FAQ
HOW CAN I SEE A HOME THAT IS LISTED?
If an occupied home is listed, showings need to be conducted around the current resident's schedule. It is our goal to be as unobtrusive and disturb current residents as little as possible. We would like to extend the same courtesy to you once you become a resident.
To view a vacant home we have listed, our office utilizes technology-driven processes allowing prospective residents the convenience of viewing a home around their schedule with self-showings. With our innovative self-showing feature, prospective residents are able to view a home in a hassle-free environment on their own time.
To view a vacant home, simply click on the property of interest and select the “Schedule Viewing” button. From there you will be asked a few short questions and will be asked to upload a copy of your ID so we know who will be going into the home.
Once you confirm your viewing you will be given a unique access code to enter the home. After you have successfully viewed the home you will be asked your opinion of the home and sent a link to apply should you wish to move forward.
WHAT IS THE APPLICATION FEE?
Our application fee is $40 per applicant. This includes our office ordering a credit check and reviewing your income and financial documents as well as the items on your credit report. While we are unable to accept outside reports, our credit checks are soft inquiries and do not have an affect on your credit score.
HOW DO I QUALIFY?
In order to be approved for one of our properties, you will need to both credit and income qualify for the home. Your monthly income will need to be at least 2.5x the monthly rent. In order to credit qualify, your credit will need to be a 575 or higher. Our office heavily takes into account delinquencies, bankruptcies, evictions, and collection accounts found on your credit report. If you have an eviction filing within the last five years our office unfortunately will not be able to move forward with your application. Our office adheres to “Truth in Renting” codes and standards practices and is committed to providing equal housing opportunities to all rental applicants regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, handicap, familial status, or other protected status. We welcome voucher holders who have been approved by the local housing authority, such as Section 8.
WHO NEEDS TO APPLY FOR A HOME?
Everyone over the age of 18 will need to fill out a separate application and provide income if that income is to be used to qualify for the home.
HOW DO I KNOW IF A PARTICULAR HOME IS AVAILABLE?
If a home is listed on our website it is pretty safe to say the home is still available. Once we receive an approved application and holding fee is in place, our office will remove the listing from our website and future marketing to ensure no other prospective residents are able to apply for the home.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE ARE MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS FOR A SINGLE PROPERTY?
We are required to process applications on a first-come first-serve basis. Our office will move forward with the first qualified applicant who submits a fully completed application. This includes providing the requested financial and income verification. An application is not considered complete until all occupants over age 18 have applied and provided proof of income for all income to be considered.
I HAVE NEVER BEEN EVICTED BUT I DO HAVE EVICTION FILINGS, CAN I STILL APPLY?
If you have eviction filings it means you were late on your rent at some point and your landlord needed to take corrective legal action. In this case, our office views filings with the same weight as if you were actually evicted because it shows your payment history. If your filing is more recent than five years we do not advise that you apply as our office weights heavily on eviction filings.
CAN I HAVE A PET?
We understand that pets are a crucial part of the family. We allow most domesticated pets, although breed restrictions from our insurance companies do apply. There is a $25 per month pet fee per pet that is applied to your account. If you have a pet we do require you have all required documentation and you are registered with the town. Dog bite insurance is required. If you are curious if our insurance will allow your breed of pet, please don’t hesitate to ask. If you are a current resident and would like to add a pet, simply log a request and we will be able to send you an addendum to your lease allowing you to have a pet.
WHAT IS THE SECURITY DEPOSIT?
Our office charges a 1.5 month security deposit. This is refunded to you at the expiration of your lease.
HOW DO I PAY MY RENT?
Our office prides ourselves on being innovative and utilizes technology to make tasks like paying rent streamlined and more simplistic. Once you become a resident you will be given access to your online tenant portal where you will be able to make your security deposit payment and pay your monthly rent. The portal offers three convenient ways to pay. Decide weather to pay your rent with bank EFT transfer, Credit Card, or even cash with our “Pay Near Me” feature. As a resident you may also choose to set your rent to be paid on a recurring basis set to a schedule that fits your needs.
HOW DO I NOTIFY THE OFFICE OF A MAINTENANCE REQUEST?
Logging a request in your tenant portal will ensure the quickest response times to your maintenance needs. Once a request is received by our office it will show up on our end where we will be able to dispatch maintenance. As a resident you and all other occupants in the home will receive updated communications as to when you should expect our office to arrive so multiple residents do not mistakenly put in the same request multiple times. This will also alert you if another occupant in your home already put in a request for the same issue. If you have a fire or medical emergency please be sure to call 9-11 immediately.
CAN I CHANGE MY LOCKS?
It is not recommended to change your locks. If you change your locks and have a maintenance request, our techs will be unable to enter your home. In this case you will need to have someone home to let them in. If you are changing the locks it is recommended that you get permission before changing them to streamline the maintenance process.
IS MY SECURITY DEPOSIT REFUNDABLE?
Yes. By law our office is required to send your security deposit back to you 30 days after your lease has ended. It is our goal to return the full security deposit to you at the end of your lease.
IF I WANT TO STAY AND ANOTHER OCCUPANT WANTS TO LEAVE WHAT IS THE PROCESS?
If your original application was approved with more than one income for the household and that income is changing, the remaining occupants will need to reapply for the property to ensure they will credit and income qualify without the occupant who is being removed. As long as the remaining residents qualify, a simple lease addendum is drafted removing the occupant who is leaving from the lease.
HOW DO I GIVE NOTICE THAT I DO NOT WANT TO RENEW MY LEASE?
To give notice you do not want to renew, simply log into your portal and send us notice at least 60 days prior to your lease expiration that you do not intend on renewing. We will notate your account and send you a move out checklist to follow. You will want to be sure to send our office your forwarding address so we can send you your change in security deposit letter and mail out a check to you. If you do not provide a forwarding address the law requires we send the check to the last know address which would be the home you left.
TRUTH IN RENTING GUIDE