What’s the Difference Between Cleaning, Sanitizing and Disinfecting?
What’s the Difference Between Cleaning, Sanitizing and Disinfecting? Get Rid of Those Germs While the change in colder weather feels delightful, it also brings a season of sickness. Knowing how to properly get rid of germs is crucial to keeping your family and friends safe. In this blog, we learn the difference between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting and how to create a routine that reduces the spread of sickness-inducing bacteria. Cleaning Cleaning focuses on the appearance of the home and often involves organizing, decluttering, and wiping down surfaces so they appear neat and shiny. All-purpose cleaners and soap and warm water can be used to remove surface stains, smudges, fingerprints, dust, and debris from surfaces. Examples of cleaning include dusting baseboards and wiping down countertops. While cleaning products can remove some germs, the main goal of cleaning is to improve the overall look, feel, and smell of the home. It is great for making your home look tidy and removing dirt and grime buildup; however, cleaning does not rid the area of bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Once you have done the initial cleaning, you will want to move on to sanitizing and disinfecting areas of the home that receive daily wear and tear. Sanitizing Cleaning is mostly about the appearance of the home, but sanitizing removes most of the bacteria that can cause health concerns. Sanitizing is important to minimize the spread of illnesses, especially on surfaces that have frequent contact with food. Sanitizers contain pathogens that prevent cross-contamination by reducing germs and fungi. For a solution to be considered a sanitizer, it must have a formula with 60% to 95% alcohol concentration. Some items and surfaces can be sanitized using liquids that are above 170 degrees Fahrenheit. Dishwashers, washing machines, and steam cleaners are all tools that sanitize items, fabrics, and surfaces. Disinfecting One step further than sanitizing is disinfecting, which kills bacteria and viruses. A high-quality disinfectant spray should remove 100% of the microscopic organisms on hard surfaces, which kills and prevents the spread of illnesses. Disinfecting solutions need to remain in contact with the surface for the recommended time on the manufacturer’s label to be most effective, which may take up to ten minutes. Because disinfectants are stronger than other cleaning and sanitizing products, safety precautions should be taken when using them. It is important to never mix disinfectants with other cleaners and to label all solution containers. Also be sure to store disinfectants out of reach of children and pets, and wear gloves when handling these harsh chemicals. Make a Routine Now that you know the difference between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting, let’s learn how to properly create a routine to keep your home sparkling and healthy. There are many areas of the home that are touched daily and should be regularly cleaned to reduce germs and prevent the spread of harmful bacteria. Surfaces like tables, countertops, doorknobs, light switches, computers, phones, and toilets are the most common places for germs to inhabit. First clean these areas using an all-purpose cleaner to remove dirt and debris buildup, which can cause sanitizers and disinfectants to be less effective. Then, decide whether a sanitizer or disinfectant is most appropriate for the surface. For daily cleaning and surfaces like dishes, couches, and floors, use a sanitizer. For deep cleaning, or when ridding a home of sickness, use disinfectants on countertops, toilets, doorknobs, and cell phones. Always remember to check manufacturer labels to ensure you clean your home effectively and safely. Contact Us We would love to hear from you! So let’s set up a meeting today. Please fill out the form and you will receive an email from us. If you do not get the email in the next 5 minutes, check your spam/junk folder. We will make sure that someone gets in touch with you as soon as possible.
Why Renting May Be Right for You
Add Your Heading Text Here While owning a home may be a lifetime goal for many people, homeownership does not match everyone’s lifestyle. The costs that come with buying and owning a home can be significant, allowing some families to opt for renting a home. Not only does renting offer financial benefits for families, but it can also offer flexibility that is suitable for a more nomadic lifestyle. Here, we share five reasons why renting may be a better option than buying. 1. No Down Payment Home buyers must place a hefty down payment when purchasing a home, which is typically equal to about 20% of the property’s value. Renters generally have to pay a security deposit, which is equal to one month’s rent. For comparison, a 20% down payment on a house with a market value of $200,000 is $40,000, while the average monthly cost of rent for one of the most expensive places to live in the US is $4,419. Though a down payment results in the homeowner having equity in the home, which increases as the mortgage is paid, a down payment is significantly higher than a renter’s up-front costs. If you find that you do not have a substantial amount of money for a down payment, then the most logical option is to rent. 2. No Maintenance or Repair Costs One of the benefits of renting is that the maintenance and repair costs are little to none. The owner of the property, or the landlord, has a responsibility to provide regular maintenance, home improvements, and repairs. If you find that your rental home has a leak in the roof, a crack in the window, or an appliance that stops working, your landlord is required to fix or replace it. On the other hand, homeowners must take care of all repairs themself and cover the renovation costs. Depending on the age and condition of the home when purchased, owners may find themselves in a pricey predicament when making repairs. 3. Flexibility in Location Because rentals are more short-term than owning a home, renters have more flexibility when it comes to location. If you desire to live in an expensive city, such as Los Angeles or New York, you will find that renting is much more attainable than buying a home. Renting is also great if you frequently relocate due to work, or just want to experience living in new places. In contrast, if you are looking to live in one location for a prolonged period, then you may want to consider investing the money you would use for rent, into buying a home. 4. Flexibility to Downsize At the end of their lease, a renter has the option to either renew or find a new property. This flexibility allows renters to downsize to a more affordable space if desired. It is easier to downsize with a lease than downsize from an expensive house due to the fees that come along with buying and selling a home. This is an important benefit for retirees who are looking to find a home that matches their budget. 5. Lower Insurance Costs To ensure their home stays protected, homeowners need to have a homeowners insurance policy, which on average costs $1,249 per year. Similarly, renters must have a renter’s insurance policy to protect their possessions. However, unlike homeowners insurance, renter’s insurance is much cheaper at an average of $179 per year. For this fee, the renter’s insurance typically includes furniture, computers, and valuables. Contact Us We would love to hear from you! So let’s set up a meeting today. Please fill out the form and you will receive an email from us. If you do not get the email in the next 5 minutes, check your spam/junk folder. We will make sure that someone gets in touch with you as soon as possible.
Protecting Your Rental for Hurricane Season
Hurricane Season If you have lived in South Carolina for any period of time, you are likely familiar with the onset of Hurricane Season, which begins June 1st and lasts through November 30th. During this time, the weather is unpredictable, but there are things property owners and tenants should do to prepare in case of an emergency. It is crucial to take precautions to protect your rental home, and your family, during the event of a hurricane; to help, we have provided some tips to follow. Check Your Insurance The first thing any property owner or tenant should do to prepare for hurricane season is to check their insurance policy. Most basic policies do not include coverage for storm or significant property damage. For this reason, it is important to ensure that property owners have coverage for flood and hurricane damage and understand the details of each policy. In addition to storm coverage, property owners should also require that tenants to have renter’s insurance (if it is not already required). This will allow the tenant’s personal belongings to be insured in the event of a natural disaster. Inform Tenants If you are a property owner or manager, it is a good idea to speak with your tenant about forming a plan in the event of a hurricane. Share the precautionary measures you have already taken to protect the property, and refer them to preparedness resources, such as scemd.org and ready.gov. This is especially important if the tenant is not familiar with the area, or has not lived in an area prone to natural disasters. You should also ask tenants about their plans for the storm, and whether they are planning to evacuate or stay in the unit. Prepare the Property Both property owners and tenants can take action to prepare the rental home for safety before a hurricane hits. Start by moving all outdoor furniture and decorations inside and removing any dead branches that could potentially cause damage to the rental or other surrounding homes. If the property has hurricane shutters, double check that they are in place; if there are no shutters, board up the windows to protect them from high winds and debris. You should also check that your roof does not have any signs of a leak, and consider using hurricane straps to strengthen the roof and secure it to the home’s walls. To prepare the inside of the home, make sure to unplug all electronics and appliances to prevent damage from electricity loss. Also store important items and documents in a fireproof safe and stock your pantry to ensure you have food and water essentials for an extended period of time. Prepare Yourself Once your home has been prepared, there are more precautions property owners and tenants should take to keep themselves and others safe during a hurricane. First, it is important to stay informed about what is happening. The earlier you learn about the formation of a hurricane, the more time you will have to be prepared, and the less stressed you will be during the event. Keep an eye on local news sources and government websites to stay in the know about developments and ordinances. You should also make an emergency plan in advance, including an evacuation route and emergency contacts to refer to. Finally, pack an emergency kit that can easily be taken in case of evacuation. This should include three days worth of food and water for each family member, first aid kits, battery powered flashlights/lanterns, batteries, a tool kit, portable cell phone charges, and personal hygiene items. Contact Us We would love to hear from you! So let’s set up a meeting today. Please fill out the form and you will receive an email from us. If you do not get the email in the next 5 minutes, check your spam/junk folder. We will make sure that someone gets in touch with you as soon as possible.
How to Deep Clean Your New Rental
Deep Cleaning Tips Moving into a new rental is an exciting process, and an empty space allows for many new opportunities. But even if it appears that the previous renters left the unit perfectly clean, you should still perform a deep clean to ensure all areas are disinfected to give you a clean slate to live in. So, before you start to move in furniture and unpack all your belongings, use this guide to make sure your new home is sparkling clean! Start from the Top and Work Towards the Door Professional cleaners recommend cleaning one room at a time to make sure the dirt and dust does not spread to other areas of the home. The type of room you start in does not matter so much as the order you clean the rooms in. It is wise to first clean rooms that are at the back of the house to prevent backtracking and carrying dirt from dirty rooms to clean rooms. Also, when you start to clean, be sure to always start all the way at the top and work your way down. Items that are high up are likely to generate more dust; when these items are cleaning, this dust will likely fall onto the items below, causing more dirt to build up. For this reason, start by first cleaning your ceilings, ceiling trim, fans, and high cabinets. Next, move onto the walls, baseboards, countertops, and furniture; and lastly, clean the floors. Kitchen The kitchen is one of the most heavily used areas of the home and should be cleaned as soon as possible before you begin to unpack. Start by first cleaning the dishwasher by running a hot water cycle with only a cup of white vinegar in the top rack. Once this cycle is complete, run a second hot cycle by sprinkling a cup of baking soda on the bottom rack. It is also important to pay close attention to disinfect appliances like microwaves, ovens, and sinks to ensure all evidence of old food is gone. When cleaning the oven, you can clean the buttons, racks, and drip pans in the dishwasher for a deep clean (if they fit). If the racks are caked with grease and grime, you can soak them overnight in a sealed bag of ammonia. To clean the fridge, remove all the shelves you can and clean them by using a disinfectant wipe or soaking them in a vinegar and water solution. Finally, do not forget to wipe down all cabinets before you start placing your dinnerware inside. Bathroom The bathroom is a very personal space in the home, so it is important to make sure it is fully disinfected before you get comfortable. To start, replace the toilet seat for a fresh start and sanitize commonly touched surfaces such as the toilet handle, toilet paper holder, light switches, faucets, and door handles. Also make sure to disinfect the shower and/or bathtub. Wipe down these surfaces by using dish soap and a sponge, or mix equal parts soda, borax, and kosher salts to make a natural cleaning scrub. Be sure you do not overlook any areas and remember the more in-depth you clean now, the better you will feel later. Bedrooms The bedroom is another personal space in the home, and fortunately it is an easy room to clean. Be sure to follow the cleaning order discussed earlier, starting with the ceilings, and working your way down to the floors. When cleaning walls, a simple wipe down with a moist rag and all-purpose cleaner can get rid of most fingerprints, dust, and stains. Hardwood, linoleum, and tile can easily be swept and mopped with a floor cleaning solution. If you have carpet in the bedroom, vacuum the area and use a carpet cleaner to shampoo the carpet. If strong smells still linger, sprinkle a carpet deodorizing powder or baking soda; let sit and vacuum again Contact Us We would love to hear from you! So let’s set up a meeting today. Please fill out the form and you will receive an email from us. If you do not get the email in the next 5 minutes, check your spam/junk folder. We will make sure that someone gets in touch with you as soon as possible.
Top Tips for New Real Estate Investors
A Long-Term Investment Real estate has the potential to be an amazing long-term investment that goes beyond traditional assets. Though it can produce satisfactory returns, real estate investment requires dedication, research, and planning. Before you jump in and purchase your property, take a moment to consider these seven tips we have gathered for new real estate investors. 1. Know the Costs Any investment comes with a large financial commitment, and real estate is no exception. Buying a property requires a large down payment upfront, but there are more costs to keep in mind. In addition to renovations and preparation for the property to be inhabited by tenants, you must also consider basic maintenance, yearly upkeep, upgrades, furniture, appliances, utilities, and property taxes. 2. Select the Property Type Once you have determined the affordability of property investment, and gotten your finances in order, you must then decide the type of property you will choose to invest in. If you purchase a property for residential purposes, you can become a landlord for long-term homes or apartment rentals. Another residential option is investing in a home that is used for short-term rentals, such as a vacation home or Airbnb. If you are not interested in investing in a residential property, consider purchasing a building that businesses can rent for commercial purposes. If you want to skip dealing with tenants altogether, you may opt to purchase, flip, and sell a property for a quick return. 3. Select the Area In addition to the property type, the location of your investment can play a large role in your investment’s success. First, consider the purpose of your property; if your goal is to have a residential or vacation property, think about its proximity to entertainment, shopping stores, and schools. If you want to go the commercial route, make sure to analyze the population, parking availability, and demographics of the area. It is also pertinent to check and compare the market value of your desired property and the surrounding properties. Research rentals that could serve as your competition, and pay attention to their selling points and rental price. 4. Decide the Terms Once you have decided the type of property and the investment, you must then decide the terms of agreement for individuals who rent your property. These terms include the price of rent, fees, yearly costs, and emergency funds. When deciding the terms, consider the funds you need to maintain the quality of the property, how many potential tenants in the area are willing to pay, and the terms of surrounding properties. You may want to consider hiring a property manager to ensure your investment and finances are well taken care of, especially if you plan on purchasing more than one property. 5. Protect Yourself Making any property investment comes with a risk, so it is important to protect yourself and your assets. For this reason, consider using a limited liability company (LLC) to purchase one or more investment properties. When you do this, the LLC has ownership over the properties; if something goes wrong, you will not be held personally liable. 6. Keep Growth in Mind While your property will likely serve as a long-term investment, you may want to eventually sell it. No matter the reason for putting it back on the market, you will want to attain a profit. To make sure this happens, build your property’s value and make it appealing to buyers by making simple upgrades or additions. As you continue to make improvements, your property’s value will increase, and your hard work will pay off when the time comes to sell. 7. Keep Numbers on Hand Being prepared for every situation is important when managing your property. For this reason, keep a list of phone numbers of people that can readily assist you with your investment. This list should include property managers, an attorney, real estate professionals, and lenders. To be sure your property is well-taken care of in the event of a maintenance emergency, also include a list of plumbers, electricians, inspectors, pest control experts, handymen, and contractors. Contact Us We would love to hear from you! So let’s set up a meeting today. Please fill out the form and you will receive an email from us. If you do not get the email in the next 5 minutes, check your spam/junk folder. We will make sure that someone gets in touch with you as soon as possible.
What is a Live-Work Unit?
Definition Live-Work units, or LWUs for short, are properties that allow for both residential living and commercial use in the same location. In most cases, the owner of the business must be the resident that occupies the live-work unit. The layout of LWUs can vary from simple to quite complex and luxurious. Traditional live-work units are two-story apartments that place the living quarters above the business space. However, there are instances where the living space is located beside the workspace, or even behind it. More luxurious options may even include a three- or four-story townhouse that dedicates the first floor to commercial business, while the second, third, and fourth floors are used for residential purposes. The type of work-live units that are available for use varies on municipal codes and the type of business that residents are looking to operate. It should also be noted that live-work units typically place the residents at precedence, while work-live units will likely place the business in operation at precedence. Advantages One of the biggest advantages of residing in a live-work unit is the cut down on commute time. Many business owners enjoy the convenience of being able to take a brief walk to and from work and have found their gasoline and food bills to also decrease as a result. Business owners may also find that operating out of a live-work unit is similar to working remotely from home. Another major advantage of live-work units is that they offer affordable office space. Instead of business owners paying rent for both their home unit and their commercial unit, they only have to pay for one, conjoined space. This is especially helpful for business owners during the early stages of operation. Disadvantages While the proximity of work and home offers benefits, business owners may find themselves having difficulty separating their personal life from their professional life. This may be especially true for those who consider themselves workaholics. The amount of living space may also be significantly decreased since the unit size is divided between two functions. As a result, a live-work unit may not be the most ideal option for residents with children or pets. The Market Common If you are a business owner seeking to reside in a live-work unit, consider exploring the Market Common community! The Market Common is a vibrant shopping, dining, and residential planned community located in Myrtle Beach, SC. This community offers residents a coastal downtown vibe with local shops and restaurants, just walking distance from their homes. The Market Common offers a wide variety of options for residential living. With several apartment complexes and numerous neighborhoods, Market Common provides an opportunity for every family. Embedded in the shopping district are units above local businesses, allowing you the opportunity to live right in the middle of this lively community. Contact Us We would love to hear from you! So let’s set up a meeting today. Please fill out the form and you will receive an email from us. If you do not get the email in the next 5 minutes, check your spam/junk folder. We will make sure that someone gets in touch with you as soon as possible.
Adding Value to Your Rental
Pets and Rental Property “Adding value” to a rental property, addresses the home features, conveniences, or extras that make a rental property more desirable. Added value really is about enhancing the appeal of your rental above other homes it will compete with. What features cause a really good prospect to want your rental property vs another one down the street? In our experience, high quality tenants have a sense of identity that even their rental property needs to portray. Just because they don’t own the property, doesn’t meant they don’t want it to be their home! The more your property feels like a home, the more likely you will attract quality tenants to live there. Feature Appeal: Feature appeal can be a nicely fenced back yard or more modern luxury vinyl plank flooring in main living areas. It can be low maintenance yards because they require less weekly effort to keep attractive. Or, it can be extra storage racks in the garage. Improving your rental property with lifestyle features doesn’t have to be done all at once. We recommend property owners stay aware of the features that matter most to tenants over time and incrementally make “added value” improvements as tenants commit to stay longer. Feature Appeal: Your goal is to make a profit between your initial investment and incremental improvements for adding value to make your home lease for more money and retain tenants’ long term. The ability to attract the best potential tenants depends on how your property stands out from others. A smart investor chooses to make value-based improvements that do not over improve the property yet keeps it strategically competitive. Our expert evaluation of your property will temper this cost to benefit decision so that you gain the optimal potential income and reduce repetitive wear & tear maintenance while retaining tenants longer. Added value is a smart ownership strategy to make sure your property stands out in the market, while achieving the highest market rent. Contact Us We would love to hear from you! So let’s set up a meeting today. Please fill out the form and you will receive an email from us. If you do not get the email in the next 5 minutes, check your spam/junk folder. We will make sure that someone gets in touch with you as soon as possible.
Four Keys to Successful Investment Selections in Myrtle Beach
Four Keys to Successful Investment Selections These four keys should help guide you in your pursuit of buying and owning residential investment property in Myrtle Beach. By setting smart buying parameters, you will increase your odds of enjoying better investment income. Emotional Attachment An investment property should not have an emotional attachment to it. Renting the home, that you grew up in for instance, is not a good idea because you are too attached to its out-of-date features that you hold dear in your memories! A rental unit is an investment designed to make you money, not preserve your childhood memories. Keep your childhood home and live in it or use it as a second home, but do not rent it. It’s won’t be a fun place for either of you! Sell your inherited family home and buy another property ideally suited for its appeal to the rental market and enjoy your intended financial rewards! Bedrooms Your target audience for a rental property is a two-to-four-bedroom unit. One or five- bedroom units take longer to rent and tend to turn over more often. The sweet spot in leasing residential property is a three bedroom, two or two and one-half bath, with a bonus room, double car garage and fenced back yard. Stick within these parameters to ensure rental home is always in high demand when it becomes vacant and pays you top rental income. Landscaping Low-key landscape maintenance is critical when selecting a prospective rental property. Few tenants enjoy yard maintenance so yards that require little time maintaining adds value to their lifestyle experience. Grass is usually an attractive basic feature when there are limited amounts and in appropriate areas for use. You can make a home more appealing for a tenant with lower maintenance ground surfaces such as mulch or low maintenance shrubs. Talk to your property manager or a landscape professional about a low maintenance landscape conversion before you buy a property and make sure your ideas are compatible with the community POA requirements. Floor Plans Avoid unique, odd or unusual home designs or floor plans. Someone surely must have had a dream in mind when they built a unique style home. But unique probably won’t suit many tenants who just want to live a normal rental experience. Attempting to convert the home into something more normal is usually more trouble than it is worth. Just stay in the boring mainstream of housing with NORMAL spaces and functionality to appeal to 95% of your target market. Play the odds and enjoy the rewards! Finally, call us about the homes you are considering BEFORE you initiate a contract or while you are in your due diligence period. We will be happy to offer you our observations, recommendations and provide you with a rental value range to help you in your assessment process. Invest wisely and enjoy solid tenancy retention, income, equity growth and less stress. That’s our formula to making a successful investment!
Kitchen Upgrades
Kitchen Upgrades Rental properties that already have an upgraded kitchen hold a market advantage to attract tenants that care about their home and the image it presents to their friends. Creating affordable and esthetic kitchen upgrades is an investment that will pay dividends to attract and retain quality tenants for you in the years to come. Cabinets: Fortunately, there are a few cost-effective changes you can make, which will give the updated look a tenant craves with significantly less cost to accomplish this strategy. To update the cabinets, you will not need to replace them to change the look of the kitchen. Consider refacing the cabinets by replacing the cabinet doors and leave the cabinet bases in place. A fresh coat of paint in a new neutral color can dramatically change the look. Anything too bright or distinctive can clash with a tenant’s color pallet of their furnishings. Keep it simple yet elegant. Countertops: By adding new wall backsplash and countertops, you can further enhance the impact of your cabinet refacing. Remember that trends come and go, so it is important to stay up-to-date on what people are currently looking for. Countertops vary in price and durability. Getting the most expensive top is not necessary. Choose a builder grade quality countertop and keep the pattern or color to a more subdued tone. Let the countertop supplier know it’s for a rental property so they can suggest the best value options. Backsplashes vary widely from subway tile to stacked stone or colored glass. It’s best to stay with subtle colors and textures with light gray, light blue, and sand tone colors. Coordinating these accents will quickly change the esthetic feel of the space and present a contemporary appeal. Lighting: Now is the time to remove the old-style fluorescent lights and replace them with some of the latest options in kitchen lighting fixtures. There are a variety of options from hanging chandeliers to ceiling-mounted LED lights, ceiling can light, and wall accent lights. There are so many fixtures to choose from! A local lighting fixture store can help you fit the fixture to the space you are working to accent. Hardware: The finishing touch to your new cabinets will be selecting new cabinet knobs, pulls and door hinges on cabinets and drawers. These accents are an important change that will add the contemporary style to the kitchen so that it will accentuate the desirability of this home’s lifestyle to a prospective tenant. Appliances: Outdated black or white appliances can depress the visual appeal of a kitchen. The good news is that modern stainless-steel appliances have become more affordable. You do not need to purchase high-end appliances in an annual rental property for it to be appealing. Always choose a mid-level price point from quality appliance brands so that they will last 10 years or longer. Summary: Adding a few contemporary kitchen upgrades can be affordable. Take a quick inventory of the kitchen space needing a new look and explore how just a few strategic changes make a huge difference in the look and feel of your rental property. Tenants today are looking for updated kitchens that give the impression of life in 2020; not 1990! To enhance your market position for a competitive advantage, and higher lease rates, influence prospective tenants’ tour, and home selection choice, by offering a lifestyle they are willing to mentally and emotionally adopt. We hope this information helps you in your decision process on how to update the kitchen in your annual rental property. Contact Us We would love to hear from you! So let’s set up a meeting today. Please fill out the form and you will receive an email from us. If you do not get the email in the next 5 minutes, check your spam/junk folder. We will make sure that someone gets in touch with you as soon as possible.
Screening Tenants
Screening Tenants Overview: If you are considering a move to a new area, you will likely need to find an annual rental as your new home. If so, make sure you know the prequalification issues that will determine your capacity to lease the home of your choice. When screening tenants, Landlords look most favorably at Tenant applicants with a good credit history, clean background check, clean eviction history, stable employment, sufficient income, and positive landlord and employer references. Having excellent ratings on all these items provides you with a high level of assurance that your application will gain a favorable consideration for approval. Sufficient Income: When you apply for an annual rental property, ensure you make sufficient income to afford your monthly rent. Typically, you need five times the rent amount in net pay to establish affordability. Having sufficient and regularly occurring income helps you avoid running short in the ability to pay your rent on time. Not paying on time leads to late fees, NSF (non-sufficient fund) fees or ultimately an eviction because you were unable to pay the rent. Credit History: A healthy credit history demonstrates that you pay all your bills promptly and make it easier for a Landlord to acknowledge that you will pay the rent on time; therefore, they are motivated to approve your rental application. A typical credit report shows all your loans and credit card balances. If your ratio is too high, you could be denied because it indicates you could struggle with rent payments. Your credit history can show numerous missed payments or collections, causing you to be denied for a lease. Be sure to ask the property management company early in the process if they have a minimum credit score. Past Evictions: If you have had an eviction, this creates some severe challenges to a new lease approval! Being evicted indicates that rent was not paid on time, was uncollected. It could also mean an unwillingness to abide by basic conduct standards or not maintaining a property properly. Regardless of the cause, an eviction in your recent past is a difficult problem for a Landlord to overlook. Avoid this issue as much as possible to avoid expensive incentive deposits that may be necessary to give the Landlord a reasonable comfort level to consider you as a tenancy. Criminal History: Any arrest or criminal conviction will also add to the difficulty of gaining a lease approval. The last thing a Landlord wants is to deal with a person they fear will act unlawfully. The incident may be in the past, but wrong conduct is a barometer to possible future behavior problems. They will avoid this type of conflict at all costs. If you have these issues in your past, you will need to demonstrate a clear history for 2-3 years and a team of respected advocates who will vouch for your present lifestyle of managing your life correctly. Employment: Consistent and longstanding employment is an essential item for property managers and owners reviewing a lease applicant. It demonstrates the ability to conform to standards and work with other people effectively. Summary: As you can see, a Tenant application is somewhat like a personal profile snapshot. It provides a Landlord or Property Manager with the necessary but critical information to trust you with a highly valuable asset for which they are ultimately responsible. Demonstrating you are accountable, stable, and mature in your personal business affairs is the key to securing your next lease on the home of your desires. Happy home search! Contact Us We would love to hear from you! So let’s set up a meeting today. Please fill out the form and you will receive an email from us. If you do not get the email in the next 5 minutes, check your spam/junk folder. We will make sure that someone gets in touch with you as soon as possible.