[kfeasel54]

We will be closing on our designer house in Sanibel July 27, and plan to rent it for a couple years until we retire. Wondering if anyone uses TV property management. I'm new at this so I'm not quite sure how to go about it, making up a contract, paying taxes, finding a cleaning person, and I don't know what else. I know about TheVillages4rent.com, and I was leaning toward going that route, but I'm thinking that TV management would be the easiest and less worrisome way to go, since we are in NY and they claim they take care of everything. Has anyone used them to rent your home for you and if so, do you always have it rented at least during the peak months? When we were down for our design meeting in May, I went to Sumpter Landing vendor night and talked to them, and they claim they have been very busy renting homes even through the summer - do I believe them? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm really torn on which way is the best way to go. Lots of good information and advice on TOTV... Thank you!

[Pturner]

Originally Posted by kfeasel54

We will be closing on our designer house in Sanibel July 27, and plan to rent it for a couple years until we retire. Wondering if anyone uses TV property management. I'm new at this so I'm not quite sure how to go about it, making up a contract, paying taxes, finding a cleaning person, and I don't know what else. I know about TheVillages4rent.com, and I was leaning toward going that route, but I'm thinking that TV management would be the easiest and less worrisome way to go, since we are in NY and they claim they take care of everything. Has anyone used them to rent your home for you and if so, do you always have it rented at least during the peak months? When we were down for our design meeting in May, I went to Sumpter Landing vendor night and talked to them, and they claim they have been very busy renting homes even through the summer - do I believe them? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm really torn on which way is the best way to go. Lots of good information and advice on TOTV... Thank you!

Kfeasel,
Congratulations on your new home! I have not used TV Property Management, but do have one important piece of advice:

There is no Pee in Lake Sumter.

Sorry, but somebody was bound to tell you. It's a long-running TOTV "thing".

[carm310]

We used them for four years, just ended our contract with them as we prepare over the next several months to move there. They did take care of everything and were responsive to any contact we initiated with them. We always had renters during high season and minimally through the rest of the year. Being from the Chicago area we felt the same way you do, it was less worrisome and easy. If you want to have your house rented more than the first 3 to 4 months of the year though I would consider another route. We usually had a couple of weeks rented in the summer, maybe a week or two in the fall and a week or so in May. We have a villa, I am not sure if the larger homes tend to have more rentals. We did not want our home occupied any more than it was, so we were happy with what we had.

[Sable99]

I am also renting out my house long distance and thought it would be a lot more convenient to have a property management company.

I talked to them when I was thinking about renting out my house. The person told me on the phone that I would have to sign a two year contract and I didn't really want to go that long at this time. [I might rent for two years but I didn't want to commit to that yet!] I was told later that you can only do one year contracts so I'm not really sure what the truth is there!

I decided to go with JD & V Management when I closed on my house in May. I am renting my home unfurnished for one year. That is considered a long term rental. I think they rented my house two days after it went on their website. They have been very responsive to my calls and questions. Lois even responded to my emails while she was on vacation!

[Jim 9922]

We used The Villages property Mgt group for 1 year and it was a disaster.
No supervision or care for the property (2 easy chairs and all of the towels disappeared, among other problems). After that we found a neighbor who looked after the property and we had the same renters (our neighbor's friends) for the next 8 years.
I suggust that you steer clear of TV group and find a private group or maybe a willing neighbor.

[asianthree]

you might want to find out what their policy is for when you want to use your home. Go with thevillages4rent get a homewatch person and you will be happy you did. We use a property mang co and had damage bills to fix the damage and close to $1000 in thieft. Yep and when we got to our house it was so dirty (had just been cleaned) that we had to stay in a hotel until we got someone to clean it. Just want you want after driving 20 hours and open your door of your six month home to OH MY GOD WHAT IS THAT SMELL

[dalecrenshaw]

Not to scare you, but we have used several different property managers over the last 10years and have not been satisfied with any of them. The last property manager gave back the security deposit to the renter, without checking the property's condition. Unfortunately the renter left the place a mess, it was a total disaster and they had helped themselved to several items. We spent weeks cleaning up the place after they left and replacing things. Naturally, we fired the property manager, but we are out all the money that that we had to pay to get the property back in good condition. So, I have come to the opinion that it is easier and less expensive to do it ourselves.

It is very easy to get a 3 or 4 month renter in the high season (Jan/Feb/March). The shoulder months of Dec. and April are a little harder to rent. A small ad in the Village Sun or advertise on thevillages4rent.com is probably the best way to go. In any case, if you go with a property manager, I would interview several of them (at least 3 or 4) and find out exactly what they are going to do for you. Most of them, we found, just collect the rent and arrange to let the people in. Some of the property managers also charge extra for every little thing they do...so you need to ask them what other charges, other than their commission, will you be charged for. Also, some managers won't even let you use your own property. There are lots of things to consider and I wish you luck in finding a good, competent, property manager. If you find one, let me know.

[ijusluvit]

We have rented our home when we are not there for seven years. We started with Villages Property Management and fired them after a year. They were very difficult to work with. A terrific local couple took over but had to retire after a couple of years. JD Mgt next - not very good either. Now we have Vilas Hinkle and her husband Dennis. FANTASTIC!!! Villages residents. Fully licensed managers, (VERY important), friendly and welcoming to our guests. They take care of every detail efficiently, even my sales taxes. No matter where we are we are only a phone call away from what's happening at our Villages home. If Vilas has the time to add your property to her list, you will be very happy with her quality service. Her email is vilashin@yahoo.com. Tell her ijusluvit sent you. Good luck.

[kfeasel54]

Thank you all so much for your input. I think I know what I should do, not TV property management... They do charge 20%, and if you want to stay at your own house, you have to pay the 20% fee for that particular time. In your own house! Not crazy about that... thanks again, love TOTV...

Pturner - thanks for the correction, I will remember, no Pee in Sumter.

[carm310]

I guess we were the lucky ones, we had no problems with renters or Villages Property Management.

[hdh1470]

Originally Posted by ijusluvit

we have rented our home when we are not there for seven years. We started with villages property management and fired them after a year. They were very difficult to work with. A terrific local couple took over but had to retire after a couple of years. Jd mgt next - not very good either. Now we have vilas hinkle and her husband dennis. Fantastic!!! Villages residents. Fully licensed managers, (very important), friendly and welcoming to our guests. They take care of every detail efficiently, even my sales taxes. No matter where we are we are only a phone call away from what's happening at our villages home. If vilas has the time to add your property to her list, you will be very happy with her quality service. Her email is vilashin@yahoo.com. Tell her ijusluvit sent you. Good luck.

can"t go wrong with them.

[olgreeneyes]

Another vote for Vilas Hinckle! Can't say enough good things about her. We are completely confident everything is being taken care of, despite being so far away. I think realty and management companies think more in terms of the bottom line, and are unable to give individual attention to details. Now we have one couple who handle everything personally and efficiently.
Good luck!

[misky]

I used TV Prop Mgmt for two years and was very satisfied. Just to add something to think about. I rented my place unfurnished. I didn't want the hassle of furnishing it for rental puposes and then getting new furniture when I got here. TV Prop Mgmt had no problems finding long term renters.

[l2ridehd]

Another vote for Vilas Hinkle. Responsive, honest and reliable.

[justjim]

Have a friend who used Realty Executives and he has been happy. But he hasn't had any "bad" renters-----that is the key and I believe in TV most are good renters. All it takes is one bad potato to smell up the sack!