we posted recently about how the rental market in Portland has been moving so fast so i thought it would be good to remind facebookers to “like” us on facebook.  when you do, you will get the updates about rental units right on your timeline, and won’t have to keep checking our site.

who knows…you might even win something…(hint, hint)

oooh wee – boy are we rollin’ over here! but then so is everyone, according to an article on oregonlive yesterday – which makes reference to a few reports out that state the portland rental market is the second tightest rental market among the largest metro areas! i’ve been renting housing in the portland area for more than a decade and last year, i noticed a definite shift in the market. we would list a property and it would be rented – cash in hand – four days later – i say it again, four days!! i’d never seen anything like it. on top of it all, we were increasing prices every time we went out to the market to re-rent – at least $50 more and upwards of $200 more – and we were getting it in record time!

we saw the normal slow down in the market during the wet months of winter this year but already this spring, the market is fast, fast, fast. if you are are a renter and looking for the right thing – be ready to get your application in the same day a listing comes up and have cash ready for your deposits. landlords aren’t waiving rents and holding units in a market like this.

for owners – be aware that these are record times – it is great now to get that huge jump in rent prices but very fast inflations are not always a good sign. our nation watched the sale market come to a screeching halt - this too can happen to the rental market. all it takes is a shift in the times. set aside some savings with the extra cash which will help you when times become more lean.

for now – grab the safety bar on this roller coaster and hang in there everyone!

rebecca

there is a thing in every home that has the ability to cause deadly illness. it’s also the place of frequent frustration between men and women. ever been completely discusted after finding your pet head down in it? well this fine piece of the modern home also has the ability to break the bank. seriously.

it is the toilet

just today, i had my one-millionth conversation about the woes of a running toilet and what it will do to your water bill.

i’ve been a property manager for over a decade and this issue is one on  a short list of reoccurring themes. i thought i’d already written about it but had not, so here goes:

1. your toilet has the ability to double, triple or quadruple your water bill! i’m not kidding you!
2. that little, itsy, bitsy trickle you can barely hear can cause thousands of gallons of water to go down the drain, taking your cash with it.
3. sometimes it makes a sucking sound – cause the tank just keeps sucking in water to refill when it keeps dribbling out the bottom.

all in all – here’s the skinny. sometimes the water company will be kind enough to call you or pay you a visit informing you that you have a massive leak because your water usage has more than doubled overnight. sometimes, they wont. most companies will perform what’s commonly called a “water leak adjustment” to your bill, but many won’t credit the entire thing leaving you owing sometimes hundreds more than a normal bill.

here’s what you can do about it:

listen and pay attention

if you hear that classic trickle or the sound of your tank taking in more water, then call us immediately. we will take this seriously and we will come to help. further, if you have more than one toilet in your house, turn the leaking one off at the water shut off behind the toilet. this action is the best way to prevent that nasty bill from the water department.

we can only fix a leaking toilet if you let us know, so don’t ignore it or you’ll be very sorry you did.

trust me on this one.

please maintain a permanent source of heat at all times.  heat shall be maintained at not less than 55 degrees.  any damage caused by lack of heat may result in charges to your account for the repairs.

locate your water shut off valve now.  if pipes freeze and break, then you will need to access and shut off the valve to prevent further damage to the unit through flooding once the pipes thaw.

also, please notify us if you have plans to be absent from the unit for more than 24-hours during the winter.  it’s also a good idea to have a trusted friend look in on your unit while you are absent.

some additional ideas and notes:

1. keep indoor faucets running at a slow trickle during freezing weather
2. newspaper is a good insulator for any pipes that are of concern
3. leave cupboards open under the sink in kitchens and baths
4. keep the unit well heated during work days or when you are away
5. disconnect outside hoses, turn off all hose bibs and wrap hose bibs with newspaper, cloth or purchase a cover.
6. make sure your crawl space is easily accessed in case of emergency plumbing needs
7. remember to check your garage for any potential water problems
8. be sure that any windows left open for fresh air don’t damage blinds or sills
9. check weather stripping on doors and windows and let us know if they repair

if you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact our office.

thanks all and stay warm out there!

rebecca

hello dwell tenants:

in the recent months, we’ve been experiencing very delayed mail service for in town mail. i’ve talked with a postal worker here in town and here’s some info we wanted to highlight for you:

1. in town mail is no longer a 1-2 day process that you can count on! we’ve received rent as late as 10 days past the postmark date!

2. the post office is largely short staffed and working as fast as they can. NOTE: most postal workers, knowing how unreliable the mail service is, rarely mail bills, choosing instead to hand deliver everything.

3. we pick up our mail daily and handle it carefully. one tenant who accused us of not handling our mail properly found out the truth when she sent her rent certified mail/return receipt with an expected 2 day in-town delivery. it took five days to reach us!

4. remember that you are paying $.44 to get your rent to us on time, risking being charged a late fee if it’s received after the allowed date in your lease.

5. most of our owners contractually don’t let us waive late fees. so, if you are one of the unfortunate folks caught with late mail delivery, we won’t be able to waive your late fee.

6. the only guaranteed way to pay rent by mail is to send it with FedEx or UPS to our physical site, requiring a signature. this can cost $12 or more.

while we are not trying to discourage rent payments in the mail, as it’s the most convenient method for everyone; we wanted to make sure to notify you of this issue, so that you understand the risks you take if you mail your rent with a $.44 stamp!