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Learn how inspections can attract long-term residents and get your home move-in ready.

How Belong Inspections Reduce Vacancy and Prepare Your Home For New Residents

For millions of people across the US, renting isn’t a temporary measure. With housing affordability at some of the lowest levels ever, more people are looking for a home to love long-term. Your rental home.  

But a home in disrepair is not going to attract these kinds of long-term residents. It’s a little bit like the ‘broken window theory’ — disorder leads to more disorder. Rent out a home in poor condition and people are less likely to worry about keeping it in top shape. 

This is why Belong conducts a full home inspection of all new rental homes joining our network. We’ll make sure your home is safe, habitable and move-in ready for new, long-term residents. In this article we’ll get into more detail about what we’ll look for and how you can prepare your rental home for a pre-lease inspection. 

Why Belong inspects every rental home in our network

When it comes to placing residents in homes, Belong has a proud track record of attracting the best of the best for our homeowners. More than two-thirds (71%) of Belong residents renew their 1-year lease. This provides stable, guaranteed income for homeowners and a house that stays in great condition. 

A big part of our success is the standards we hold for homes in our network. Belong’s home standards ensure that your rental will attract reliable residents, the best price, and be loved quickly. It also provides assurances that rental homes in our network are safe, livable and don’t pose unnecessary liability risks for our homeowners. 

What Belong looks for in a pre-lease inspection

Even if your home has already been rented out before, we want to make sure it’s seen in the best possible light. Our pre-lease inspections will focus on two main areas: safety and resident experience. 

1. Safety and habitability in rental homes

Rental homes in the US have what’s known as an ‘implied warranty of habitability’. What this means is that as a homeowner, you need to ensure that your rental home meets basic living and safety standards — even if they’re not specified in a lease agreement. If your house becomes unsafe or unliveable and you don’t take action, your residents may have a legal right to stop paying rent, move out without notice, or even sue you. 

To set you on the right track from day one, Belong inspectors will make sure your rental home is safe, comfortable and ready for occupancy. Safety inspections will check for any signs of damage or deterioration of the home, including: 

Structural integrity of the foundation, walls and roof 

Plumbing, including leaks or other issues that could cause water damage or safety hazards

Electrical system hazards, such as overloaded circuits, exposed wires, or outdated wiring.

Safety features such as smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers

Ventilation to prevent moisture buildup and potential mold growth


Any signs of pests, such as rodents or insects

Exterior areas of the rental home, including the yard, driveway, and sidewalks

Inspections also ensure that homes are welcoming to potential residents. We set standards for rental homes to encourage better pricing, less vacancy and attract dependable, long-term residents who want to call your place home. This means making sure the home is in good condition cosmetically and isn’t likely to turn away applicants. Items on this list will vary depending on your home, but broadly, inspectors will be looking at:

The condition of the walls, checking for holes and damage, poor paint jobs

Age and functionality of appliances and amenities

Lawn care to avoid overgrown gardens and weeds

Anything that could attract pests to the home

Inspectors can also make recommendations for simple, cost-effective improvements to maximize your rental income and ROI. 

How to prepare your rental home for a pre-lease inspection 

1. Empty the home of all personal belongings

Unfurnished homes invite long-term residents to make the space their own. It’s also difficult to assess a home that is being used as a storage site! We recommend removing all personal items such as furnishings, furniture, clothing, and construction materials to make the inspection process smoother. 

In order for our inspectors to complete tests throughout the home, utilities such as water, gas and electricity will need to be connected and running. If you’re moving out of the home, remember to leave utilities connected until a new resident has been found. 

3. Finish any construction or DIY projects on the home

Sometimes homeowners are in a hurry to lease their rental home and may want to list it before improvement projects are finished. Home inspections need to assess the current state of your home to ensure it’s move-in ready, so it’s best to start the process after improvements are completed. 

If your home is in desperate need of some TLC, be sure to let us know. Our extensive vendor network can arrange fast repairs to help attract the best possible price. 

A deep clean of your home is an important step in getting move-in ready and up to Belong’s home standards. To prepare for an inspection (not to mention all-important marketing photos and home tours), make sure the home is spotless and yards are not overgrown. 

5. Provide a complete set of keys for the home

How many locks does your home really have? It’s important to get a full set of keys cut to provide to Belong either before or at the time of inspection. It’s easy to forget things that you don’t often use, such as window locks, a garden shed, or even a mailbox key — but your home inspector and new residents will need them. 

Many homeowners hope to one day return to their homes again or make sure their beloved house is well cared for. With Belong PRO, you’ll never have to worry about bad residents, late rent, cost blowouts, or 2 am phone calls ever again. 

Visit our homeowner's page to find out more about how our services are helping people to ditch Seattle Property Management, Redmond Property Management, Oakland Property Management, and more.

Safety standards and a positive experience in your rental home are crucial to finding long-term residents. Learn how inspections get your home move-in ready.

Addressing the housing crisis needs solutions for both homeowners and their resident renters. Learn why long-term renting with Belong is best for rental homes.

Why Belong Focuses on Long-Term Rentals

Belong has a very different vision for the US housing market than the one that currently exists. One where homes are in the hands of real people, not corporations. Helping homeowners to achieve their financial goals through real estate and to help those who rent to find a sense of belonging in the houses they call home. 

This is why we’re focused on disrupting the way long-term renting works. 

For too long, both homeowners and their residents have been let down by property management companies. Renters are treated like second class citizens while the owners of rental homes are left frustrated by hidden fees and poor communication. It shouldn’t have to be this way. 

There are so many far-reaching benefits for both homeowners and the wider community when you opt to rent out a home on a long term basis. Belong wants to bring back confidence to homeowners to choose this option. And make sure you can do it without having to lift a finger.  

In this article, we’ll dive into some of the benefits of choosing a long-term rental structure for your home with Belong — and how it differs from short-term renting or even working with a property manager. 

9 reasons to rent your home long-term with Belong

You’ll receive predictable, guaranteed rental income 

Get full control over your rental cash flow and never chase late rent ever again. Seriously. 

Belong is so confident in our resident qualification and placement programs, we guarantee rental income for every Belong homeowner, regardless of when we get paid. You receive predictable income at the same time every month without having to give it a second thought. You can even get a whole 12 months of rent upfront, giving you full control over your rental cash flow. 

This is peace of mind you can’t get from a property management company or by trying to fill your home on a per-night basis. 

Learn more about Belong’s Guaranteed Rent here.

You’ll be providing a place for people to belong

Long-term rentals provide a critical service to the community — a place to call home. For an increasing number of Americans, home ownership is out of reach for them right now. Or they need to relocate temporarily for work. Or aren’t ready to pull the trigger on a forever home. But everyone needs a place to live. 

Short-term vacation rentals take homes away from local residents. It’s become such an issue in popular neighborhoods that 26 cities in North America have taken steps to restrict or even ban them entirely. These measures have become critical to supporting local populations. Choosing to rent your home to a local resident for 12 months supports this cause too, by providing stability without losing an opportunity to earn rental income. 

Your home will have more love, less vacancy 

Your rental home’s profitability and cash flow relies on your home being occupied. With short-term rentals, a glut of inventory has sent vacancy rates soaring in 2023 (even during the Super Bowl!), leaving homeowners declaring an “airbnbust” with empty homes and declining profits.

If there are extended periods of time that your property sits vacant, you won’t be generating revenue and face a higher-risk of trespassing or vandalism. 

Meanwhile there are people all over the country crying out for long-term homes to love as rents skyrocket and vacancy rates plummet. These people will stay for 12-months or more, providing stable income, caring for your home and reducing the time it sits empty. 

Belong homes receive an average of 29 qualified applications and enjoy 66% less vacancy than the average long-term rental. 

You can get help when you need it, not 9-5

Have you ever tried to get hold of a property manager after 6pm? Even emergency calls seem to get diverted to voicemail. But life doesn’t begin and end during business hours. After hours is when residents are more likely to be home and report a problem. It’s when homeowners finish their full-time job and have time to address issues at their rental home. 

This is why Belong offers a 24/7 concierge service to both homeowners and their residents. No more voicemails. No more waiting all weekend. No 9pm phone calls from residents. 

You can protect your budget from major expenses

Homes need upkeep and sometimes, that means major repairs or replacements for your rental home. These kinds of costs can destroy your personal household budget if you don’t have the cash on hand. This is why Belong has created financial solutions to solve this dilemma for rental homeowners. 

By renting out your home long-term with Belong, we can spread the repayment cost of major repairs (even renovations!) over the life of your lease. You can access licensed tradespeople from our extensive network of over 10,000 vetted professionals, with guaranteed work. Then sit back and receive your monthly guaranteed rent, minus a repayment for the work done. This protects your rental cash flow and household budget. 

You can even minimize the need for repairs with ‘set and forget’ maintenance solutions. Through the Belong app, you can schedule regular home maintenance to keep things in top shape. 

Short-term rentals may command a premium, but they also need constant marketing, cleaning and upkeep. You’ll also be footing the bill for ongoing utilities, wifi, and furnishing the home. These costs add up quickly. Short-term rentals are also higher risk, exposing you to risk of major damage and wild parties from poorly behaved guests. Short-term vacation rental insurance costs up to 70% more than standard policies and host platforms won’t cover you for everything (or anything if the home is vacant!). 

If you opt for a long-term rental with a traditional property management company, your residents will take care of most utility and cleaning costs and you’ll need to market the home less often. But you’ll also find your bills riddled with hidden fees and charges for everything from setup fees and lease renewals to inspection fees and after hours calls. 

If you choose to have your home loved by Belong, you’ll know exactly what to expect:

A transparent fee structure with no hidden fees for setup or lease renewals

No fees for essentials such as video marketing and tours

Options to insure your home with the right protection

The ability to spread unexpected costs (such as repairs and maintenance) over the term of your lease

Longer tenancies with vetted people that will care for your home


The better care you take of your residents, the more likely they are to make themselves at home and stay longer. Belong is proof of that, with 71% of Belong Residents renewing their 1-year lease.

You can kick back while earning passive income

Self-managing a rental is another option for homeowners — but it’s not an easy path to passive income. Both long-term and short-term rental management is a hands on job. Between organizing lease agreements, vetting applications, inspections, regular maintenance and being on-call for support, rental management could be the second job you never asked for. Vacation rentals are even more demanding, with constant cleaning and high turnover. 

By outsourcing this work to professionals like Belong, who won’t nickel and dime you at every opportunity, you can make your income passively and focus on what really matters to you and your family. You’ll even be able to deduct the cost of Belong fees as a tax deductible expense. 

Read More: What Should I Know Before Renting Out My House For The First Time?

You’ll have stability during times of economic uncertainty

Renting a house on the long term rental market provides more stability than short-term options, where demand can dry up overnight (as it did during stay at home orders in 2020). 

Property management services make it easier for rental property owners to make a passive income - Belong takes that to a whole new level

What are Property Management Services? How is Belong Different?

Is owning a rental property a fast-track to passive income? Not without a lot of active work! Managing a rental home is anything but passive if you're doing the heavy lifting on your own. This is why many people opt to use property management services, outsourcing this 24 hour, 7 day a week job to professionals.

The problem is, property management companies come with their own headaches. But if you want rental income that is passive, there's been no better solution — until now.

Belong was born to disrupt the way renting works by creating a unique humanized service that puts people first. Belong's human approach and industry-busting innovations support the financial freedom of homeowners while providing a better rental experience for everyone.

This article will dive into exactly what property management services entail — and how Belong’s services are different.

Comprehensive property management takes care of your rental home or real estate investment on your behalf. That could mean anything from collecting rent to scheduling repairs to leaky faucets.

Full service property management includes:

A property evaluation to determine pricing

Reviewing applications and tenant screening

Managing contractors for home maintenance

Belong offers the above services, but in a completely different way — and with many more benefits and innovations at no extra cost. Belong is making renting lovable for everyone — both homeowners and their residents. We are ditching the broken, outdated property management model in favor of a more human, hospitality experience.

Here is a look at what you’ll get by engaging a property management company vs having your home and residents taken care of by Belong.

Property management services vs Belong services

A property manager will suggest what rent to charge for your home, based on local comps. That is, how much rent is for a home of a similar size in your local neighborhood.

When Belong evaluates a home, we assess how to maximize your rental cash flow and best achieve your long-term financial goals.

We review your home and prepare it for renters. Some homes won’t need anything done, but if they do, we’ve got you covered. Our network of over 10,000 expert tradespeople will boost your ROI, making repairs or updates based on optimizing your rental income.

Once listed, we use a clever combination of expertise and technology to get your rental price. We can even account for real-time demand for your home!

If you still live in the home, we can even move you out and your new residents in with our relocation services.

Property management companies handle the marketing of your home. Property management fees include the basics such as photos and descriptions, but most charge extra for video or online tours.

As a tech-forward company, we don’t believe that video is optional. 3D and virtual tours of single family homes work to expand your market, so we include this service in our fees.

Belong also integrates with major rental listing sites such as Zillow, Hotpads and Zumper. When you list with Belong, you’ll be automatically featured on all the top sites. This is important because it means you’ll get 30-50% more views for your home as well as a direct feed of applicants from these sites into the Belong system. This lets us find the best applicant faster than an old school property manager could.

It’s another way that Belong reduces vacancy times and costs for homeowners, with 66% less vacancy than competitors and an average of 29 qualified applications for every home listed.

Property management services may include tours of the home for prospective tenants to see. Some low-cost companies bill each physical inspection as an extra cost.

We host tours of your home the way people want to see it. In person, online, via 3D video in their own time — it’s a new world and we’re part of it.

Effective tenant screening protects your home and cash flow by finding reliable and trustworthy people to live in your home. Property management companies should screen rental history, credit check, background check, referrals, and employment verification for every applicant.

Belong goes the extra mile to find the perfect, long-term resident for your home. As well as screening, we conduct interviews with applicants to find the right fit. We want people to take care of your home as if it’s their own and do everything we can to foster that unique feeling of belonging.

Managing rent collection and communication

Property managers get a lease agreement signed, collect a security deposit, and schedule a move-in date. Your property manager will also be responsible for collecting rent and ongoing communication.

A recent US Census pulse survey revealed that 9 million Americans were behind in their rent. To avoid being a statistic, you should ask your property manager about their policies for late rent. The company should enforce late fees, administer warnings and manage eviction notices.

The biggest difference that Belong offers is that we guarantee rent every month — regardless of when your resident pays. It’s rental income and cash flow you can count on.

We also protect all homeowners against the legal costs of evictions, offering up to $15,000 coverage for any resident we place. Most management services only cover filing costs (~$500) even if you’re paying for “eviction protection”.

Speaking of protection, Belong also offers insurance products through the Belong app. Rental Home Insurance and Renter’s Liability coverage gives everyone better peace of mind.

Property management services make it easier for rental property owners to passive income. Belong takes that to a whole new level to achieve financial freedom.

Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville and now Tallahassee — it’s time to meet Belong and find out how we’re changing renting and property management for good.

10 Ways Belong is Redefining Property Management in Florida

Belong has revitalized our Florida offering to be bigger and better than ever. We’ve been hard at work expanding our capacity and capabilities throughout Florida, to make sure we could commit to the best possible service to more neighborhoods than ever. This means after a brief hiatus, we’re back and ready to make waves across the rental markets of Miami, Tampa, Orlando. We’re also welcoming Jacksonville and Tallahassee to the Belong network for the first time.  

Because let’s face it, property management in Florida is more 80s than Miami Vice. And it hasn’t aged as well, either. Property management is transactional and the whole ‘landlords and tenants’ shtick is based on archaic views that don’t reflect the modern world of homeowners and residents. Whether you’re on that journey as a renter or a homeowner, it's full of stress, anxiety, headaches — and often ill will. Belong is back to change that.

Why Florida deserves much better than even the best property management experience

When looking for a place to call home, most people have experienced first-hand how terrible the traditional property management and the landlord-tenant relationship can be. It’s a long-held belief that this is a ‘zero-sum’ game; meaning landlords only benefit at the expense of their tenants. It’s accepted that property management companies can hide fees, offer poor communication to both sides and only ever be contacted after 5pm in an emergency. 

It’s incredible how dysfunctional these relationships still are in this day and age, given that renting is a universally shared experience.

This is the type of experience Belong is transforming across Florida. We’ve set about changing every aspect of renting that fails homeowners and residents (we’re even binning the terms landlord and tenant!). 

It’s not the easy route, but we're obsessed with eradicating the poor standards we’ve all come to expect and replacing it with something truly great. 

How Belong is changing renting across Florida 

Belong is on a mission to create authentic belonging experiences for those who own much-loved homes, and those longing for that feeling. We’re changing what it means to rent a home by putting people first. It’s where hospitality meets consumer real estate — and it’s about redefining an entire industry.

When comparing property management companies, you’ll be looking at a handful of differences between them all. How much do they charge for management fees and how often you are going to get slogged for more. With Belong, there’s no comparison. Because Belong isn’t a traditional property management company, it’s a completely unique experience that is humanizing the rental market. 

Here are 10 ways that Belong is redefining renting for homeowners in Florida:

Guaranteeing rent for homeowners, regardless of when it’s paid by residents



Providing real 24/7 concierge-level support for both homeowners and residents (not just logging maintenance emergencies)



Not charging hidden fees like setup costs and lease renewal charges



Providing cutting-edge marketing and video tours at no extra cost



Taking a human approach to placing the right long-term residents that match your home (and shielding owners from costly evictions if we ever get it wrong)



An app that puts everything at your fingertips — from documentation and cash flow insights to finance and insurance solutions 



Connecting you with the most expansive, vetted vendor network of more than 10,000 professionals that can handle everything from regular repairs to full renovations



Offering insurance solutions that protect you, your home, and your residents



Innovating financial solutions for managing cash-flow on your terms, letting you split the cost of repairs, maintenance, and even your placement fee



Using true market data in Florida and real-time interest from potential residents to maximize the value of your home

The best way to rent out your Florida home

With incredible beaches, athletic enthusiasm, grandiose theme parks, and year-long tropical weather — there are many reasons that keep people flocking to the sunny weather and never-ending energy of Florida’s many cities. 

As a land of sunshine and low taxes, Florida is also an attractive state for real estate investors and a great place for homeowners to enter the rental market. If you own a home in Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Tallahassee or Jacksonville, now is the time to find out if you’re eligible to join the Belong residential network. We specialize in single-family homes and condos, helping individual homeowners to achieve their financial goals in the rental market. 

When it comes to finding the best way to manage your Florida rental home, Belong offers industry-first fintech solutions to manage your cash flow more effectively — even if you want to self-manage your properties. From guaranteeing rent to credit reporting and insurance, Belong has modern solutions for a market that is changing daily.

If you’re looking for an alternative to traditional property management, our full-service offering, Belong PRO has you covered. Our team will take care of all inspections, maintenance, and reconditioning on your home to get it ready to be loved by new residents. We’ll find and vet great people that will care for your home as you would. And we’ll treat them exceptionally well too, so that they stay longer, reducing vacancy.

Because we’re building modern and future-ready services, everything is handled right through your phone — from speaking with your dedicated concierge to managing rent, maintenance requests, financing and even insurance. Our app and services are always innovating to make sure everyone in our network receives a world-class experience. 

Earn $1,000 by referring Florida homeowners to Belong

Know someone looking to rent out their home in Miami, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville or Tallahassee? Learn about our referral program, where you can earn $1,000 by referring a qualified homeowner when they join Belong. 

Certified Florida realtors can earn revenue by referring rental leads with our Florida Realtor Partner Program. Swap the paperwork, the listings admin, home showings — the works. Belong will take care of that and still deliver you the commission, with 50% of the first month going to the referring realtor. Contact Belong at referrals@belonghome.com or (786) 628-0600. If you prefer Español, call (786) 786-1073 or visit Belong Español.

Belong goes out of its way to find residents that will love your Florida home as much as you do. But don’t take our word for it, here is what local homeowners are saying about us...

What a seamless, personal and wonderful experience this has been! I am not only surprised at their level of professionalism but also their exceptional service. Response time on questions & support were incredible! Highly recommend!!”
- Ciel K

The Belong team is top notch, and we are very fortunate to have them managing our property… They have consistently pursued the best options for both the Landlord and Tenants, and are a model of what professional management companies should be. I highly recommend Belong!"
- Frank L

I'm an owner who uses Belong for property management. They have been really great. Whenever there's an issue, they proactively work to find a resolution. They've also done a great job keeping the tenant happy. Their rental guarantee is why I chose them, but their customer service is what's keeping me!”
- Peter G

Think your Florida home belongs with us? Find out if you qualify here or check out the neighborhoods below:

Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville & Tallahassee: it’s time to meet Belong and find out how we’re changing renting and property management in Florida for good.

Tyler Infelise

Melanie Kershaw

Adam Hanft

Annalise Mantz

Sparsh Mehta

Dom Difurio

Melanie Kershaw

Adam Hanft

Annalise Mantz

Sparsh Mehta

Dom Difurio