Q: Do you offer protection from property damages caused by the tenant?
A: We do collect a security deposit from the tenant, which can be up to 2 times the monthly rent per California State Law. When the tenant vacates, the security deposit can be used to cover any unpaid rent, unpaid fees, and damages to the property.
Q: How do you qualify a tenant?
A: Per California Landlord/Tenant Law, we qualify applicants based on Income /Employment Verification; Rental History with Landlord Reference, and Credit Worthiness based on timely payment of credit accounts; bankruptcies, foreclosures, repossessions, collections and evictions. All of this is included in the management fee; there is no extra charge.
Q: How long does it typically take for you to find a qualified tenant to rent out the property?
A: This depends on a few factors. Competitive market price, availability/competition, condition of the property and quality of the amenities. The key is to make sure the property is priced accurately for the market and that the property is marketed through all the appropriate channels.
Q: What avenues does your company use in order to advertise properties for rent?
A: We place a sign in front of your property (whenever possible), a full size detailed ad is posted on Craigslist.com with pictures, as well as advertising on our website. We also advertise in The San Jose Mercury News and other publications as determined by the property manager and the owner.
FEES
Q: Are there fees for contacting maintenance staff/third-party maintenance vendors to perform repairs?
A: No, you would only pay the vendor for their work. Major projects may have a fee involved which would be agreed upon in advance.
Q: Do you add a mark up to work performed by outside vendors?
A: No, we do not charge maintenance override fees. We do not add any mark up to their invoice. If the plumber charges $100, you would be charged $100.
Q: Do you charge fees if the unit is vacant for any of the following reasons: inability to find tenant, tenant moving out, transition periods between finding old and new tenants?
A: No.
Q: Do you charge start-up, turnover, or leasing fees?
A: No.
Q: What are the property management fees?
A: The management fees vary based on the type of property. Please call for more information. If a unit is vacant, we are not collecting a management fee while a tenant is being found.
Q: What is your fee for tenant placement?
A: $0 Our management fee is based solely on the collected monthly rent. If we are not collecting rent for your property, there is no fee.
OTHER QUESTIONS
Q: Does your company provide itemized monthly financial statements?
A: Yes we do. Our monthly statements consist of a computer generated cash flow and a detailed general ledger.
Q: How available is the property management staff to respond to tenant needs?
A: Our office is open Monday thru Friday 8:30am to 5:00pm. In the event of an after hours or weekend emergency, we have an experienced Property Manager on call available to assist the tenants at all times.
Q: How experienced and responsive is your maintenance staff and/or third-party maintenance vendors?
A: Cal Western has a well-experienced and well-rounded maintenance staff. We screen vendors for liability and workers compensation insurance. We have a long list of trusted vendors for virtually anything in needs of repair.
Q: How many properties does your company currently manage?
A: We currently manage approximately 1,000 properties in Santa Clara County.
Q: How much experience does your company have in property management (not including experience in real estate sales)?
A: Cal Western has been doing Property Management since 1969. That is our specialty. We are not a Real Estate Sales Office so we don’t normally sell property. However, the owners are Licensed California Real Estate Brokers so we are able to sell property at the owner’s request.
Q: What steps are taken to ensure that the property is in "rentable" condition? Re-painting walls? Walk through? Etc. Are there charges associated with that?
A: We will coordinate all repairs and walk through inspections needed to ensure the property is in rentable condition. From carpet, linoleum and paint to changing locks, light bulbs, and smoke detector batteries…we can handle everything. We don’t charge for coordinating the repairs. The only charge is the cost of the work.
What People Are Saying About Us
Want to Learn More?
If you’d like to learn more about our properties and what it’s like to work with Cal-Western Property Management, get in touch. We’d be happy to talk more about our rental properties, our application requirements, and our leasing process.
Cal-Western Property Management
1270 South Winchester Blvd., Suite 127 San Jose, CA 95128
(408) 554-1818
Toll Free: (800) 393-1818
(408) 246-8941
info@calwestern.com
DRE #: 01191882
Julie Ann Hedrick
Peter B. Noonan
Cathy Hickey
Alec Cruz
Casey Farina Smith
Grace Salgado
Susan Olson
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