No landlord looks forward to the eviction process. Unfortunately, it may be the only option if a tenant violates the lease agreement or endangers other residents. It’s important to know how to proceed in case the need for eviction arises.

For tenants, the eviction process can be an upsetting and frightening time. It’s easy to panic or feel helpless in the face of an eviction notice. We’ve provided a number of suggestions and reminders below to help both landlords and tenants navigate the eviction process.

How to Handle the Eviction Process

From the Landlord Perspective

• Notice for Termination. In the state of Colorado, a landlord must have legal cause to begin the eviction process if the renter’s term has not expired. Causes include failing to make payments, violating the lease agreement and any violent or criminal behavior. They must then provide notice to the tenant. In most cases, landlords will provide a 10-day window to pay rent or fix the violation before they move forward with eviction. It is worth noting, however, that Colorado landlords can end periodic tenancies without cause if they provide a 21-day notice.
• The Lawsuit. If a tenant does not fix their behavior and the notice period has passed, you can file an eviction lawsuit. The tenant must then be notified that a lawsuit has been filed against them. From that point, the courts will schedule a hearing date. If the court rules in your favor or the tenant fails to appear, they will provide you with a writ of restitution within 2 days’ time. This can be presented to law enforcement, who will ultimately remove the tenant. Tenants can only be removed by law enforcement officers in Colorado, never by landlords.
• Disposal of Property. In Colorado, landlords don’t need to let tenants know they’ll be disposing their property. However, you can choose to store it so your evicted tenants can access their belongings.

For further help with the eviction process, including a how-to guide for eviction cases, visit the Colorado Judicial Branch website.

From the Tenant Perspective

• Understand Your Rights. It can be scary to receive an eviction notice, but it’s important to remember you still have rights. If a landlord comes to your door without a sheriff, they cannot force you to leave your home. You will have some time to make a payment or find legal representation. Until you’ve had a chance to fight the case in court, you won’t be forced to leave. Furthermore, eviction notices must be given in writing and describe the reasons for eviction. If your landlord says you’ve been evicted but provides no written notice, it isn’t a legal eviction process.
• Fighting the Eviction. We encourage you to seek representation so you can fight your case in court. Did your landlord maintain your unit properly and fulfill their legal obligations? Do you believe they’re discriminating against you or retaliating in some way? With evidence and a skilled lawyer to advocate your case, you may have an acceptable defense that stands up in court.
• Contact Relatives or Seek Out Local Resources. If you’re evicted, you’ll need to find another place to live as soon as possible. Many people reach out to relatives or friends who are willing to lend a helping hand. However, this may not be a feasible option. Housing counselors and nonprofit organizations in the area can help you find a solution. Don’t worry; this too shall pass, and you will have another chance to rebuild.

Partner with All County Denver South for Expert Property Management Services

If you need a property management company in Denver, look no further! All County Denver South Property Management is here to help property owners have confidence in the quality of their tenants and the security of their property through knowledgeable and trustworthy property management services. From managing tenant relationships to lease enforcement, we look forward to working with you to see how your investment can be a long-term, stress-free asset. For a complimentary quote, or to learn more about the eviction process, call us at (720) 664-4550.

Solid lease agreements are key to successful tenant-landlord relationships. The landlord outlines the terms of the agreement and their expectations in these contracts. Without detailed specifications, miscommunications may occur down the line. Writing up a clear and concise agreement, on the other hand, ensures the tenant fully understands what they’re agreeing to. Are you starting up a rental business this winter or making changes to your current policy? Here are five things you should always include in your lease agreements:

5 Items to Include in Your Lease Agreements

1.      Occupancy Terms

Every landlord should know how many people are occupying a single unit. You don’t want an individual to move in and invite a friend to couch surf at their residence a week later. Unscreened people who are staying in someone’s residence pose a safety risk for your entire business. Additionally, tenants shouldn’t be allowed to sublet the property without your knowledge. The only people allowed to occupy a rental unit should be those outlined in the lease agreement. Typically, this will include all tenants and any minor children.

2.      Rental Agreement or Fixed-Term Lease?

Rental agreements continue on a month-to-month basis and go on indefinitely unless the tenant or landlord cancels the contract. A fixed-term lease lasts for a specific amount of time. Once as a fixed-term lease comes to an end, the tenant can decide whether they want to renew their lease. The choice between these two options ultimately depends on the landlord’s preferences, but it should be clearly laid out in the document.

3.      Rent Details

Rent details are the most important part of lease agreements. How much does the rent cost? When is it due? Do you want tenants to pay in-person or online? What payment methods do you accept? You should also address what happens if the tenant fails to pay on time, including late fees and grace periods.

4.      Information about Maintenance and Repairs

When a tenant encounters something in need of repair, they should know what to do. All lease agreements should describe the maintenance request process. However, landlords should also let tenants know what maintenance they can or can’t complete on their own. Many lease agreements, for instance, prohibit painting without a landlord’s approval. Tenants should know that they’ll be expected to pay for any damage to the property as well.

5.      Rules and Restrictions

Finally, landlords should restrict any dangerous activity on the property. Lease agreements usually include rules related to noise, substance abuse, pets, and other important safety concerns. That being said, adhering to the law is of utmost importance. If you have any questions about what rules and regulations are permitted in your area, contact your local and state governments.

Partner with All County Denver South for Expert Property Management Services

If you need a property management company in Denver, look no further! All County Denver South Property Management is here to help property owners have confidence in the quality of their tenants and the security of their property through knowledgeable and trustworthy property management services. From managing tenant relationships to lease enforcement, we look forward to working with you to see how your investment can be a long-term, stress-free asset. For a complimentary quote, or to learn more about lease agreements, call us at (720) 664-4550.

The rent collection process can be stressful, especially if some of your tenants are behind on their payments. Ultimately, making the process easier starts with your screening methods. Do you normally contact and verify a tenant’s references, as well as their employment and financial status?

Rent collection will always be a struggle if you don’t select responsible tenants with a history of paying on time. However, there are additional ways to streamline your approach once as you’ve got that covered. This article will show you how to minimize the number of missed or late payments and improve the overall efficiency of your rent collection process.

3 Tips for a Smooth Rent Collection Process

1.      Send Tenants Reminders

We can all agree that life is busy. It’s easy to forget important deadlines when you have so many other things on your mind. A tenant that misses one rent payment isn’t necessarily irresponsible; more than likely, they simply forgot. Fortunately, landlords can easily prevent this from happening today. We suggest keeping tenants on track by sending regular reminders over text, e-mail or automatically using software. You can also choose to customize the timing of alerts. Some landlords might only send one reminder, but you can send more if you want to be extra cautious. This benefits responsible tenants and ensures those who are evading payments can’t use forgetfulness as an excuse.

2.      Collect Rent with Help from a Property Management Company

You can streamline your rent collection process in a myriad of ways. Today, many tenants have the option to make payments instantly online or through an app. Property management companies, however, can make the process even simpler for landlords. Their rent collection service completely takes this off your plate and ensures you receive profits each month. Additionally, a respected company will assist with tenant placement, lease enforcement, and accounting. With their help, you can grow your business and stay busy with other projects at the same time.

3.      Ensure Late Payments are Penalized

No landlord wants to harangue grown adults repeatedly and prompt them to pay on time. Unfortunately, situations like these can have an adverse effect on your business over time. The majority of tenants are diligent, but there are always some who make rent collection a headache. One surefire defense against a rocky rent collection process is late fees. It isn’t always pleasant to charge someone when they may not have enough for rent to begin with. However, in most cases late payments serve as a deterrent. Tenants who care about their finances and want to keep a roof over their heads will do everything they can to avoid extra fees. If someone is forced to pay the penalty once, they won’t want it to happen again.

Partner with All County Denver South for a Smooth Rent Collection Process Every Time

If you need a property management company in Denver, look no further! All County Denver South Property Management is here to help property owners have confidence in the quality of their tenants and the security of their property through knowledgeable and trustworthy property management services. From managing tenant relationships to lease enforcement, we look forward to working with you to see how your investment can be a long-term, stress-free asset. For a complimentary quote, or to learn more about our rent collection process, call us at (720) 664-4550.

As a landlord, you know how important it is to market your property. If you don’t market your business, no one will notice it. However, anyone can throw up a few pictures on Zillow and call it a day. How can you know if you’re marketing your property correctly?

Strong marketing campaigns require time, effort and plenty of know-how. Landlords must not only be able to take photos and write detailed listings, but also understand their audience. Sadly, landlords who don’t take marketing seriously attract few responsible tenants.

Whether you work with a property management company or take on the task yourself, you should put some thought into marketing your property well. Here are some ways you’ll benefit and grow your business if you do.

Why Marketing Your Property is Essential

Increase Your Property’s Visibility

Typically, posting your available rental units on one website isn’t enough. Prospective renters look for properties on a variety of platforms. That means you need to market your property by meeting them on a variety of platforms. First, make sure it’s visible on a multitude of sites like Trulia, Hotpads, and Zillow in addition to other locations. You also want to describe your property accurately in your listing. What amenities do you offer? What makes your property stand out? Have you updated all the appliances in your units? Is there a pool or tennis court on the property? Are there attractions nearby like entertainment venues, restaurants and shopping centers? You should mention anything that renters might be looking for. This way, if they search for it online, they can find your property easily. The more tenants you attract, the more you’ll increase profits.

Attract Serious, Qualified Tenants

Marketing your property correctly is all about making connections. Your goal is to match your units with the right tenants. This usually includes responsible people who live (or plan to live) in the area and can afford your rent prices. However, attracting serious tenants also involves knowing their needs. Are there a lot of families in your area, or does it primarily attract business professionals and students? Who are you trying to reach? Busy individuals might benefit from digital marketing strategies such as virtual tours (78% of landlords say that virtual options helps them reach qualified tenants).

Ultimately, the goal is to imagine the person sitting behind a screen looking at your property. Pretend that you’re speaking to them directly in your listings.

Present Your Business Professionally

Marketing your property correctly makes you appear professional. It shows that you know the business well and put effort into making it successful. Furthermore, it illustrates how well you know your tenants.

Being more professional could mean purchasing a high quality camera to take clear, well-lit photos, or hiring an expert property management company. Much of the time, landlords benefit from extra support. Property management teams have already perfected their marketing approach to increase success. Collaborating allows you access to expertise you wouldn’t have access to otherwise. Regardless of which path you choose, being professional requires that you market your property with care.

Partner with All County Denver South to Market Your Property

If you need a property management company in Denver, look no further! All County Denver South Property Management is here to help property owners have confidence in the quality of their tenants and the security of their property through knowledgeable and trustworthy property management services. From managing tenant relationships to lease enforcement, we look forward to working with you to see how your investment can be a long-term, stress-free asset. For a complimentary quote, or to learn more about marketing your property, call us at (720) 664-4550.

If your tenants are happy, it’s likely that you know a thing or two about running a great business. While the key to success certainly lies in understanding marketing and number-crunching, building people skills is equally important. The most successful landlords are able to balance the two to keep tenants pleased.

It is a good idea to take a step back and see what your tenants are saying about you and your property. Additionally, a landlord can gain insight into the happiness of his or her tenants by asking direct questions and communicating openly. If possible, you may want to consider sending out a yearly survey to track tenant satisfaction levels.

How Can You Tell if Your Tenants are Happy?

They Pay Their Rent On Time

It’s true that tenants are obligated to pay their rent on time, especially if they don’t want to be evicted. However, this is also a great way to know if your tenants are happy. In most cases, tenants who are content with their living situation are also responsible. As a business owner, it’s your job to keep up with repairs, maintenance, and other tasks that make tenants comfortable. When tenants pay on time, they keep up their end of the bargain. They respect their landlord and want to make sure they follow through.

They Communicate with You Often

If your tenants are happy, they won’t be afraid to get in touch with you. Whether the water pressure in their shower is low or they need to make a noise complaint, renters will gladly turn to you for assistance. Unhappy tenants, on the other hand, may avoid communicating altogether. Maintenance issues may go unreported for longer periods, which could cost you more money over time. Tenants might not alert you to unlawful actions in the building. When tenants do reach out, they may seem nervous or evasive. Have you reacted to a situation poorly in the past? If so, you should find ways to strengthen your relationships with tenants. They should be able to trust you and rely on your guidance.

They Renew Their Lease

Tenants who can’t wait to find better living arrangements are probably not happy with your property. They may try to get out of their lease early or leave at the first available opportunity. To know if your tenants are happy, pay attention to their actions when it comes time to renew their lease. Plenty of renters move on to other properties due to a change in circumstances, but others are disappointed by their experience. If this is the case, it probably won’t be difficult to tell the difference. You may be alerted to this by online reviews and direct feedback.

If most of your tenants are eager to renew and have very few complaints, they are probably content. With that being said, it’s best not to make assumptions. Always check in with your tenants regularly to ensure they’re pleased with the services you provide.

Choose All County Denver South for Expert Property Management Services

If you need a property management company in Denver, look no further! All County Denver South Property Management is here to help property owners have confidence in the quality of their tenants and the security of their property through knowledgeable and trustworthy property management services. From rent collection to lease enforcement, we look forward to working with you to see how your investment can be a long-term, stress-free asset. We’ll also be able to tell if your tenants are happy with their arrangements. For a complimentary quote, or to learn more, call us at (720) 664-4550.