[cms36]

Hello:

We are considering purchasing a home to rent out for a portion of the year.

This is to the owners that rent their places out. If you use a management company either The Villages or others, why did you choose who you did?

Any other tips, advise, etc., will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Chris

[asianthree]

We used two different management companies fired them both due to a tremendous amount of issues at her house. The only way that we knew was we made surprise visits and was shocked at what was going on with our house. We use Thevillagers4rent and rent the home our self we only do long term and have been completely happy ever since. This way you get to choose who lives in your house. Management companies can rent your house January February and March and that's about it you can do that on your own without paying any fees.

[goodtimesintv]

Originally Posted by asianthree

We used two different management companies fired them both due to a tremendous amount of issues at her house. The only way that we knew was we made surprise visits and was shocked at what was going on with our house. We use Thevillagers4rent and rent the home our self we only do long term and have been completely happy ever since. This way you get to choose who lives in your house. Management companies can rent your house January February and March and that's about it you can do that on your own without paying any fees.

This is correct. You can get rental caretakers to check and watch your property only, for less than $70 per month when occupied or unoccupied (with you doing leasing, keys and money yourself).

Also, be aware that on rentals of less than 6 months, State of FL requires filing and payment of Sales Tax on Transient Rentals. It's state sales tax (6%) plus something like 1% for Sumter County (or other county) and another 1 or 2% transient rental tax, to total 9%.

Contact Leesburg Service Center of FL Dept. of Revenue by phone (below) for info on how to register your property as a rental, and for setting up filing of revenue received and paying the sales tax.

Late penalties are stiff, and they find out when homes are rentals with the owner not paying the taxes, by looking at property tax records, property tax billing addresses, main residence address, homestead exemption on one home and having another here, etc. Owing back-taxes on a rental of less than 6 months can result in liens on the property, plus heavy fines and interest, on top of back taxes owed.

Call: Leesburg Service Center of FL Dept. of Revenue
352-315-4470 (ET)
Suite 103
1904 Thomas Ave
Leesburg, FL 34748-3285

FL Dept Rev - Registration and Account Maintenance

[lafoto]

Chris
We used downhome prop management and quickly found out that using
a service like this, you just become a little fish in a big pond.
After our contract was over we took over and have handled it ourselves.

So far getting renters "in season" has been easy. This coming season I am
getting repeat renters and that is ideal. Dont let the tax issue scare you off...
once you get it figured out, its not a big deal.

We are very lucky to have awesome neighbors who keep an eye on our place,
a great lawn guy and nice tenants. Its all working well so far.

I will add that I was concerned about tenants in my home, but I have found that
people who are visiting the villages are quality folks. It makes sense, they are older, they can afford
$3300 a month rent and they just want to get out of the cold.

good luck

[dalecrenshaw]

I agree with the above ststements. Have had 4 property managers...all they did was rent it out Jan, Feb, March. Did not do credit or reference checks. One property Mgr cost me abt $5000 when tenant wrecked house, ruined new carpeting, etc. She did not do a walk through when tenant left and gave their deposit back. I now manage it from California and it is a lot easier and I rent it out much more.
Also, even though our house is in the Villages, we are in Lake County and we pay 11% total (rental sale's tax between state and county) , so it depends what county you are in.

[cms36]

Wow, lots of great info here. Thanks to all of you.

[Brian & Vicki]

We used Down Home Property Management and we DO NOT RECOMMEND them. We had too many issues to mention, substandard cleaning of the house, a refrigerator repair made by their handyman that resulted in water in the kitchen, spilling to the living room while nobody was there. They accepted zero responsibility.

We are currently using VIR and are very happy. They advertise to a higher end client list. So far, we have reservations on the books for $1,000 more per month than DHPM was renting the house for.

[Sable99]

I've had Lois Johnson of JD&V Prooerty Management since 2012.

[Arubagirl33]

I don't recommend Down Home Property Management either. Same issues as above. Do it on your own.

[bookseller61]

Another vote for Jd&V property management! Smooth sailing for two years now

[villagerjack]

Originally Posted by goodtimesintv

This is correct. You can get rental caretakers to check and watch your property only, for less than $70 per month when occupied or unoccupied (with you doing leasing, keys and money yourself).

Also, be aware that on rentals of less than 6 months, State of FL requires filing and payment of Sales Tax on Transient Rentals. It's state sales tax (6%) plus something like 1% for Sumter County (or other county) and another 1 or 2% transient rental tax, to total 9%.

Contact Leesburg Service Center of FL Dept. of Revenue by phone (below) for info on how to register your property as a rental, and for setting up filing of revenue received and paying the sales tax.

Late penalties are stiff, and they find out when homes are rentals with the owner not paying the taxes, by looking at property tax records, property tax billing addresses, main residence address, homestead exemption on one home and having another here, etc. Owing back-taxes on a rental of less than 6 months can result in liens on the property, plus heavy fines and interest, on top of back taxes owed.

Call: Leesburg Service Center of FL Dept. of Revenue
352-315-4470 (ET)
Suite 103
1904 Thomas Ave
Leesburg, FL 34748-3285

FL Dept Rev - Registration and Account Maintenance

Another example of government making our lives easier. I wonder if the governments realizes how offensive it sounds.

[jellybeanrt]

Who is JDV for renting out property. Is it local? Is there a contact number you can share
Thanks
Judy

[Rosenkranz4917]

Just saw your post. Can you tell me about your experiences with VIR. We would like to use them but hear they are having legal problems. Do you know anything about that?

[SCasey]

We used The Villages Property Management for over three years. We thought they were great until we moved here and saw the condition of the house. Dresser drawers that had to have the runners replaced, stains on the carpeting, missing household items, and other smaller problems. They handled the sales tax and the property was rented out for all the on-season months, but I could not honestly recommend them. And they took 20 percent of the rent!

No experience in "self renting", but I think some sort of local contact is required. Every time a faucet drips or a lightbulb goes out, you have someone local who can handle it.

Hope this helps and best of luck!!

[chinamoon]

[QUOTE=goodtimesintv;1228746]This is correct. You can get rental caretakers to check and watch your property only, for less than $70 per month when occupied or unoccupied (with you doing leasing, keys and money yourself).

HI and thanks for such great info on the tax situation. But also can you tell me how to find the rental caretakers that check and watch your property for $70.00 a month? thanks again!