Property Management – Calabasas

 Smart Property Management Strategies

Multifamily property owners can implement these ideas to cut costs and improve returns.

You’re pretty sure you’ve priced the asset correctly. You’ve looked at comparable apartment communities for sale in the market. You’ve figured the sales price in dollars per unit and dollars per square foot and both seem to be right. Yet for some reason, when you apply a capitalization rate to the net operating income, you get a lower value. Does this sound familiar?

Many reasons account for value discrepancies, but as the multifamily sector continues to consolidate in most markets, some small-property owners may be missing out on economies of scale that allow larger competitors to run properties more efficiently. The resulting higher expenses cause lower net operating incomes, and consequently, the market prices calculated using cap rates are lower than those of comparable properties.

The days of simply collecting rent and making sure the grass is cut are long gone for today’s multifamily owners and managers. Competing effectively requires more skills and knowledge than in the past, especially for small-property owners. Some of today’s savvier owners are improving bottom lines by leveraging technology and other resources. They are discovering that what works for the big players can work for them with a few modifications.

Commercial real estate professionals can use these strategies to help prospective multifamily sellers implement operating changes to command higher sales prices; they also can highlight these potential cost savings to buyers. On the flip side, brokers representing buyers should look closely at a seller’s operating expenses. The opportunity to make changes can help clients boost NOI and increase a property’s value after purchase.

Where the Money Goes

Nationwide, multifamily property owners spend about 9.4 percent of their gross potential income on payroll. It is the single biggest expense, followed by real estate taxes at 7.1 percent and maintenance and repairs at 4.6 percent, according to the Institute for Real Estate Management’s income/expense analysis. These three cost areas combined account for 21.1 percent of GPI. However, as an industry, multifamily properties run at expense ratios of about 45 percent; so payroll, taxes, and maintenance account for about half of all expenses.

Technology is the one factor that has most influenced property management in recent years and offers the greatest money-saving potential. Options ranging from online tenant payment records to selling integrated cable and telephone services are creating cost-reducing opportunities and greater profit potential. Small-property owners can leverage such features and manage their businesses more efficiently.

Payroll Expenses

Not only is payroll the single biggest operating expense, but staffing on-site offices is an ongoing challenge for many small-property owners. A property staffed too lightly risks losing potential renters who cannot wait while one harried staff person fields phone calls and deliveries. It also risks annoying current, rent-paying residents who stop by on their way to work to resolve problems or request repairs. Today no one has the time to wait for service or attention.

Web-based property management applications offer solutions to these problems. For example, RealPage, which calls its platform OneSite, provides a module that is particularly attractive for small-property owners. The service forwards unanswered leasing office calls to an off-site RealPage provider. Since the property’s management staff uses the OneSite system to update prices, upcoming vacancies, and rentals, the off-site team has Web-based computer access to the most recent information and can answer callers’ questions about leasing, availability, and the property’s features.

The off-site team also can log maintenance calls, and in emergencies, contact maintenance personnel. In addition, OneSite and other programs can dispatch logged maintenance calls directly to a repair technician’s personal digital assistant, shortening the time between request and action. For example, a resident calls in a request, and the maintenance technician just happens to be finishing a job in the apartment next door. Thirty seconds later, the resident gets a knock on the door and the minor repair is completed within a few minutes. That’s using technology to improve resident retention.

Software can track the time a particular work order was started, how long it took to complete, what parts were used (to track inventory), and if the resident needs to be billed for the work. Large properties also use this information to analyze how quickly various personnel complete tasks, which may reveal a more-efficient division of duties.

Web-based call monitoring is another useful technology tool, since many potential renters receive a first impression of an apartment property over the phone. At any time, owners and managers can monitor these calls to assess the quality of information being given. The system can help them determine if leasing consultants are promoting the community properly and creating an image that encourages prospects to visit.

This valuable tool also allows managers and the leasing staff to analyze how (and when) calls come in, which helps determine staffing needs. Companies such as CallSource can forward these calls in e-mail attachments to improve marketing analysis by tracking lead-generation sources. Call monitoring also helps to ensure that staff responses comply with fair-housing guidelines.

Real Estate Taxes

Many markets have experienced significant property value increases, meaning that real estate taxes also are rising. But since it is a major expense category, taxes are always worth discussing with a tax appeal expert, even if the resulting savings is only a few thousand dollars.

While most assessment appeal companies work on a percentage basis, sometimes it makes more sense to negotiate a fixed fee, according to Mark C. Ogier, CPM, senior vice president of property management for ContraVest, an upscale apartment developer and owner in Lake Mary, Fla. For example, if a property is overassessed by a million dollars, an appeal might result in a savings of $25,000 or more — 20 percent to 30 percent of which might be paid to the tax appeal analyst. Depending upon the market and property size, an owner may be able to find a tax expert to handle the process for a fixed rate ranging from $2,500 to $5,000.

In addition, tax appeal experts often are aware of little-known local loopholes. For instance, several years ago after a property suffered significant vacancy loss, a tax specialist pointed out that even though the appeal deadline had passed, in that particular county the deadline does not apply to properties overassessed by more than 25 percent. Therefore, the owner still had reason to appeal the assessment.

Another tax appeal approach is to understand which factors diminish a property’s value. For example, nearby contaminated gas stations or dry cleaners can discourage potential buyers, thus diminishing value. Similarly, if a property lacks a pool or other amenities or the units are undersized compared to the competition, these factors may reduce the property’s value and tax burden.

Being aware of cap rates and how class A properties sell compared to class B and C properties is another factor to consider. Sometimes tax assessors might look at a 100-unit class B property and raise the value to 50 percent of what the nearby 200-unit class A property sold for last year. It is important to point out that there are economies of scale involved in managing 200 units compared to 100 units and that class A properties are selling at cap rates that are significantly lower than class B or C properties.

In some markets, a significant number of apartments are being converted to condominiums. Conversion developers are paying more for these units, taking on greater risk and reaping higher rewards than conventional apartment investors. This is another factor for a tax assessor to consider when valuing a property.

by Louis H. Nimkoff, CCIM, CPM

Carnahan Property Management services Woodland Hills,West Hills, Calabasas, Canoga Park, Tarzana, Reseda, Topanga, Encino, Northridge, Van Nuys,North Hills,Chatsworth, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, North Hollywood, West Hollywood, San Fernando Valley, Granada Hills, Mission Hills, Simi Valley, West Lake Village, Agoura,Toluca Lake, Valley Village, Burbank. Call us at (818) 884-1500 and check if we can service your area.