Am I required to make my property available to Section 8?
As of July 2018, owners of rental property in Bellingham are not required to rent to Section 8 tenants. If you decide to have a no Section 8 policy, we will verify its legality with the appropriate municipality.
Are you licensed?
Yes. We are a licensed real estate company headed by a Designated Broker. Our accounting department is headed by a licensed CPA.
Can tenants reach you after hours?
In the event of an emergency, tenants can contact our after-hours emergency number, 360-715-2426. We have a 24-hour answering service that will connect tenants to one of our team members.
Can you put the money directly into my account?
Yes. We actually prefer to make owner payments via Electronic Fund Transfers (EFTs). When an EFT is forwarded to your account you automatically get a confirmation email with the amount of the deposit.
Do I get to see the lease or sign it?
We will provide you a copy of your lease(s) upon request, but there is no need for you to sign the lease. Access Real Estate Services signs leases on your behalf.
Do you sell real estate too?
Yes, we do real estate sales as well! We specialize in the buying and selling of investment properties.
How is rent collection handled?
Our leases require rent to be paid on the 1st of the month. We collect rent via automatic Electronic Fund Transfers, check, or money order. We do not accept cash for rent payment. All rental funds are held in a trust account until dispersed to rental owners.
How long of a lease do you sign?
A typical lease is one year. A shorter lease may be used to get the lease ending date into the prime renting season in future years if needed. We can also execute leases longer than one year if it is desirable. Leases longer than one year are notarized as required by WA state law. We have Notaries on staff so this is done at no additional fee to you.
How much security deposit do you charge the tenant?
A typical security deposit is one month’s rent less a $50 administrative fee.
How soon can you start managing my property?
Usually within days of viewing your property.
What type of properties do you manage?
We manage single family homes, condominium rentals, and multi-unit complexes. We also manage condominium associations and home owners’ associations.
What type of reports do I get and how often?
Monthly Income Statement that includes all expense details
Delinquency report when necessary
Annual statement shortly after year end
Annual 1099 MISC tax reporting document
Annual property condition report
Periodic condition reports after City of Bellingham inspections (once every three years at present)
Who holds the tenant security deposit?
Access Real Estate Services holds all security deposits in a separate Trust Account.
