The 8 Weatherizing Tips You Need to Know if You Live In Central Oregon

The Best Moving Services for Seniors

Wed, 24 May 2023 18:19:12 GMT

Whether for retirement, downsizing, availability of quality senior health care, or moving close to family, relocating later in life has its fair share of unique challenges. When asked about the most stressful event in their lives, 45% of Americans claimed that moving is the most stressful – a more stressful event than getting a divorce.

From the exhausting packing to heavy lifting to hours of driving, the moving experience can be incredibly demanding for older adults. If you have a loved one who plans to relocate soon, hiring a moving service is your best bet for peace of mind. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of moving services for seniors that can help your loved one make moving a less stressful experience.

With so many moving companies and storage services in the country, it’s difficult to find the best one for your needs. To help you or a senior loved one find the right moving company, we rounded up the best moving companies for seniors with key information about their services, features, service coverage, and more key details, with a focus on companies that offer the best moving experience and services for seniors.

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The Pros and Cons of Renting in Bend

Wed, 31 Aug 2022 00:02:57 GMT

The housing market in Bend has been booming, and it may have you wondering- what are the pros and cons of renting in Bend? Let’s take a look.

The most appealing part of renting a home in Bend is the short commitment and cheaper overall cost when compared to owning a house in Bend- especially considering you won’t be responsible for most home repairs when living in your rental unless you are the direct cause of the damage. And when you’re ready to pack up and move on when your lease is up, all you need to do is provide your landlord with a 30-day notice. Need to vacate before you lease is up? Luckily, there are still ways to get out of it. Let’s take a closer look!

What are the pros of renting in Bend?

Shorter Commitment: you can move at the end of your lease with little effort! All you need to do is provide your landlord with a sufficient amount of notice. Most landlords only require a 30-day notice, but some require 60 or even 90 days, so make sure to check your lease for that exact information. Other than that, you’ll just need to make necessary repairs, and clean the property to your landlords standards before vacating. Check with your landlord for a move-out guide, so you know what their exact expectations are.

You won’t be responsible for maintenance and repair costs: If a pipe bursts in your home by no fault of your own, then your landlord will be liable to fix these damages- not you. That goes for pretty much anything that breaks in your home, unless there is a clause or disclosure in your lease that states otherwise. For example, some landlords include a clause that states they won’t replace the washer and dryer if it breaks for any reason.

Ability to break a lease: If you signed a year lease but need to move before the year is up, most landlords will let you break your lease if you pay a hefty fee, which can be around one and a half times your monthly rent or more.

Cheaper than owning: Although rents are still on the high end in Bend, they’re beginning to cool a lot. As of June 2022 Bend began to see a surge in rental inventory, which is beginning to bring the cost of rents down. And compared to the cost of owning a home in Bend, renting is substantially cheaper at the moment.

What are the cons of renting in Bend?

Just like buying a home in Bend, there are some downsides to renting in Bend as well, including potential rent increases, unpleasant landlords, and pet restrictions. Yet, the most significant disadvantage is that homes in Bend are more expensive than 95% of other fair market areas. It’s costly to rent a home in Bend, but thankfully it is beginning to get better. The most significant driver behind the high prices was the lack of inventory caused by an influx of people moving to Bend in 2020 and 2021 and the new wave of remote work opportunities. Due to a backlog of interested applicants, homes were renting faster than landlords could list them. That is no longer the case, and inventory is increasing, but Bend has a long way to go before it can be considered “affordable.”

Inventory: as of August 2022, an estimated 43% of all rental listings in Bend are short-term, furnished homes, which is great if you’re only living here for a few months, but not so great if you want to live here long-term. See the graph below for the breakdown.

High Prices: Expect to pay about $1427 for an unfurnished 1 bedroom apartment and $3475 or more for an unfurnished four-bedroom single-family house. If you’re looking for a furnished rental, the price will be closer to $2450 for a 1 bedroom apartment and $4240 for a 4 bedroom house.

Rent Increases: You'll only lock in your rental rate for the life of your lease. Once your lease expires, landlords can give you a rent increase of up to 9.2% of your current rent rate every year. Thankfully, they can’t just spring it on you last minute though, Oregon law requires that landlords provide 90-days notice for rent increases or lease renewal offers.

Bad Landlords: Yep. They’re the worst! And just like every other city, they exist in Bend too. So, it might not be a bad idea to research property management companies or private landlords if you have any concerns.

Pet Policies: Don’t forget about Fido! Bend touts itself to be a pet-friendly city- and it is- just not regarding rental homes. You’ll still find plenty of breed, size, and age restrictions for your furry friends- along with pet deposit requirements.

The 8 Weatherizing Tips You Need to Know If You Live In Central Oregon

Tue, 28 Sep 2021 23:13:23 GMT

All the tips and tricks you need to protect your home from the Central Oregon Cold.

Winter is on its way in Central Oregon, and we're here to help make sure you and your home are properly prepared for the cold weather. So, pull up your favorite note-taking app, and take a sigh of relief, because we're in this together!

1. Gutters

Check your gutters, and remove all debris. Clogged gutters can lead to water damage on both the exterior and interior of your home.

2. Foundation Vents

Close all foundation vents and install Styrofoam vent blocks to avoid frozen pipes

3. Deicing Products

Only use deicing products that state they will not cause damage to driveways and sidewalks.

4. Garden Hoses

Remove garden hoses and install Styrofoam bib covers over outdoor faucets.

5. Smoke and Carbon Detectors

Test your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries, if necessary.

6. Furnace Filters

If applicable, replace your furnace filter every three months. Failure to do so is an EXTREME FIRE RISK.

7. Christmas Trees

Make sure that Christmas trees have plenty of water- a dry tree is a severe fire hazard.

8. Indoor Plumbing

Avoid frozen pipes during low temperatures by keeping your garage doors closed, allowing your faucets to “drip,” and opening cabinets under sinks to allow warm air to circulate to the pipes.

Do you have a tip that we didn't mention? We'd love to hear from you! Share it with us in the comments below, so we can help each other all weather another Central Oregon Winter.

Real Estate Investors: Is it Time to Hire a Property Management Company?

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 18:19:12 GMT

You just bought an investment property, and now it’s time to rent it. And although this seems like a straightforward process, how can you be sure you’re following the appropriate state laws and protocols? Especially if you live in a different state than your new investment property. Laws are constantly changing, and each state sets its own rules, but there’s a simple and affordable solution: hire a seasoned property management company to help you take the pain out of your profit.

What Do Property Managers Do?

The purpose of a property management company is to help investors maximize their time and profit while ensuring their tenants and homes are cared for efficiently. Taking a proactive approach to property care can significantly reduce and often prevent the costly and time-consuming issues that often make independently renting a property a headache for landlords. Here’s a basic breakdown of what a good property manager does:

Sets Rental Rates and Markets Properties

Property management companies thoroughly analyze each property to ensure investors get the maximum monthly rents possible. Factors that affect a property’s rental rate include the location, square footage, condition, and even the time of year the property is for rent. Typically, renters don’t like to move during the winter months, so vacant properties during this time tend to rent for less than they would in the Fall, Spring, or Summer.

Background Checks

Property managers run comprehensive background checks to review all applicants’ criminal, credit, rental, and employment history. Renting to a tenant with a history of paying their rent on time and who doesn’t have previous property damage or violation complaints is imperative to a rental’s profitability.

Lease Agreements and Deposits

If an application is approved, property managers will draft lease agreements- binding contracts between the landlord and tenant- that meet their state requirements. Once the prospective tenant has signed the agreement, a deposit is collected from the tenant to ensure there’s money available for damages caused to the property during their tenancy.

Rent Collection

Although it varies, most property management companies request rental payments between the first and fifth days of each month. Payments received after the cutoff date are subject to late fees, and unpaid rent will result in a 72 Hour notice to remedy or a 30-day notice to vacate the premises, which can lead to timely stints in eviction court.

Property Maintenance

Property managers should perform yearly walk-throughs and regular exterior inspections to ensure each rental is in good condition and to look for preventative maintenance issues. Preventative maintenance typically includes re-caulking; smoke and carbon monoxide detector replacement; furnace filter replacement; making sure faucets, toilets, and water heaters aren't leaking; and ensuring the exterior siding and landscaping of each property is in good condition. In addition to yearly walk-throughs, High Country Property Management also conducts frequent drive-bys to inspect our properties’ exteriors. If it's below our expectations, we schedule an interior walk-through with the tenant.

How Much Do Property Managers Charge?

This number varies based on each client’s needs, but property managers typically charge a new client setup fee, monthly management fee, tenant placement fees, consulting fees, and lease renewal fees. Here’s a breakdown of what that looks like:

Setup Fee

Setup fees are around $100 on average. This fee covers the time it takes to onboard new owners.

Monthly Management Fee

Monthly management fees range from 5% to 10% of the set rental rate- typically landing somewhere in the middle. This fee begins once a tenant has moved into your rental property.

Tenant Placement Fee

The standard tenant placement fee is 50% of the first month’s rent; however, High Country Property management caps our placement fee at $800. This fee includes advertising, property tours, drafting lease agreements, and collecting deposits.

Consulting Fee

Some property management companies charge consulting fees while assisting new investors with questions regarding their investment properties. High Country Property Management offers a free rental analysis to prospective clients and is happy to assist with any questions regarding new investment properties free of charge.

Lease Renewal Fee

Lease renewal offer letters will be mailed to tenants 90-days before the end of their lease, and if a tenant decides to sign another lease, you will be charged a lease renewal fee, which includes a maintenance inspection, and the drafting of a new lease agreement. This usually costs around $100 per renewal.

With the ever-changing laws surrounding rental properties, it’s no wonder so many real estate investors choose to have their rental properties managed professionally. Your time is valuable, and hiring a seasoned property management company will ensure you’re able to spend that time how you see fit. So take the proactive approach, and let your property manager deal with the costly and time-consuming issues that can make renting a property such a headache for real estate investors.