Financing Options

At first glance, the higher cost of a larger multiunit property could seem insurmountable. But lenders look at these loans as lower risk than smaller-scale investment properties. They benefit from lower default rates due to their cash-flow resiliency.

It is strongly recommended that you get a pre-approval letter before making an offer on a property. This will not only help you set your budget, but it will also ensure there are no unexpected financial surprises after the offer has been submitted.

The financial resiliency of this type of investment property is driven by the number of units within the building and the rental income that each unit generates. Even with a few vacancies, these types of properties can maintain positive cash flow. This resiliency should be clear within the financial statements for the property. A thorough review of the income and expenses should clearly show patterns concerning maintenance, vacancy rates, and building expenses. The property’s cash flow and expenses will directly impact the final costs.

Property Management

The calculus for hiring a property manager changes when considering a property within this investment class. The cost per unit to manage the property is lower than a traditional single-family home. It makes it more cost effective to utilize property managers to handle the day-to-day operations of your building. This allows larger-scale investors the opportunity to specialize in the areas of the businesses they excel at while bringing in skilled professionals to round out their team.

Property managers typically charge a fee, which can be a flat monthly rate; however, it is usually a percentage of the monthly rents. The rates they charge can be influenced by the breadth of their duties. The more duties that your property manager can complete, the more time and energy you will have to devote to other areas of your business.

Tenant Assumption

Assuming existing tenants will stay can be a tricky proposition.

This is an area where looking closely at the vacancy trends for a specific building can sometimes be telling.

If there is an upward trend in a building’s vacancy rate, it may indicate that there is a change in the local neighborhood, there could be tenant relations issues, or the building may be falling into a state of disrepair.

As a potential owner, you will want to make yourself aware of any and all possible issues with the building’s tenants prior to taking possession of the property. Pay special attention to tenants with rental arrears or a history of late payments. Review complaints made by tenants with an emphasis on tenant-versus-tenant complaints.

Every landlord has their own tenancy standards. Do the current tenants meet yours?

If you’re considering a multiunit investment, I can help you review your options and determine what makes the most sense based on your financial and business goals.

The Start/Stop/Continue technique is a simple and effective way to get customers to reflect on their experiences with your company and help you identify areas for improvement or expansion going forward.

The procedure requires no special equipment, training, or knowledge, and you can easily adapt the technique to gain helpful insights into products, services, methods, or processes.

Start

To begin, initiate a conversation with a customer and ask him or her to suggest new products, services, or activities that they would like to see your business offer in the future. Prompt them to think about new ideas, trends, or developments they may be aware of.

Stop

Next, ask the customer to look retrospectively at any problems or unmet needs they may have encountered when dealing with your company in the past. It’s important to ask specifically about any negative behaviors or low standards they observed.

Continue

Finally, ask your respondent to think about the core strengths of your business. Ask them why they do business with your company and encourage them to focus on those aspects that they believe you should continue or even double down on in order to improve future outcomes.

You can use the Start, Stop, Continue technique to get meaningful feedback from both internal and external stakeholders.

Because of its simplicity, the S/S/C method is a great tool to use with project teams, small groups and committees, all-staff meetings, and personal performance evaluations, as well as customers.

Heading into the final quarter of the year is a good time to evaluate for next year and make sure you’re caught up on paperwork, fully compliant, and in good legal standing. It’s also a good time to think about changes that will help your business grow and succeed. Here are some things to review:

Consider your legal structure: Many businesses begin with a simple legal structure, but as they grow and become more complex, they find that a different structure is more appropriate. For example, small businesses often begin as sole proprietorships, but eventually opt to form an LLC or incorporate for purposes of liability protection, tax flexibility, and potential funding opportunities.

Reassess your physical or operational footprint: Maybe it’s time to expand, relocate, or enter a new market. It may be an opportune time to add a new line of business or enhance your product line. A bit of market research can reveal if conditions are right. The Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Economics and Statistics Administration, and local commerce websites are good places to start.

Take a look at staffing: Evaluate your team and identify where professional development and/or additional staff or contractors may be needed going forward.

Review regulation concerns: If you have changed the company name, business address, board membership, or operating structure, you may be required to report these changes. Also, licenses and permits may need to be renewed. And, of course, it’s critical to address your tax liability and file or pay what is owed.

When considering these matters, it’s always a good idea to consult an attorney and an accountant for guidance to ensure you’re doing everything necessary to keep your company legal, compliant, and on a path to success.

Financing is probably one of the most commonly used contract clauses. Most buyers don’t have the liquid capital to buy properties without additional financing arrangements. This clause protects the buyer against the potential inability to secure a loan for the property. It is highly recommended that you seek advice from a mortgage professional prior to proceeding with any potential offers to buy.

Insurance is now commonly required in order to secure financing. Quotes are easily obtainable through most insurance brokers, and a short amount of time is usually sufficient to fulfill this condition.

Title searches help buyers determine the true owner and any rights or encumbrances that are associated with the property. It should also identify any unresolved debts held against the property’s title that could hinder the final sale.

Environmental assessments are more common with industrial or commercial warehouse properties, but there are a variety of reasons that investors may wish to review the environmental integrity of a property. Older properties could have buried fuel tanks or contain contaminants that could harm tenants.

Review of documents is an essential part of the due diligence required to safeguard your investment. Documents concerning the building history and operation are necessary to make an informed purchase decision. It is recommended that you consult knowledgeable professionals to assist with the review of these documents.

Just reply to this email for the answer.

A European superstition states that a guest who leaves his/her napkin on the chair will what?

Employees often dread performance reviews. That makes sense; as this article describes, the format of performance reviews needs a review. Potential improvements include scheduling these more often, making them less formal to avoid turning them into second job interviews, and allowing employees to give feedback to their leaders. Management creates the culture for employees, so if managers are willing to change to improve, their employees may follow that example.

Apply These 4 Techniques to Improve Project Management in Your Small Business
By J. T. Ripton

Smallbiztrends.com

Your small business needs to think like a project manager, even if you don’t have one on staff. This article describes how to develop that mind-set. Know what you want to accomplish and all the steps involved. Most importantly, this article argues, learn to work well with the people on your team. People aren’t projects, but all projects involve people.

How to Run a Family Business Successfully
By Kerry Hannon

Forbes.com

Regular business transitions become more complicated when business partners, bosses, and colleagues are your family members. This interview with Rob Lachenauer of Banyan Global Family Business Advisors discusses how to work with parents, siblings, and children. His insights may improve your relationship with your family, even if you don’t run a business with them.

Whether you need a bill of sale template or an employment contract, you can search here for a variety of free template downloads in Word and PDF formats:
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