Today's Current News, Opinion & Advice
Insurance policies designed specifically for landlords provide added protection for financial loss and obligations associated with your rental properties. While some landlords assume they can rely on their standard homeowners insurance to cover their rental units, homeowners coverage it usually not sufficient to protect an investment property. Landlord vs. Homeowners Insurance – What’s The Difference? Homeowners…
Down the rabbit hole we go. Congress used to work together to solve the big problems but the two party system has failed us. And today, the Republican party is tearing itself apart by the seams. Congress is dysfunctional because it is full of politicians. Other reasons include: An Entrenched Two Party System Lack of…
Tenant turnover is the process of getting a rental property ready for a new tenant after a lease expires and your previous tenant moves out. Property managers and landlords need to make the turnover as efficient as possible to minimize the time the property is unoccupied. Every day that a property sits vacant is a…
Be honest with yourself. How much interaction do you have with your tenants? Probably not much right? That’s why it’s so important to make a great first impression. You’ve already done the hard work of preparing the unit, running a background check, credit check & you’ve FINALLY found some great tenants. Now is the time to…
Education / hurricanes / maintenance / safety
Current updates about Florida’s Hurricane Mathew is an important reminder that hurricane season is upon us. Property managers and landlords in hurricane zones have the added responsibility of ensuring the safety of their tenants and properties. While it is not necessarily a landlord’s job to hold their renters’ hands through every scary situation, ensuring that…
Renters and landlords alike may be wondering what steps they need to take if their property was damaged in Hurricane Harvey-related flooding. The Houston Chronicle reports that as many as 120,000 apartment units across the region have been damaged in floods related to Hurricane Harvey. Flood damage will affect both the renters who called…
Backpacks and crayons are lining the store shelves; parents are dancing a quiet jig, and students are soaking up the fleeting rays of summer. The start of the school year reminds us that autumn is nearly here. Now is the time to complete your seasonal maintenance and prep your properties for the cold and rain…
In the property management world a thriving tenant-landlord relationship can mean the difference between success and stress when it comes to managing your rental properties. That’s not to say success and stress are mutually exclusive in this industry, but a positive relationship with your tenants means higher tenant retention, less vacancies, more rental income and greater…
Despite a historically low rental vacancy rate across the country, there are some properties that sit vacant for too long. Vacancy is murder to the profitability of an investment property, so every landlord, investor, and property manager needs to prioritize getting a property rented. Even one month of vacancy can put your investment in the…
If you own an investment property and use a property manager, how do you really know they are working their hardest to maximize your profits? A property manager’s job is to make your life as an investor easier, ensuring the property is occupied maintained rent paying and the property is well maintained. You are paying…
Renter-occupied homes account for 37% of American households, a number that has been growing in the past decade according to the National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC), creating a strong market for those looking to capitalize on this housing trend. Property managers and landlords collected $441 billion in rent payments across the U.S. in 2014,…
A signed leased means your new renters passed your tenant screening criteria but even the best tenants can forget to pay attention to certain property rules and lease terms in the midst of moving day excitement. Even if they did pay attention during the lease signing process, putting together “welcome to the property” paperwork that…
A strong lease agreement is a landlord’s best friend. A lease provides a binding contract to enforce your property rules and serves as the foundation for a solid landlord-tenant relationship. Part of your job as a good landlord is making sure you approve the most qualified tenant to live in your rental property. One of…
If you are thinking of hosting a pool party at your apartment complex, there are some things that you need to know. Before you invite your friends and family over for some fun in the sun, make sure that you plan for the event. Below we will learn some tips that will help you host…
Landlords and property managers have several reasons why the might create a pet policy for their rental property. A good pet policy will protect the property, comply with insurance, and keep your tenants safe and happy. For these very reasons, some managers and owners will decide that “no pets allowed” is their policy. If you…
Decorating and organizing your apartment can be full of fun and excitement, but it can be easy to get sucked into the belief that in order to have a cohesive and well-decorated space, that you have to hit your local department store and break the bank in the process. This is completely untrue! Break free…
As sturdy and reliable as your building seems right now, it can always fall victim to elements that can sicken you and others inside of it. Minute threats like mold, mildew, and other fungus can lurk in dark corners, under flooring, and behind walls where you cannot see them. When you figure out that you…
To protect yourself and your property, every adult living at your rental unit should sign a lease agreement to hold them legally responsible for rent payments and conditions of the lease. Most standard leases stipulate that tenants are accountable for any guests’ behavior and are responsible for enforcing the property’s rules and regulations. But what…
Renting can have its challenges, from navigating small apartments, to ensuring your landlord loves you, there is a lot to think about. Overall, the key to having a great rental experience is fostering a healthy landlord-tenant relationship. Are you the type of tenant property managers swoon over? Or are you the type they warn each other…
When talking about creating “more agile” teams, your first thought might be of tight-knit groups of developers, working diligently to perfect a new software product. Not unreasonable, as the concept of the agile team was first conceptualized with software development in mind. As it turns out, though, the mindset has been so successful, that industries…
Rental property owners and managers are responsible for providing safe and healthy conditions for their tenants. Rental property safety includes keeping tenants safe from physical harm from insecure or damaged structures, reducing the threat of criminal intruders that could harm or threaten your tenants, and providing a property that does not negatively affect a tenant’s…
Connecticut has recently introduced new legislation regarding rental housing law in an attempt to regulate landlord behavior and protect renters, according to JD Supra. Rental laws involving security deposits, foreclosed leasehold interests, substitute housing, and the disposition of deceased tenant’s belongs have been signed by the governor and will become law October 1, 2017. New…
Living with a roommate can have its perks. It can be wonderful to have a live-in confidant and is an excellent way to afford that dream apartment you’ve had your eye on. However–as anyone who has had their fill of cleaning their roommate’s old cereal bowl can tell you–the roommate experience can have its share…
Rentec Direct’s newest feature gives your renters the option to enter their own ACH information (bank routing number and account number) to streamline the sign-up process and increase adoption rates for online rent payments. If you use Rentec Direct’s EasyPay merchant services to collect rent payments online, via echeck (ACH) or credit card, the sign-up…
Landlords, property managers and housing providers are required to honor the civil rights protections established under the Federal Fair Housing Act(Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968). The Fair Housing Act is the set of laws associated with anti-discrimination laws for renters. The Fair Housing Act applies to other real estate transactions,…
Discover your rights and responsbilities when it comes to air conditioning in a rental home in this article by Lisa Oram and originally published by Furnace Compare. What are a tenant’s rights when the air conditioning breaks? If the AC in your apartment is on the fritz in the middle of summer, you probably want…
