Jacksonville Property Management Blog

Health & Safety

Stay Healthy Through the New Year

It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle of the holidays and skip your normal self-care
routine. Don’t wait until January to make your health a priority. Follow these healthy tips
to take better care of yourself now and you’ll be happier in the New Year!
Protect yourself and others from illness.

The CDC recommends annual flu vaccines for everyone age 6 months and up. Wash
hands with soap often to help prevent the spread of germs.
Avoid dehydration by drinking plenty of water throughout
the day. Try to limit alcohol consumption. If you’re
drinking, alternate with a glass of water between cocktails.
Plan your winter workouts. The busier you are, the easier it is
to put off exercising. Modify your existing routine to avoid skipping
out altogether.

Eat well whenever possible. It’s okay to indulge once in a while, but
don’t use the holidays as an excuse to throw a healthy diet out the window.
Manage stress the best you can. If the pressures of the holidays have you feeling blue,
take a moment to relax!

Get some rest no matter how busy you are. Try to get eight hours of sleep at night and
avoid waking up early or staying up late to fit more into your day

The best move out checklist for landlords will closely resemble the checklist that’s used during the move in process. The idea is to compare the condition of your home before the tenants moved in and after they have vacated. This will be a crucial document when it comes to determining whether the full security deposit will be returned to the tenant or part of it will be withheld to pay for damages.

Moving In

Your move out checklist starts when a tenant moves in. Go through the property and note its condition in detail. Take a lot of pictures and don’t leave anything out. You want to document every room, each floor, the walls, the appliances, the closets, and the ceilings. Capture the condition of the paint, whether there are any visible scratches, and if something looks old or worn. Give your tenants the opportunity to contribute to this inspection report, and then make sure you and your tenants sign the move in checklist so everyone agrees on the condition of the home at move in.

Document Ongoing Maintenance

Throughout the lease term, keep careful records of any maintenance that’s performed at the property. Document anything that is fixed or replaced, and keep track of any problems that the tenants continue to have with appliances or systems. When you inspect the property, or send a contractor over to do work, make notes on how the home looks and whether there is any reason to be concerned about how a tenant is caring for it.

Moving Out

When tenants give notice of their intent to move out at the end of the lease, follow up immediately with your acknowledgement as well as a list of things they need to do before leaving. That might include cleaning requirements, returning keys, and replacing things like air filters, light bulbs, and smoke detector batteries. After the tenants and their belongings have been moved out, you need to go through the property with your move in checklist. Make notes and take pictures so you can see if anything has been damaged or changed. There is bound to be normal wear and tear, which you cannot charge the security deposit for. Small nail holes in the walls and scuff marks where furniture was placed will need to be allowed. However, if you notice torn carpet, large holes in your walls, or a filthy refrigerator that has rotting food in it, you can charge the tenant’s deposit for the cost of taking care of these items.

A good move out process starts when a tenant signs the lease. If you have any questions about this or anything pertaining to property management in Jacksonville, FL, please contact us at Heth Realty.

When you want to keep great tenants in your property for the long-term and protect its condition, you must know how to be a good landlord. Being a good landlord doesn’t mean you’ll develop a personal friendship with your tenants or let them get away with whatever they want. It means being consistent, fair, and responsive.

Good Landlords Communicate

Communication is critical, and a good landlord will communicate well with tenants, vendors and contractors, as well as HOAs and other public officials. Make sure you are available and responsive. When you’re signing the lease with your tenant, go over it in detail. Let your tenants know what they will be responsible for and what you expect during the term of the tenancy. Answer any questions and provide your contact information so they know how to reach you, especially in emergencies. Keep in touch with your tenants. You don’t have to bother them, but you can send them reminders to change their air filters or check in via email to see if things are going well.

Good Landlords Have Procedures

Tenants perform best when they know what to expect. Good landlords will have consistent policies and procedures in place, and they will follow them. If you attach a late fee to rental payments that aren’t in by the third of the month, for example, make sure you collect that fee. You have to follow the terms of the lease, and you need to let your tenants know that you’re serious about what you’ve said. If you promise to respond to all maintenance requests within 24 hours, make sure you do that. When you say you’re going to schedule a property inspection every six months, make sure you show up for it.

Good Landlords are Fair

When a responsible tenant runs into trouble one month and is late with rent, a good landlord will be understanding. You can still serve the three-day notice and require that the late fee be paid, but you can also make an arrangement that will help the tenant catch up. If a tenant requests new carpet or an upgraded appliance, be willing to hear their reasons. Maybe you can offer it in exchange for a lease renewal. When it’s time to renew the lease and the rental market is competitive, consider not raising the rent on a tenant who is following the lease terms, paying rent on time, and maintaining the home. Tenants will appreciate the fair treatment they receive from you, and it will encourage them to stay longer.

These are just a few tips on how to be a good landlord. We can help you with a lot of other ideas, so please don’t hesitate to contact us at Heth Realty for all your Jacksonville property management needs.

Rental property maintenance will be required on your investment home even if it’s new and in excellent condition when you buy it. To keep costs from growing out of control, you need to stay on top of preventative maintenance so that small problems don’t become gigantic issues with never-ending price tags. Reign in your maintenance budget with these tips.

Start with a Clean, Functioning Property

When you hand the keys over to your tenant, make sure you are providing a home that is clean, well-cared for, and functional. You should always conduct a move-in inspection prior to the tenant taking occupancy, and while you’re doing that inspection you can check to make sure that everything works. Show the tenants how to change the air filters, reset the garbage disposal, and turn off the water supply. Providing a home that’s in excellent condition will set the standard for how you expect the property to be returned.

Respond Immediately to Repair Requests

When you receive a request from your tenants for maintenance work, respond immediately. It might sound like an issue that isn’t too serious, but you still want to get over to the property to have a look. Not only will this responsiveness keep your tenants happy, it will also provide you with an opportunity to check the property. A dripping faucet or a toilet that won’t flush will allow you to check for leaks throughout the house, for example. Make sure your tenants know how to make a repair request, and encourage them to share any concerns with you promptly.

Schedule Regular Inspections and Service

In Florida, the air conditioning system in your home will run almost all year long. It’s important to have that cooling system serviced and inspected annually by an HVAC professional. Have your roof and gutters cleaned and checked annually, especially before hurricane season. Put together a schedule of preventative maintenance items and stick to it. These might seem like rental property costs that you don’t need, but spending a couple hundred dollars is better than having something malfunction. If you have to replace your air conditioning system, you’ll be spending thousands.

Keep your maintenance costs low by taking care of minor problems and inspecting your home whenever possible. Having good tenants in place will also help you with caring for the property, so think about your preventative maintenance plans when you’re screening as well. If you have any questions about repairs or Jacksonville property management, please contact us at Heth Realty.

Finding a good tenant for your rental property will determine whether you are a successful landlord or one who is constantly dealing with frustrations and disputes. The tenant screening process is an important way to separate the highly qualified tenants from those you’d be better without. Make sure you have a thorough and consistent process in place, and if you don’t – contact a property manager.

Providing an Application

Your screening process starts with a thorough application. Most tenants prefer to apply online because it’s fast, efficient, and easy. Make sure you use an application that has been reviewed by a property manager or comes from a reputable organization that supports landlords and property owners. It should gather all the necessary information and provide you with permission to conduct a background check, a criminal check, and a credit check.

Screening Criteria – Credit

Pulling a credit report is always necessary, but don’t focus too much on the credit score. What you’re really looking for is the credit history, so you can see whether this applicant pays bills on time or just lets them slide. You want to be careful of any tenant who has judgments pending from lawsuits or a lot of debt that isn’t being paid. Always check for past evictions.

Screening Criteria – Employment and Income

A good tenant is gainfully employed, and can provide an employer reference. You also want to verify how much income is earned. Generally, you’re looking for someone who earns at least three times the monthly rent. So, if you rent your property for $1,200 per month, you are looking for a tenant or tenants who earn at least $3,600 per month. Validate the income by speaking with the employer, looking at pay stubs, or collecting bank statements or tax records.

Screening Criteria – Landlord References

Talking to current and former landlords is an important part of the tenant screening process. This is the best opportunity you have to find out what kind of tenant your applicant has been in the past. Verify that the applicant did live there, and then ask how much rent was paid, whether it was paid on time, and if any damage was left behind after vacancy. You can ask if the security deposit was refunded and whether there were any pets or lease violations.

If you have questions about tenant screening or anything pertaining to property management in Jacksonville, please contact us at Heth Realty.

One of the best reasons to work with a Jacksonville property management company is so that you’ll have access to an expert in Florida landlord tenant law. If you’re not current on the local and state laws, you’re putting your rental property at risk and exposing yourself to a lot of liability from tenants and other parties.

Rights and Responsibilities

The Florida Landlord Tenant Act provides all the information you need on what you’re responsible for as a landlord and rental property owner. It also lists the tenant’s rights and responsibilities while living in your property. It includes the requirement that landlords provide a safe and habitable home and that tenants pay rent on time according to their lease. You should use this law for guidance when you’re screening tenants, signing leases, and conducting inspections throughout the term of the tenancy.

Handling Tenant Disputes

If a dispute arises with a tenant, you’ll need to refer to your lease first. You’ll also want to consult the landlord tenant laws so you know how to proceed without violating the law or falling out of compliance. Some of the most common areas of conflict include security deposits, tenant damage, and lease violations such as unauthorized pets or people.

The Benefits of Professional Management

Professional property managers spend a lot of time educating themselves on the details involved in all Florida laws pertaining to landlords, tenants, and rental properties. We keep up with changes in the law, and we partner with attorneys, insurance professionals, and tax accountants to make sure that you and your property are protected. Trying to manage your own home without understanding the Landlord Tenant Act is a dangerous enterprise. A single and unintentional mistake can have consequences that may cost you thousands of dollars. Whether you violate a fair housing law with your marketing materials, take too long fixing an important repair, or neglect to return a security deposit on time, you can be taken to court and forced to pay punitive damages. Work with someone who knows the laws so you don’t have to know them yourself.

If you have any questions about how to stay out of legal trouble, please contact us at Heth Realty. We’d be happy to tell you more.

Rental property maintenance is part of being a landlord, and it’s a cost that you need to factor into your long term investment budget. Most maintenance and repair work falls into one of three categories; preventative, annual, and emergency maintenance. Make sure your tenants know exactly how to report issues to you, and be prompt about fixing the things that need attention in your home.

Managing Preventative Maintenance

The best way to keep your house maintenance costs low is by taking care of preventative maintenance. When you handle a small problem, you’re keeping it from becoming a large problem. For example, when a tenant reports that a sink is leaking, get a handyman over there to address the leak immediately. If you don’t, you’ll have water damage and maybe mold to deal with later on. Check for preventative maintenance issue when you’re inspecting your property and getting it ready for a new tenant. When you stay on top of these repairs, you save money.

Managing Annual Maintenance

Annual maintenance is also an important way to keep your repair costs low and your investment property in excellent condition. Air conditioning is critical in Jacksonville, because it’s very hot for most of the year. So have your cooling system serviced at least once a year. Clean out the gutters, and have your plumbing and electrical systems inspected. Setting up a schedule for annual maintenance will keep you on track and alert you to any potential problems that could become expensive.

Managing Emergency Maintenance

When you have the benefit of professional property management in Jacksonville, Florida, you don’t have to worry about emergency maintenance. Your property manager will take care of any anything that happens unexpectedly. If you don’t have a property manager, make sure you’re responsive to your tenants, even if it’s the middle of the night or a holiday weekend. Hot water heaters will explode, trees will fall through roofs and catastrophes will occur that need immediate attention. Without a property manager, you’ll need to be prepared to handle these stressful and chaotic situations at your rental property.

Using a Jacksonville property management company will ensure your maintenance and repair needs are taken care of swiftly and affordably. Your professional manager will know when to dispatch a handyman for a quick fix, and when a licensed and insured contractor is necessary to tackle a larger project. If you have any questions about handling maintenance at your rental property, or property management in Jacksonville generally, please contact us at Heth Realty.

One of the biggest mistakes that many landlords make is that they are reactive instead of proactive when it comes to collecting rent. Jacksonville property management companies like Heth Realty have the advantage of using rent collection software to make the process efficient, easy for the tenants, and successful in bringing in rent on time every month. When you’re collecting rent, be consistent and avoid letting payments slide because you want your tenants to like you.

Create a Consistent Rent Collection Policy

Your lease should indicate when rent is due, how much is due, and what the consequences are for late payments. When these expectations are clearly spelled out, your tenants cannot claim that they didn’t know where they were supposed to pay or when their payment was due. Enforce your rent collection policies and be consistent. If you let the rent come in late one month, you are essentially inviting your tenants to pay late every month. That’s not good for your relationship or your cash flow.

Treat Your Rental Property Like a Business

Sometimes owners will become friendly with their tenants, and then it gets awkward when you find yourself trying to collect late rent. Your tenant should not be your buddy. If you get emotionally invested in the relationship with your renters, it’s going to be difficult for you to run your rental property like a business. If you find that you cannot be professional and businesslike when it comes to dealing with your tenants and enforcing the rental due dates and late fees, you need to get professional property management in Jacksonville, Florida. A property manager can remove the emotional aspect of the relationship, and keep you out of the rent collection process entirely.

Have a Process for Collecting Past Due Rent

When rent is officially late, which means the due date and any grace period has come and gone, you need to immediately begin collecting past due rent. Send a letter, make a phone call, and do whatever your lease says you will do. If there’s a late fee associated, make sure you collect it. If you aren’t aggressive in collecting the rent that is owed, tenants will feel like they can take advantage of you, and you’ll be struggling to get the rent paid throughout the entire lease term.

We have an excellent process in place that ensures our landlords and property owners get their money on time every month. We use our rent collection software to track and accept online payments and implement a collection schedule when rent is late. If you’d like some Jacksonville property management help, please contact us at Heth Realty today.

Florida landlords need to be very careful when it comes to handling the security deposits paid by their tenants. You need to know how much to charge for security deposits, where to hold it, what you can use that deposit for, and how quickly you need to return it at the end of the lease period. If you don’t have any experience with security deposits, talk to a Jacksonville property management company. Otherwise, you’re taking on a lot of unnecessary legal and financial liability.

How Much to Charge for Security Deposits

Most landlords charge the equivalent of one month’s rent when they are collecting a security deposit. If you have a tenant with pets, or your screening process has revealed that this tenant is more of a risk because of poor credit or property damage issues in the past, you might want to charge a little more. There is no limit to what you can charge according to Florida law, but don’t make the deposit so high that you discourage otherwise good tenants from renting your property.

Holding the Security Deposit

You are required to hold the security deposit in a Florida bank, separate from your other funds. You cannot let the tenant’s money co-mingle with your own, and you cannot use those funds for your own purposes. If you hold the money in an interest-bearing account, you need to report it to the state monthly and pay the accrued interest to your tenant annually and at the end of the lease term.

Security Deposit Timelines

When the tenant leaves your property in excellent condition and you plan to return the full security deposit, you need to do that within 15 days of the tenant moving out. If you’re going to keep some of the deposit to pay for damage or repairs, you’ll have to send the tenant written notification of that intent within 30 days of the tenant moving out. Explain why, and provide a detailed accounting. If you do not pay attention to these timelines and requirements, you will have to give back the full deposit, regardless of the damage that was left. This is an area where property management in Jacksonville, Florida can help you. If we fail to manage the security deposit return properly, we will pay it back to the tenant so your own funds are protected. As experienced property managers, we handle security deposits and tenant disputes all the time, so we’re confident we’ll get it right.  

If you have any questions about Jacksonville property management or how to collect security deposits, please contact us at Heth Realty. We’d be happy to tell you more.

Pricing rental property correctly is critical to avoiding long vacancy times and finding a great tenant for your property. If you’re not sure how to determine rental price, be sure to seek some Jacksonville property management advice. Many landlords price their homes too high, and that results in the property sitting vacant on the market. An unrented property costs you rental income. Others price their homes too low, which also costs you money and gives you a lower return on your investment overall. A few things can be done to ensure you’re in a competitive and profitable rental range.

Conduct a Comparative Market Analysis

In order to price your property correctly, you need to know what other homes are renting for. This will require you to analyze the current rental market and compare your home to those that are also on the market. Look at properties in the same neighborhood as yours, and similar in size, amenities, and condition. It’s very important that you compare similar properties only. It doesn’t matter what the four-bedroom house with a swimming pool is renting for when you have a two bedroom on the market.

Finding Relevant Data

Not all landlords know where to look when they’re finding home prices. It’s a good idea to check Zillow and rental sites like it, but remember that what a property is listed for is not necessarily what it’s going to rent for. They might be overpriced, and you don’t want to use incorrect estimates. This is one area where professional property management in Jacksonville, Florida can help you. Property managers spend a lot of time studying the market so they can accurately price the homes they manage. They will know how to price your property so that it rents quickly to excellent tenants.

Utilize the Multiple Listing Service

Another great resource that’s only available to real estate agents and property managers is the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). This will give you information that’s far more reliable than what you’ll find elsewhere on the Internet. You won’t have to worry about dated or delayed information that can be misleading. The MLS will give you a good idea of what tenants are willing to pay for a property like yours.

If you’re not sure how to set up a rental property and attach an accurate price to it, contact us at Heth Realty. We handle Jacksonville property management for owners and investors like you.
 

Before you list your home for rent, you need to make sure it’s in excellent condition so that prospective tenants will see it as a desirable place to live. This is one of the most essential parts of Jacksonville property management. Make sure you take care of any necessary maintenance, create outstanding curb appeal, and have a plan to keep it in outstanding shape while you’re showing it to potential residents.

Professionally Clean Your Rental Home

The best way to rent out a house is to get it as clean as it can possibly be. This is going to require more than running a vacuum and wiping down counters. You want to hire a professional cleaning crew to make your property shine. If it’s vacant, make sure all debris and items that were left behind by previous tenants are removed, and have everything thoroughly cleaned. The carpets, floors, walls, appliances, and fixtures should all shine before you put your property on the market.

Make Any Necessary Repairs

When you’re trying to figure out how to lease out a house, you need to understand that tenants don’t want to walk into a property that still needs work. They want to see the finished product. This means you need to fix anything that is broken and take care of maintenance items that might have been put off or ignored. Check the appliances and the electrical system and have the air conditioning unit serviced. Clean out your gutters, test all the locks on the windows and doors, and make sure everything is in proper working order.

Take Care of Upgrades and Updates

A fresh coat of paint and a few upgrades in landscaping will do wonders for your curb appeal. Use this as a guide to renting your house: take a look at the property from the street and ask yourself if you’d be interested in going inside to look around. If the answer is no, you need to make some upgrades that will make your property appealing to renters. Keep your lawn cut, trim back the weeds and the bushes, and plant some colorful flowers near the front door. Making upgrades and updates to your home does not have to be expensive. There are some minor things you can do before you put it on the market, and it will help you rent the property quickly to high quality tenants.

Our team provides property management Jacksonville, FL landlords appreciate. If you have any questions, please contact us at Heth Realty. We know how to set up a rental property, and we’d be happy to help you get your investment home on the market.

Heth Realty is a local company providing full service property management in Jacksonville, Florida. Today we’re sharing 6 reasons that you should consider working with us when you are looking for Jacksonville property management.

Access Our Knowledge and Experience

At Heth Realty, we have been providing outstanding property management to the Jacksonville area since 1970. We are a family-owned business familiar with the local market, and we understand what owners are looking for and what tenants need. When we manage your property, you can take advantage of all the knowledge, skills, and talents our team members have gathered over the years.

Leave all the Management Details to Us

Our team takes care of everything for you, from preparing the property for the market, determining the right price for the property, screening tenants, reviewing the lease, handling inspections and maintaining the home. We are the first point of contact for your tenants so you don’t need to worry about those phone calls in the middle of the night or while you’re on vacation.

Tenant Placement Services

If you’re an owner or a landlord who has the time and knowledge to handle the day to day management of your property, and you don’t need our full service option, we can work with you to place a high quality tenant who will pay rent on time and take care of your property. We are willing to customize our services to meet your needs.

Communication and Accessibility

We keep you informed of how your property is performing at all times. You’ll receive a report with your monthly rent, which explains all of the income and expenses associated with your property, as well as any maintenance or repair work that was required. If you have any questions, we always welcome you to call, email, or visit us at any time. We are in the office six days a week, and we maintain emergency contact information for tenants in case there’s a problem after hours.

Legal Knowledge and Protection

Our experience in rental home management services ensures we can keep your property compliant with all local, state, and federal laws. We know what is required under fair housing laws, and we can protect you through difficult situations such as evictions. Protecting your income and your asset is our highest priority.

Professional Affiliations and Leadership

At Heth Realty, we work closely with organizations like the National Association of Residential Property Managements (NARPM). Our affiliations with professional organizations allows us to stay up to date on all the changes in the property management business, and provides us with 12-1013 Heth Realty Logo Final_PMStools and resources that help us care for your property more efficiently.

If you’re looking for professional property management in Jacksonville, Florida, we hope you’ll contact us at Heth Realty. We’d love to tell you more about how we can help you.