Q: What needs to be done to my rental property?

A: The better condition your property is in, the better it will show and attract a tenant for you. This means that the property should be clean, walls should be painted (a neutral color is best) if they are dirty or marred, and things should be in good repair. It is best to have window coverings on the windows, such as blinds. Depending on the time of the year, lawn care should be done during periods of vacancy and prior to the new tenant moving in. Upon taking over management, we will go through your property and make note of the condition and what we would suggest being done.

Q: How will you find tenants and how long will it take?

A: Once we start management, a rental file is created. Your property is added to our list of available properties. This list is distributed weekly to our list of real estate companies and businesses that are in constant search of rental properties for their clients or employees. Your property is also listed on the internet and a newspaper ad is placed. We can also put up a rental sign on the property to advertise to the general public. The time of the year and the condition of the property will determine how long it takes for your property to rent. Generally, it takes up to one month to lease a property in good condition during the spring and summer months.

Q: Can I say whom I want as tenants for my property?

A: You can specify whether or not you want tenants with pets. You cannot discriminate against any protected class under the federal fair housing or local fair housing laws, such as saying you don't want children or single people. Because of this, it is best that you stay out of the selection process. We are professionals in leasing and have specific criteria that every applicant has to pass in order to rent your property.

Q: When do I get my money each month?

A: Rents are due in our office on the first of each month. Our leases specify that there is a five day grace period, on the sixth of the month a late fee is assessed. We will collect the rent, pay the bills and then at the end of each month, provide you detailed monthly statements showing all the income and expenses for the month along with payment of any excess funds. If you own a single family house, reports are usually done between the 10th and 15th of the month.

Q: Who does the repairs on my property?

A: The tenants do have responsibility for some of the maintenance on your property. They have to replace burnt out light bulbs, change furnace filters, and change batteries in the smoke detectors. Tenants are usually responsible for the lawn care unless they are in a multi-unit property, one that has a homeowners association with that responsibility, or owner provided gardening service. When repairs need to be done outside the scope of the tenant's responsibility, one of our in-house maintenance technicians or one of our sub-contractors handle the job. Anyone doing maintenance on your property is selectively screened and insured for liability and workers compensation to protect you from unnecessary exposure. Our workers are available for your property maintenance needs 24 hours a day and their work is guaranteed. Because of the volume of work we do with them, we usually get lower rates than you would get if you called them directly. We generally have a $200 spending limit and try to notify the owners of any “out of the ordinary” expenses as soon as possible.

Still have questions or comments? E-Mail Us!