Owner Frequently Asked Questions
-
Q: What type of properties do you manage?
A: We manage single family homes, condos and townhomes in Boise, Meridian, Eagle and Garden City Idaho.
-
Q: How many properties do you manage?
A: We currently manage around 225 homes. -
Q: Do you sell real estate too?
A: We are property management specialists, so our clients and properties are our 100% focus. We do not sell real estate.
-
Q: What type of reports do I get and how often?
A: Monthly accounting statements are emailed in the middle of each month, and again in January for your taxes. Owners statements are also available 24/7 through your Owner Portal.
-
Q: How and when do I get paid?
A: Funds are directly deposited into your account between the 10th -13th of the month.
-
Q: How is rent collection handled?
A: Tenants can pay 1) online via their portal, 2) mail the check or 3) bring it by our office.
-
Q: Can I reach you after hours?
-
Q: How long of a lease do you sign?
A: This varies, but we are usually looking at 6,12 or 18 month terms, with consideration to the time of year the lease will be ending.
-
Q: Do I have to allow pets?
A: As the owner of the property it is your decision whether to allow pets or not. If you do not accept pets, you can expect to eliminate approximately 70% of potential applicants, and it could be substantially more difficult to rent your home. If you do not allow pets, it may double or even triple the time it takes to rent your property. Owners have the option to allow either/or cats and dogs. In addition, owners can restrict the breed, age, and weight of pets. If you allow pets, we charge and retain reasonable pet fees and pet rent. We also use a 3rd party Pet Screening process. Please watch the video here for additional information -
Q: How much security deposit do you charge the tenant?
A: This is typically equal to one months rent. There can be cases where a double deposit is required.
-
Q: Who holds the tenant security deposit?
A: While not required by Idaho law, we choose to safeguard your tenant’s security deposit in a TRUE Trust account, the way it is done in most other states. We go above and beyond to protect your tenant.
-
Q: What if the tenant is not taking care of my property?
A: If it is noted on the property visit that your tenant is not keeping the property to the required standard, then a lease violation is issued, stating the items that need to be resolved. Every tenant has to be given the right to “cure” the violation before action can be taken. If this is not done within the stipulated time frame, usually 3-10 days, we will contact you to discuss the next action steps.
-
Q: Who pays the utilities?
A: Unless the HOA provides any included utilities, the tenants are typically responsible for having all the utilities in their own name. Our team verifies that the utilities have been switched prior to issuing keys to a new tenant. The homeowner is responsible during vacancy periods, however.
-
Q: Who is responsible for lawn maintenance?
A: Unless the HOA provides landscaping, the tenants are responsible for maintaining the yard in single family homes. For multifamily homes, it is customary that the owner is responsible for hiring out landscaping.
-
Q: Can I use my own vendors for maintenance?
A: We believe you hire a property manager to manage your property, not assist you in managing it yourself. Smart Move will use the vendors we have spent years building relationships with whom in addition to being fully insured, agree to a certain level of quality, response time and warranty provisions.
-
Q: Who is responsible for cleaning the gutters?
A: It is unwise to ask a tenant to get on a ladder and risk falling and suing the landlord. We will hire a local professional to clean the gutters.
-
Q: Should I rent my home furnished?
A: Typically, tenants that require furniture are not long-term tenants. A vacant rental home will diminish your ROI, to avoid a vacancy, focus on marketing to a longer-term tenant. The market for furnished homes is extremely small in the Boise area.
-
Q: What kind of insurance do I need?
A: If your property was previously your personal residence, it is very important, once it becomes a rental to switch the insurance to a rental dwelling policy. This is very different from your homeowner’s policy and you do not want to give your insurance company any reason to deny a claim. Also, if your property is ever going to be vacant for more than two months, you also need to speak with your insurance provider about that and may need a special policy for this situation.
-
Q: How soon can you start managing my property?
A: We are ready when you are.
-
Q: Should I get a Home Warranty?
A: Home Warranties are great for the owner occupied homes, but they are not a good idea for rental properties. They take the property manager out of the loop, increase time and frustration with our staff and the tenant. Therefore, SMPM does not honor existing home warranties.
