IREM Identified Best Practices Questions

The Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) has identified a number of industry accepted Best Practices, many of these are below and are key components for the successful management of an investment property. Birch Management's adherence to our core fundamentals of technology, education, and industry involvement is paramount to our firm being an Accredited Management Organization (AMO). There are less than 600 AMO firms in the world and we are proud to uphold these Best Practices.

• How is your company structured?

  Birch Management is a corporation licensed and registered with all applicable governmental agencies to manage property for others.

• Is your firm in full legal compliance?

  Birch Management is a corporation licensed and registered with the North Carolina Real Estate Commission. Our NC Real Estate License number is C18356.

• Is your firm insured and to what extent?

  Birch Management carries a comprehensive insurance policy covering every aspect of our operations, including worker's compensation, liability, errors and omissions, employee theft, and a fidelity bond. A copy of our insurance certificate is always available for your review.

• Do you have an emergency plan?

  We do! Due to our technology, in the event of a minor or major emergency, we will have little interruption in the full management of your investment property with almost zero chance of data loss.

• Do you have a written policies and procedures manual?

  Birch Management maintains and continually updates a written policies and procedures manual in excess of 330 pages, we would be glad to show this to you!

• How do you maintain your records?

  Birch Management maintains all of our records in an electronic format that both protects them from loss and meets all applicable regulatory and statutory guidelines.

• How do you develop your staff?

  One of the core fundamentals of Birch Management is education. We continually provide learning opportunities for our team members.

• Do you have written job descriptions?

  Birch Management maintains written job descriptions for each position; please ask if you would like to review these.

• Do you follow the Code of Ethics?

  Birch Management vigorously follows the IREM and REALTORS Code of Ethics. Please ask me for a copy

• What accounting system do you use?

  Birch Management utilizes a fully integrated double entry accounting system that tracks the financial performance of our client's assets. Many reports are available 24/7 for our clients on our website.

• What type of internal financial controls do you have?

  Birch Management has developed financial controls that ensure all requirements of the NC Trust Account Laws are strictly adhered to.

• Do you participate in industry events?

  Yes! We are always participating and supporting our industry in numerous events. Very rarely does an event go by that we do not participate in.

• Do you have a customer service plan?

  Birch Management has a written customer service plan to ensure all of our standards are met. We are constantly working to improve this plan to provide better service.

• What type of operating reports do you provide?

  We can customize your reports to virtually any need you have, additionally, most reports are available on our website 24 hours a day.

• Are you disclosing everything to me?

  Through our Property Management Agreement, website, newsletter, and letters, we are constantly keeping our clients informed of our operations, policies, and procedures.

• Do you have a written management plan?

  Birch Management's policies and procedures manual contains all of the particulars of our management plan, just ask me to take a look.