Is It Time For A Rent Increase?

By Michael Mengden Tuesday, March 24, 2020

How are rent increases determined? Some people prefer to do small annual increases, others will do an increase only if they have had a major maintenance expense and some Owners never do rent increases. Some Owners like to use an annual percentage. Check with your property manager...

Deciding on Pets

By Michael Mengden Friday, February 21, 2020

Most Owners shudder when you mention pets. To be perfectly honest, this is an understandable reaction since there are times when tenants allow their pets to cause considerable damage or liability. However, when facing the issue of pets, Property Managers and/or Property Owners of...

Tenant Eviction in Houston – How to Deal with Bad Tenants and Late Payments

By Michael Mengden Saturday, December 1, 2018

The number one rule to remember when you have tenants who aren’t paying rent on time is that it’s better to work with them than to evict them immediately. Your biggest cost as a homeowner with rental property is turnover. There are a number of costs associated with pr...

Why Should I Pay for Professional Property Management in Houston?

By Michael Mengden Monday, June 20, 2016

We talk to a number of landlords and rental property owners in Houston who want to know why they should pay for professional property management. It might seem simple enough to manage and maintain a rental property on your own, but there’s actually a lot of time and kno...

Why Family Can Become Your Worst Tenants – Houston Property Management Education

By Michael Mengden Monday, June 13, 2016

Having a rental property is having a business, and you have to make decisions based on what’s best for that business. Renting to family members and friends can cause conflicts and require you to choose between your business and your relationships. A family member living ...

How to Find a Good Property Management Company for Your Houston Rental Property

By Michael Mengden Tuesday, June 7, 2016

There are a few specific things you want to talk about when you are interviewing and selecting the right property management company for your Houston rental property. We’re sharing some of the best tips to help you start your relationship in the right direction. ...

Best Tenant Screening in Houston – Professional Advice for Homeowners

By Michael Mengden Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Landlords and homeowners who manage their own rental properties really need to know how to properly screen tenants. You never want to just move a tenant in without checking that person’s background and qualifications. It’s important that you always do a professional...

Why Work with Terra Residential Services – Professional Property Management in Houston

By Michael Mengden Thursday, May 26, 2016

Terra Residential Services is a professional property management company in Houston, Texas and we’re talking about why we are best choice when you’re looking for someone to take care of your single family rental property. We are a full service single family propert...

April 2012: Fair Housing and the Rental Process

By Michael Mengden Wednesday, April 18, 2012

It is crucial, when renting a property, that property managers and owners avoid discrimination. There are many pitfalls, and it requires good policies, procedures, and practices, to prevent unwanted Fair Housing complaints. Fair Housing actually began in the United States in 1...

March 2012: The Security Deposit vs. Normal Wear & Tear

By Michael Mengden Wednesday, February 29, 2012

If you have 100 property managers in a meeting, the majority will agree that settling a security deposits dispute is one of the more difficult tasks in property management, particularly when it comes to determining "normal wear and tear," also referred to by some as "ordinary we...