Frequently Asked Questions

Regarding tenant-occupied homes, tenants can submit maintenance requests through their online tenant portal or our 24-hour maintenance hotline. Our portal allows tenants to provide a detailed description of the issue and even upload photos when necessary. Once the request is submitted, owners will receive the same notification as we do; we aim to ensure complete transparency with everything related to your property. Tenants can also keep track of their requests’ status online.

We evaluate repair requests to decide if immediate attention is required or if we can troubleshoot the issue with the tenant. For common repairs, we assign work orders to our vendors. All work is done by third-party vendors or independent contractors. We ensure the repair cost is fair and the work is completed to satisfaction.

Repairs under $300 are approved without bothering clients. For repairs over $300, we require owner approval. Exceptions include emergency maintenance and habitability issues.

If an owner has a preferred handyman or vendor for their property, RPM will make a note of it in their portfolio and contact them first for any necessary repairs. However, if the property is vacant, owners can handle the repairs needed to make the property ready for rent, if they choose to do so. We prefer to use our own vendors for repairs and maintenance to ensure that leasing deadlines are met. Our vendors are insured, licensed, reliable, and trusted, and we have a good understanding of what to expect from them.

Would the tenant pay you first, and then you pay me?

The tenant pays rent to RPM Key Response, and we deposit it into our trust account. More than 80% of our tenants prefer paying rent electronically. After the funds have cleared the bank, we directly deposit the rent from the current month, minus our fee and any other expenses, into a bank account that you choose. We make payments to owners on a weekly basis.

Statistics show over half of all renters have pets. Being open to pets, you will increase demand through the entire prospective rental pool, thus increasing the rental price as we charge an additional $30 per pet per month. If maximizing rent is important to you, maybe you should consider pets. If you would rather play it safe, it is OK to say no pets. If you are open to a pet, we always say, “pet considered”. That means we may approve the right pet, not all pets.

Emotional Support Animals are handled per Tennessee state law requirements. Ask our office for more information.

The local rental market determines how much rent your property will receive each month, just as the real estate market determines sales prices. There are three factors that contribute to the rental rates of your property, including the availability and rental rates of comparable properties, the features and benefits of your property, and the 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 evaluate all vacancies under our management on a weekly basis and make adjustments in the price or within our marketing strategy to ensure that the property gets rented out as quickly as possible.

Renting properties efficiently is crucial for our success and keeping our clients happy. We achieve this by generating as many qualified leads as possible. Our strategy is to syndicate our marketing efforts to over 20 top rental websites. We also pre-screen prospective renters by inquiring about who will be living with them, the number of adults and minors, and if they have any pets. We also ask about their current employment status and how long they’ve been employed. Our software allows us to follow up and get feedback from every interested party.

Our office is staffed during business hours, and all calls are answered live. This is important because if potential renters can’t speak to someone, they may go elsewhere. Additionally, we schedule weekend showings by appointment.

We have a stringent tenant screening process that usually prevents any issues from arising. However, if any problem should occur, we respond promptly and take appropriate action. Rent is due on the 1st of every month, and it is considered late if not paid by the 4th. If rent has not been paid by this time, the eviction process begins on the 6th of the month. The eviction process is initiated with a 3-day notice to pay or quit. Similarly, for any nuisance issues, we give one warning before posting a notice. We work with a local attorney when an unlawful detainer is filed with the court.

To be considered as a tenant, all interested individuals who are over 18 years old must go through a thorough screening process. This includes a nationwide background check and eviction database screening to look for any criminal records or registration in the sex offender registry. We also review their credit report to ensure they are financially capable and verify their employment by checking their pay stubs and/or tax returns. Lastly, we contact their previous two landlords to obtain references and review their rental history.