Renting Out Your Home in Phoenix: Initial Legal Concerns & Costs

So you have decided to make some extra money by renting out your home in Phoenix, AZ. Before making the leap, there are a few things you need to consider. 

Did you know that most states have Landlord/Tenant laws that can affect what you can and cannot do within the rental relationship? How about local health codes and/or city or county licensing requirements for rental properties? Do you have to have carbon monoxide detectors or how many smoke detectors are required? When is rent due and what is the legal late fee? And then there is the question of security deposits: whose money is it and when does it need to be returned? How do you make a claim to be reimbursed for expenses incurred by the tenant?

As you can see there is quite a bit to know about being a Phoenix Landlord and many ways to put your investment property and yourself at risk by not following guidelines, rules, ordinances and laws pertaining to rental properties. Before renting out your home, make sure you familiarize yourself with these items and talk with your insurance provider to make sure you have an investment property or landlord policy as a homeowner’s policy will not cover loss, damage or injury once you are no longer the primary resident in the home. You will need to plan spending three to seven hours to familiarize yourself with the various legal and insurance considerations before renting out your home.

Next you will need to have a way that the prospective renters can apply to rent your property. Leases can be purchased online or at an office supply store for low prices ($30-$40). However, many times these leases are not compliant to your local laws, and expose you as a Landlord to undue risk and liability. Use caution to ensure that you are not inadvertently violating renter’s rights by asking questions that may be unlawful as a landlord to ask. It is a good idea to have your lease reviewed by legal counsel to ensure the lease protects your rights as well as is compliant with your state’s laws.   You will need to plan spending two to three hours finding a lease, as well as $100 to $300 for an attorney to review your lease to ensure that it complies with regulations.

RPMWV Phx offers full service Phoenix Property Management & Real Estate Services.  For more information on all of our services please visit our website at rpmwvphx.com or call 602-281-2884

Overview of RPM WV Phoenix Online Tenant Portal System for Phoenix Property Management

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Listen to our most recent podcast which provides an overview of our online tenant portal system for our Phoenix Property Management clients.  As always, we end our podcast with a free Phoenix Property Management Tip!






RPMWV Phx offers full service Phoenix Real Estate products including but not limited to Phoenix Property Management and Phoenix Real Estate purchases and sales.  For additional information on our products please contact us at 602-281-2884 or visit the rest of our website at rpmwvphx.com

The Top 3 Things to Consider Before Approving an Out of State Applicant for Your Phoenix Rental Home!

As Phoenix Property Managers, we get a lot of leasing calls from out of state applicants especially given how transient the Phoenix metro area can be.  Due to our vast experience, we are always concerned about leasing to out of state applicants and here are the top 3 some things to consider about before approving your out of state applicant.

1. Many times out of state applicants own a home in another state but relocating to Phoenix for employment or family which means it is easy for them to abandon the rental property in Phoenix and just move home.  Think about it, if you owned a home and rented one which payment would you be more concerned with paying; your mortgage or your rent?

2. Many times out of state applicants are re-locating to Phoenix for a new job - if that is the case do you accept any kind of offer letter?  Absolutely not!  Our credit requirements require the job to be with a large, national company with an office in the local Phoenix area that can be verified.  Also, make sure you call the main company phone line and speak with Human Resources to verify the letter and offer.

3. What about if the applicant doesn't have a job but offers to pay you a few months up front...we say RUN and run fast!  It is just too risky to rent to someone who does not have employment secured in the Phoenix area and if they are just going to begin their search when they move into your home who knows how long it will take.

We can certainly empathize that having your Phoenix rental home vacant can certainly hurt your cash flow but allowing a high risk tenant in the long run can end up making your cash flow hurt even more!


RPMWV Phx offers full service Real Estate services including but not limited to property management and real estate purchase/sales transactions.  For additional information about our services, please visit our website rpmwvphx.com or reach us at 602-281-2884

Phoenix AZ Rent Check Sept - Oct 2016

The following monthly rent statistics is from the ARMLS rent check so it measures rental properties that are advertised and leased through the assistance of the MLS (Multiple Listing System).  In September of 2016, 2,295 properties rented as compared to 2,600 in September of 2015. Additionally, the median lease amount was $1,295 with an average lease amount of $1,477.  The average days on market was 30 so this indicates that the rental market appears to be reaching more "normal" levels as opposed to several years ago when properties were renting in a day or two.  The rent quotient was 3:10 meaning that for every three leased properties, ten homes sold so could the Phoenix Metro area be heading for another bubble?


RPMWV Phx offers full service Real Estate Services for the Phoenix Metro area including property management and full real estate sales.  For information on our services please visit our website www.rpmwvphx.com or call us at 602-281-2884

Quick Simple tasks to get your Home Rent Ready

Many landlords believe that a quick sweep through the home prepares it for a new resident, but this is not enough as they are missing some crucial steps. Here are a few simple steps to ensure that your home is in tip-top shape and ready for a new occupant.

One: Re-key the Locks

Yes, you collected the keys from the resident, but did they make spares? All outside locking doors should be re-keyed between each resident. Additionally, rotate the codes on any garage doors, access gates, exterior property gates, and mailboxes.

Two: Maintenance Assessment

Do a thorough evaluation of home. Check for leaking pipes and electrical functionality, light bulbs and fixtures, garbage disposals, cabinets, windows and screens, window treatments, heating and cooling devices, doors, etc. This should also include replacing air filters and batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. The more detailed evaluation, the better!

Three: Upgrades or Repairs

More costly repairs are tricky to complete with a resident in the home. Assess the condition of all flooring materials, paint, bathtub surrounds, and major appliances. Now would be the time to make and repairs or replacements. 

Four: Exterior Clean Up

Don’t just look inside, look outside, too! Haul any debris from the yard, trim the trees, prune the bushes, and cut the grass. First glance needs to show the tenant how you want them to maintain the exterior and if there are weeds and debris you are not setting a good example!

Five: Cleaning

Even the best residents don’t often clean well enough. If needed hire a professional cleaning service for the job and get the carpets professionally cleaned. It makes all the difference in how the home shows and how quickly it rents.

These simple tasks will help you get your home in tip top shape quickly and easily. The better the home shows the more likely you will be able to place a tenant quickly. The last task would be to get your marketing done and get the home listed on the rental sites to place your next tenant! 

Mutual Rescission of Lease Agreement - Phoenix

So you completed the back ground checks and the applicants for your Phoenix investment property seem like a good fit.  You move forward with the lease signing and the new tenants move in.  A few months later your "good fit" suddenly becomes your biggest nightmare and now what are your options?  Well, depending on the issues you may need to pursue an eviction however evictions are costly and mean that the tenant gets to live in your property for free for usually around 30 days (the average time it takes to evict a Phoenix tenant). During those 30 days there is a good chance that your tenants are destroying your property so what other options do you have?  Well, you could consider a mutual rescission of the lease.  With this option, you may be able to get the tenant out of the property faster and possibly with less damages.  

Here are the top 5 items to be sure to include in your agreement:

1. A confirmed date in which possession of the property must be returned

2. How possession must be returned - such as keys being dropped off to a certain location on a certain day and a certain time

3. Detail what happens to the security deposit keeping in mind that it is beneficial if you offer to return the deposit in full if the home is returned to you in the same condition as received as this will give the tenant incentive not to destroy the property 

4. Be sure to include a clause that the tenant can't pursue any additional actions against you during or after move out

5. Include that all parties must abide by the lease until the mutual rescission of lease agreement is executed by all parties

What is difficult in these types of situations is that is not morally or legally right that you should have to even present this option to your tenant who is most likely in breach of their contract in one way or the other.  However, decisions like these are business decisions and are made to in the long run save the business owner (in this case you) money in the long run.

If you, as a Phoenix self property manager find yourself in this or other types of property management situations and need any assistance please contact us at 623-748-7800 or visit our website at rpmwvphx.com

Phoenix Rental Home - Landscape Maintenance: Who is responsible?

As the seasons change, Real Property Management West Valley Phoenix wants to remind property owners of the importance of landscape maintenance before the change in weather arrives.

The Landlord, The Tenant, and The Lawn

Whether you have acres of land needing upkeep, or less labor intensive desert landscaping, landscape maintenance can be a gray area for rentals. Phoenix area property management companies agree that the job of landscape maintenance should fall to the property owner or manager and not to the tenant, unless tenant landscape responsibilities are specifically spelled out in the lease.

A well-kept yard can boost the overall appearance of your home, and change the way the tenant cares for the property by seeing that you do the same. But, when it comes to landscape maintenance, it’s more than just the lawn.

 The Low Down on Tree Trimming

Trimming any trees and shrubs on the property is an area of maintenance that should be completed at least on an annual basis. Tree and shrub trimming falls to the property owner, or a professional tree trimming service.

Trimming your trees and shrubs has many benefits including:

●     Reduce the risk of damage to your home by trimming branches that are too close to windows, siding, and roof.

●     Increase the longevity of the tree or shrub by removing branches that can cause problems to overall health.

●     Ensure the safety of those on the property from being hurt by a falling branch.

Real Property Management West Valley Phoenix has access to tree and shrub trimming services and other landscape maintenance companies at a discount for our clients. If maintenance is not something you enjoy doing on your own, call us today to see how one of our preferred partners can help!

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