Tenant Retention – How do you work to retain my tenant?

How do you retain good tenants in my rental property? Our Tenant Retention Program is a thoughtful approach to maintaining the best residents through consistent contact through email, phone and personal visits throughout the year.  We strive to build positive relationships with our residents, ensuring they are happy in their homes and with the services…

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Tenant Screening – How do you screen and qualify prospective tenants?

We have simple criteria:  All prospective tenants must provide VERIFIABLE proof of home ownership or rental history for a minimum of two years.  We also evaluate credit, judgments, civil and criminal history.  Verifiable income must be at least three times the amount of the monthly rent.  In some cases, Home Locators will ask for a…

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E-cigarettes – Does my tenant smoking E-cigs damage my rental home?

Yes, they do. In our view, smoking is smoking. Whether it is a traditional tobacco cigarette or an E-Cigarette, both emit pollutants that create not only a foul smell but also toxic substances. E-cigs typically leave deposits that include Formaldehyde, Benzene and a host of other potentially hazardous substances. While they do not leave the…

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Smoking – Do you allow smoking in the homes you manage?

Absolutely not.  Smoking is not permitted in any of our rental homes.  The no smoking policy is written into our lease agreement and it is an actionable violation of the terms of the Rental Home Lease Agreement.  Costs to repair smoking-related damage can be thousands of dollars.  If any smoking is detected in the home,…

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Security Deposits – How much do you require from a new tenant?

What are your Security Deposit Requirements? We typically require a security deposit that is equal to one month’s rent.  This amount can vary depending on customary security deposits being charged on the open market for specific areas or communities in the Tampa Bay area.  Some applicants will be required to pay a higher security deposit…

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Pets – Are tenants allowed to have pets in my rental property?

Pets – Are tenants allowed to have pets in my rental property? The bottom line is you get to decide about pets.  There is a strong business argument to be made for allowing animals in your rental home.  Tampa Bay is a very pet-friendly area.  To many people, pets are often considered members of the…

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