Hawaii Property Management Podcast with Duke Kimhan
72 episodes - English - Latest episode: 12 days ago - ★★★★★ - 1 ratingGet all the information and the latest updates, tips, and tricks from HI Pacific Property Management - your professional Hawaii Property Managers.
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Episodes
Looking For A Pet-friendly Rental In Hawaii? Look No Further
April 15, 2024 07:00 VideoContrary to popular belief, we do allow pets at our properties. Today, I’d like to address a common misconception regarding our pet policy here at Hawaii Pacific Property Ventures. Contrary to popular belief, we do allow pets on our properties unless there are specific restrictions imposed by the association governing the building. If such restrictions exist, both the homeowner and our company must adhere to them. You might be wondering about exceptions, particularly for emotional support...
Why Professional Lawn Care is Key for Landlords
March 19, 2024 07:00 VideoProfessional yard care: Elevating property value and tenant happiness. As a property management company, we have observed that when tenants take on the responsibility for yard maintenance, the results are often less than satisfactory. In fact, in 50% of cases, yard work tends to be neglected or not done in a timely manner, leading to the deterioration of the yard. This neglect can reach a point where simple watering is insufficient to restore the yard to its original condition. Understand...
A Comprehensive Look at Termite Prevention in Hawaii
February 12, 2024 07:00 VideoCovering the best way to protect your property from termite damage. Termites can be a pervasive issue for homeowners in Hawaii. Today, we’ll discuss the importance of addressing termite problems promptly and how our team at HI Pacific Property Management can help. Encountering termites during a walk-through of your property, whether it’s before tenants move in or just a routine inspection, can be alarming. Some might dismiss it, thinking, “It’s not a big deal; we’ll take care of it later....
Why Separate Electric Boxes Are a Must for Property Owners
January 31, 2024 07:00 VideoGet rid of the headaches associated with split electricity billing. When it comes to managing properties with shared electricity, property owners often find themselves grappling with the challenge of determining fair and accurate billing. Today, we’ll shed light on a practical solution that not only simplifies the process but also ensures transparency and fairness in splitting electric bills. For property owners contemplating the construction of investment properties, a key piece of advic...
Protect, Preserve, Peace of Mind: Why We Require Renters To Have Insurance
January 12, 2024 07:00 VideoAddressing whether we require tenants to have renter’s insurance or not. One of the common queries we receive from property owners pertains to whether we require tenants to have renters insurance. Today, I’ll clarify this requirement and what it entails for both tenants and property owners. The short answer is yes; we do require it upon their occupancy. When they take possession of the property, we provide them with a comprehensive list, including their rent share and the necessity of...
Ensuring Legal Safety with Professional Property Photography
January 03, 2024 07:00 VideoDiscover how professional photos can protect your property interests. A common question we often receive is whether we use professional photos for our property listings. The answer is a resounding yes, and there are several crucial reasons for this: 1. Documenting property conditions. Each time a new tenant occupies one of your units, or whenever a unit goes vacant, we ensure to capture its current state through professional photos and videos. This practice is not universally adopted...
The Truth Behind Monster Home Management
December 11, 2023 07:00 VideoUnderstanding the challenges and risks of so-called “monster” homes. Today, I want to address a significant issue that’s been a topic of discussion in our community for over 20 years: monster homes. You’ve probably seen them making headlines in the paper and stirring up conversations in the neighborhood. First things first, let’s clarify what we mean by ‘monster homes’. These are unusually large residences, often with upwards of 15 rooms. They’re not just big; they’re gigantic, and they c...
Navigating Tenant Move-Outs with Strategic Marketing
November 17, 2023 07:00 VideoHere are two big benefits to marketing a property after it’s vacant. Let’s dive into a crucial aspect of property management—marketing your home before it becomes vacant. Many homeowners stress over the duration their property stays unoccupied. However, we view vacancy as an opportunity rather than a setback. When transitioning from one tenant to another, we take the initiative to capture the essence of your property through photos and videos. This not only ensures an up-to-date marketing...
Homeowners Fees in Hawaii: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly
November 06, 2023 07:00 VideoHere’s what you need to know about avoiding or handling HOA fees. How do homeowners association fees work in Hawaii? Generally speaking, they are very common. These fees help maintain the roads, grass, and other features of a community that wouldn’t otherwise be taken care of. However, HOA fees also hurt your potential investment’s ROI. It might be difficult, but if you’re looking to buy an investment property in Hawaii, try to look for a house that does not have HOA fees. Usually, all ...
The Hidden Costs of Furnishing Your Short-Term Rental in Hawaii
October 23, 2023 07:00 VideoHere’s what you need to know about furnishing your Hawaii rental property. Is your home furnished or unfurnished? If you plan on renting your home out in Hawaii, this is a critical question. Generally, furnished homes (especially if you are renting them out as a short-term rental, like an Airbnb) come with tons of problems, including broken furniture, missing items, bedbugs, and more. Plus, many renters like to pick and choose which pieces of furniture they want to keep and which ones the...
Say Goodbye to Legal Hassles with Our Eviction Guarantee
October 06, 2023 07:00 VideoCritical information you need to know about our eviction guarantee. As a property management company, we offer three guarantees: a communication guarantee, a rent guarantee, and the most significant one – the eviction guarantee. Our eviction guarantee is a prominent feature in our signage and business operations. Today we’ll break down what this guarantee entails and why it’s a cornerstone of our service. In a nutshell, the eviction guarantee, as outlined in our contract, assures that i...
Maximizing Property Value: The Role of Communication in Management
September 25, 2023 07:00 VideoWe are very committed to responding to you when you need our help. In the realm of property management, communication is paramount. At our company, we understand the frustrations that property owners face when they can’t reach their property manager. That’s why we’ve put our commitment to communication in writing as part of our contract. Today, let’s delve into our communication guarantee and why it’s such a big deal for us. Imagine having an urgent issue with your property, and you can’t...
Why Comprehensive Background Checks Matter in Renting
August 08, 2023 07:00 VideoThe five steps that make up our tenant background check process. In the realm of property management, one crucial aspect that ensures a smooth and secure renting experience for both landlords and tenants is conducting thorough background checks. Today, we delve into why background checks are of paramount importance in the rental process. When property owners entrust their premises to us, they expect us to carry out comprehensive background checks on prospective tenants. These checks encom...
Ensuring Tenant Stability: How Income and Credit Checks Impact Rentals
July 25, 2023 07:00 VideoIncome and credit checks mitigate risks and maximize peace of mind. When potential tenants apply for a property, their income plays a vital role in the screening process. To ensure their ability to comfortably pay the rent, we look for applicants whose income is at least two-and-a-half times the rental amount. This acts as a reliable indicator of their financial stability, reducing the risk of payment issues down the line. Alongside income verification, we also conduct thorough credit che...
Enhance and Protect: The Benefits of Prioritizing Property Rehab and Repairs
July 12, 2023 07:00 VideoRehab and repairs are investments in your property's future. Whether you’re a property owner or considering investing in real estate, understanding the value of these maintenance activities is crucial. From preserving your property’s worth to managing wear and tear, proper upkeep plays a vital role in ensuring long-term success. One of the primary reasons to focus on rehab and repairs is to preserve and enhance the value of your property. Over time, wear and tear are inevitable, but addre...
Got an Emergency? Our Maintenance Department Has You Covered
June 09, 2023 07:00 VideoHere’s how our maintenance department can help you fix issues. What does our maintenance department do for you? All you have to do is give them a call, and they’ll tell you what to do, handle the maintenance staff, and make sure everything is set with your account. If a disaster happens in your property, make sure you give them a call so that they can handle everything for you. In the meantime, don’t hesitate to give us a call or shoot us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!
Why Walkthroughs Are Vital for Maintaining Your Rental Property's Value
May 22, 2023 07:00 VideoWalkthroughs are a very important tool that landlords should use. As a landlord or property owner, it is crucial to stay informed about the condition of your rental properties and how tenants are treating them. One effective way to assess the state of your property is through regular walkthroughs. Walkthroughs provide valuable insights into the tenant’s behavior, maintenance issues, and overall care of the property. Today, we will delve into the significance of walkthroughs and how they be...
From Locals to Locals: Trust Our Honolulu-Based Property Management Team
May 04, 2023 07:00 VideoHow our localized business and Honolulu expertise can benefit you. Hawaii Pacific Property Management is located in Honolulu, Hawaii, and we love it here. We concentrate all of our work in this area and don’t have any properties outside of the city and county of Honolulu. There are thousands of rental units in this area alone. Many of us were born and raised here, so we know this area well and love it dearly. We know the neighborhoods and concentrate on the owners and tenants that live h...
The Advantages of Referral Agent Status: Join Hawaii Pacific Today
April 20, 2023 07:00 VideoHow to partner with us by becoming one of our referral agents. Today, we’re here to talk about being a referral agent. If you’re a real estate agent and you want to become a referral agent with us, just call us, send us an email, or come into the office and we can work it out. Just know that all of our referral agents get paid the first month’s management fees. It’s important to note that we don’t do sales. When your client wants to sell their property, they can get referred, but know th...
Our 3 Guarantees Make a Big Impact
April 06, 2023 07:00 VideoThe three huge guarantees that we promise at Hawaii Pacific. Today, I’m here to tell you about our three big guarantees at Hawaii Pacific. As a property management company, there are limits to what we can promise, but we do have three guarantees: 1. Our communication guarantee. If you call us, we’ll call you back. This is the most important guarantee we offer. 2. The rent guarantee. We’ll give you in writing the lowest rent we can charge for your property, but we’ll always aim for a hi...
The Truth About Our In-House Photographer
March 22, 2023 07:00 VideoHere’s why we maintain an in-house photographer on our staff. Why is in-house photography so important for your rental property? We think it comes down to three main reasons. First, he’s our photographer, so we’ve seen them do an excellent job time and time again. Second, he’s a professional; he does this for a living, so you know he’s worth what we pay him. Third, he’s extremely thorough. He’ll take 50 pictures if you need him to, and he’ll do a video walkthrough and whatever else is ne...
The Important Reason Why We Always Answer Your Calls
March 08, 2023 07:00 VideoThe big reason why our employees guarantee to answer their phones. Why is it important for my team and I to answer our phones? In short, the phone is the easiest and quickest way to get in touch with us. All of our employees always answer their phones. One of our three key guarantees is that we’ll always answer our phones or call you back as soon as we can. This is important to us because it shows our clients that we’re there for them. If you have a problem with your rent, you can call t...
Ensure Peace of Mind with Comprehensive Background Checks
February 23, 2023 07:00 VideoWhy background checks are so important when renting out your property. One of our top priorities is ensuring that our clients’ properties are being rented to reliable tenants. One of the key ways we achieve this is by conducting thorough background checks on potential tenants. So why are background checks so important? The answer is simple: when a property owner entrusts us with their property, they expect us to do everything in our power to ensure that their investment is protected. Cond...
Secure Your Property and Streamline Your Rent
February 13, 2023 07:00 VideoTwo important property management tasks we guarantee for our clients. As a property owner, you want to ensure that your space is well taken care of and that you’re receiving the rent money you’re owed—that’s why you need a property management company. These are two things we guarantee to do for you: 1. Protect your property. We will conduct walk-throughs, background checks, and credit checks to ensure that your property is safe and secure. Those things are crucial to protect your rental ...
How Adequate Parking Affects Your Rental
December 16, 2022 03:00 VideoHaving adequate parking greatly affects the value of your rental property. Today I’m here to talk about something very important: adequate parking. In Hawaii, parking is the number one issue when buying a home. The first thing I ask homeowners is if they have any parking on their property. I need to know if it’s assigned, and how many spots there are. This will greatly affect the rent price. A lot of people have a four-bedroom house with one parking spot. They justify that because they s...
Compromising With Tenants on Window Coverings
December 08, 2022 03:00 VideoThis is the best way to handle window coverings in your rental property. Window coverings are a subject that always gets covered, but usually late in the process. The homeowner may have blinds, curtains, or nothing. However, my advice to homeowners is to use curtain rods. Just put up some curtain rods, and then your tenants can get their own curtains in whatever color and style they prefer. Then, when they leave, they can take their curtains with them. Window coverings are very important...
How To Manage Utility Bills
November 21, 2022 03:00 VideoWho has to pay the utility bills, the property owner or the tenant? “Who pays for the utilities?” is one of the questions we get almost every time we do an owners meeting. The tenants will normally pay for electricity, water, cable, internet, alarm service, etc. We need to tell the tenant upfront about whatever utilities we charge them for. In an HOA situation, the water and the sewer will sometimes be paid for by the owner. The owner will get an HOA statement from the Board of Water. We ...
Did You Know We Offer Complimentary Marketing?
November 10, 2022 04:00 VideoHere’s what you need to know about marketing your property correctly. You probably know that property managers take care of your properties, but did you know that we do a ton of marketing? We try to get the word out about your rental to as many people as possible. That way, you can garner competition and pick the best tenant. The best part? We do all of this at no cost to you. Recently, sites like Zillow, Trulia, and HRN, have started charging a small fee to host your rental. For most ...
Having Loss of Rents Coverage Is Inexpensive
October 20, 2022 04:00 VideoReasons why Loss of Rents coverage can be beneficial to you. Today I want to talk about insurance coverage. Many owners come right out and say, what kind of insurance should I get in my house as I rent it out to a tenant? A lot of the coverages are pretty standard. You can talk to your insurance carrier about what they recommend—whether it’s just getting some liability, getting some property damage coverage, or getting storm damage. But the most important one is called Loss of Rents cove...
Should You Invest in Air Conditioning?
October 03, 2022 05:00 VideoAir conditioning will make both you and your rental tenants happy. Have you ever heard of a subject more important than air conditioning in Hawaii? I see people with their car windows down because they don’t have AC in their cars, but I rarely see homes that don’t have AC. Most of our rental tenants come from the mainland. They grew up with and are used to air conditioning. Hawaii’s average humidity is above 80%, and 80 to 100-degree weather isn’t uncommon. That means the city is hot, esp...
Is Your Home Safe From Massive Rains?
September 19, 2022 05:00 VideoIf your property isn’t water tested, it could lead to huge problems. What is water testing? In the last month to two months, we’ve had more rain here in Honolulu than I’ve experienced in my whole life. I’ve never seen the island rain like this. All this rain causes a lot of problems that you don’t normally see on roads, houses, or roofs. Any weakened roof system is going to have some problems. We’ve had flooding and plumbing problems, and sewer backups and cesspool backups. It’s all beca...
We Have Tons of Vetted Vendors
September 06, 2022 04:00 VideoHow our lengthy vendor list helps us take care of your property. Do we have our own vendors? Yes! We have a long list of quality vendors you can trust. We have vendors who can do landscaping, plumbing, masonry, concrete, and more. We’ve worked with all of them for years, and we’ve vetted them thoroughly. We wouldn’t let our vendors overcharge for their work. Your PM and I look at all the invoices before they make it to you. About 99% of the time, their prices are fair, but occasionally, ...
Provide Your Contact Information
August 18, 2022 04:00 VideoThings move a lot smoother when we have your emergency contact info. We’ve had incidents in our properties where we could not get in touch with either tenants or the owners. No matter if you’re a tenant or owner, please make sure that your emergency contact information is available to your property management company. It’s difficult to deal with the legalities of somebody passing away in one of our units. Some owners have a will or trust set up, and they don’t tell the property manager. I...
No Additional Fees for Our Marketing
August 04, 2022 07:00 VideoHow we market your property and attract the best new tenants. Today we’ll talk to you about marketing. Clients often ask if there’s a separate charge on our property management fees for marketing. No, there are no additional fees—marketing is free with Hawaii Pacific. We send out materials to 32 websites, market locally, and use social media. Photos are a large part of our marketing. We usually take about 30 photos of your home and get a walkthrough video. There’s no charge to the owners,...
How To Prevent Expensive Mold Problems
June 30, 2022 00:00 VideoWe’ve had record rain recently, so you need to watch out for mold. If you know anything about managing properties in Hawaii, you know that mold can be a huge problem. In the last two weeks, we’ve had record amounts of rain. You probably have moisture in your property, and it could cost you big time if it leads to mold. Any time moisture enters your house, you have about 24 to 48 hours before it turns into mold. Most of the recent reports we’ve received about mold come from the Kaneohe and...
Should You Get a Property Manager?
June 02, 2022 00:00 VideoHere’s my advice when owners ask me about hiring a property manager. I get asked by homeowners all the time about the benefits of having a property manager. They often ask me if I would manage my own property or hire a manager to do it for me. To answer this question, you have to answer another question first: Are you going to be an off-island or on-island owner? One of the statutes in Hawaii states that you need an on-island representative to watch over your property. If you’re off-islan...
You Need To Know About These Taxes
May 23, 2022 00:00 VideoHere’s what Hawaii rental owners need to know about HARPTA and FIRPTA. Have you heard of HARPTA and FIRPTA? These are important taxes for Hawaii rental owners to know about, so let’s talk about them. First, what is HARPTA? Standing for the “Hawaii Real Property Tax Act,” this act withholds tax on sales of Hawaii rental properties by non-resident owners. We exclusively work with rental properties, so we always remind our clients about this tax. We aren’t tax experts or CPAs, so talk with a...
Should Property Owners Get Home Warranties?
May 08, 2022 00:00 VideoIf you own a property, you have to decide whether to get a home warranty. Property owners ask us all the time whether getting a home warranty is a good idea. Generally, the answer is yes, but there’s one issue. The home warranty company usually only has one or two vendors on the island to service your house. “Right now, appliances are in short supply on the island.” For example, a couple of home warranty companies needed to replace the washer and dryer in our properties, but there are cu...
Our Property Walkthroughs
April 20, 2022 00:00 VideoWe do walkthroughs of our properties every four to six months. We do walkthroughs for our properties every four months if residents have any pets or every six months if no pets are present. This gives our owners peace of mind they can trust. On a walkthrough, we go inside the property and take pictures of all of the rooms and walls to show the owner the condition of the property. If there are any concerns that need immediate attention, we give a 10-day notice to our tenants. If you have ...
Our Property Walk-Throughs
April 20, 2022 00:00 VideoWe do walk-throughs of our properties every four to six months. We do walk-throughs of our properties every four months if residents have any pets or every six months if no pets are present. This gives our owners peace of mind they can trust. On a walk-through, we go inside the property and take pictures of all of the rooms and walls to show the owner the condition of the property. If there are any concerns that need immediate attention, we give a 10-day notice to our tenants. If you hav...
How Our In-House Photographer Sets Us Apart
April 05, 2022 00:00 VideoHere’s why HI Pacific has a full-time photographer on staff. Here at HI Pacific Property Management, one of the reasons we can offer an eviction guarantee is because we have an in-house photographer on staff. He takes pictures of each one of our properties prior to new tenants moving in. The pictures are time stamped and dated, so if we need to go to court, we have all that evidence on file. Having a professional photographer on staff also ensures our photos are uniform; plus, if we need...
Tenant Screening Is the Key to Our Eviction Guarantee
March 23, 2022 00:00 VideoHere’s some helpful info about our eviction guarantee at HI Pacific. One of the many guarantees that we provide here at Hawaii Pacific Property Management is our eviction guarantee. We do a great job at tenant screening, which gives us confidence in promising this to all of our clients. We run credit reports, do background checks, and complete rental verification for each potential tenant. It’s very important for us to place a reliable tenant into your property who will protect your inve...
What Hawaii Property Owners Should Know About G.E. Taxes
March 10, 2022 10:46 VideoHere’s my advice for dealing with G.E. taxes in Hawaii. I don’t consider myself a tax expert, but I have been dealing with general excise taxes, or G.E. taxes, for most of my career. All Realtors are required to pay a 4.5% general excise tax in Hawaii if they’re making income from rentals. It’s a complicated process, so I recommend reaching out to a tax professional to discuss Hawaii’s G.E. taxes. We can provide that service through a CPA for a small fee. If you have any questions about ...
Getting Adequate Insurance
February 27, 2022 10:46 VideoMake sure that you have adequate coverage for your property. Today I’ll talk about having proper insurance coverage as a property manager. The coverages for condos and single-family homes are very different. Please talk to your insurance provider about what is adequate coverage for your unit. Take the Marco Polo fire, for example. All the units below the 26th floor were completely flooded, and we couldn’t get into them. Mold grew in all the units, and the insurance coverage had to be chec...
Breaking Down the Move-Out Inspection Process
February 09, 2022 10:46 VideoThis is how we handle move-out inspections with our tenants. Today we’re giving you a closer look at how our move-out inspection process works. We start by sending detailed and clear instructions to our tenants to prepare them for the process. Then we schedule a date and time to perform the move-out inspection. At that time, the tenant turns in the keys, and we have 14 days to complete our process and return their security deposit. I go into the property, take lots of pictures, take notes...
Explaining PCS Season
January 12, 2022 10:46 VideoApril to August is so busy in Honolulu because of the military’s PCS moves. Today we’re going to talk about PCS season. PCS is a military term that stands for permanent change of station. The military has five bases in Honolulu, and from April to August, we experience 15,000 families moving in and out of the area. It’s an extremely busy time for movers, property managers, and Realtors. If you want more details on PCS season, give us a call. We can tell you what the best time to schedule y...
Water Heater Maintenance for Property Owners
November 24, 2021 10:46 VideoIssues with your water heater are inevitable, but we can help. When I was growing up, I never worried about our water heater. Now that I’m a property owner, however, it’s become something that I have to worry about. In the old days, water heaters lasted 10 years; since the average life of a home is 60 or 70 years, that means you could go through five or six water heaters in the life of your home unless you switch to a tankless or solar water heater. Those tend to have a little longer shelf...
Should I Include Utilities in My Rent?
January 08, 2021 20:46 VideoHere’s what I recommend property owners do with utility costs. A lot of property owners who have a rental unit but not a separate meter for it want to know if they should just include utilities in the rental price. My recommendation is to actually put a submeter in to monitor the tenant’s usage. I know as a young renter, whenever I found a house that included electricity, I would leave the A/C running 24/7 because it didn’t cost me any extra, it just cost my landlord. It can really drive y...
Q: Can We Count on Your Vote?
December 28, 2020 11:13 VideoWe need your vote this holiday season. The 2021 Best of Hawaii Viewers’ Choice Awards is here, and today we want to ask for your vote to make Hawaii Pacific Property Management the top property management company in the state. Voting lasts until January 31, and participants who submit 60% or more votes will be entered for a chance to win a trip for two to Las Vegas! To cast your vote, start by following this link. From there, click on the ‘Companies’ category, select ‘Property Management...
Q: Should I Rent out My House Furnished?
December 09, 2020 11:13 VideoHere are the facts about renting out a house furnished or unfurnished. Many people call us and say, “My home is furnished. Can you rent it out for more money?” The answer is yes and no. These days, it’s more difficult to rent out a house that’s furnished. There are many variables involved. There’s also more upfront work to do; we have to take inventory, write property condition forms on all your furniture, and add all that to the intake and outtake forms. It’s also much easier for us to ...