Austin, TX Property Management Blog

Renters: Why You Should Rent From Professional Managers

Grant Williams - Friday, May 18, 2018

More than likely, at some point in time if not right now, you’ve rented a home or apartment. Not many people branch out on their own and instantly purchase property to own. If you’ve ever found yourself as the renter, then you’ve had a landlord or organization to pay rent to, request maintenance, etc. If you’re lucky, your landlord and you get along great. You pay your rent on time, they are responsive to your inquiries for maintenance and it’s a harmonious relationship for both parties. However, not all landlord tenant relationships are ideal and can result in headache for the owner and renter.

As a renter, choosing a property where you personally know the landlord can be enticing. You might think you’ll have a direct route to owner and as a byproduct you’ll be able to receive any necessary service better. In our experience, having a third party with obligations to all parties makes for a much smoother renting experience for you, the renter.

As a renter, here are a few reasons why renting a property managed by professional property managers can leave you with a better overall experience.

Maintenance

We are located in Texas where the summers are hot. Let’s imagine you’re air conditioner has just gone dead and tomorrow’s forecast is for triple digit heat. If you were renting directly from the owner of the property you are at the mercy of their response. Hopefully, if you are...

Tips to Quickly Rent Your Austin Rental Property

System - Thursday, May 3, 2018

Many rental home owners are under the impression that they can put forward a listing for their rental and the interest will be there. However, in a city like Austin where the inventory is large you are competing for tenant’s attention with owners and property managers. As you increase visibility and outreach you will have more potential renters to sift through for your property.

Networking

If you take the time to survey the Austin market and it’s thousands of rental agents you can pick up on useful strategies the pros are using. One of the most effective ways to quickly rent your Austin rental property is networking within online communities and various rental networks.

Facebook offers groups & communities of thousands of people who are specifically looking for rentals in Austin. Many have spawned and are utilizes by apartment locators in the area to try and gain new clientele but you can use them for yourself too! These groups allow you to post your property and all its info and there is no shortage of groups to join and increase the awareness of your Austin rental home. Start by search fa...

Preparing Your Rental for Lease

System - Tuesday, April 24, 2018

As we quickly approach the summer season, we are also approaching the best time to lease your property all year. The majority of leases are signed during the summer and mainly run for 12 months so there is a perpetual need for housing that rises during the summer. If you’re the owner of a rental property in Austin, here are some quick tips to get your home rent-ready for an influx of tenants this summer.

Replace old fixtures and appliances

Cleaning will only take you so far. After a while, it’s better to replace something that’s years old instead of continuing to clean and repair. Stoves, fridges, laundry, dishwashers are good replacements to make when the currents become bogged down with problems. If you are a landlord that provides a furnished rental, be sure to replace the furniture as needed.

Window Blinds

We might as well call these things dust catchers. Sometimes your tenant does their best and cleans these, but they can do so with disregard to damaging the blinds. Blinds easily break and cleaning them can be delicate. You could consider hiring a blind cleaning company and utilizing their special equipment for the job. They may seem easy, but damaging your blinds and having to ...

[Video] 1807 Pecan Street | Austin Homes For Rent

System - Monday, April 16, 2018

924 SF | 2 Bed | 1 Bath

1807 Pecan Street, Bastrop, TX 78602

Austin Home for Rent: 6803 Side Saddle St

System - Tuesday, April 10, 2018

6803 Side Saddle Street, Austin, TX 78745

1,434 SF | 3 Bed | 2 bath

View this and other great homes for rent in Austin, Texas!

City of Austin Releases New Affordable Housing Map

System - Thursday, April 5, 2018

The City of Austin, Texas has just released a new 'user-friendly' affordable housing map. The map serves as a resource for low- and middle-income residents of greater Austin, Texas.

VIEW AUSTIN AFFORDABLE HOUSING MAP

The map shows various income-restricted housing units that are subsidized or incentivized by the city of Austin. This information has always been readily available to the public but was hidden behind a clunky user interface that was hard to navigate. The updated version provides details on developments and describes properties and housing type.

The city says the map will be updated regularly and more information will be added as they continue to develop this new tool.

New City of Austin Regulations on Carbon Monoxide Detectors

System - Monday, April 2, 2018

You can read more about these new regulations via Austin's KVUE News

Security Deposits: Facts for Austin, Texas Landlords

System - Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Unlike most states, Texas doesn’t have laws specifying the amount of deposit you can charge new tenants but we do have laws protecting this money for both the landlord and the tenant.

Limits on Security Deposits

Owning a rental home is no small feat and you should be proud. However, not everyone considers your rental home the precious asset that it is to you. The good news is that Texas is one of the most landlord-friendly states in the Union. Currently, there is no limit on what a landlord can charge for a security deposit. With that said, it’s popular to charge up to one or one and a half month’s rent. Going above this can hurt your property when trying to find excellent tenants. You may be the best landlord in the Austin metro area but if you charge too much for entry into your property then finding quality tenants on time will be harder. Keep in mind there is no shortage of rental options in a city like Austin.

Returning the Security Deposit

The deadline to return a security deposit to your tenant upon move-out is 30 days. There are a few stipulations that allow you to keep the security deposit regardless of this. They are as follows: