Evernest Property Management Blogs

3 Ways to Avoid Being Sued When Renting Your Home

As a landlord, it is critical to protect yourself and your property from a lawsuit. Not only are lawsuits stressful, but they can also be both financially and emotionally draining as well. Anytime you choose to rent out your property, you are opening yourself up for the risk, which is why it’s essential to do your due diligence to avoid legal battles as much as you are able. In this article, you will learn things to avoid and things to do when protecting yourself from a lawsuit.

How Much to Save For Home Repairs?

Determining home maintenance costs can be challenging, but it’s an important aspect of budgeting all landlords should consider.In this article, we’ll take a closer look at some ideas behind how much you should budget for home repairs every year as well as explore the reasoning behind them.

How To Choose A Property Management Company

If you have a rental property, you need property management specialists to help. The benefits of property management are numerous, from providing in-house maintenance to dealing with residents and ensuring your cash flow is positive and steady. If you’re not sure how to find a property manager, we’re here to help. Keep reading for more information on the different types of property managers and property management companies and how to choose the best for your property.

How to Better Market Your Rental Properties

Marketing rental property is no simple task. The process involves many moving pieces, all of which will directly impact the success rates of your marketing efforts. If you’re looking to market your property effectively and efficiently, look no further. We’ve broken it all down for you in this in-depth look at how to better market your rental properties.

The Five Most Expensive Home Repairs

Whether you are a homeowner or an investor, you will be forced to make repairs at some point throughout your time owning a property. Some of these repairs may be simple, quick fixes such as replacing locks, adding a new coat of paint, or fixing a window blind. Others on the other hand may just put a nice dent in your pocket. To keep your property occupied long term, you must keep it in tip-top shape. That's why today we are going to discuss the 5 most expensive home repairs. Some of these may not be a huge surprise and hopefully, each one gives you an idea of things that would be good to think about before you even need to sink any money into repairs.

How Much Do Property Managers Charge?

As a rental property owner, choosing to utilize the services of a management company is a big decision. But, before diving in headfirst, you should take the time to get an idea of some of the average property management fees to see if it makes sense for you.Beyond that, it’s essential to be aware that there are additional fees property management companies may charge you. Some of the more common other fees include:

The Uniform Residential Landlord Tenant Law

As a landlord, staying informed about the laws governing rental properties is essential for protecting your rights and maintaining positive resident relationships. One important piece of legislation is the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA), which was created to provide a framework for states to regulate landlord-tenant relationships. While the act offers comprehensive guidelines, there are certain provisions that many landlords may not be aware of but should fully understand.

How to Run a Resident Credit Check

Before you sign any contracts with a new resident, you need to know if they’re going to pay rent on time every month. While there’s no way to actually tell the future, running a resident credit check can give you valuable insights into a person’s financial habits. Gathering this information is an extra step that will protect you and your property in the long run. Try to find a professional property manager who will find you a good resident or who will help you to avoid such situations. A good credit history indicates good habits like paying bills on time, which translates to you receiving rent on time. On the other hand, a poor credit report will show red flags you wouldn’t otherwise know about, like a past bankruptcy or high debt-to-income ratio. This article will outline the process of running a credit check for landlords from start to finish.

Why Owning 10 Rental Houses Is Better Than One

Birmingham, Alabama is a hot market if you want to own rental houses. It has so many benefits to offer an investor. But, I'm not here to talk about why you should buy in Birmingham. I'm here to tell you why you should buy MORE than one house when you start your investing career. One principle of investing I've learned is to purchase more houses, rather than fewer, to be successful. I purchased my first investment home in 2004 and have owned as many as 30 rentals at one time. Currently, I own 23. I purchased my first house when I was 24 and did the work on nights and weekends to fix the home up. Fortunately, I no longer spend nights and weekends painting and repairing plumbing, but I have learned some really valuable lessons in the last 12 years. This lesson is one of the most commonly misunderstood. So let me see if I can help you understand why owning 10 houses is better than one.

What Does My Landlord Deposit Return Letter Need To Say? (+ Template)

There is a lot of stress around the resident’s move-out process, particularly around the security deposit return letter. So, what does it need to say, and when does it need to be sent?