Our monthly training and networking event will be held on the first Monday of the month. Speaker details are TBD but you can be sure of great conversation and small group discussion.
The SWCLA Meets at the Southbridge Community Center fka Casaubon Senior Center
When it comes to the latest real estate developments, including the effect of the government shutdown on real estate closings, the new short-term rental tax, and the indictment of an alleged real estate forger, you can’t find any better source than Attorney Richard Vetstein. Attorney Vetstein will be discussing current events as well as giving advice for rental property owners and managers, and if we’re lucky, talking about the upcoming legislative session.
Attorney Richard Vestein of MassRealEstateLawBlog.com
Have you seen our Charles River volunteer website? Market data available on rent levels for Waltham and surroundings. Use the “Contact Us” form to request a login at crrha.org
Networking draws from Waltham, Newton, Weston, Watertown, Wellesley, Wellesley Hills, Lincoln, Dover, Arlington, Belmont, and the western ends of Cambridge and Boston.
6:30pm Pizza and sodas provided
7:00pm 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.)
Fitchburg Thu 2/07: Property Management Software Solutions: The Free, The Cheap & The Steep
Come out and join us the first Thursday of the February (Note the change of date from the second Thursday of the month) for an educational and entertaining evening with your guest speakers Property Manager Debbie Greelish of Distinctive Homes Management Trust, and property manager Brian Lucier of Belaire Property Management LLC.
In this presentation we will look at three different property management software solutions. First we will explore all that Google Drive has to offer in the way of spreadsheets, dashboards, documents and record keeping to keep your rental property running in the green with custom created documents to maximize the efficiency in running your business.
Then Debbie will peel back the layers of Buildium, our first professional off-the-shelf software solution for the night. Debbie will walk through the work flow from listing your property, to screening residents, to the move in process and month-to-month tasks within this software package.
Brian will then take you on a virtual tour of all the AppFolio has to offer to manage your rental property business. We will look at the many features available in this package and follow the flow from listing to lease up and much, much more.
Finally we will summarize the solutions presented in our presentation and give our best recommendation as to if and when you may want to consider crossing over from the free tools to a complete property management software solution to optimize the scaleability of your rental operations.
Our Events are Held at Monty Tech
Thursday, February 7thth
NWCLA Meeting Agenda
Visit nwcla.com for any last-minute updates or changes.
6:45pm Dinner and Networking
Networking draws from 25 towns including Fitchburg, Gardner, Leominster, Athol, Holden, Ayer, Orange, Ashburnham, Spencer, Ashby, Lunenburg, Townsend, Westminster, 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 seven days prior @ 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 be talking about Section 8 in details. Pros, cons, and how it works. Note that Massachusetts landlords are required to take a Section 8 renter if they are the most qualified. You can’t discriminate on the basis of receiving public assistance! But you can reject a Section 8 applicant for other reasons. Come learn how the program works in detail, including inspections and dealing with administrators.
Section 8
Tuesday, February 12th
MetroWest Property Owners Association Meeting Agenda
Venue Change due to snow: Fiddler’s Green, Worcester Hibernian Cultural Center, 19 Temple St, Worcester
Part I: Subsidy Alphabet Soup
When a renter submits an application with a subsidy, do you know how to screen them? MRVP, RCAP, TFADC, the list goes on and on! We’ll walk you through the various programs and alert you to opportunities to make money by participating where other landlords wrongly fear to tread. We’ll also cover discrimination protections. Attendees will leave confident you can select good subsidized candidates and avoid the bad without running afoul of the law or exposing yourself to undue business risk.
This part of the presentation will be MassLandlords repertoire presented by Executive Director Douglas Quattrochi.
Part II: Water Submetering Bulletin
We have reduced this segment to a bulletin, where two findings based on experience will be presented.
The water bill is the biggest exposure for a landlord entering a contested eviction. All it takes is one twist of the wrist and thousands of dollars in water and sewer bills will be on their way. Is this really the way rentals should be? No! But no longer do you have to gut your three-decker to get compliant water metering. Technology gives us cheaper alternatives and there are local plumbers installing this in older buildings regularly.
Part III: Expensive Looking Facelifts that are Easy on the Budget
Handyman extraordinaire Joel Bienvenu will deftly present on some upgrades that will let you charge higher rent but that won’t break the bank. Investing hundreds, not thousands, can turn functional in fantastic. “I can’t believe it’s not gutter!” Just kidding, we won’t be showing you how to make downspouts out of duct tape. Although that might work. We’ll be focusing on cosmetic upgrades.
Subsidy Alphabet SoupWater submetering alternatives and Expensive Looking Facelifts
Have you seen our Leave Stuff, Take Stuff Table?
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-event may be chucked.
“No Sales Pitch” Guarantee
MassLandlords offers attendees of directly managed events a “No Sales Pitch” guarantee. If a guest speaker offers services, their presentation will not discuss pricing, promotions, or reasons why you should hire them. We do not permit speakers to pay for or sponsor events. Guest speakers are chosen for their expertise and willingness to present helpful educational content. Your purchase of an event ticket sustains our nonprofit model.
Venue Change due to snow: Fiddler’s Green, Worcester Hibernian Cultural Center, 19 Temple St, Worcester
Wednesday, February 13th
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.)
7:00pm Rich Merlino Meeting Introduction
7:05pm Doug Quattrochi, Subsidy Alphabet Soup
7:30pm Water Submetering Bulletin
7:45pm Joel Bienvenu, Expensive Looking Facelifts that are Easy on the Budget
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
The Worcester Hibernian Cultural Center has a surprisingly large lot for downtown. It is also possible to park along the street and in the church lot across the street. You will find a good space
Food
Cheese and crackers, sodas, water, coffee, decaf
Hot buffet dinner, incl. salad, rolls
Cookies, brownies, and/or blondies
Cash bar
*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!
Door:
Public: $24
Members: $19
Early-bird, reserve seven days prior by 12pm:
Public: $22
Members: $14
Premium Members: No charge and no need to register
Extra Credit
First time attendees: Join as a member before leaving the event, your public ticket will be credited toward membership.
Members: Bring a first-time attendee who joins at the event, your membership will be extended by one month free. No limit.
This event is operated by MassLandlords staff. Check in with your MassLandlords ID card.
An oft-neglected part of building maintenance is the requirement to inspect porches regularly. Have you ever inspected a porch? Come find out what is involved.
This part of the presentation will be given by Paul Campagna.
Part II: How to Charge Renters for Solar
Ask the Experts has been rescheduled to March.
We’ll be having a presentation/room discussion on how to charge renters for solar. Yes, there are many restrictions that make this process not straightforward. But given the environmental benefits, some landlords have been working to make it happen. We’re going to present a strategy and have the room pick it apart. But really, we think it is ready to be implemented.
The discussion about charging for solar will be preceded by a 25 minute presentation by Mike Kocsmiersky, a volunteer for the public-private partnership Solarize Springfield. Mike will be bringing a representative from the solar installation company. This will be our best solar presentation ever. Mike will present the regulatory framework, the credits, and the financing that makes this a cashflow positive investment. The installer will cover how the physical installation works. And MassLandlords staff will present the legal and rental agreement framework by which our investments can now be recouped in the form of higher rent without exposing us to utilities abuse by renters who have “electricity included.” Interested? You should be.
Porch InspectionsCharging Renters for SolarMike Kocsmiersky
Avoid $50,000 fines and make the world a better place by judging applicants without regard to their membership in a protected class. Under federal and state law, there are a whole host of reasons you cannot reject someone. Race, color, and religion are well established. Are you equally sure about disability, public assistance, and gender identity? We’ll give an overview of these protected classes and things you might say that sound well-intentioned but could land you in hot water. Must you rent to Section 8? How can you separate the legitimate support animals from the $79.95 Internet special? Is it ever safe to say, “It’s not deleaded”?
This part of the presentation will be given by Jeremy Scheiner, Director of Training at the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination.
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.
“No Sales Pitch” Guarantee
MassLandlords offers attendees of directly managed events a “No Sales Pitch” guarantee. If a guest speaker offers services, their presentation will not discuss pricing, promotions, or reasons why you should hire them. We do not permit speakers to pay for or sponsor events. Guest speakers are chosen for their expertise and willingness to present helpful educational content. Your purchase of an event ticket sustains our nonprofit model.
Tuesday, February 19th
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.)
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
Just $10 at Pilgrim Parking, enter after 4pm, a two-minute walk from One Broadway, click here for details. Be careful, some garages are $30. Accessible by T (red line Kendall Square) and highway. For additional parking options see CIC Directions.
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.
Pricing
Open to the public. Membership is not required!
Door:
Public: $24
Members: $19
Early-bird, reserve seven days prior by 12pm:
Public: $22
Members: $14
Nametags are printed for early-bird public, early-bird member, and premium members only.
Extra Credit
First time attendees: Join as a member before leaving the event, your public ticket will be credited toward membership.
Members: Bring a first-time attendee who joins at the event, your membership will be extended by one month free. No limit.
Our monthly speaker and networking event will be held on the third Tuesday of the month. Speaker details are TBD but you can be sure of great conversation and small group discussion.
Our Events are Held at Zucchini’s Restaurant in Pittsfield
Tuesday, February 19th
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.
