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Avoiding Tenant Evictions in Jacksonville Beach, FL | Professional Property Management

July 26, 2016
Many rental property owners, particularly new landlords, are concerned about being in a position where an eviction will be required. They aren’t sure if they need an attorney, and they have questions about how much it costs and how long the process takes. Perhaps these are the wrong questions. A Jacksonville property manager will tell you to ask how to avoid eviction instead.

Provide a High Quality Property
First, you need to offer a top quality product. A home in good repair, which is well-maintained and very clean will attract a high quality tenant. Make sure it looks its best so that when prospective tenants arrive for showings, they can imagine living there.

Thorough Tenant Screening
Next you need a thorough screening process. Check credit histories, criminal backgrounds, tenant history, as well as income and employment. You also need to engage in a little old fashioned detective work.

Solid Lease and Consistent Procedures
You need a solid lease. Don’t use a generic lease from the Internet, but one drafted by an attorney who is familiar with the Landlord Tenant Law in Florida, or wherever you are located. You also have to have a solid rent collection policy in place, and you need to enforce it. In this era of online applications and electronic payments and digital signatures, I believe in the value of a face to face meeting with tenants before they move in. This gives you the opportunity to lay the groundwork for a mutually respectful relationship. Make sure your tenants know how to request maintenance and where and when to pay rent. They need to know what to expect from you and what you expect from them. Make sure you have procedures in place that nurture a mutually respectful relationship.

Treat Tenants with Respect
Treat tenants with respect if you want to avoid the risk of evictions. Respond to their needs, keep the home maintained, and respond fairly when issues arise. You have to remember that sometimes life throws people a curveball. There may be a death in the family, a job loss, or an opportunity in another city. When these situations arise, be on the list of the first people they call. It puts you in charge of the situation and allows you to facilitate a quick turnover and limit lost rental income

Avoid an adversarial relationship if you want to avoid evictions. When you provide a clean, maintained property, you’ll have a happy tenant, which increases your return and decreases the probability that you’ll have to evict.


If you have any questions about eviction in Jacksonville, please contact us at Morgan Property

Management.

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Jacksonville Rental Market During Covid-19

May 22, 2020
We want to bring some good news about the rental market in Jacksonville FL to help offset all the pessimistic national news coverage. Based on our property management results over the past few months, the rental market has been hit less than expected. Overall May rent collections were better than expected, back to our normal 3% to 5% increase due to new properties. However, there was a small drop in March and April with a 1% to 2% reduction in rent collected.

How Do I Get the Highest ROI on My Jacksonville Beach Rental Property? Management Tips

August 30, 2016
Every rental property owner’s goal is to maximize the return on investment. Rental prices are an integral part of this overall strategy. A realistic and unbiased approach to figuring out the market rental rates is necessary to this endeavor. In fact, if you can identify the correct rental rates for your property, it can help you lower your vacancy rates. Conducting a Market Analysis The best way to determine rental rates in an unbiased fashion is to do a market analysis. This tool takes into account several factors. Geography is important, because you want to compare properties that are near to your own property. You also have to take a look at the size of your home, the condition, the age, and the availability of similar properties in your area. Calculating Rental Value The process of determining a market rental analysis is straightforward. You identify similar properties in your immediate area that have rented recently or are still available. Once you identify those homes, calculate the dollar per square foot that they rent for. You also want to take into account the number of days that the home has been on the market. That will help you spot some outliers. Properties that are on the market longer than others often have a problem. Either the condition is not great, or the home is overpriced. Identifying Market Trends It’s also important to identify market trends. A good way to determine whether your local market is in an upswing or a downswing is by looking at the average dollar per square foot. If it’s higher in unrented properties than in previously rented properties, you know you’re in a strong rental market. Once you determine all these things, you can calculate the average dollars per square foot for your own property. Remember that the active properties are your direct competition. You also have to identify any amenities or problems that would require you to increase or decrease the suggested average dollars per square foot for your rental.

Should I Allow Pets in My Rental Property? | Professional Property Management Jacksonville Beach

August 16, 2016
Many landlords ask if they should allow pets in their rental properties. When you consider the increased pool of applicants from which you can choose, it’s a good idea to allow them as long as you have a plan in place to mitigate the increased risk of damages that comes with allowing pets. The number of homes with pets has increased from 56 percent in 2011, to 65 percent in 2015. That number continues to grow. Putting Together a Pet Policy A good example of a strong pet policy can be found from the SPCA or the Humane Society. Your policy should include a restriction on the number of pets that you’ll allow in your rental. You should also require that all pets be spayed and neutered. You don’t want to allow any breeding or puppy mills within your residence. You should also have a plan in place for pet waste and pet management like fleas and ticks. The animals and the tenants who own them must comply with all state and local laws, so be sure to run it by an attorney. Screening the Pet Be prepared to screen the pet similar to the way you’ll screen your applicant. Have your potential tenant fill out a pet application. Ask for vet records and references from prior landlords. Make sure you follow up on those references because the previous and former landlords will be able to tell you if that pet left any damage behind. Make it a policy to meet the dog. Ascertain its personality, temperament and grooming. Note the interaction between the pet and the pet owner: which one is in charge? Pet Deposits An increase in the security deposit you collect from a pet owner and the opportunity for a refund will ensure that your tenant complies with your pet policy.
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