We’ll go through step-by-step how to screen tenants using public eviction histories. Did you know that you can see where an applicant was last evicted, how long the eviction lasted, and even how much they owed the landlord? Court documents are a matter of public record and we can access them from the meeting room. When used appropriately, these records can provide a wealth of insight into whether a prospective tenant will be successful in your apartment.
This segment will show how to search by tenants and owners, how to read the information presented, and most importantly, how to talk to prospective renters and owners to find out whether the case does in fact reflect badly on either party. The tenant or the landlord might be to blame, or maybe it was an unfortunate breakdown in communication on both sides. This portion will be brass-tacks training for owners and managers.
Condos can happen anywhereScreen tenants with eviction histories
Part II:
Thinking about selling? How would you like to increase the market value of your three-decker by 50%? Condo conversion can make this happen. As we all know, single families are priced based on what buyers can afford, not based on the rental income they could generate. A two- or three-unit building split into condos might instantly be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars more to you, if you’re willing to sell two or three times instead of once. Whether now’s the time or you’re just gathering information, this is our chance to learn about a great option.
This part will be presented by Victor Divine, REALTOR; David Camiel, Attorney; Jeremy Wong, Contractor, at CW Builders; and Jeremy Devaney, Loan officer at Fairway Mortgage. This team have performed many condo conversions together and they’re going to tell us how the process works and what to watch out for.
Member Testimonial
I only had a vague notion of condo conversion until I stumbled into one of Victor’s seminars. Suddenly it became a real possibility. I kicked myself for not figuring it out sooner. He answered a lot of questions for me that evening and afterwards. He even prepared a report including estimated market value for each unit. Victor never put the slightest pressure on me to convert. He just helped me understand my options. – Rex
Market your business, pick up handouts, give away an old doorknob. Everything goes on our first-come, first-served display table at all our events. Please bring business cards, brochures, coupons. And feel free to pick up your own uncollected marketing materials at the end. Everything not claimed end-of-night may be chucked.
Wednesday, May 2nd
Charles River Meeting Agenda
5:30pm Sign-in/Networking/Dinner
Networking draws from Waltham, Newton, Weston, Watertown, Wellesley, Wellesley Hills, Lincoln, Dover, Arlington, Belmont, and the western ends of Cambridge and Boston.
6:00pm Buffet Dinner by the Copper House Tavern
6:40pm Executive Director Doug Quattrochi with the MassLandlords Business Update
Member Minutes – Any member can have the mic for 60 seconds (introduce yourself, ask a question, share words of wisdom, etc.)
7:00pm Part I: Screen Tenants with Public Eviction Histories
7:25pm Part II: Sell Out and Clean Up with Condo Conversion
There is ample parking in the lot around the Best Western and down the hill by the Copper House Tavern. Please enter through the main lobby and look for the MassLandlords signs.
Food
Buffet Dinner
Soda, Water, Coffee
*Dietary restrictions: purchase an early-bird ticket and email hello@masslandlords.net, we will accommodate you.
The Chief Justice of the entire Massachusetts Housing Court system will be coming to us to get our feedback on the courts, and to share what the courts are doing with electronic filing and housing court expansion.
Chief Justice Timothy Sullivan is one of our most accessible public servants and genuinely interested in hearing what owners and managers all around the Commonwealth have to say. His prepared remarks are always informative, but best of all, he actively encourages attendees to speak up and let him know about problems we’re having. This is going to be a great meeting. Participation in the group discussion is not required.
Chief Justice Tim Sullivan
Tuesday, May 8th
MetroWest Property Owners Association Meeting Agenda
Fire, smoke and water damage are preventable, but sometimes no matter what you do to prepare, disaster strikes. Not all disasters mean the end of your rental property. On the contrary, even seemingly total wrecks can be salvaged!
In this part of the presentation, we’ll be looking at before-and-after pictures of fires and floods, hearing what caused them, and seeing how the buildings were restored to better than ever.
Katie Daviau from BayState Restoration will be presenting the Disaster Show and Tell.
Disaster Show & TellAttorney Inessa Shur
Part II
What happens when an attorney handles only landlord cases and no other matters? That attorney becomes a super-expert in helping landlords. Come hear from local notable Attorney Inessa Shur, of Shur Law Group. Attorney Shur is known and respected by opposing attorneys, judges, mediators and court personnel. She will be presenting the common mistakes she sees owners make, sharing stories from the trenches, and taking questions from the audience.
Market your business, pick up handouts, give away an old doorknob. Everything goes on our first-come, first-served display table at all our events. Please bring business cards, brochures, coupons. And feel free to pick up your own uncollected marketing materials at the end. Everything not claimed end-of-night may be chucked.
Wednesday, May 9th
Meeting Agenda
5:30pm Sign-in/Networking
Networking draws from Worcester, Shrewsbury, Millbury, Auburn, Leicester, Paxton, Holden, West Boylston, Boylston, Grafton, Upton, Northbridge, Sutton, Oxford, Charlton, Spencer, Oakham, Rutland, Princeton, Clinton, and Sterling.
6:15pm Buffet Dinner by The Vintage Grille
6:40pm MassLandlords Business Update and Member Minutes
Member Minutes – Any member can have the mic for 60 seconds (introduce yourself, ask a question, share words of wisdom, etc.)
There is ample free parking in the first lot you see, in the covered garage to your left, on top of the garage (entrance further down road), and around the back of the school
Food
Cheese and crackers, sodas, water, coffee, decaf
Hot buffet dinner, incl. salad, rolls
Cookies, brownies, and/or blondies
*Dietary restrictions: purchase an early-bird ticket and email hello@masslandlords.net, we will accommodate you.
Pricing
Open to the public. Membership is not required!
Early-bird ends 5/2 @ 12pm:
Public: $24
Members: $13.50 (log in before you register or you will see the non-member price)
Premium Members: No charge and no need to register
After Early bird or at the door:
Public: $27
Members: $17
Premium Members: No charge and no need to register
Part I: The last time we had WayFinders (formerly HAP Housing) speak, we didn’t get a clear answer about how misbehaving tenants lose their subsidies. They’ve followed-up, and are going to give a presentation on this process. With waiting lists between eight and ten years in many parts of Massachusetts, it only seems fair that misbehaving tenants should make way for a more deserving renter.
This part of the presentation will be presented by John Fisher of Wayfinders.
How Misbehaving Tenants Lose their SubsidiesHow a Heartburn Tenant Can become a Heartwarming Story – TPP image by BayCove
Part II: Renters like any of us can fall on hard times, especially when we’re getting older or managing mental health conditions. Those of us in this situation can become a real heartburn to our landlords. But fortunately there’s a Tenancy Preservation Program (TPP). TPP is a state-funded tool for renters at risk of eviction to receive supportive services. In many cases, TPP keeps the elderly and others in their rented units, turning a heartburn into a heartwarming story. Come learn what this program is, how it works, and how you can activate it to help you in the future.
This part of the presentation will be presented by Jenny Pothier, LCSW, Program Director at MHA, Inc. Jenny’s presentation will be tailor-made to show us how TPP fits into the spectrum of rental subsidies, what kinds of tenants they can help, and how their 95% success rate makes TPP a tool that every landlord should have in their toolbox.
Please join us at the Northern Worcester County Landlord Associations May 10th, 2018 membership meeting where we will be hosting representatives from Worcester Housing Court in an open discussion forum.
Please email your questions in advance to info@belaire.co with “Housing Court Questions” as your subject line where Brian Lucier, NWCLA President, will be your moderator for the evening. Please do not use actual court cases or docket numbers for your questions. All questions should be prefaced as “hypothetical scenarios”, or your questions will be disqualified.
We are sure each landlord in attendance will learn something they can take away to enhance and improve their rental business operations this year. Hope to see you there.
Housing Court Open Forum
If you are an existing MassLandlords member but didn’t know about NWCLA, you can purchase a public ticket and learn about switching your membership to NWCLA, our latest addition to the growing list of MassLandlords chapters. NWCLA members still get member pricing on MassLandlords events. Non-members welcome, too.
Thursday, May 10th
NWCLA Meeting Agenda
Visit nwcla.com for any last-minute updates or changes.
6:45pm Dinner and Networking
Networking draws from Fitchburg, Leominster, Lunenburg, Townsend, Ashby, Ashburnham, Westminster, Gardner, Princeton, Sterling, Lancaster, Shirley, Groton, Pepperell, Winchedon, Templeton, and Hubbardston.
There is ample free parking beside the school. Do not park along the fence where the busses park. Do not park in any of the handicap spots unless you have the proper handicap parking sticker.
Food
Dinner by Happy Jack’s Cantina Grille from N. Main St. in Leominster.
Pricing
Membership not required! Open to the public.
Early-bird ends 5/2 @ 12pm:
Public and Members other than NWCLA: $15
MassLandlords.net/NWCLA members: pay annual dues, then free
After Early bird or at the door:
Public and Members other than NWCLA: $20
MassLandlords.net/NWCLA members: pay annual dues, then free
We’ll start with a quick refresher (or if you’re a new landlord, an introduction) to checking criminal records in Massachusetts. It’s $25 and a great conversation starter with your prospective tenant. “Why yes, actually, I was in the news!” Landlords have special access to more data than a third party provider. Come find out how to get it for yourself.
This segment will be presented by MassLandlords Executive Director Doug Quattrochi.
MassCourts, iCORI, FICOHow to Select, Hire, and Manage a Property Manager
Part II
It can pay to DIY, but there are lots of reasons why hiring a professional manager might become your best choice. This segment will be useful for owners with existing managers, owners looking to hire a manager, or owners with no plans to manage who might hire in the future.
In this segment, we’ll talk about the pros and cons of working with a management company, essentials of property management, fee structures, and additional perks you might not be aware of.
We’ll also share the story of how a hands-off approach to management can leave you literally with all your circuit breakers wired together. Come to this event and leave with ideas for your own DIY management or hiring, as suits your preference.
This segment will be presented by Lucas Merchant and Nate Gopen founders of MerGo Property Management. Nate owns properties, and Lucas has been in property management for five years. Their company comes with recommendations from inside the MassLandlords network. Their presentation will be strictly educational, no sales pitch. Even if you’re not considering hiring them, you can call them for questions.
Market your business, pick up handouts, give away an old doorknob. Everything goes on our first-come, first-served display table at all our events. Please bring business cards, brochures, coupons. And feel free to pick up your own uncollected marketing materials at the end. Everything not claimed end-of-night may be chucked.
Tuesday, May 15th
Cambridge Meeting Agenda
5:30pm Sign-in and Networking
Networking draws from Cambridge, Boston, Somerville, Arlington, Belmont, Watertown, and Malden.
6:00pm Buffet Dinner
6:40pm Executive Director Doug Quattrochi with the MassLandlords Business Update
Member Minutes – Any member can have the mic for 60 seconds (introduce yourself, ask a question, share words of wisdom, etc.)
7:00pm Checking Criminal Records
7:25pm How to Select, Hire, and Manage a Property Manager
ID required Upon entering One Broadway, you will need to check in with the lobby security. You’ll just need to show your ID and let them know you’re going to the MassLandlords event in the 5th floor Venture Cafe.
Accessing from the T
Exit the Kendall T stop on Main St.
Cross to the northeast side of Main St. with the Marriott and Chipotle and walk down the street away from Cambridge towards the Longfellow Bridge to Boston.
Cross through the plaza with the five-foot high metal globe; One Broadway is the building undergoing construction across the next street.
Cross over Broadway to arrive at One Broadway.
Parking
Accessible by T and highway. Parking available in several garages for weekend rates. See CIC Directions for details. Pilgrim Parking is $10 enter after 4pm, a two-minute walk from One Broadway, click here for details
Food
Buffet, incl. salad and rolls
Water, sodas
Cookies
*Dietary restrictions: purchase an early-bird ticket and email hello@masslandlords.net, we will accommodate you.
Senator Adam Hinds of Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden will be coming to discuss housing policy with us, giving updates on various bills as well as taking our input on what issues we’re seeing.
Senator Adam Hinds
Tuesday, May 15th
Berkshire County Meeting Agenda
6:00pm Networking
Networking draws from Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox, Stockbridge, Pittsfield, Lanesborough, Cheshire, New Ashford, Adams, North Adams, Clarksburg, Williamstown, Florida, Savoy, Hancock, Dalton, Windsor, Hinsdale, Peru, Richmond, Washington, West Stockbridge, Becket, Tyringham, Alford, Otis, Monterey, Sandisfield, New Marlborough, Sheffield, Egremont, and Mount Washington.
