Granted, sometimes clients have more overall real estate experience than any agent or broker. If that is the case, you may only need an MLS member to carry forth the things you cannot do yourself, such as:
*Inspect properties (not the licensed inspector type, more of a "check the welfare of the property, check for tenant damages and confirm move in condition)
*Provide you with reliable contacts for lawn care, maintenance, pest control -- if they do not do that in-house. Of course you are able to go on line and search for these trade experts yourself.
*Show properties
*Give you feedback
*Keep you in sync with state specific real estate regulations and laws.
*Advertise your property on sites and in publications that only licensees may use.
*Provide you with updated real estate information. (much information is available on-line. So far I do not think sales history is readily available to non-licensees/MLS Members.)
When all is said and done, you, the property owner, is the boss.
It is up to the brokerage to decide if they want to take on your challenges, and your attitude(s). Let's say you are tired of not renting. Basically, you get the same information from agents, brokers, property managers. Changing real estate companies again may not be the only or best solution. In fact, if you are rigid in your expectations and regularly turn down applications...
Can you adjust the criteria that you have given your current representative to be more flexible? Can you open up a pool of renters that you had eliminated? Is there an advertising medium you have not used that competing properties are using?
In the Mississippi Gulf Coast (MGC), rentals are often placed with the Sun Herald and with the Penny Pincher as far as hard copy. If you have not had the response you want with MLS and other on-line media, it may be time for you to test hard copy. Understandably, no-one wants to put out the bucks, but you could be missing part of your target renter pool, who for some reason may not be finding your on-line advertising. Which is worse? Spending for hard copy with no guarantees, or continuing as you are? (Some agents/property managers in the MGC advertise their office with hard copy, but rarely specific properties. The idea is to generate phone calls then the appropriate need would be matched to the most appropriate rental(s). If you want to test specific property advertising, it may be worth it if you pay for the ad and place it yourself or through your property manager).
Investors frequently have a no pet policy. It has been my experience that those who accept pets may be rented while your no pet, pefect home goes un-rented. Pet owners rarely bat an eye for a separate pet deposit, or for a modest pet rental added to the rent.
What kind of credit rating are you insisting your renter have? If you are an investor in an area that is recovering from disaster -- you may want to review your credit criteria.
Sometimes, what needs to be changed is not your agent/property manager, but the tools you have given him or her the authority to work with. IF there are any rental pools you have eliminated, reconsider whether it is better to continue unrented, or to take a chance ... you are the Boss!
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