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Not too long ago, in December 2016, the department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD, instituted a new law requiring properties that cater to low-income tenants and public housing to be smoke-free by July 2018. This new law requires that prohibited tobacco products, such as cigarettes, be  banned from rental units and shared areas. Tenants who wish to smoke must be more than 25 feet from the building. This law only applies to public housing; however, private rental companies and landlords are considering implementing these rules as well.

Smoke Damage to Properties

Smoking inside of a home can decrease the value by up to 29%. The chemicals in nicotine stain walls, ceilings, floors, and the smell clings to everything–even furniture. This residue left over from cigarette smoke is sometimes referred to as third-hand smoke. Real estate agents know it is more difficult to sell a home that has been smoked in and many prospective home buyers won’t buy a home that has been smoked in so why would a renter want to live somewhere that has smoke damage?

How to Transition Tenants

If you have long-term tenants that have smoked in their rental homes for a long time, they may be extremely resistant to change. New tenants may feel as though the rules are changing soon after they got there. There are a few ways a property manager can go about implements smoke free policies.

If you are managing a property that the new law applies to, well, you have the law on your side and your tenants should realize this isn’t a policy that was up to you. If you are a property manager that is not affected by the law, but still wish to implement the new policies you will have to tread more carefully. Most of the time it is wise to implement the policy unit by unit as leases are being renewed. Make sure to give tenants ample notice of the policy changing so that they can start looking for a new place to live if they can’t live with a smoke-free policy.

You want to make sure the people living in your rental home are not going to be a liability for you. Trusting that the people renting from you will take good care of the home, not engage in illegal business or other nefarious acts on your property and will pay rent on time can be difficult. Therefore, screening prospective tenants is so important. There are a few ways that a property manager will screen the people applying to live in your rental home.

Credit History-Most property management software and programs will allow property managers to run a credit check on tenants. A credit check with the 3 major credit bureaus will tell you if the prospective tenant pays their bills on time, has prior judgements against them from landlords, and bankruptcies. The rental application needs to include a photo ID and social security card, proof of address, and signed consent.

Eviction/Tenant History- Making sure to check a tenant’s prior rental history is important. Landlords and property managers can fill out rental verification forms that tell if the tenant had delinquent payment history, citations, lease violations, eviction, or other problems.

Criminal History-Programs like YARDI for property management run a credit and background check. You can also search public records using address history and the information from the rental applicant’s ID. Registered sex offender lists are also available online for free.

Income Verification-Most property management companies recommend that rent is no more than one third of a person’s budget to remain affordable. People who spend only one third of their income on rent are more likely to pay their rent on time. Income verification through paystubs, offer letters, or employment contracts are the norm with rental applications. Property managers should make sure to call previous jobs and current to verify employment.

Tracking down all this information and making a good decision about a prospective tenant can be difficult, especially when you must comply with fair housing laws. Let Scott Properties be the solution to your property management needs.

Finding the perfect rental home can be quite difficult in cities that are iconic tourist destinations. Air BnB has been expanding rapidly and property owners with rental homes are starting to market to short term rentals rather than long term family housing. Sometimes however, this kind of renting is not sustainable because you are never guaranteed that someone will choose your home for their stay and you are also taking a new risk with each different person that you are trusting to stay in your rental homes. Midlands is still full of residents that need long term living arrangements for their family.

Knowing your Market

Midlands has a diverse population of just over 130 thousand people however, the entire Midlands region is hearing 750,000. Millennials make up a large chunk of Midlands with the median age being 36. The population is growing quickly with 34 new people moving to the area daily. This means there are new opportunities every day to secure a great long-term rental for your property. The average household income is around $70k per year which means that many families are in a financial position to rent, rather than buy in many cases.

Resident Retention

The best way to ensure that your long-term rental homes in Midlands are never vacant is to practice good resident retention. Making sure that maintenance issues are taken care of in a timely manner, being available and reachable for your renters, keeping the property up to date and letting your renters know that they are appreciated. Property owners that are professional and knowledgeable always have better resident retention than those who aren’t. When you find a great renter, you want to make sure they stick with you.

Renting your property can be hard, but there are always people looking for rental homes. Midlands is a quickly expanding city that is changing with each generation, Scott Properties can offer property management that is up to date on all the market trends to ensure your property is rented long-term.

Midlands South Carolina was voted the #1 city in the US and Canada during the 2017 Readers Choice Awards by Traveler Magazine. The city is known for hospitality, history, sandy beaches, and summer festivals. People come from all over the world to vacation in South Carolina and for property owners who wish to get into the industry of rental homes, Midlands is an ideal place to build a business. When there are so many rental homes available in the city, how can a property owner ensure their home stands out from the competition?

1. Curb Appeal-Homes in Midlands are iconic and beautiful. A mix of historical charm and modernity embraces the city and people from all over the world are looking for the perfect blend of the two. Renters want to live in a home that is well kept, up to date on maintenance, has a yard with landscaping, and reflects modern convenience with charm and elegance of the south. The first impression matters, and your curb appeal should be a priority in getting your home ready to rent in Midlands.
4. Availability-Renters, especially long-term renters want to rent from someone who is available when they have questions, when there is an emergency, and can be available when maintenance is needed. When a property owner isn’t living near the property, availability can sometimes become a concern. Make sure your renters know the best ways to reach you and what to expect for response times.
7. Updated Technology-Millennials are the prime target market for renters and they want the newest and latest technologies that are energy efficient, environmentally friendly, and easy to use. Simple updates such as the newest digital thermostats and automated lights can make a significant difference in helping your property stand out.

If you aren’t sure if you have the time or energy to make sure your property stands out on the market of Rental homes Midlands, consider hiring a property management company to get you to the next level in rental homes, Midlands, South Carolina.

Your home is one of the most important pieces of property that you own. The value is higher than most other possessions, while sentimental value alone will make your home priceless. When we have to move, sometimes selling our home is a difficult choice to make. We want to hold onto the home rather than sell it, even if we can’t live in it anymore.

Even if you don’t want to sell your home, the house doesn’t have to sit empty. Many home owners choose to turn their home into a rental. Houses for rent in Midlands aren’t cheap. The iconic, tourist town with sandy beaches and history galore is the perfect place to own a rental home. People are moving to Midlands every day and more families are looking to rent homes. The earnings potential can be tremendous from rent collection. There are some things property owners must know before making the decision to become a landlord and offer houses for rent in Midlands.

1. Legalities-Houses for rent in Midlands have to adhere to strict laws and guidelines if they are going to be rented to someone. There are rules to eviction, late rent collection, disclosure to the tenant, landlord access to property while occupied, and many other ordinances that must be followed.
3. Availability- Landlords need to ensure that tenants can get ahold of them 24/7. This doesn’t mean that you are mandated to answer your phone each and every time a tenant calls, however, tenants need to know how and who to reach in the case of a maintenance emergency. Setting up an after-hours call service and keeping regular office hours is a necessity for landlords.
5. Maintenance-Being a landlord is a very hands on career. Depending on the lease, you may be responsible for doing a lot or very little for your tenant, however most renters expect for major repairs to be covered by and handled quickly by the landlord.

Being a landlord isn’t for everyone. Houses for rent in Midlands can be managed by outside companies from the property owner. A property management company, like Scott Properties  can ensure that all laws are known and followed, you have a thorough lease, and all of your responsibilities are taken care of professionally.

Midlands is a large metropolitan area that has existed since Colonial times. 350 years after the founding of Midlands, people are still moving into this bustling city at a rate of 34 people/families per day. Properties in Midlands are a mix of history and modernity with some homes sparkling and new and others falling into a state of disarray. These so called “fix-her-uppers” are the perfect investment opportunity. There are many steps investors need to know before jumping into a mortgage on a future rental home.

1. Build Wealth-Investing in property is for people who are financially stable. They have surpassed the survivability income, been stable for several years and can easily put at least 1/3 of their income into savings. Buying a home, even one is disrepair, is expense and the project of fixing it up can cost even more. Most planners recommend having at least 50,000 dollars in cash to use as a personal investment into a property.
3. Have a Strategy-If you aren’t someone who works a trade job like construction, plumbing, electrical, etc. you should really get to be friends with people who are. You will need all hands on deck to complete renovation projects under budget. Otherwise, you are going to be paying top dollar to hire someone else to do the work for you.
5. Know Your Market-When designing a home, design it for the type of renter you want to attract. Older people prefer homes with no stairs and smaller yards with just 2 bedrooms. Millennials want room to grow, the latest technology and energy efficiency. People with families appreciate pet friendly homes, large yards with fences, and 4 bedrooms or more, as well as full bathrooms.
7. Become a Landlord-After you finish the home, you have to become a landlord or hire a property management firm to take care of the business end of houses for rent in Midlands. From collecting rent, scheduling maintenance, and pursuing evictions, there is a lot that goes into managing houses for rent in Midlands and other cities.

If your house is ready to rent, consider hiring Scott Properties to make the most of your investment through professional property management.

Moving to Midlands, South Carolina can be a significant move for some people. With a population of almost three-quarters of a million people and lots of historic charm and nostalgia, Midlands can be a place quite different than many other large metropolitan cities. Being located on the coast has many advantages for Midlands because its beaches are some of the best in the country and offer a lot of tourist opportunities and a tourism economy. This is also a disadvantage to long-term renters because the demand for rental homes in Midlands can increase the property values which increases rent.