Straight answers for rental owners
The questions owners ask before they hire a property manager, answered by one. Search, or pick a topic.
Showing 1–9 of 412 guides
Tenants & LeasingCan a Landlord Raise the Rent in the Middle of a Lease in Texas?
Under a fixed-term lease the rent is set for the term unless the lease says otherwise. Here is what you can change, when, and the levers that work better than a mid-lease increase.
Justin Brown · 11 min read
Tenants & LeasingCan Your Tenant Paint, Mount a TV or Make Changes to Your Texas Rental House?
A tenant who asks first is usually worth a conditional yes. Here is what to allow, what to refuse, what the written approval says, and who pays to put it back.
Justin Brown · 11 min read
Tenants & LeasingWho Pays the Utilities in a Texas Rental House: the Owner or the Tenant?
Tenants usually pay the household utilities, but water and trash rules vary by city and the owner carries the turnover gap. Here is each utility, what to write in the lease and how bill-backs stay clean.
Justin Brown · 10 min read
Getting StartedCan I Keep My Belongings in the Garage or Attic When I Rent Out My House?
Yes, if the space is written into the lease as an excluded area. But a house without its garage competes against houses with one. What to keep, what to remove and how to write it down.
Justin Brown · 12 min read
Choosing a Manager15 Questions to Ask a Property Manager Before You Sign
Fifteen interview questions for any property management company in Keller, North Richland Hills or Fort Worth, each with the answer you want to hear and the answer that should send you elsewhere.
Justin Brown · 5 min read
Choosing a ManagerThe Property Management Agreement: What to Look for Before You Sign
The management agreement is the only document that says what your property manager will actually do, what it costs and how you leave. Here is how a Texas broker reads one, clause by clause.
Justin Brown · 6 min read
Choosing a ManagerRed Flags When Hiring a Property Management Company
Most bad property management experiences were visible before the agreement was signed. Here are the warning signs in the sales process, the contract and the first months, and how to test for them.
Justin Brown · 5 min read
Choosing a ManagerBroker-Owned vs. Franchise Property Management: What Actually Changes for You
A franchise and a broker-owned company can look identical on a website. The differences show up in who makes decisions about your property, who answers your call, and how fees are set.
Justin Brown · 5 min read
Choosing a ManagerLocal vs. National Property Management Companies in DFW
National property management companies bring software and scale. A local manager brings someone who has stood in your kitchen. Here is when each one wins for an owner in Keller, NRH or Fort Worth.
Justin Brown · 6 min read
Choosing a ManagerHow to Verify a Property Manager's License and Reputation in Texas
Five minutes on the Texas Real Estate Commission website tells you whether a property manager is licensed, who the broker is, and whether there is a disciplinary history. Here is exactly what to check.
Justin Brown · 5 min read
Choosing a ManagerWhat Does a Property Manager Actually Do Every Month?
Owners ask what the management fee buys when rent is on time and nothing breaks. Here is what a property manager actually does in a month, week by week, and what you should see at the end of it.
Justin Brown · 5 min read
Choosing a ManagerFull-Service Management vs. Tenant Placement Only: Which Do You Need?
Tenant placement gets you a screened tenant and a signed lease, then hands the house back to you. Full-service management keeps it. Here is an honest comparison and who each option actually fits.
Justin Brown · 5 min read
Choosing a ManagerHow Many Properties Should One Property Manager Handle?
The number of properties assigned to your manager predicts how fast your calls are returned, how carefully your rent is set, and how often your house is seen. Here is how to ask about it.
Justin Brown · 5 min readNo guide matches that yet.
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