Chicago Property Management Blog

For five years, I've been sharing valuable tips to both newbie and seasoned investors to keep them safe from common mistakes. I take pride in educating local and out-of-state investors about Chicago's laws, as well as Chicago's suburbs. I tell them how things work here, and what to expect. All of this information stems from my experience as an investor, specializing in the BRRRR strategy, and as an owner of a Property Manage...

70% of households have at least one pet living on the property, but that doesn't mean you want pets in a rental property you manage. Before you outlaw tenants with pets, you must understand the pros and cons of allowing pets in a rental property.We've created a list that will help you get closer to deciding whether tenants with pets are something you can deal with.Pro: Ability to Charge Higher RentThe first advantage of allowing...

If you are considering your first rental property or just closed on your 50th, there are many decisions to make relating to its management. Do you keep that pink bathroom? Update the landscaping yourself or hire help? One of the questions that may not have occurred to you: whether or not to hire a property manager. Many investors (both new and experienced) are hesitant to pay a property manager any of their cash flow, but it can save mo...

GC Realty & Development, LLC has enjoyed working with investors from around the world looking to purchase 1-4 unit investment properties in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. We've worked with one of these investors in particular, Roofstock, Inc., over the past 12 months.Roofstock.com, is an online real estate investment marketplace, has provided a new opportunity for the company over the past years.As investors ourselves, we ...

Whether you're a property owner or part of a REIT, monthly rent collection is likely one of your most significant challenges. But it doesn't have to be! In fact, you can cut the hassle and headache by employing a few simple strategies that save both time and energy.Want to know more? You're in the right place. Read on for five expert tips to make collecting payments a breeze, no matter what kind of rental prop...

Hello, I'm Mark Ainley from GC Realty and Development. We're a property management company and also do residential and commercial investment.Where to find deals?I talked to a lot of investors on a daily basis. I have access to see where buyers are getting deals, where we're getting deals. So I was like share with people looking to buy inside Chicago and the surrounding Chicago suburbs. Information on where they should b...

Every year, more than two million tenants are evicted from rental properties. The eviction process can be costly and time-consuming for landlords and that's before considering potential rent arrears or the costs of renovating your property.Conducting tenant screenings is a great way to reduce the chance of renting to problem tenants. But many landlords aren't sure how to conduct a thorough tenant screening. Want to lea...

As investors ourselves in many markets and class types, our primary goal is to attract and retain the best tenant possible for our properties.A "Best Tenant" can have one or more of the following characteristics: a history of paying rent on time, desire to stay in a particular location for an extended time frame, and/or enthusiasm about living in a community that takes pride in its appearance. (We try to avoid high maintenance...

Mark Ainley, GC Realty and Development we are a Chicagoland property management company. One thing I want to bring up today in making sure that you are informed as a property owner that's either working with the property manager now or looking to work with the property manager in the future. MarketingMarketing, obviously when you put your property on the market to rent you want to get a qualified tenant as fast as possible...

As a local property manager here in the midwest, and more specifically the Chicagoland area, we have been part of (or witnessed) thousands of investors buying in our local Chicago market while residing out of state. Investors from around the United States, and the world, find the midwest attractive because one can still purchase an investment property and exceed the 1% rule.These 7 pitfalls can be avoided or negotiated before closing es...