By Steve Boudreault, Buildium, Boston, MA

Happy Halloween, everyone! In honor of this creepiest of creepy holidays, Buildium presents some seriously haunted properties for your consideration. The next time you’re inclined to complain about the property you manage, just remember — you could be managing these. Enjoy!

The Myrtles Plantation

Myrtles Plantation is a stately old Louisiana home built in 1796 by General David Bradford, and is said to be haunted be several restless ghosts. Accounts differ with regard to the house’s bloody history – some claim that only one murder took place there, while others claim as many as 10.

Here are some of the ghosts that allegedly haunt the house:

- Chloe, a former slave who was allegedly hanged on the premises for killing two little girls.
- The ghosts of the two murdered children have been seen playing on the veranda.
- William Drew Winter, an attorney who lived at Myrtles from 1860 to 1871, was shot on the side porch of the house by a stranger. After the shot, Winter staggered into the house and began to climb the stairs to the second floor … but didn’t make it. He collapsed and died on the 17th step. It is his last dying footsteps that can still be heard on the staircase to this day.
- The ghosts of other slaves allegedly occasionally show up to ask if they can do any chores.
- The grand piano has often been heard to play by itself, repeating one haunting chord.

Now a bed and breakfast, The Myrtles Plantation has opened its doors to guests who often report disturbances in the night.

The Whaley House

The Whaley House in San Diego, California, was built in 1857 by Thomas Whaley on land that was partially once a cemetery. The house has since been the location of dozens of ghost sightings.

Some ghostly encounters include:

- The spirit of a young girl who was accidentally hanged on the property.
- The ghost of Yankee Jim Robinson, a thief who was clubbed to death and who can be heard on the house’s stairway where he died, and has sometimes been seen during tours of the old house.
- The red-haired daughter of the Whaleys sometimes appears in such a realistic form, she is mistaken for a live child.

Famed psychic Sybil Leek claimed to have sensed several spirits there, and renowned ghost hunter Hanz Holzer considered the Whaley to be one of the most reliably haunted structures in the United States.

Raynham Hall

The Raynham Hall Mansion in Norfolk, England, is most famous for the ghost of the Brown Lady, which was captured on film in 1936 in what is considered one of the most authentic ghost pictures ever taken.

For more than 300 years, Raynham Hall was the home of the Townshend family. In the 1700s, Charles Townshend lived there with his wife, Dorothy. Legend holds that Charles suspected Dorothy of infidelity. In point of fact, Dorothy was once the mistress of a famous politician who was more famous for his dalliances than politics, and rumored to be quite wild.

Records show that Dorothy died and was buried in 1726, but a popular rumor was that Charles got fed up with his wife’s activities, worrying that his reputation would be ruined, so in reality he locked her away in a remote corner of the house, as good as dead, until her actual death many years later. And so, the tragic Dorothy haunted Raynham Hall, perhaps still looking for a way out.

While staying in Raynham Hall in the early 1800s, King George IV said he saw the figure of a woman in a brown dress standing beside his bed, noting that she was deathly pale and her hair was a wild mess. Colonel Loftus, another guest of Raynham Hall, said he saw a woman in a brown satin dress in the hallway on two occasions in 1835, and that her skin glowed with a light all its own. He also said it appeared that her eyes had been gouged out. A few years later, Captain Frederick Marryat and two friends saw her gliding along an upstairs hallway, carrying a lantern. They ducked behind a door, peeking at the apparition just barely out of sight. As she passed them, Marryat said she stopped, turned, and grinned at the men in a “diabolical manner.” She seemed so real and so menacing that Marryat fired a pistol at her, but there was nothing to hit – and it went right through into the wall.

The Stanley Hotel

Built in 1909 by Freelan Oscar Stanley (inventor of the Stanley Steamer automobile), this 138-room hotel in the Colorado Rockies is probably best known as the inspiration for Stephen King’s book The Shining, which he wrote after staying at The Stanley, in room 217. The elegant hotel is a popular resort and destination for ghost hunters; a ghost tour is even offered to visitors.

Several apparitions and other phenomena have been reported throughout the hotel, including:

- The ghosts of Freelan Stanley and his wife Flora have been seen dressed in formal attire on the main staircase and in other public areas, such as the lobby and the billiard room.
- Mr. Stanley has also been spotted in the administration offices. Flora’s piano playing occasionally echoes in the ballroom.
- Disembodied voices and phantom footsteps have been heard in the hallways and rooms.
- Staff and visitors have reported unseen hands yanking at their clothing.
- More than one guest has said they have awakened to find their blankets taken from their beds and neatly folded.
- The Earl of Dunraven, who owned the land prior to the Stanleys, is said to haunt room 407, where the aroma of his cherry pipe tobacco still can be smelled. A ghostly face has also been reported peering out of the room’s window when it was not occupied.
- In room 217, where Stephen King stayed, housekeeper Elizabeth Wilson was nearly killed by a gas leak explosion in 1911. Since her death in the 1950s, strange, unexplained activity is said to take place in that room, including doors opening and closing, and lights switching on and off by themselves.
- According to hotel staff, room 418 is the most haunted room, apparently by the ghosts of children. Guests who stay there say phantom children can be heard playing in the hallways at night. One couple complained that the noisy children kept them up all night, although there were no children staying at the hotel at the time. Impressions of bodies have been found on the bed when the room as been unoccupied.
- The ghost of a small child who calls out to his nanny has been spotted on several occasions on the second floor – including by Stephen King.

The Sallie House

The Sallie House in Atchison, Kansas, has earned a national reputation as one of the most haunted places in the U.S. The rather simple-looking painted brick house at 508 N. Second Street, built between 1867 and 1871, gives no indication from the street of its spooky reputation, but the many experiences of those who lived there testify to its ghostly vibes.

The house was brought to national attention when Debra and Tony Pickman lived there from 1992 to 1994 and had many disturbing encounters, including physical attacks on Tony, which were documented by the Sightings television show. It’s called the Sallie house because the daughter of some previous tenants had an imaginary friend named Sallie, and she is believed to be one of the spirits haunting the house. When Tony Pickman drew a picture of a ghost he had seen, the daughter identified it as her friend, Sallie.

The Pickmans experienced quite a bit of haunting, including:

- Wall-hung pictures turned upside-down.
- Strangely melted candles and burnt finger marks.
- Tony’s actual sighting of Sallie on Halloween morning, 1993.
- While napping, Tony heard a woman’s voice say, “Here’s your remote,” as the TV remote control was placed on his chest by unseen hands.
- During the first Sightings taping, Tony received three bloody scratches on his arm.
- One night Tony dreamed that he was being pulled out of bed by his wrist by a little girl. Upon waking he found burn marks on his wrist that were much like the fingerprints of a small child.

The house continues to be a focal point for investigations by ghost hunting groups from all over the country, who report strange activity, EVP, and other phenomena.

By Ken Kmet, Condo Voice, Clearwater, FL

Hurricane Sandy is glancing off Florida, and heading toward the east coast of the U.S., aiming straight for a rare collision with the Northeast U.S. Sitting here, as a Floridian, watching the satellite photos and watching the projected path, I am reminded that many, many part-time residents of Florida live in the Northeast. Even though most Northeast homes and properties are not fitted for hurricane protection, many residents know the drill. The only good news about this event is you have a lot of time to prepare, because tracking software has become so sophisticated.

So, if you only have a couple of days and a couple of bucks, and a couple of helpers or contractors to make you hurricane-ready, what to do? What are the priorities?

First, identify which hazard would affect you most — rising water (flood), wind, or even wet snow. Your property location and type should make this easy. High-rises should take cover, because wind speeds increase every few floors you are up.

Check for trees that overhang roofs, and if they are weak, old, or show signs of age, have them trimmed.

Walk the yard, and exterior, and secure or store anything that could become a missile or flying object. When in doubt, just store it.

If you are likely to have to evacuate, secure your home, not just from the severe weather, but also from vandals and thieves. Years ago, the day after a hurricane ripped through my neck of the woods, I was able to slip through the National Guard troops to get to a few of my properties, which were on the beach. After my inspection, during which I took pictures, noted damages, and called the property owners with my report, getting back in my vehicle I noticed many soldiers with machine guns walking the streets, Guard vehicles, and equipment. They were not messing around, and frankly, it was shocking to me to actually see martial law imposed, more or less, in my town. I managed to leave, also unnoticed, and wondered to myself if I was getting paid enough to have done something out of duty that could have gotten me in a lot of trouble. The point is, it can get that bad, and you could be delayed access to your property for some time if a storm does that type of devastation. Prepare for this, and count your blessings if it doesn’t happen that way.

Gather a bag, suitcase, or boxes with your important papers, CDs, thumb drives, et cetera, including any digital records that are on your desktop computer (and not on your laptop or mobile device). Make this light, compact, and weatherproof, so you can grab it and go in an instant and in very bad weather.

Prepare for power losses, earlier than you think. Make sure you can function if it is pitch black, because storms hit when they want to, not when it is convenient. Gather a mobile power bag also, with flashlights, extra batteries, and consumables, much like you would prepare for a winter storm. Traffic can become gridlocked, especially with people who are not used to this sort of thing, wait until the last minute, and so forth. When storms like this hit, and are rare, there are many more people who are rookies at this on the road.

Property damage is actually the last priority. Life safety, personal and property security, records, and survival kits should be the priorities. We know the drill in Florida. But a northern hurricane is rare, and many people have never experienced anything like it. Northern storms have the wet snow or ice possibility. Not only do you get the same factors that a southern hurricane can bring, but wet snow and ice can down power lines and cause property damage even more than the other factors.

I hope that the storm is not as bad as they are predicting, and my thoughts and prayers are with everyone in Sandy’s path. Do all you can do to prepare, and then hope and pray the effects are minimal. Take care.

A guest post by Cathy Fontana, Class A Management, Dallas, TX

If you’re new to property investing or management, it’s important that you first and foremost understand the different property “classes.” These classes help set standards as well as acceptable rental rates.

So, let’s take a close look at what defines each and then we’ll talk about the best property class for your investment dollar.

Class A: These properties are the top of the line. They are well designed, and use the best quality materials and construction. They are well-maintained and well-managed, and for these reasons are the most desirable properties. They are typically new properties, but do not have to be if all other factors are met. In fact, a much older property can be Class A if the right materials were used and management has kept it in the best possible condition.

Class B: Properties in this category are most likely going to be somewhere between 10 and 50 years old. They are built with average materials and construction and have been maintained according to the status quo. They are useful spaces, but there isn’t really anything unique or special about them.

Class C: Those properties that would fall in this class, as you might imagine, are not the cream of the crop. They are much older buildings, in which the construction, materials, and management are below average, while the main systems, such as mechanical, electrical, and HVAC, are average-to-poor. These spaces are known to attract a lower income tenant whose primary concern is affordability and not amenities.

For Your Dollar

What would you guess is the best buy? Most investors are going to say a Class A property because it’s likely to attract the right tenants, and at a higher rate. But that’s actually not the case. What you want to try to do is go for the Class B property. It is going to be more affordable than a Class A property, but has all the foundations needed to turn it into a Class A property.

Here’s how:

1. The construction and materials are already good, but it will require a thorough look at how to improve where needed. How old is the roof? Are there drywall needs to be addressed? Is there a better “flow” to the individual units that would improve their appeal? How about the addition of a clubhouse or fitness center? You get the idea. Once it’s decided which projects will be completed, it’s necessary to do it with the best quality materials and construction.
2. Upgrades are the key to separation between the classes. Take a look at Class A properties and see which they have chosen to offer. Make a list and then get yourself access to a good wholesaler of discount, but high-quality, products. This might include bathroom fixtures, lighting, blinds, carpeting or hard woods, countertops, and a wide variety of kitchen upgrades.
3. Get a management company who knows what they’re doing and can not only help you get everything completed on points #1 and #2, but can also manage everything about it, from marketing to screening to the everyday.

Class A Management is a leading property management company for Texas owners and operators, offering a wide range of premier services. For more information, visit www.classamanagement.com or call 817-284-1411.

By Linda Day Harrison, theBrokerList, Chicago, IL

How do management companies typically respond to new business inquiries?

1. Phone interview with a request to tour the client’s property.
2. Follow up with a brochure and cover letter.
3. Suggest the prospective client visit your website for more information.
4. How about a lunch meeting to discuss the business opportunity?
5. Or do you receive an RFI that requires you respond to a series of questions to be considered to bid?

In any or all of these scenarios your properties and corporate office should strive to think that every time there is a new business inquiry, it will result in a live tour of your office or properties and you can confidently say, “Why not stop at some of our offices or properties? We would love you to see our operations first-hand!”

You need to think that each potential new business opportunity will be predicated on a behind-the-scenes tour of your operation and back offices, and you are always ready! Does that give you a warm and fuzzy feeling, or does it make you want to panic and run for the exits?

The question you need to ask yourself each day is: Are you ready for that tour?

When it comes to day-to-day property management or leasing, so much of our day can be filled with inefficiency, busy work, and interruptions. Reflecting on the daily drama, you will soon see that most of what is important isn’t even the focus — how we appear to the public and/or the customers we serve should be the focus!

What the customers and general public see when they step inside our properties or offices is our curb appeal. It is vital that we keep them up to par every single day.

If you think that your property is going to be toured, what do you do? That should be your mindset every single day. We know the world is not perfect, but customers or the general public should not be exposed to the ugliness or the behind-the-scenes issues — those are our problems, and should not to be publicly aired.

You need to show the world, or your customers, what they want to see.

• Smiling faces, friendly greetings
• Clean entrances
• Obvious issues attended to
• Neatly dressed & groomed staff
• Easy to navigate facility and grounds

Now think about Disney World as an example. Disney World has an exemplary manner of treating their guests. When the show starts at Disney World, you do not see messy stacks of paper, litter, uncut grass, weeds, torn uniforms, or grumpy faces. Even if the Disney people are grumpy, you would never know it!

There is no difference with property management and leasing. What goes on behind the curtain, before the show at Disney, may be very ugly and hectic and full of drama. Costumes may not fit, pins may hold things closed, etc., but when the show starts and the curtain is pulled open, the show is well done and rehearsed.

The same should hold true for our industry. When the door opens in the morning, greet your day just like you think Disney World would do it. Each face should be required to smile and it should be all hands on deck to strive for excellence with curb appeal, common areas, and behind-the-scenes mechanical areas. Just remember when a new business opportunity arises, your team is ready to be showcased to help your company grow. No need to prepare, no need to worry, just let the show begin and feel free to invite any prospective new client to tour your properties and offices — you will know your team is Disney ready!

By Ken Kmet, Condo Voice, Clearwater, FL

Say the phrase “fire inspection” and every property manager, board member, and maintenance engineer will make a face. It is that annual visit to your property by the local fire marshal. It is usually unannounced, may not necessarily happen every year, and often comes with a price tag to repair, fix, label, identify, upgrade, add, test, certify, or change out something. Even though you have complied with the previous inspection report, and did what was asked then, that doesn’t mean something new will not be written up this year. You may feel like you are being picked on. Don’t; this is a very common thing. Things that change from year to year include new codes, new personnel, new technology and equipment, new facilities, new use of the facility, and new laws. Buildings and equipment age between inspections, and although something may seem to function well enough for you and the residents, that doesn’t mean it is functioning well enough to contain or distinguish a fire or evacuate the residents.

What gets inspected? Virtually everything within your building, and outside, is subject to inspection. Anything that could cause a fire, fail to contain a fire, fail to help fight a fire, or restrict an exit to safety during a fire is a candidate. A partial list of those include signs, fire extinguishers, fire pumps, alarm systems, alarm monitors, fire pull stations, horns, lights, smoke detectors, fire sprinklers, fire hydrants, stairways, railings, and generators, to name a few. They all get inspected annually themselves and certified to be operational by their designated service companies. If the inspector does not see a tag that is current, then it gets red tagged, sometimes literally.

The above list is just the equipment. Some of the other concerns of the fire inspector include storage of flammable, combustible, and incompatible liquids and/or materials. Some routine violations include gas cans in an enclosed room, such as a maintenance or storage room in a condominium or HOA. The inspector looks for combined storage of chlorine for the swimming pool with gas, paint, cleaning supplies, or other maintenance materials. It is critical to have fire rated doors, and signs, on these rooms to contain, and to indicate to the fire fighters what is “behind the door” that feels hot or smoke is coming out of.

Does your community association have a grille? Do you use LP gas cylinders to fuel it? Keep your LP, gasoline, chlorine, acid, and janitorial supplies separated and in different approved rooms, containers, or areas. Most of what an inspector will find is where people just don’t use common sense. If something even looks like it might be a safety concern, it probably is. So be proactive, and be preventive. Don’t wait for the fire inspector to write you up. Practice safe use and storage of all of these chemicals and supplies. Whoever is in charge of managing your facilities should conduct inspections quarterly. People move things, store things, and use things without your knowledge or permission. Just because something is safe today doesn’t mean those conditions will remain that way.

The other people who will have sad faces will be the insurance agent and company. Improper storage of chemicals and supplies, and failure to keep the buildings and facilities up to fire codes, is putting not only life, but also property, at a risk level they will not want to insure, and may, after forensic studies results are in, deny a claim for damages. There is language I have found in virtually every insurance policy and condominium and HOA covenant, declaration of condominium, and supporting recorded documents: “Nothing shall be done to increase the insurance risk to the property, the residents, the units, or the facilities.”

Containment and possible causes for a fire extend everywhere. A common area for problems is on the roof, which is usually difficult to access. Most often, it is on the roof where your air conditioning equipment is located and your dryer venting exists. Some A/C companies leave junk, old units, and electrical wiring, boxes, and connections to a sub-par level. Fire inspectors go there, inspect, and report on any conditions that may cause a fire, whether it is the associations or the unit owner’s obligation to correct it. If your dryer vents are not cleared, the fire inspector will insist these issues be repaired quickly. He or she doesn’t care who fixes it, just that it gets repaired, because failure to do so puts everyone potentially in harm’s way.

There are always costs associated with fire safety and inspections. You should budget accordingly. Here is a list of common expense items virtually every multifamily community incurs each year:

1.  Fire extinguisher inspections, recharges, and certifications.

2.  Fire pump (if you have one) flow and pressure test, and certification.

3.  Fire hydrant flow test, and certification.

4.  Fire alarm test and certification.

5.  Generator or backup power test and certification.

6.  Fire sprinklers test and certification.

This is not intended to be a complete list of possible certifications need for your community, city, or state.  You may have other equipment or issues specific to your community.

The costs of each of these, of course, varies depending on what, if anything, needs to be repaired. But fire service companies are heavily regulated, require licenses difficult to qualify for and keep, and are a trade that carries with it very high liabilities for failure to perform. As a result, their hourly charges are pretty high. Inspections for each service can range from $200 to $500, plus cost of materials. The inspection for the fire marshal can range from $200 to $400 per visit. Return visits are usually much less, from $25 to $100.

Not directly related, but usually with shared resources, are your elevator services. There is a phone monitor, which is related to the phone line that monitors the fire alarm systems. This cost, as well as their inspection and operational license and associated fees, should also be included in your budget.

Once you have received your inspection report, generally you are given a week to a month to have the problems corrected. If it is a major expense, or something you have to get bids for, the inspector will give you more time, if you ask, and if you supply a letter explaining how and when the work will be completed.

There will be a re-inspection, and hopefully all is well. However, these days, there are charges for the inspections, and for each return trip. Most fire department budgets are running thin due to the struggling economy, and even though you may receive an extension, you can expect to be charged for each trip to your property.

The bottom line is, the fire inspector is there to protect lives and property. Everyone thinks, quietly, that it is a bother and an unwanted expense to have to keep up fire equipment to the latest standards. However, when there is a fire or an emergency, those that survive are very glad for the inspector, the fire department, and the EMS, and that the association spent the money to keep up the equipment that saved their lives.

By Linda Day Harrison, theBrokerList, Chicago, IL

The answer is yes and no. Newsletters are a vital connecting point between you and your building occupants — that is, if you do a newsletter. As a property manager, I always felt compelled to reach out to and keep in touch with occupants and tell them what we were doing in and around the property. The newsletter also served as a simple way to provide them with information about the area, property, or anything at all pertinent to their involvement in the community.

I would feel incomplete if I were not able to reach those customers and share something with them at least monthly. My attitude was that customers needed to be kept informed in some way.

The trick is to make sure the message is short and to the point. Everyone is inundated with so much to read and follow and keep up with. We have work, family, church, hobbies, and where we live and work, all trying to grab our attention. All of these groups want to send us messages, and it’s hard to keep up.

As a property manager or leasing agent, we have to walk in our customers’ shoes and understand what works and what doesn’t. Times are changing for all of us in property management, and newsletters have been such a big part of our operations and marketing, and way to reach our customers. For many, the newsletter is a longstanding part of a resident or tenant retention program.

So are newsletters old news today? Or are there ways to improve on this long tradition of resident and tenant communication? What is the best way to get our customers to read those important messages we send, and is the old-fashioned paper newsletter obsolete?

I think the term newsletter is old news, but I still believe communication that is consistent and effective remains vital. It’s not a good idea to think what works at one property works at all properties. Why? Because the profile of a customer changes from property to property and in different markets. In some markets, the single-page, slip-under-the-door newsletter may still be viable, while in other markets or properties a Tweet, Facebook post, or blog post may do the trick. Today the sky is the limit on how to deliver the communication. But you can’t assume that everyone has high-speed Internet, and you can’t assume that everyone has a computer either!

When making the decision on newsletters and communication, the first thing to consider is your customer profile. Do your customers use the Internet? That sounds like a crazy question, but many communities that are active-living or over-55 communities may require a hybrid approach. Communities of families, students, and under-55 profiles are likely more accepting of Internet communication. Again, depending on the profile, you need to decide what communication works best.

For instance, if the property has entry points or common areas where messages can be posted or where flat panel television screens can be installed, live, up-to-the-minute communication is most effective. If you have elevator lobbies, those are the most ideal locations to install flat panels that can provide timely communications to all residents or tenants. No matter what age, most folks appreciate knowing what is going on, and the entry area is the most appropriate location to post a communication to your customer! How it looks or how it is delivered will depend on budget, physical limitation, aesthetics, and manpower.

As far as using these technologies, it is important that your database programs have fields set up to collect all of these touch points. For instance, be sure there are e-mail, Twitter, Facebook, and cell phone numbers collected on all resident profiles. With a cell phone, you can also send text messages. Text messages are an effective way to communicate as well.

If you set up a system of collecting these methods, and you keep it up to date, pushing messages out can be very effective. Now the message can include a hyperlink that takes the customer to a blog, or it can be a message in itself. Either way, it is still relevant to communicate with customers and make sure the communication is effective. Do you have a plan today for communicating to your customers? Are you currently collecting e-mail addresses, Twitter, Facebook, and cell numbers? If not, I suggest you start. At least you can collect the data so you are ready to convert your paper newsletter to an online and electronic message in the future. Once you are ready, it will be ready for you!

As far as using online, digital options, websites, blogs, Tweets, e-mails, texting, and Facebook can all be used today for both brief communications and timely messages that communicate important announcement or updates to your customers. The great thing about websites and blogs is that your customers can be added to an e-mail distribution list, and those messages can go out to all via automation each time an update is posted. WordPress, for example, has built-in tools that provide subscribers. The process would be added to your move-in of each new customer. When you add the lease, you also add their e-mail address to your distribution list. The resident will get an e-mail that permits them to accept the opt-in as a subscriber. It would be part of the orientation to the property to educate the new customer on how you communicate so they are aware.

Twitter is much more advanced technology and is not ready to be used on a widespread basis today, but hopefully someday it gains more use with the masses. If the group is a student profile, Twitter can be used to push messages out.

The bottom line is that the concept of a “newsletter” is not about the physical document or blog, but about communicating to your customer. You should reach your customers in some way, shape, or form, and today the choices are unlimited. Do not ignore this vital piece of your marketing program.

By Ashley Halligan, Software Advice, Austin, TX

Just a year ago, several California-based real estate agencies had already begun implementing aerial real estate photography via Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) — significantly reducing the cost of employing manned aircraft to capture high-end estate images. Furthermore, new technologies allow these UAVs — or drones — to capture high-resolution images that were before impossible.

In February 2012, however, a new bill — the FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act — led to the LAPD cracking down on aerial photography operations — but only temporarily. The new bill will actually pave a a freer path for both private and commercial use of drones. The bill has approved more than $60 billion in funds to the FAA and also requires that the FAA have its new laws loosening the airspace restrictions in place by September 2015.

Aside from aerial photography, what other ways are real estate and property management professionals considering the future impact of loosened restrictions?

David Record, CEO of Advanced Unmanned, brings up an interesting point about satellite imagery — and its impact on property maintenance, for example.

“These UAVs allow the end-user to have imagery that is fresher and more relevant; thus the imagery itself becomes a party of the decision-making process,” he says. “The expansion of accessible, relevant data allows property owners, planners, and other entities to make decisions from a desktop rather than having to travel on-site to acquire the same information.”

In an article I recently wrote for Software Advice, I explored real estate professionals’ opinions and some of the public apprehensions encompassing this hot topic. What else did they have to say?

Read the original story — Drones: A Controversial Eye in the Sky for Property Managers.