Owner FAQs

Answers to your frequently asked questions

• Am I required to make my property available to Section 8?

  Yes. Effective January 1, 2020, California implemented two bills which essentially require landlords to accept Section 8 or housing vouchers as an income source from applicants. Applicants with Section 8 or housing vouchers are subject to the same rental application criteria as non Section 8 or housing vouchers applicants.

• Are you licensed?

  Yes. The company and our broker are licensed by the California Department of Real Estate.

• Can I reach you after hours?

  Yes. You are welcome to email us any time. We do not answer after hours, except in cases of an emergency. We have an after hours maintenance emergency service line where we can dispatch our in house maintenance as well as vendors to respond to after hours emergencies.

• Can you put the money directly into my account?

  Yes. Electronic deposit via ACH is the preferred method.

• Do I get to see the lease or sign it?

  As your agent, we take care of signing all leases for you. Lease agreements can be shared with you in your owner portal.

• Do you sell real estate too?

  Yes. We can prepare a Broker’s Price Opinion for your property. Depending on the property, we often provide discounts to our clients.

• How and when do I get my checks?

  We prefer to distribute funds electronically via ACH directly to your bank account. Distributions are processed around the 10th of each month.

• How is rent collection handled?

  We collect rent from tenants as quickly as possible. Tenants have a number of ways to pay their rent; electronically through their tenant portal via e-check (for free), credit/debit card or cash at 7-11 or CVS, mail their check or drop off at our rent drop box.

• How long of a lease do you sign?

  We typically sign leases for twelve months. However there are rare occasions where lease terms may be shorter or longer depending on the situation.

• How much security deposit do you charge the tenant?

  Tenant’s pay a security deposit of minimum one month’s rent. Depending on the rental application, some tenants may be required to pay a security deposit of two month’s rent. California law dictates a landlord may not charge a security deposit more than two months rent for an unfurnished unit or three months rent for a furnished unit.

• How soon can you start managing my property?

  We can begin managing your property as soon as possible after collecting all the necessary documentation and information from you. We’ll provide you with a detailed list of items needed to get started.

• What type of properties do you manage?

  We manage single family homes, condominiums, small and large multifamily, office and retail properties.

• What type of reports do I get and how often?

  We provide monthly financial statements in your owner portal. You’ll receive an email notification each month with a link to view your statements. Our standard reports should fulfill your reporting needs however we can customize reports based on your needs. Copies of paid invoices are also included.

• Who holds the tenant security deposit?

  When we lease to a new tenant, we maintain the security deposit in our trust account. When the tenancy concludes, we will process the security deposit disposition and release a refund, if any, to the tenant. If we inherit a tenant with an existing security deposit on file, the security deposit will be recorded to the tenant ledger as you are holding on to the security deposit.

• Where is rent deposited to and expenses paid from?

  All rents and expenses are deposited to and paid from our master client trust account. Each property owner/entity listed on the property management agreement is FDIC insured. Property funds are reconciled daily & monthly. “Positive Pay” is utilized on our master client trust account where deposits and withdrawals are reviewed and approved daily for accurate record keeping. Our property management software is geared for trust accounting which separates all property funds by property.

• Do you have insurance?

  We maintain the necessary insurance policies to protect against the unexpected. This includes, but is not limited to, general liability insurance, crime insurance, professional liability insurance, auto insurance, employment practices liability insurance and cyber crime insurance.

• How much do you charge for management?

  Our base management fee for collecting rents, accounting and communicating with tenants, varies by property. The base management fee is typically either a flat fee or a percentage of gross monthly collections with a monthly minimum, depending on the property. Other fees may apply such as leasing fees. Please contact us for a quote.