Tips for Managing Your Rental Property

1. Have your rental unit in good condition.  This is the same as in selling your home; CURB APPEAL

• Paint exterior if practical; paint trim around the front door and the front door
• Have shrubs, grass trimmed and good landscaping; not only looks good, tells prospective tenants you want your home taken care of-- "not a slum lord"
• Paint interior, as practical.  Most important is to paint the main rooms- kitchen, family room, entrance
• Make sure carpets are in good condition; replace, if necessary   

2. Determine the right rental price

• Do market analysis just prior to listing your house; can get more rent when rental demand is high (summer months)
• If you need to rent quickly, reduce rent so that your rental is lower than the competitors
• Rental units that are vacant do not collect rent-- better to rent for $50 less than to have it vacant for months

3. Advertising

• Maximize your exposure by advertising on multiple web sites (many are free) and through the Multiple Listing Service (if you have access to it)
• Placing FOR RENT signs at key locations with a high traffic flow can be the best advertisement

4.  Tenants

• Finding a good tenant that pays their rent on time and takes good care of your property can save you thousands of dollars in eviction process and repairs
• Use a reputable company to do background checks and criminal checks; the fee can be included in your application fee
  
• There are scam artists out there who will plea with you to rent to them; they will not pay the rent and live in there as long as they can get away with it.  Eviction proceedings take time, and the scam artist knows it.  They will also leave your property in bad shape when you evict them.
  

  

Snap Property Management, serves the Virginia Peninsula, including Newport News, York County, Poquoson, and Hampton.  We are here to help you with your rental needs.  As former military we know the challenges that exist and are inherent in military transfers. 
Contact us at (757) 239-0310 or at James4SPM@gmail.com

We hope you will consider Snap Property Management in serving your rental property needs in Newport News, Hampton, Yorktown, and Poquoson and the greater Hampton Roads Peninsula.  Our company has served Newport News, Hampton, Yorktown, and Poquoson civilian and military communities for over 10 years in property management.  If you are new to the area and would like to know what the Hampton Roads peninsula in general, or Newport News, Hampton, York County, or Poquoson has to offer, please send us an email.