Do You Know Where You Live?

Lawn and Landscaping!

2013-03-15T10:56:00.000-04:00

When renting a single family home (HOUSE) make sure the owner has maintained the lawn. If not make sure it's done before you sign the lease. Otherwise, they may try to hold you accountable for what could be a pricey upgrade. Remember you are renting this house. You do not own this house. Upgrading it for your benefit only benefits you for the time you're there. Landscaping is expensive. You don't want to make such an investment for a rental. Do you?

YOU'RE INVITED!

2013-02-18T12:08:00.000-05:00

Please come check out my blog. You may email me. You may ask questions. Most importantly, if you're in need of a rental home or apartment OR if you are a member of an HOA and require a management company PLEASE give us a call. We are a full service property management company. We have a variety of plans designed to fit your needs. Let us put a proposal together for you.

Get it in writing!

2013-01-28T18:46:00.000-05:00

When renting an apartment or home. Get everything in writing. Rental payment arrangements, repair and maintenance arrangements, lease changes. If not, it didn't happen. For example when you make an arrangement to make a payment put it in writing. Submit it to the homeowner or apartment manager. Request a response in writing. Or if they've agreed to an arrangement over the phone. Follow up with the arrangement in writing. Send an email or a certified letter in the mail. Emails are allowed as evidence, if need be, in court.

Take 6 months to find your new rental home!

2013-01-17T10:45:00.000-05:00

It takes at least 6 months to find your new rental home. NEVER! NEVER! NEVER! Rush into a rental. You always wind up making a bad decision. If you're looking for the right property to rent I can help!

2013-01-16T12:12:00.003-05:00

Happy New Year! It is 2013! Are you still renting? What are your questions? Here's one from my email: "Dear Addie, the windows in the house I am renting are old. There is air coming through. My heating bill is through the roof. What should I do?"

You should contact the management company and let them know they need to caulk the windows. If that doesn't help. If the home or apartment is older or has been in disrepair the windows may need to be reinforced or replaced. If the company refuses to do it. Then you have a couple of options. You can submit a notice to vacate and in your reason why tell them you are losing money because they refuse to repair the windows. Or you can send them a letter and tell them they are in violation of the lease by not ensuring decent living conditions. Let them know they have a week to make the repairs or you will make the repairs and take it from the rent. If they try to evict you, then take your letters and your gas bills or electric bills and photos of the windows to a judge. You may plead your case and let them decide.

Low Income Housing Tax Credit Communities - Beware

2012-12-05T00:08:00.001-05:00

Before you rent an apartment in an LIHTC community (Low Income Housing Tax Credit) get all the facts. These communities are usually solely purchased by very wealthy people looking to get tax credit relief. They do not put any income into the property's upkeep. They are very poorly staffed. Usually these communities only have one property manager and possibly a part time assistant and one maintenance tech. Your rent pays for luxurious parties, extravagant vacations and designer homes. Their homes are never in poor neighborhoods which is likely where the community is or was built. If you don't know much about your community. Or if you are interested in finding out more about a community before you sign a lease, email me. I can help make this process much easier for you.

The Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC - often pronounced "lie-tech", Housing Credit) is a dollar-for-dollar tax credit in the United States for affordable housing investments. It was created under the Tax Reform Act of 1986 (TRA86) that gives incentives for the utilization of private equity in the development of affordable housing aimed at low-income Americans. LIHTC accounts for the majority - approximately 90 percent - of all affordable rental housing created in the United States today. The credits are also commonly called Section 42 credits in reference to the applicable section of the Internal Revenue Code. The tax credits are more attractive than tax deductions as they provide a dollar-for-dollar reduction in a taxpayer's federal income tax, whereas a tax deduction only provides a reduction in taxable income. The "passive loss rules" and similar tax changes made by TRA86 greatly reduced the value of tax credits and deductions to individual taxpayers. As a result, almost all investors in LIHTC projects are corporations.

2012-06-26T12:32:00.000-04:00

Before you renew your lease! Take the time to make a few special requests. Get new carpeting! And, don't allow them to increase your rent. Now is not the time for rent increases. A friend of mine moved from Philadelphia to GA. His rent was outrageous in Philly. The management office charged him the same rates in GA as in PA. That's ridiculous! He was paying $1400 for a 3 bedroom apartment in GA. Don't be fooled. I went to his neighborhood and talked with the neighbors. Some were paying as little as $900 for the same 3 bedroom! He didn't do his homework. Make sure you do yours!

How many managers have worked at the apartment community you're interested in???

2012-05-11T10:51:00.001-04:00

When you're shopping for a new apartment home, it's important to know how many managers that property has had. If she's been there a year, then it's very likely they've changed managers at least 3 times in two years. Beware. As well, I'd ask the residents. You are welcome to go without the knowledge of the office to knock on doors and ask residents how they really feel about living on that community. I'd ask at least one or two from each building. You'd be surprised. Also make sure it's not families living in what was formerly a model unit. Because the model units are always taken care of much better than the regular units.

Do you have a Section 8 package? Do you have questions before renting a house?

2012-04-15T19:27:00.000-04:00

You have rights and more control than homeowners want to give you credit. If they rent their home to you, they are obligated by law to make all needed safety improvements and all repairs that occur through normal wear and tear. Be aware also that if something was already damaged and you caused it further damage they are responsible for repairing it. Because it should have been repaired previously. Each state has housing laws. Read them. And if you ever find yourself in court, get a lawyer. But don't let that lawyer sell you swamp land. Make him/her do their job!

Are you thinking about renting a house?

2012-04-15T19:20:00.002-04:00

Before you rent a house, talk with the neighbors in that community. Find out how many times the house has been rented out this year. Find out about the owner. If they've paid their home owner dues. Find out if they have liens on the house from the Home Owners Association. Go to the courthouse and find out if the house is being Foreclosed. You have more power than you think.

The property management industry is a community. They are very tightknit.

2012-04-11T13:12:00.000-04:00

You must know who and what you're getting yourself into. The property management industry is a collection of people who all know eachother. The laws, especially in Cobb County, favor them. They hire their friends and people they know whom will carry out their ways even when it's wrong. Lots of people don't know that these apartment communities have personal stories in apartmentratings.com. Families go on this site and tell their experience about a particular apartment community. I would implore anyone that really wants to know more about an apartment community to visit this site.

Before you move in; Before you sign the lease; Complete a move in inspection.

2011-11-26T19:28:00.000-05:00

This tidbit of information couldn't be more shorter and sweeter:

"Don't get caught in an apartment or home with pages of repairs. Complete an inspection and get them done before you sign the lease."

This is the best piece of advice I could ever give.

What's in your lease???

2011-07-26T12:08:00.000-04:00

Have you ever taken the time to read your lease to know everything in it? You should... For example, some leases say they can take your picture without you knowing it. They can use these pictures in advertisements without paying you as well. Or, if they tell you pets are welcome, but then tell you that you've violated your lease because you can't even have a friend come visit with his pet. Apt owners cannot make you pay a pet fee for having pet friends come over for a visit. They can also accuse you of defaulting on your lease by fabricating visitors. They can claim you have people living in your apt without being on the lease. They don't care if it's not true. And they don't care whether they can prove it or not. Review your lease to make sure you aren't violating your lease by not turning on your AC. If you want to open your windows this can be a violation. I've read leases that say,"in order to keep mold down, you must keep your AC on at all times at 77 degrees"... This is ridiculous. If there is a mold problem the company should remove it. Mold is a serious health risk. Don't allow them to hold you accountable.

If you have any questions about your lease. Let me hear them!
Thanks

Do you have a right to see the unit before signing the lease?

2011-04-21T10:00:00.000-04:00

Yes, you do... Before you sign a lease to rent an apartment or home, be sure to see the unit before hand. Do not get trapped into a lengthy lease and you're not satisfied with your new home. Make sure what you want is what you get. It is costly to back out of a lease once it's signed.

Renters beware! The legal system favors the landlord.

2011-03-03T08:19:00.000-05:00

If your landlord takes you to court, make sure to get an attorney. One that knows housing laws for your state. States like GA in particular favor landlords. If you've paid your rent late and they return it to you because you didn't pay all the fees they've asked and an eviction is filed. Make sure you get an attorney and file an answer. You do have rights however, most judges don't want to listen to you.

Have you paid your rent late?

2010-07-16T01:55:00.001-04:00

You have rights when you pay your rent late. Let me know what questions you have regarding late rent payments.

When a company says....

2010-06-10T18:48:00.002-04:00

If you are reviewing a company's website and that company says their associates (or employees) come first. This is your first hint to RUN in the OPPOSITE direction and away from their properties.

Even if they say the associates will put you first... In the end it means that they value the word and opinion of that associate over you. So if you move onto their community and have a complaint or concern, it will not be valued. You will receive the run around, and very likely will NOT get your complaint or concern resolved. Especially if you expect an answer from the corporate office. Who could easily resolve the problem. Any questions? Let me hear them...

New Company Takeovers in your community

2010-06-10T18:36:00.000-04:00

Sometimes it happens, a company sells your community. Or that company hires a new fee management company. This means they will pay this company to come in and do the work for them for a fee.

When this happens they must have you sign a new lease. You are not bound at that point to continue your rental if you do not wish to do so. You may at that time submit a 30 day notice. Do not fret, you are not bound by the lease from the other fee manager or owner.

Move In Inspections

2010-06-08T15:18:00.000-04:00

Before signing the lease, complete the move in inspection. Every community has one. If a community wants you to lease a unit site unseen, RUNNNN!!!! Inspections are very important because they account for any damages in the unit before you move in. And be sure to document everything. I had a leasing consultant to give the inspection sheet to me for completion. This is a no -no. Have that leasing consultant complete the walk with you and again document everything from the walk up to door all the way to the very last corner of the unit. Every scratch should be documented because when you move out you do not want to be held accountable for damages you did not do. Make sure you document the status of the carpet, walls, countertops, stove, doors, ceiling, windows, fireplace, refrigerator, closets.... Get the picture??? And get a copy for your records. Many times the manager does not want to include the damages because it would mean their leasing consultant may not get her commission for the move in. If you try to be nice and sign a different move in form with less damage it will come back to bite you. My suggestion would be to keep a copy of them both if you choose to help out. And submit a letter to them via certified mail that the work has not been completed and you want the maintenance ticket if/when any work in the unit is be done.

At move out, the leasing office will try to charge you (your security deposit) for painting, cleaning and getting the unit ready for another resident. Make sure you complete a moveout inspection and again with the leasing consultant or Assistant Manager (AKA business manager - he/she inputs rent and all other fees). Make sure you complete the moveout inspection on the same sheet as the move in inspection. And remember to get a copy.

Unit = apartment, condo, home,

Rental Rates

2010-06-08T14:57:00.000-04:00

Rental rates are based on market trends. Before agreeing to a rental amount selected for you, haggle a little. Once you've made it past the background check, and the company has verified that you are a viable resident, make them work for your money. There are very likely to be communities in the area where the rent is relatively lower. Let them know you've researched the area and community XYZ has a cheaper rental amount for the same size unit. If they really want you to lease they'll let you have it at that rate. If they don't and you really want to live on that particular community tell them you want to speak with a Regional or someone in the corporate office. Believe me, they want you to lease!

2010-06-03T16:02:00.000-04:00

Price to rent ratio:

Take similar homes, one for sale the other for rent (any rental: apt, condo, townhome), and divide the sale price by the annual rent. The result is the rent ratio.

If you're enamored of the age old wisdom that renting a home is akin to throwing your money away think again. A simple calculation called the "price to rent" ratio can give you an indication of whether it's a better move to rent or buy a home.

I've compared the price of a 2 bedroom home, including mortgage fees and maintenance expenses, with the average rental price for 2 bedroom apartments, condos and townhouses. In cities with price to rent ratios between 16 and 20 indicate that is cheaper to rent than purchase a home, but certain financial situations may make ownership a viable option. In cities with price to rent ratios of 21 and above, it is much more expensive to buy than to rent.

Cities where it's cheaper to rent than buy are:

#5 San Diego
#4 New York
#3 San Fransisco
#2 Omaha
#1 Seattle

Be advised, when you're looking to rent be sure to keep this in mind. If the rent exceeds 1/3 of your income, you cannot afford it. Keep looking! ;0)

2010-06-03T10:38:00.000-04:00

I started this blog for those of us who are tired of the lies and deception. I've worked in the property management industry for over 15 years. Most companies tell you what you want to hear, show you a model unit that's maintained daily and take you along a route that's being cared for consistently to convince you that their community is where you want to live.

Then when you sign the lease you realize it's not what you thought. The steamed carpet you believed was shampooed or new has lost it's luster, the bugs you didn't see finally came out of the closet, the cabinet doors you now open on a regular basis are easily broken, the leasing agent who was so nice to you during your move in has the nastiest attitude now that you live onsite.

Then you look at the bigger picture. None of the people in the corporate office look like you. The rent that you and all the other renters pay every month does not reciprocate back to the community. Meaning, the route you were taken on to view the property and the drive around the community itself often times are the ONLY things being maintained onsite.

Well I'm here to offer a refreshing approach to renting and owning. I will give you insightful information on what to look for and what to catch when searching for a place to live and invest your money. I would like to help you from day one of your process throughout your renting or owning life.