CHAPEL HILL & CARRBORO PROPERTY MANAGEMENT BLOG

Searching online is the best way to find a new property or at least start the process. If you take a few seconds to search in your area, you’ll see there are hundreds of listings on dozens of websites. The problem with searching online is that you don’t have any direct contact initially with the agent or the landlord who is renting out the property. That lack of contact could lead you to a scam if you’re not careful. Scams are easy to avoid, however. Today, we’re sharing five simple tips that can help you move forward in your search for rental property without being scammed. Tip 1: Do a Second Search This may seem odd, but most legitimate companies have their available properties posted in more than one place. They should have it on their company website and external sites. So if you see a listing that you like, search for the property again. When you find it, compare the details and see if they match. If they don’t match or you can’t find an additional listing on a company’s website, ask a few questions before moving forward. Tip 2: Don’t Send Money You never want to send any money to a landlord or agent before you see the property. No reputable company or landlord will ask you for a security deposit in advance. Make sure you meet with someone first and see the inside of the property. Tip 3: Don’t Wait for Keys No company is going to send you keys to a property without meeting with you or having you see the home. If someone offers to send you keys in exchange for money, it’s probably a scam. We have heard plenty of horror stories about people who sign a lease and send a security deposit, but they are still waiting for keys to the property. Tip 4: If It’s Too Good To Be True…It Probably Is When a listing sounds too good to be true, trust that instinct. Everyone would love to rent a four bedroom, two bathroom renovated home in downtown Chapel Hill for $1,000 a month. But, if you see similar listings in that area for $2,000 or $3,000 per month, you’ll need to dig a little deeper. The perfect home that’s so cheap is probably a scam. Tip 5: Report What You See This is not as much of a tip as it is a plea. If you do see a listing out there that seems a little dicey, let the property management company or landlord know. We want to do our part in helping to get rid of scams so your housing search is easier and a bit more fun. This information will help you avoid online scams. If you have any questions or concerns about online housing scams or you need help with Carrboro or Chapel Hill property management, please don’t hesitate to contact us at Mill House Properties.

Using licensed and insured vendors will help protect you and your property in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Some of our owners will often question why we don’t just use the cheapest plumber or the most available electrician when we’re fixing a problem in their home. Not every maintenance person on Google will be licensed and insured, and it’s important to have high standards when you’re maintaining your property. Choosing Insured Vendors Your Chapel Hill and Carrboro property manager should do all the legwork when selecting the right professionals to complete repair work. If you don’t use qualified and insured vendors, there’s a lot of liability placed on you, the owner. That’s not what you want, and it’s more important to protect yourself. Saving a bit of money on repairs in exchange for liability is simply not worth it. Vendor Relationships It’s good to have a set team of licensed and insured vendors that will be in and out of your home on regular basis, as things need to be fixed. This will allow them to catch things that one-off might get missed. They will see patterns that vendors who only get to your property once might not see. High Quality Work Product Getting things fixed properly the first time will ultimately be less expensive. It won’t take long for you to notice that your home needs less maintenance over time when you know that things are being done right. Use a Chapel Hill and Carrboro property manager who has a team of qualified vendors in place, so your home and investment are protected. Working with the best is less expensive for you, and your property will be better taken care of.

A common question we get from property owners is whether they should rent to college students who attend the University of North Carolina. We live in a college town, and most of the rental market is made up of students. We do have a couple of considerations when we’re giving an owner advice about allowing students to rent. Property Location If you have a property that is right downtown between Franklin and campus, it’s in your best interests to rent to students. They want to live there. However, if your home is further out in a neighborhood that’s a couple of miles from campus, students won’t necessarily want to live there. So, it won’t be a big deal if you decide not to rent to students. Property Type We also look at the type of property you have. If it’s a luxury condo or a single family home on several acres, it might be okay not to have students rent from you, because they probably won’t want to live there. But if you have a townhouse or a condo in a complex that’s right next to campus, odds are good that students will want to live there. Restricting your home to only allow professionals could be a disservice to you. Longer Vacancies Sometimes, owners just don’t want to rent to students – no matter what. But the rental market in Chapel Hill and Carrboro is made up of students, so you’re cutting the market in half if you don’t want to rent to them. This will affect how quickly your home is rented. A compromise we often offer to owners is that if you really don’t want to rent to students, consider at least opening up to grad students. Most grad students have been professionals and they’re coming back to school to continue their education. There’s a good chance they will be responsible renters for you. We rent to hundreds of students, and most of them take great care of the properties they live in. So, we always recommend that you open your minds and homes to all types of tenants.