Journalist

Editor in Chief

Belong Co-Founders

By taking a human approach to the rental market and going above and beyond for both homeowners and residents, Belong is redefining property management.

Taking A Unique Approach to Property Management

Looking for a property manager near you? It’s not just about geography. In this article we remind people of the connection they have to their homes, demonstrate how hard it is to find the right residents, and discuss how Belong is solving these problems.

The ideal property manager is one who recognizes a home is not just a deed or an address.  It has much more meaning.

That’s the reason why Belong goes out of its way to avoid certain terms and phrases that bring to mind the worst qualities of the real estate industry. “Landlord,” for instance, seems like a relic from feudal times. “Tenant” can make someone feel like a second-class citizen.

So is it any wonder, when one side’s given so much power at the expense of the other, that the landlord-tenant relationship can turn adversarial so easily?

Instead of “landlord,” Belong uses the word “homeowner.” Not only is it friendlier, but it’s more accurate, too. Because most of the people who turn their houses over to  Belong aren’t traditional landlords. By and large, they aren’t professional investors.  They don’t own a fleet of buildings and apartments that they’re constantly renting out. 

Some are in the process of downsizing, but aren’t quite ready to give up the family home — maybe they imagine that someday their children or their children’s children will want to move back in; others are “accidental homeowners,” who’ve inherited the property from a family member who’s passed away.  They see an opportunity to generate passive income, but critically, they aren’t opportunists. 

Learn more about the pros – and cons – of owning a rental property

They are people who love their homes, who have an emotional attachment to them, and want the next residents to feel the same way.  They care about putting the right people in their homes, first and foremost.

That’s why Belong works so hard to match the right residents to the right homes.  Of course,  credit checks, identity checks, and criminal background checks are all industry standard.

Belong goes above and beyond those basics, personally interviewing each and every potential resident.  Finding the perfect person – or couple or family – means they will take great care of the house, and also stay in it longer.   Which reduces vacancies. Stability is a good thing.

But finding the right resident is just the beginning of the journey, not the end of it. What if you could ditch property management services to modernize your entire rental experience? Belong does exactly that, combining industry-busting technology with human smarts to make renting lovable for both homeowners and their residents.

Our smarter, future-ready services include:

Guaranteed rent every month, regardless of if or when your residents pay

Optimized rental pricing that uses technology and real-time demand to price your home with accuracy

The Belong app that gives you and your residents access to everything you need

Innovative financial products including the option to spread maintenance payments over the term of your lease agreement

Access to dedicated landlords insurance to protect your asset (as well as coverage for your residents)

Integration with the most popular rental platforms to get your home loved faster

Instant access to an expansive vendor network of over 10,000 professionals that can handle everything from routine repairs to home upgrades

…and we’re just getting started! Belong is simplifying the rental experience and helping more homeowners reach their financial goals through real estate. Visit our homeowner's page to find out more about services in places like Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Austin, Oakland, Miami and many, many more.

Here are the 12 steps you need to rent your home on your own. Or just take one step and call Belong.

So You Really Want to Go It Alone? 12 Steps to Renting your Home

There are lots of ways that people who own houses can turn to rent them as a smart economic strategy. Some have to move fast and don’t want to be forced to sell the first available buyer. Others inherited a home. And still others bought a home with an investment opportunity in mind.  

No matter the journey you’re on, renting a home on your own means you need to be aware of - and plan for - a host of legal and financial responsibilities.  These take careful planning and preparation; in fact, there are responsibilities you’re probably not even aware of.

None of this is simple. This is precisely why we created Belong - to take on the heaving lifting for you.  And to arrive at the end of the day with the most important outcome of all: to find someone who will love your house as much as you do.

Based on deep understanding and years of experience, here are the 12 essential steps that everyone needs to follow before renting a home.  If these don’t convince you to turn to Belong as your partner in being a successful homeowner, all we can say is that we wish you luck! And we’re always here if you need us.

Start with an honest level-setting conversation with yourself and your family.  While we’re all looking to “monetize” our real estate in some way - and you can make anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars - it doesn’t make sense in all case. So ask yourself these questions to determine if renting is the best way for you to proceed:

Are you sure you won’t need the house for yourself, or for family, in the next few years?  While you can rent for the short-term, the best rental relationship is long-term - where you give someone a chance to truly “Belong” to the house.

What’s the condition of your home? Often when you live in a home for a while, it’s hard to look at it objectively to determine how “rentable” it is, and what kind of repairs and upgrades will need to be made.

Is the rental market strong in your area? Search sites like Trulia and Zillow to get an idea of what the market conditions are.

If you don’t need your place for a while - and if the property is in good shape (or you have the cash to get it there) - and the market is promising, renting may be a great option!

At the end of the day, renting is an economic calculation. First, set your goals: do you want to break even, make a profit, or are you willing to take a loss in order to gain tax advantages of renting?  And speaking of taxes, you should talk to your accountant about the tax implications of renting before making any final decision.

Next, you need to put together a basic cost-revenue analysis model. The revenue is your rent income - but make sure you build in a reasonable projected vacancy time. The costs include everything from normal maintenance to unexpected items like a leaky roof or a broken furnace.  

Property management costs should be included if you choose to go that route. We’ll get into more detail about what property management includes later on. Speaking as Belong - not your run-of-the-mill property management company - we believe that the value and efficiency we bring more than offsets the fee.

There are a number of online calculators that can help with this analysis. Calculator.net and Zillow’s calculator are two we’d recommend. And again, we advise you to speak to your accountant.

Make sure you include the costs required to upgrade your property to market-level conditions (more on that in the next section).

Of course your property must be up to code. But that’s not enough. A well-maintained home attracts residents who will respect it and care for it. We recommend that you spend time on sites like Trulia to gain insight into “comparables” in your neighborhood. 

If upgrades beyond painting and freshening are required, you’ll need to hire a trustworthy contractor who can deliver within the agreed-upon time period.  Here are some of the best tips we’ve found for finding one. 

In general, don’t impose your taste. Aim for something as broadly popular as possible. If your home ends up looking like it’s straight out of Crate & Barrel or West Elm, that’s a good thing.

Your ability to market your home can not only mean the difference between a profitable investment and a loss-making one, but it can actually attract better residents, those who will love a home as much as you do.

If you make the call to go with Belong, you can be confident that you are working with a team that understands local market conditions, that has the talent to present your house in the best light, that understands the power of virtual tours and brilliant photography, and that has technology that makes scheduling appointments easy and frictionless.

If you decide to market your home on your own, it’s more complicated and time-consuming than you might think. Here are some links to websites and other content to help you with DIY home marketing. 

It’s time to market your home. The quality and number of photos in the listing will impact the interest in your rental. You’ll especially want quality photos if you are competing in the high-end market. 

Potential tenants commonly use sites like Craigslist, Redfin, and Facebook Marketplace to find available listings. Posting to a variety of websites and having “for rent” signs directing local traffic to your rental property will help maximize applications. 

All applicants should be required to give basic information like the names and birthdates of everyone who will live on the property, the social security numbers of the applicants for credit checks, thorough job history, and references (especially from past landlords). There may be more information you’d like to have on file, like an emergency contact, so do some research to make sure the information you collect is both complete and legal to store. Review applications on a first-come-first-serve basis to avoid any appearance of discrimination.

Sorting through applicants is perhaps one of the most stressful steps for a new landlord. How do you know if someone is a good tenant? Will they be clean, respectful, and on time with monthly rent payments?

A few tips to screen your applicants are:

Require an application fee to cover credit and background checks, which will encourage serious applicants only. 

Perform a background and credit check, and call past landlords.  

Check their income history. Since the era of the long-term job is behind us - with the rise of freelancers, consultants, and small business owners - income stability is the most important criterion.

Once you piece together their rental, credit, and job history, you should have a good idea of how they will act in your home.

You will need an insurance provider who understands the best way to protect your investment while keeping costs to a minimum.  One way to do that is to have a high deductible plan, which usually comes with lower monthly premiums.

If you don’t have a good broker, there’s no substitute for word-of-mouth in finding one. We suggest you ask friends and neighbors. Googling is not a good idea - a broker’s ability to come up high in search ratings doesn’t necessarily mean they’re any good.

You should require tenants to have renter’s insurance to cover them from loss of property from theft, flood, fire, and other problems, as well as protect you from being sued in such events. This requirement needs to go into the lease.

So we have our terms straight, the role of a “property manager” includes all of this and more:  

You need to decide if you are going to take on these responsibilities or if you would rather hire a property management company.

Property management companies bill in either flat rates or rent percentages. These fees can be difficult to predict and landlords are sometimes surprised by charges. It also can be hard to leave a long-term contract with an unsatisfactory property management company, so research and interview a few companies before deciding, and think about involving your lawyer. 

We created Belong because we believed that the world of property management was broken and ready for innovation. We deliver a complete, hands-on solution that combines technology with a human touch.

12 Steps to Renting your Home in 2021

Traditional depictions of landlords have always been negative. So as attitudes towards renting shift and become more positive, how can we support homeowners who take a caring approach to renting their home?

How Can We Change The Perception of Landlords?

Traditional depictions of landlords have always been negative. But at the end of the day, most landlords are homeowners who care about their property and who rents it. 

As attitudes towards renting shift and become more positive, how can we support homeowners who take a caring approach to renting their home?

Words matter, and “landlord” has never been a pretty one. It summons up images of greedy, faceless real estate companies who don’t really care about the property itself, or the people who live there. But is that the reality of a modern landlord?

When you look at the numbers, the vast majority of single-family rental properties – a total of 72.5 percent – are owned by individuals. And they own just 1.72 properties on average. This means most landlords are simply homeowners who are supporting families or own a space that just isn't right for their current needs. Many have inherited a house and aren't prepared to sell it yet. Or they might be in the process of downsizing or moving for work, but aren’t yet ready to part with their homes. They may even expect to move back in the future. 

Another reason for holding on and renting is that they may live in an area where housing prices are rapidly appreciating, and they don’t want to give up on that opportunity to participate in that. We’re seeing that right now, as housing prices are going up at over 10 percent annually; combine that with the shortage that exists, and not selling at this moment could be a wise economic choice. 

That doesn't sound particularly evil, so how do we change the perception of the modern landlord? 

By treating them as what they are: homeowners. It's why Belong prefers that term over 'landlord'. It acknowledges that many owners have an emotional relationship to the houses they rent, and want to go to bed at night knowing that the individual – or family – living there loves the place.

They aren’t professional investors who understand the ins and outs of real estate law, and most of them aren’t interested in taking on the responsibilities of maintaining the property. Along with the word landlord, Belong has ditched the hassles and hidden fees of traditional property management to offer an entirely new experience. One that makes everything transparent and friction-free, from listing and finding residents, to the upkeep of the property. We treat everyone in our community (both homeowners and residents) as members of community, available 24/7 to support whomever needs it. That's how you change perception from faceless greed to responsible homeowners in the rental market. 

So you can use words like “innovative” and “impeccable” and “finally!” to describe Belong – or any other laudatory adjectives you want to add to the heap. Just not "another property management company". 

Traditional depictions of landlords are not pretty, but as attitudes towards renting shift to become more positive, it's time to reposition homeowners.

Of course, you want to keep your property safe. But are you opening yourself up to legal liabilities when you use security cameras to accomplish that goal?

What Every Property Manager Should Know About Security Cameras

Installing security cameras in a house or apartment you’re self-managing might seem like a no-brainer. Especially today, when they are so affordable and easy to install. After all, the urge to protect the property and the people residing in it is a universal trait, shared by landlords and renters alike. But beware: there are huge legal implications when it comes to installing security cameras on your property.

When a resident is behind a closed door, they have a reasonable expectation that they’re in a private, safe space. In fact, in that kind of circumstance, they legally have a right to privacy. Anything you do that intrudes on that right — including setting up a security camera — is against the law. 

In fact, it’s one of the rights guaranteed in the Bill of Rights: According to many legal scholars, the Third Amendment, which explicitly prevents soldiers from taking up residence in a civilian’s home, implicitly “suggests the individual’s right of domestic privacy” — this according to the National Constitution Center. The Fourth Amendment is even more explicit, guaranteeing “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures.”  Though these Amendments were initially drafted as a check on governmental intrusion into the private lives of its citizenry, it also applies to civil matters.

This doesn’t mean you can’t install a security camera altogether: it just means you have to be very careful that you aren’t videoing your residents while they’re inside the house — or the apartment — itself. If you own a building with multiple units in it, you might be allowed to install security cameras in shared spaces, for example in hallways or stairwells or entryways that any resident can access. But we advise you to check with an attorney well-versed in the federal and state laws that might be applicable.

You can probably also install cameras that look out onto areas of the property that are visible to the public in general — the front yard, for example, or the driveway. But installing a camera in the backyard, where residents could reasonably assume they are out of view of the public eye, is illegal.

They can be, if you’re hyper-careful when installing them. Doorbell cameras, for example, are a great way of protecting your property, your residents, and yourself: because they look out onto public-facing land (i.e., the front yard), they keep you safe from violating your tenant’s right to privacy by filming indoors. Just be sure to purchase a product that allows you to turn off any audio recording functionality (Ring cams, for example). 

There are other solutions that can provide an extra layer of security that are definitely worth considering, in particular wireless alarm systems. Unlike their wired forefathers — the kind of alarm systems your parents might have had — these new systems are much cheaper to install, because you don’t need a professional to be laying wires all over the house.  In fact, many of them can be self-installed. Also, like Ring doorbell cams, they are often smart systems that communicate directly to the homeowner’s cellphone, so you’re constantly aware of what’s going on with your property. Some of our favorites can be purchased through these links.

You can also install motion-sensitive security lights; the simple shock of the light suddenly turning on is enough to scare off many an intruder. Another cheap option: non-functional cameras installed in places where potential intruders will see them. The mere threat of being recorded might be enough to turn the thieves away.

No matter what type of security system you end up installing, we recommend being fully transparent with any current and future resident about their security – and the security of the home in general. Conversations like these can communicate to your residents that you care about their safety and security — and, more broadly, about them as people — which makes it that much more likely they’ll reciprocate and treat you and your property with the utmost respect. 

Finally, we recommend consulting with a local lawyer who fully understands the nuances of applicable state laws. Though (as stated above) many of the laws we’re talking about here are Federal, there is often local legislation that has a bearing on the legality of using security cameras. That’s why talking to a good lawyer is the best way to mitigate (or eliminate) any potential risk.

Interested in learning more? Check out The Dos and Don’ts of Home Security in a Rental Property.

Lucas Hanft

Lucas attended Yale University before becoming a journalist and working with brands to tell their story.

Jane Allison Gunn

Belong

Natalie McNeal

Adam Hanft

Ale, Owen & Tyler Founders

Jane Allison Gunn

Belong

Natalie McNeal

Adam Hanft

Ale, Owen & Tyler Founders