Chicago Property Management Blog

Hi everyone, Jason Marcordes here with Landmark Property Management. Today we are answering the question: What type of insurance do I need for my rental property? Now I know that nobody wants to think about insurance, let alone pay for it for that matter, but I promise that if you need it, you’re sure glad you have it! Over the past...

When you need to fill a vacancy, you will have to start vetting the applicants. Although this is a tedious process, being thorough can help you choose the best applicant for your vacancy. An important part of selecting a new tenant is ensuring they can afford the rent, and that’s when evaluating their rent-to-income ratio becom...

Hi everyone, Jason Marcordes here with Landmark Property Management. Today, we’re discussing the question, “What Can I Charge to My Tenant’s Security Deposit?” Before we talk about what we can and can’t charge to a tenant’s security deposit, let’s start with some security deposit basics.Illinois h...

Today we are answering the question: Can I sell My Rental Property with Tenants In It? We wrote this blog a few years ago and it was a big hit, it’s our #1 blog post of all time, so I wanted to update it with a quick video version. So, can I sell my rental property with tenants in it? The short answer is yes! The lease is a leg...

When you have a tenant who hasn’t paid their rent on time, you’ll want to reach out to get this resolved immediately. If they don’t come forward with the rent, there are a few options you can pursue, including an eviction in the Chicago courts. While this may sound simple, it’s actually a complex process, and ...

As a general rule, you should change the locks on your rental unit each time a tenant vacates your property. Since there are many reasons a tenant might vacate, you must understand what to do in each situation. These practices will protect your property and help you avoid litigation. Scenario 1: The Tenant Moves Out at the End of The...

Build-to-rent homes are residential properties that are built specifically for the purpose of utilizing them as residential rental property investments. While first starting in the 1980s, build-to-rent homes have gained in popularity over the past few years. Building ground up, rather than converting existing properties into rentals, has ...

While owning rental property provides a consistent source of income, it can also drain your time and finances if you’re not careful. You can reduce these costs and save time by creating a consistent management process that you use in managing every property you own. Here are 6 specific tips to help you get started.1. Create the Same...

Over the past few years there has been a notorious growth of short- term rental platforms such as Airbnb, VRBO, HomeAway. For many homeowners there is an internal debate between renting long-term versus short term. Contrary to a long term rental, a short term rental is a property that is rented out furnished / turnkey for days o...

Home burglaries in the United States have become extremely common. Every 15 seconds a home robbery occurs in the country. According to Pew Research Center the police solve only 13% of them. Having a secure home is something that all homeowners should invest in as 34% of the break-ins occur through the front door of the home.&nbs...