Working with the Assessor to Lower Your Property Tax Bill

As the owner of Quantum Management in Elmsford, New York, Joseph Kanner supervises a portfolio of properties that includes condos, rentals, and co-ops. In addition to handling all the day-to-day operations of the company, Joseph Kanner identifies and implements strategies to reduce the company's real estate tax bill.

Property taxes play a vital role in the health of any community, often funding important services such as public education and road maintenance. However, equally important is that all property owners are taxed fairly. The amount a property owner pays in taxes is primarily determined by two elements: a tax rate, usually set by the local government, and the assessed value of the property, which is handled by the property tax assessor.

While there isn’t much a property owner can do about the government-set tax rate, the assessed value of the property can, and often does, fluctuate from year to year. To ensure a fair assessment, try to accompany the assessor while he or she is conducting the assessment. By doing so, you’ll have a chance to point out negative aspects of the property, which might lower the assessed value.

Additionally, be sure to let the assessor conduct a full evaluation of the property. For example, if you don't allow an assessor inside a building, in many jurisdictions the assessor has a right to assume that major improvements have been made to the property, which will raise the assessed value and lead to a higher tax bill.

RSA Talks New Smoking Laws in Low-Unit Buildings

For more than two and a half decades, Joseph Kanner has served as the owner and operator of Quantum Management in Elmsford, New York, a property management firm that handles a diverse portfolio. In addition to his everyday work, Joseph Kanner stays active in his field through membership in the Rent Stabilization Association (RSA).

Earlier this year, the RSA briefed members on new smoking laws that have gone into effect that have an impact on smaller dwellings. Under the terms of Local Law 147 of 2017, buildings with at least three units are not allowed to have smoking in common areas. Prior to this law, a building had to have at least 10 units before it was subject to smoking prohibitions in common areas, but the new law, which went into effect in February 2018, squarely targets the smaller property units. Beginning in August 2018, the new law also requires owners of these buildings to develop a comprehensive smoking policy that conforms to these guidelines, and distribute it to tenants.

Helpful People Skills for Business Success

Joseph Kanner is the owner of Quantum Management, an Elmsford, New York property management firm. Throughout his career, Joseph Kanner has found that excellent people skills are necessary for working with clients, property owners, staff, contractors, and tenants. 

Technical know-how and industry experience is an essential component of success for any business. However, “soft skills,” including people skills, are equally important. These skills are both verbal and nonverbal and form a common thread that ties all successful business owners together. Some essential people skills include:

-The ability to communicate effectively. Whether you're a leader or a staff member, good communication skills are an essential component of success. Regardless of your position, you should always pursue professional, articulate, accurate, and efficient communication with clients and customers alike.

-The ability to relate to others. In a business context, you must be able to work toward an understanding of the viewpoints of other people--and those viewpoints, even if different from your own, need to be respected. Empathy, a key component of relating to others, takes respect a step further and seeks to understand the feelings of another person.

-Actively listening. Instead of formulating a response while a client or customer is talking, a person with good people skills refrains from interrupting, engages with what the speaker said, and responds appropriately.

-Being adaptable. As contexts and audiences change, your approach should also change. Being adaptable involves making those changes seamlessly, and keeping an open mind whenever possible.

-An ability to persuade. No matter the context, a person with effective people skills knows how to present a strong and convincing argument that can win over the customer or audience.

Yankees Promote Marcus Thames to Hitting Coach Role

A member of the National Association of Property Managers and the Rent Stabilization Association, Joseph Kanner leverages over 25 years of property management experience in his role as owner of New York's Quantum Management. When he isn't working, Joseph Kanner enjoys following his favorite Major League Baseball (MLB) team, the New York Yankees.

The Yankees will have a much different coaching staff in 2018, compared to the 2017 team. Most notably, Aaron Boone will replace Joe Giradi as the team's manager. Since taking on the manager role, Boone has made several changes to the team's coaching staff. Most recently, he promoted Marcus Thames, who previously served as assistant to Alan Cockrell, to the role of hitting coach. Thames joined the Yankees coaching staff in 2015, four years after last playing in the MLB with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

A native of Louisville, Mississippi, Thames was selected by the Yankees in the 30th round of the 1996 MLB Amateur Draft and began his career with the franchise in 2002, but was traded to the Texas Rangers for Ruben Sierra the following season. He played the majority of his career with the Detroit Tigers and later re-joined the Yankees in 2010. He finished his career with a .246 batting average to go along with 115 home runs and 301 RBI. He'll be assisted by P.J. Pilittere, who served as hitting coach of New York's Triple-A affiliate in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last season.

Choosing a Place to Live in New York City

As the owner of Quantum Management in Elmsford, New York, Joseph Kanner is responsible for all day-to-day operations of the property management company. Joseph Kanner and his staff at Quantum Management oversee properties in New York City as well as in nearby Westchester County. When relocating to New York City, it can be difficult to choose a neighborhood. However, there are some practical steps renters can take to find a place that will be right for them.

Sprinkled throughout the five boroughs of New York City are hundreds of neighborhoods, each with its own distinctive personality and flair. When searching for a place to rent in this city of over eight million residents, it is important to consider several different factors.

First, renters should assess their lifestyle and what is most important to them. If they have children, they will probably want an apartment that is in close proximity to parks and has a good school system. If they are single and enjoy an active night life, they might want to consider the local entertainment and bar scene. Or, if renters are simply looking for a place to sleep at night and an easy commute to work, they will need ready access to public transportation. 

Budget is also a major consideration when searching for an apartment in New York City, a place where the cost of rent can vary dramatically. Apartment search websites can help narrow down neighborhoods that will fit into a renter’s budget. Once the list of neighborhoods with affordable rent is determined, renters can begin more earnest research.

As part of their research, it is essential for renters to visit prospective neighborhoods, both during the day and at night. Roaming the sidewalks will give them a good idea of the personality of the community as well as potential crime risks and noise levels. If possible, they should even walk the route they would take to access the subway or bus and then experience that commute from start to finish. It is also a good idea to talk to people who live in the neighborhood to find out what life in the community is really like.