Owner FAQs

Answers to your frequently asked questions

• Are you licensed?

  Real Estate licensure is a requirement in Georgia for the practice of property management. Cameron, the owner of Your Intown Home, holds an Associate Brokers Licence and is affiliated with Atlanta Intown Real Estate Services. Further, Cameron is an active member of The National Association of Residential Property Managers and has many hours of continuing education specific to property management from both NARPM and The Georgia Association of Realtors.

• Do you manage properties for investors or private homeowners?

  The common denominator for rental properties we manage is that they are located in Atlanta’s intown neighborhoods. We have clients making a work-related short move abroad who want to return to their home in a few years, clients who are up-sizing to a bigger home and want to keep their first home as an investment, and we have clients with a small rental investment portfolio. Our systems are designed to accommodate each of these situations with a “hands-free”, 5-star owner experience.

• What type of properties do you manage?

  Currently, we limit our portfolio to about 100 properties. Most of these are single family homes or condo/loft units. We manage a few small multi-family properties ranging in size from duplexes and including one 12-unit apartment building. All of our rentals are maintained in great condition. We do not manage any homes that are not well maintained.

• How soon can you start managing my property?

  Georgia law requires a signed management agreement be in place before an agent can begin marketing a property for lease. Our documents are drafted and signed electronically, and can be fully executed the same day. Once the agreement is signed, we can start managing right away.

• Can I reach you after hours?

  Yes. Our office hours and Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and our telephone lines are answered 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for emergency calls.

• How do you screen tenants?

  All tenant prospects applying to occupy a property are put through our rigorous, screening protocol. We screen on the basis of credit, income, prior residential history, and criminal history. Our screening has resulted in a sterling record with an “essentially zero” lease default rate.

• How long of a lease do you sign?

  Most tenants are in the market for a 12 month lease, so that is our most common lease duration. That said, our average tenancy is over three years and we have several tenants that have been in their home for over 10 years. Most landlords don’t realize it, but single family home rentals are highly seasonal, with many more tenants looking to rent and move in the spring and summer months. Given that fact, we often sign odd numbered month initial leases or renew for odd numbers of months in order to adjust our clients rent cycle to coincide with the high-demand season.

• How is rent collection handled?

  Though we could take paper rent checks, we offer tenants a “fee-free” online payment solution. In practice, 100% of tenants pay online through their tenant portal.

• How and when do I get my checks?

  Your monthly cash disbursement will be directly deposited into your account on or before the 15th of each month. We collect rent early in the month, allow a few days to ensure we have no bounced payments and then prepare your disbursement and financial reports.

• Can you put the money directly into my account?

  We deposit your money each month directly into your designated bank account, and email you an accompanying PDF statement. In the event you need to add money to your repairs fund...for example if you needed a new roof and wanted us to pay the roofer, you can also add money to your escrow account electronically with no bank or “convenience” fees.

• Who holds the tenant security deposit?

  We have a separate “Trust” bank account in which all tenant security deposits are held. No funds other than tenant security deposits are deposited into this account, which meets all the strict requirements of the Georgia Real Estate Commission.

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

  Our enterprise, property management software platform generates monthly statements and posts them for our property-owner clients in their private, online portal. In addition to monthly reports, you will receive an IRS 1099 and annual reports of income and expenses for your tax preparation.

• Does retaining a property management company guarantee that I won’t have any problems with my rental property?

  Unfortunately not! If you own rental property, over time problems - whether maintenance or tenant related - will inevitably arise, and those issues will need to be resolved. Engaging Your Intown Home helps you in two ways. First, our experience means that we’re able to anticipate and proactively reduce the overall number of potential issues that could crop up. Second, for those that do occur, we’re here to tackle the issue and get to a successful resolution on your behalf, saving you unnecessary aggravation, time, and expense.

• How do you handle maintenance issues?

  Our tenants submit maintenance requests online. Our Maintenance Coordinator reviews them and first attempts to troubleshoot the issue directly with the tenant. If the issue requires diagnosis by a professional tradesperson, it is assigned to one of our thoroughly-vetted vendors who will work with the tenant to visit the property and evaluate the issue. For smaller, routine issues we save you money by having the work completed on the spot, and avoid additional fees for return visits to make the repair. For more complex or expensive issues, or ones that require a judgement call, we contact you and advise on the course of action we recommend.

• What if the tenant damages my property?

  We keep a Security Deposit on hand throughout the tenancy. We thoroughly document a home’s condition with pictures and video just before giving possession to a tenant. When the tenant departs, we again document the home’s condition. We carefully compare images of any damages found at move-out with the documented condition at move-in, and retain portions of the Security Deposit for damages beyond normal wear and tear.

• Do you sell real estate too?

  Yes. We are a full service real estate company with a strong focus on Atlanta’s in-town neighborhoods. Most would agree that successful companies stay focused on their strengths. Rather than focusing on just management or just sales, we have chosen to focus on just in-town Atlanta. We are experts on all aspects of the sales and rental markets in the in-town neighborhoods.