General Blog

What Can You Do With Abandoned Tenant Property

August 22, 2019 by Helen Miltiades

It is not uncommon for a tenant to move out and leave behind a considerable amount of their belongings. There are many horror stories about irresponsible tenants leaving a property in less than ideal condition. While some tenants just leave large amounts of garbage others have left behind things like clothing, furniture, unforwarded mail, and more. Sometimes it’s hard to tell that they even actually moved out. What Can You Do With Abandoned Tenant Property

The natural response of a landlord faced with left behind tenant property is frustration and a desire to fill up a truck and haul it all off to the dump. Unfortunately, this could lead to legal problems should the tenant return and wonder where their belongings are. The best way to deal with left behind tenant property is to know the state laws. Most state laws require a landlord or property manager to follow a series of required steps to document and control access to anything left behind. When the proper legal steps and precautions are taken a landlord can safely and confidently dispose of left behind items on their property.

Laws about how to properly handle left behind tenant property differ from state to state, and can even differ from county to county; so it is hugely important to know the exact laws for the location of each property you own. Here are the general steps to take when dealing with left behind property.

Ensure that you have control over access to the left behind items. Recover all keys, garage door openers, or change the locks to the rental. Some areas allow personal belongings to be stored in a secure storage unit while others require them to be left as they were on the property. The one thing you do not want to happen is allow the possibility for someone to steal the left behind items as you can face civil and criminal charges.
When the belongings are secure, you now want to document every item left behind. The best way to do this is to make a detailed video or take photos of every space and make a detailed written list of every item left behind.
Once you know it is ok to legally move anything left behind it is a smart idea to call in a neutral person to act as a witness to prove that everything was handled properly and without ill intent or theft.
Another great step to take is to notify the tenant that property was left behind if you have contact information. The best way to inform them is in writing so you can retain a copy and have the most solid proof that you did inform the tenant that they left something behind and how they can go about retrieving it.
In many areas if you have gone through all of the former steps and the tenant has not attempted to retrieve their belongings it is ok to sell or dispose of the property. Again make sure you know the laws of the land.

Dealing with left behind property can be very time consuming and even expensive. A great way to deal with left behind property is to hire a property manager, they will have in-depth knowledge of local laws and know what steps to take to properly take care of left behind tenant property. This will save you stress and time and help avoid costly legal battles.

How to Sell a Property With Tenants

How to Stage a Bathroom to Sell or Lease

July 25, 2018 by Helen Miltiades

Staging your Savannah home to sell is always important and you’ve probably seen tons of blogs on how to go about it, but have you seen one that focuses on the bathroom? If not, it’s really too bad, because the kitchen and the bathroom are probably the two most important rooms in the house when it comes to hooking your buyers. Therefore, here are some great tips for staging your bathroom to sell.

How to stage your bathroom:

Step 1: Clean it like you mean it

Just as you don’t want to walk into your home after a long day at work and soak in a tub full of mold with a few well-placed spider webs overhead, your potential buyer doesn’t either. When potential buyers walk through your house, they’re envisioning themselves living there. Help them by making the scene a good one.

A sparkling-clean bathroom is perhaps the most important quality that will grab their attention. Devote a good day to scrubbing the floor and tiles, the toilet bowl, the tub, the sink, and throwing out everything that looks old and yucky.

Additionally, get an effective air-freshener or candle to rid the space of residual odors. Use a caulk gun to fill in any cracks and gaps in the tiling. Wipe all mirrors, so buyers see their reflection, not your kid’s fingerprints.

Step 2: No personal items

If you are still living in your home, it might be challenging to tuck away all of your personal care items. Place all toothbrushes, toiletries, and medications in convenient plastic shower baskets, so you can easily transport them out of the room if a new buyer is visiting.

An empty and spotless mirror cabinet allows the potential home buyer to picture their own personal care products along the shelves and adds an extra feel of simplicity and cleanliness.

Step 3: Streamline

Although the kittens with balls of yarn shower curtain are in fact, adorable, some home buyers may not see it that way. All your personal flair in your decor must go. When decorating, think more along the lines of a “hotel look”. Use neutral colors and luxurious or plush looking fabrics.

Also, remove all dirty clothes and trash bins.

Step 4: Add luxury and details

Staying along the idea of a “hotel look” or “spa feel” in your bathroom, add details to complete the look. Perhaps put a flower in a vase or set out a pretty scented candle. Also, consider putting out fancy soap.

For more information about staging, check out these posts:

A Checklist for sellers Before the Inspection

Tried and True Secrets to Selling a Home

How to List, Market, and Sell Your Savannah Home

How Does a Foreclosure Impact Tenants?

June 25, 2018 by Helen Miltiades

There may be nothing worse for a tenant than to discover their landlord has not been paying their mortgage and now the home is at risk of foreclosure. Will you suddenly be thrown out? What can you do?

There are some things you should do immediately. If you received a letter from an attorney you should call that lawyer and ask when and where will the foreclosure sale take place. Ask where you should be making your rental payments. You may be asked to send it to the lender directly or put in escrow.

If the lender purchases the property at the foreclosure, will they allow you to remain in the home? Most lenders are not in the real estate business and will want to get rid of the property as soon as possible so you need to understand your rights and how long you can remain in the home.

Ask if you can buy the property if you are interested. This might be a good opportunity to be a homeowner yourself, especially if you love the house and have lived there for some time. Talk to the lender and an attorney about the possibility of buying the property yourself.

“Finally, you should find out what your state law provides in these circumstances. In some jurisdictions, if a lender forecloses on a property, the owner must vacate the property. However, tenants have (or may have) stronger rights, and will be permitted to stay in the property for a period of time. Additionally, in most states in the United States, a tenant just cannot be thrown out on the street without a Court Order. This means that the new landlord — the successful purchaser at the foreclosure sale — will have to go to Court to seek an eviction Order. This will give you some more time before you have to move.” [Source]

It may also be a good idea to start looking for another rental property, especially if you don’t plan on buying the home. It’s also recommended not to pay your rent to your landlord since obviously they have been collected your rent but not paying their mortgage with it.

If you have more questions or need to find a rental place soon in Savannah Georgia, give me a call. I’d love to help you find the right home and rental for your needs or answer any questions you may have on rentals and property management.

QUIZ: How to tell it’s time to move

5 of Savannah’s Top Neighborhoods

May 23, 2018 by Helen Miltiades

Whether you’re moving from within the area or from out-of-state, we want to find the best neighborhood to fit your lifestyle, your budget and your needs. Here are some of Savannah’s top five neighborhoods.

South Central

The South Central area includes Ardsley Park, Washington Street and similar neighborhoods like Parkside. This is a diverse neighborhood full of boutique owners, young families, architects and unique four and five bedroom craftsman bungalows and mansions built around the 1920s. Ardsley Park is one of the landmarks in this neighborhood with beautiful ancient live oak trees, tree-lined streets and stately mansions. It’s far enough away from the busyness of downtown to provide a peaceful and residential area. Children and families can walk or ride bikes to school and residents have easy access to the south side shopping malls, markets and restaurants.

Midtown

This includes the neighborhoods of Habersham Woods and Mayfair. Here you will find mid-20th century ranch homes with longer, quiet streets in the heart of the city. Residents are close to the YMCA, private and public schools, Memorial Stadium and two major hospitals. This middle-income family neighborhood is home to real estate agents, medical personnel, nurses and a variety of single, middle-aged residence and retirees.

The South

This neighborhood includes the Landings at Skidaway Island and Wiley Bottom Road. This neighborhood is primarily a mix of wealthy retirees, corporate executives and affluent neighborhoods. You’ll find soccer moms, blue and white collar commuters, military families and more especially in the neighboring communities of Fort Stewart and Richmond Hill. This is a gated community on 6500 acres just 12 miles south of downtown Savannah. There are six golf courses, four clubhouses and swimming pools. If you’re looking for the upscale neighborhood of Savannah, this is it.

Southeast

Along Bluff Drive is the neighborhood of the Isle of Hope. This is a riverfront community with good schools, a pedestrian-friendly environment and a good variety of renters and homeowners. If you’ve been looking for a waterfront community, this is it. There’s no commercial development except for the Marina; markets and restaurants are at least 3 miles away.

Historic Downtown

This central part of town is about 2.5 mi.² featuring old Victorian homes, parklike squares and unique architecture. This is a great neighborhood for up and comers, professionals, artists, students and service industry professionals. It’s also a great place for a vacation or a second home and it provides an easy walk score to numerous shops, restaurants, boutiques and entertainment in downtown.

So if you have an idea of where you’d like to live feel free to give me a call or contact me through my website at any time and I would be happy to send you a customized list of homes or condominiums that meet your search criteria and price in any of these neighborhoods throughout the Savannah area.

March Madness – St. Patrick’s Day Events in Savannah

March 2, 2018 by Helen Miltiades

March Madness? How about just something fun to do this month? Here’s what’s happening in the Savannah area this March, 20176.

For gamers and comic book enthusiasts, GnomeCon is coming to the Coastal Georgia Center at 305 Fahm Street. This science fiction and fantasy convention is March 2-4 with a variety of events and activities for people of all ages. Participate in costume making workshops, game tournaments, zombie family feud and a unique screening of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Tickets start at $35.

River Street’s St. Patrick’s Day Celebration is happening on March 17 at the Riverfront Plaza and includes entertainment, life music, outdoor restaurants, singing and celebrating. Of course you want to wear green this day to participate in some of the fun activities, contests and Savannah Waterfront Association’s largest event of the year. If you bring your ID you can grab a wristband to enjoy your adult drink to go walking around one of Savannah’s largest parties. Wristbands are $5 per day and can be purchased at multiple downtown locations. You won’t want to miss this annual event March 17, 18^th and 19^th.

The Savannah Sightseeing Old Town Trolley Tours has events going on all month long. It starts off with the Oyster Roast on March 5 supporting the Davenport House Museum. This event is from 3 PM until 6 PM. On March 10-12 is the Savannah Stopover Music Festival. This festival focuses on the good fortune of Savannah by presenting traveling musician with the SXSW music conference. This three-day festival features music, visual arts, and unique technology in a historical setting.

On March 11 is the Greening of the Forsyth Fountain. This traditional event dyes all the fountains green in Savannah starting off the St. Patrick’s Day tradition. However, they do need a lot of help so you want to get involved with the city and their events tours to participate in this fun event.

The weekend of St. Patrick’s day is the Tara Feis Irish Celebration sponsored by the city’s Cultural Affairs. This is on the Saturday before the St. Patrick’s Day parade and is a family-friendly festival open to the public with free admission. It offers live Irish dancing performances, food, activities, arts and crafts and games. It’s held each year in Emmet Park in the heart of downtown Savannah beginning at 11:00 AM.

On the second or third weekend of the month is the Celtic Cross Ceremony and Recession where Irish Catholics join together to celebrate their heritage at Emmet Park. Bagpipes play, Irish speakers talk about the past and the future of Irish Catholics in the Savannah area and there’s a reception at 2:30 PM with food and refreshments. The event starts at 1:00 PM.

Once all the St. Patrick’s Day festivities are completed you’ll want to hang around for the 2016 Savannah Music Festival. This event is March 24 through April 9 in the Historic District of downtown Savannah. There are over 100 performances of live music, jazz, classical and a variety of international music traditions.

March is our St. Patrick’s Day celebrations so if you got a hankering, don your green apparel and join us at one of these amazing events this month.