Reasons to Invest in Los Angeles Real Estate
Are you an aspiring real estate investor looking for your next investment opportunity? Look no further than the thriving city of Los Angeles.
California Fair Housing Act: An Overview
As a landlord, it’s important that you familiarize yourself with state and federal anti-discrimination laws. They are meant to provide certain groups with protection when it comes to renting or buying a home, or obtaining a mortgage.
Best Areas to Invest in Los Angeles
Los Angeles is a city in California with many amazing features. The city attracts a lot of people, both residents and tourists, because of its amazing weather and beautiful beaches. LA reports about two hundred and eighty sunny days per year making it perfect outdoor weather!
Top Tips When Buying Investment Property in Los Angeles
Do you intend to purchase a rental property in Los Angeles, California? The potential for long-term wealth growth and a reliable source of passive income make investing in rental homes in Los Angeles, CA, a smart financial decision.
Breaking a Lease in California – Know the Laws
When it comes to tenants breaking a lease, you, as a landlord in the state of California, are required to be aware of the rules and regulations surrounding breaking a lease. In this article we will discuss both unjustified and reasonable grounds for early lease termination on both the part of the landlord and tenant.
A Guide to the Eviction Process in California
When a tenant signs the lease, they are legally bound to abide by certain terms. Such as, paying rent on time, respecting the property, and abiding by certain policies under landlord-tenant law. Sadly, some tenants chose not to honor these terms.
California Rental Laws – An Overview of Landlord-Tenant Rights in Los Angeles
Both landlords and tenants obtain certain rights and responsibilities when a tenancy is established. In California, a lease agreement can either be made orally or through a written document.
California Security Deposit Laws
A security deposit is there to protect a landlord when tenants violate or breaks the lease agreement. It can be used to cover missing rent payments, damage to the property, cleaning or rekeying of the doors. Essentially, the tenant’s security deposit serves to protect your investment and your interests.
How to Find a Reputable Property Management Company
As a property owner, it’s important to find a reputable Los Angeles property management company to oversee your investment. This is especially true if you live far from the rental property or don’t have the time to manage it yourself. A good property manager will not only collect rent and handle maintenance issues, but also screen tenants and help you maximize your profits.
But with so many companies to choose from, how do you know which one is right for you? Here are a few things to look for when choosing a Los Angeles property management company:
1. Experience and expertise:
Ideally, you want a company that has at least five years of experience managing rental properties in Los Angeles. This way, you can be confident that they’re familiar with the local market and laws. In addition, they should have a team of experts in various aspects of property management, such as accounting, marketing, and maintenance.
2. A comprehensive approach to tenant screening:
One of the most important services a property management company can provide is thorough tenant screening. This includes conducting background checks and verifying employment and income. A good company will also conduct credit checks and check references. By taking these steps, you can be confident that you’re only renting to qualified tenants who are likely to pay their rent on time and take care of your property.
3. Clear communication channels:
Good communication is essential for any business relationship, but it’s especially important when it comes to property management. After all, your rental property is likely one of your biggest investments. You should expect timely updates on everything from maintenance requests to late rent payments. In addition, the property management company should be accessible by phone or email so you can always get in touch with them when you need to.
4. Customizable services:
Not all property owners have the same needs when it comes to property management. Some may need full-service support, while others may only need help with advertising and screening tenants. Choose a company that offers customizable services so you only pay for the services you need.
To sum it up, finding a reputable Los Angeles property management company doesn’t have to be difficult if you know what to look for. Be sure to choose a company with experience, expertise, and clear communication channels. And most importantly, make sure they offer customizable services so you only pay for what you need.
Your Guide on How to Find a Property Manager That’s Reliable
Looking to hire a property manager?
Whether you own commercial or residential real estate, finding excellent tenants and managing both them and the building can be a full-time job. Hiring a property manager is not only an important part of guaranteeing things operate smoothly, but it will also help you save money and get the best return on your investment.
There are several things to look for when vetting property management companies. You want to be sure you’re getting only the best because you’ll be trusting them to represent you as the landlord.
Any mistakes they make will be issues you’re inevitably responsible for, so choose wisely. This may sound like a lot of pressure, but don’t worry. We’ve broken down a guide to finding the best property manager (who does the property valuation for free) for your building.
Read on to learn more so you can feel confident with the company you select!
Experience
Managing a property can be a complicated task. There are many things to consider and take care of simultaneously so you’ll want to be sure you hire someone with experience.
Whichever company or person you go with should have at least one year of experience under their belt. This is important because you’ll be trusting the manager to make decisions regarding the building and its tenants. One wrong move could be costly.
Your property manager should know that any time there is water damage to the ceiling, walls or floor of a unit, they’ll need to open up the saturated area to try it out and ensure there is no mold growth.
This simple error and oversight could end up not only costing you dearly when it comes to repairs but it could put the whole building and your tenants in jeopardy as mold spreads quickly and can also make people sick.
Reputation
Nowadays, people can review property management companies on Google, Yelp or Facebook among many others. This is an excellent way of vetting a company and seeing what other clients think about who you may decide to hire.
See what people say. Are their reviews positive or have they experienced difficulties when dealing with the company? People usually only write a review when they have something either really good or really bad to say, so you’ll be able to get both ends of the spectrum by using this tool.
Reputation is important because you want to hire someone who is a trusted professional in this industry. Talk to other building owners. See what companies they know and trust and get their information.
You’re always better off getting a direct referral from someone who has experience with a company and can vouch for them honestly.
Tenant Screening
This is a very important part of whether or not a property manager is qualified to run your building. They should be a good judge of character and take all necessary steps to ensure whoever is about to move into your building is screened properly so you don’t encounter issues with them once they’re in.
You’ll want to be sure you’re on the same page with them about what kind of process is in place to interview and accept new tenants. Double check with them that they have anti-discrimination policies in place so a tenant can never accuse you or the property manager of treating them with bias or in an unfair manner.
The property manager should have a very clear system for vetting new tenants. They’ll need to run a background check, credit check and get references from previous landlords, colleagues or friends who can vouch for them.
If these procedures are not in place when you interview the company, run the other way since this is basic property management knowledge and if they don’t have it, it’s not a good sign.
Quick Turnover
Ask your potential property manager what system they implement when a tenant moves out and a new one moves in. How long of a vacancy period do they typically have? Are they able to get new tenants in quickly, therefore saving you money on lost rent?
They should be able to tell you how they go about securing new tenants when a unit becomes available because the faster the turnover time, the better for everyone involved. After all, why miss weeks or months of income if you don’t have to?
Routine Procedures
Aside from how they screen and secure tenants, your new property management company should have routine procedures for every element of the building and how it’s run.
For example, they should have a number of reliable vendors they can turn to if there’s a problem in the building. These vendors should be ones they’ve used before and had a relationship with so they can get them there quickly and for a fair price.
There should also be a routine for how and when there is maintenance done on the building. This goes for plumbing, electrical, landscaping and more. This routine maintenance is important because it will keep small issues from becomes worse and costing you more money down the road.
There should also be a procedure in place when it comes to dealing with tenants. How are work orders for problems within the units dealt with? What happens in someone is late on rent? These are just some of the things to consider and be sure the company has a definitive answer to.
Find a Property Manager Today
Finding a property manager doesn’t have to be complicated now that you know the right things to look for. Be sure to keep an eye out for a reputable company that has great reviews and strong policies.
If you can do this, you can rest easy knowing your income property is being taken care of and working for you. Don’t stress about your investment, just reap the rewards of it!
Looking for the right property manager? You’ve come to the right place. Contact us for more information and be sure to check out the rest of our blog for more tips.
Alie Lombardi
23:39 09 Jan 23
WPM just took over management of our building, and I couldn't be more pleased! I had a terrible leak in my kitchen sink that was flooding my whole kitchen whenever I tried to do the dishes. Put in a request for service using their online system, and a plumber came within 24 hours and got it all fixed up! They also repainted the building and cleaned all of the outside windows - first time in years I can see through them clearly! They've also been great about communication overall. 5 stars!
Nancy Lippey
00:45 30 Nov 22
Westside Property Management Inc. is the best! We have been more than satisfied with their service and competency. Even though we use our own maintenance people to take care of our house, we've even found Westside Property Management maintenance people extremely friendly and willing to help whenever needed.
Catherine Sun
00:57 22 Nov 22
WPM is a property management company that is professional, organized, responsible and just a dream to communicate with. When looking for a property management company I was recommended a few other property management companies by close family and friends that I ultimately did not engage with. Instead, I choose WPM on my own accord and never looked back. WPM's reviews speaks for itself and after some research and upon meeting Joshua Barre and his team Carlo, Bella and others, I knew WPM was the right company for the high standard of service I was looking for. Their quotations are at market and fair and WPM always presents landlords with options to choose from-multiple vendor quotations in many cases. Their advice when faced with problems is solution oriented and fair, never threatening or aggressive to either party. WPM is a family business, owner operated, it upholds a positive, can-do-mentality and is deeply involved in the local Westside community. They have been doing a great job managing our properties from multi-family to condos to single family homes for the last four years and I hope that WPM's excellent standard of services continues to show the strong values they uphold. We look forward to having WPM manage our Westside properties far into the future.
Greg Whitlow
03:03 21 Nov 22
I’ve been at the 215 Madison building for a couple years and have had a great experience. The manager (Tiffany Workman) is always super friendly and responsive. There’s rarely any issues but when there are, she solves it really fast. I’ve been really happy here and I talk to a few neighbors and know they’re happy too. I would recommend this building and management company.
Julie Adrienne
01:30 21 Nov 22
I highly recommend Westside Property Management. It is an exceptional service. The team is efficient, reliable, professional, and personable. WPM managed a property in Venice for my family and is now managing a house in Santa Monica. They have provided immediate service and have taken care of scheduling and securing all the necessary work and components to getting a unit ready to rent. They are fair and always will go that extra mile to help you get high quality work that fits your needs. Our family's tenants have always felt supported and appreciative for the immediate response from the WPM team. They are knowledgeable as well as caring and really listen to their owners and tenants. I am so pleased with Westside Property Management.
Yong Kim
05:52 01 Nov 22
Excellent service. I have been using WPM for several years now and the team has been very communicative and they know how to take care of the building, and the tenants which has brought peace of mind. The online platform provided for both tenants and the landlord is also very convenient.
Tom French
03:05 26 Oct 22
When we were looking for a property management company to handle our 10 unit apartment house in West Los Angeles we knew we wanted a local company that would provide full service for our units with personalized attention. Westside Property Management was the perfect fit for us. While keeping us informed of any issues, Westside quickly resolved problems with a practiced expertise. Throughout the pandemic, all rents were paid on time and the few vacancies were quickly filled with suitable tenants. All questions we had were answered promptly and thoroughly which gives us the confidence to remain happy, satisfied clients.
Forbes723
04:07 25 Jul 22
Literally best place to get an apartment and work, shadi!!! Bomba what's up Brotha !lol Zuma?dont even bother
Carrie Requist
19:18 05 Jul 22
WPM did a great job managing my parent's Westwood home from the time they moved into assisted living until we were ready to sell it six years later. Josh and his team took care of everything for me as an absentee owner and always kept me in the loop. Then Josh did a good job as the sales agent for the property. I highly recommend using WPM.
Tiffany
18:17 08 Apr 22
I resided in a Culver City apartment unit managed by Westside Property Management for a little over a year and had an overall positive experience whenever I needed support with a request. It was very easy and quite convenient to pay rent or submit repair/maintenance requests through their online tenant portal, and the management team was generally both responsive and professional. They also offer reminders regarding rent payment, notices about changes or work to be completed that may affect the unit, and other information that could affect the living experience in a timely manner. I have no complaints!
Barry Simon
17:49 27 Jan 22
Westside Property Management is the best, most professional and responsive property management firm I have experienced.
Jamie Castorena
18:29 26 Jan 22
Really appreciate them being so responsive and professional to all matters. The new online portal is also amazing for paying rent, getting updates, and placing maintenance request. Everything is so streamlined, the way it should be, thanks WPM team!
Beatris Hoffmann de Barros
17:35 14 Jan 22
The service was very good. After the raining that we had, the company sent people over to fix all the damage that the rain had made. I could be more happy.
Max Charles Alperstein
21:58 12 Jan 22
Extremely easy to use the app to request for maintenance. Maintenance arrived asap literally within a few hours I received a call and the issue was fixed. Super helpful professional and kind.
Chynna Shapiro
17:55 15 Dec 21
WPM has been a dream to work with. As a tenant of one of their buildings in Santa Monica, they've been super attentive, communicative and helpful. Any maintenance issue has been resolved within 24 hours and they're overly communicative on anything happening with the building. Living in LA for the past decade, I've been wary of management companies, but WPM has truly absolved me of those feelings.
David Corral
17:24 13 Dec 21
I needed some help with getting the heater going in one of my rooms. Shane was here that same day to check it out. Above and beyond expectations Thank y’all
Emiliano Lopez
18:20 28 Oct 21
Great experience working with Westside Property Management. Tiffany Workman specifically was a pleasure to work with, and provided timely responses to my questions and helped answer various questions in a professional, effective manner!
Ameenah Lutfee
22:38 22 Jun 21
Westside Property Mgt has provided outstanding service throughout my 2.5 yrs as a tenant. I've used their maintenance dept services a great deal and each time I’ve received exceedingly prompt, knowledgeable and professional service. Their maintenance team, without a doubt, is a real complement to the management company. Overall, all the management company provides excellent tenant services.
Jeremy Daw
22:02 27 May 21
WPM managed my property through Covid times very successfully. It was challenging and required a deft touch which they provided. Tiffany as Account Manager was outstanding. Carlos/Melvin in maintenance were professional with high quality work. Accounting was always prompt and accurate. Josh has put together a great team by treating his clients, tenants and employees professionally and with integrity. Highly recommended.
Susan Nisbet
01:02 12 May 21
I am so happy with Westside Property Management. I have been living in my apartment for more than 20 years. The last 10+ years the property management was being handled by another company. Westside Property Management has been managing this property for maybe a year now. The difference between Westside Property Management and the previous company is extreme. The other company would take up to a week to even acknowledge the request. The work they did was ALWAYS what I call "quick & dirty"; always done in the cheapest, easiest way with no attention to aesthetics at all EVER. Westside Property Management is EXACTLY the opposite in ALL ways. They get in touch with me the same day I send a request and at the latest the next day. Something that I've noticed is they don't make me feel like I did something wrong. The other company always had this way of letting me know that they thought whatever needed attention was due to something I did. This is not the case with Westside Property Management. Every workman/technician they send is courteous and they are experts at what they do. Unlike the other company, when someone comes into my apartment they are respectful of my home and they clean up after the work is completed. Everyone I've dealt with at Westside Property Management from the executives, people that answer the phone, workman/technicians etc. are responsible, polite and efficient. I HIGHLY recommend them.
Caitlin Wachs
15:48 03 May 21
After the Great Pause and the world seemed to be turned-upside-down, I found myself in need of a new place to call home. It only took a few clicks online until I found my PERFECT apartment. Pacific Listings replied immediately with how I could do a self guided tour and really get to know the apartment. It truly was a dream come true and with in moments of standing in the living room, I knew this would be my home. Ms. Allyssa was super fast in drafting up my lease and I was able to move in within days of seeing the property. If you're looking for your new forever home, these guys are here to help!
Sue W
21:11 15 Apr 21
Excellent service from day 1! Prior to working with Josh and the Westside Property Management team, we had an empty home in the LA area that we needed to rent. We live 400 miles away, so the distance made it difficult to manage the property ourselves. And quite frankly, we're new to being landlords and we wanted to take a hands-off approach. We had no idea what to expect, so we started on Yelp and requested for quotes from top rated and most reviewed property management companies in the LA area. After speaking to almost 10 companies, we decided to work with Josh and WPM because of: 1. Service: Josh was our first point of contact. He did not try to sell us. He educated us on the market, what the expectations of tenants were, anticipated timeline, etc. The WPM team are great with communication and are always available to jump on a call or are quick to respond to emails. When we have questions (and we had a lot of them!), they had answers, and kept us updated in real time when necessary. 2. Price: WPM offers very competitive prices versus the competition. They do not upcharge on repairs and maintenance either. They just forward you the invoice from 3rd party repair and maintenance services. 3. Convenience: This was very valuable to us as we live 400 miles away. We literally gave them the keys and asked them what we needed to do to get the house ready to be marketed and get some great quality tenants to enjoy it as soon as possible. They gave us a list of repairs and maintenance items that needed to be done, competitive quotes for each work order, an estimated timeline to complete the work, timeline to go to market, and timeline to fill. We reviewd and approved the work, and they took care of everything. We completed everything earlier than expected! Whether your needs are like ours or not, Josh and the WPM team can cater to your unique situation. How do we know? That was one of the first questions he asked in our initial calls -- "what do you need?" And "how can we help?" We highly recommend WPM! If interested even at the slightest bit, its worth just giving them a buzz to inquire. We look forward to working with WPM for the long term.
Jessica S
04:57 08 Apr 21
I cannot say enough positive things about WPM. The staff (we've worked with Eric and Tiffany) has always been extremely friendly, accommodating and helpful. They respond within a few hours of a repair request; and most importantly, have worked with my family during the difficult times of COVID-19. I would definitely recommend to a friend and look forward to renting from them for years to come. Keep up the great work!
Ladan H
04:31 13 Feb 21
I want to thank Rachel and Bella, I got my place through their company Westside Property Management. The two of them were very supportive, kind and it was extremely easy to work with them and have their support throughout the entire process. They respond very quickly, are responsible and care about you. I highly recommend you to use Westside Property Management.
Brigid D
19:04 25 Jan 21
I had a great experience with WPM. Bella was very quick to respond and make sure my application was submitted and reviewed faster, in order to expedite the process and get me a new home! With COVID they made it very safe comfortable for me, as well. I will definitely use them again.
Maria M
04:16 23 Jan 21
It has been about 5 months since I have hired Westside Property Management to manage 2 apartment buildings. I could not be happier. Any questions I have are responded to that same day. I enjoy dealing with different people from different departments to handle different issues. They advise you through email when your monthly statements are in and when disbursements are sent to your bank accounts. Very happy with them. I highly recommend them.
Katelyn N
05:08 22 Jan 21
Westside Property Management was so amazing to work with while we were trying to find a rental that suited all of our needs. We worked with Bella throughout the application process. She kept us updated every step of the way, and always made sure we knew what was going on. We never had to wonder if our application was being processed because she kept in contact every day. Once approved, we worked with Rachel who gave us next steps and kept us well informed like Bella. This company was a joy to work with! Thank you for all of your assistance.
Bill Goldstein
21:50 12 Jan 21
Thank you WPM for your prompt response to the various problems that good management must address. Your professional staff all deliver. I am grateful for consistent resolution of issues.
ANN R KARAGOZIAN
06:33 05 Dec 20
Westside Property Management has managed our family's rental properties for over 6 years, and they have always been very responsible, efficient, and helpful to us as well as to our tenants. Their staff are very knowledgeable and provide excellent advice on a range of real estate issues, and they have a very good and responsive maintenance team. We've been extremely pleased with their work!
Heidi Uta
21:12 01 Nov 20
I have been living in an apartment managed by Westside Property Management for over a year now and they have been the friendliest and most responsive property manager I’ve ever had. Having to work from home since Covid struck, it has been relieving to know that I have a great company I can rely on to deal with any issues promptly.
Maximilian M
04:13 27 May 20
During the covid-19 pandemic Westside Property Management has been outstanding at communicating and walking me through the process of what I can expect on my rental properties. After working with Westside for years and referring several friends I can say that they are the best out there.
Aaron Chang
21:54 26 May 20
I’ve recently moved back into the country and have been searching high and low for a rental property that would be able to satisfy my needs and utilities that I require, this company WestSide Property Management was able to facilitate and advise me on my long term rental situation and find me the best value for my money as wants in a place. Loved the service and responsibility that the workers representing the company had demonstrated to me. I am now considering after my great long term rental, that would like Westside property management to assist me in looking/buying a house for the next long term decision. Great Service!
Sanjit Mandal
19:06 10 Jan 20
They are great! I purchased a home in LA, San Francisco, Boston and sold a house in Boston; they made it seamless for both transactions. After leaving Los Angeles, I rented out my apartment and they managed the property for me! They took care of maintenance, collecting the rent, renewing the tenant. Give them a call!
James Conway
22:07 07 Jun 19
The team at Westside property management is professional courteous and has always helped me fill my rentals when I needed them with amazing tenants and gotten me great market rates. They are incredibly familiar with the current Westside market and knowledgeable of current trends. They are always available on short notice in case of emergency's. They are accessible when I need them and the team at the office is always available. I highly recommend them for any size property whether small or large.
Zain Parani
23:25 06 Jun 19
Loved working with Josh, very friendly. He was flexible with my schedule, very accommodating, helpful with providing connections to other service providers. Trustworthy. Given their long history, the management company has reliable and dependable handyman. Although at the end I decided to not rent my place, I found the customer service extremely professional and patient. Also the management company's portfolio was helpful in looking at rentals and getting a sense of the market.
Sharon Kelley
17:12 14 May 19
If you are seeking to buy a home; to rent a home; or initiate property management for your property , either condo or home, this is your place. Stop now, and make that phone call. I am the President of a Condo HOA and this great man, JOSH BARRE, has acted as the PM for one unit in my building. He and his folks are a dream with whom to work. There is the ultimate care for your property; immediate action on issues; and weekend response to everything. The rest of our units are represented by a larger PM company and the results are like night and day. I have to fight for the owners of this building to get their needs met and get delayed response on all issues. As someone who deals with WESTSIDE only when problems arise, I love them and the care they give our building, not just in crisis, but in communicative responses. Thank you Westside PM
Sharon Kelley
17:12 14 May 19
If you are seeking to buy a home; to rent a home; or initiate property management for your property , either condo or home, this is your place. Stop now, and make that phone call. I am the President of a Condo HOA and this great man, JOSH BARRE, has acted as the PM for one unit in my building. He and his folks are a dream with whom to work. There is the ultimate care for your property; immediate action on issues; and weekend response to everything. The rest of our units are represented by a larger PM company and the results are like night and day. I have to fight for the owners of this building to get their needs met and get delayed response on all issues. As someone who deals with WESTSIDE only when problems arise, I love them and the care they give our building, not just in crisis, but in communicative responses. Thank you Westside PM
Mahmoud Millian
21:41 21 Mar 19
westside properties management are amazing. I have been using them for couple months now and I must say they always respond to my tenant very fast and fix any problem right away. their team is very helpful thank you guys
Brian Souders
22:16 28 Feb 19
Josh has done an outstanding job of finding a renter for us and communicating consistently throughout the process. It has been an enjoyable experience dealing with Josh and Westside and I would highly recommend them to anyone who needs assistance in the LA area.
Sanjit Mandal
07:33 06 Mar 18
They are great! I purchased a home in Boston and sold a house in Boston; they made it seamless for both transactions. After leaving Los Angeles, I rented out my apartment and they managed the property for me! They took care of maintenance, collecting the rent, renewing the tenant. Give them a call!
Paggy Wu
19:36 28 Dec 17
We are out of state owners and depend on Westside Property Management for everything regarding our West LA condo rental. They are very professional and responsive. We would recommend them to anyone looking for a great property manager!
Devon Bookman
23:02 09 Sep 17
As a professional realtor working on a top-producing team in LA, any recommendation I give to my clients I take very seriously. Without hesitation, Westside Property Management is my #1 go-to resource for clients looking to have their properties professionally managed, both large and small. Josh of WSP is probably the hardest working, easy going and helpful individuals I have come into contact with. He is the type that responds in minutes, goes above and beyond and really genuinely cares about his clients. That is so hard to find! 10 stars if I could! You will get the customer service you deserve!
Erin Day
04:23 19 Aug 17
Westside Property Management is the go to place if you are looking for a place to live in Santa Monica. I recently moved across the country and found the perfect condo with ease. Josh is very professional and always gets back to me in a timely manner whenever I have a question or concern. If you decided to go with Westside Property Management I promise you will not be disappointed!
Aliza Lesser
22:45 07 Jun 17
It is gratifying and much appreciated to see your success with the timely receipt of rents from all tenants, but particularly by the two that had become challenging. Congratulations and thank you for the submission of rental payments before the first of the month. Well done!
Alicia Rhymes
20:39 24 May 17
I had a wonderful experience with Westside Property Management. I cannot thank Josh enough for his professionalism, wealth of knowledge about the market and kindness. He made selling my home a wonderful experience. Josh also helped me find my new one. I was relieved of a lot of stress having Josh oversee the sale of my home and purchase of my new home. A sincere thanks to Josh and everyone at Westside Property Management :)