Make it Easy for Leasing Staff, Movers...Have Items Ready for Move

Sometimes a leasing consultant or manager may have to conduct a move out inspection while a move is taking place.  It can be difficult to walk through a home or apartment with clutter everywhere.  Then there are the movers who are challenged by the lack of order of boxes, bins and furniture.  Sometimes people will let many small items hang loosely which end up all over the carpeting and floors during a move.  The debris can cause stains and other unsightly markings on flooring.

To make things easier for all parties, arrange items so that visitors are not tripping over your items.  Set up items so that movers can take inventory, if need be.  Below is a good example of a neat walking space in a livingroom of a rental home so that all individuals can walk through. 

Note: the carpet was well taken care of even after the items were moved and no damages were found.  Items were removed from wall areas and there were no issues.

 

When a Tenant Dies

As morbid as it may sound to think about, but leaseholders die everyday.  When an apartment renter's death occurs, the tenancy continues until the lease term ends in many states.  The responsibility then falls on the executor or administrator.  Now if the lease was a month-to-month, the tenancy ends 30 days later after the last rent payment.  A 30 or 60 day notice is not necessary.  Items left in the suite are available to those parties who are listed on the leasing contract.  If the person had no roommates, his or her next of kin who is listed on the emergency contact form will be notified.  It will up to that person to take care of the decease's belongings.  Check your lease and the state where you reside when it comes to tenant rights to learn more.

Nicholl McGuire 

Fequently Asked Questions from Residents: Apartment Maintenance

Recognize Signs of Water Problems in the Ceilings

The following are photos of a rental home that had many problems with a leaky roof.  The owner decided to get a contractor to hide the cosmetic defects within the home prior to putting it out on market, rather than replacing the roof.  The owner may have been in over his or her head with expenses and couldn't afford to replace the roof. 

The landlord, and those managing the unit, may have hoped that the cover-up wouldn't be exposed before the residents' lease term ended.  However, problems showed up before the expiration date.  The water damage increased in size, leaving trails of water marks behind, and began to damage other ceiling areas in the four-bedroom rental by shifting its direction when it rained resulting in a buildup of mold and mildew in the attic area.  See some photos below and notice the cover ups that eventually became more visual:

 

The dampness caused the light to no longer work.

 

Behind this ceiling shot is mold and mildew, leaving behind an unpleasant odor in the home.

 

Warning: when shopping for a rental home, always look up!  Some leasing consultants are very skilled at distracting prospects away from the flaws in the rental.  Deceptive behavior eventually will be found out and it is then that disgruntled residents will make threats to sue.

Has this happened to you while shopping for an apartment?

Take names of the leasing agents and report them to corporate.  They are supposed to help you!  Finding a place to stay is important and should be treated as such!