Landlord FAQ's

Landlord Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What do I get for my monthly management fee?
A: Among other things, your management fee buys:

* Rent collection and tenant relations.
* The expertise of our property management team.
* Twenty-four hour access to a wide array of maintenance vendors.
* Professionally crafted and legally tested leases and related documents.
* Access to competent, effective landlord/tenant attorneys.
* 24 access to your property's financial records, maintenance requests, rent roll, and announcements.
* Peace of mind.

Q; How long will it take to rent my property?
A: Many factors affect the speed with which a property rents including supply/demand, time of year, location, and condition. We will recommend a market rent based on these factors.

Q: Can JG Atlanta Properties, LLC make my mortgage payments?
A: Yes, provided the following conditions are met:

1. A minimum of one month’s mortgage payment is held as a “minimum balance” or “funding” in your property account.
2. Sufficient funds are available to us when the payment is due.

Q: Will JG Atlanta Properties, LLC pay vendors or my HOA fees if my account balance is insufficient when the bills are received?
A: No. Real estate regulations preclude any real estate company from advancing its own funds to settle an owner’s expenses. Bills are paid when the available balance in the property account is equal to or exceeds the amount(s) owed. For this reason, it is important to ensure your account balance is always sufficient to pay all anticipated expenses.

Q: I interviewed several managers and found a lot of variation in fees. Why is that?
A: Real estate companies operate completely independently of one another and set their fees according to what they consider reasonable returns for their efforts. There are no “standard” fees for particular services. At JG Atlanta Properties, LLC, the emphasis is on quality. We believe our program provides excellent value to our investment property owners.


Q: I have been advised that I paint, replace a few rooms of carpet, and have the house power washed before placing it on the rental market. I’m not selling—why should I go to all this trouble and expense for tenants?
A: A well-maintained property attracts better tenants, leases in a shorter time, and generally brings higher rents. Well-qualified tenants realize they are sought after and shop homes that are in good condition and offer the best value for their rent dollars. The money you “save” by not having the property in top condition will be spent on longer vacancies and the problems associated with attracting lesser qualified tenants.

Q. Should I allow pets?

A. This is a personal decision, but consider the following:

Benefits of Renting to Tenants with Pets:

* lowering vacancy rates;
* reducing tenant turnover rates;
* broadening the pool of prospective tenants; and
* promoting a sense of tenant safety and security

PET POLICY GUIDELINES:

Start with screening
Careful screening of prospective tenants is the first step to a successful pet policy. By asking a few simple questions, property owners can screen out irresponsible pet owners and find the responsible ones who will make good tenants.

Put it in writing
A written agreement protects the interests of both property owner and tenant, and pet rules and procedures help avoid misunderstandings.

Charge a pet deposits
Typically, we recommend a $250.00 pet deposit, but if damage is greater, the costs can be covered from the rental security deposit.

Establish limits
Limit permissible animals to common pets like dogs, cats, rodents, fish, and birds. A policy on how many pets each tenant may own can also help keep the building's pet population at manageable levels.

Set parameters
Should certain types of pets be confined to tenants' apartments? Should other pets be permitted in all or only parts of the common areas? Should dogs be leashed when in hallways and other communal areas? Establish pet regulations in advance, before any conflicts arise.

Ensure cleanliness
A responsible pet owner will agree to immediately pick up and dispose of dog feces, bag kitty litter before placing it in garbage containers, and take other necessary sanitation measures.

Require spaying and neutering
Spayed and neutered animals are generally healthier, better behaved, and more suited to apartment living than their unaltered counterparts.