Chicago Property Management Blog

Hi my name Mark Ainley from GC Realty and Development. I am an investor, but also founding partner of this property management company.I want to talk to you about a leasing.I hate having empty houses ever.There's so much stuff that you would obviously lose in your money. You're still paying expenses, and at the same time, there's risk. You know vacant house, get broken into pipes, break in vacant houses. So, we are big on tr...

We're not the right Property Management company for everyone.We have many inquiries about our property management services each day from people who want to learn more about them.As it turns out,  we aren't good fits for most - a large majority, in fact - of these inquiries. Even if you have the right property in the right location, we totally understand that we may not be the best fit for you. In reality, there...

In 2021, all-cash property purchases accounted for 30.4% of sales in the US. This is a 6-year high and shows there are many investors adding to their portfolios or starting them right now. If you're one of these new property investors, are you finding that it's taking up more of your time than you anticipated?Being a landlord can be a great way to generate a passive income, but the secret is professional property management.Let&...

The housing market crash that sent the world’s economy into the Great Recession in 2008 was partly caused by mortgage lenders who encouraged people to take out loans they couldn’t afford in order to purchase real estate they couldn’t realistically hope to afford. Now, it seems, the same thing is happening all over again. Is the housing market crash upon us? We’re going to look at some signs that suggest maybe it ...

You've saved and looked and now you own a great rental property to strengthen your financial portfolio. The house is clean, the appliances are in, and you're ready to start on the landscape. Before you spend thousands of dollars on a brand-new landscape, remember that landscaping for a rental property isn't the same as for your own home. Your tenants aren't the gardeners. It's okay to expect them to mow the lawn...

If you're managing your own investment or looking for a property manager, keep in mind that maintenance problems will arise at some point. How you handle those issues can have a large impact on your bottom line. Proactive maintenance is crucial to keeping your tenants happy, so repairing problems quickly is the best way to go. Choosing the right property manager can help ensure that repairs are handled seamlessly.Making Maintenance ...

One of the first questions clients ask is, “How much should I rent my Chicagoland property for?” It’s a great question! There are many factors that go into determining the rental market value of your home.Comparable Market AnalysisFirst, we look at the comparable rents in the area. We want to know what other properties similar to yours are renting for. We look at the amenities they have, and whether there are any upgra...

If you are reading this, chances are you are "one in four landlords who've lost rental income because of the pandemic." We get that you have backed up mortgage payments and property taxes. But rushing the eviction process in Illinois can lead to you being sued.By the way, a Chicago tenant now has five years to sue you over an illegal eviction. So, why risk having to pay a tenant that hasn't been paying you? E...

We’re often asked how we screen applicants, so I wanted to share how we approach it. First, we screen all applicants over the age of 18. The first thing we do is invite applicants to complete an online application form. This is where the applicant enters all of their information for us to review.Next, we run a full credit, criminal, eviction, and background check. Sometimes we do find red flags on these reports and we are able to ...

Tenants come and go. As a property owner, nothing can put more money in your pocket than renting your home quickly and to the right person. Here are some tips that will help you do just that.Pro-tips to rent your property quickerTake a look at the condition of your property. You want fresh paint, clean surfaces, well-manicured landscaping, and attention to detail both inside and outside of your property. Make sure the property...