner is being serviced, or you have a new appliance being installed, you don’t want to be stuck at home waiting for it to be delivered and installed.  We can take away that inconvenience.

These tasks seem small, but can be frustrating, and patience-testing.  Leave that to us.

We keep an open line of communication to ensure you are aware of each small project, but don’t have the hassle of taking care of it yourself. Often, we take pictures, or send updates to keep you in the loop! Of course, there are some home owners, who just want it sorted and don’t wish to know the details.

Hassle-Free Management

When you come to your home in Barbados, you want to walk in and enjoy it. You don’t visit to have to make arrangements to have the Ac units serviced, the gutters cleaned, and to fix up the peeling paint on the shutters. The majority of our work happens “ behind the scenes “ when you are not in your home.  We take this time to make sure everything works the way it needs to, and looks the way you want it to. Time is money, and your time is valuable.  Part of our goal is to ensure you make the most of your time in Barbados, the way you want to.

Let us take care of the coordination, installations, services, and maintenance checks so that you can maximize your time here.

 

Written By: Alexandra Clark, Blue Sky Luxury Property Manager

 

Stay in touch, we love to hear from you!

Direct Barbados: 1.246.622.4466

Freephone UK: 0800 0885574

Toll Free US/CND: 1 866 404 9600

Email: experts@blueskyluxury.com

 

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As a homeowner you can rely on our experienced property management team to look after your investment. We will provide guidance on some of the things that you don’t think about until they become an issue.

You Need to Tidy Up Before a Storm

Our team of experienced Property Managers will take the appropriate preventative steps where possible, to reduce or even prevent property owners from being saddled with thousands of dollars in damages should we be affected by weather systems.

Our advice is don’t wait until the hurricane season is upon us, being prepared will alleviate several problems throughout the season.

The team will follow these emergency preparedness steps:

1. Prepare emergency kits for their homes and the properties they manage.
2. Make preparations for power outages.
3. Ensure their gas tanks are kept full.
4. Become familiar with more than one route to the properties they manage.
5. Provide emergency contact details. This way guests will have direct contact if there are any issues during the storm or hurricane.
6. Identify the nearest hurricane shelter and ensure that guests know how to get there in case they need to evacuate.
7. Advise in-house guests to have a travel bag with essentials prepared in case they need to evacuate. It should be light and easy to carry.
8. If there are pets, at any property the PM will include them in the hurricane preparedness plans.

You Need to Check Your Air Filters

Some things may require technical support, but your property manager will start with the basics to ensure that you and your guests are breathing clean air.

They will remove the filters and inspect them for any evidence of dust buildup or damage. If the air filters are dirty or damaged, these will need to be washed and sanitized, or replaced if necessary. Your property manager will contact one of our designated air-conditioning technicians to follow up and schedule the appropriate maintenance.

You Need to Clean Your Gutters

• When last were your gutters cleaned? We actually keep track! Cleaning gutters and removing any debris that can accumulate is an important part of preventative maintenance.
• A build-up of debris may cause rusting and corrosion and in some instances the debris may cause the gutters to detach from fascia boards making them look unsightly. Therefore, if you want your gutters to last long you need to clean them regularly.
• Regularly scheduled gutter cleaning will also protect your roof from leaks.
• The main purpose of gutters is to facilitate water flowing from the roof to a drain. However, if your gutters are clogged, they will not drain all water from your roof which may result in the excess water finding a way into your home through the roof, and likely causing damage to ceilings.

Think About Landscaping Maintenance

Keep your lawns, hedges, and trees cut and well-manicured. Some homeowners will schedule regular landscape maintenance for beautification, but this is also crucial for maintaining the upkeep of your property and improving its value.

As a homeowner, there are some things you won’t think about until it becomes an issue. Don’t wait. Let our Blue Sky Luxury Property Management team take care of it for you.

 

Written by: Peter Layne, Team Manager of Residential Property Management

 

Stay in touch, we love to hear from you!

Direct Barbados: 1.246.622.4466

Freephone UK: 0800 0885574

Toll Free US/CND: 1 866 404 9600

Email: experts@blueskyluxury.com

 

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Ready to go for a SWIM? Does the water look clear, or does it look cloudy?

Don’t try to take the maintenance of your pool into your own hands to save money! When you hire a dedicated Blue Sky Luxury property manager to look after your investment, we will liaise with the pool maintenance professionals on your behalf!

 Your Pool MUST be Cleaned Regularly:

• SKIM off leaves, or any larger debris, insects, and anything else that landed in the water!
• CHECK the FILTER weekly to remove any debris. …
• CLEAN the SKIMMERS …
• BRUSH/Scrub the SIDES and FLOOR of the pool once per week, then vacuum . . .. This is not a job for your housekeeper! 😊
• The final step is to TEST the chemistry of the pool water and make sure that it is balanced – here is where the chlorine and pH levels are tested.

It is important to test the chlorine and pH levels frequently especially during the busy winter season, as they can change based on the level of usage. The chlorine in your pool also gets used up if an excess amount of nitrogen from leaves and other debris, sweat, sunscreen, or if any other organic matter gets into the pool.

To avoid people from getting ear and skin infections, the appropriate Chlorine and pH levels must be maintained. A good chlorine level is between 1.0 and 4.0 parts per million (ppm), while the pH should be between 7.2 and 7.8. The correct combination will keep the bad bacteria under control, and if the pH level goes up too high, the germ-killing power of the chlorine will reduce it.

Choose a Blue Sky Luxury Property Management Team to look after your investment!

Stay in touch, we love to hear from you!

Direct Barbados: 1.246.622.4466

Freephone UK: 0800 0885574

Toll Free US/CND: 1 866 404 9600

Email: experts@blueskyluxury.com

 

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