Property Management Insights

Toilet clogs are one of the most common repair calls made by tenants. Be sure that your lease clearly outlines what IS/NOT permitted to be flushed, ie no diapers, paper towels, or baby wipes. Clearly spell out that if the Tenant causes the clog, they are responsible for the costs...

Early termination. No one likes a surprise termination by their tenant so to help ease the pain, make sure your lease has an early termination clause that outlines fines the tenant will incur. You can use these fines as a negotiating tool to ensure your property is readied withou...

It is not good business practice to allow a tenant to make a needed repair and deduct it from the rent. When asked, thank the tenant but let him know that you want to stay in compliance with the lease and will send a professional. Don't get into the habit of letting your tena...

Screen tenants - If you are planning to manage your own property, always screen your tenants. There are tenant screening services, such as TransUnion's SmartMove that allow you to perform limited tenant screening on your own. Owners get into trouble when they allow a prospect...

Tip #1: Never, ever, ever, ever rent your property to family, friends, friends of family or friends of friends! They quickly take advantage of you because they begin to look at you like the rich guy. Or if you are family, you should give them a break. Renting to these people neve...

Tenant screening is the single most important activity for landlords who want to have a successful rental experience. Many homeowners get a feeling when they’re talking to prospective tenants, and they approve a tenant who is likeable. They will do a minimal job screening, ...

Over the years, since we have been in the property management business, we have found there are many elements to tenant placement that are key to making a profit. We’re talking about two of them today.Renting to Friends and FamilyIf you want to find the best tenant, don&rsq...

OMG! People love their pets! Statistically, over 70% of renters have pets and they consider them “part of the family”. They seek housing that is conducive to an environment that includes the dog. So if you do not permit pets in your property, you really narrow the fie...

Homeowners Ken and Juanita didn't know what to do. When they married 40 years ago, Ken and Juanita bought their first home - a cute, brick ranch in Kennesaw. Over the years, they improved it, they raised their family in it and had many wonderful memories in it. Once the kids ...

The owners of Marietta Affordable Housing (MAH) came to us exasperated. They had gone through two management companies over the last 5 years and were not able to increase their profitability, couldn't get an accounting of funds, and were receiving code violations constantly. ...