COVID 19 Update
RMA wishes all our owners safe sequestering!
Please read our COVID 19 update:
Idaho has had a turn for the best with the COVID-19 spread! Hospitalizations are still on the decline. As of July 28th, 318 new cases were recorded that day bringing the total number to 199,158 with 2,189 deaths. As of July 28th, 1,379,832 doses of vaccine have been administered to Idaho residents. Idaho has been advanced to Stage 3 Order.
For more information click HERE
For Stage 3 Guidelines Click HERE
For Idaho COVID-19 Vaccine information click HERE
Pet Friendly vs. No Pet Properties
By DaNay Salas and Kristal Clark
A common question when getting ready to rent your property is “Do you want the property to be pet friendly?” This can be a difficult decision as there are many pros and cons to both options.
By allowing pets in the property, there are some perks! In many places, especially here in Idaho, pets are a very common part of family life. We are always hoping for the perfect tenant to come along for your investment, and we find that families generally tend to have 1-2 pets. Being pet friendly for your single-family home widens the pool of potential tenants and could be an advantage over other rentals on the market. This can eliminate a lengthy vacancy, especially during slow periods. By allowing pets in the home, you will receive pet rent in addition to the monthly rent, $25 for one and $50 for two. For two pets that’s an extra $600 in income per year! Our policy is a two-pet maximum, and they are required to pay an additional pet security deposit, $500 refundable for one and $750 refundable for two. There is a weight limit of 50lbs per pet and they cannot be of a dangerous breed. To help alleviate this we try to screen animals when potential tenants apply. We ask questions such as, what kind of animal it is, how old is the animal, how big/small is the animal, etc. This can help us get an idea of what we may be dealing with, and we act accordingly.
When making the decision to not allowing pets in your property, this does create a smaller tenant pool and you could have a lengthier vacancy. However, you do lower the risk of potential damage that can be caused by pets, especially if they are left alone, or untrained. Flooring is always the major concern when it comes to pet damage, especially if the home is mostly carpeted. One must also take into consideration of general wear and tear that an animal will cause on a home along with the yard. Many people think that large dogs are the culprit, but in our experience, small dogs and cats have the potential to cause just as much damage if left unchecked.
If you decide to not allow pets at the property, this does not exclude service or support animals. Service or support animals are not considered pets. Due to federal laws and Fair Housing, we cannot discriminate against someone who has a service or support animal. They are required to fill out a form and their service provider must also fill out a form. Our office will call to verify the provider did sign the form, but we are not allowed to ask what the disability is. We are not allowed to collect additional security deposit and cannot charge a monthly pet rent. Tenants are still responsible for damage that the animal may cause, and they have to abide by rules and regulations of the lease agreement.
We hope some of the points discussed above will help you make the best decision for your property, as it can be tough decision. If you are undecided, you can always do “Pets Negotiable” which allows you the option to either say yes or no, depending on the animal. As always, you can reach out to your property manager if you have any other more specific questions!
Maintenance Updates
RMA would like to let you know that we are scheduling the optional services for 2021.
Optional Services being completed throughout the summer are:
– Dryer Vent Cleaning
– Crawlspace and Attic Inspection
– Whole Home Inspections
The maintenance updates only apply to those of you who have pre-ordered these preventative maintenance services. If you didn’t opt in for a service you read about in this newsletter, and would like to schedule a service, just email your property manager to let them know.
Other questions? Please email your property manager!
Jackie Lusk – jackie@rentalsinboise.com.
Amanda Godfrey – amanda@rentalsinboise.com
Accounting Updates
Accounting would like to inform you that for those of you enrolled in our Eviction Protection Service, you will see your annual charge on your July owners statement.
If you ever have questions about your statement, please contact your property managers:
Amanda Godfrey, amanda@rentalsinboise.com
Jackie Lusk, jackie@rentalsinboise.com
If you have trouble logging into your client portal, please contact your property managers or Brandy Kerr at RMAinfo@rentalsinboise.com.
Tenant Update
This month’s tenant newsletter discusses the outlook on COVID in Idaho.
Check out our tenant newsletter this month: ttps://rentalsinboise.com/property-management-blog/august-2021-tenant-newsletter/