Rental Property Owners Frequently Asked Questions

Below are answers to the most commonly asked questions we receive regarding renting a property. If you have a question that isn’t answered below, please email sales@annapolispropertyservices.com.

How much is Annapolis Property Service's Management fee?
Our management fee is 10% of the monthly rent. We do not charge vacancy fees or finder’s fees for new residents. We only pass on direct advertising costs and maintenance costs.

Do I need rental property insurance?
We require that all property owners hold Landlord Insurance, with minimum liability coverage of $500,000.
How do you conduct property walkthroughs?
Before a resident moves in, we conduct an in-depth move-in walkthrough that is detailed in a report that is both written and with video.

During the tenancy, we conduct semi-annual walkthroughs. Once a resident vacates the property, we conduct a move-out walkthrough with video.

Do I need a rental license, and if so, how do I acquire one?
If your property is within the City of Annapolis, you are required to hold a rental license at an annual cost of $100.00. We complete all the paperwork on your behalf and accompany the inspector on their annual property inspections. If your property is outside the city limits, no license is required.
HOA dues and fees
Any mandatory HOA fees are the property owner’s responsibility and should be factored into the listed monthly rent, and like mortgage and property tax payments, it is important that HOA payments do not become delinquent. APS advises that it is in our owner’s best interests to set up the monthly payment of any HOA fees as an auto-pay directly through their bank.  The reasons for this are:

  • Like a mortgage and property taxes, HOAs have the power to place a lien on a homeowner’s property if fees become delinquent and have the ability to foreclose on a property.
  • HOA managers often do a poor job of contacting APS when assessments increase, which results in short payments and late fees assessed to owners
  • Once HOAs have APS as the primary contact, the owner will not receive important HOA announcements such as covenant changes, capital project assessments, and board elections.

Whilst we do not recommend it, if you would like us to pay your monthly HOA dues on your behalf we can certainly do so for an additional administrative fee of 1% of our management fee.

HOA notices and violations
APS handles all the HOA communications and notices and works with our residents and property owners to resolve any issues efficiently and in a timely manner

How are utilities managed?
For electric and gas utility bills, you can switch your account to a landlord account by completing a simple form from BGE.

For water and waste bills, it is easiest to leave these bills in your name and change the mailing address to APS. When a bill comes in, we then forward it to the resident for payment.

For all the internet/TV/phone service, we suggest disconnecting everything and returning any equipment to the provider.

How are maintenance requests handled?
We request that you pre-authorize APS to make repairs up to $500.00

For repairs above $500.00, when it is not an emergency situation, APS will contact you for authorization.

In the event that we can’t reach you or in an emergency situation, we will use our best discretion to resolve the problem and mitigate further damages.

Will you utilize my preferred vendors for any repairs needed for my property
As long as your vendors and suitably qualified and carry adequate insurance coverage, we are more than happy to utilize them for any repairs at your property.

Please just be sure to note their information and details on the property information form for your property.

Do you recommend we invest in a home warranty plan?
We do not recommend the use of a Home Warranty Plan; specifically those offered by companies such as AHS as we have found that these plans are not suitable for tenant occupied properties as they have no direct control or communication with the vendors and their timescales for making repairs is rarely in line with our resident’s expectations
Will you work with home warranty plans?
The only home warranty plans we work with are those that utilize their own technicians and offer suitable response time to maintenance requests. Currently, we have not been able to source a home warranty plan that utilizes their own technicians and offers a guaranteed suitable response time. We have, however, sourced some excellent HVAC maintenance plans to help maintain your heating and cooling systems
Why are repairs so important?
Nothing affects the reputation of a Landlord or a property management company more than the manner in which repairs are handled. Residents judge us by almost no other measure. It makes little sense to entrust your and our reputation to vendors that we don’t know, have no relationship with, or control over, hence why we don’t work home warranty programs.
Housing Choice Voucher Program - HCVP

Annapolis Property Services, LLC strives to promote a welcoming, diverse and discrimination – and harassment – free workplace. This principal not only applies to the employees and vendors of the Company, but also to Owners and Tenants. To that end, it is unlawful, and against Company policy, to refuse to sell or rent, or otherwise make unavailable or deny, a dwelling to any person because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or source of income. This includes potential tenants that receive housing assistance.

Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) – Property Owners

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When do I receive payment?
Owners are paid by the 15th of every month through a direct deposit system.

When is rent paid?
Rent is due on the 1st of every month. Note that under Maryland law, there is a mandatory five-day grace period. Rent is collected from the tenant between the 1st and 5th of the month.
How are prospective residents screened?
Our goal is to source high-quality residents in a timely manner. To deliver this we follow a strict screening process of:

  1. Requiring all prospective residents to complete a detailed application form
  2. Conducting a thorough background check on all prospective tenants
  3. Whenever possible, personally meeting all prospective tenants
How will you list my property?
We will create a draft listing of your property and post it to our website; once approved, this will be used for all other listing and advertising and will syndicate to over 40 other Rental sites, including Zillow, Trulia, Facebook, Youtube, Google, and Realtor.com

Should I allow residents with pets?
Depending on your property, we typically recommend that pets be considered on a case-by-case basis, that you restrict the number of pets allowed and specify size and breed.

When making this decision, remember that over 70% of all prospective residents have a pet. By not allowing pets, you will cut your prospective rental pool by more than half.  Our pet fee is $250 per pet, which is paid in full to you, the property owner. We do not charge a monthly pet rent.

How do I prepare my house for showings?
Make sure the house is clean and tidy, do your best to de-clutter, and keep the inside and yard as tidy as possible.
How much notice do I have for showings?
All property showings are conducted by an APS employee. If you still occupy the property we aim to provide a minimum of 24-hour’s notice.
How do you determine monthly rent?
Annapolis Property Services provides market information and guidance to help you determine the monthly rental fee.

 

APS - Our story

 

Contact Us
Home Currently Under Management

Annapolis Property Services
914 Forest Drive, Suite 101 Annapolis MD 21403
(410) 695-6151 Start Price $1500
Annapolis Property Services
914 Forest Drive, Suite 101 Annapolis MD 21403
(410) 695-6151 sales@annapolispropertyservices.com

Annapolis Property Services LLC. | 914 Forest Drive,Suite 101, Annapolis MD 21403
Ph: (410) 695-6151 Email: sales@annapolispropertyservices.com

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