Landlords and tenants who have a property management company as part of their team have legal, financial and maintenance matters in their control. Hometown Property Management is a main supporter in the relationship between property owner and renter from initial preparations to move-out day. They are the go-to resource for preparing a house to be rented, facilitating the advertising and tenant application process with web-based tools and acting as a go-between for communications between landlord and tenant when any questions or issues arise. The goal of end-to-end services is to make renting out a home stress-free and beneficial to all parties involved.
Supporting Landlord Legal and Logistical Preparations for Property Rental
When the decision is made to rent out one’s home, Hometown Property Management leads property owners through the steps to get a house ready. Questions and uncertainties arise for first-time landlords. While many preparations and processes are similar for each anticipated lease, sitting down with someone who knows the ropes, is important. Hometown listens to owners’ financial goals and preferred renter guidelines. In addition to goals and preferences, comparable rental home locations and square footage also help determine the ultimate rental price.
A Hometown evaluator visits the up-coming rental property to take photos, checklist the working order of the home and schedule any repairs or upgrades that may be required. Needed preparations range from overall cleaning of the house and carpet to yard maintenance and paint touch-up. Common repairs such as pet damage, flooring issues, paint and wall repair might also be on the to-do list. Appliance functions and possible water leaks are checked too. Evaluators communicate next steps to Hometown in-house maintenance or make arrangements through a preferred vendor.
Online advertising, web-based appointments for showings and technology to receive and screen applicants are time consuming tasks, but not for landlords who have an entire management company doing the footwork. Hometown uses ShowMojo, an online portal for potential tenants to preview the rental property according to their schedule after they verify their identity through the app. Maximizing opportunities for rental shoppers to say yes helps keep rentals rented. Another web-based resource, AppFolio navigates a nationwide background check and supplies investigative reports.
Thurston County Property Management Support Continues Throughout the Span of Rental
Support doesn’t end after initial preparations are made. When tenant applications roll in, the team at Hometown Property Management is ready to process them with full confidence that they are in accordance with the most up-to-date legal language reflecting landlord-tenant laws. Hometown Property Management is in constant communication with their contracted lawyers to ensure they are following the laws fully. Leases also reflect homeowners’ wishes, such as whether or not to allow pets or under which conditions. The Hometown accounting team prepares a financial plan with the property owner and provides both monthly and year-end statements. Both tenants and homeowners have online account access for the exchange of payments around the clock.
“The peace of mind that the owners have is the oversight that we have on that property,” Hometown Property Management owner Andrew Barkis says. “Owners and tenants have access to real time data about their homes. Technology is great, but you have to have balance, and this will always be a people business. We still have people come in all the time to talk about our services. The technology has helped us be better at what we do, but we also don’t want it to supplant or replace that personal touch we give here at Hometown.”
Hometown Property Management Maintains Market Awareness
Gaging the current temperature of the rental market is always on the radar at Hometown Property Management. Up-to-date knowledge of current rental prices, supply of available rental properties and the rate of demand keeps property owners primed to receive the best possible return on their investment. Having professional insight on the various factors that constantly affect the rental market is a safety net for owners.
“I think what is happening in Thurston County is indicative of what’s happening across the state of Washington,” Barkis says. “When I’m talking to a prospective client, I say, ‘Now more than ever, you need to hire a professional property management company to manage your rental. There is just too much risk and too much change in the regulatory environment and laws to do it on your own because you can get yourself in some deep trouble.’”
Factors that motivate potential renters to move into or out of the area affect supply and demand. Property taxes and insurance rates play a part too. New laws and regulations for landlords and tenants matter in the relationship among all parties when it comes to maintenance, contracts and more. Hometown is dedicated to monitoring all fronts, so everyone -tenants, property owners, and management- all thrive.
For more information on how Hometown Property Management provides end-to-end services for property owners, visit the Hometown Property Management website or call the office at 360.456.7368.
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