Oahu Property Management Company Protects Clients & Public Against Rental Scams & Fraud

Does your Oahu Property Management Company take steps to protect your property from exposure to online scams and fraud?

The answer is YES, if you work with Home Shoppe Hawaii Property Management. Home Shoppe Hawaii manages rental properties in Kailua, Honolulu rentals, and Oahu rental properties in other areas of the island.

At Home Shoppe Hawaii, we rely on the Internet to market our available Oahu rental properties beyond Honolulu County.  The Internet is the best place for maximum global exposure for Oahu rentals.  Our award winning property management software, Appfolio, has a unique marketing feature that blasts our available properties to over thirty rental property Internet sites worldwide.  These Watermarks identify photo ownership, and deter would-be thieves.sites include Trulia, Zillow, Rent.com, Hotpads.com, Apartment.com, to name just a few.  We also market our Oahu rental properties on Craigslist. As a result, our Home Shoppe Hawaii rental properties have wide-spread visibility which leads to quick rental. 

Unfortunately, like many other Honolulu property management companies and independent landlords, Home Shoppe Hawaii has also had our ads hi-jacked by criminals. Sadly, rental fraud is becoming more and more prevalent in Honolulu and other areas of Oahu. Rental scams usually occur when the ads for property for sale or for rent are stolen by would-be fraudsters. These criminals take legitimate information and photos and market our Oahu rental properties or homes for sale in Honolulu County as their own rentals. The rental scammers make-up plausible stories to convince people to rent these properties sight-unseen and to send deposits, which are then stolen. Usually, the properties are advertised at under-market price points, that seem to good to be true, to encourage many applicants.

For example, Home Shoppe Hawaii was recently called by some scam victims who had paid a $900 deposit to rent unit 1206 in a Kailua condominium building. They found me online and asked me to look up the name of the Kailua property manager to see if the person was a REALTOR. These poor fraud victims had recently arrived on-island, expecting to move in and could not get in touch with their supposed “Kailua property manager.”  They came to find out there there was no 12th floor in the building that they thought they had rented in and the address they rented did not even exist. Needless to say, the person with whom they made contact also was not a REALTOR. I did some investigating and found out the photos used for the Kailua rental were from a 2 bedroom unit that has been for sale, on a lower floor of the same building. The phone number they had used to contact the supposed Kailua landlord was now disconnected. This was not a Home Shoppe Hawaii ad that was hi-jacked, but a disturbing story nevertheless.

Home Shoppe Hawaii’s Multi-Step Approach to Deal With Rental Scams

The following multi-step process helps to protect our Oahu property management clients from unwanted hassle and the public from potential loss and heartache associated with rental scams.

1.  Watermarks.  Home Shoppe Hawaii is now watermarking all of our rental photos – this is intended to alert potential victims to the fact that the pictures are stolen from Home Shoppe Hawaii and are not the property of the fraudster. 

2.  Signage.  We place both our Home Shoppe Hawaii Property Management vinyl window sticker and, when possible, our outdoor street sign on the property – this is send a clear message to visitors of the property that the property is under professional property management. Street sign not only advertises the property, but alerts potential renters that the property is under professional management.

3.  Personal Viewings.  Home Shoppe Hawaii Property Management maintains a strict policy that no application for rental property is complete without a viewing of both the inside and the outside of the premises.  If the propective tenant cannot view the Oahu rental property personally, he or she is required to appoint a representative to view the property for them.

4.  Google® Alerts.  Finally, and most importantly, we set up a Google® alert for all of our Oahu rental properties.  Google® alerts work to scan the Internet for a particular phrase – daily – and alert the user of the discovery of the information.

For our Oahu rental properties we generate alerts for the address of the property — partial address and full address.  Google® sends us an email each day (or more frequently when the property is being marketed) if the address is detected by their crawlers.  It provides us the link to the location, and we can immediately address any potential instances of fraud.  Ad hi-jackers can strike at any time – and so we maintain these Google® alerts through-out the course of our management of the property.

What Can You Do to Help Prevent Rental Fraud on Oahu?  

One of the most important steps in combatting fraud, is awareness of the problem.  Also:

~ Report fraudulent ads and tell your friends and family about information you have seen or received.  

~ Never give your personal information or send money without first having seen the inside of the property.  A legitimate Oahu property manager or landlord will meet you at the rental property to show you the inside.  

~ Know that if a stated rent seems too good to be true - it probably is.

~ Check to see if the advertised Property Manager is licensed. Property managers on Oahu are not always required to be licensed (there are a few exceptions, such as when an owner rents out his or her own property, which does not require a real estate license), but having a property manager with a real estate license listed is one clue that the ad may be legitimate. You can check on a property manager’s real estate license here.

~ Be wary and do your own Google® search for the Oahu property address - you may just find the legitimate landlord and ad in your search!

For more information on how Home Shoppe Hawaii works to protect your Oahu investment property, please contact Yvonne Ahearn (B) at (808) 721-8088.

Oahu Rentals | Tenants want CLEAN Oahu Rental Properties

As an Oahu property manager, I am frequently approached by many prospective tenants who ask if I have any available rental properties on Oahu.  I always ask what type of Oahu rental Clean, freshly painted walls and clean carpet make a great first impression.property they are looking for and where.  No matter the size of the Oahu rental property or where they are looking, the first descriptive word prospective renters use is Clean.  They would like a clean, 3 bedroom home for rent in Kailua.  Or, a clean, 2 bedroom condo for rent in Honolulu  

Unfortunately, “clean,” when describing an Oahu rental property, is a subjective description.  Some think of clean as free from dirt.  Some think of clean as white, and new (or newer).  Some think of clean as a bathroom without a ring in the toilet or mold in the shower.  Most prospective Oahu rental property tenants however, think of clean as all of those things – fresh paint, clean bathrooms, no dirt – and what they see will form their first impression.

My advice to owners that are preparing their Oahu rental property for rent is two fold – first:  clean it – have someone else (a professional) clean it.  If there is mold in the shower, remove it by removing the old caulk, or bleaching the spots you can’t remove.  Re-caulk!  It’s cheap, and you can do it yourself.  If there is a ring in the toilet, get a pumice stone and get it out.  Clean the insides of the drawers and Walls don’t have to be white! Accent colored walls are fantastic way to add color to a room.cabinets, under the refrigerator and stove, and inside the closets!  Clean the windows and the screens – all of them!  Second:  Paint.  Paint is cheap, and while painting is not cheap, it is something most people can do, or can learn to do.  You don’t have to choose the whitest white – in fact I recommend against it.  But fresh paint: the smell, the look, and the feel gives most Oahu rental properties an updated and new feel.  Most importantly – a clean Oahu rental property shows the prospective tenants the owners care about the product they are offering. 

For additional advice on how to prepare your Oahu rental property for rent, contact Home Shoppe Hawaii today!

LANIKAI HOME FOR RENT | Rare 3BR/2BA Historic Oceanfront Lanikai Beach House for Rent

Looking for the best view on Oahu? Home Shoppe Hawaii was recently selected to manage this exclusive 1920’s era oceanfront rental home in Lanikai, Kailua.  With availability beginning mid-September, the fully-furnished Lanikai Beach property is available to rent short term - monthly, or long term - up to six (6) months (and month to month thereafter).

This Lanikai home for rent, originally built in 1926, offers three full bedrooms, two bathrooms, kitchen, dining room, living room, covered entry lanai and spacious outdoor living space.

Sweeping ocean views — Kailua Bay to the Mokuluas and beyond. Photo by Cynthia Haws.

With nearly 1,500 square feet of interior living space, this Lanikai rental home features high ceilings, wood floors, and period architectural decor. One hundred linear feet of ocean frontage provides sweeping views of Kailua Bay, Flat Island, the Mokuluas and beyond. And sandy Lanikai Beach, the prettiest beach on the island of Oahu, is just a short walk away.

This Lanikai oceanfront property also features a 14,000 square foot fully landscaped and fenced yard, providing privacy and plenty of room to pitch a volleyball net.  A detached two-car garage in addition to long gated drive-way provides ample parking.

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to rent a fully-furnished oceanfront home in the highly coveted Windward Oahu neighborhood of Lanikai, in Kailua.  

TERMS: $7,200/month, $7,200 deposit. Month to month, or up to six month lease. Fully furnished. Tenant will be billed for utilities (electricity and TV/Internet).  Landscaping and water provided.  Security deposit due at rental agreement signing. Available mid-September. 

Diamond Head Honolulu Real Estate for Rent, Charming Beach Bungalow

Honolulu real estate is always in demand, and both rentals and homes for sale in Honolulu tend to go fast. Home Shoppe Hawaii is fortunate to have just listed a great Diamond Head Honolulu Home for Rent, which is not only in a fabulous Diamond Head location, near the beach, but is also a charming, remodeled home.

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Ossipoff Home for Rent: Architect-Designed Oahu Rental Property with History

Ossipoff homes or any other architect designed homes for rent are desirable, yet hard to find in Honolulu.  So Home Shoppe Hawaii is pleased to be currently marketing for rent a 1961 Ossipoff designed home in Waialae Nui Ridge, above Kahala.   Referred to by the Honolulu Acadamy of the Arts as “Hawaii’s most important modern architect[i],” Ossipoff was well known for incorporating the topography into his design, and for creating seamless indoor/outdoor living spaces.  This stunning Oahu rental home is built against the hillside, set apart from neighbors (also Ossipoff designed homes) so as to take advantage of the breathtaking ocean, Diamond Head and city views.

Breathtaking views from this Ossipoff designed Oahu rental property.

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Where to Find a Kailua Rental Property

Drive through the Kailua neighborhood you want to be in, and look for signs!I answer this question about Kailua rental properties each week.  With Kailua’s idyllic lifestyle, beautiful beaches and proximity to everywhere – many wish to settle here.  If you are like so many others looking for a Kailua rental property – and we don’t have anything available — try the following links:

• The Oahu MLS rentals can be found at www.hicentral.com

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Oahu Property Management | Setting Monthly Rent for Oahu Rental Properties Part 4

How to Set the Monthly Rent for your Oahu Rental Property
Part 4 – MARKET VARIABLES AND TESTING THE RENT

In our previous posts we discussed the property, researching Oahu rental properties and setting the rent range … and in this post we will focus on what variables we should consider, and importantly learning how we determine if we set the rent right.

After determining what my Oahu rental property has to offer, researching what other properties on the market are offering and asking, and setting the rent range, I take a look at market variables.  Market variables include

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Oahu Property Management | Setting Monthly Rent for Oahu Rental Properties Part 3

How to Set the Monthly Rent for your Oahu Rental Property
Part 3 – RESEARCH RENTALS AND SETTING THE RENTAL RANGE

In our previous post, we chatted a bit about what criteria to use when viewing your Oahu rental property and other Oahu rental properties.  You should have a pretty good list of the attributes your property offers, and also a list of advantages, or a small list of shortcomings.  We need to find out for how much other Oahu rental properties in your area have rented, and for how much available properties are being offered.

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Oahu Property Management | Setting Monthly Rent for Oahu Rental Properties PART 2

How to Set the Monthly Rent for your Oahu Rental Property
Part 2 — VIEW PROPERTY 

In my previous blog post – I outlined some challenges we face when deciding on a market rent rate for an Oahu rental properties, and provided my formula for determining market rents on Oahu:

A.  View Property

B.  Research Rentals

C.  Research Market Variables

D.  Set Rent

               The first step is to view property – not just YOUR property, but other Oahu rental properties as well!  If you can see others in person, that would be helpful, but pictures and phone calls will suffice.

               To ensure that you are comparing Oahu rental properties of similar status, size, and quality, you should pay attention to at least the following factors:

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Oahu Property Management | Setting Monthly Rent for Oahu Rental Properties PART 1

How can I determine how much to charge for monthly rent on my Oahu rental property? 

What is the fair market rent for my Oahu rental property? 

I am collecting $X per month in rent … is this fair rent for my Oahu rental property?

I get asked these questions all the time.  I often wonder if there is a secret formula out there that I am not aware of and so every so often, I Google® it.  The truth is, every property manager and owner manager sets the rent for their rental properties differently.  Some use comps, others add market conditions, and first-time Oahu investment owners often take into consideration their monthly mortgage/tax/insurance payment.  Add to this, the fact that in Hawaii, we don’t have good rental statistics from which to compare monthly rents (that is, statistics on Oahu investment properties that are rented rather than on offer for rent).   In fact, the only way Oahu property managers can determine what rental properties are actually rented for is to use their currently rented inventory as a gauge and to search our MLS for “rented” properties. 

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Keeping Your Oahu Investment Property Secure with Home Shoppe Hawaii Oahu Property Management

Feel Secure with Home Shoppe Hawaii Oahu Property ManagementToday, I received a call from the Honolulu police. They contacted me after they Googled a particular Kailua rental property. When they used that address, my name popped up as an Oahu real estate broker who could help with the home.  I get calls like this a lot, because I subscribe to a buyer lead referral service, but usually not from the police. 

The Honolulu police were calling because the fire alarm on this particular Kailua home was going off. It appeared to be vacant and there was an old-style lock box on the property. Seemed to the officer like a Kailua rental property that wasn’t rented at the moment and perhaps, there was a property manager.  So he found me online, though this was not a Home Shoppe Hawaii managed or listed Kailua property. I was able to look up the owner name in the tax records but I could not help beyond that.

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3.8% Tax on Sales of Oahu Real Estate in 2013

REAL ESTATE TAX OR MEDICARE TAX?

There has been a lot of misinformation thrown around about the 3.8% Tax on Real Estate starting in 2013.  For example, I have seen blogs and comments where people are proclaiming that anyone who sells their home will be subject to this tax and that the tax applies to the entire sale price of the home.  I have also heard some people who think this tax applies to the purchase of real estate.  Neither of these statements is true.

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Turn Your Home into an Oahu Investment Property

You’ve decided to build wealth with real estate, and rather than sell your property to buy a new one, you will instead convert your home into an Oahu investment property.  It’s a wise move.  Generally, the first few years of mortgage payments are equal to or greater than the monthly rent you could charge, making losses likely.  Some investors welcome the loss due to the tax effects, but as many shy away from the opportunity.  Eventually, monthly rents will exceed your monthly mortgage payment, making the prospect of converting your home into an Oahu investment property appealing, and profitable.  Here are some tips* to make the transition:

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