What Does a Property Management Company Actually Do? (A Pittsfield Landlord’s Guide)

Navigating state and local housing programs can feel overwhelming. Hearthway, Wayfinders, MVRP, Pittsfield Housing Authority, Homebase, UpSide 413, RFTA versus RAFT Between all the agencies their inspection schedules, paperwork, and rent adjustments, many landlords struggle to keep up. That’s where experienced property managers step in. Oh, and did we mention anniversary dates? You'll need to track these as the align with yearly inspections but you need to notify the appropriate housing agency before the anniversary date if you intend to adjust the rent amount you'd like to charge. 1. Experience That Saves Time** We’ve built long-standing relationships with*regional housing authorities and other Berkshire County programs mentioned above. We know the inspectors, caseworkers, and local policies—so your property moves through approvals faster. The inspectors and their inspection reports should be considered an asset and free service for good landlords and property managers. Sometimes there's code changes we're not aware of that affects some but not all of the units. One year the inspectors are adamant about the GFCI, next year it could be loose toilets, or mold, something. The inspectors have been pretty friendly to us in the years we've been doing business in Pittsfield. However, sometimes the inspection reports are vague and difficult to understand, which is why it's crucial to have property management on hand during the inspection 2. Handling Paperwork and Compliance From rent determination to inspection follow-ups, we coordinate all documentation to keep your property compliant. Our familiarity with Section 8 requirements means fewer delays and smoother renewals. Once an inspection report is completed, the report is sent via snail mail to your address. By the time you get it you have less time to address the issues before a reinspection, IF.. you don't have a property manager there during the inspection. 3. Ensuring Units Pass Inspection We schedule and prep units before the inspection so you pass on the first try. Our maintenance team knows what inspectors look for and how to fix issues quickly. sometimes we don't pas son first try to due to tenants not allowing people in for non-mandatory inspections but the more the inspectors ese us and know our work the better they feel knowing we will get things compliant 4. Guaranteed or Subsidized Rent Payments Housing programs provide consistent payments that reduce vacancy risk. We make sure everything is processed correctly and on time—so you get predictable income. When it comes time to onboard a new tenant you can assign an agent who handles all paperwork and you can select which duties and responsibilities you want them (us, your property management team) to do on your behalf. you can choose to le us accept the direct payments then turn them over to you, or we can submit paperwork on your behalf so you get housing payments directly into your bank account. One thing you should know about this is, if a housing agency such as Pittsfield housing Authority pays you via direct deposit for 6 tenants rent share, they bundle that amount into one total payment. Therefore when you look at your deposits you then should backtrack to see if the totals add up. sometimes due to a paperwork mishap the rent adjustment you asked for months ago didn't kick in on the correct month so you have to follow up on that. Our allow us your Pittsfield Property Management team to do it for you. Another thing to keep in mind is when you have tenants with Homebase, during the vetting process you should find out what their plans are for being self-funding once the Homebase funds run out. If you're not familiar with Homebase, it's a fund that allocates a certain amount of money in aid towards a person's housing needs. Using a standard 30k allotment over 2 years as an example, this amount will be dispersed over the course of 2 years and it is customizable per person. Usually if a tenant qualifies for Homebase they'll qualify for SNAP (food stamps) and Fuel Assistance, too. The good part of this is the money is guaranteed. The down side is those 2 years go by fast and then the tenants are forced to pay a lot more, if not all, of their housing expenses once the money runs out. 5. A Partner That Speaks the Same Language** Because we regularly work with housing programs, we bridge communication between landlords, tenants, and housing offices. You stay informed, and nothing gets lost in translation. Bottom Line: If you want to participate in Section 8 or other assistance programs without the stress, choose a property manager who already knows the system inside and out. Built by landlords for landlords, we make program-assisted renting simple, compliant, and profitable.

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