a. Being contacted - As a resident, you agree to have other agents contact you to show the home. We begin marketing up to 90 days prior to the lease ending with just a sign and a few website postings. Agents will be instructed to make an appointment with you. Any interested prospects in the 60-90 day period are pre-qualified in order to limit the amount of showings to prospects who have the highest potential to rent out the property. At the 60 day mark, we put a lockbox on the property and put it in the MRIS/MLS so that we open up the showings to much more prospects. Instead of showings by appointment only (during the 60-90 day period), agents will simply give notice of their date/time, and as long as it does not conflict with your schedule or is within reasonable showing hours, they will proceed with the showing unless they hear from you otherwise. We will give out your phone number to these agents so they can show the property when it is on the market and directly contact you. This number will only be published to licensed real estate agents. Failure to cooperate with showings can result in a trip charge.
b. Advantages for Home Preparation – It is to everybody’s benefit to prepare the home for the market. Preparing the home for showings will increase the chances that we can find a future renter quickly. Here are some advantages:
i. Once we secure a renter, we take the home off the market and you will experience fewer visitors.
ii. If you will be vacating the home early, you are still responsible for rent through the last day of your lease. However, if a new tenant can move in early, we will refund you any prorated days that they move in during the period of your tenancy.
c. Tips for Home Showings – Here are some simple steps you can take to prepare the home for showings:
i. Be flexible with visitors. Although we ask for a 24 hour notice, sometimes you may have real estate agents with out-of-town prospects who have a limited window to see a home. If you can be flexible with showing the property, that will allow a maximum amount of prospects to see the home.
ii. Vacate the property. All prospects will be accompanied by a real estate professional. If you are not at home, they will feel more comfortable and not rushed when viewing the property.
iii. Be practical. Put away valuables, medication and anything else that may be important to you.
iv. Create a good first impression. Turn on the lights and close the toilet lids prior to vacating the home. Clean up the clutter as best you can and try to maintain a clean household during this process. Try to consolidate moving boxes to one room.
d. Auto Payment – If you have set up auto payment for rent, please remember to delete your auto payment after the last month’s payment or make sure that it will end according to the lease end date.
e. Move Out Guidelines – In addition to what is in the lease, it is helpful for you to know what some common security deposit deductions are so that you can adequately prepare.
- Removing all personal items from the home, garage, and yard. This includes all drawers, closets, attics, cabinets and basement storage areas.
- Replace all burned out light bulbs with bulbs that match what is existing in that fixture.
- Replace any batteries in smoke detectors if they are low.
- Cut and edge the lawn and trim all bushes and tree limbs; Make sure weeds are removed from garden beds. Replace dead bushes or grass.
- Make sure you are using our preferred vendor for cleaning and carpet cleaning, or you could be liable for additional cleanings.
- Make sure all keys, remotes, fobs, passes, are accounted for and turned in.
f. Post Move Out Walkthrough The resident must be moved out by 11:59 p.m. on the day the lease ends.
i. All keys, fobs, pool passes, parking passes, and garage openers should be returned to the office in a labeled zip lock bag during business hours so that we know what is accounted for on the movein condition form.
ii. A representative from Mars Hill will conduct a moveout walkthrough within 48 hours. The purpose of this walkthrough is to compare the condition of the home after moveout to how it was before the resident moved in. This is done by using the (TX) TAR INVENTORY AND CONDITION FORM (I&C) or (VA/MD/DC) GCAAR PROPERTY INSPECTION REPORT that the resident filled out one week after moving in. Any cosmetic or mechanical defects found in the home not listed by the resident at movein will be the responsibility of the resident.
iii. Residents are not expected to be present for the walkthrough, though they may choose to be. If you choose to be present, you must notify our office so that we can send you the date of our appointment. Moveout walkthroughs will not be conducted on major holidays or weekends.
g. Security Deposit The security deposit is determined at the time the rental application is approved, and the amount is clearly stated in the lease. This is meant to secure a complete and faithful performance by the resident of all terms and conditions of the lease agreement. If the resident becomes in breach of the lease due to physical damages or any charges that have not been reimbursed through the term of the lease, the lease may be terminated and the costs will be taken out of the security deposit.
i. You can expect to receive the Itemization of Security Deposit within thirty days of your move out date. If you do not provide a forwarding address upon your move out, you will not receive an itemization of security deposit or any refundable portion of the security deposit.
ii. The security deposit can never be used as the last month’s rent. If the last month’s rent is not paid, it could lead to additional late fees, a negative rental verification history, and/or a possible eviction on your record which could negatively impact your credit.
iii.Tenant agrees that no interest will be accrued and paid on the security deposit.