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After almost two years of evaluating the current management software on the market we have finally landed on Appfolio. Appfolio is a totally internet based application that will allow REM Commercial to be on the cutting edge of property management in Northeast Ohio. It will allow us to provide real time access to our Client, Customers, and Vendors. We are receiving positive feedback from tenants that like the ease of paying their rent online.

What is in it for Tenants?

Like I said earlier tenants have real time access to their account. They can see all the charges and payments on their account as well as an account balance. Within their login portal they will be able to pay rent by check or credit card. E-Checks are free and there is a small charge for debit and credit card payments. Also if you pay with a money order every month and bring it to our office you can save yourself time and money by paying cash at convenient location near where you live. The cash payment sites eliminate the need for money orders and an extra trip to the office or mailing of your money order. Contact our office if you are interested in this form of payment. Additionally, from your login portal you can submit maintenance request. Whether it is during regular business hours or late night you have access to submit a work order online. You will be able to monitor the progress of your work order as it moves throughout the process. Please continue to call the emergency phone number for emergencies.

What is in it for Property Owner’s?

First and foremost tenant retention. Tenant’s that are able to resolve their issues with their landlord easily and smoothly are more likely to stay long term. In addition, property owners have the same real time access to their accounts. You will be able to login to your account 24/7/365 and see the information you are looking for without waiting for your monthly financial statement. Monthly statements will be published to the owner portal along with the copies of your bills saving you the postage and office charges that come with mailing your financial statement to you each month. We will also be able to deposit your monthly income check directly to your checking or savings account. Please contact the office to set this service up. Normally, mailed checks reach our clients around the 15th of the month. With direct deposit they will be in your account around the 5th of the month giving you access to your money sooner and without a trip to the bank to deposit it. We can also customize each client’s reports. If you like to see a rent roll each month we can do that. We can set up each client to receive a different set of reports based on their preferences.

What is in it for REM Commercial?

Happier Clients. Happier Customers. More time to be the best property managers we can be. Every time a tenant pays through the tenant portal it is one less transaction we need to touch. The tenant payment is completely transacted between the tenant’s bank and our bank. The Appfolio software posts the payment to the tenants account and enters it into the properties cash account. Posting owner statements to the owner portal allows us to customize the experience our owners have with us and reduces paper/ ink usage resulting in less expense to our clients.

We understand that moving time can be stressful and a little chaotic. With all the movers coming in and out, the packing and unpacking of boxes, and checking that no belongings were left behind, there’s hardly time to think about much else.

At REM Commercial we professionally clean every apartment prior to the new tenant’s occupancy but we understand that you may want the added assurance that everything is just perfect. Searching for your cleaning supplies in the endless boxes can be a hassle. That is why we give you a starter supply of cleaning products.

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For the Baby Boom generation at the start of their careers, there was no question that, when it came to renting vs. buying, buying was the better option. During the 1960’s and 1970’s, many young people entering the workforce expected to marry young, start a job, then settle into one area for the foreseeable future. Buying was seen as a smart investment.

Today’s workforce is a little different, and with the growth in Ohio industry and business, many workers find that the ability to be “mobile” can actually be an advantage to their careers. As a result, many workers native to Ohio or moving to Ohio choose to rent as both a short and long-term solution to their housing needs. Even the New York Times recently posted an article that shows that buying is an advantage over renting, but only if buyers plan on staying in their homes for more than six years.

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When you are ready to move out of your current Ohio housing rental and into your next place, one of the last things you want to worry about is your security deposit and whether or not you will actually receive the full amount back. But for many renters, getting the security deposit back is a source of anxiety and concern, especially if you are hoping to put those funds toward your new place.

Fortunately, there are ways to ensure that your security deposit comes back to you in full (or at least close). When renters keep in mind that rental deposits are used to protect both the property owner and the renter, it is easier to take the necessary steps to guarantee you will both win at the end of your lease agreement. Here are five steps to get your rental deposit back from your landlord.

Keep a Checklist

When you first move in to your new place, many landlords will provide a checklist so that you can document any damages or irregularities before you spend time in your new home. This checklist allows you both to go back and note the date of old damage and new wear and tear. We also suggest that renters take video or photos of the apartment before move in. Make sure to date both the checklist and any photos or videos, and be as detailed as possible in your assessment, even down to dents or dings in moldings, floors or appliances.

Read Your Lease Thoroughly

Many lease agreements will document how renters should both treat the property while living there, and upon moving out. Your lease may not allow you to use nails or screws in the wall, or may require that any other changes (like paint) require approval from the landlord or rental association first. You may also be required to give a certain window of notice before you move out (in most cases, 30 days). Moving out early, without notice, can result in costing you extra rent. When you know and understand the terms of your lease, it will be easier for your landlord to return your deposit in full.

Be Transparent

Some renters are nervous to bring the landlord in before move out, but this step can literally save you hundreds of dollars on a lost deposit. Invite your landlord or property manager in just before move out and ask detailed questions about what you might need to fix or repair. Many will be more than happy to discuss how you can help, and will appreciate the transparency and desire to leave the property in as good condition as possible.

Get Help

A professional moving company dedicated to safe handling of your possessions can certainly help to keep your deposit intact. Dings in the wall or scratches on moldings due to furniture bumps can cost you money, but professional movers can help protect both your furnishings and your walls. You can also elect to get a professional cleaning company to clean the apartment when you leave.

Get Documentation

Be sure to ask your landlord or rental management company for a receipt of your deposit. Most state laws require that your deposit be returned within 14 to 30 days. Your landlord is also required to document what they used your deposit for, including unpaid rent or utilities, and repairs from damage caused during your time on the property (but not repairs for normal wear and tear). Keep a copy of your original checklist, and compare with the receipt to make sure everything seems accurate.

At REM Commercial, we work together with tenants and property owners to make sure that your understanding of your rental agreement and our responsibility to you is a priority. Our clients appreciate our level of service and attention to detail. If you are looking for housing rentals in Ohio, browse our available listings.

 

Image courtesy of Gualberto107 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net.