The Importance of a Great Application Process for Potential Residents
If you’re a rental property owner / investor and have great residents who treat your property as their own, you really can’t ask for anything more.
But how do some landlords seem to have wonderful residents while others only seem to attract trouble?
The key: a solid, dependable rental application process to thoroughly and efficiently screen potential residents.
What is the Application Process for Rental Properties?
A good application process is essential to running your rental property management business.
This initial step can be what sets you (and your residents) up for success, or if you’re not careful – failure.
The application process varies from company to company, but generally it can be described as:
The time in which a potential resident fills out an application provided by you (or your property management company), gives references from prior landlords, proof of income and employment, credit information, and an application fee if appropriate.
We’ll go ahead and cover a couple of key things that your application process should include.
Tip #1: Make it Easy to Apply to Live at Your Property
While you want your application to provide insight and value for you, you don’t want it to be so cumbersome that it hinders quality residents from actually just applying.
If your application is 20 pages long and takes hours to complete, chances are that no one will want to complete your application.
The applicant will likely get too frustrated half way in, abandon the application, and forget to come back to it.
They’ll find another place to live with an easier application process.
Here at Arbors Management, we accomplish this by making our process completely online and digital.
With the online application process, we set up a portal for each applicant where they can monitor the progress of their application any time they’d like.
No more daily phone calls from applicants asking if they’ve been approved – that’s a win-win!
Prospective residents can apply through any device that’s connected to the internet, whether that’s a computer, tablet, phone, etc.
We also allow applicants to attach their paystubs and photo ID directly to the application.
Once an application is received, we should have all the information required to process that application in a timely manner.
We are able to process the credit and criminal history rather quickly (typically within minutes) after receiving that application. We can then approve or deny that applicant and move to the next steps. Goal: to make your application process quick, easy, and convenient, but without compromising quality.
Tip #2: Make Sure You Get the Full Picture
The application you provide should give you a complete picture of the applicant once filled out and returned.
It should ask all the right questions, helping you understand who this prospective resident really is.
A few example questions that we would suggest including are:
Tip #4: Convert Applicants to Residents Efficiently
Your application process should help you convert qualified individuals into residents efficiently.
The way we do this here at Arbors Management is through our property management software.
With the software we utilize, we can take an approved application and convert it directly into a new resident account.
After an applicant is approved, we can directly send them a lease online through the portal that was set up for them at the beginning of the application process.
The prospect can then sign the lease and pay their security deposit and first month’s rent all through that same portal!
After moving in, the resident will continue to use their portal to pay their rent and submit maintenance requests in the future.
Goal: quickly & efficiently turn approved applicants into new resident accounts.
In Conclusion…
All in all, it’s super important to have a good application process!
In this article, we explained the importance of this process and how to create a successful application process through four different tips:
Make sure it’s easy for prospective residents to apply
Your application should give you a complete picture of the applicant(s)
Apply screening criteria consistently across all applicants
Convert applicants to residents efficiently
We hope that you’ve found this information helpful. If you’re interested in finding out how Arbors can help you easily convert applicants into residents, please contact us!
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Home Warranties
Home Warranties – Yay or Nay?
Today, we’re going to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of home warranties.
We also want to touch on some key factors that people may not think about when considering whether or not to purchase a home warranty when purchasing a property.
What Exactly is a Home Warranty?
A home warranty is a policy that you can purchase for a set amount for the year that covers most major mechanical systems and appliances within the property, so that if they malfunction, the policy will cover the expense to repair or replace that item.
On the surface, a home warranty sounds so good!
However, there are drawbacks we’d like to point out as well, especially when purchasing an investment property.
They have a set price so you know your expenses ahead of time
They can potentially save you money
Sometimes they’re included with the sale, so it wouldn’t cost you additional money to have it if provided by the seller of the property
The home warranty company will assign a vendor, so if you don’t know a specific vendor for your problem, you don’t need to have a vast network of plumbers, HVAC, etc.
Disadvantages of Home Warranties
Oftentimes, there are a lot of loopholes on home warranty coverage
Something you might think would be covered may not actually be covered under the warranty unless you pay more for upgraded coverage
Sometimes it takes the vendor a long time to respond
There’s a copay for each service call, which could cost you an additional $50-100 for each time you need to use the home warranty
You have no control over which vendor the home warranty company chooses
You have to renew home warranties every year
The process to place a claim with a home warranty is cumbersome and can take an extended period of time to complete with no guarantee of reaching a representative
Once you’ve placed your claim, the home warranty company sends a vendor and you have to wait for said vendor to call you
Introduces a lot of back and forth and a lot of different parties involved
How a Home Warranty Can Be Good for an Owner-Occupied Property
A home warranty is best utilized when the owner of the property lives in the property.
Mainly, because the owner is receiving the advantage of saving money, they are likely more willing to accept some of the disadvantages associated with utilizing the home warranty.
To a homeowner, things like not being able to choose the vendor or waiting a bit longer for a repair to be made may not seem as big of a big deal when there is the potential to save a few hundred (or even thousands) of dollars.
A homeowner also may not have the network of vendors that a property management company has, and not necessarily have strong opinions on what vendor to use.
However, when a renter is paying rent on a monthly basis, they are going to expect the repair to be made in a professional manner within a reasonable amount of time.
Vendor choice plays an important role as well!
A property manager is going to partner with a vendor who is fully insured and performs quality work.
On the other hand, the home warranty company is more concerned with finding a vendor for the lowest price, rather than mainly being concerned with the quality of work.
A home warranty company generally also has the tendency to repair problems instead of replacing them because it will result in more service calls – meaning more co-payments from you, the homeowner.
Example of a Home Warranty in Use
A property that we (Arbors Management, Inc.) were managing had a home warranty in place, and the furnace stopped working in the middle of winter.
So, we placed the service call for no heat with the home warranty company, who assigned the work order to a vendor that we didn’t work with on a regular basis or have in our trusted vendor network.
The vendor assigned by the home warranty company was not able to service the property for 2 weeks.
In short, the residents in the property were left with no heat for 2 weeks in the winter, resulting in the need to compensate their rent for that amount of time.
This delay in maintenance could have also resulted in frozen pipes and additional damages. Thankfully in this scenario, it did not.
When you take into consideration the price of the home warranty for the year, service call fee, and the prorated rent that the owner lost as a result of the delayed response time, it ended up costing the owner more money than if we had simply placed a service call with one of our trusted vendors and addressed the issue quickly ourselves.
Conclusion
There can be a lot of advantages to utilizing a home warranty, but we find that they’re best utilized for owner-occupied properties.
For investment properties or resident-occupied properties, we find that it’s typically best to not purchase a home warranty, and to arrange maintenance directly with the vendor.
Taking this route cuts down on the time it takes to maintain the property, and results in higher satisfaction for the residents – and happy residents pay their rent.
On the flip side, people who have to wait weeks for maintenance requests to be taken care of (a.k.a. unhappy residents) move out or don’t pay rent.
Obviously, we want to keep our residents and owners as happy as possible and provide excellent property management services that are within our control.
Ultimately, it is our recommendation that you do not purchase a home warranty for resident-occupied investment properties, as it could result in (all of the above) unsatisfactory experiences for your residents.
If you want to partner with a property management company who will address maintenance requests in a timely manner, cares about your property and residents, and wants you to succeed, we’d love to give you a free consultation!
Selling Your Rental Property with Residents in Place
Do I Want to Sell My Rental Property?
If you own an investment property, it’s probably safe to say that at one point or another, you may have considered selling it, depending on how the market is fluctuating.
This article will serve as a guide to help answer those questions and help you make an informed decision.
Selling a Single-Family Home with Residents in Place vs. Not in Place
If you own a single-family home and it’s being rented with residents in place, the value of the property is going to be dependent on the rental amount if you’re selling it to another investor.
With that being said, the value of the property for an owner-occupant (someone who will both own and occupy the home) would be more along the lines of what the market will determine.
If the property is located in an attractive market with high home values, you may be better off waiting until the property is vacant and selling it to someone who intends to move into the property and live there, as it may be more valuable to them in that scenario.
If the property is in a less desirable location with low home values, the rental amount might provide a higher value to an investor than it would someone looking to live in the property.
In this case, it may be beneficial for you to keep the resident in place because it would be as if you’re buying an income stream/cash flow.
Selling a MultiFamily Home with Residents in Place vs. Not in Place
For multifamily properties, their value is often evaluated based on the rental income they can produce.
So the higher the rents the property can generate, the higher the value of the property.
So in this scenario, it’s beneficial for the seller to increase rents as much as possible in their market, and have a fully occupied property when selling because that will give them the highest value for the property.
If your rents are significantly below market rate rents, it may be beneficial to terminate leases or transition them to month to month leases because the new owner will see that as an opportunity to increase the rents, or lease the units at the higher market-rate value.
Advantages & Disadvantages of Selling an Investment Property with Residents in Place – Single-Family Properties vs. MultiFamily Properties
Selling Your Rental Property with Residents in Place
Single-Family Properties
MultiFamily Properties
Advantages
Disadvantages
Advantages
Disadvantages
– If the property is in a majority rental neighborhood, and the price point of the property allows the investor to purchase the property and cash flow with the current rental income, then the property will be attractive to an investor interested in single family home rentals
– If the lease is within 60 days of expiring and the tenants are moving out, then it could allow for a sale to a new owner occupant reducing your vacancy period
– Continue to collect rent & cash flow until the property is sold
– Scheduling showings, inspections, appraisals, etc. with the tenant can be difficult and could lead to delays in ability to sell or close on the property
– Multiple showings will disrupt tenants’ lives, potentially causing them to want to leave
– Most single family homes sell at their best price to owner occupants, not investors
– High rental income can make the property worth more
– Attractive to an investor looking for a “turnkey” investment property
– Continue to collect rent & cash flow until the property is sold
– A fully occupied multi-unit proves the marketability/rentability of the property to the new owner
– Lower than market rents could cause the property to be undervalued
– Scheduling showings, inspections, appraisals, with the tenant can be difficult and could lead to delays in ability to sell or close on the property
– Cannot sell to a buyer who wants to live in one of the units
– If tenants are not paying their rent, it could be difficult to attract a buyer
What Happens to the Current Lease – Do I Have to Kick My Resident Out?
This may vary from state to state and you’ll want to check the lease terms. However, here in Pennsylvania, the leases will transfer to the new owner in the event of a sale.
This means that you do not need to terminate the lease or evict the resident in order to sell your property.
Just keep in mind the best case scenarios that we outlined above on your particular situation to determine if it’s best for you to keep the resident in place or not.
The Challenges of Selling a Property with a Resident in Place
But as with all things, there will definitely be a few challenges in the process.
Some things that could be difficult if you sell your property with a resident in place are:
You’re going to have to provide notice to the resident for any showings
You’ll have to show the property with all of the resident’s personal belongings in place
You’ll need to provide copies of the lease and payment history to the new owner
Uncertainty around resident’s future
If the resident has pets, it could cause accessibility concerns
The resident might not like having their personal space entered during the sales process
Showings, inspections, appraisals, etc.
All in All
If you decide that you want to sell your investment property with a resident currently in it, we hope this article gives you some of the advantages and disadvantages of doing so.
But ultimately, you have to make the right decision for you.
In order to best serve our clients, Arbors management, Inc. has created a sales division, Arbors Real Estate. If you are interested in selling your rental property with a resident in it, this is something that we specialize in and are well versed in the challenges that come along with doing so. We would be happy to discuss the details of your property with you. Please don’t hesitate to give us a call!
So, you’ve decided that you want to invest in rental properties, but aren’t exactly sure what kind of property is right for you. Don’t worry, we’re here to help!
To make it as simple as possible, you have essentially 3 different asset classes to choose from:
Single-Family Properties
Multi-Family Properties
Condominiums
The purpose of this article is to explain each type of the 3 main asset classes when investing in rental properties, cover the pros and cons of each, and hopefully help you decide what’s right for your investment needs.
Single-Family Property
Definition: A single-family home is a free standing residential building designed to be used as a single-dwelling unit.
You’re often able to make the resident responsible for utility expenses
The value of the property is not necessarily dependent on the rental income that it generates
Fairly easy to sell
Widely available
Will potential rent at a higher rate than a multi-family counterpart
Resident usually responsible for all landscaping and snow removal at the property
Cons of Single-Family Properties:
When you do have turnover, there’s only one unit so you have zero income from that property during turnover
They’re typically more expensive on a per-unit basis because you’re only purchasing one unit (for the same price as a duplex, for example)
Multi-Family Property
Definition: A multi-family property is a property with 2 or more residential units.
Pros of Multi-Family Properties:
You can typically realize efficiencies of scale – you have one roof over multiple units
Each unit often has the same floor plan as well
Turnover time tends to be lower because they’re usually smaller than single-family
Typically easy to rent – there will always be someone looking for a one bedroom apartment
Cost per unit to purchase tends to be lower than single-family
If one of the units is vacant, you still have the ability to generate rental income from the other occupied unit(s)
Cons of Multi-Family Properties:
Often more difficult to find
Typically smaller units, which lead to higher turnover rates (usually only 1-2 bedrooms)
Attracts singles or someone with a roommate, shorter overall average residency
Often have shared utility expenses
For example, one water meter for a two-unit duplex
Value of the property is oftentimes directly correlated to the income that the property generates
Value of property directly relates to rental prices you have (value depending on the rent)
Increased risk of disputes between tenants
Usually shared common spaces
Shared lawn or shared sidewalk means owner is responsible for snow removal and lawn care
Condominiums (Condos)
Definition: Condominiums (or condos, for short) are an ownership structure whereby a building is divided into several units that are each separately owned (via Wikipedia.com).
Pros of Condominiums:
HOA fees – oftentimes, they’re inclusive of exterior maintenance (roof leak, condo association will pay for it) making monthly expenses more predictable
Don’t have to worry about landscaping
Neighbors are more likely to have higher level of respect for the property giving a greater sense of community
Oftentimes in desirable locations
Could lead to making units more attractive to potential renters
Some offer amenities like a gym, pool, tennis court, etc.
Another factor that can make units more attractive to potential renters
Cons of Condominiums:
HOA fees – could cut into monthly cash flow
Sometimes the HOA has limitations or restrictions on how many units can be rented within the association or imposes fees for rental registration
Can be difficult to insure
Shared common areas or shared walls with other condo owners
An elected HOA board makes the decisions for the community, politics are often involved
Overall…
When choosing an asset class to invest in, there are pros and cons to each.
As an investor, you have to evaluate each of those and determine what’s best for your particular investment strategy.
However, if you’d like to discuss any of this further, or need help finding out which type of asset class is the best option for you and your investment strategy, please contact us for a free consultation!
The Differences Between Market-Rate and Affordable Housing
If you’ve been involved in the housing industry for any period of time, you’ve probably heard the terms “market-rate housing” and “affordable housing.” But what exactly is the difference between the two? Don’t worry, we’ll break it down for you.
Market-Rate Housing
Market-RateHousing is also known as conventional housing. This just means that the property does not have any type of subsidy, and the resident pays the full amount of the rent that is determined by the market.
Attributes of Market-Rate Housing:
The lease terms are customizable
No restrictions on additional services and fees you are able to provide to the tenant
You can non-renew a lease for any reason
The rent is not guaranteed (residents may or may not pay, might be late on rent)
Late payments/refusal to pay could lead to eviction
You can create your own screening criteria
There’s no limit on the rental amount that you can charge
Rent is dictated by what someone is willing to pay for the unit
If you want to check out our available market-rate properties, click here.
Affordable Housing
Affordable Housing is also known as subsidized housing, meaning that the property is receiving a subsidy from a governmental agency whereby the resident is only responsible for a portion of the rent. This portion of the rent that they owe is typically based on their income.
Attributes of Affordable Housing:
Lease terms are subject to the agency issuing the subsidy
The rental subsidy payments may be subject to property inspections from the agency
You are limited in reasons for non-renewing a lease
The rent is guaranteed by the agency issuing the subsidy
Your screening criteria is also dependent on the agency that’s issuing the subsidy
The rental amount is dictated by the agency that’s issuing the subsidy
There are income restrictions for residents to qualify
If you want to learn more about the different types of Section 8, check out this blog post.
If you want to check out our available affordable housing properties, click here.
All in All
Whether the property is market-rate or affordable housing, our primary goal is still the same: to provide safe and habitable housing for all of our residents, as well as professional management services to meet our clients’ goals for any property that we manage.
We have 40+ years of expertise in all aspects of housing in and around the Pittsburgh area, Western Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, so if you have any questions, feel free to contact us!
Happy residents also tend to renew their leases (reducing your turnover and vacancy!)
Here at Arbors Management, we’ve seen a 10% higher renewal rate than the industry average over the course of our 40+ years in business.
But how exactly do we keep our residents happily renewing their leases year after year? Let’s dive in.
1. Communication
Different Avenues of Communication
We communicate with our residents in a multitude of ways: emails, phone calls, text messages, physical mail, etc.
Everybody is different, so it is important to take note on what is the most effective with each resident individually. Whatever way a resident prefers to communicate, meaning whatever is most convenient for them, we will communicate with them via that medium.
Clear Communication
It’s also important to ensure that we’re communicating clearly and effectively.
We always want to make sure our message is very clear and that we answer any questions that our residents may have. What’s the point of conveying a message if the other person is confused and only left with questions rather than answers?
Timely Communication
Timely communication is key!
We do our best to ensure that we’re responding to residents within an appropriate timeframe and following up on any questions that we may have on our end.
Each of our properties is assigned a dedicated portfolio manager or property manager that is responsible for all resident communication, as well as any communication with the owner of the property.
By acting as that liaison, our management team is in constant communication with residents, and owners when necessary.
2. Convenience
Exceeding Expectations
These days residents have increasingly higher expectations, especially when it comes to the convenience of working with a property management company.
As you can probably imagine, we are always trying to meet and/or exceed those expectations.
One of the ways that we do this is through an online portal, which residents begin to use starting with the leasing process. We’ll cover more on our online portal in just a bit.
Convenient Application Process
Prospective residents are able to fill out and submit their application online.
This process is easy and streamlined, and doesn’t require the applicant to jump through any confusing or exhausting hoops to apply with us.
It may sound obvious, but the easier you make it for potential residents to apply, the more applicants you’ll have.
Digital Lease Signing
Once an application is submitted and approved, the lease signing process is completed through our online portal as well.
Applicants can sign their lease digitally from anywhere in the world as long as they have an internet connection! It can’t get much simpler than that.
Online Resident Portal
Our residents also have the ability to do just about anything rent-related through our online resident portal. Just to name a few portal features, residents can:
Pay their rent online
Access lease documents
Sign future lease renewals
Submit maintenance requests 24/7
Access a 24/7 emergency maintenance line with a live answer
Ultimately, we want to make the renting experience convenient and easy. The more barriers you create, the harder it is to convert a prospect/applicant into a renter.
3. Resolving Maintenance Issues Quickly
One of the most stressful things as a renter (or even a homeowner) is when something goes wrong in your residence.
We always want to make sure we’re addressing things as quickly as possible, keeping damage to a minimum, and keeping residents satisfied.
Quick Maintenance Protects Properties
While maintenance requests being taken care of right away satisfies our residents, it also protects our clients’ (A.K.A. our owners’) assets.
For example: if there’s a water leak, we want to fix that as soon as possible so that any damage caused is mitigated and comes to a halt, hopefully preventing any permanent damage.
A Large Network of Maintenance Vendors
Over the past 40 years that we’ve been in business, we have developed a list of reputable vendors that we know we can rely on.
Having a vast network of vendors that can address any issue that might come up is always beneficial; if the first plumber we try to contact is unavailable, we’ll go back to our vendor list and contact another plumber that we also have an established relationship with.
With having connections to multiple vendors in each trade, scheduling maintenance services is generally a breeze.
It also is a win-win situation: we give our vendors a lot of business, so they generally aim to keep us satisfied and often prioritize our work orders.
Access to Emergency Maintenance 24/7
We mentioned earlier that our residents have access to 24/7 emergency maintenance. This ensures that when there is an emergency, they can get ahold of someone right away.
This in turn allows us to address the problem quickly, and have the appropriate vendor handle the situation in a timely manner, preventing any further damage to the property.
So When It Comes to Keeping Residents Happy…
Keeping your residents happy is an important part of being a landlord or property manager.
Resident satisfaction comes with many benefits: increased rental payments, increased lease renewals, and increased property value by maintaining the property, just to name a few.
Here at Arbors Management, we try to focus on 3 main aspects of resident satisfaction: clear and timely communication, a convenient leasing experience, and efficient maintenance resolution.
By focusing on these 3 areas, we’ve developed a strategy that has proven to be extremely successful at maintaining resident satisfaction, and we’d love to help you do the same.
Hello, my name is Christopher Wagner and I am the President of Arbors Management. I would like to start out by stating that I am very proud of the team here at Arbors and I know that each and every member strives to do the right thing for our clients and make their experiences with Arbors as pleasant as possible. We are first and foremost a service business, and it is important for me to be able to serve our clients and customers excellently. Although I am not too comfortable talking about only myself, as I prefer to lead by allowing others to grow and reach their full potential, I understand that sometimes my role requires it. After owning several companies dealing in investment properties, developments, and investment loans, I joined Arbors Management in 2007, only expanding on my experiences of over 20 years in the real estate business. I enjoy my job immensely because I truly enjoy seeing growth in others, and in my position I am able to fully support the development of my team; whether this be mentally, emotionally, spiritually, or otherwise. I hold an IST Degree from Penn State, however make great efforts to lead a lifetime of continuous learning. When I am not at work, typically you can find me with my family. I have a fantastic wife, who is my true support in life, and four wonderful children. In addition, I have served in multiple churches in different roles, including as deacon, director of the media team, and various outreach teams. I enjoy giving back as much as possible and make decisions based upon my principles, including the decisions I make in business, how I conduct myself, and the standards to which I hold myself. I am very proud of the dedication and hard work of my entire team here at Arbors Management and I would like to introduce my leadership team to you.
Hello, my name is Trisha Jester and I am the Director of Multifamily Housing here at Arbors Management. I started in the property management business 32 years ago and since then have held various positions, including maintenance, assistant manager, site manager, and regional manager. I have been with Arbors Management for 24 years now. Having the opportunity to work in all aspects of the property management field and be a part of the process from start to finish has provided me with the breadth of knowledge that I need for my current position. I obtained my PA RE License in 1994, and have accumulated many hours of training in Fair Housing, Tax Credit Compliance, and Property Management. One of the things that I love most about my job at Arbors is that my team and I are able to help people who are truly in need of finding affordable housing. Together, the team and I manage over 2,450 units in Western PA and West Virginia. I have been married to my husband, Brad for 26 years, and have two sons, one in college and one a Sargent in the National Guard. On the weekends I enjoy road trips with my husband on our motorcycle, as well as gardening, reading, and cooking.
Hello, my name is Nicholas Griffith and I am the Director of Business Development here at Arbors Management, Inc. I also serve as the Vice President of Arbors Real Estate, LLC, our real estate sales company. I’ve been with Arbors since 2016, starting as a Portfolio Manager, then serving as the Director of our Scattered Site Properties, and now in my current role. Prior to Arbors Management I had experience in leasing and managing a growing portfolio of 300+ scattered site market rate rental properties. Additionally I also worked in the affordable housing industry as a Certified Occupancy Specialist working on qualifying new residents to move in and various certifications for their residency. During my time here at Arbors I’ve truly enjoyed working with our clients and customers to ensure their satisfaction with our services and my focus has been on perfecting and expanding our services to be the go-to resource for real estate investors. It’s been my pleasure to work with the dedicated and passionate team we have here at Arbors who really care about all the properties, owners, and residents we work with every day. When I’m not breathing all things real estate, you can likely find me at home with my wife, son, and dog. I enjoy the vast restaurant and local brewery options that Pittsburgh has to offer, watching football, hiking, canoeing, exercising, snowboarding, and traveling. I look forward to helping you achieve your real estate goals!
Hi, I am Patty Recklitis, and I am Chairman of the Board at Arbors Management. Being in the property management business for more than 30 years, I have watched this industry change and grow in so many fascinating ways. As a committed employee and now Chairman of the Board of Arbors Management, I have been instrumental in shaping this company and developing it into the strong, market leader position it enjoys today.
Buon Giorno! I am Cindy Peterle-Harris, the Director of Compliance here at Arbors Management. Although my degrees are in Political Science and the Italian language, I have been working in the affordable housing field since 1980, and with Arbors Management Inc. since 1995: first as a property manager for a senior complex, then as a regional manager, and as the Director of Compliance since 2010. Although it may seem that my education and my profession are worlds apart, I have used my language skills with residents who have limited English proficiency and used the lessons I learned in international diplomacy to maintain peace among neighbors and co-workers. As Director of Compliance, much of my time is spent in research, in teaching, and in problem resolution. I really enjoy working with the managers and staff of our affordable and conventional properties and helping to provide safe and comfortable housing for seniors and families. When not at the office, my husband and I are very involved with our Church and our combined families. With the recent birth of our 10th grandchild, “Grammy” has become my favorite title!
Hi, I am Michael Recklitis and I am the director of maintenance at Arbors Management and have worked for Arbors Management since 1995. I earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education and a Master of Science in Marketing Education from the University of Pittsburgh. My state certification in “Building Trades and Maintenance” allowed me to teach many students, who learned the basics of building repair and hand tool usage. I owned a small HUD subsidized apartment building. This ownership helped teach me about subsidized housing, REAC inspection and the required HUD tenant certification needed to rent those units. My position focuses on the physical condition of the many properties managed by the company. I enjoy working as a team member with building staff and have facilitated many property projects with outside contractors and our property staff. I have worked with PHFA Technical Services to complete needed work at other properties that they are involved in. My many interests have included but are not limited to gardening, amateur radio and going to that occasional Penguin, Steelers or Pirate game with my wife. As a boy, I earned the rank of Eagle Scout which helped teach me values and respect. As part of being a scout, I belonged to “The Order of the Arrow” that is Scouting’s National Honor Society which helped strengthen my faith.
My name is Eric Miles and I have been in the real estate industry since 1993. I obtained my Pennsylvania Real Estate Sales license in 1993, and after letting it expire, regained it in 2018 and have received my Brokers License in 2022. I have been intimately involved with mortgages/loans throughout his career with over $150 million of financing obtained for the multiple residential, commercial and office properties. I have worked with two other property management companies with one specializing in residential properties and the other in commercial and office before coming to work with Arbors Management Inc. in 2015 as their Controller. Since then, I have been promoted to Vice President of Operations which oversees the Accounting, Human Resources, Compliance and IT
departments as well as being elected to the Board of Directors.
I currently hold a BSBA in Accounting and a MBA in Finance from Robert Morris University as well as a BS in Real Estate from LaRoche College. In my free time, I enjoy reading and bowling and am often planning my next travel adventure.
Hello, my name is Alex Gurevich and I am the Director of Maintenance here at Arbors Management. I have over 15 years of maintenance experience working in high rise buildings and multi family complexes. I have been with Arbors since January 2019 and really enjoy working with our team. I have extensive background in electrical, HVAC and plumbing. I also enjoy working with electronics and automation, and have a huge passion for building mechanical systems and love troubleshooting problems.
Cayla has been involved in real estate since 2012. Over the last few years, she has obtained both a Realtors License and a Certified Residential Appraisers license. Additionally, Cayla holds a Bachelor’s degree where she specialized in Business and Management. Always looking to expand and grow, she decided to join the Arbors Real Estate team in 2023. Cayla is dedicated to providing excellent real estate services and looks forward to assisting you with your buying and selling needs!
Stacey has been with Arbors since 2020 as a property manager- responsible for 200 units. She recently obtained a Realtors License and is excited to help pair buyers and sellers with their perfect investment property, diamond in the ruff or first time home.
I began my journey in real estate in 2006 as a leasing consultant and obtained my real estate license in 2011. Prior to entering the real estate field, I pursued a degree in Hospitality Management, which eventually led me to become a General Manager at Atria’s in Robinson. What I love most about both industries is the opportunity to meet new people. I am married and have two sons, Antonio, aged 11, and Giovanni, aged 7. When I’m not working, I cherish spending quality time with my family, enjoying vacations, and indulging in delicious Italian cuisine!
Alexis has a drive to help others. She recently moved to Arbors Real Estate. LLC. As the Transaction Coordinator and Real Estate Agent. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or looking to sell your property, she changes her approach to meet your unique needs. With years of exceptional customer service, she focuses on building lasting relationships with her clients, ensuring they feel supported every step of the way.
