Pet owners are not a protected class. However, by eliminating them you are probably eliminating 40% of the people in the market for a rental house. Being open to pets does make your property available to more potential renters. Echo requires additional Pet Fees for pets ranging from $250.00 to $300.00.  

All of our properties prohibit smoking, in the interest of protecting your investment, as well as the health of the neighborhood.

Children come under the protected class of "familial status" and it is not possible to discriminate in this way. Our application forms do not ask number or ages of any children. 

The most common move-in costs are:  

1. The Security Deposit
2. The first month's rent.

The security deposit is refundable and is generally equal to approximately one month's rent and held in a Trust Account as mandated by law.

A security deposit is taken at move-in in an effort to minimize the risk of tenant damage. Tenants who pass our screening criteria generally do not create any damages over the amount of the security deposit. Our screening process checks criminal, credit and eviction records as well as current and previous employment and former landlords/owners.  Should the tenants vacate the property owing more than is covered by the security deposit, the tenant will be billed. If the tenant does not pay, the account will be turned over to a collection agency. 

Your property will be advertised on our website, as well as several other local and national third party websites (including Zillow, Rentals.com and Craigslist). A Property Information Sheet will be prepared for your property with all the necessary information and pictures. This information is given to anyone who sees the property, and is provided to interested parties.

We are in frequent contact with many real estate agents in the area who may have interested clients as well. 

Vacancies generally last about two to four weeks from the time of availability.  However, Echo takes great pride in its “hands on” approach to Marketing and locating a responsible tenant in a timely manner, often within a few short weeks from the time a property comes to market for rent. A property is considered available as soon as we receive notice from the existing tenant and permission from the owner to re-rent.

Currently, rent is due by 5pm on the 2nd calendar day of each month. A vast majority of tenants pay their rent by this time. If not paid, Echo will attempt to contact the tenant before initiating the eviction process, which start with posting of the 3-day Pay or Quit notice.  If rent has not been paid by the end of the notice period, Echo will notify the owner and file at the courthouse for a FED (eviction) hearing, which will typically be within ten days. 

The tenant is responsible for the rent for the term of the lease. If they are forced or choose to leave prior to the termination date, they will be charged for the rent until the property is re-rented to acceptable persons under the same terms and conditions of the original lease. 

The better the condition of a home, the better quality tenant that it will attract. Your home must be left in a professionally cleaned condition. Echo prefers to arrange this cleaning to ensure that the cleaning guidelines are strictly followed. The carpets must be freshly cleaned and all debris and personal belonging removed from the house. It is not always necessary to perform a full re-paint to a residence, but you should consider painting any room that has dirty or marred walls. A neutral color is best. Echo will be happy to discuss any necessary repairs or painting with you. Neutral window coverings such as blinds should be left, but not curtains that match a particular bedspread or couch. Tenants moving into a rental property do expect some sort of window coverings to be provided for privacy and safety.

As Echo maintains high standards for the condition of the lawn at each property, the tenants are typically required to maintain the yard in the condition it is provided to them during the term of the lease. Therefore, the yard should be freshly mowed, weeded, trimmed and the leaves and debris removed.  

You may also choose to use Echo to maintain your lawn if you so desire.  This charge can be passed on to the tenant and can benefit you when it comes to remarketing the property for rent as the lawn stays in good shape throughout the year. 

The rents are due on the first day of the month and late after 5pm on the second day. The rental funds must have cleared their banks before Echo can begin disbursing funds and statements provided to owners.  Your contract will have a detailed date that your rents will be disbursed to you each month.  The statement will summarize all activity on the account for that month. 

Echo  utilizes our in-house Property Maintenance team as well as outside contractors depending on the type of repairs and maintenance required. Many of our contractors and vendors have a long-standing relationship with our company and are available 24 hours a day for emergencies. They work at competitive rates and are licensed and bonded as appropriate. Owners are billed for the amount invoiced with NO MARKUP FEES.

Echo will handle all emergency and non-emergency repairs. Our team rotates responsibility for incoming emergency calls. You would never be called in the middle of the night.