The COVID pandemic has touched every industry and caused some confusion and setbacks for a lot of rental property owners and tenants in Grand Rapids and all over the world.
At Short South Realty Group, we’re happy to say it’s been business as usual around here. This is due to our flexibility, our investment in technology, and our excellent relationships with tenants, owners, and vendors in our community.
This doesn’t mean we don’t acknowledge that a lot of people are suffering. Any tenants who are impacted financially from the pandemic and the various closures and job losses that came with it have heard from us by now. We’re responsive and accessible, and always available to talk with anyone who has questions about this pandemic and what it means for your rental property.
Here’s a brief look at what you can expect from your Grand Rapids property management team, even during a crisis like the COVID pandemic.
Relying on Property Management Processes and Systems
We have always worked within a set of consistent processes and procedures to ensure we are able to effectively lease, manage, and maintain your property under any circumstances.
This has helped us during these unusual times.
Our team has always been consistent, proactive, and responsive. Nothing has changed. We are as safe and reliable as we have always been. We’ve always provided online rental payments for our residents, and we have also provided self-showing technology that is now helping prospective residents see homes safely and with minimal contact.
Rent Collection During COVID
A federal eviction moratorium remains in place for residents who have lost their jobs, had their income reduced, or suffered some other financial loss due to COVID. This is not a rent forgiveness program, and it only applies to tenants who can document their problems are related to the virus.
We have not seen a lot of default. We believe this is due to our extensive tenant screening process, our excellent communication process with residents, and our consistent rent collection policy. We continue to collect rent on time for our owners, and evictions are largely unnecessary.
Routine and Emergency Maintenance During COVID
Some residents may hesitate before reporting a minor maintenance issue, but that’s not what we want. Even if we are unable to respond to the problem right away because of safety concerns for our vendors and residents, we still want to know when there’s a problem. Our tenants understand that we expect them to report all repairs issues right away, and then we’ll determine how to safely respond.
We understand that some tenants may not want a vendor or contractor coming into the house if it’s not an emergency. When work is needed, we make sure that our maintenance vendors wear masks and gloves and complete the repairs as quickly as possible, with minimal contact.
Hopefully, we’ll see some positive news soon and turn the corner on this pandemic. Until then, you can be sure that we’re doing what we always do at Short South Realty Group. Contact us if you’d like to hear more.