Warranties Offered to Help Pet-Owners Lease Properties

Written by dan the roommate man


A pet-loving Internet entrepreneur has launched a new Web site that he hopes will help pet owners have an easier time renting apartments by providing them a warranty against property damage. The site is Leasewithpets.com.

Founder Keith Snow said he and his wife developedrepparttar company because they had a hard finding rental units that would welcome both them and their dogs.

"My wife and I have dogs," he said. "We had a lot of problems with landlords who did not accept us because of fear of pet damage." He believes apartment owners will be more willing to accept tenants with pets if they know they will be reimbursed for pet damage. Having a warranty insures that a property owner will be paid for pet damages without tenant litigation.

Snow saysrepparttar 110474 new site will open inrepparttar 110475 Atlanta market this month and attempt to grow nationwide.

The company actually appears to be less of a dot.com company than it is a real estate service provider. A corporate statement said it would sell pet deposit warranties to apartment owners and managers, as well as to pet owners who lease housing.

"These warranties will protect a landlord from potential pet damage for up to $5,000 per unit," said Snow. "They can function in addition to or as a replacement for a standard pet deposit, which generally only covers minor damage."

Checking Out Potential Tenants

Written by dan the roommate man


If you'rerepparttar landlord of a complex in high demand, you have to have high standards for your tenants. You don't want to rent to any Joe Blow and then loserepparttar 110473 building a month later because he's been growing an "herbal garden" inrepparttar 110474 bedroom. In order to avoid any complications with your new tenants,repparttar 110475 background check you perform should be extensive.

Typical rental applications look something like this... but if your apartment or home is in high demand, you should have high demands on your applicants as well. Don't be afraid to ask more questions. Being a little nosy can save you from some future stresses.

The sample application asks for current employment information, but it's a good idea to requestrepparttar 110476 previous employment information as well. Sally may be a great employee at Buck's Bar... but if she's only been employed there for a few weeks, it's a good idea to contact her previous employer. Did she walk out? Was she constantly late? Was she fired for inappropriate behavior?

Likewise, you'll wantrepparttar 110477 tenant's previous (not only current) landlord contact information. If you only talk to your applicant's current landlord you may hear nothing but wonderful things, but that landlord may just be saying them to get rid ofrepparttar 110478 terrible tenant! The previous landlord, however, has nothing to lose by telling yourepparttar 110479 blunt truth. Find out ifrepparttar 110480 applicant was consistent with payments, or if he or she caused any trouble forrepparttar 110481 other tenants.

Ask about annual income. According to many property managers, rent should not be more than 33 percent of income. If you dorepparttar 110482 math, and it doesn't look likerepparttar 110483 applicant will be able to afford rent, you should ask them about their plan. Robert Irwin, author of The Landlord's Troubleshooter, Dearborn, asks applicants bluntly: "Do you figure you'll be able to handlerepparttar 110484 monthly rent payments?" Irwin explains that good tenants will usually spout off how they plan to budget forrepparttar 110485 apartment. It's still important to check out their finances through their employer and credit history to find out if they're tellingrepparttar 110486 truth.

Cont'd on page 2 ==>
 
ImproveHomeLife.com © 2005
Terms of Use