Property Management Services and Fees

We are a progressive, proactive property management company. We are not just a mail drop for your rent check.

We know you have choices when it comes to who manages your rental property and we know many owners have small margins of error (if any). Small fees such as renewals, inspections, vendor markups, excessive vacancy time, underpricing, poor advertising and poor maintenance can cost an owner hundreds (sometimes thousands) of dollars a year.
You will find our services far outweigh our fees. We are also confident our services, fees and dedication to your property will out compete the competition. Please print out the Comparison Chart to help you compare Regent Realty Services to other property management companies.

Following are brief descriptions of our standard services and fees. This is not an all-inclusive list.
If your management needs include something not listed here, please contact us for a custom management program.


Market analysis - An accurate and thorough market analysis is one of the biggest steps in making and keeping your rental property as profitable as possible so we go to great lengths to get as much information as we can. We locate comparable properties that are currently available or have leased in the last 18 months. We drive by those leased and will do walk thrus on those currently available. Some companies do not physically view comparable properties causing gross errors in under pricing (loss of income) or over pricing, causing a property to be on the market longer than necessary with the price eventually being lowered anyway (again, loss of income).

Recommendations - With an accurate market analysis and knowledge of comparables, we can recommend a rental rate and make objective recommendations about things that may be needed to help bring the property condition up to full market value. There are many little, relatively inexpensive things that can often be done to a property to make it more attractive and lease more quickly to prospective renters.

Attract qualified tenants - We will advertise your property in the Dallas Morning News, The Observer, The Blue Book (for Realtors), applicable neighborhood papers, flyers put up at nearby businesses, custom made, eye catching signs in yards and the Multiple Listing Service. We also have an extensive list of Realtors we fax updated lists of available properties to. These Realtors do not specialize in property management but we have found them to be an excellent source of referrals. We also offer a free rental service to tenants. We do not place ads, put your property in the Multiple Listing System and wait for someone else to lease your property, we aggressively pursue qualified tenants.
In an effort to maximize your property's exposure, showings and get it leased as quickly as possible, we offer cooperating Broker's a commission of 50% of the first month's rent if they bring us a qualified tenant. Some companies offer as low as 25% of the first month's rent to cooperating Brokers. When an agent has to split that with the Broker, there is little incentive for an agent to show your property.
To help cooperating agents "sell" their prospect on your property, when an agent calls to ask about or schedule a showing of your property, we fax that agent an info. sheet (MLS is great, but limited in description space). The info. sheet is designed to not only inform the prospect about your property, but the agent as well. If that prospect is not interested, the next call to the agent may be someone perfect for your property. We find the info. sheet helps the agent make a professional, smooth, well informed presentation of your property. Being easy to contact, work with, helpful and giving good compensation to cooperating agents, we effectively multiply the agents willing, and wanting, to show your property.

Show your property - All properties leased through us will be shown 7 days a week only by licensed Realtors familiar with the Texas leasing laws. We track all showings and get opinions from people that have seen your property in order to make any necessary adjustments quickly. We will submit a progress report to you as often as you like.
We begin marketing and showing occupied properties during the last 30 days of occupancy, after receiving 30 days notice from the current tenant. Having good tenant relations, aggressive marketing and using electronic keyboxes, often we can have your property leased and a new tenant ready to move in the day after the old tenant moves out. Exceptions to this would be extensive repairs or complete paints.

Evaluate tenants - Once a prospective tenant is located, we do a thorough background check and report to you to discuss whether or not to rent to them. Our background check will include, but not be limited to, rental, credit, employment and criminal histories. We use an outside agency to run a credit, eviction and criminal history check. We call current and previous landlords and current and previous employers ourselves. We are trained to ask questions and look for inconsistencies that may indicate problem tenants.

Deposits - Our recommended property deposit amount is equal to a month's rent. It is a deposit and is not used as the last month's rent. Pet deposits, if applicable, are $250 per dog and $150 per cat. As owner, you reserve the right to decline having pets in your property or require more/less deposit money. We hold deposit monies in an escrow account subject to auditing by the Texas Real Estate Commission.

Lease and other documents - Once a tenant has been accepted, they meet in person with one of our representatives, in our office, and go over the promulgated Texas lease and other pertinent documents. The lease and other documents are thoroughly explained before signing. A summary page is also drawn up and signed by both tenant and representative to help prevent future misunderstandings. All documents are in triplicate with one copy going to the tenant, one going to you and one staying in our file.

Move-in inspections - We will do a complete inspection of your property before a new tenant moves in (the day of move-in with tenant present when possible). The inspection is documented on a check sheet the tenant and representative sign to show agreement and acceptance of the properties' condition upon move-in. We also take photographs with a date stamped camera to further document condition. The pictures are kept with the file. If you would like copies of the check sheet, pictures or a video tape they are free of charge.

Maintain good tenant relations - As a business it is often easier for us to be objective, courteous and professional when dealing with tenants, especially during a dispute.

Collect rents and other fees (including late fees) - Rents and other applicable charges are due in our office by 9:00 a.m. the second day of each month. Late charges begin accruing on the second. When necessary, we will handle all eviction proceedings as agent on your behalf. Rent checks are normally sent or ACH'd into your account the same day they are received by us so you get your rent check or ACH transfer before some companies even start charging late fees.
If rent has not been received by 9:00am on the 2nd, we make a reminder call to the tenant notifying them that rent was not received and late fees are now due.
If rent has not been received by 9:00am on the 3rd and we haven't been able to contact the tenant, we make a second reminder call.
If rent has not been recieved by 9:00am on the 4th and we haven't been able to contact the tenant, we will contact you to let you know the tenant is late and to discuss options.
Of course we will walk through the process with you and make recommendations based on experience. However, you will always be in charge of the decision you would like us to follow through with. We will not evict your tenant without first discussing it with you.

Maintenance - We will arrange maintenance and supervise the upkeep and repairs of buildings, grounds, equipment, etc. as needed. Maintenance needs are handled the same day when possible. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for emergency maintenance. You will be notified of any repair exceeding $300.00 if it is not an emergency. We do not believe in or have a "preferred vendor" program and we make no money from our vendors or off of their work. You will receive the original invoice with the exact amount we paid the vendor. There are no mark ups to you and we do not keep a percentage of the bill from the vendor. The only loyalty we have to our vendors is quality work at good prices. Those are the vendors we prefer. Our vendors know we are always looking and if we can get quality work for less, we will. All of our vendors are professional in appearance and are given a policy and procedure manual explaining the way we want them to represent us.

6 month inspections - Very important. We physically walk through the property (not just a drive-by). We check the smoke alarm (batteries seem to prefer living in toys), locks, air filters, etc., confirm the property is being well maintained and that the lease contract is being honored. Often times tenants overlook, don’t want to bother us or don’t care about small maintenance problems (leaks under sinks, loose tiles indicating water getting into the wall, etc.) that can turn into major problems. This is a scheduled visit and is not to catch "bad" tenants, but to help people be better tenants and discourage abuse of your property. By discovering maintenance or property abuse problems early, we can often save hundreds, or thousands, of dollars and get your property back on track more easily. 6 month inspections are also free of charge.

Renewals - At the end of a lease we will do another market analysis to help determine the current market rate. With approval from you we will renegotiate a new lease with a current tenant free of charge.

Move-out inspections - When a tenant moves out of your property we do another thorough inspection with a date stamped camera to help document and evaluate the deposit to be returned. These photographs are also kept with the property file and if you would like copies of the check sheet, pictures or a video tape they are free of charge.

Accounting - Along with your monthly rent checks or ACH transfer, we include a computer generated itemized statement showing income and expenses. At the end of the year we will also send you a 1099 tax form to help you in preparing your tax statement.
The vast majority of our owners have opted for us to ACH their funds vs sending them a check. Money is transferred directly from our bank account into yours using a secure network and 4 passwords. The transfer shows in your account within 48 hours (often 24 hours).
However, if you prefer to receive a paper check, that is absolutely not a problem.

Property tax evaluation - We will do a market analysis on the sale value of your property much like we do on the lease value. If it appears you are paying more than necessary in taxes on your property, we will let you know free of charge.

Data base about your property - As part of our market analysis, we take measurements and sketch your property floor plan. We then have it drawn up on a computer and entered into our data base with other information regarding your property. A printed version is added to your file. Of course you are welcome to a copy (printed, on disk or e-mailed).
This floor plan drawing is helpful not only in some marketing situations, it is also used to illustrate where and what problems your property may have and is helpful when getting bids, etc.
Two things often asked by prospective renters are: "What remains with the property (stove, fridge, washer, dryer, heaters, window units, ceiling fans, etc.)?" and "What/where are the neighborhood schools?" When asked, since this information has been included with your property info, we can access it with a click of a mouse. No hesitations, no "I'll have to get back to you" and no "You'll have to look it up" (translation: I don't know enough or care enough about you or the property to have done my homework). A customized information sheet about your property is available to be faxed to prospective tenants and is faxed to cooperating agents as a matter of routine.
Such things as remaining ceiling fans, window units, heaters, fridges, etc. may seem small on the surface. However, to a tenant that was shown an occupied property, signed a lease, was not told the fridge didn't stay with the property, and has a moving truck in the driveway,it's not a small matter at all.
We have also designed this website to be a useful resource for both owners and tenants. Not only can people learn what to expect from us but can also access information about schools, neighborhoods, special events, crime statistics and much more through our links page.

Fees - What kind of company lets you know what they charge without making you call and ask?
Management fee is 10% of collected rent plus 50% of collected late fees.
Management fee discount for multiple units.
Leasing fee is 75% of the first month’s rent if we procure the tenant.
No leasing fee if the owner procures the tenant.
We guarantee the leasing fee for three months (if we procure a new tenant). If you approve a tenant we procure and the tenant breaks the lease, within the first three months, we will refund a prorated amount of the leasing fee.
There are no hidden fees.



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