Owners FAQs

• Q: How much rent can you get for your investment?

  A: This is a great question! Your home is unique, as are all homes even in the most “cookie cutter” of neighborhoods. With a little information (address, square footage, beds/baths, year built, upgrades) we can usually look at comparable homes that have leased out in the area recently and get a fairly accurate range. To truly know, and give the most accurate estimate, it’s best for us to actually walk through the home.

• Q: Are you licensed?

  A: Absolutely. We are a full service real estate brokerage licensed to operate in both property management and real estate sales.

• Q: Can I reach you after hours?

  A: Our maintenance emergency team is available 24 hours a day. Your Property Manager works traditional business hours on M-F.

• Q: Can you put the money directly into my account?

  A: Yes. We will deposit the funds directly into your account by the 15th of each month (or when funds paid by the resident are available) via an ACH transfer.

• Q: Do I get to see the lease or sign it?

  A: No problem! Make sure to ask your Property Manager if this is something you’d like to see as it’s not customary. You don’t need to sign it, as that is what you’re hiring us to do on your behalf. Our lease is drafted and reviewed by State specific Real Estate and Eviction attorneys.

  Also, once the lease agreement is signed you’ll get an electronic copy of that document in your online Owners Portal for easy access.

• Q: Do you sell real estate too?

  A: Yes. While most of the competition focuses solely on property management, we keep your best interests in mind and offer rental and real estate services. Whether you are looking for someone to manage your home or help you sell it, SGI is here to help.

  There are two important figures to consider when purchasing an investment property- the current market value of the property, as well as the rental rate. We are well versed in both.

• Q: How and when do I get my direct deposit?

  A: You will receive your direct deposit promptly on the 15th of every month, if not sooner. The exact date of your payment depends on the payment option chosen by your resident. We offer convenient payment options that minimize payment risk for your residents, but can take a few days to clear (and we will only pass along cleared funds to you).

• Q: How is rent collection handled?

  A: Residents have a few convenient ways to make their payments. We collect rent via Money Order, PayLease, or the ACH portal method. We use these options to reduce payment risk for tenants and provide a secure process.

• Q: How long of a lease do you sign?

  A: 12-24 months. If a prospective resident asks for something shorter or longer, we consult with you. We don’t like short terms leases as it’s tough on the property to move residents in/out every few months. Also, long term leases (36+ months) could leave you in a situation where you are charging well below market rate for your home in the latter part of the lease. We’ll usually either build in a rent escalation clause, or sign a 24 month lease and give the resident first right of refusal at time of renewal.

• Q: How much security deposit do you charge the tenant?

  A: Depending on the property, we will collect anywhere between 85%-100% of 1 months rent as a security deposit.

• Q: How soon can you start managing my property?

  A: In most cases, immediately. If the property is currently tenant occupied we will need to make sure we’ve made contact with the resident and a handoff has been made. If the property is vacant, chances are we can have it on the market in the next 24 hours!

• Q: What type of properties do you manage?

  A: We manage single family homes and small multiplexes. Narrowing our focus helps us provide the best specialized care to our landlords.

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

  A: Our commitment to you is full transparency through all parts of the accounting process. We keep you updated on funds in/out, actual invoices, and net transfers. All monthly and annual statements (including 1099s) are uploaded directly to your portal.

• Q: Who holds the tenant security deposit?

  A: While the home is under management by SGI, the residents security deposit is held in our Trust Account.

• Q: What are your services?

  A: We are a full service real estate brokerage that focuses on single family dwellings and small multiplexes. We handle the full lifecycle of property management, with a goal of hands-off ownership for our clients and full service management for renters.

• Q: How much do you charge?

  A: We are pleased to offer different management packages for our clients to consider. We understand that no situation is exactly the same, and these packages are built to suit a variety of needs.

• Q: Where do you advertise?

  A: We pay for premium placement on high-traffic websites to advertise your homes. Major sites we use include Zillow (our most popular source), Hotpads, Trulia, Yahoo Homes, and RealEstate.com. Our strategy takes into account the price point, location, and real estate market trends. We want to rent your home as quickly as possible with quality tenants.

• Q: What happens when my home is in need of a repair?

  A: Maintenance is the #1 cost for homeowners, and we work with third-party vendors to make the process as seamless as possible.

  Vendor Selection: Our selection process holds vendors accountable to ensure they provide quality work at a reasonable price.

  Maintenance thresholds: We operate off of a maintenance threshold with our clients, usually between $300-$500. Upon receiving a resident request, we call them to diagnose the issue and determine if it is under the set threshold. If so, we will send vendors out and the work will be completed immediately.

  Owner involvement: Anything above the threshold will be brought to your attention. We will then work with you to create a plan of action based off received estimates and any other relevant information. Our team does the legwork of gathering this information for you so we can make the best possible choice together.

  Emergency Repairs: We are staffed 24/7/365, which makes us equipped to handle emergency calls from residents at any time. We determine if it is an emergency, and proceed to stop the issue (for example, turning off water in the case of a leak) and then take a look at the situation from there.

  Invoices: We document estimates and compare the final invoice to make sure they are comparable. After payment, we upload the invoice directly to your online portal.

• Q: What if I already have a tenant in my home- can I transfer it to SGI?

  A: Yes, you can still transfer to SGI! Whatever your current situation is (self-managed, with another management company, etc.), we are ready to roll up our sleeves and help you with a hassle-free transfer.

  There are a couple of things to consider when it comes to creating a positive experience for both you and your current tenant:

  • First, we will examine a copy of your existing lease agreement to make sure we can operate under this agreement (with the understanding that the tenant will renew under our lease when the time comes).
  • We will consider any state and local requirements regarding the transfer of the security deposit.
  • Finally, we will require you pass along any important resident information to our team so we can offer a comprehensive onboarding experience to your tenants.