Mountain Ridge Property Management

Mountain Ridge provides quality property management with excellent client service. Specializing in management of the single family home, townhouses, duplexes and small apartment complexes in Boise, Meridian and Eagle Idaho; we make owning rental properties a trouble free investment.

We implement responsible property management practices while promoting a strong code of professional ethics and integrity. Our service approach offers tenants an excellent renting experience resulting in high tenant retention while maximizing profits for the owner.

In addition to property management, Mountain Ridge offers, tenant locator, tenant screening and a variety of advertising options.

Whether you live in the Boise, Meridian or Eagle area or are thinking of relocating, ensuring the house you rent provides everything you need is important. Search our listings of rental homes and apartments to locate the property matching your housing needs.

For assistance with your investment property or other services we offer, contact our office at your earliest convenience. We look forward to working with you and managing all of your rental home needs.

Holiday Security and Safety

Nothing can ruin a joyful holiday season faster than coming home to find your home has been broken into.  That sickening feeling in the pit of your stomach will gnaw at you for weeks.  Don't despair though; there are a few simple ideas to make your home less appealing to the burglar, all without breaking the holiday budget.  We all know break-ins occur more frequently around this time of the year,  Let's face it, the average break in thief is not that motivated otherwise, they would just get their own hob and not resort to stealing your stuff.  So making your home appear more protected will certainly help to dissuade them from trying.  Here are a few simple and low cost ideas to help whether you are staying home or travelling this holiday season.

Take a good look around the outside of your home both during the day and at night and make notes on where there are hiding places, dark places or windows with easy access from the ground.  Trim any bushes or trees back around your house to limit the amount of cover an intruder might find appealing.   Breaking into a home takes a little bit of time, and should anyone walk or drive by, the intruder will want to hide.  Next, make sure your exterior lights all work and consider installing extra lighting in particularly dark area.  Home improvement stores offer inexpensive remote motion detectors that will sense motion outside and turn on a light or TV inside. 

Be neighborly letting your close neighbors know if you are leaving, or if you are staying, ask if they will be leaving so someone can watch for trouble.  If you are leaving, stop the paper and mail.  Nothing screams "I'm not home!" more than two weeks of unread newspapers in your driveway!  If you are home or away. LOCK YOUR DOORS and windows and place obvious sliding door stops in your sliding doors.

Use common sense and all the security features your home has, such as deadbolts and window lock. Be observant of what is going on around you.  Should you notice something amiss at your neighbor's home, call the police; should they catch a burglar, there will be one less that might break into our home.  Best of all, have a great and safe Holiday season.

By Brian Hefner

Writer for the Eagle Magazine

For additional information on this and other renting articles, please visit our web site at http://www.mrpmrentals.com/

Your Boise Property Management Rental Resource

AVAILABLE RENTAL

UPDATED LARGE DUPLEX!

Lots of updates
Tons of storage

Large 2 bedroom
1 1/2 bath
Dishwasher
Garbage Disposal
Self-Cleaning Stove/Oven
New Ceiling Fans
New Blinds
New Flooring
New Paint
Washer/Dryer Hookups
Double Closets
Walk-In Closet

Carport w/storage
Storage Shed in private fenced yard

Located on a quiet culdesac on the Bench
Fast and Easy access to BSU, Shopping, or Interstate

Call 866-4228 for a private showing

View photos and information at www.mrpmrentals.com

Testing your winter safety

Make sure your rental home has their smoke detectors checked either by the current tenant, repairman or property manager or Management Company.  Ensuring each is working properly and has fresh batteries.  Also, check any carbon monoxide detectors are installed with new batteries if needed.  If this task is made a policy of the property manager and tenant to check and change the batteries when daylight savings time ends, it will be easier to remember the task.  Be sure to notify each tenant as a reminder to do this check.  Mountain Ridge has the policy to notify each tenant to check the smoke detectors at least once per year. 

For additional information on this and other renting articles, please visit our web site at http://www.mrpmrentals.com/

Your Boise Property Management Rental Resource

Idaho’s Landlord Tenant Law recommends the following:

1.  Conduct a criminal, financial, credit, and rental background check on every adult applicant. 

2.  Inspect the rental property with the tenant before moving in and after vacating the property.

3.  Take pictures and video tape the property before a tenant moves in and after vacating.

4.  Provide copies of the lease and any addendums. 

5.  Provide receipts for cash payments.

6.   Keep accurate records.

7.  Explain the lease terms to the tenant if necessary.

Checking Your Credit Score

Checking your credit score can be done at any one of the three credit bureaus Experian, Equifax or Trans Union. Each bureaus office FICO credit scores using the formula developed by Fair Isaac but the difference is each give their score a different name. Equifax is known as the Beacon, TansUnion; Empirica and Experian go by Experian/Fair Isaac Risk Model.

To complicate matters further each bureau will give a different score due to the bureaus not sharing data. One credit agency may use more account information than another, using details such as the type of account, payment history or credit limits and balances due. This reflects a different score.

Due to such differences, it is useful to obtain reports from each bureau. Most loan companies will obtain all three but work from the average number. It will pay off to monitor your credit report throughout the year making corrections when necessary. Obtain new credit sparingly.

For additional information on this and other renting articles, please visit our web site at http://www.mrpmrentals.com/

Your Boise Property Management Rental Resource

Words N Terms

Word of the Week

Judgment
A final court ruling resolving the key questions in a lawsuit and determining the rights and obligations of the opposing parties.

For example, after a trial involving a vehicle accident, a court will issue a judgment determining which party was at fault and how much money that party must pay the other.


Follow www.wordsnterms.com

For additional information on this and other renting articles, please visit our web site at http://www.mrpmrentals.com/

Your Boise Property Management Rental Resource

Check Your Prospective Landlord

Since the financial fall of the real estate market renters have been placed in bad positions with foreclosures and unscrupulous property owners.  Here are a few things you can do to be informed and protect yourself.

1.       Ask questions of the landlord or property manager.  Be friendly when asking how long did the previous tenants live at the property and how long were the ones prior to them?  This shows the possibility of a landlord that is difficult to work with.  Ask how long he’s been a landlord or property manager, and who is responsible for repairs and if the landlord is who will be taking care of those repairs.

2.      Check property records.  You have to know who you will be leasing from.  A property management company is easily checked into but what if the landlord is a private owner?    Also you can check out your landlord at checkyourlandlord.com.  Make sure the property is not at any risk of going into foreclosure or bankruptcy.  

3.      The best way to be more confident about your move is to visit with the neighbors.  They will give you lots of information.  Ask questions such as: Is this person the actual landlord?  How are repairs done and are they done in a timely manner.

4.      Take a drive by other properties owned or managed by this person or company.  If the property looks as good as the place you are wanting to rent and all other information regarding the landlord looks reasonable you should be comfortable in making your renting decision.

Don’t feel pressured to sign onto a property.  It only takes a few minutes to review the landlord and any reputable landlord or property manger will understand and are able to wait a couple of hours for your rental application.  Besides, you, as the prospective tenant, are required to wait for the landlord to check into your background it’s only reasonable for you to do the same.

For additional information on this and other renting articles, please visit our web site at http://www.mrpmrentals.com/

Your Boise Property Management Rental Resource

Coming Available August 1st.

Plush, comfortable and roomy townhouse style duplex located on a quiet culdesac. 
Newer paint. Newer appliances. Walk in closet.
Very clean.
Has a double carport with storage and additional storage off carport.  A very nice home.  Close to shopping, bus line and schools. 
No pets and no smoking permitted.

View more details and photos at www.mrpmrentals.com
To schedule an appointment to tour this wonderful property call:  208-322-4228

TENANTS FACING FORECLOSURE

THE PROTECTING TENANTS AT FORECLOSURE ACT


The federal Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act ensures that tenants receive notice that their residential rental property was sold to a new owner at a foreclosure sale. To prevent an abrupt eviction, the Act requires the new owner to give tenants at least 90 days to leave the rental. If the property reverted to the bank or will not be used as a primary residence by the new owner, the bank (or new owner) must allow the tenants to remain in the rental until their lease expires.
The Act only protects the rights of “bona fide” tenants, which includes persons in possession of property with or without a lease, provided that:

• The person isn’t the new owner or the owner’s child, spouse or parent;
• The tenancy was the result of an arms-length transaction; and
• The rent is not substantially less than what the property’s fair market rent is (unless the rent is government-subsidized).

Section 8 Tenants
The law provides “Section 8” tenants with all of the same rights as other tenants. The new owner must give the tenant a 90-day notice to leave if the owner intends to occupy the property as a primary residence. The tenant’s Section 8 Housing Assistance Payment contract continues, and foreclosure is not a lawful reason for the owner to terminate a lease.

Enforcement of the Act
The law is self-regulating, which means that no government agency enforces it. Also, federal courts have ruled that tenants cannot file lawsuits under the Act. However, tenants may have other causes of actions or remedies and should speak to an attorney about their legal rights.

Reproduced from http://www.ag.idaho.gov/publications/consumer/LandlordTenant.pdf

For additional information on this and other renting articles, please visit our web site at http://www.mrpmrentals.com/


Your Boise Property Management Rental Resource

Landlords require tenants to carry renters insurance

Buying a policy to cover your possessions is always a good idea and more property owners are making the decision a lease requirement. An owner’s insurance policy never covers the tenant and or their belongings.

As the local rental market continues to tighten, many property managers are requiring each tenant or rental unit be covered by renters insurance and be a part of the lease agreement also to provide verification and its value to the landlord or property manager.

Renters who balk at paying renters insurance premium should take look at its advantages. First, renters insurance is cheap! Do some shopping; agencies can give quotes over the phone or on-line. Paying over $120 per year may be excessive unless your personal property is of high quality and volume.

Renter’s insurance policies can save big money in replacement costs if you are robbed, the rental floods damaging furniture, a fire and smoke or other damages. The policy should cover personal items replacement value, storage and hotel or other rental costs if you are required to vacate. Also the policy should cover damages finding you as the tenant at fault and is your responsibility for payment. This alone can save thousands in a legal battle.

For additional information on this and other renting articles, please visit our web site at http://www.mrpmrentals.com/


Your Boise Property Management Rental Resource

View us on Merchant Circle @ http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/Mountain.Ridge.Property.Management.208-322-4228?utm_medium=phone&utm_source=code

Low Cost Improvements to Increase Your Rentals Value

Here are some affordable updates to make to your rental home.

1. Add some color by creating an accent wall in the living room and or master bedroom. Keep the color neutral and warm; then the apartment will give a warm and inviting feel to a prospective tenant. Use only semi-gloss paint as it’s washable and uses a soft sheen making the room look brighter.
2. Brighten the lighting with clear light bulbs. No need to up the wattage as this could cause damage to the light fixtures. Clear bulbs make the lighting shine and appear brighter. Replacing switch plates and plugs gives a great updated appearance without a huge cost.
3. Update the kitchen with new light fixtures, knobs or handles on cupboard doors; brighten the colors with fresh paint or stain. These updates will make the space feel more open, fresh and very appealing. The kitchen is the most important room to update.
4. Make sure everything is clean, shiny, and smells fresh. Use an air neutralizer to remove any odors. No smell of any kind is always the best.
For additional information on this and other renting articles, please visit our web site at http://www.mrpmrentals.com/

Your Boise Property Management Rental Resource
View us on Merchant Circle @ http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/Mountain.Ridge.Property.Management.208-322-4228

A Happy New Year 2011

Thank You
Now that the holiday season has past and the New Year has begun its time to get back to work. We have had an unusual experience for the past couple of months, when late last fall our office gained full occupancy in all of our properties. This is highly unusual, and I might add an absolutely wonderful experience. But, now reality has come back into our lives and we realize our great tenants have families, jobs and lives, all which include the possibility of moving. Sadly, we have the first vacancy of 2011. Vacancies are an inevitable fact of life in property management.
We have been very blessed to have full occupancy, but far more so in having a wonderful group of tenants. Each and every one of them are exceptional people. We have no concerns or complaints about any one of them. We meet with each and every tenant personally. We know the properties but, we know the people who rent from us, we know our tenants.
We are blessed to have this opportunity to thank each and every one of our tenants for being who they are….great people, and great tenants. We appreciate you and Thank you.
For additional information on this and other renting articles, please visit our web site at http://www.mrpmrentals.com/

Your Boise Property Management Rental Resource
View us on Merchant Circle @ http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/Mountain.Ridge.Property.Management.208-322-4228?utm_medium=phone&utm_source=code