Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions. We want to make sure you have all the information you will need to make the right choice in a property management company.
How long does it take to rent my property?
At Landstar Property Solutions, our average time to rent your property, when it is ready to rent is 1 to 2 months! We begin marketing your property as soon as we receive the notice from your current tenant. We add it to our in-house rent list, record information, and upload it to the Internet ….. all at no additional cost. Many of our properties are rented before the current resident moves out. Your home is made available 24 hours a day. 7 days a week via our Website, the Multiple Listing Service within our Franchise group and our home rental staff.
Is it better to rent month-to-month or have a longer-term lease?
For owners of luxury homes in your price range, we feel that it is best for the property owner to have a one year lease to insure a stable resident and to reduce the amount of time your property might be vacant between tenants. It always seems that tenants who are not on a lease want to leave at the worst time, leaving the owner with an empty property for several months.
How do you find tenants for my home?
We market your property in many ways. We maintain an in-house rental list with all available properties listed. The list is available without cost to anyone who drops by the office or calls and requests that a list be sent or faxed to them. We also maintain a list on our website for those who are computer inclined. We provide all our franchise offices with our list of available properties and will we also advertise in various publications.
How do you qualify applicants?
We have developed a very extensive system that also complies with the requirements of the law. When we receive an application we ask a lot of questions to make sure we have a feel for the applicant and their honesty in providing us with information.
Then we do the following to verify the information on the application:
-
Secure a national credit report on the applicant which includes the information on judgments and credit history as well as the Tenant Profile Network.
Obtain references from previous landlords.
Confirm their employment.
Our staff and/or principal also peruses the application and gives the final approval.
How often are inspections done at my property?
We inspect your property in the following ways:
-
When the property is vacant we inspect it to determine any work that is needed to prepare it for the next tenant
When the work is done, we inspect it to insure the tenants has a good first impression
When our workmen visit the property for minor or routine maintenance they are instructed to report any problems such as pets, extra people, or anything else that is a potential problem. (this is the most revealing “inspection” because the tenants are not expecting to be reported on)
Annually we inspect the unit for potential problems and to report to you regarding minor maintenance that may not have been reported by the tenant
As we travel through different areas we drive by properties to look at the exterior of the property and order additional inspections if warranted
If we receive a complaint from a neighbour or from you, we will initiate additional inspections.
Should you require any additional detailed inspection of the property, we are able to attend to an inspection of the property on a “once off” basis or regularly either monthly, quarterly or bi-annually, for a fee of R250 per inspection. You will receive a detailed condition report on the property with recommendations as to what work/improvements are required. We would be able to obtain quotations and submit them to you for approval and then give instructions for such work to be effected.
How are maintenance problems handled?
We ask that all maintenance requests be submitted in writing (except emergencies) so that we have a record of all requests. We try to resolve minor problems over the phone (i.e. re-set breakers) to avoid the cost of a house call. If repairs are really needed, we will arrange for the work to be done as soon as possible after obtaining your approval and/or attending to repairs according to your written instructions to ourselves. We advise tenants of their responsibilities should it turn out that the repair was needed due to their neglect or misuse of the property.
Our offices are open 08h30 to 17h00 on Monday through Friday and 09h00 to 12 noon on Saturdays and we have someone in the office that can arrange for work to be done during those hours.
After hours we have staff/contractors available to attend to emergency work.
When do I receive reports and the monthly rents?
After we collect the rent at the beginning of a month and deposit them in our trust account, we process any payments that you have authorized us to pay on your behalf. This could include bond payments, insurance payments, rates and taxes and any maintenance work that has been done.
By the ± 15th of the month, we prepare a monthly statement that itemises the income and expenses for that month, you should receive this by ± the 20th day of each month. We can also send your report via e-mail, so that it arrives without delay. Thereafter we will pay into your bank account the balance of the rental.
How much will you spend on maintenance before you contact me?
In the Management Agreement you can specify how much we are authorized to spend before we call you. The lower the authorization limit, the more often you will be called. The exception to this limit comes when there is an emergency or when a tenant moves out.
In the event of an emergency such as lack of electricity, or lack of water, we make a decision without contacting you. It is important that basic services be supplied to the resident without significant interruption.
If there are options such as repairing versus replacing, we will attempt to contact you as soon as it is reasonable and we will discuss the available solutions. If a temporary fix will avoid further problems, we will authorise it and then contact you with an estimate to make long-term repairs.
When a tenant moves out, we will inspect the property for occupancy as quickly as possible.
Are you the cheapest company in town?
Do you really want the cheapest company? The old saying “You get what you pay for” is always true. There are other companies that charges less than we do. There are other companies that charge more. We are somewhere in the middle. I feel that we offer the most comprehensive service package in the industry and our rates are very competitive.
What if I want to sell? Can Landstar Property Solutions help?
If you are thinking about selling your unit and have not selected an agent, we believe that we will be able to give you sound, efficient and effective service to sell your property and achieve the best possible price. As the managing agents administering the property we will have all the information in respect of the property available and will be the most effective agent in dealing with the tenant and giving advice if necessary. We will also be able to assist the tenant in obtaining alternative accommodation, should they require our assistance. Or if you have your own agent, we will work with them to co-ordinate the sale with the tenant. We will be more than happy to continue managing the unit right up to the end. After the tenant has vacated, we will handle the disbursements of the deposit and then close out your account with some final reports.
Why should I choose Landstar Property Solutions?
We feel that what most people want in a management company is honesty, integrity, a well trained and experienced staff who uses all of today’s technology to keep you informed of the happenings at your property and keep it rented at the best rental rates while keeping expenses at a reasonable level. That’s what we do and who we strive to be every day.