OWNER's FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are the damages that the resident is responsible for?
Owners and residents can review our Move Out Procedures document. This document provides guidelines to residents as they prepare to move out of their current unit. Included in the document is information on how security deposits are processed and how we determine deductions.
How does Bessa Properties determine what is needed to get the home ready for a new resident?
After a resident moves out of a unit and prior to unit showings, our team does a thorough property inspection. A report is generated during these inspections and includes pictures and comments on what our team recommends to get the unit in rent ready condition. Owners are provided with these reports and recommendations before work is completed.
What does Bessa Properties do to limit the number of vacant days?
Our team follows a strict leasing schedule. All leases are reviewed on a weekly basis. We begin our lease renewal process 100 days out from lease expirations. After the 100-day mark, our team is in constant communication with the residents until a new lease is signed or the resident decides to move out of the unit. If a resident decides to move out, Bessa Properties will list the unit 30 days prior to vacancy.
Do you rekey the house after the resident moves out?
Yes, after a resident moves out of a unit our team will replace the locks/rekey. Future residents will have a new set of keys as will our Bessa Properties. Previous residents will no longer be able to access the unit.
Will you let me know when my home has been leased?
Yes, owners will be notified as soon as a resident has decided to not renew a lease. Our team will do an analysis to determine a new listing price and then will inform the owner prior to listing the unit. If the owner is in agreement, the leasing team will move forward with listing the unit. Once a qualified renter has applied, met the qualifications and signed a leased, the owner will be notified of the new resident.
How are turnover expenses billed?
If a unit turnover will cost $500 or more, property owners will be notified with our team’s recommendations and a quote for the work. Once approved, if a property reserve is not in place, a payment request will be made to the owner prior to beginning the turnover work.
Can the resident use their security deposit to pay the last month rent?
No, residents are not permitted to use his/her security deposit towards rent. Residents are made aware of this information in the lease agreement they sign and in the Move Out Procedures document.
How many days’ notice does the resident have to give to move out?
Residents are required to give a minimum of a 30-day notice.
Does True Home Ohio adhere to Federal Fair Housing Guidelines?
Yes, True Home Ohio follows all Federal Fair Housing laws and abides by the Fair Credit Act. All applications are screened and processed in the same manor.
Does True Home Ohio require residents to have renter’s insurance?
Yes, residents agree to obtain renter’s insurance upon signing a lease agreement.
Does Bessa Properties require residents to have utilities in their name?
This depends on the property and unit. When an owner begins working with our team, they are asked to provide details of how utilities will be handled. Most single-family properties require a resident to put all utilities (gas/electric/water/sewage) in their name. However, some units only require gas/electric.
Do you recommend professional photography for my rental property listing?
100%. This is a common mistake we see investors make who are self-managing (and even some professional property management companies too). Think about the amount of time, energy, and money it took to 1.) Find a good deal on a rental 2.) Make an offer and get under contract 3.) Go through due-diligence to close on the rental 4.) Figure out and lock in financing 5.) Do everything to finally get to closing and close on the rental. This is something that costs 10’s of thousands of dollars. At this point in the rental property investing journey, it is easy to get excited about posting your FOR RENT listing and think “I’m going to save some money by just going to my rental and taking pictures with my smart phone. It’s only a rental property and my amateur picture taking skills will be fine without doing any editing”. Think about this for a second. There was just a transaction of typically $50,000+ to acquire this asset. The opportunity to spend less than $100 for professional 3D photography with professional editing should be a no-brainer. This will showcase your rental in the best possible way online, attract higher quality residents, and decrease vacancy times. We always recommend utilizing a professional photographer no matter if you are self-managing or you put the keys in our hands.
Can I still decide if I want to accept pets or not?
Yes, owners are able to make this decision at any point. We must follow all Laws and regulations per city, county and state.
How much do you charge for "routine inspections"?
A routine inspection is what Bessa Properties defines as the time when our inspection team will enter your property.
The goal of this is to perform a “routine inspection” of the property to ensure the residents are taking proper care of the unit, there are no unreported maintenance items needing addressed (think about things such as a minor leak in a pipe that a resident will not report), and allow for our clients to get some pictures of the unit to prepare for turnover if there is a need to update/rehab the unit.
There is a small $69 service fee per unit to perform a routine inspection. Our clients have the option to perform zero, one, or two of these per year.