Frequently Asked Questions

350+

One property manager; Four  property management assistants.

All REALTORS have the opportunity to show all rental properties.

We charge a $40 application fee to each adult wishing to rent a property. We use the AppFolio online background check system. Tenants can apply online. This process checks background, credit and criminal activity across the United States. We like to see a 500+ credit score, do not accept tenants who have any utility bills (water, gas, electric) in collections. 

No. We do not approve any applications with an eviction record, foreclosure, or any record of you walking out on a lease or owing another management company unpaid rent.

YES. All adults (18 or older) living in the property are required to submit an application.

We charge 10% per month. The only time the fee changes is at tenant change and that fee is an additional 20%. The 20% is a placement fee; 10% of that placement fee is used to pay the finder's fee to the agent who brings the approved tenant.  

Red Apple charges property owners a 10% monthly management fee. No fees are charged if your property is vacant.

Rent is ALWAYS due on the 1st with a grace period of midnight on the 3rd. Late fees begin on the 4th.  We no longer accept "paper money". Digitial payments are the only way to pay rent.  Tenants who don't have a checking account can still use cash by printing a pay slip from their portal and paying at any Ace Cash Express, Wal-Mart or CVS Pharmacy.

Late fees begin AT MIDNIGHT on the 3rd. Late fees are set according to the lease. Typically, all late fees are 5% of the rent as a base late fee and then half of that cost per day for each additional day. Late fees remain with the property management company.

I promise to pay all property owners by the 5th (or closest business day to the 5th, depending on how the month falls) so long as their tenant pays by the 3rd. All owners are paid by auto deposit.  No paper checks are sent.

I only send info via email. By the 5th of every month, each property owner gets an Owner Statement showing all the activity on their property. Copies of all repair invoices are sent with this monthly form. These forms are online and always available through the Owner Portal through our website: www.RedAppleRealtors.net under the owner tab.

All vendors and repairmen are good "inspectors" for our properties.  Our staff will do drive-bys to check on the yard and to make sure the outside of the house is neat, kept and not surrounded by junk or trash.  We typically do "90 day inspections" if we approve a tenant with multiple pets. We always do "Lease Renewal Inspections" if your tenant chooses to renew their lease. 

I promise you, the property owner, that I will not do any repairs that cost over $250 without your approval and consent. I am a good judge of repairs that are necessary to a tenant’s safety and I will call the vendor of my choice to do the work. I will pay the vendor directly and will deduct that exact fee from your rent proceeds the following month.  If you have a favorite repairman or prefer one vendor to tend to your maintenance issues, please let us know and we will honor that request.

Yes. If you have a relationship with a repairman or vendor that you prefer to use, our office will be glad to connect with them for repairs to your property. 

Remember,  you have hired me as your property manager, not your property designer.  None of us at this office are sub-contractors.  If you live out of state and trust Red Apple to make remodeling decisions for your property, we will oversee that project for you, but the fee is 20% of the cost of the work done.  

Yes. Many of the agents at Red Apple own rental property. I encourage all REALTORS at Red Apple to invest in rental properties.

You never know! I no longer advertise rentals in the local paper. The MLS®, & the Vacancy List on our website is all it takes. Location, cleanliness, updates and price play a big part in rentability.

I have some tenants that have signed 2 year leases. I have some that are on a month-to-month lease and have been there for 4+ years. Their staying power depends on their situation. Only a few of our properties allow for a 6 month lease. One year leases are typically the minimum.

I charge late fees for untimely payment. I start calling on the 3rd. I send texts and emails. If rent is not received by the 5th and no arrangements have been made, I post a notice to evict. If the “promised” payments are not received, I turn the notice into an eviction by filing it with the Justice Court, Precinct 1 of Taylor County.  The owner pays for all eviction fees and court costs.  As of January 2024, there is a $200 fee for any court appearance. 

17.5. How does the eviction process work?

Beginning in January of 2017, all tenants sign a “bed bug addendum” attached to their lease that advises them on how to avoid bed bugs and acknowledging to them that TENANTS are responsible for the remediation of any bed bug infestation.

Pets are allowed with owner approval. No aggressive breeds are allowed. If owners approve, there is a $350 non-refundable pet fee per pet. The pet fee goes straight to the owner at the time of lease signing with no deductions. Homes that do not allow pets tend to take longer to rent.  

The 2 are very different.  Service Animals provide a distinct service for the individual.  An ESA provides support that may not be recognizable upon first meeting. There is no fee charged for a service animal or an ESA.