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4. Resident Sign Up

The Property Management Life Cycle Training Property Managers PMLC Locke

This page lists all the documents you will ever need signing up new tenants. There is a link to find materials for sale, and then under that is a download button for members. Contact us about full access membership.

I. Customized Lease Documents

A. Package # 1 the Primary Customized Lease Documents

1. The Residential Rental Agreement: a fully editable lease document that you will add your name to, make some adjustments for fees and percentages, add your brand and be up and running in minutes. You would pay an attorney several thousand dollars to get this document and you still wouldn’t have all the writer’s experience and all the money-making ideas.

2. Instructions to Adapt the Residential Rental Agreement to Your Company: instructions to Adapt the Residential Rental Agreement to Your Company Another document to help you fill in the right information so your final agreement says exactly what you want. This document identifies 22 blanks to fill in so you don’t miss anything in the agreement to adapt it to your model.

3. Residential Rental Agreement with Instructor’s Notes: a full document filled in with instructor training notes after every paragraph (14 pages long) addressing each issue in detail.

The three documents above are only sold within a package.

B. Package # 2 Housekeeping Support Documents

1. Pet Exhibit

Pet Exhibit
$15.00 Add to cart

Be sure every tenant signs a pet exhibit so every detail is covered on every lease. If they have a pet you want them to tell you breed, weight, color and name so they don’t sneak in a different one. You also want to remind them of the six things they need to do after move-out to get their deposit back. If they don’t have a pet you need to remind them of the costs, penalties and process you’ll go through if you discover a pet. Let them know there are serious penalties if they try to hide one from you.

This product is part of a package. Click to view.

2. Resident’s Maintenance Agreement

Resident’s Maintenance Agreement
$15.00 Add to cart

You should articulate exactly what maintenance issues the tenant is responsible for in writing. This document addresses the nuisance items you are trying to prevent like after hours maintenance, missed appointments, flipping GFI switches, resetting garbage disposals, changing out all light bulbs and other nickel-dime nuisance maintenance items. We’ve learned the precise balance between pushing off habitability issues to them (which you must not do) and holding them responsible for nuisance maintenance calls.

Owners frequently ask, “how do you prevent/manage tenant’s request to complete unnecessary repairs and running up the owner’s tab?” This document will help answer that question.

This product is part of a package. Click to view.

3. Move-in Checklist and Report Card

Move-in Checklist and Report Card
$11.00 Add to cart

In our model the tenant signs a move-in inspection and this checklist. We want them to testify that the window locks work as do the door locks; the smoke detectors are working (they never check them); and how many keys and garage door openers they received. This has items on it we’ve missed up over the years and don’t want to miss them again. We do 40 move-ins per month and we’ll get it wrong if we don’t have this checklist. It keeps growing as we continue to learn and it will evolve as you evolve. This also serves as a report to the owner of any deferred maintenance that needs attention and documents both urgent and not so urgent needs.

This product is part of a package. Click to view.

4. Landlord vs. Resident’s Responsibilities Maintenance Chart

Landlord vs. Resident’s Responsibilities Maintenance Chart
$17.00 Add to cart

Some tenants like visuals (an easy reminder) so here’s a chart of who is responsible for what. It’s all in the lease but is often not read. This is something they can tape to their refrigerator to remind them of what they can call you for and what they need to take care of themselves. We like it simple and this makes it simple.

This product is part of a package. Click to view.

5. Audit Checklist

6. Mold, Mildew, Moisture Disclosure

Mold, Mildew, Moisture Disclosure
$12.00 Add to cart

Pay close attention to this as it is the topic of debates and litigation. Make sure you’re on the right side of this and disclose, train, warn and follow up. This document is both a training piece and a CYA regarding the claims of mold, what they have to do and how you’ll respond if they feel there is more than the normal moisture in the property.

This product is part of a package. Click to view.

7. Mold Information and Prevention

Mold Information and Prevention
$15.00 Add to cart

This is a 3-page educational piece developed over the years to protect the owner from claims of mold and claims of health issues. Give it to your residents to prepare them to deal with issues of mold. It prevents them from claiming mold the last month they are there or because they want a way out of the lease without paying the early termination fees. You want to be able to tell the judge “we did everything we could to prepare the resident to address these issues before they moved in.” It puts the burden on them to report mold. Not 2 years after it’s discovered but within 2 days.

This product is part of a package. Click to view.

8. Official Notice of Approval

Official Notice of Approval
$19.00 Add to cart

There needs to be an enforceable document that lets the tenant know they are approved and lists the terms of the lease and who to contact. This identifies the start date, move-in date, rent, deposits, fees, utility companies and other critical data for their occupancy. It puts their deposit at risk and identifies what happens if they change their mind. If you get the lease signed immediately, you probably don’t need this. We don’t get the lease signed until 3-4 days before move-in so we use this to “lock them in” without having to sign the lease immediately. We purposely delay executing the lease because we’ve had some tenants request the lease in advance and back out over something they don’t like (fees, charges, etc). For us it is a 2-step process. The Official Notice of Approval commits them and gets the first month’s rent. Then, close to the move-in date when they are less likely to back out, we execute the lease.

This product is part of a package. Click to view.

9. Lead Paint and Flood Disclosure

Lead Paint and Flood Disclosure — Tenant
$19.00 Add to cart

Houses built before 1978 often used lead paint which has been discovered to be toxic and a serious health hazard. Federal law requires that you have the owner and tenant sign this to disclose the presence of (or lack of) this poison in the home. The owner signs this document to reveal any knowledge they have regarding any lead paint in their home. Copy the original the owner signs and have every tenant sign a copy before you move them in. Use the same original over and over. Just have the tenant sign a copy and keep it with other important tenant documents.

This product is part of a package. Click to view.

10. Smoke Detector Release and Renters Insurance Disclosure

Smoke Detector Release and Renters Insurance Disclosure
$13.00 Add to cart

This two-sided document is CYA by introducing (and counting) the number of smoke detectors in the property and addressing renters insurance. You want to document that there are smoke detectors and remind them you provide them but they have charged batteries in them. It also reminds them the owner’s insurance doesn’t cover their personal belongings. We don’t require renters insurance but we do inform them of the need to get coverage. They sign this at move in, documenting the discussion so they can’t blame you if something happens to their contents.

This product is part of a package. Click to view.

11. Utility Agreement and Property Visit Policy

Utility Agreement and Property Visit Policy
$14.00 Add to cart

Clearly state the fines they pay if utilities are off at move out or have a balance due with the utility company when they leave the property. Give them the utility company name and phone number to help them get service turned on before move in. Also, outline your property visit policy including surprise visits when there is cause to believe there is a problem.

This product is part of a package. Click to view.

C. Package # 3 Special (Ancillary) Documents

Click to see Package # 3

1. Homeowner Association Agreement

Homeowner Association Agreement
$22.00 Add to cart

This is a big CYA document. If the HOA does stupid by booting the tenant’s car because the owner hasn’t paid his dues or threatened to evict the tenant you need to be protected from litigation. The owner will ignore the HOA to get it leased and you’ll deal with the battles when the HOA wakes up to the reality that there is a new tenant in the community. You want the tenant giving you a hold harmless agreement when the HOA can’t open the pool or tennis courts because not enough owners have paid their dues. You need to protect yourself against the possibility of being sued for constructive eviction, wrongful dispossessory, loss of quiet enjoyment or harassment by the HOA. Tenants want to blame you for everything no matter whose fault it really is. Protect yourself.

This product is part of a package. Click to view.

2. Roommate Agreement

Roommate Agreement
$19.00 Add to cart

When three guys want to move in together make sure you get them on a separate document outlining your requirements for roommates. Remind them that you’ll only take one rent check (not three) and that you’ll only cut one check back to them after move-out. Make sure you disclose that you’ll go after the one with great credit no matter who trashed the property. Let them know up front that you’ll never drop anyone off the lease whether they still live there or not. Roommates love each other when they move in but like other community efforts they go astray more often than you think.

This product is part of a package. Click to view.

3. Hot Tub Exhibit to Lease

Hot Tub Exhibit to Management (2 Documents)
$12.00 Add to cart

The last thing you want is to suggest to a tenant that the hot tub will stay hot or keep working. Disclose your lack of knowledge with hot tub maintenance and your general unfamiliarity with how they work. Put the entire burden on them and warn them about the dangers of it getting to hot and someone getting burned. You may even require they get renter’s insurance with you (and the owner) as additional insured. See our document on the owner sign up documents for the other side of the hot tub issue.

This product is part of a package. Click to view.

4. Limited Power of Attorney

Power of Attorney
$6.00 Add to cart

Often only one tenant will be able to attend the move-in inspection or will not be around to sign the lease. For many reasons you need to get comfortable completing a POA. One tenant can sign for the other tenant if you have a POA. We use them often. You just email this document to them, they fill it out (or you fill it out in advance), they print, execute, get a notary and you’re up and running. This is a very common document and you’ll find lots of uses for it. This is not the practice of law so don’t let your broker or attorney talk you out of it. It’s just filling in the blank like you do on every lease or sales contract. It’s a standard operating document for property managers.

This product is part of a package. Click to view.

5. Personal Property Schedule

Personal Property Schedule
$7.00 Add to cart

When the owner leaves behind their lawn furniture, pool table, lawn tractor, counter top microwave you need a form to list everything and language that has the tenant promising to leave it behind when they leave. They won’t, but you need to make a stab at it to impress your owner. There is little you can do to protect the owner from this stuff growing legs and walking away but the owner wants you to make an effort. This document fulfills that duty to the owner.

This product is part of a package. Click to view.

6. Move me in even though the property is not ready for occupancy

Move me in even though the property is not ready for occupancy
$14.00 Add to cart

Occasionally the house is not clean enough, repairs have not been completed, carpets didn’t get clean enough or the handy man (or owner) didn’t clean up his mess. Some tenants want to hold your feet to the fire for five years and remind you what a bad job you did at move-in. This document takes all the air out of them by saying “you shouldn’t take this property now. Let’s retry this inspection in a couple of days so we can get this right.” Many can’t wait and will press to take it “as is”. This document says “you’re recommending they not take it today, but wait, and let us make it right.” Sometimes they must have possession today, and will agree to ‘not hold it against you.’ This is “the moving van is in the street and I’ll take it anyway” document to cover the manager. This document is a result of getting beat up many times when we let people take a property that is not ready.

This product is part of a package. Click to view.

7. Military Exhibit

Military Exhibit
$15.00 Add to cart

When you know the tenant is military, or works for a military support company, and qualifies for a military out clause in their lease, you want to make sure they don’t take advantage of that federal out privilege. They have requirements to fulfill and just saying “I’m being transferred and you can’t hold me to the lease” doesn’t cut it. This document lays out the rules for military release of tenancy without your giving up your rights.

This product is part of a package. Click to view.

8. Guarantee of Payment (Cosigner Agreement)

Cosigner Agreement
$23.00 Add to cart

When there is a cosigner you need a document for them to sign promising to pay what the tenant left owing when they move out. This is their personal guarantee for the tenant’s obligations on the lease. We have made lots of mistakes with this idea over the years and now have it down pat. We get co-signors on about 20% of our leases and it works like a charm. Don’t reinvent the wheel. Let our mistakes make it easier for you.

This product is part of a package. Click to view.

9. Security System Disclaimer

Security System Disclaimer
$16.00 Add to cart

When a tenant previews a property and sees a security system it is reasonable that they expect it to be up and running when they move in, and that it is included in the rent. You need to dispel that expectation and protect yourself from the liabilities of what happens if it fails. This is a CYA document letting the tenant know that it is their responsibility to deal with the monitoring system and the cost belongs to them. You are not making any representations as to its reliability, its functionality or its cost. You know nothing, see nothing and they agree to hold you harmless if the system does not function properly.

This product is part of a package. Click to view.

10. Security Deposit Promissory Note

Security Deposit Promissory Note
$21.00 Add to cart

We often get more than one month’s rent as a security deposit. Depending on their credit we will agree to take installments on some of that deposit. We did it badly for many years and struggled with getting judges to enforce our documents. We finally went to our attorney and paid to get it right. Now we are able to enforce this document and evict for failure to pay as agreed. It’s not 100% but we are successful 85% of the time. Taking installments on the deposit probably needs the owner’s approval depending on your model.

This product is part of a package. Click to view.

C. Super Package # 4

Click to see Super Package # 4 Including All Lease Docs

II. Qualifying Guideline Documents

A. Qualifying Guidelines Package

Click to see the Qualifying Guidelines Package

1. A Copy of the Fair Credit Reporting Act

This act lays out the requirements for anyone pulling credit and other private information. This is the law everyone must follow when viewing, transmitting and storing applicant’s personal information including owners and property managers. Fines for violations of this act are $37,500 per event so the FTC is serious about compliance and claims of “I didn’t know” won’t save you.

Sale!
Fair Credit Reporting Act (Relevant Portions)
Original price was: $13.00.Current price is: $0.00. Add to cart

2. The FCRA with instructor notes by Robert Locke RMP, MPM

We took the entire act updated May 2016 and condensed it in attempt to address the issues pertaining to property managers gathering data on tenant applicants and added training notes, underlined specific words and bolded some critical language so you can read the law and our thoughts as to how the law plays out in the actual day-to-day practice of qualifying applicants for rentals. This is more of a training document for you and your staff to review yearly to refresh yourself (or train your new folks) as to the seriousness of the law and the practical implications of it.

Sale!
The FCRA with instructor notes by Robert Locke RMP, MPM
Original price was: $57.00.Current price is: $0.00. Add to cart

3. a The Full Qualifying Guidelines Document

This is a 30 page manual we developed over 35 years that guided us through a lawsuit-free experience in processing our applicants. Most of this was done ‘in-house’ as the tenant screening services (TSS) available were not practicing during most of our years so there was no one to pass this off to. We had to learn how to do it and so do you.

This document guided our managers to treat all applicants properly as it related to credit scores, secondary income streams, trust babies, no employment, retired applicants, applicants without green cards, foreign nationals, roommates, foreclosures, special needs occupants, spouses with bankruptcies, 3rd-party signers, corporate leases, comfort pets and more. The manual is full of training notes and can be used to train your staff how to do it right and avoid expensive learning curves we’ve already paid for. It can be tweaked to your model and then shrunk down for your staff to use day-to-day as they manage the application process.

The Full Qualifying Guidelines Document
$375.00 Add to cart

3. b The Short Qualifying Guidelines Document

Some won’t (or don’t want to) spend the money to get all the tools and training in this manual so we’re offering a shrunk-down version. If you want a basic framework for setting qualifying guidelines, a place to start is this shorter version of the full manual that provides a leg-up on the process. With this document you’ll be able to develop your own set of guidelines over time. This document (and training notes) will lay out what each credit score will require for approval, plus a chart laying out who should be managing the process for each category of applicant. You can use this do-it-yourself version and work through your own learning curves over time.

The Short Qualifying Guidelines Document
$97.00 Add to cart

4. Adverse Action Letter Draft

When you deny someone or change the offer (like requiring an additional security deposit) you MUST send this official notification disclosing the source of the information used to make your decision. This is required every time you deny an application or change the terms of your approval. We’ll give you several examples and training notes for completing one.

Adverse Action Letter Draft
$14.00 Add to cart

5. Rules for Engaging the Owner in the Qualifying Process

Property managers often collaborate with the owner on approving and denying applications and need to make sure they don’t violate the tenant’s rights of privacy, or the Fair Credit Reporting Act, when doing so. Owners often bully new managers into thinking that they, the owner, require the tenant’s information so they can make a fully informed approval or denial decision. It is quite natural for owners to think they are in control and if the manager caves in and passes the tenants information to the owner, they could find themselves in serious trouble with the law. Owners are not accustomed to hearing real estate agents tell them “no” and often push hard to get the tenant’s information and remain in control. If you want to keep your license, keep from having a claim from the Federal Trade Commission (the enforcers of the Fair Credit Reporting Act) and spend lots of money in attorney fees defending yourself, you’ll learn to tactfully refuse the owner and do the job they hired you for, which includes keeping them out of trouble with the law.

No matter what your model, there are some important rules you must follow when presenting applications to the owner. There is certain information you should never share with the owner under any conditions and some things you don’t want to miss passing over to them. Knowing the difference is the topic of this package. We’ll answer the question what’s the safe way to satisfy the owner’s appetite for information, without exposing yourself (and them) to violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, HUD, Americans with Disabilities Act, Service members Civil Relief Act and a host of other laws that govern the handling of the applicant’s personal information.

Rules for Engaging the Owner in the Qualifying Process
$87.00 Add to cart

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1. Marketing to Owners

This page lists all the documents you will ever need to market the property. There is a link to find it for sale, and then under that is a download button for members. Contact us if you need full access membership.

These Materials will be Posted Soon!

Quick Links

Resident Rewards Package
Products/Resources page
Staging Your Company to sell
Starter Kit for Property Managers
Video Library
Revenue Sharing
Contact Us

External Links

Rent Recovery Onboarding
Rent Recovery Video Library
Property Management Masters Newsleter
CredHub Support Training
Attorney Monica Gilroy's Website
Betty Locke ART Website
National Service Charity

3. Marketing the Property

This page lists all the documents you will ever need marketing the property. There is a link to find materials for sale, and then under that is a download button for members. Contact us about full access membership.

These Materials will be Posted Soon!

Quick Links

Resident Rewards Package
Products/Resources page
Staging Your Company to sell
Starter Kit for Property Managers
Video Library
Revenue Sharing
Contact Us

External Links

Rent Recovery Onboarding
Rent Recovery Video Library
Property Management Masters Newsleter
CredHub Support Training
Attorney Monica Gilroy's Website
Betty Locke ART Website
National Service Charity

Dawn Lionie Recommends Purchasing Qualifying Guidelines

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View Our Expanding Line of Products

This is the part of our site where all the products, resources, videos, forms, manuals, handbooks, customized management agreements and leases, money-making ideas, CYA protections, checklists, service animal/comfort pet training and all you’ll ever need to run a safe and profitable management business. This is the “Mother Load”.

It will take us six to twelve months to get it all posted, and we’ll keep posting more as time goes on, but there will be more than you can digest before the end of the year. I’ve been digging through our 35 years of document archives and there’s more than I thought.

If you register we’ll send you notices as we post things so you’ll know what’s there and where to look for it.

Doc Assessment

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Onboarding on Purpose Video Series by Robert Locke MPM Training Property Managers

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Things You Never Put in Management Agreements

Using Standard Forms?

Dismantling the Myths of Property Management Robert Locke Crown Investor Institute Training Property Managers

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Myth # 6 Managers CANNOT Pass Tenant Information to Owners. Right?