5 Rental Features That Appeal To Young Professionals

By

-

July 19, 2019

5 Rental Features That Appeal To Young Professionals

Which 5 rental features appeal to young professionals is the rental property maintenance checkup this week provided by Keepe.

Demand from millennials and young professionals with higher incomes are major drivers of the current rental market. Rental properties can easily be redeveloped or rebranded to include target-market needs and amenities.

If your property wants to target young professionals, here are 5 rental features that are emerging trends

Easy access to center-city jobs: Easy travel to the main city center is a key factor for young professional renters. Short commutes to town centers and multiple transportation options can boost interest in your rental.
Competitive rental prices: Young professionals are not very price-sensitive, but in a competitive market, it’s important to be sensitive to your competitors’ rates and take into account what other amenities they are offering that could capitalize on this renter market.
Trendy area: City centers and areas with an abundance of new restaurants, bars and nightlife make for the best areas for millennials and young professionals. If your property is in an urban area, be sure to spotlight these areas in your marketing efforts.

4. Social amenities: A fitness center, clubhouse or common spaces for socializing are very attractive to this demographic. Young professionals are out and about working and networking most of the day, so smaller apartments will fit their needs perfectly well. On the other hand, social amenities – areas in the property that can allow for entertaining and shared activity – become more valuable and necessary. As for fitness centers, offering free classes that encourage group participation and socializing trends to draw in more young professionals.

Young professionals are out and about working and networking most of the day, so smaller apartments will fit their needs perfectly well.

5. Business center: Similarly, renters are demanding a co-living environment where they can entertain but also work. A common space for co-working and remote office work is an important element that this demographic desires.

Why Is Only Hot Water Coming Out of the Kitchen Faucet?

By

By The Editors

-

July 19, 2019

Mystery Maintenance Call Of The Week: Why Is Only Hot Water Coming Out of the Kitchen Faucet?

We provide an apartment maintenance odd job of the week from our friends at Keepe and this week it is about why only hot water is coming out of the kitchen faucet?

Keepe got a job request in the greater Seattle area for a kitchen sink in which the water would only come out scalding hot.

When the issue was reported, the property manager stated that, “When you turn all the way to cold you only get a trickle of cold water. You can’t even get warm water, it’s always super-hot.”

The issue had been going on for a few months.

The faucet valve was malfunctioning and killing the pressure on cold side, stopping the flow of cold water and only letting the hot water in.

When our worker came in, they were able to assess the situation and find that the faucet valve was malfunctioning and killing the pressure on cold side, stopping the flow of cold water and only letting the hot water through.

After the source of the issue was found, the faucet was replaced and is now working great!

See other apartment maintenance odd job of the week features here:

5 Rental Housing Siding Materials And The Pros And Cons Of Each

By

By The Editors

-

July 16, 2019

Rental housing siding is not very sexy but it is important to your tenants and your budget long-term so here are 5 siding materials and the pros and cons of each as the maintenance checkup from Keepe.

When it comes to the siding on your rental properties, many things come into play such as the look and appeal to tenants, energy efficiency and of course your budget which is most important.

Knowing about the needs of different materials can allow you to plan how to best take care of your property’s siding and make an informed decision about which kind really is best for your property, needs, expectations, tenants and budget.

Let’s look at the pros and cons of 5 common rental housing siding materials.

No. 1 – Wood shingles and clapboard rental housing siding materials

Wood shingles and clapboard are a timeless favorite because they create a naturally warm and rustic look that many people like.

What are the pros?

- Wood siding comes in numerous varieties, which can be customized further by utilizing unique paint and/or stain colors.

- Fairly easy and thus affordable to install – on average, it’s about $8 per square foot

- When it is well maintained, it ages beautifully and can last for decades.

- The Forest Stewardship Council certifies sustainable varieties to offer environmentally-friendly and repurposed options.

What are the cons?

- Wood requires regular treatments to last. Stains, sealants and paints must be re-applied as directed by the manufacturer to avoid the extensive and costly damage that occurs when untreated wood is exposed to moisture, harsh weather, sun rays and pests. Regular maintenance itself can also be costly, and should be anticipated.

- Wood is a uniquely attractive material for pests, which makes it fundamental to regularly check for signs of rodent or termite activity.

- Higher grade types of wood are more durable and do not present as many imperfections, but are more expensive than low-grade wood.

No. 2 – Vinyl siding

Vinyl siding has become one of the most popular siding materials, with thousands of satisfied rental property owners and contractors raving about it.

What are the pros?

- Budget-friendly vinyl is one of the cheapest materials to purchase and install.

- Low-maintenance vinyl does not require special treatments and is easy to clean. Pressure washing every few years generally restores vinyl siding back to a like-new condition.

- Long-lasting vinyl is waterproof, fade resistant and does not retain or absorb moisture.

- Customizable vinyl is available in many different colors, textures and finishes. Some kinds are manufactured to specifically resemble wood grains.

What are the cons?

– Vinyl is water resistant, but not completely waterproof. It is of utmost importance for it to be installed correctly to avoid water permeating and reaching the property’s core structure, which can lead to internal rotting, mold growth and more serious water damage.

– Vinyl can be easily damaged, dented and scratched, by branches. It’s important to keep this in mind and ideally trim back any vegetation.

Created by Schantalao – Freepik.com

No. 3 – Brick siding

Like wood siding, brick siding creates a one-of-a-kind look that is preferred by lovers of Colonial and Tudor architecture. Bricks are typically made from fired clay that can be engineered to present special colors and textures.

What are the pros?

- When correctly installed, brick siding can last a lifetime or longer.

- Countless colors and varieties exist to realize custom looks.

- Brick is a great insulator, and unlink wood, is fire and pest-proof.

- It requires minimal to no maintenance; as time passes, bricks can be restored by simply scheduling a pressure-washing treatment.

What are the cons?

– Brick installation requires skill and is labor-intensive, which makes it quite expensive to install. Brick siding is one of the most expensive siding options.

– Additional work is typically required prior to installation to prep a property’s walls before brick is installed. This includes extending foundations and insulating exterior walls.

– The main issue with brick siding is that it is known to be vulnerable to water finding its way between the layer of bricks and the actual wall, which can lead to mold growths and water damage.

No. 4 – Stone and stone veneer rental housing siding materials

Similarly to brick siding, stone and stone veneer add a beautiful rustic finish to a property’s exterior. The naturally occurring variegations in the coloration and texture of natural stone make it a popular siding option featured as an accent. Stone veeners are made with “faux stone” and are often referred as Cast or Manufactured Stone Veneer (MSV). MSV’s are created from synthetic blends and resins.

What are the pros?

- Stone is incredibly durable: it is not easily damaged by water, weather exposure or fire.

- Stone is one of the most naturally abundant materials on the planet, which makes it easy to repurpose and source it sustainably.

- Natural stone offers unique variations of color and texture that are prized by lovers of natural, beautifully rugged aesthetics.

- Synthetic stone can resemble the look of natural stone but is considerably less pricey since it is more lightweight and easily manufactured.

What are the cons?

- Stone is another labor-intensive material to install. It is heavy and required to comply with a state building codes. This all contributes to making stone and stone veneer installation particularly expensive.

- While it does not require regular maintenance, stone can crack. Cracks must be repaired as soon as possible to avoid water infiltrations.

No. 5 – Stucco rental housing siding materials

Stucco results from mixing Portland cement, limestone, sand, water and other chemical additives. Once applied, stucco creates a concrete-like layer on top of a property’s core structure.

What the pros?

- Since stucco acts as an exterior “shell”, it has amazing insulating properties, which can help with making it so less energy is required to keep a property’s interiors hot in the winter and cool in the summer. It can also help with making a property more insulated from exterior noise.

- Stucco can be mixed with numerous available dyes to create a variety of color options for a property’s exteriors.

- In an emergency, stucco can act as a fire-retardant.

- When it’s properly maintained, stucco can last a lifetime.

What are the cons?

- Stucco is installed in layers, which is a labor-intensive process. This contributes to stucco installation being a quite expensive project.

- It does not perform well in wet climates. Continued exposure to regular downpours and moist weather damages stucco finishes, which are water-resistant only up to a certain point. When water permeates, serious issues result from moisture infiltration into the property’s interior – from mold growth to cracking and rotting. Stucco is most popular in the Southwest – which indeed presents the ideal weather for stucco to last in.

- Stucco is not intended to be painted over, which makes choosing a color quite a permanent decision that will be not so practical to change post-application.

- Stucco is prone to cracking: earthquakes and the more common shifting of the property’s structure will easily create cracks over the years. Cracks must be tended to and repaired immediately to avoid their expansion and resulting damage.

4 Outdoor Flooring Options For Your Rentals

20 Easy, Affordable Maintenance Projects To Update Your Rentals

Keepe is an on-demand maintenance solution for property managers and independent landlords. The company makes hundreds of independent contractors and handymen available for maintenance projects at rental properties. Keepe is available in the Greater Seattle area, Portland, Phoenix, San Francisco Bay and San Diego areas.

Multifamily Rents Stay Robust; Average Rent Rose $12 in June

By

By The Editors

-

July 16, 2019

Multifamily Rents Stay Robust; Average Rent Rose $12 in June

Multifamily rents rose robustly in the second quarter, and the market’s consistent growth once again shows no signs of waning, according to the June report from Yardi Matrix.

“After a $12 jump in June, average rents increased by 2.0% in the second quarter of 2019, and they are up 2.6% so far this year. Those are not the biggest percentage increases achieved in recent years, but both come close to the best performance,” the Yardi Matrix report says.

Highlights of first half of the year ending with a flourish for multifamily

A year of moderate multifamily rent growth turned serious in June, as the average U.S. multifamily rent increased by $12 to $1,465. Year-over-year growth increased to 3.3%, up by 40 basis points from May.
Average U.S. rents grew by 2.6% in the first half of 2019, and 2.0% in the second quarter. Although growth tends to slow down in the second half of most years, the multifamily market’s extended run of strong performance does not appear to be winding down soon.
Las Vegas (8.4% year-over-year growth) and Phoenix (8.1%) remain blazing hot, but the strong gains are not limited to any particular region. Rents in every metro on our Top 30 list increased by at least 1.3% on a trailing 12-month basis in the second quarter.

Multifamily rents solid fundamentals continue to be favorable

“As has been the case for years, favorable fundamentals are behind the shift. The economy has added 172,000 jobs per month this year, a slowdown from the 200,000-per-month average since the recovery began in 2010, but solid growth considering the below-4.0% unemployment rate and the lateness of the economic cycle,” the report says.

“Absent an unforeseen exogenous event, demand for multifamily shows no signs of abating.

“That doesn’t address whether rent growth can remain elevated, but rents have stayed at above-trend levels during several years of robust supply increases and ongoing issues with affordability, so it seems foolish to discount the market’s potential to maintain its performance over the near term,” the report says.

Lifestyle rents rose faster than renter-by-necessity rents for first time in recent years

Lifestyle rents outpaced renter-by-necessity (RBN) rents in 17 of the top 30 markets, indicating healthy demand for the new luxury product being delivered in many cities, the report says.

Housing affordability has recently come into the spotlight, not just for the real estate industry but for the 2020 presidential candidates, as well. Rent-control legislation has passed in New York and Oregon, with a number of other states also introducing bills.

Many of these bills focus on rent control for older stock, most of it RBN. As rent control expands, the ability to raise rents may put a ceiling on RBN rent growth and continue to narrow the gap between Lifestyle and RBN rent growth.

Portland Multifamily Rent Growth Cools

Multifamily Rent Growth Remains Consistent

Seattle Sees Six Straight Months Of Rent Increases

By

By The Editors

-

July 15, 2019

Seattle Sees Six Straight Months Of Rent Increases

Seattle rents have increased 0.4% during June, and are up slightly by 1.6% in comparison to the same time last year, according to the most recent monthly report from Apartment List.

Currently, median rents in Seattle stand at $1,340 for a one-bedroom apartment and $1,670 for a two-bedroom.

This is the sixth straight month that the city has seen rent increases after a decline in December of last year.

Seattle’s year-over-year rent growth lags the state average of 1.9%, but is in line with the national average of 1.6%.

Rents rising across the Seattle Metro

Throughout the past year, rent increases have been occurring not just in the city of Seattle, but across the entire metro. Of the largest 10 cities that we have data for in the Seattle metro, all of them have seen prices rise. Here’s a look at how rents compare across some of the largest cities in the metro.

Lakewood has the least expensive rents in the Seattle metro, with a two-bedroom median of $1,480; the city has also experienced the fastest rent growth in the metro, with a year-over-year increase of 3.9%.
Bellevue has the most expensive rents of the largest cities in the Seattle metro, with a two-bedroom median of $2,390; rents were up 0.6% over the past month and 2.4% over the past year.

Similar cities nationwide show more affordable rents compared to Seattle

As rents have increased slightly in Seattle, a few other large cities nationwide have also seen rents grow modestly. Compared to most similar cities across the country, Seattle is less affordable for renters.

Rents increased slightly in other cities across the state, with Washington as a whole logging rent growth of 1.9% over the past year. For example, rents have grown by 2.0% in Vancouver and 1.4% in Spokane.
Seattle’s median two-bedroom rent of $1,670 is above the national average of $1,190. Nationwide, rents have grown by 1.6% over the past year, which matches the rise in Seattle.
While Seattle’s rents rose slightly over the past year, many cities nationwide also saw increases, including Phoenix (+3.8%), Austin (+3.5%), and Boston (+2.5%).
Renters will generally find more expensive prices in Seattle than most other large cities. For example, Spokane has a median 2BR rent of $890, where Seattle is nearly twice that price.

Apartment Industry Jobs Continue Strong Growth in Second Quarter, NAA Report Says

By

By The Editors

-

July 11, 2019

Apartment Industry Jobs Continue Strong Growth in Second Quarter, NAA Report Says

Apartment industry jobs continued strong growth in the second quarter, amounting to 38 percent of available real estate jobs in the United States, well above recent averages and an increase from 2018, according to the most recent jobs report from the National Apartment Association.

Job demand was partly due to the surge in demand for apartments during the second quarter of 2019, reaching a five-year high.

According to RealPage, net move-ins totaled 155,515 units, which outpaced the second quarter of 2018 by 11 percent, according to the NAAEI’s Apartment Jobs Snapshot.

Openings in the apartment sector comprised 38 percent of positions available in the real estate sector, well above the average of 30.1 percent.

Los Angeles, Dallas and Washington, D.C. had the highest concentration of apartment jobs during the second quarter of 2019, unchanged from last year.

Dallas performed well, leading the United States in apartment-leasing activity during the second quarter by renting more than 10,400 units, RealPage reported.

Apartment industry jobs in maintenance show strong demand

Available maintenance positions had a significant year-over-year increase, up by 2.6 percent.

Positions in maintenance were in greatest demand during the second quarter.

Maintenance technicians and maintenance supervisors landed within the top 5 job titles, comprising more than 7,500 postings combined.

Maintenance-technician and maintenance-supervisor positions experienced the highest growth in demand since 2014, increasing their share of apartment jobs by 3.5 and 1.2 percentage points, respectively.

Software skills needed

Since 2014, positions requiring skills in Yardi Software, team collaboration, and time management have notably increased.

Yardi software skills were up 7.2 percentage points. Positions requiring strong team collaboration and time management increased significantly since 2014.

National apartment association jobs report background

The NAA jobs report focuses on jobs that are being advertised in the apartment industry as being available, according to Paula Munger, Director, Industry Research and Analysis, for the National Apartment Association’s Education Institute.

“Our education institute is a credentialing body for the apartment industry. They hear often that one of the biggest problems keeping our industry leaders up at night is the difficulty in finding talent, attracting talent and retaining talent,” Munger said. “Labor-market issues are happening in a lot of industries, certainly with the tight labor market we have.”

NAA partnered with Burning Glass Technologies. “They have a labor-job posting database that is proprietary,” she said, and they can “layer on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). We looked at that and thought we could do something that is really going to help the industry and help benchmark job titles and trends as we go forward,” Munger said.

Last month’s report:

Portland has Highest Number of Apartment Job Openings in the Country

5 Tips for Fixing Tenant Drain Clogs

By

By The Editors

-

July 11, 2019

Fixing tenant drain clogs was one of the most popular maintenance jobs this week performed by Keepe, so here are some tips to help.

Recently, Keepe has been getting many jobs for clogged drains; these situations are never ideal for anyone.

Your tenants are trying to take a shower and the water keeps coming up on their feet (or even higher). If you are dealing with a lot of standing water, the drain is probably clogged and fixing tenant drain clogs is something you should address as soon as possible.

Standing water for long periods of time can lead to more problems for you. Depending on the severity of your drain’s clog, you might be dealing with standing water sitting in your tub for hours or even days.

Insects tend to breed in standing water; mainly mosquitoes, flies, and dragonflies, and they’ll be a nuisance if allowed to reach adult form and continue to breed. These insects can also carry diseases that can harm your family or your pets. Standing water also causes mold and mildew to form; this is a breathing hazard for anyone in the home.

To get rid of nasty clogs, try using baking soda and vinegar. Mix 1/3 of a cup of baking soda with 1/3 of a cup of vinegar in a measuring cup. It will fizz immediately; pour it down the clogged drain right away. The fizzing action will help to remove the gunk, hair, and grime that has built up in the pipe. Let it sit for an hour, or even overnight if you can. Flush with hot water to melt whatever is clogging your drain away.

5 drain tips to help with fixing tenant drain clogs

Use a drain claw to help grab hair or anything else that may be blocking the drain.
Pour dishwashing liquid and hot water down to clean drains.
Invest in a drain wig to help prevent hair clogs.
Use granular drain and trap cleaner to help prevent food or grease-based clogs.
To help prevent future clogs, regularly fill the tub or sink with hot water and let it drain. This helps flush away small levels of debris before they can become a bigger problem.

Odd Job of the Week

This week, Keepe got a job request in the greater Seattle area for a kitchen sink in which the water would only come out scalding hot. When the issue was reported, the property manager stated that, “When you turn all the way to cold you only get a trickle of cold water. You can’t even get warm water, it’s always super hot.” The issue had been going on for a few months.

When our worker came in, they were able to assess the situation and find that the faucet valve was malfunctioning and killing the pressure on cold side, stopping the flow of cold water and only letting the hot water through. After the source of the issue was found, the faucet was replaced and is now working great!

Here are other recent rental property maintenance Keepe posts you may have missed:

How To Pick The Perfect Exterior Paint Color For Your Rental Property

4 Outdoor Flooring Options For Your Rentals

20 Easy, Affordable Maintenance Projects To Update Your Rentals

7 Tech Gadgets For A Safer And More Efficient Rental Property

5 Maintenance Tips For Long-Lasting Rental Carpet Flooring

Is The Water Heater At Your Rental Property Ready For The Big One?

7 Types Of Kitchen Countertops For Your Apartments

Which Cooktop Is Best For Your Rental Property?

A Guide To 4 Types Of Flat Roof Systems

6 Ways To Trash Your Apartment Waste Management Issues

Top 5 Apartment Maintenance Emergencies vs. Maintenance Requests

5 Tips for Preparing Your Apartments for the Summer Season

4 Air Conditioning Maintenance Best Practices For Summer

About Keepe:

Keepe is an on-demand maintenance solution for property managers and independent landlords. We make hundreds of independent contractors and handymen available for maintenance projects at rental properties. Keepe is available in the Greater Seattle area, Greater Phoenix area, San Francisco Bay area, and Portland area, and we are continuing to expand. Learn more at http://www.keepe.com

561-Unit Phoenix Apartment Complexes Sell For $56.7 Million

By

By The Editors

-

July 10, 2019

561-Unit Phoenix Apartment Complexes Sell For $56.7 Million

Phoenix apartment complexes Solano Ridge I and Solano Ridge II Apartments, a 561-unit multifamily housing community located near 35^th Avenue and Northern, have sold for a combined price of $56.7 million, according to a release.

The complex was purchased in December 2016 by 3^rd Ave Investments of Phoenix for $35.95 million. Over the last 30 months, 3^rd Ave Investments invested $2.5 million into the property to upgrade the apartments, clubhouse and common areas.

The NorthMarq Phoenix team of Trevor Koskovich, Bill Hahn, and Jesse Hudson represented both the seller and the buyer, Intercapital Partners of Chicago, in this transaction.

Phoenix apartment complexes unique multifamily investment

“Solano Ridge was a unique investment for the buyers to acquire two properties and significant economies of scale,” Koskovich said in a release. “The seller deployed capital into the common areas and amenities, but left upside for new investors via interior renovations and in-unit washer/dryer installation.”

Built in 1982, the apartment communities feature studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments, along with three swimming pools, a dog park and upgraded outdoor living spaces. Solano Ridge is in close proximity to major employment hubs, retail centers, and universities.

About NorthMarg

As a capital markets leader, NorthMarq offers commercial real estate investors access to experts in debt, equity, investment sales, and loan servicing to protect and add value to their assets. For capital sources, we offer partnership and financial acumen that support long- and short-term investment goals. Our culture of integrity and innovation is evident in our 60-year history, annual transaction volume of $13 billion, loan servicing portfolio of more than $57 billion and the multi-year tenure of our more than 500 people.

About 3rd Ave Investments
3rd Ave Investments is a real estate investment and management firm specializing in the acquisition and re-positioning of Arizona multifamily assets through a value-add private equity fund structure. Founded in 2015 by Zev Hendeles, 3rd Ave Investments has acquired more than 3,050 apartments with an aggregate market value of more than $320 million.

3rd Ave Investments targets poorly managed, undervalued and off-market investments, where opportunities exist to create value with an active management approach. 3rd Ave Investments is directly involved in all aspects of the acquisition, re-positioning and/or redevelopment process.

Portland Rents Declined in June for Third Straight Month

By

By The Editors

-

July 10, 2019

Portland Rents Declined in June for Third Straight Month

Portland rents have declined 0.1% during June, but have remained steady at 0.4% in comparison to the same time last year, according to the latest report from Apartment List.

Currently, median rents in Portland stand at $1,120 for a one-bedroom apartment and $1,330 for a two-bedroom.

This is the third straight month that the city has seen rent decreases after an increase in March.

Portland’s year-over-year rent growth lags the state average of 0.9%, as well as the national average of 1.6%.

Rents rising across cities in Oregon

Throughout the past year, rents have remained steady in the city of Portland, but other cities across the state have seen rents increase.

Of the largest 10 cities that Apartment List has data for in Oregon, 9 of them have seen prices rise. The state as a whole logged rent growth of 0.9% over the past year.

Here’s a look at how rents compare across some of the largest cities in the state.

Hillsboro is the most expensive of all Oregon’s major cities, with a median two-bedroom rent of $2,090; Medford, where a two-bedroom goes for $990, is the only major city to see rents fall year-over-year (-0.3%).
Hillsboro, Beaverton, and Vancouver all have experienced year-over-year growth above the state average (4.2%, 3.3%, and 2.0%, respectively).

Portland rents in June more affordable than many comparable cities nationwide

Rent growth in Portland has been relatively stable over the past year; there are other large cities that have seen more substantial increases. Portland is still more affordable than most other large cities across the country.

Portland’s median two-bedroom rent of $1,330 is above the national average of $1,190. Nationwide, rents have grown by 1.6% over the past year compared to the stagnant growth in Portland.

While rents in Portland remained moderately stable this year, similar cities saw increases, including Las Vegas (+3.9%), Phoenix (+3.8%), and Austin (+3.5%); note that median 2BR rents in these cities go for $1,180, $1,080, and $1,450 respectively.

Last month: Portland Rents Declined Moderately Over the Past Month

Rental Housing Requests For Assistance Animal Accommodation Shows About 40% Approval

By

By The Editors

-

July 9, 2019

Rental Housing Requests For Assistance Animal Accommodation Shows About 40% Approval

A new study of 8,600 assistance animal accommodation requests for rental housing shows that 39 percent of requests were recommended for approval, 43 percent did not continue with the review and 18 percent did not provide sufficient documentation, were unresponsive or were possible fraud.

The study, done by PetScreening.com, of 8,600 reasonable accommodation requests submitted to the company by prospective residents, also known as requesters, found that the pit bull variety is the dog breed most commonly submitted for reasonable accommodation requests.

The results of the study highlight the importance of properly confirming the reliability and credibility of third-party verifier documentation for reasonable accommodation requests, according to John R. Bradford, III, CEO and founder of PetScreening.com, which is based in Charlotte, N.C., and operates in all 50 states and Canada.

Reasonable assistance animal accommodation

“For individuals who do not have a readily apparent disability, requiring and reviewing third-party verifier documentation to support the requester’s reasonable accommodation request is critical. This maintains the integrity of necessary and legitimate assistance animals for individuals with a disability and disability-related need for the animals,” Bradford said in a release.

“Unfortunately, there are bad actors that are abusing this process to possibly avoid pet rent or circumvent pet policies, such as breed restrictions. There are many individuals with legitimate disabilities and disability-related needs for assistance animals, who shouldn’t be put at risk or receive a negative reputation just because of these bad actors.”

The pet-screening platform empowers property managers to outsource their pet-risk assessment and assistance animal-validation processes at no charge.

According to the release, property managers are often hesitant to ask for third-party verifier documentation for fear of violating Fair Housing laws and HUD guidelines, making it difficult to uphold the integrity of the accommodation-request review process. But new technology and databases, like PetScreening.com, help address these concerns by using electronic accommodation-request review processes and an in-house legal-review team. They review each reasonable accommodation request, adhere to the FHAct guidelines, and validate the third-party verifier documentation as being reliable, credible and meeting the test of reasonableness.

This standardizes the property manager’s reasonable-accommodation-request review process, saves time and helps mitigate liability for a possible discrimination complaint. Submitting a reasonable accommodation request for an assistance animal through the PetScreening platform is free to both the requester and the property manager, according to the release.

There is a cost for screening regular household pets who are not assistance animals. Applicants with a regular pet pay a $20 fee at the time they apply for a rental home and enter information about their specific pet, including their general care and understanding of pet policies, into the only centralized pet-screening database to analyze rental-housing-related risk. The platform reviews various pet-related factors, including community-specific restrictions, such as breed, weight and age, and then creates a “FIDO Score.” This proprietary scoring system can be used to generate new pet-related revenue opportunities such as additional pet rents, non-refundable fees, and deposits – with the primary purpose being to help cover any additional risk the housing provider is taking with the pet and its owner.

Property managers can also require non-pet owners, at no charge, to formally acknowledge pet-related policies that apply to them at the time of application. Through Petscreening.com, non-pet owners agree to policies that, among other examples, prohibit them from using their homes for pet-sitting services and require them to properly report any pet or animal they acquire during their lease term. PetScreening also provides property managers with the ability to record and report noteworthy pet and animal incidents. Examples include bites, property damage, unauthorized pets, pet-waste offenders and more. These incident reports are shown in the digital profiles and follow the pet and pet owner to future rentals – ensuring that future property managers and owners are aware of previous concerning behavior.

About PetScreening.com
PetScreening.com helps property managers and housing providers manage their housing-related pet risk and validate assistance animals for free while generating more opportunities for pet-related revenue. The proprietary screening platform adds an additional layer of liability protection by having a standardized process when dealing with household pets and assistance animals. It also helps with assistance-animal accommodation-request validation through a comprehensive legal and FHAct/HUD guideline review process. The end result is a Pet Profile with FIDO Score based on pet specific information such as breed, pictures, weight, vaccination records, and behavior.

If your property wants to target young professionals, here are 5 rental features that are emerging trends

Other recent rental property maintenance Keepe posts you may have missed:

No. 1 – Wood shingles and clapboard rental housing siding materials

What are the pros?

What are the cons?

No. 2 – Vinyl siding

What are the pros?

What are the cons?

Created by Schantalao – Freepik.com

No. 3 – Brick siding

What are the pros?

What are the cons?

No. 4 – Stone and stone veneer rental housing siding materials

What are the pros?

What are the cons?

No. 5 – Stucco rental housing siding materials

What the pros?

What are the cons?

Other recent rental property maintenance Keepe posts you may have missed:

Highlights of first half of the year ending with a flourish for multifamily

Multifamily rents solid fundamentals continue to be favorable

Lifestyle rents rose faster than renter-by-necessity rents for first time in recent years

Rents rising across the Seattle Metro

Similar cities nationwide show more affordable rents compared to Seattle

Apartment industry jobs in maintenance show strong demand

Software skills needed

National apartment association jobs report background

5 drain tips to help with fixing tenant drain clogs

Odd Job of the Week

Here are other recent rental property maintenance Keepe posts you may have missed:

Phoenix apartment complexes unique multifamily investment

Rents rising across cities in Oregon

Portland rents in June more affordable than many comparable cities nationwide

Reasonable assistance animal accommodation