Source: http://www.simplyresidentialpropertymanagement.com/category/property-management-blog/
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 03:01:29+00:00

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April showers, May flowers and outdoor chores.
After a winter hibernation, it’s time for those sleeping irrigation systems to wake up. But the process involves more than just turning on the outdoor faucet. The soil should be thawed 12 inches below the surface and the air that has built up in irrigation pipes over the winter needs to be slowly released. Simply Residential’s expert technicians can ensure the process is smooth, safe and stress-free.
Cleaning gutters is a nasty bi-product of home ownership. But Simply Residential is happy to help. Just in time for spring showers, we’ll get those gutters flowing and pushing rain drainage away from the property’s foundation.
When winter gives way to spring, lawns aren’t usually left in the best condition. April is a good time to spruce up property. Simply Residential is your source for cleaning up fall/winter debris, weeding, seeding, planting and insect control. We approach your lawn delicately, ensuring that raking and even general foot traffic doesn’t disrupt wet soil or harm new grass roots.
Schedule tune-ups for those warmer-weather appliances/equipment, like the air conditioner, lawn mower and weed trimmer. Lean on Simply Residential to get those appliances and equipment ready to go for when they are needed.
It’s spring and Simply Residential is here to help! Contact us today by email at maintenance@simplyres.com or by phone at 952-893-9900!
I frequently receive calls from clients who own rental properties seeking assistance with regards to tenants who are in default of their lease obligations (such as failing to pay rent). These clients obviously wish to move quickly to resolve the issue(s); however, care must be taken not to engage in “self-help” that not only could hinder attempts to remove the defaulting tenant, but could also result in liability for the landlord relative to the tenant.
Self-help involves the landlord taking the law into his or her own hands to forcibly remove the tenant from the property. While the tenant is in legal possession of the premises under the lease, no other person can occupy or take possession of the premises by force. Minn. Stat. § 504B.281. Minnesota has historically followed the common-law rule that a landlord may rightfully use self-help to retake leased premises from a tenant in possession without incurring liability for wrongful eviction provided two conditions are met: (1) The landlord is legally entitled to possession, such as where a tenant holds over after the lease term or where a tenant breaches a lease containing a reentry clause; and (2) the landlord’s means of reentry are peaceable. Berg v. Wiley, 264 N.W.2d 145, 150 (Minn. 1978), citing Mercil v. Broulette, 66 Minn. 416, 69 N.W. 218 (1896). Under the common-law rule, a tenant who is evicted by his landlord may recover damages for wrongful eviction where the landlord either had no right to possession or where the means used to remove the tenant were forcible, or both. Berg at 150; see also Poppen v. Wadleigh, 235 Minn. 400, 51 N.W.2d 75 (1952); Sweeney v. Meyers, 199 Minn. 21, 270 N.W. 906 (1937); Lobdell v. Keene, 85 Minn. 90, 88 N.W. 426 (1901).
An example of prohibited self-help would be a landlord who, after determining that a tenant has abandoned the property prior to an eviction, changes the locks to the property. While common sense may suggest that this is a reasonable course of action as it would minimize the chances of damage to the property, the landlord would be in violation of Minn. Stat. § 504B.281and liable to the tenant for wrongful eviction. In fact, the Berg case referenced above dealt with this very issue and the Minnesota Supreme Court found for the tenant as to its claim of unlawful eviction.
The only recourse to remove a tenant from the property is to use the legal process of Unlawful Detainer to have a court rule that the tenant is there illegally and ordered to leave. The benefit to using this process is that the tenant is removed by a law enforcement officer if they do not comply, which removes the landlord’s liability in the action.
Also, regardless of whether you think that what you are doing would be considered “peaceable entry”, or if you are not certain of what to do when your tenant defaults, do not use the “DIY” method, as it usually winds up with you being “SOL”. Contact someone knowledgeable about Minnesota landlord-tenant law as to how best to resolve the matter.
The month of April is dedicated to celebrating and maintaining America’s beauty. The Keep America Beautiful Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 1953 with the mission “to inspire and educate people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment.” The foundation has a number of large U.S. corporations, including UPS, Coca-Cola, Lowes, Anheuser-Busch, McDonalds and more.
Along with larger corporate and municipality support, it’s important to note that every person is capable of beautifying their community. A few examples include cleaning up property debris, planting a garden, re-purposing/recycling unused items or adding fresh paint to a deck or fence. Look no further than your local community for a plethora of volunteer opportunities. It can’t be said much better than teacher and musician Inavat Khan.
Simply Residential Property Management is dedicated to beautifying our own neighborhoods this summer. Please join us in making the same commitment. When we measure impact, the whole will be even bigger than the sum of its parts.
With mid-April comes a sigh of relief. Take a deep breath, you’ve earned it. Tax Day has come and gone. Your 2015 tax filing is now in the rear-view mirror. And while it’s too late to make changes to your 2015 filing, it’s not too early to begin thinking about your 2016 return. Sounds crazy right? We literally JUST celebrated the passing of another Tax Day and we should talk about next year? Know that Simply Residential thinks about taxes year round as we carefully track and document the required tax information for our property owners. You should think about taxes as a year-round opportunity as well, because by following these three simple tips you will ensure your tax filing in April of 2017is easier than the last.
Tax professionals are so busy leading up to Tax Day that they barely have time to see immediate family, much less discuss next year’s taxes. When the 2016 Tax Day passes and tax professionals begin to regain some semblance of their former life, schedule some time to talk with your tax professional. We at Simply Residential keep in close touch with our tax professional. It’s important to learn about the processes that will make 2017 easier, ensure no important opportunities are missed and stay updated on happenings in the tax community. In between sleeping hibernation and reuniting with family, I’m sure your tax professional would appreciate an off-season meeting over a cup of joe.
Investment property owners are eligible for a number of tax deductions. Examples to keep in mind during the year include mortgage loan interest, rental property travel expenses, utilities, maintenance, repairs and legal/management fees. Simply Residential provides its owners with 1099’s each January, but also sends monthly statements during the year.
If a folder full of receipts is your current process for bookkeeping, a change is in order. There are two reasons to create a cleaner, more organized approach to tracking your spending. The first is to make preparation for Tax Day in 2017 easier. The second is that properly organized receipts will allow you to maximize your tax savings by spending on certain purchases. Reducing stress and saving money are two reasons I have a hard time arguing with.
Congrats on surviving another tax day! Simply Residential looks forward to helping our property owners in the year ahead.
Disclaimer: This article merely provides information, rather than advice and should not be viewed as a substitute for the recommendations of a tax professional.

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