Update on PRG Management's Facilities Management Services in Chicago

In today's fast-paced business environment, efficient facilities management is crucial for national organizations aiming to maintain seamless operations across multiple locations. At PRG Management, we specialize in delivering top-tier facilities management and maintenance solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of large-scale enterprises.

Comprehensive Facilities Maintenance Services

Our team of seasoned property management professionals is dedicated to ensuring that your facilities operate at peak efficiency. Our national facilities maintenance services include:

• Preventative Maintenance: Performing regular inspections and servicing to prevent potential issues before they escalate.

• HVAC System Management: Ensuring systems have optimal climate control for comfort, energy efficiency, and safety prevention.

• Electrical and Plumbing Services: Ensuring attention to essential systems to minimize disruptions and structural damage.

• Janitorial and Sanitation Services: Maintaining a high standard of cleanliness and hygiene standards across all facilities.

• Emergency Repair Services: Our rapid response teams are ready to address a wider array of unforeseen issues 24/7, rain or shine.

Why Choose PRG Property Management?

PRG Property Management is a full-service property management company located in Chicago, serving clients nationwide. Partnering with PRG Management offers numerous advantages:

• Nationwide Reach with Local Expertise: While we operate on a national scale, our local teams provide a personalized touch to our facilities management services, ensuring that each facility's specific needs are met.

• Cost-Efficient Services: By consolidating maintenance services under one provider, we can drive proven streamlined processes with reduced operational costs and efficient project turnover.

• Proven Track Record: Our management portfolio includes successful collaborations with national brands, including financial institutions (such as Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Chase Bank, Fifth Third Bank, and more) and Fortune 500 companies, delivering consistent and reliable maintenance solutions.

Tailored Solutions for Diverse Industries

We understand that different industries have unique regulations & requirements. Our customizable maintenance plans are designed to align with your specific operational goals. The scope of your coverage can be as comprehensive as you desire, allowing you to be more hands-off while your property is cared for. Whether you're in retail, healthcare, corporate offices, or industrial sectors, our facility management services have you covered through it all.

Our Commitment to Excellence

At PRG Property Management, we pride ourselves on our commitment to excellence and unmatched client support, no matter how big or small. Our property management teams keep a finger on the pulse of the latest local and national industry standards and relevant technological advancements to provide you with innovative and effective maintenance solutions.

Contact PRG Property Management Today: Your Trusted Partner in National Facilities Maintenance.

From preventative maintenance to efficient emergency services, it's critical to have proper facilities management procedures in place to keep operations moving smoothly. Discover how PRG Management can enhance your facilities' performance through our top-tier facilities management and maintenance solutions. Contact us here or by using the form below today to discuss your maintenance needs and learn more about our comprehensive services.

Streamlined HOA Management: PRG Management Introduces Cutting-Edge Features

In the world of Homeowners' Association (HOA) management, efficiency and transparency are crucial for fostering strong communities. That’s why PRG Management, your partner in Chicago HOA, condo, and townhome management, is thrilled to announce the rollout of several innovative features designed to streamline operations and enhance the overall experience for homeowners and residents alike.

1. Liabilities Report: Enhancing Financial Oversight

Managing financial obligations is a cornerstone of effective Chicago HOA management, and PRG Management's new Liabilities Report feature is set to revolutionize the process. This new tool provides comprehensive insights into the association's financial liabilities, ensuring transparency and accountability in financial management. With detailed reports and analytics at your fingertips, Chicago HOA boards can make informed decisions to safeguard the financial health of their community.

2. Violations Preview: Improving Compliance Monitoring

Maintaining community standards is essential for preserving property values and promoting harmony among residents. PRG Management's new Violations Preview feature simplifies the process of monitoring compliance with Chicago HOA rules and regulations. From resident parking violations to architectural infringements, this tool provides Chicago HOA boards with a preview of potential violations, allowing for proactive enforcement and timely resolution of tenant/owner violations.

3. Architectural Requests: Streamlining Approval Processes

Managing architectural requests efficiently is vital for maintaining the aesthetic integrity of the community while accommodating residents' needs. PRG Management's new Architectural Requests feature simplifies the submission and approval process for architectural modifications. Residents can submit requests online, track their progress, and communicate with their Chicago HOA board seamlessly, ensuring a streamlined and transparent approval process for all parties involved.

4. Resident Center Resources: Empowering Homeowners

At PRG Management, we understand the importance of fostering a sense of community and providing residents with convenient access to essential resources. That's why we're excited to introduce Resident Center Resources, a centralized “town board” hub where homeowners can access important documents, community announcements, and helpful resources anytime, anywhere. From meeting minutes to community guidelines, residents have everything they need to stay informed and engaged in community matters.

Experience the PRG Management Advantage Today

Ready to elevate your HOA management experience with PRG Management's innovative technological tools and dedicated support? View our suite of property management services to learn more about these exciting new features and how they can benefit your community. With PRG Management by your side, you can streamline operations, enhance transparency, and foster a thriving community that homeowners are proud to call home.

If you have any questions please feel free to call us at (312) 600-8896 or fill out the form below and a Chicago property manager will be in touch!

Elevating Property Management: PRG Management Unveils Game-Changing Features

In the fast-paced world of property management, staying ahead of the curve is essential. PRG Management, your trusted partner in Chicago property management, is proud to introduce three new features aimed at improving the way property owners manage their assets and residents.

1. Applicant Workflow and Tracking: Simplifying Resident Screening

Finding the right tenants and minimizing turnover is key to success in property management, and PRG Management's Applicant Workflow and Tracking feature makes the process easier than ever. From listing vacancies to screening applicants and managing lease agreements, this tool streamlines every step of the tenant selection process. Spend less time on paperwork and administrative tasks, and more time on growing your business and providing exceptional service to your tenants.

2. Financial Insights: Empowering Investor Decisions

Managing finances is a core aspect of Chicago property management, and PRG Management's new Fund Accounting feature is set to redefine the process. With this tool, Chicago property owners gain access to comprehensive financial reporting, streamlined budgeting and forecasting, and automated transaction processing. Say goodbye to tedious manual tasks and hello to accurate, efficient financial management that provides a clear picture of your property's financial health at all times.

3. PRG Rewards: Maximizing Value from Property Owners to Residents

At PRG Management, we understand the value of rewarding tenant loyalty. That’s why we are rolling out PRG Rewards, a unique program crafted to benefit property owners and tenants. One of the key features of this program is Chicago Rent Reporting, which allows tenants to build their credit by reporting their rent payments to the major credit bureaus. For just $4.99 a month, tenants can easily enroll through their Resident Center. Once signed up, all rent payments are automatically reported to TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian. By offering this program, property owners can help their tenants improve their credit scores, build loyalty, and maintain long-term residency.
Sign up for Rent Reporting Here

Experience the PRG Management Advantage Today

Ready to experience the difference that PRG Management's innovative tools and exceptional service can make for your Chicago property portfolio? View our list of management services and learn more about these exciting new features and how they can help you achieve your property management goals. With PRG Management by your side, you can streamline your property management, elevate tenant experience, and unlock the full potential of your investments.

If you have any questions please feel free to call us at (312) 600-8896 or fill out the form below and someone from our Chicago property management team will be in touch!

Top Questions when Interviewing a Chicago Property Manager

As a top Chicago property manager, here are the questions we as a firm are asked the most in the market.

How long are you locked into a contract?

At PRG Management, all management contracts are month-to-month unless otherwise stated or negotiated. We provide a professional service to our clients and we understand that our jobs are to take headache off our client’s plates.

However, contract terms are not always presented during the time of the proposal. Many owners are locked into services for a set time period. Make sure to understand how long the property manager will require you to stay with their service.

WHAT TYPE OF PROPERTIES DO YOU SERVICE?

• Residential Rentals or Multi-Family

• Mixed-Use

• Commercial

  • Retail

  • Office

  • Industrial

• Condominium Associations

• Homeowner Associations

• Townhouse Homeowner Associations

• Banked Owned/Distressed Real Estate

  • Commercial And Residential

What property management software or online tools do they provide?

With the growing number of online and computer-based tools in property management, staying up to date with a powerful marketing and tracking software is very important in the industry. One thing that investment property and homeowner association clients regularly fail to ask during the interviews with new property managers is what type of software or technology the property manager utilizes. As time goes on, any property without powerful and state-of-the-art technology will fall behind and have increasing headaches in management.

At PRG Management, we understand that our service is directly related to time available for the property manager to organize and coordinate value-add projects around the property. Any property manager without the proper tools will spend more time on day to day activities (and therefore less on additional wish-list projects), or need to charge more to be profitable in the industry.

All residents should have a smartphone app, be able to pay online, and view financials that are updated in real-time 24/7/365. In addition, residents are able to track work-orders submitted and see updates as they come in. This allows for better communication and improves transparency rather than using an online form that gets completed but often leaves the tenant in the dark regarding any updates.

Is there any markup on maintenance or kickback from vendors?

Markups and Kickbacks are a common occurrence in property management. All owners should know whether or not a property manager is profiting from any repairs or maintenance at their property. A markup gives improper incentives to the property manager, making it more about saving costs for the owner which can lead to a conflict of interest if the owner is not aware of these up-charges. If a markup is understood by the owner or a cost is added to reimburse a property manager for their expenses, markups or kickbacks can work. At PRG Management, no property manager can accept a kickback from a vendor, utility, or service provider.

Are there other property management costs In addition to the management fee?

Many owners sign up for property management services and find that there are several additional expenses that were unknown and added without anticipation. While most owners have conversations with property managers about what they charge, to ask this question indirectly, every owner should know how their funds are being allocated on top of the standard fee (if any).

At PRG Management, to decrease our management fees and align our costs with our services provided, we have structured our fees to include a few line items. This allows us to avoid overcharging clients that do not incur these additional services and also avoid under-charging those clients that are costing additional time/resources. Find out more here for a detailed proposal and discussion on how we intelligently structure our management fees for a win-win partnership between owner and manager.

Is the owner responsible for marketing costs of the rentals agent?

Most of the costs that a property manager incurs are passed through to the owner. One cost that many rental owners do not project (beyond rental fee) is marketing costs for their property. Owners should ask if the For Rent signs, photography, and 3rd party listing technology or MLS fees are an owner expense.

At PRG Management, our leasing agents include and take on the risk of the listing fees for individual units. For larger properties that require a custom or commercial-grade signs or listing fees, all associated costs are discussed with the owner. Additional marketing costs are also dependent on the leasing fee and are approached by a case-by-case basis that always requires owner approval fist.

What financial reports does the property manager provide?

Many property managers send (or should send) rent proceeds on a regular basis unless the owner requests no distributions. But where do these numbers come from? How will your accountant file your taxes in the new year? Every property manager should provide a Rental Owner Statement to Rental Owners that includes details on the expenses and all incoming and outgoing line items. For HOA board members, the property manager should send an income statement on a monthly basis.

At PRG Management, our tools allow owners to view financials online, updated real-time on a 24/7/365 basis. Also, additional reports include a delinquency report, balance sheet, reconciliation report, unpaid bills, and transaction detail or summary.

How frequently and what time of the month do owner distributions occur?

For investment property owners, it is important for the investor to know when their distribution will be sent. As funds are collected by a property manager, there is a period of time where the accounts need to be checked and reconciled for accuracy. Typically once an accounting period closes (end of the month) a bank reconciliation occurs for all checks and deposits over that period of time. Once this is finalized, the owner draws can occur. Make sure to understand your property manager’s process before agreeing to services.

Do you require a reserve or deposit for the manager to hold in their account?

Typically property managers hold funds on account for expenses that may come up after an owner distribution is sent. Property managers are not banks or lending institutions and do not have the ability to front expenses on behalf of their clients. Sometimes these reserves are dependent on size or number of units.

What is your lease renewal and rental marketing process?

Vacancies are a large cost of any rental owner. Understanding when the tenant’s lease is expiring and how soon the property manager markets the rental for lease is crucial in increasing the profitability of any property.

As a Chicago property manager, no tenant is allowed to receive their lease renewal offer greater than 90 days from their lease expiring per the Chicago RLTO. After some time to think, review, and accept (or deny), the property should be marketed between 30-60 days prior to lease expiration.

With the growth of COVID-19 in 2020, we understand that it’s not always possible to execute this marketing period, and not every property will be at 100% occupancy. At PRG Management, our general rule is to market every property 60 days in advance to lease expiration. Contact us to find out more about our experience, best practices, and how our leasing partner, Pearson Realty Group, helps to limit owner vacancy.

What kind of lease do the tenants sign?

Standard lease terms do not always protect owners from risk and clarify tenant vs owner responsibility. This can cause the owner additional expenses for repairs or maintenance. At PRG Management, we have experience dealing with and preventing issues from all types of situations that we layout in advance of any tenant taking possession of their property.

Are your property managers licensed?

All community association managers are required to be licensed with the State of IL. Any person performing a licensed activity per the IL Real Estate Act of 2000 is also required to be licensed. Know the difference between licensed and unlicensed activities and whether or not your property manager is properly licensed. This also includes leasing activity.

Garbage Drain Disposal Care

Garbage disposals have recently become a standard in the modern-day home in Chicago. There are many added luxuries of being able to throw waste and food down the drain, but they should not be taken for granted. All sink drain lines with garbage disposals should be rodded every 6 months to 1 year depending on the size of the building and usage of the owner/tenants. As an experienced property management company in Chicago, here are a few tips on how to save your drains from overflowing/clogging and how to save your association/landlord from charging you for the damages.

1. Run the disposer along with a steady stream of cold water for 10-15 seconds before and after grinding is complete.

2. Avoid using hot water during grinding. It is ok to use your garbage disposal between grinding periods.

3. Do not pour grease or fat into your disposer or drain.

4. Avoid grinding or draining the following:

   1. Large amounts of fruit or vegetable peels

   2. Fibrous materials such as celery, corn husks, artichokes, carrots, etc

   3. Hard Materials such as bones, fruit pits, etc

   4. Large amounts of Rice or Pasta/Noodles

   5. Egg Shells

   6. Potato Peels

   7. Coffee Grounds

5. Use a disposer cleaner to relieve objectionable odors caused by build-up, or grind a small amount of citrus fruit peels to freshen up the area.

Windows Energy Savings - What To Look For

Heating during Chicago winters is expensive, and here at PRG Management, we try to work towards finding you cost-effective, sustainable energy savings to help ease your electric and gas bills when it gets cold.

One option is to upgrade your old windows to energy efficient windows.  Energy star qualified windows start at around $100 for a normal sized single-hung window.  Energy Star Windows can help you save an estimated $126-$465 a year. 

Making an informed decision is important, so here are some options you can get if you are looking for new windows:

Common Frame Materials

o   Fiberglass: Paintable, low maintenance, and good thermal performance, but costly.

o   Vinyl: Good thermal performance and cheap.  Nonpaintable and easily cracked during the winter due to expansion and contraction.

o   Wood: Good thermal performance.  It needs heavy maintenance and has a high cost for quality frames.

o   Aluminum: Strong, good color choices, and low maintenance.  Quality is varied, and thermal performance is low.  More suited for warmer climates.

SHGC and U-Factor Glazing Ratings

o   Most glass now has 2 panes of glass and a low-e coating for lowering heat transfer to ensure better insulation in your home.  For colder climates, what you want is high-SHGC and low U-factor windows.

o   SHGC is an indicated value of how much solar radiation is passed through a window assembly.  The higher the solar heat gain coefficient; the more solar heat it transmits.

o   U-Factor is an indicated value of a window assembly’s ability to resist heat flow and insulate.  Lower U-Factor numbers indicate better insulating properties.

Other items to look for

o   Multiple panes of glass with a gap between create an air buffer to insulate your home better.

o   Different gases can be used to fill the double or triple panes of glass for less thermal conductivity and better insulation.

o   Low-e(missions) coating reflects Infrared and UV light from the outside, and also keeps your heat locked indoors.