As a rental property owner there are many activities you or your property manager do on a routine basis that has serious consequences and affects your level of exposure and liability. ARPOLA’s aim is to provide you best practices for these routine activities to reduce your exposure and make owning rental property easier than it has ever been. More profitable, too! The Daily Operational Activities in your MAPP are:
Step #1 – Investigative Tenant Screening
Investigative Tenant Screening & Consulting is unsurpassed in the industry. A trained and licensed private investigator reviews the applicant’s credit and criminal background. When compared to instant tenant screening products you receive a much more comprehensive screening providing better information to make a highly qualified decision on whether to accept the applicant. In-depth tenant screening provides a solid foundation for good house rental agreements.
Picking the right applicant is the most important decision you make. For only a small additional cost this premium service has a much better chance of:
- Determining if a applicant is currently being evicted and the information hasn’t hit the instant databases.
- Catching applicants using an incorrect social security number or date of birth trying to circumvent the system.
- Finding a criminal history if one exists.
You also get access to a Private Investigator for any questions you have on any records provided to you in the report.
Step #2 – State Specific Leases, Legal Notices & Forms
Using leases, legal notices and forms for apartment and house rental agreements that are specific to the state where the rental property is located is critical to complying with state laws and making legal action, when necessary, more effective. State specific rental property leases are essential to protecting your assets and following state landlord tenant laws and regulations. One benefit of joining ARPOLA is free rental agreements. A generic lease like on you might purchase from an office supply store or from a generic internet site will NOT properly cover your rental property or the local laws in your State.
ARPOLA makes it easy to use leases, legal notices and forms that will be recognized by your state. Through our partnership with US Legal Forms, ARPOLA members no longer need to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars to have a lease, legal notices or rental form prepared. You may access exactly what you need direct from the Member’s Area. US Legal Forms is a leading provider of current, state specific rental property leases and legal notices.
Several ARPOLA membership plans include FREE, state specific leases, legal notices and forms. All membership plans have access to free forms.
Step #3 – CrimShield
Every day, rental property owners are sending criminals into their rental properties to repair broken appliances, fix plumbing, spray for bugs or a multitude of other services.
The fact is many times, these service personnel may be convicted felons or have a criminal record.
Face it! You screen your residents for a criminal background, but you never think about the background of others you send on the property. Do you think you have liability should something unthinkable happen to one of your tenants by someone you sent on the property? One in six home service providers have a violent (assault, etc.) criminal history.
Now there is a way to significantly lower the likelihood of sending a criminal on your property lowering your exposure. CrimShield provides sophisticated criminal background investigation for employees of service provider for rental properties. Now, prior to a scheduled appointment your tenant can receive an e-mail confirmation, complete with the employees name and photo, a direct on-line link to verify his background investigation, an employee report card and the time and date of the appointment. Now when your tenant opens the door they no longer are just letting in the mysterious painter or plumber; they are letting John Wilson, crime-free individual and employee of XYZ Repairs in to their home. John can hand them his customized ID badge, bearing your company logo and his photo, confirming his identity is the same as that contained in the e-mail notification. Upon completion of the appointment, your customer can send instant feedback by e-mail to the business regarding the service provided.
Added additional benefits of using CrimShield verified service personnel:
- Reduced insurance rates through ARPOLA exclusive Evolution Insurance Program
- Rent your property faster – Prospective tenants will be more likely to rent from a rental property owner that uses CrimShield verified employees whenever available.
- Rent your property for more! – Would a tenant be willing to pay higher rent knowing they are safer?
- Become CrimShield certified yourself. Prospective tenants will appreciate renting from a crime free rental property owner. You check their background; let your prospective tenant know you are not asking them for anything you haven’t asked of yourself. Proudly promote and display your CrimShield certification!
Step #4 – ARPOLA Crime Free Certification (coming soon)
There are specific physical upgrades to your rental property you can make that will qualify the property as Crime Free. Crime Free CPTED principles are recognized by many cities and police departments around the country. Added additional benefits for qualifying your property as ARPOLA Crime Free Certified:
- Reduced insurance rates through ARPOLA exclusive Evolution Insurance Program
- Rent your property quicker – Prospective tenants will be more likely to rent an ARPOLA Crime Free Property.
- Rent your property for more! – Would a tenant be willing to pay higher rent knowing they are safer?
