 Tenants Frequent Questions & Answers
Our managed rental homes are owned by seasoned investors who have owned these homes for a number of years. As letting agents in Kissimmee, we qualify both our investor rental owners and potential tenants. We screen applicants for employment, credit, criminal and background. Tenants your current credit score- isn’t as important as your long term credit history and current stable employment.
Are you looking for a good home?
Have you paid your bills on time in the past?
Do you have stable income & employment?
Do you have good rental references?
Can you supply us with personal references?
Will you pay your rent on time?
Will you keep your rental home in good condition?
If you can answer yes- to the above questions. We maybe able to work with you. It's okay if you've recently lost your home in foreclosure. We will still consider your application seriously as long as your long term credit report shows good payment history.
Who Approves Your Application?
We pre-approve your application and the owner/investor has the final say. Most of the time the investor/owner will take into account what we think about the applicants.
If you've recently filed bankruptcy
That's okay as long as you have reliable stable income now. We require you pay first and last months rent plus security deposit. We know people go through hard times. We don't penalize you for situations and circumstances beyond your control.
When looking at your application
We verify all your income and it's source, we check with your employer. If you're self employed we like to see two years of tax returns- or a letter from your accountant stating your current income and 6 months of bank statements.
Lease Term
The minimum lease term is a year at a time. Most of our tenants live in the home they are applying for two, three and some even five years or longer. The lease is normally renewed to you, unless your late with your rent often; or you fail to keep the home in good condition E.g. long grass, cars on bricks on the driveway, complaints from neighbors, county or HOA.
On rare occasions the investor may decide to sell the rental home. In which case, you will be the first person we contact to let you know the price and terms.
Would you like to buy a home in the future?
Your rental history is important. We supply rental reports with your permission to a bank or lender of your choice. Some of our rental owners maybe be willing to sell you the home you're living in. Ask at the time of lease application- if there is potential to buy this home in the future.
We Check All Owners Out Before Leasing to You
Some owners try and rent their homes out for a few months before they lose them. While no one can ever be 100% sure of anything these days. Our typical rental owner is a seasoned investor who has owned their rental home- purely as an investment home.
Is the rent easily affordable?
The rent on the home that you're applying for needs to be no more than 1/3rd of your gross monthly income. All your other payments combined should be no more than 50% of your gross income to qualify for one of our rentals.
Have you been convicted of a crime?
Everyone deserves a second chance. However, if you have been recently incarcerated for a very serious offense. Chances are the homeowner will not approve your application. Misdemeanor crimes when you were young will not affect your application.
Security Deposit
All homes are kept in good condition- when you move in you'll be given a punch out list to complete and fax back or email us within a week. We compare your list with our list and photo's. In order for your deposit to be returned to you in full. All you need to do - is leave the home as you found it.
Repairs
Our phones lines are answered regular business hours and you can email us 24/7. We are on call for serious emergencies such as blood, flood, fire, and no A/C. Routine repairs are attended to during regular business hours. Example- If you want someone to come out and fix your disposal at 7pm at night or on a Saturday. You will need to arrange this with the Service Tech-and pay an extra $50 fee directly to the tech for their time & trouble.
We're very easy going and easy to work with. But, when it comes to paying your rent late- The lease-is the lease- and by law we have to uphold the terms and conditions of the lease on behalf of the owner. We cannot make exceptions. In other words- if you're serious about renting somewhere nice-and paying on time- call us. 407-933-2367
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 Short Term Rentals/Management
Time to change management companies?
Great Escape Villas is our short term management company. While we're excellent at short term rentals- no one can guarantee bookings in this present ecomonic climate. If financial returns is what you need. We cannot promise anything other than we will do our best. If solid vacation rental income is a serious consideration for you, we cannot offer you a lot of bookings at this point in time. We can only offer- sensible management.
Your home must be very special and you must be willing to keep it in tip top condition. Our program is a very personalised service your home will be advertised indiviually & exclusively. If you've had a couple of other managers and not been happy, allow our 19 years of experience to work for you.
Business Hours & Location
When you're one of our owners, you'll be able to access your account information on-line 24/7. You can down load reports & statements, make owner bookings and all at no extra charge to you. owners click here; rch.managebuilding.com
Our admin office is available Monday thro Friday 9am-5pm by appointment either at your home or at our office. We provide an emergency service 24/7.
We return all calls and emails promptly even if it is just to say we’re looking into the matter. Some things require extensive investigations and once we’ve completed our investigation we will be in a position to tell you what has gone on and what if anything needs to be done to correct the situation.
Reservations
We book a specific homes- not generic. Some homes are more popular than others. We can evaluate your home and see what, if anything needs to be done to maximize your rental potential as inexpensively as possible.
We disclose on all rentals, amounts collected length of stay and booking source.
Guest Services
We can help arrange tours, trips cruises & attraction tickets etc. Provide discount coupons for restaurants, golf and shopping etc. Family emergencies happen from time to time,we will wherever possible assist the guests with making the appropriate arrangement as and when needed.
Accounts & Statements
We can scan in bills to the on-line system so you can see them. We don’t pay regular utility bills. We find it far easy for all of us if we help you set up direct bill pay on line from your bank, and you can track your own utility bills and query payments directly with the source when applicable.
Housekeeping
We keep the same housekeeper cleaning the same home. This way the housekeeper gets to know your home and takes pride in knowing that your house keeping standards will be in their hands. We find the fairest way to check is to inspect on a random basis. We are well known for our high standards of cleanliness.
Maintenance
Preventative maintenance is a must and we perform these checks 4 times a year. All routine maintenance is performed on an as needed basis. For example we will not call you to tell you your toilet needs a new flapper value or it is running. It’s a common fault here in Florida, so if we were to call you about everything we’d never be off the phone. Instead, we do what we do best manage the home properly and consult with you on important or expensive issues. Whenever possible we will drop you a quick email to let you know what needs to be done and that’s it’s been scheduled.
Initial Rental Evaluation
When you join us we’ll conduct a through check of the home and inspection it in great detail. If you’re here at the time, that’s works great! We can show you what we see. We look at your home through the eyes of a guest and with a view of preventative maintenance. If you’re not here we’ll take photos and email them to you along with your report.
If the home is not up to our typical guests requirements. It will need to be brought up to standard etc. A full explanation and costs involved will be provided to you for your consideration before we go ahead and schedule any repairs/replacements.
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 Do You Want An MC That Never Makes Mistakes
No matter how hard we try, we will always make mistakes. When mistakes happen (and they do), we'll own them and appologise take full responsibilty for the error and make the necessary corrections! If your ideal management company does what they say they will do, and doesn't make you promises they can't keep, you've found what you've been looking for.
When You Need To Speak To Someone About Your Home
Would you prefer your MC to be a large company with lots of employees running around or, would you prefer to speak to someone who knows you & your home personally. If you're looking for sensible management and you have realistic expectaions you've found the right place!
email:annemarie@greatescapevillas.com or call us | |
 Questions We think You Should Ask When Interviewing A New Short Term Rental MC
Interviewing Management Companies
Here are samples of questions you may want to ask when interviewing a potential new management company. Once you have their management pack and information, take your time to go through the information they’ve sent you and see if these questions are answered.
Unanswered questions should be asked during a phone or an in person interview. That way you’ll get a better feeling of how they respond to your questions! If you send them these questions without reviewing the information they have already sent you. They may not be too impressed about having you as a homeowner, if most of the answers are readily accessed in the information pack they’ve sent!
Here’s a big clue for you if you feel that you have to hire another company to make sure your management company does right by you….you’re with the wrong company. There are tips we can share with you on how to ensure your MC is being on the level with you without hiring and paying a secondary company to watch over the first one. Here are some vital questions that you should know the answers to when hiring a MC
•Who owns this company corporate, partners or family owned and operated
•Who is person who is telling you about the company employee or owner?
•How long has the company or the owners been in the STR business
•What are the normal business hours
•Who is on call 24/7 in case of emergencies
•Is it a yearly management contract
•Does your MC contract automatically renew if not cancelled by a certain date?
•What is your cancellation policy on your management agreement?
•If I email you questions how soon will you reply?
•Will you get back to me to let me know my queries are in hand if you are waiting for further information?
•If I call you directly how soon will I get an answer to my questions?
•Have you ever been party to a lawsuit with a disgruntled homeowner?
•Do you have a list of all items billed for with this management agreement?
•Will you help me set up bill pay direct for my utilities?
•Do you send me any bills you’ve paid for me with my statement?
•Do you expect me to pay my own utility bills?
•How often do you send statements?
•What is the minimum amount of my funds you expect to hold in escrow?
•Who do I contact if I have any queries relating to my statement or accounts?
•What are you’re expectations of me regarding accounts?
•How often do you raise your fees?
•Who do I contact if I have any queries relating to bookings?
•How are bookings allocated?
•How do guests check in and or register?
•How do guests obtain the keys to our home?
•Do you work with Tour Operators?
•What are your booking cancellation policies and fees?
•Do you take direct reservations?
•Do you set a rate you will pay me for bookings?
•Do you take a commission from bookings?
•Do you pay all rental taxes on your bookings?
•Will you pay rental taxes on my behalf on my owner bookings?
•Are all your reservations for typical homes?
•What are you’re expectations of me regarding bookings?
•How do you feel about owner bookings?
•How do I make an owner booking?
•Will you be happy managing my home if I do all the bookings?
•If you do all the bookings in the home how many can I expect?
•If a guest calls with a problem how soon will someone go to check it out?
•Do you take a security deposit from guests?
•Will my home have the same housekeeper every time it is cleaned?
•How do you find out if something is missing or damaged after guests leave?
•How do you go about getting repairs or replacements money from the guest?
•Do you do background checks on the people that will be working in my home?
•Do you have set hourly and call out rate maintenance fees?
•What am I likely to be charged for a routine call out?
•What am I likely to be charged for an out of hours call out?
•Will you have a designated home inspector for my home?
•How often would my inventory be checked?
•How often would my home checked for maintenance issues?
•What is included in your regular cleaning of my home?
•What is included in your spring cleaning of my home?
•Will you show me a couple homes in my area that you currently manage?
•What is your company procedure for hurricanes and tornadoes?
•Do you like each home to be different and equipped with lots of extras?
•Do you prefer the homes all to be the same with a standard furniture pack?
•What type of long distance call blocks and services do you offer?
•Do you offer attraction tickets?
•Do you offer full guest services?
•Do you offer any other services that the guests might want?
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