Frequently Asked Questions

If you are a tenant and need maintenance assistance, there are two ways to request it. You can either submit a request through your online tenant portal or call our 24-hour maintenance hotline. Our tenant portal allows you to describe the issue and upload photos if necessary. Once you submit a request, we’ll notify the property owner as well, so that everyone is on the same page. You can also check the status of your request online at any time. Our goal is to ensure complete transparency and keep you informed about everything related to your property.

We evaluate all repair requests to determine if immediate action is needed or if we can troubleshoot with the tenant. Our team is trained to handle common repairs and we use third-party vendors or independent contractors for any necessary work. Our management agreement allows us to approve repairs under $300, but we will contact the client for larger repairs. Emergency maintenance and habitability issues are exceptions to this rule, and we will act quickly to protect people or property in such cases.

If a property owner has a particular handyman or vendor they prefer to service their property, RPM will note it in their portfolio and contact them first for service. However, if the property is vacant, the owners can handle the required repairs to make the property “rent ready” themselves, if they choose. Our preference, however, is to use our vendors to ensure that leasing deadlines are met. We work with these vendors regularly, and they are insured, licensed, reliable, and trusted. We know what to expect from them, which makes our job easier.

Does the tenant pay you, and then you pay me?

The rent paid by the tenant is received by RPM Main and deposited into our trust account. More than 80% of our tenants make electronic payments for rent. After the bank has cleared the funds, we deposit the rent for the current month, minus our fees and other expenses, into a bank account of your choosing via direct deposit. Payments to the owner are made weekly.

According to statistics, more than half of all renters own pets. By allowing pets, you can expand your potential rental market and potentially increase the rental price by charging an additional $30 per pet, per month. If your priority is to maximize your rental income, it may be worth considering allowing pets. However, if you prefer to play it safe, it’s perfectly fine to decline pets. If you’re open to pets, we always say, “pets considered.” This means that we will only approve the right pets, not all pets.

For Emotional Support Animals, we follow the Michigan state law requirements. Please feel free to contact our office for more information.

The amount of rent you can charge for your rental property is usually determined by the local rental market, just as the sale price of a property is determined by the real estate market. There are three main factors that affect the monthly rent you can charge:

1. Availability and rental rates of comparable properties in the area
2. Features and benefits of your property
3. Level of marketing exposure for your vacancy

Once we receive the details of your rental property, we will conduct a market analysis and set a starting price. We will then monitor all vacancies under our management on a weekly basis and make adjustments to the price or our marketing strategy as necessary, in order to rent out the property as quickly as possible.

To rent properties efficiently, we syndicate marketing efforts to over 20 top rental websites and pre-screen prospective renters. Our software allows us to follow up with every interested party and collect valuable feedback.

All calls to our local office are answered live during regular business hours. Additionally, we schedule weekend showings by appointment to ensure fast rentals and avoid losing potential tenants.

Our tenant screening process is thorough and effective in preventing problems. However, in the event of an issue, we respond quickly and take appropriate action. Rent is due on the 1st of every month and is considered late if not paid by the 4th. If rent remains unpaid, the eviction process begins on the 6th of the month. We start with a 3-day notice to pay or quit. For nuisance issues, we provide a warning before posting a notice.

To apply as a tenant, each adult over 18 years old must undergo a thorough screening process. The process includes a nationwide background check and an eviction database screening. This helps us to find any criminal backgrounds and to check the sex offender registry. We also review the applicant’s credit report to verify their financial eligibility. Additionally, we verify their employment by reviewing their pay stubs and/or tax returns. Finally, we contact their previous two landlords to check their rental history and obtain references. This helps us ensure that we select only the most suitable tenants.