Owner guides, page 36 of 46
The questions owners ask before they hire a property manager, answered by one. Search, or pick a topic.
Showing 316–324 of 412 guides
Tenants & LeasingWhat background checks are appropriate and legal for Texas rental applicants?
Credit, eviction, criminal, identity, income and rental history checks are all appropriate for a Texas rental, with consent and within fair housing limits. Here is what each one is for.
Justin Brown · 5 min read
Tenants & LeasingHow do you screen someone moving to Texas from another country?
An applicant arriving from abroad has no US credit file and no local landlord. Here is how a manager verifies identity, income and history anyway, without treating them differently.
Justin Brown · 5 min read
Tenants & LeasingDoes every adult living in the house need to be screened?
Yes. Every adult who will live in the house applies, is screened and signs the lease. Here is why, what to do about adult children and partners, and how to handle someone who moves in later.
Justin Brown · 5 min read
Tenants & LeasingWho makes the final decision on a tenant, me or the property manager?
You decide the standard, the manager applies it. That split is deliberate: it keeps the owner away from protected information while leaving every policy choice in the owner's hands.
Justin Brown · 5 min read
Tenants & LeasingHow do property managers choose between several qualified applicants?
Several qualified applicants is a good problem with one correct answer: the first complete application that met the criteria. Here is how a manager runs the time order, breaks ties and documents it.
Justin Brown · 5 min read
Tenants & LeasingWhat happens if an approved tenant backs out before moving in?
An approved tenant withdrawing is a timing problem more than a money problem. Here is what happens in the first week, what you keep, who gets called and how the house is re-let fast.
Justin Brown · 5 min read
Tenants & LeasingShould I allow pets to attract more tenants?
For most single-family rentals, yes: pets widen the pool and shorten vacancy. The decision is about your house, your HOA and your insurance, and about setting limits rather than saying no.
Justin Brown · 5 min read
Tenants & LeasingHow can I protect my rental from pet damage?
Pet damage is prevented with a layered setup, not a single deposit. Pet screening, a specific addendum, the right deposit structure, durable surfaces, insurance and documented inspections.
Justin Brown · 5 min read
Tenants & LeasingWhat's the difference between a pet and an assistance animal when renting out a house?
A pet is allowed by the lease on the owner's terms. An assistance animal is a fair housing accommodation that a no-pets rule, pet fees and breed limits cannot be applied to. Here is what changes.
Justin Brown · 5 min readNo guide matches that yet.
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