When it comes to renting an apartment or house, the relationship between landlord and tenant should be a stable one, on both ends. Spectrum Realty Services, LLC is a property management company in Jacksonville, Florida that helps bring together property investors, landlords, and tenants to create a harmonious home rental process from start to finish. Today, we are going to talk through the steps you can take as a tenant to ensure your rental goes as smoothly as possible!
1. Read The Lease
It sounds simple enough, but it’s very important to carefully read your property rental lease agreement and any supporting documents that list the rules and regulations for the property. Be certain that before entering into the lease agreement that you fully understand the amount of rent you will pay and when each payment is due, your responsibilities as a tenant, the length of the lease, the security deposit provision, the rules and regulations, and who is responsible for paying the utilities. Spectrum Realty is here to help orchestrate a smooth and concise rental process by explaining and documenting the responsibilities of both the landlord and the tenant.
2. Ask Questions
The best thing you can do for yourself as a tenant is to ask every question you have to ensure you’ll safely enjoy your Jacksonville rental property to its fullest. For example, ask about the pet policy, local noise ordinances, trash and/or recycling schedules, and move-out procedures. If you are a DIY-er with grand plans to paint or do other “renter-friendly upgrades”, be sure to ask if that is okay with the landlord and property management company. Being honest, upfront, and asking questions will prove fruitful for both parties.
3. Submit Maintenance Requests Properly
Thankfully, Spectrum Realty Services, LLC provides an easy-to-use Tenant Resources Portal that makes submitting any maintenance requests a breeze. It’s helpful to have everything in one place and easily accessible online, with communication continuously flowing between tenants and the rental property management company. Of course, minor fixes like replacing a battery in your smoke detector might not require a maintenance request, but make sure that urgent repairs or larger requests are submitted in a timely manner to ensure no damage is done and you can continue living happily in your Jacksonville rental home.
4. Be Respectful
This goes without saying, but kindness goes a long way as a rental tenant. This doesn’t just apply to the relationship that you have with your landlord or rental property management company, this also applies to your neighbors and local service workers (i.e., mail carrier, maintenance staff, landscapers, etc.). After all, you’ll be living in the rental property alongside other renters or homeowners that you will see continuously throughout your time at the property. Oftentimes, any issues that may arise are a simple miscommunication or difference in perspective that should be able to be solved by talking things through and being polite. Respect should also be given to your home and neighborhood, too. Pets should be picked up after and trash should be properly disposed of to keep the property as clean as possible.
5. Pay Rent On Time
And finally, one of the biggest factors to being considered a good tenant is paying your rent on time. Your diligence in showing you can be responsible and trustworthy will go speak volumes – even if you end up moving in the future. The next rental property you move to will likely ask for your rental history and references from past landlords, so a good rent payment history might be crucial. Luckily, paying rent is convenient with our online payment portal. Gone are the days when rent checks were mailed or dropped off at an office. Spectrum Realty continues to invest in technological advances that benefits the tenants and our clients.