Perhaps you’ve been a landlord for a few years, and you’ve had your fair share of terrible tenants, surprise lawsuits, and unexpected property damage. Or, maybe you’re thinking about renting out your home but you’re worried about all the horror stories you’ve heard about renters who don’t pay, pets that tear apart homes, and nightmares with fair housing laws and other regulatory hurdles.
It doesn’t have to be difficult.
There are a few ways you can avoid bad situations with your rental property.
Effective Tenant Screening is Critical
The type of rental experience you will have depends largely on the tenants you choose. A good tenant will pay rent on time and help you take care of your home. Good tenants follow the lease terms and provide proper notice before vacating. They take care of their pets and they communicate openly. Bad tenants will pay rent late or not at all. They’ll violate your lease agreement, neglect to report maintenance issues, and damage your property.
Avoid tenant nightmares with a thorough screening process. Check nationwide criminal and eviction databases. Talk to former landlords and find out what kind of experience they had with the resident. Verify income, employment, and every piece of information that’s on the application.
Preventative Maintenance Protects Properties
We have talked to landlords who walked into their property after a two or three-year tenancy and found a lot of tenant damage and destruction. This can be heartbreaking and expensive. It’s also avoidable.
Take care of preventative maintenance issues. When you have your HVAC system inspected and serviced twice a year, for example, you have a qualified vendor going into your property to take a look around. This protects the condition of your home and gives you a set of eyes on the home to ensure there isn’t anything terrible happening.
You should also inspect your property at least once during the tenancy. With an inspection, you can look for maintenance issues that need attention. You can also make sure your tenant is complying with the lease agreement. When tenants don’t report maintenance or “bother” you with questions and concerns, it’s tempting to see this as a good thing. But, you want to know what’s happening at your property. Get inside.
Work with Professional Property Managers
The best way to avoid rental property nightmares is by working with a professional Southwest Michigan property management company. When you have experienced professionals placing tenants, inspecting homes, and enforcing the lease, you won’t have to worry about things like unpaid rent, potential evictions, and unauthorized pets inside the home. You’ll know that your property manager is maintaining the property, holding your tenants accountable, and keeping you in compliance. You will gain a lot of time back, save a lot of money, and acquire extra peace of mind.
We can help you. Contact us at Real Property Management Southwest Michigan, and let us tell you about our services and our ability to protect you from landlord horror stories. We look forward to working with you.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
