All Forum Posts by: Diana Flores

When advertising, I include the application fee and write NON-REFUNDABLE next to it. Running a credit/background check is not free. Also it stops tenants who are not 100% interested from applying 

I bougt lease forms from BiggerPockets and I received them in PDF and Microsoft Word formats. I used the Microsoft Word version because it is easy to modify.  Also many apartments buildings in your state will have their leases online. I recommend doing a google search  so you can add anything else that may be useful to you. 

After I had the final version of my lease, I copied & pasted the lease into my Document Template section of my TenantCloud account. 

The template allows you to use the lease for several properties & when the lease is sent to the Tenant for signing, you can put the rent amount, tenant name, security deposit amount, etc and it will be populated into the lease automatically. It is super easy to use. My tenant signed everything electronically via TenantCloud. 

P.S. TenantCloud is a property management software. 

I use TenantCloud. It notifies me when a rent is due and it also emails automated reminders to my tenant. It has an accounting section where you can log expenses and earnings

My condo is right above my rental unit & I thought of providing free internet since I am already paying for it & it would be close enough for my tenant to access it. However, what if your tenant starts to watch child pornography? Although unlikely if you screen well, I prefer keeping things separate & requiring my tenant to get utilities under his own name. Also I wont be getting calls or complains that his internet speed is slow, etc.

I write in my lease which utilities are included. In my case, I include water bc it’s paid by the condo association. For electricity & gas, I tell my tenants that those services will be disconnected a day prior to their move & they must call the Electrical & Gas Companies to set up those services. I am in Virginia & that’s how it works for all apartment/condo rentals