Indianapolis Named Best City for Renters in 2017

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Indianapolis SkylineIt’s a great time to be a tenant in Indianapolis, according to a report from Forbes published in 2017. Last year, Indianapolis topped the popular business magazine’s list of best cities for renters in the United States.

Thanks to the city’s affordable rental prices, steady economic growth and stable job market, Forbes recognized Indianapolis as the best city in the nation to rent a home.

The study found that the average rent in Indianapolis is just over $800, which accounts for only 17% of the city’s median household income. This makes it the second most affordable city for renters in the nation. But affordability wasn’t the only metric Forbes considered in the study; the city’s rental availability helped Indianapolis earn the top spot on the list as well.

In 2017, Indianapolis had a 5.6% apartment vacancy rate, compared to the nationwide average of 3.9%. This means that prospective tenants in Indianapolis have more apartments to choose from when it comes time to search for a new home. Renters in Indianapolis can also rest easy thanks to the city’s remarkably low rate of price hikes. Rental prices increased by an average of just 2.5% between 2016 and 2017.

Looking for a new rental property to call home in Indianapolis? You’ve come to the right place! You can find a variety of attractive, affordable housing options in our portfolio at AMG Property Management. Browse our available rental properties online, or give us a call today to learn more about any of the properties you can find on our site.

Upgrade Your Rental Property With These Affordable Renovations

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Paint Cans

Staying on top of your rental property isn’t always easy. Maintenance can be costly and time-consuming, especially if your property needs extensive remodeling. If this isn’t the case, however, there a number of affordable renovations you can make that will not only give your property an attractive new look, but also increase its resale value.

A New Paint Job

This is one of the easiest and most beneficial improvements you can make to a property. A fresh paint job can have a transformative effect on the look and feel of a home, and eliminate blemishes that might dissuade prospective renters from signing a lease. Just be wary of color trends, and try to stick to a palette that will appeal to a wide variety of renters.

Modern Appliances

One thing that every prospective renter looks for in a property is the appliances. Is there a dishwasher? Does the property come with a laundry machine and dryer?

With this in mind, it’s worth investing in modern appliances that are safe and energy efficient. A new washer and dryer will use substantially less electricity and water than appliances made 10 years ago, for example. The upfront cost of new appliances can get a little expensive, but your investment may allow you to charge more in rent, especially if your property didn’t have similar appliances in the past.

Fresh Flooring

Has your rental property had the same wall-to-wall carpeting for too long? Is the old linoleum in the kitchen starting to bubble and peel? These days, you can laminate flooring options that are attractive, easy to maintain and very affordable. Tearing out that dirty old carpet and replacing it with new flooring can make your property far more attractive to renters.

Need a hand managing the day-to-day demands of owning a rental property? As a family-owned business with more than 25 years of industry experience, we’d be happy to help. Give us a call today to learn more!

 

Should You Require Tenants to Purchase Renters Insurance?

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Should You Require Tenants to Purchase Renters Insurance?As a landlord, you have the option of requiring tenants to obtain renters insurance as part of their lease. Some landlords take advantage of this option and tell tenants that they have to get renters insurance as part of their rental agreement, while others leave it up to the tenants to decide whether or not they want to pay for renters insurance. Today we’ll consider a few good reasons to make renters insurance mandatory in your properties.

It will give you and your tenants peace of mind.

No matter how many precautions you take, there is always a chance that something bad could happen in a rental property. In the event of an emergency such as a fire or theft, renters insurance will cover your tenant and provide financial reimbursement for damages. This will give both you and the tenant a greater sense of security since you won’t have to worry about what to do if something bad happens.

It will protect you from potential lawsuits.

In the event that something bad does happen in your rental property, a tenant without renters insurance could potentially decide to file a lawsuit against you. Typically, tenants file these lawsuits out of desperation. Renters insurance can help you avoid this scenario by giving your tenants the ability to deal directly with an insurance company rather than trying to take you to court.

It will help you find responsible tenants.

Some people may scoff at the idea of obtaining renters insurance before moving into your property. These people are probably not the type of people you want as tenants. If someone is unable or simply unwilling to pay the small monthly fee associated with maintaining renters insurance, they might not make a good tenant anyway. You want renters who will take good care of your property, and obtaining renters insurance is one way for them to prove that they’re serious about being responsible tenants.

At AMG Property Management, we can work with you to find quality, thoroughly-vetted tenants for your rental properties. Give us a call to learn more about our property management services today!

Unique Benefits of Choosing to Rent, Rather Than Buy

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Unique Benefits of Choosing to Rent, Rather Than BuyTo rent or to buy? This is a common question many people contemplate when looking for a new place to call home. Although you may dream of owning a home, there are some unique benefits associated with renting to consider, especially when it comes to cost-savings.

Minimal maintenance costs

When you rent a property, the landlord order property management company is responsible for maintenance and repairs. If there’s a leak or something breaks, it’s on them to shell out the money to fix it. If you own the home and you’re not prepared to do the work yourself, the cost of maintenance and repairs can add up fast.

You don’t have to pay real estate tax

Paying real estate tax is another responsibility of the homeowner that the renter gets to avoid. Depending on your location, the cost of these taxes can be quite high. There are many factors that determine the cost of real estate tax, but it’s safe to assume that the bigger the home and the more desirable the location, the higher the tax amount will be.

Avoid down payment and closing fees

Most people don’t realize just how many upfront costs are associated with buying a home. In addition to putting down a sizable down payment (ideally 20%), attorney fees, realtor fees and many other various fees add up to thousands of dollars in closing costs. Although you’ll have to put down a security deposit when you rent, you’ll likely get that money back when you move out. When you buy, you don’t get those upfront costs back, and they tend to be significantly higher.

If you live in the Indianapolis area and are looking to rent, AMG Property Management can help! Search our listings online or contact us today to get started!

Qualities to Look for in a Great Rental Property

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Investing in real estate is worthwhile and cost-effective when you know what to look out for. Here are some qualities to look for when searching for the perfect rental property.

Neighborhood

Qualities to Look for in a Great Rental Property

The unique location of your property affects the types of residents you can and will attract. For example, buying near a university means a large percentage of your tenants will likely be college students.

Look in middle-of-the-road areas rather than the nicest areas of the city, which are likely to be unavailable. Consider owner-occupied parts of town, and do some research on the school districts and other surrounding properties like parks, malls, gyms, etc. Check out crime statistics and other relevant factors as well.

Price & Taxes

Equally important are a property’s price and associated taxes. Price gives you insight into the condition and value of a home; for instance, if you buy a cheaper property, you may encounter more problems or risks than with a more expensive property. Property taxes vary per area; talk to the town’s assessment office for more information, or speak with other homeowners in the community.

Job Market

Consider the local job market when shopping for investment properties as well. Locations with growing employment opportunities are more likely to attract qualified tenants. Watch for announcements of major companies moving to new areas, and research how certain neighborhoods stack up in terms of the local job market.

Rent & Future Development

Before investing, research the average rent in the area, and compare your numbers. Will the amount be enough to cover your expenses? If not, keep looking. Get a feel for where the area is headed to predict if taxes and other expenses will increase in the coming years.

Additionally, check your local municipal planning department to find out about the new developments going up in the property’s area. Watch out for new developments that could cause competition for you or perhaps help your property prosper.

At AMG Property Management, we’d love to work with you to make your rental property as profitable as possible. Give us a call today to learn more about how our property management services can help.

How Screening Tenants Helps Save Time and Money

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Selecting the right tenants for a rental property is critical for any landlord or property owner. Private landlords often find themselves at a disadvantage when it comes to screening potential tenants, however, due to the time or cost involved with performing a detailed screening. The truth is, though, that performing a thorough vetting of prospective tenants can save time and money in the long term.

Lessee ScreeningAdvertising, showing a property and interviewing applicants is a time-consuming process that every landlord knows all too well. It takes a lot of time to find tenants, and even more time to find good tenants. Unfortunately, accepting the wrong tenant could mean that you’ll be repeating the whole rental far sooner than you’d like. Finding the right tenants in the first place saves landlords a lot of time.

Vacancies are expensive, but so are bad tenants.  Poor tenants may lead to unpaid rent, property damages, or other issues. Ultimately, the best way for a landlord to protect against losing money on bad tenants is through a careful applicant screening. Prospective tenants may talk a good game, but if they stop paying the rent a few months after moving in the landlord is faced with the aggravation and expense of evicting the tenant and hopefully recouping any unpaid rent or damages.

At AMG Property Management, we offer tenant screening and qualification standards as part of our property management services. We carefully review prospective applicants for you so that you can be confident only the most qualified tenants are being approved. Our process looks for an applicant’s eviction history, proof of rent payment history, proof of current employment and work stability, verification of a job offer for relocating tenants, and much more.

The bottom line is that screening tenants helps save time and money for property owners. As a landlord, you owe it to yourself to get the most qualified tenants possible. Find out how AMG Property Management can help you with your rental properties today by calling us at 317-252-5830.

Five Ways AMG Helps Make Your Property Stand Out

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Do you want to find tenants for your rental properties more easily? Do you want your property to stand out in the market place? AMG Property Management can help get your property viewed by more qualified renters and help your property appeal to more prospective residents. Let’s look at five ways that using our property management services can help you take the appeal of your rental to the next level.

Property ManagementAppealing Advertising

If your rental property sits empty on the rental market, it ends up costing you money to maintain each and every month. Your property will fill up quickly when you work with us. We use the latest, modern marketing methods to advertise to interested tenants throughout Indianapolis and the greater region, getting your property in front of as many prospective renters as possible.

Tenant Screening

While we want to make sure that your rental property stays rented out, we also understand that you don’t want just anyone living in it. That’s why we will do all of the necessary background and credit checks before allowing someone to move into your property. We guarantee we will do our best to screen applicants and locate good tenants who will pay their rent on time and keep up with the maintenance of your property.

24/7 Maintenance

Speaking of maintenance, we understand that your tenants will need to call for help from time to time. Emergencies happen, whether it’s a power outage or a water line break, and we are here for them at all times – day or night. If your tenants ever have an issue, they’ll be able to reach a live person at any time to handle their service call.

Pay Rent Online

Paying the rent is a cinch with us. Rather than making your tenants mail in a check or visit a rental office, we allow them to pay their rent right online. That benefits both the tenants, who won’t need to spend money on stamps or find time to make it to the rental office, and you as an owner who will have rapid access to your rental income each month.

Home Security Systems

We want to make sure your rental property remains 100 percent safe when it’s in our hands. It’s why we also install ADT Home Security systems into all of the properties that we manage. This provides extra security and protection for your property and offers residents peace of mind. Plus, with these systems in place, both you and your tenants can receive an insurance discount on your owner’s or renter’s policy – and saving money is always appealing!

With more than a quarter century of experience and 700-plus properties in our management portfolio, you can trust that the AMG team will work diligently to ensure that your property is rented quickly to vetted tenants. Let us help you make your rental more appealing – and more profitable – with our property management services. Learn more by giving us a call today at 317-252-5830.

Advantages for Renters of Working with a Property Manager

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Advantages for Renters of Working with a Property ManagerWhen you’re looking to start to find a new rental home, dealing with a large property management company may seem a bit daunting. You might think it would be easier and simpler to just deal directly with a landlord. At AMG Property Management, though, we assure you that the benefits of working with a management company aren’t just for property owners – they’re for renters, as well. Here are some of the benefits that renters will enjoy when working with a company like ours to find their next rental.

Online Rent Payments

Organizing your rent and splitting the cost between yourself and your roommates, and then figuring out who will take the check to the rental office can be a hassle. With a management company like AMG, renters can easily and simply file their rent payments online. You won’t have to worry about stamps, envelopes, printed checks or taking the trip to a central office. All you have to do is click and pay.

Security

At AMG, we offer free installation of security systems on our clients’ rental properties. That means that when you find a rental home with us, you can sleep soundly knowing that your home is protected by ADT Home Security. If you are concerned about your safety and security, you’ll find both when you search for properties with us!

Attentive Management

Renters who are dealing directly with a landlord may have a hard time getting a maintenance person to come in and fix a leaky faucet or temperamental garbage disposal. When you have a management company on your side, though, you’ll have a number of people who are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to tackle maintenance requests and emergency services. When there’s an issue at your property, you can trust you’ll receive organized, prompt and excellent service. That isn’t to say you might not find the same when working directly with a landlord, but as a management company with properties all throughout the Indianapolis area, you know that we’ll always be there to fix any issue if you ever need.

Options

Last, searching for a new home with AMG means that you have access to an expansive list of rental properties located all throughout Indianapolis and the surrounding suburbs. Looking for something in a specific part of town, a certain number of bedrooms or within a few miles of your office? Let our team help you find the perfect property that meets your needs and your budget by looking through our extensive inventory of homes throughout the area.

These are just a few of the many benefits renters will enjoy when they rent through AMG Property Management. For more information on renters’ benefits or to get started on finding your next home with us, call us today at 317-252-5830.

Ways We Work With Millennial Renters

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Millennials It’s no secret that the Millennial generation tends to do things a little bit differently than previous generations. That’s why we here at AMG Property Management have come up with a few different ways to help us make the properties we manage more attractive to Millennials looking for a new home.

Social Media

Millennials and social media go hand in hand, and they tend to check Facebook, Twitter and so many more of these networks on a regular basis. That’s why we’ve created social media profiles of our own. This allows us to not only interact with prospective renters, but also with our current customers to make sure we are giving them the best service possible. Those interested in learning more about our available properties can reach out to us through social channels to learn more, and our current renters can share their experience online or reach out to us with questions or for help with an issue they may be having. All of this allows us to improve our exposure and help interact better with new and existing clients alike.

Go Online

Another thing Millennials do more than any other generation is make payments online, including their student loan payments or utility bills. That’s why we now offer an online payment portal. This allows current renters to log in to our secure online system to set up their payments, meaning they don’t have to worry about making it to the office on time or needing to cut a check for every payment.

Show Value

Unlike previous generations, Millennials are very hesitant to rent because they face way more issues than their parents did, such as high student loan debts and struggles with finding reliable work. That’s why when we interact with Millennial renters, we want to show off the values of each property as a home and the perks that come with renting it. Millennials want to have access to amenities and entertainments and have a home that’s not only comfortable, but that makes their lives more convenient. Factors like the quality of the neighborhood and how far it is away from where they work play an important role in making a rental home the place they can’t say no to.

Whether you’re looking to rent a new home in Indianapolis, or are looking for property management experts to help with your rental property, the experts at AMG Property Management LLC can help. We can help renters of all ages find the right rental for them in Indianapolis and connect property owners with new, qualified and screened tenants. For more information on our services, call us today at 317-252-5830!

Improvements to Rental Properties with the Best Return

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After several tenant cycles or even after a longtime resident departs, your rental property may not be looking as fresh and appealing as it once did. There are a number of potential areas that may need some TLC or modernization, but how do you decide what improvements are worth making? While there are many differing opinions, here’s a look at three investments that typically provide the best return for rental property owners.

Rental Property ImprovementsKick up the kitchen

With many people preferring to save money and calories by eating at home, time spent in the kitchen is on the rise. A fresh and inviting kitchen provides your residents with the perfect space for their food preparation. Counter space and cabinet storage are both often at a premium in kitchens, and if you have the space or ability to add or improve either, you’re sure to create a more premium experience, which will result in more interest and potentially a greater willingness to pay a premium price.

Blow out the bathroom

The next greatest area to invest in is the bathroom. As Landlordology points out, tenants aren’t looking necessarily for an executive bathroom experience, but are certainly looking for a clean and fresh looking space. In older homes, especially, bathrooms can be run down, but a bit of work can often bring them a brand new look. Whether a whole renovation from floor to ceiling or even simple fixture replacements to provide a sparkling and shiny new appeal, investing in the washroom will often give you more room to negotiate higher rents or longer lease terms.

Look at the windows

Another great investment is the windows in your rental home or apartment. If you have older windows, making a change to newer styles with double-paned glass or other energy efficient improvements will increase the value of your space while decreasing the utility costs. This can be a great incentive for renters to pursue your property for their next home and, if you pay for heat or air conditioning as part of your rental fee structure, can lead to substantial savings for you.

Regardless of the investment you make, there is a good chance that making improvements will help keep your property rented and limit any vacancy period. Plus, in many situations, you may be able to write off some or even all of your expenses or the depreciation of your work when it comes to filing your taxes. There are also even some incentive programs that you may be eligible for that may help pay for installing energy efficient fixtures, appliances and windows. The Indiana Energy Association offers tips and links to some efficiency programs on its website.