What is the main difference between a successful portfolio and an unsuccessful one? Sometimes, it can be as simple as visibility. While less than 30% of people in Lakewood are renters, this is a city with a population of over 82,000 people. Thus, there is still a huge rental population within Lakewood to market to. Marketing in the right ways helps to boost visibility for any property you own that is ready to be rented.

We know that advertising property can be tough, which is why we always take the right approach. We set the foundations through the creation of detailed listings, complete with new, high-resolution, professional photographs. This sells the property in the eyes of a would-be tenant. Once they make a declaration of interest, our communications department will handle all discussions. We even handle the provision of showcasing the property either virtually or in person, further creating demand and interest.

Residential property is one of the most challenging investments that someone can make. In a city like Lakewood, though, the hard work required to lay the foundations is so rewarding. At Utopia, we are specialists in laying said foundations. This comes from offering a service that listens to tenants’ needs, offering a 24/7 sounding board no matter how complicated or specific the issue they face happens to be.

Once we get involved in managing residential property, we create the conditions needed for success. This means finding a quality tenant, helping them move in seamlessly, handling any issues they face, and being there to field calls for emergencies or issues. We then ensure that any problems have been given the due consideration needed, keeping that tenant happy. With staff members available all day, every day, we always make sure that problems faced by tenants are cleared up right away.

As one of the growing economic sectors in Lakewood, commercial property is a great investment for any property owner in Lakewood. However, managing any commercial or industrial building is different from residential property. While many of the same principles apply, bespoke issues – such as CAM expense reconciliation and REO management – come into account. Are you used to dealing with these issues?

If not, you can soon run into problems. Then there is the small matter of finding a commercial/industrial partner, managing the property, maintaining the building, handling the creation of legal documents, and all financial accounting. The list of things to do can feel like it grows arms and legs on a daily basis. Well, with Utopia in charge, you get back your free time while knowing your commercial or industrial investments are in the right hands. Let us take the load off while seeing your investment profits rise.

If you have ever invested in property, you have likely faced the unfortunate scenario of a bad tenant. This can lead to forced evictions, which are expensive and usually come with collateral damage. This could be physical damage to the property, litigation with the tenant, or reputational damage. Our goal at Utopia is to help ensure our clients can avoid this problem as often as possible.

How do we do this? For one, we never rush the tenant selection process. Not only do we advertise your property on our referral list, but we also ensure that all tenants are looked into closely. This means a forensic examination of their rental history, their general personality, and an evaluation of their rental background. This gives us the certainty we need to know they will stick to their lease agreement and pay rent on time. That extra-thorough analysis is why we see less than one percent of our chosen tenants evicted!

Remember, owning a property portfolio is a business within itself. Any income generated from this has to be declared to the tax authorities. Staying on top of the declarations and ensuring they are 100% accurate, though, is a headache. Many of our clients come to us complaining of the stress they face with accounting, as well as the fear they have of a miscalculation leading to a stressful run-in with the government. Well, let us take the pressure off by taking every sum and calculation on your behalf!

We can manage your accounts completely. This means providing you with every income and expenditure detail in total accuracy. This means avoiding having to self-manage your finances, instead referring to our pinpoint statements. These break down everything in the most minute detail so you can easily see what is and is not being spent. We also manage the collection of all rental income and security deposits, so you avoid having to chase tenants who do not pay their rent on time; we do this for you.

The maintenance of a building is a key part of being successful in the Lakewood property industry. There are so many things that can go wrong with a property, though, ranging from minor wear and tear to dealing with serious issues like burst pipes, water damage, and roof repairs. At Utopia, though, we know someone who can deal with every matter. They might work for us or be a trusted local expert in their field. We can handle the selection of maintenance experts for each role, ensuring it is handled accordingly.

Everything we do is dealt with in a simple way, stress-free and affordable. Our contractors either work for us or have long-term agreements with us, so we have a track record of landing the best deals for all property maintenance needs. This keeps the cost down without meaning corners are cut, or quality is questioned. Thus, tenants feel looked after as we tackle all maintenance – scheduled via inspections or through emergency callouts – to ensure the property they live in resembles the palace that it should.

A lease has to be very clear, removing any ambiguity or uncertainty from the discussions. Tenants should know without any second-guessing what is and is not permitted in their lease. They should also have a clearer understanding of what has to be done to stay in line with the agreement. Clients, though, need to know that they have a property portfolio that is 100% protected from the risk of legal liability down the line.

We do everything possible to ensure that a lease agreement is legally compliant and easily understood. This avoids miscommunication, keeps everyone on the same page, and ensures the property is well and truly on the right pace to succeed in the long term. Let us set out the agreement in the clearest language possible while ensuring nothing contradicts the current property laws of California. This creates peace of mind and allows all parties to work together in harmony across the tenancy tenure.