Q: Is there an application fee?
A:  A $30 application fee per individual over the age of 18, is payable at the time you submit your application. This is a non-refundable fee. We accept personal checks, cash, MasterCard, or Visa. 

Q: Is the application fee payable at the time I apply for pre-qualification, or at the time I select a property?
A:  The $30 application fee per individual over the age of 18, which is payable at the time you apply for pre-qualification.

Q: If I pre-qualify with Prellis Property Mangement, how long do I have to select a property?
A:  Sixty days from the date we verbally notify you of your pre-qualification.  After that date you will need to re-qualify.

Q: How long can we hold a unit once our application is approved?
A:  Generally you must sign all rental/lease documents within 48 hours of verbal approval of you application. Exceptions may be made depending upon the condition of the unit and whether further repairs are required prior to occupancy. In the case of new construction, we require occupancy within 48 hours of the issuance of a certificate of occupancy by the local governing authority.

Q: Will I have to sign a long-term lease for properties managed by Prellis Property Management?
A:  It depends on the property. Most of our properties are rented on a one-year lease basis, but occasionally a property is rented on month-to-month basis.

Q: Are the properties listed on your web site the only rentals you have available?
A:  Our web site is updated almost daily, and will contain most of the properties we have available. Occasionally we take units on which cannot be put on our site for another day or two until we receive complete information. If you are looking for a rental unit, it helps if you look at our site daily!

Q: Do you allow pets in your properties?
A:  Some of our properties do allow pets. A pet deposit is required and is expected to be paid at the time of the lease signing. This deposit ranges from $350 to $500 for each pet.

Q: What are the move-in costs?
A:  The move–in costs consist of the first month’s rent, the security deposit (this amount usually equates to the same amount as the monthly rent, however, in some instances this amount may be up to 2 month’s rent), and, if applicable, a pet deposit. If you are moving in after the 15th of the month, you will be asked to pay the pro-rated amount for the balance of the month in addition to the following month’s rent. These costs are to be paid with a cashier’s check at the time of the lease signing.

Q: How do I handle a repair request.
A:  You may either call our office during working hours, or after working hours, at 818-366-8812.  In the event of emergencies, such as no heat or water, your request will be forwarded to a pager and maintenance personnel will be dispatched within twenty four hours.  In non-emergency situations, your request will be processed in most cases within two working days.  It is helpful if when making a request you can provide a phone number where you can be reached, and whether maintenance personnel have permission to enter in the event of your absence.  You may also complete our on-line maintenance/repair form on our website and, in most cases, we will respond within two working days.  Please note that in many instances Prellis Property Management  is required to contact the owner of the unit for permission to complete repairs; this does not apply in the case of emergencies.

Q: When is my rent considered late?
A:  Your rent payment is due on the 1st of each month, however, you are given a 3 day grace period to make sure the rent is received on time. This means that the payment is required to be in our office no later that the 3rd of the month. We do not go by the postmark on the envelope! The payments can be mailed, dropped off at our office, or placed in our after-hours mail slot located to the right of our lobby door.

Q: Can I make repairs myself and deduct the cost from the rent?
A:  All repairs must be reported to the management office. Under no circumstances should a tenant make repairs and deduct the cost from the rent without receiving prior authorization from the property manager. In most cases, if the tenant is given the “go ahead” to make the repairs, they will be asked to present the receipt for materials to the office and they will be then issued a reimbursement check.

Q: What locations do you manage?
A:  Prellis Property Management has offices to serve the Property management needs of property owners in Los Angeles County, including the San Fernando Valley, Santa Clarita Valley, Ventura County, including Simi Valley and some areas in the Conejo Valley. Local knowledge is important when leasing and managing property; we assign your property to an account manager that has expert local knowledge of the area surrounding your rental property.

Q: How long should it take to lease/rent out my property?
A:  It depends! Prellis Property Management provides maximum online exposure of your rental property to insure that all prospective tenants are aware of your property. Variables might include price, location, condition, season, quality of applicants and more. Our goal is to secure qualified tenants for your property fast! We have leased properties as quickly as one week!!

Q: How much does it cost for your property management services?
A:  Prellis Property Management offers full service of leasing and managing your investment property. All of our managers are licensed REALTORS®, as a result all of our fees are negotiable. We do offer very competitive pricing, there are no “start up” fees, and you will find that the personal service you receive will be invaluable to allowing you to have stress-free investment property ownership. Please contact one of our property specialists to discuss all of our services and the related fees.

Q: Do you use your own vendors for maintenance and repairs?
A:  We do not have a vendor program that allows us to profit when one of the vendors we recommend works on your property. The vendors we have chosen are ones that have come to us highly recommended for the quality of their work and the reasonable pricing they offer you the homeowner.

Q: Are you a member of any Associations that are bound by a code of ethics?
A:  Our property managers are members of the National Association of Realtors, California Association of Realtors, the Institute of Real Estate Management, Community Associations Institute, National Association of Residential Property Managers, the Southland Regional Association of Realtors, as well as the local chamber of commerce, and local networking groups. You can rest assured that our managers are held to the highest code of ethics providing you with the most trustworthy individuals that have a reputation for honesty and integrity while marketing and managing your property.

Q: What is the policy for showing my property during the leasing period?
A:  We will work with you on a flexible schedule in showing the property to your prospective tenants. If you are still living in the property, we will contact you to arrange a time and day convenient for you. If we need to show the property in the evenings, early mornings, or on the weekend we will make those arrangements to accommodate your schedule as well as the interested prospects. We will do whatever is necessary to oblige the schedules of all parties involved to allow a potential tenant to view your property.

Q: How long have you been in business?
A:  Prellis Property Management has been in business for over 25 years! As a full service firm we are dedicated to premier and quality service throughout Southern California. We take pride in our ability to upgrade, maintain, and operate income property while maintaining the highest levels of occupancy and clientele satisfaction.

Q: When my property is vacant do you give me updates?
A:  Yes, we keep you updated weekly via an email or phone call. We let you know how many interested people are responding to the marketing campaign, who has viewed the property, and any feedback or comments coming from the showings. We also keep you informed as to the rental market and offer suggestions on getting the property leased quickly to a qualified tenant.

Q: What kind of applicant screenings to you provide? And, do I get to choose the new tenant?
A:  Each applicant is put through an extensive application process. We run a credit check, a background check (checking for any court judgments, felonies, evictions, bankruptcy, and pedophiles), verify the stated income, confirm employment, and complete a renter’s verification (contacting the current manager or landlord to obtain the applicant’s rental history). We offer you, the homeowner, the opportunity to review all the obtain information regarding this potential tenant, answer any questions you have about this individual, and allow you to make the ultimate decision whether or not to select this applicant.

Q: When will I receive my owner disbursements?
A:  Each month after our office receives the tenant’s rent and the check has cleared the bank, the owner disbursements will be processed by the 15th of the month. If there is a delay in receiving the rent from the tenant, there will be a delay in the owner receiving their monies. Along with the owner disbursement, you will receive a complete statement explaining the month’s financial detail. We keep concise records of maintenance invoices, rent received, income, and expenses relating to your property. Detailed reports are provided to you annually for your property tax filing.

Q: How do you determine the rent amount for my property?
A:  Owners that set rent based on what they “need” in order to cover their property expenses, will typically find that they may not be competitive with rent values for the area. Your Prellis Property Management professional completes a comprehensive market rent analysis on your property to ascertain the correct rent value for your property.

Q: What steps do you take to market my property?
A:  After serving Southern California Property Management needs for more than 25 years, Prellis Property Management has created a comprehensive rental home marketing program that enables us to maximize market exposure and keep rental properties leased every year. Prellis uses extensive internet marketing to expose your rental property to more qualified prospects. More qualified tenants return to the Prellis website to search for a rental property; we know that 92% of all tenants seek their next home through online searches—we put your rental property everywhere a prospective tenant might look! Additionally, we install our eye catching yard signs, text marketing signs unique to every property, extensive property preparation, and affiliated relationships that generate additional agent/broker cooperative support. Prellis Property Management is convinced that you won’t find another management company more committed to securing a qualified tenant for your property!

Q: How often do you inspect my property?
A:  Our property managers visit properties as appropriate for the particular client. The number of visits would be discussed as part of our management agreement. Additional visits are also made when specific projects are underway, to ensure that work is inspected at the appropriate times, not just on completion. We will make period “drive-by” inspections that may reveal concerns that would be addressed immediately.

Q: What if my tenant needs to be evicted?
A:  Although a rare occurrence, we will handle the process for you through our legal resources. This is one of the most common areas where real estate investors get in trouble by trying to “save money”. Great property management doesn't cost money, it pays, and in this case, not understanding the tenant’s rights can cost a small fortune. We keep the tenant if possible, evict if we can't keep them current, and get the house vacant and rent ready as fast as the law allows.

Q: How does the Southern California rental compare to other rental markets?
A:  The Southern California economy and real estate market remains very strong. The diverse Southern California economy and Mediterranean climate continues to draw more people to this region compared to other locations across the country. Given the current volatility of the real estate market and uncertainty of house prices, many new arrivals are choosing to rent, while many home owners are choosing to rent out their properties rather than sell; providing plenty of opportunity for both landlords and tenants while all parties wait for a more stable re-sale market. Prellis Property Management uses its affiliate relationships to create greater exposure to your rental property. Maximum exposure equates to maximum results!