PropertyHunters.com

As PropertyHunters Leasing Consultants we are asked many different rental questions. We will bog about leasing advice, tips and our experiences on what matters most to landlords and tenants.

Monday, October 15, 2012

Lease Up? When leases end landlords typically continue to rent the home or apartment on a month-to- month basis until one of the parties indicates otherwise. If you want to end the lease the following tips make the transition easy on your landlord.

1. Let Your Landlord Know You're Leaving
2. Clean Up The Property
3. Do A Walk-Through Inspection
4. Make A List Of Damages
5. Give The Landlord Your Forwarding Address
6. Return Your Keys

By doing all these things terminating your lease should be simple and successful.  (Posted by Christine)

Friday, October 12, 2012

Hiring a Leasing Consultant and/or Property Management Company:  You may be interested in finding tenants to occupy your rental property and/or property management services. Many landlords feel more comfortable hiring a company to find the "perfect tenant" and manage their property for them.

It's advisable for landlords to hire a person or company who specializes in investment properties,  has local rental market experience and training in property management.  The leasing consultants from PropertyHunters work everyday with landlords and tenants in Windsor and Essex County. We are full time consultants who specialize in leasing and property mangement services of investment properties. Our consultants are professionally trained and educated. The extra experience and assistance from the PropertyHunters consultants have been known to increase landlord and tenant satisfaction! (Posted by Christine)

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Becoming a Landlord?  In recent years low interest rates have prompted many Canadians to buy income properties and become landlords. Rental property company's such as PropertyHunters can be hired to find and deal with tenants but many small investors take the do-it-yourself approach to selecting their own tenants. Getting the right tenant who pays their rent on time, respects the neighborhood and doesn't trash the property can be a tricky business.

"It is a documented fact that trusting your gut feeling when deciding on which applicant to chose is responsible for over 30% of the quantitiable losses of rental property assets."  says the Rent Check Credit Bureau. 

So for all of you out there who say "I have perfect tenants and no issues with evictions, skips, proxy renters, property damage or on-property crime "I am glad that you have not yet experienced the damages and stress that a bad tenant brings. For the other 95% of the people reading this I would like to propose a solution to become proactive and take as much control as you can on what happens on your properties. Don't just screen your residents - make sure you understand what you are getting in your reports and exactly where they are coming from.  If you do not know this information make sure to contact a PropertyHunters Leasing Consultant. We are a socially responsible rental property company with your property's best interest in mind. (Posted by Christine)

Thursday, October 4th, 2012

Don't hide your dog, cat or cocatoo:  If you have a pet, things can get a little tricky.  Especially for first time renters without a "rental resume" that says how well behaved your dachshund is.  It's simply a fact that cautious landlords will often avoid renters with pets rather than guessing whether the pet is well behaved and house trained.  Savvy renters can avoid potential problems by suggesting a pet interview, which provides the landlord an opportunity to make a personal assessment of your pet's behavior and demeanor.  This can be especially important for problematic breeds that get bad PR because without personally meeting your pet a landlord will simply move on to the next prospective tenant. (Posted by Christine)

Be on time:  When you are scheduled to meet with the landlord or one of our leasing consulants make sure you arrive a couple of minutes early.  Just like you would for a job interview!  Why is this so important?  It's common courtesy but also another way of subliminally sending a message to the landlord or leasing consultant that you are punctual in your habits and will be in paying your rent. (Posted by Christine)

Tuesday October 2nd, 2012

Today I had the pleasure of matching up a great landlord with great tenants.  I am so excited for them to start this new chapter together.  It is a wonderful feeling when you find great tenants for a great landlord.   It makes all of the hard work worth it and makes up for the situations that don't go so well, which is a story for another day!  For every good tenant, there are 5 bad ones and most people do not believe what we hear on a daily basis.  Being a Leasing Consultant is one of the most interesting jobs out there.  It is rewarding and frustraing at the same time.  Maybe I will write a book, The adventures of a Leasing Consultant... (Posted by Kim)

Monday October 1st, 2012

Why Content (Renters) Insurance is so important!  Definition of 'Renter's Insurance' is a form of property insurance that provides coverage for a policy holder's belongings and liability within a rental property. Renter's insurance applies to persons renting or subletting a single family home, apartment, duplex, condo, studio, loft or townhome. The policy protects against losses to the tenant's personal property within the rented property. In addition, a renter's insurance policy protects against losses resulting from liability claims, such as injuries occurring on the premises that are not due to a structural problem with the property (in this case, the owner's - not renter's - policy would apply). (Posted by Kim)

It is a Small Price to pay to ensure your belongings are protected.  The landlord's insurance does not cover your belongings, it only covers the building.  If there is a fire, flood or theft in your unit, you are not covered unless you have your own policy.  The landlord's Insurance company will require you as a tenant to have your content insurance in place prior to you moving in.   If you already have auto insurance, call the same company, you may get a discount on both policies for having them together.  It is money well spent to protect yourself and your belongings. (Posted by Kim)

Monday September 17th, 2012.  From Kim.

Tips for Landlords!

1.  There is nothing like a clean place with a fresh coat of paint.  Take some time to make your rental appeal to someone who is going to treat your rental like their home.  Sometimes you have to spend money to make money.   You are competing against other good landlords so you must make your property stand out.

2.  Just as you are interviewing prospective tenants, they are interviewing you.  Speaking poorly about previous tenants will not win anybody over.  You are building a relationship, so start it on a positive note.

3.  Rentals are not personal.  It is all business.  Take the personal out of the property.  Allow your tenants to make it their own and they will be happy and stay longer.

4.  You are not an expert.  No matter how long you have owned rental properties.  Find an expert (like Property Hunters) who knows what is going on in the rental market to help.  We know what properties are going for and what tenants are looking for.  We can give you advice that will make the process go smoother and cost you less in the long run.

5.  Someone who is in a hurry to rent is probably running...and they will do the same to you.  Take a cooling off period.  No matter how bad you need that monthly rental income, not doing your homework on a tenants because they showed up with cash is never a good idea.

At the end of the day, spending a little in the beginning can save you thousands in the end.  We can help. (Posted by Kim)  

Tuesday September 11th, 2012, From Kim.