Applicant FAQ

After I apply, when will I know if I get approved or denied?

Watch for text notifications. You'll either get a text requesting proof of income or approval/denial.

 

 

 

Alarm systems

Because of scammers, we now install alarm systems in our vacancies.

 

Alarms are connected a central monitoring station which notifies the police & our local coordinator.

 

To tour a vacant property, call our office and we'll give you the keys for a self-guided Tour. A valid ID is required.​

 

 

 

Can you hold the home if I pay a deposit now and move in a few weeks?

If the home is vacant, we cannot hold homes without collecting rent.

 

If the home is occupied, rent isn't due until the current tenant moves out.

 

 

 

Can you lower the rent?

We do not negotiate with individual applicants because that is not fair to other applicants. You can rent the home at the advertised rent, or you can wait to see if the owner lowers the rent in the future. If lowered, the rent amount will be updated on our vacancies page, so it's fair for all applicants.

 

 

 

Do I have to pay the deposit + first-month's rent?

VACANT HOMES: Yes but we prorate the first month. Next month, rent will be a full payment and is due on the 1st for all tenants.

 

OCCUPIED HOMES: The same applies but you don't have to pay the rent until the lease start date.

 

 

 

Do I have to tour a property before renting it?

Yes. We require you tour the property. You can wait for the home to go vacant to do a self-guided tour or apply to get pre-approved and we'll give you a private in-person (or virtual tour for out-of-state applicants) so you can rent the home before it goes vacant.

 

 

 

Do I need to apply for each property I like?

No. Apply for any property. If you change your mind, we will just change the property in our system.

 

 

 

Do you accept Zillow or any other rental applications?

No, we do not accept Zillow applications.

 

We only accept applications submitted through the APPLY NOW button on our vacancies page

 

 

 

How do I address something that shouldn't be on my background check?

We are not authorized to discuss the info on your credit report. If you have questions, please call...

 

AppFolio Consumer Relations

www.appfolio.com/consumer

(866) 359-3630

 

Experian Consumer Assistance

(800) 493-1058

 

 

 

How do I pay the deposit?

• After you sign the lease in Appfolio, you can pay with check, debit, or credit through AppFolio.

• You can also print a "Cash-PaySlip" from AppFolio and pay your rent at a participating location!

• We will never ask for cash, Venmo, CashApp, wire, money orders, cashier's checks, etc.

 

 

 

How do you keep my info private?

We use the software called AppFolio. They are a publicly traded stock company with heavy data security protocols you would expect from a major company.

 

 

 

How to "Annualize" this year's income to qualify

DEFINITION:

For our purposes, to "annualize" means to convert to YTD (Year to date) income into estimated annual income.

 

HOW TO ​CALCULATE:

1. Divide the YTD income on the paystub by the number of months you worked this year up to that pay period.

2. Then multiply that times 12 months.

3. That will estimate how much you'll make this year.

 

 

 

How to prorate during a move-in

1. Divide the rent by the number of days in the month to determine a daily rent amount.

2. Subtract the days prior to the lease start date

3. Multiply the daily rent times the number of days from #2

 

 

 

I applied but haven't received an approval or denial yet

• That means that either a co-applicant has not yet applied or we're missing proof of income.

• You may have uploaded some proof, but it might not be the right type of documents.

• We will request the information needed via a text message from our software AppFolio.

 

 

 

I just applied; how do I schedule a showing?

Once your application(s) have been approved, you can call our office to schedule a private in-person showing or pick up the keys if the home is vacant. Until your applications are approved, you must wait until the home is vacant.

 

 

 

If I paid more than 1 month deposit and I improve my credit before I move-out, can you lower my deposit?

YES! After your first lease renewal, you are eligible to recheck your credit. If it improved, your new deposit will be based on the security deposit listed above. If that's less, we'll issue a credit for the difference.

 

How do I request a credit check?

• Have each adult in the home apply online. This is how you consent to and pay for the background check.

• Apply for any property on our vacancies page & write in the comments: "applying for a credit recheck at [your address]."

• You do not need to fill-out the entire application. Just do the basics: Name, social, DOB, etc. Skip all the income & rental history stuff.

 

 

 

If the home is rented before I get approved, can I use my application for another home?

Definitely! Applications can be used for any property and are good for any property, for 60 days from the date submitted.

 

 

 

Is the security deposit refundable?

Yes. We regularly issue full refunds. When you move, have all your bills paid, the house cleaned, & repair any damage. We have a tenant checklist so you know exactly what to do.

 

 

 

My spouse works but I do not, what do I put on the application for my employer?

You're not required to have a job if your spouse satisfies the income requirement. Just enter "Unemployed" when completing the application.

 

 

 

No Section 8

We do not accept Section 8 or any other rental assistance programs.

 

 

 

What is the minimum lease term?

All new leases are annual. If you need a rental for less than a year, you can do a Mid-Lease Move-Out. You'll pay a one-month fee to start the process and we'll market the home to find replacement tenant. Once the new tenant begins to pay rent, etc., then you stop paying.

 

 

 

What to do if you're caught up in a rental scam

• Call the police.

• The info you provide the police may help prevent someone else from losing money.

• Unfortunately, all we can do is educate.

• We hope folks read this page and watch out for scammers.

 

 

 

When is the deposit due?

To reserve the home, you must pay the deposit when you sign the lease. You have until the end of the day after the lease processing call to sign & pay. If not paid in full by then, the home is offered to the next approved applicant.

 

 

 

When more than one person is applying, is the highest or lowest credit score used to for approval and security deposit calculation?

The lower score is used.

 

 

 

Which credit bureau do you use?

We use the one that integrates with AppFolio. When we wrote the FAQ, that was Experian but AppFolio changes their vendors occasionally. We do not accept credit reports from other sources.

 

 

 

Working from home

​The only work that may be done from home, is office work like sales, clerical, data processing, and computer work. If approved by Manager, Resident must comply with Homeowner Associations Conditions, Covenants, & Restrictions and federal, state, and local laws and regulations governing the use of the Property and agrees to abide by these rules:

 

1. Resident is responsible for maintaining the necessary permissions, licenses, and at a minimum Commercial General Liability or Business Owners Package; Workers Comp if the business has employees; and other policies and endorsements as required by the Manager at the manager.

2. The Resident will provide the Manager with a current certificate of insurance listing Manager as Additional Insured with a copy of the endorsement on all insurance policies just like Manager required for contractors.

3. The Resident must provide the above at the time of each policy renewal or cease business activity immediately upon expiration of the documents on file even if the insurance policy has been renewed. Failure to provide a certificate of insurance renewal will result in a $100 No Insurance Fee being charged to Resident each month until Resident vacates or shows proof the business was closed with the IRS or Secretary of State.

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UNAUTHORIZED BUSINESS ACTIVITY

The Manager does not allow the following industries or types of the business unless the duties performed are strictly clerical, no clients or co-workers or employees may visit property:

• Agricultural and animal agriculture industries

• Animal breeding, kennels, or pet sitting.

• Any business that uses Highly Hazardous Chemicals, Toxics and Reactive as defined by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration).

• Automotive

• Child services of any kind including but not limited to education, daycare, or childcare.

• Counseling or therapy

• Hospitality

• Manufacturing

• Massage or physical therapy

• Nursing, hospice, adult daycare, or any other caregiving.

• or any other business where clients, co-workers, or employees conduct business at Premises.

• No door-to-door soliciting in the subdivision will be allowed and no advertising signs shall be posted on the Premises or in the neighborhood.

• Advertising or flyers of any kind may not be posted or distributed in the neighborhood or placed in or posted on mailboxes.

 

Violating this policy will result in a $500 Lease Violation Fee billed each month until the business activity ceases, or the eviction is processed, and manager has possession of the property.

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