So Many Things to Consider Before Listing For Rent
Meeting with a soon-to-be landlord yesterday, there was so much to cover. In addition to the preparation of the house, which was the declared reason for the meeting, there were a lot of questions the landlord needed to answer for me to accurately present the listing.
How long of a lease minimum and maximum would he accept? I think my thoughts on lease term were eye opening for him. All landlords I have ever met would love a two year commitment unless they are planning to sell in a year.
Will pets be accepted? If so, are there limitations to size, breed or species? How about pet deposit? Refundable or not? Monthly pet rent? While I am a huge animal lover and enjoy my furry family, I realize the damage that pets can do to a home. Carpet may end up being toast. Hardwoods worn. And heaven forbid there is an urinary accident that isn't cleaned up properly. You'll never get rid of the smell. Refundable pet deposits accompanied by monthly pet rent is probably the best way to offset the cost of any damage that may be done if a landlord is willing to take the chance.
Home warranties also came up. While landlords should have these in place, it may not be the best practice to make tenants responsible for the repair deductible. Working with a lot of repeat landlords that believe this is the way to go, there are a lot of unreported items in need of repair when the property turns over. Rather than pay $100, tenants may learn to do without something like a garbage disposal or something optional.
If you are ready to list your property for lease in the Bristow, Gainesville or Haymarket area, I would be happy to help you through the process and tell you what Long & Foster's rental services division offers in terms of tenant screening. Get in touch with me and let's talk.
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