One of the most overlooked parts of being a property manager is the marketing side. Many of our clients arrive at us and have precious little marketing. This means that their properties are reliant on word-of-mouth advertising and good fortune to be seen. Instead of leaving our clients in a rut, we deal with all advertising and property marketing on their behalf. This includes the creation of local signage, as well as a focus on online directory listings – including on UtopiaManagement.com, our popular rental portal.

Accompanied by fresh and engaging imagery, this encourages would-be tenants to make an offer on the property ASAP. They are able to make a quick call on the property based on the thorough detail we provide on every aspect of the building. Anyone applying then deals with our tenant liaison department, where we ascertain details, determine suitability, and, if the right fit, arrange viewings of the property.

The idea of managing property sounds easy in theory, but the reality is very different. It means being available 24/7 to be there when a problem comes crashing down overnight. Additionally, it involves finding people to rent to who can be trusted to treat the property correctly. The list of tasks can feel like it grows arms and legs, so why not leave our experts in charge? We can take on the day-to-day running. This means you can rest easy knowing your tenants always have a place to turn to for assistance.

While the vast majority of property in San Pedro is residential, there are some commercial and industrial developments. Thanks to the position near the Port of Los Angeles, investment in these sectors is growing. At Utopia, we can manage all commercial and industrial property. This includes handling bespoke issues like REO management and, if needed, CAM expense reconciliation.

At Utopia, we have a growing referral list of individuals who we believe are a great fit for our clients. That being said, we also make sure that any new applicants who find our online advertisements are looked at. Each individual is given a thorough and attentive review of their suitability to be a candidate. They are screening intently to make sure they meet the highest standards we have put in place. This means that all applicants are thoroughly investigated for their personal and professional history, as well as rent history.

Why does this matter? Because it is easy for someone to sound like the perfect tenant. When you look a little beyond the basic details, though, problems can emerge from the woodwork. Our goal is to find those issues long before the person gets the chance to set foot on your property. This limits the risk of costly evictions, of which less than one percent of the tenants who we put in place go through. Our priorities are low evictions and tenants who, once proven to be a valuable asset, are incentivized to stick around.

The figures of a property portfolio are so important to get right, as these figures are declared to the tax authorities. Even a few dollars miscounted or left out of an accounting period can become a real problem. At Utopia, our goal is always to make sure that the finances of a property are correct. To do so, we have developed an in-house accounting department that tackles every aspect of financial management. This guarantees that all work is done to a professional standard, with 100% accuracy on every statement.

We offer monthly and annual statement deliveries that give our clients a breakdown of all costs and profits. This ensures that our clients do not have to get bogged down with hours per month of analysis. By simplifying the approach, properties that are rented out through Utopia see their finances managed in full. This includes collecting all deposits and rent paid online through our bespoke in-house payment portal. This reduces the risk of late payments, rips up the excuse book tenants use, and certifies cash flow.

If you want to lose tenants and hurt your reputation, ignore property maintenance. At Utopia, though, we make maintenance the #1 priority because this is the main reason why a tenant might complain. If we look after your properties, though, all maintenance work is handled ASAP – and is handled properly. No rogue traders are hired with us; we hire only the best contractors in San Pedro. We also have a dedicated team of maintenance contractors who work directly for us, delivering insured and licensed work when needed.

This guarantees that all maintenance work is of the correct standard. Not only does this certify that work is done right, meaning it will last, but it keeps the cost down. All of our in-house contractors and partners provide the most competitive rates, with savings sometimes reaching as high as 20% on market rates. Work is done to an elite standard, with all emergency callouts dealt with as soon as our team can be there. All properties also undergo inspections before tenancy starts, during tenancy, and afterward.

The easiest way to cause headaches for yourself is to use a cookie-cutter, generic lease agreement. Sadly, many property owners have landed themselves in hot water by using lease agreements with the tenants they found online. These are often not only outdated from a legal perspective but extremely vague. This leaves ample room open for abuse of the agreement, leading to problems with tenants.

Given that we pride ourselves on keeping tenants for the long term, we avoid this entirely. Our legal team will handle the writing of any lease agreement our clients require. Such agreements are watertight when viewed from a legal perspective and are updated as soon as new laws come into force. This ensures that all parties are happy, feel respected, and have complete clarity about what they have agreed to.