[Pturner]

Hi, we just bought a house at TV and are a few years from retirement. We'd like to rent out in winter. Please share experiences. We are considering JD Property Management. Anybody have experience with them -- good and bad? What about http://thevillages4rent.com/. Thanks much for help! We can't wait to be your neighbors!

[ijusluvit]

I responded to the other post you wrote and told you why I like JD Management.
About renting the house, we have found it to be an excellent idea. We have rented our place since 2005 for most of the year because we are unable to live in TV for more than short periods. If you have a good management company, all the details of caring for things will be attended to. Renters have proven to be very responsible and respectful of our property. Rentals cover a majority of the costs of owning the home, (not counting a mortgage), if you are willing to rent part or all of the winter months. We were very lucky to get the wonderful resale home we got, and renting it has made maintaining two homes possible.

[Ohiogirl]

We've rented ours for 3 plus years now, has worked out very well. I don't use a management co., just advertise on 2 websites. Haven't hear of JD Management co. What do they charge? I have a local careaker and a cleaning person. Otherwise, I'm the manager and do it via internet for the most part. My sister owns a home and has rented it thru the Villages Prop. Mgmt. I think I've done significantly better, but have also invested more time. Definitely covers all expenses, but doesn't cover the mortgage. Also can't use it during primetime, when the rents are the best. Still able to use it spring and fall. Still helping pay off the mortgage, and has been a good tax deduction.

I'd do it again.

[faithfulfrank]

I'm not in The Villages, we are just down the road a bit in The Plantation. I have 625 more days until I retire.
I rent out our home and it has been great. It's a good tax deduction. When we first bought, we had a property manager, but that was a very poor experience. We dropped them, and now just use ****, and have had great results and NO problems.

Here is our place;

www.****.com/145288

I'm sure there are good property managers, I have just not found one, and found I did not need one.

Frank

[chuckinca]

Frank:

Very nice!

[kfierle]

I bought my villa in December 2008 even though I am unable to retire until 2013. I decided to be my own manager and use www.thevillages4rent.com. I have been very pleased with the response from this site. Almost 4500 hits on my webpage since December 2008. It was easy to rent during the peak season and I have even rented my place for 2 months during the summer because of this site. My sister lives in The Villages for part of the year so she checks on my place for me. When she is not there, I hire Redwitch as my home watch person. She is a member of this board and I highly recommend her! The website is very easy to use and all of the renters have been absolutely great. Lots of activity from thevillages4rent.com helps rent my place!

[faithfulfrank]

Originally Posted by chuckinca

Frank:

Very nice!

Thank you..You are very kind. It snowed here yesterday in western NY....we leave for Florida this Friday...can't wait!! Maybe we'll check out your November TOTV Crisper's when the date is announced.

Anyway, I apologize for going off topic. Renting out our place has been a good experience. We've met some nice folks and have had no problems. It's been a good tax break and a way to afford owning two houses before retirement.

Frank

[grandma-annie]

We also use villages4rent with J.D. Management and have found it to be a very positive experience.... It helps with our expenses and Jane and Diane do a wonderful job.... Someday we hope to not have to rent, but for now we can't go wrong...

[Pturner]

Thank you so much to all who have responded. You're the best. "Good lord willin' and the creek don't rise," on Friday I become a Villager! Can't wait. The more I learn from experience, the more I hope to be as helpful to others on this forum.

It will be a few more years before we are full-time residents. I am wondering if we were to use 4rentbyowner, how we would handle some of the details. Should I fly in to meet tenants when they arrive? How do others who are not on site handle giving and returning of keys and other stuff? How could I help them feel at home and welcomed. Is there someone local who does a great job of handling these details and hospitality? What if an appliance breaks or a tenant needs other assistance when I'm not there? What else do I need to consider? Thanks much.

Concerning, JD Management. My biggest concern is potential hidden costs. A document they want us to sign states, "By signing this agreement, I/we give JD Managment and Marketing, LLC permission to order and pay for needed repairs for our home out of rental proceeds. If repairs exceed money currently in owner account, I/we agree to send the money required immediately..." Yikes. I realize we will have repair costs with owning any home, but I would expect to have options, get quotes, etc. in how I address the situation. Is this standard on property management contracts??

[kfierle]

Pturner

I sent you a PM (private message)

[golfnut]

Frank, the November Crispers meeting will be on November 20.......GN

[faithfulfrank]

Originally Posted by golfnut

Frank, the November Crispers meeting will be on November 20.......GN

Thank you GN...! That may be too close to when we have to start driving back

As to the rent questions.......I am blessed with some awesome neighbors who check on our home and if it needs anything, I get their recommendations, etc.
I have a local phonebook up here in NY, so if I do need to hire someone, I can.

I'm down there twice a year for month long visits, and have made great relationships with most any type of service I need, so when i'm not there, a phone call is usually all I need to do.

I do not usually meet the folks I rent to. They usually rent for a few months at a time, and the place gets rented months ahead of time usually. The renters usually have questions, etc, so we e-mail and phone many times before the rental takes place. Many have actually e-mailed pictures, etc, and we have gotten to know them. Most anyone who can afford to pay me to get away from the snow for months are good people.

I did have a washer "go" on me when we were renting it out. the renters called me. It was not worth fixing, so I just went to my local Sears store here in NY, the wife picked what she wanted, and it was delivered and installed in my Florida home within 48 hours. No big deal at all.

Renting is not nearly as scary as some think.

Frank

[ijusluvit]

There is some major confusion in the posts above.

the villages4rent.com website is not a property management company. They only assist homeowners in advertising their properties. For a fee, of course.

thevillagesforrentbyowner.com is JD Management, a full service company that handles all rental details and home care needs for absent owners.

For the poster who was concerned about home repair costs, let me say that JD Management does not do anything without checking with me first and without my approval. I can't ask for more than that.

[angel222]

Just curious....could you explain the tax deduction from rentals???