How to love your landlord!
Finding a rental home can be a problem in some markets. If there are not many houses or duplexes available for rent or lease compared to the number of people who come to the area to live and work, you may find it difficult to find suitable housing. One possible solution is to find a competent property manager.
Property managers are real estate professionals who handle the rental and leasing of homes and residences. Ideally, one should look for a property management company that specializes in home rentals. Most real estate companies are almost exclusively dedicated to selling. Both areas, management and sales, are highly specialized and require dedication to selling or renting. It is difficult to be competent in both.
When a person or family moves to a new area, the first thing they need to do is find a place to live. Unless one intends to buy immediately, the options are to rent or stay with friends or family.
There are basically two ways to rent. One is to stay in a hotel for a short time. The cost of the daily rental is important here. The other way is to rent a home. This is where property managers are important.
A competent property manager is one who realizes that every time the phone rings, there is a person with a problem on the other end. Usually the problem is that the person he calls needs a place to live and wants help finding it. The property manager then becomes a rental agent and starts doing the work that is the foundation of the rental housing industry.
A good rental agent will make the caller feel important. The agent needs to listen to what the caller needs by asking enough questions to determine things like when and where. The amount of the rental budget is another important consideration.
Once the caller reveals these items, it is up to the agent to help the caller find these locations and see if they are acceptable. If an agent has an inventory of vacancies, he may have a better chance of making the sale, or in this case, the rental.
Once the paperwork is completed and the new resident has moved in, you should be able to expect the manager to respond to your maintenance needs. Since the property manager usually works for the owner, it is their job to protect the owner’s investment by keeping the property in good repair.
The resident must be able to reach the manager’s office on business days and must be able to reach a contact at any time in an emergency. Voice mail, answering machines, and answering services generally serve as an emergency contact.
Choosing a rental agent to help you relocate is a big job, and it usually starts with a phone call. The rental agency (property manager) may only have one chance to make a good first impression. When the call is answered, look for a friendly voice that can help you now. If that doesn’t happen, you can ask why that person answered and move on to the next number.
Finding a rental agent is as easy as looking in the yellow pages of the phone book or on the Internet. The key is knowing where to look in the yellow pages. Rental houses are real estate. Two categories to search for are “Real Estate Rental Service” and “Real Estate Management.” The rental service is the most accurate choice. Look for a display ad that tells you the company offers what you’re trying to find. Then make that important call and listen to the voice that answers.
Another place to look is the Internet. The site should be easy to navigate and should show you some properties to pique your interest. It should also give you a way to write to the company and get a response. And finally, the site should give you a phone number to call and get in touch with the rental agent who can help you get the house for you to move into.
A third way to find a rental agent is in the Sunday real estate section of the newspaper. Look for duplexes and unfurnished homes. The agency that is really interested in getting your attention is the one that makes it easy for you to locate and contact them. Things like bold letters, a phone number, and a name are signs that they want your call.
So make the call and don’t be afraid to explain your situation. The more the agent knows about what you need, the better they can help you find your next home.