Property Management Education
Visit our property management blog when you’re looking for landlord advice and investment help. We talk about the daily details of property management; from tenant screening to preventative maintenance. We also share some insight about how to successfully invest in the Washington, DC market.
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Fair Criminal Record Screening and You
A recent ban on criminal background checks in California’s Alameda County has housing experts buzzing. But it comes as only an extension of a policy set in motion by the Biden Administration in 2021: HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge said, “The President and I believe that...
Budgeting Expenses for Your Rental Property in 2023
Keeping Maintenance and Repair Costs Low in 2023
There are a few key, effective strategies you can use to budget for maintenance and repair costs in 2023. By planning ahead, you can keep your costs low as you seek to optimize your property’s rental promise. 1. Plan ahead: Try to anticipate and budget expenses for...
“Beat the Benchmark” Industry Report Released:
CPM Surpasses Customer Loyalty Benchmark
I recently attended the National Association of Residential Property Managers (NARPM ®) annual convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. One of the highlights of this year’s convention was the long-awaited release of a newly updated financial benchmarking report. In a...
Using Your Own Contractors at Rental Properties
Did you know that using your own contractor to make repairs, upgrades or otherwise improve your rental can seem cost-effective in the short term, but in the long term it can introduce unnecessary risk and expenses? Why should you be concerned about this matter?...
6 “Upsides” When Renting to Section 8 Voucher Holders
Those you may know as “Section 8” renters can be great tenant(s) for your property. I often share the pros and cons of renting to "Voucher Holders" with prospective clients. There's great opportunity to be enjoyed by renting to these residents. In some cases, renting...
10th Anniversary of Columbia Property Management:
Ten Years Already?!
Columbia Property Management reaches an important milestone this month, ten years in business. This is no small feat when a majority of new small businesses in the U.S. fail. Survival rates improve for a given business as it ages. ~66.67% of businesses with...
Trusted Support for and from Property Owners, not Just Property Managers
Speaking Property Owner to Property Owner Often, when speaking with prospective clients I ask if they have worked with a property manager before. This conversation took place just recently and the property owner replied, “Oh, Scott, you understand the rental...
Lowering the Threat Level With Difficult Residents
One of the most disconcerting experiences in property management is coming into conflict with a disgruntled resident. For many renters, paying the rent is one of the greatest monthly expenses they have. The slightest difficulty with their rental home can cause...
Frigid Winter Weather: Protect Your Vacant Rental Property
When you have tenant turnover in the middle of winter, tenants often don’t realize the impact of little things. Do you know if your previous renters set the heating to a minimum temperature or shut off the water? Is your rental sitting vacant until new tenants are in...
5 Ways We Reduce Your Tenant Turnover
This is part 2 of a 2-part series about prospective renter preferences and how CPM can help you keep up with the changing marketplace. Read Part 1 here: “Key Findings of the Post-COVID Rental Market.” Contracting with a property management company to manage your...
Housing Codes and Fire Safety
This winter we’ve seen very visible reminders what can happen if rental housing is not well maintained with fire safety equipment or if residents are not informed as to their duties in maintaining the safety in their rental in cases of fire. It certainly has been top...
CPM Representing Property Managers on GCAAR Committee
Columbia Property Management is proud to announce that owner and senior property manager Scott Bloom has been appointed to serve for a second year on the Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® Property Management Committee (GCAAR). “I’m happy to serve on this...
Key Findings of the Post-COVID Rental Market
By Scott Bloom Did you know that Zillow Rentals recently published a study that cited the top reasons tenants move out of their rental? What do renters care about most now after COVID? How has the growing affordability crisis affected their housing decisions?...
Sure the DC Eviction Ban is Over…
…and now landlords like you have a more complex legal landscape to navigate. By Scott Bloom The information shared in this article is accurate as of Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. With the end of the public health emergency in Washington, D.C. the last thing you might be...
Thanks to All Our Clients and Residents
As we approach the year-end holidays Columbia Property Management wants to wish you and yours the very best. This year we have much to be thankful for, most notably that we are moving on from COVID. Our home and work lives all stand to gain from this new, pending...
What to Make of “Revenge Reviews”
One would hope that Internet users are savvy enough by this time to understand that rating systems and online reviews are mixed bag/have questionable reliability to the true and overall experience that the reviewer had. What would it take for someone to post a...
Pros and Cons of Renting to Voucher Holders
Not all that long ago, the D.C. Housing office adjusted the payment standards because too many voucher holders were being priced out of certain neighborhoods. They increased the amount to incent owners to rent to city clients who can pay with municipal vouchers, also...
Why Clean Professionally Between Tenants?
There are many professional cleaning companies but not many who do a thorough, deep cleaning that is needed between tenants in your rental home. At CPM we have developed cleaning standards that the cleaning companies we use must follow when doing turnover cleanings,...
Don’t Just Jump in With Any Ol’ Property Manager
With summer approaching it's easy to be tempted to wrap up quickly all sorts of business affairs and just jump right into that pool of clear water and have the comfort that comes from having somebody else take care of the problems with your rental property. Don't be...
Scott was incredibly helpful. He worked with us through all our questions about property management, rental rates, contracts, and tenants. We would recommend him without reservation if you're looking for someone to find renters or to manage your property. And we checked around and his rates are very good compared to the competition. Don't hesitate!







Washington DC Property Management Experts
Our local experience is your advantage in all aspects of the Washington DC residential rental real estate market.
Our in-depth knowledge of the details of the Washington DC market and submarkets, from tenant pool to price points and quality vendors ensures that you get the highest quality management for your rental investment.
QUESTIONS ABOUT PROPERTY MANAGEMENT?
If you’d like to learn more about our properties and what it’s like to work with Columbia Property Management, get in touch. We’d be happy to talk more about our rental properties, our application requirements, and our leasing process.
Columbia Property Management
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 92488, Washington, DC 20090
Main Office:
1140 3rd Street NE, Floor 2, Washington, DC 20002
(888) 857-6594
info@Columbiapm.com
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