By Ryan Squires
Your rental is filled, your tenant is happy, and the only time you think about your property is when rent hits your bank account every month. Investing in a property was the best decision you ever made—until you find yourself with a vacant unit, and suddenly, your passive income isn’t feeling quite so passive.
Anyone who’s managed a property has felt the pressure of navigating all the “To-Dos” that come with a vacancy. Listings, marketing, showings, screenings… what are you even allowed to ask on an application anymore? This applicant seems fine, but so did Ted Bundy… And just like that, you’re regretting ever thinking you’d have time to manage a rental property on top of everything else you have going on.
Fear not, TurboTenant’s free tools are here to help you put the “passive” back in ”passive income.”
- One-Click Marketing
- Centralized Lead Management
- Seamless Showings
- Professional Screening & Applications
“I listed my house for rent on Sunday and had a ton of interest thanks to the effortless marketing. The leads were easy to manage, and the screening feature saved me a lot of time. I had a signed lease by Thursday. THANK YOU!” ~ Caitlin | 1 property
One-Click Marketing
Finding a great tenant starts with getting a lot of leads. But how do you get enough leads without the headache of posting to dozens of listing sites?
- Start by creating the best possible listing with embedded insights on what renters are looking for, then leverage our Rent Estimate Report, which compares your property to similar rentals nearby and calculates a suggested monthly rent amount in seconds.
- Not sure how to catch renters’ eyes? Just enter the basic information about your property and TurboTenant’s AI Property Description Generator feature will write a unique, personalized listing for you in less than five seconds.
- When your listing is complete, instantly distribute it to dozens of popular sites with one click. You can also share a custom listing link directly from TurboTenant. Simply drop in a prospect’s email or phone number, and they’ll receive a professional message with all the information they need to view your listing and apply.
Need help getting started? Get a step-by-step walk-through to help you create your first listing.
Centralized Lead Management
TurboTenant landlords average 28 leads per property, so you’re going to need an easy way to keep track of your inquiries. But don’t sweat it—TurboTenant automatically organizes all your leads, whether they found your property on external sites or through your TurboTenant listing page.
From your TurboTenant dashboard, you can message multiple leads at once, see their activity, and invite them to take the next steps (showing, screening, application) so you can find your new favorite tenant that much faster.
Seamless Showings
Phone tag, you’re (done with) it!
Ever typed out all your showing availability in an email only to hear back, “what about the next week”? TurboTenant’s Showing Scheduling feature frees you from the back-and-forth.
Set your availability, then share your unique link with qualified renters. When renters book, you’ll be notified and appointments will be added to your Showings Calendar. We’ll send you and prospective tenants appointment reminders and make canceling easy to help weed out no-shows before you show up.
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Professional Screening & Applications
TurboTenant’s applications and screening reports are an easy-to-read, digital record of all the information you need to pick the best tenant for your rental property. Best of all? TurboTenant’s applications and tenant screenings are free for landlords.
TurboTenant’s application is available anywhere, anytime—complete with industry-standard questions. It’s easy to invite leads to apply via text or email and our digital application streamlines the tenant selection process while keeping you compliant and organized.
Fill your vacancies with confidence while providing an easy, professional experience for tenants. By collecting applications with TurboTenant today, you can minimize turnover for tomorrow.
Shorten Vacancy Cycles For Free
With TurboTenant, you don’t have to sacrifice profit for professional property management tools. Create your listing with TurboTenant in minutes and find a qualified renter fast.
Once you find your perfect renter, use TurboTenant’s free fill-in-the-blank lease-builder to quickly create a rental agreement that complies with your state-specific laws. Plus, with tools to support you throughout the rental process—from securing e-signatures, to collecting rent, to tracking expenses, and more—TurboTenant is your free, one-stop shop for finding and managing tenants.
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Source: Rental Awareness
Landlords can typically charge tenants reasonable costs for repairing an excessive number of nail holes, beyond normal wear and tear. Small charges of $5-10 per hole to patch and repaint are common. However, minor wall damage from a few small holes for hanging pictures is expected.
Some landlords may charge a flat fee for repairs, while others may deduct the cost of repairing the nail holes from the security deposit.
The specific amount a landlord can charge for nail holes should be clearly stated in the lease agreement or discussed with the tenant before any repairs are made.
It is always best to communicate and clarify these details with the landlord to avoid any disputes or misunderstandings regarding the cost of nail holes.
The Landlord-Tenant Relationship
When it comes to renting a property, it’s crucial for both landlords and tenants to have a clear understanding of their rights and responsibilities.
A good landlord-tenant relationship is built on open communication and a shared understanding of the rules that govern the tenancy.
This includes knowing what repairs are the tenant’s responsibility and what charges the landlord can impose for damages, such as nail holes.
Importance Of Clear Guidelines On Repairs And Charges
Having clear guidelines is essential for landlords and tenants to avoid any confusion or disputes when it comes to repairs and charges.
By clearly outlining the responsibilities of each party in the rental agreement, there is less room for misunderstandings or disagreements down the line.
For landlords, it is key to provide tenants with a comprehensive list of what repairs they are responsible for, as well as a breakdown of any charges they may incur for damages beyond normal wear and tear.
On the other hand, tenants must fully understand these guidelines to ensure they can maintain the property and fulfill their obligations effectively.
Common Areas Of Confusion Between Landlords And Tenants
Despite clear guidelines, conflicts can still arise between landlords and tenants regarding repairs and charges.
Some common areas of confusion include:
- Disagreement on what constitutes normal wear and tear versus tenant-caused damages.
- Inconsistent enforcement of repair responsibilities leads to tenants being held liable for issues beyond their control.
- Unclear documentation of damages makes it difficult to determine the appropriate charges.
- Disputes over the reasonableness of charges for repairs and replacements.
To address these potential areas of confusion, it is essential for landlords and tenants to maintain open lines of communication throughout the tenancy.
Timely reporting and documentation of damages can help minimize disputes, while regular inspections can ensure that both parties are aware of any needed repairs or maintenance.
Determining Tenant Responsibility For Nail Holes
Determining tenant responsibility for nail holes is essential to understanding how much a landlord can charge.
It is important to know the rules and regulations regarding nail holes to ensure a fair and proper assessment of costs.
Normal Wear And Tear Vs. Tenant Damage
It is essential to understand the distinction between normal wear and tear and tenant damage when it comes to nail holes.
Normal wear and tear refers to the natural deterioration that occurs over time due to the everyday use of the property.
This includes minor scuffing, fading, and other common signs of use that one would reasonably expect.
On the other hand, tenant damage involves any intentional or negligent actions that result in excessive or unnecessary harm to the property.
Nail holes left behind from hanging pictures or mirrors can fall into either of these categories, depending on the circumstances.
Factors That Influence Whether Nail Holes Are Considered Tenant Damage
When determining whether nail holes should be considered tenant damage, several factors come into play.
These factors can include the number and size of the holes, the location on the walls, and whether the tenant received permission to hang items.
Additionally, the duration of the tenant’s occupancy and the overall state of the property can also influence this assessment.
For instance, a few small nail holes in inconspicuous areas may be considered normal wear and tear, while large or numerous holes in prominent locations may be deemed tenant damage.
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Tips For Documenting The Condition Of Walls Before And After Tenancy
To ensure a fair assessment of responsibility for nail holes, it is critical to document the condition of the walls both before and after the tenancy.
Here are some practical tips to consider in this process:
Conduct a thorough initial inspection
Prior to the tenant moving in, conduct a detailed inspection of the property, paying close attention to the condition of the walls.
Take clear and timestamped photographs of each room, focusing on the walls and any existing nail holes or damage.
Include a detailed move-in checklist
Provide the tenant with a move-in checklist that outlines the condition of the walls and encourages them to report any pre-existing damage.
This will help establish a clear baseline for responsibility assessment later on.
Communicate guidelines for hanging items
Clearly communicate your guidelines for hanging items, such as using adhesive hooks or obtaining permission for nail usage.
Keep a record of any written agreements or correspondence regarding this matter.
Conduct a thorough final inspection
When the tenant is preparing to move out, conduct a final inspection of the property and specifically examine the walls for any new nail holes or damage.
Again, document the findings with clear photographs and written notes.
Compare before and after
Finally, compare the initial and final documentation to determine whether there are any new nail holes or damages that fall outside the realm of normal wear and tear.
This will help you make an informed decision regarding tenant responsibility.
Legal Limits On Charges For Nail Holes
Landlords are subject to legal limits on charges for nail holes.
Discover how much a landlord can legally charge for nail holes in rental properties.
Familiarizing With Local Landlord-tenant Laws
Prior to understanding the legal limits on charges for nail holes, it is crucial to familiarize oneself with local landlord-tenant laws.
These laws may vary from one jurisdiction to another and can greatly influence the rights and responsibilities of both landlords and tenants.
The Legal Limitations On Charging For Nail Holes
As a landlord, it’s important to know your rights when it comes to charging tenants for nail holes in the rental property.
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By Denny Dobbins
It’s 1:00 am, the phone rings, you recognize the number as your old neighbor Rob, who now lives next door to your tenants since you turned your former home into a rental property. He tells you that SWAT just kicked in the front door of your property and is dragging the tenant and about 20 other people out onto the front lawn in handcuffs. You ask out loud to no one in particular, “Could I have prevented this?” Although tenants can and will do just about anything in your property, utilizing a Crime-Free Addendum in every lease can help deter this type of damaging behavior right from the start.
Why is it so vitally important for owners, landlords and property managers to use this well-established Crime Free management tool to keep criminal activity away from your properties?
First, I will discuss what those tools are and then why they are so vitally important.
I. The Crime Free Tool:
Owners, landlords and property managers need to use the basic crime free language in your rental criteria, in your lease and as a separate addendum. Overkill? Hardly! This language immeasurably aids you in being highly successful in easily avoiding a plethora of costly pitfalls. It is an essential and critical safeguard to deter criminal activity, thereby saving you money, time, and significant headaches. The great thing is it is so simple to implement.
The following basic Crime Free language should be presented to your prospective tenant as part of the rental criteria, prior to entering into a lease and at the earliest possible convenience in the relationship:
“Tenant shall ensure that Tenant, Tenant’s occupants, Tenant’s guests, and Tenant’s invitees shall not engage in, perpetrate, permit, encourage, intend to facilitate, or actually facilitate, any criminal activity of any kind, on, near or off of the premises. If Tenant fails to ensure that no criminal activity occurs, whether or not Tenant knew of such criminal activity, any such criminal activity is a material violation of the lease subjecting the Tenant and occupants to immediate termination and eviction. If there is a separate crime free addendum, the full language of the crime free addendum to the lease shall be controlling.”
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II. Why is it so important for you to use the Crime Free language?
A. When you introduce the Crime Free language to the prospective Tenant early in the relationship, the prospect quickly learns that crime will not work at the property.
B. It helps ensure immediate, appropriate, and comprehensive communication about expectations. The Tenant understands early on that management is keenly aware of the issue and takes a proactive, educated approach to what they are doing.
C. Prospective Tenants who are planning on being involved in criminal activity in your unit, or think crime may be an issue for them, will simply find another place to live, thereby saving you time, money, and heartache.
D. It is a proven and established deterrent to criminal activity that has effectively been working for 32 years.
E. If you ever have to go before a court because of criminal activity, the language of the Crime Free language is fatally damning to the Tenant. It is clear and unambiguous that if the Tenant, Tenant’s Occupant, Guest, or Invitee is involved in criminal activity in, on, near or off of the premises, the entire household can be evicted by a preponderance of evidence. It provides zero wiggle room for a Tenant when it comes to criminal activity and provides a quicker remedy in many jurisdictions.
F. You may also qualify for insurance discounts when you show you implement crime-free principles in your leasing. You need to ask your insurance company what discounts are available to you when you implement the use of the crime-free language.
Working in concert with Officer Tim Zehring of the Mesa, Arizona Police Department, I wrote the original private sector crime free language in 1992. It has been used ever since with incredible results nationwide and internationally by Owners, Landlords and Property Managers.
Please check with your attorney in your local jurisdiction whether or not you are legally permitted to use the crime free language prior to a Tenant qualifying for the lease based on other non-crime related criteria. Using best practices like this, maybe next time the phone rings with a call from your old neighbor they’ll be telling you about your amazing new tenant.
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