September 2020 - Change in Advertising Costs - Realty Management Associates

COVID 19 Update

Idaho’s response to COVID-19 is now primarily local or regional in nature. As of 8/26 data presented by coronavirus.idaho.gov stated: 30,780 cases to date. 305 new cases 8/26. 337 deaths. Mask wearing is mandatory in several Idaho cities and counties. “Stage 4 stay healthy” guidelines remain in place. https://rebound.idaho.gov/stage-4-stay-healthy-guidelines/. For case data and COVID-19 official state resources please visit https://coronavirus.idaho.gov/.

Change in Advertising Costs: What Our Owners Need to Know

By Athena Savoglou

As you know by virtue of being a property owner, advertising means a lot when selling a property, or conversely, looking to buy one. The advantage buyers and sellers have is the Multiple Listings Service which is available in every market in the United States. However, in the Idaho market, we don’t utilize the MLS to market rentals, so the use of independent Internet advertising is essential to the success of reaching prospective tenants and for tenants to find rental properties. The majority of our tenants have found our properties through advertisements we post though our syndication service, which publishes on real estate sites like Zillow, Trulia, and Hotpads. These one-time competitors are now all under the same ownership and together account for more than 50% of our tenant leads. Unfortunately, these sites have decided to start charging a fee to any business or individual that posts two or more rentals at the same time. Due to the increase in our operations costs these fees will inflict, it will be necessary to charge a slight increase in ad costs to the owners going forward. We have calculated an increase of $30 per month based on the fees we will incur over the average number of days our properties are on the market. Commencing September first your monthly advertising cost will now be $120 per month.

Although this is a regrettable development, there are a few upsides. Firstly, we are extending a courtesy six-day grace period where advertising stretches over two calendar months. If your ad starts within 6 days of the end of the month or ends within 6 days of the beginning of a month you will not be charged for that month. Secondly, your listings will actually get a boost as a result of this change. All three services will now be adding a “certified professional” feature, for all verified paid listings. This means that the site will only allow one listing for that specific address. As a result, prospective tenants weary of scams will be able to weed out all unverified listings by checking the “certified professional” box in their search. All of Realty Management Associates’ listings will be “certified professional” listings. Considering the prevalence of rental scams in the Boise area, this is a huge plus. Also, tenants that check the “certified professional” box, are more likely to be the serious, qualified tenants you are looking for.

We hope you see this as a positive – your listings will now be more secure and attract only legitimate prospective tenants.

Maintenance Updates

We are expecting to send out some fall optional services out to vendors at the end of September for completion in October. Those would include Hot Water Heater Service, Landscape Clean-Up, Lawn Care, and gutter cleanings.

The maintenance updates only apply to those of you who have pre-ordered these preventative maintenance services. If you didn’t opt in for a service you read about in this newsletter, and would like to schedule a service, just email MacKenzie at maintenance@rentalsinboise.com to let her know.)

Other questions? Please email maintenance@rentalsinboise.com or call: 208-514-4864.

Accounting Updates

There are no new accounting updates this month.

If you ever have questions about your statement, please contact your property managers:
Spencer Henderson, spencer@rentalsinboise.com
DaNay Salas, danay@rentalsinboise.com

If you have trouble logging into your client portal, please contact your property managers or Brandy Ker at RMAinfo@rentalsinboise.com.

Tenant Update

This month’s tenant newsletter reminds tenants about the importance of renters insurance.

This month, we feature a crossword puzzle, the clues for which are hidden in our Reminders sections as well as the feature article.

Check out our tenant newsletter this month: https://www.rentalsinboise.com/property-management-blog/2020-september-tenant-newsletter/

Google Rating

4.2

Realty Management Associates Inc

Heather S.

19:32 02 Dec 22

I worked with RMA to lease out a home I own for the first time. They did a fantastic job communicating with me through... every step of the process. They were also able to find a fantastic tenant in a short amount of time.read more

Catsfamportland Ruiz

19:42 14 Nov 22

The RMA group has been fantastic! Great communication through the whole process. As a landlord this is our first home... we have entrusted with a property management company.We have had great results in working with them.We Thank you all.read more

Marianne Zacharias

19:28 18 Oct 22

As an individual trying to figure out how to put my house in West Boise up for rent, I didn’t have a clue where to... start. I sent out requests for recommendations to social media and started the hunt on the internet, combing through reviews, services, pricing, and so on. I ended up requesting information from three companies, and RMA stood out! From the moment of first contact DaNay was welcoming, provided information for me to process without overwhelming me, then met me out at the house and talked me through the whole process from vetting tenants to pricing strategy, and spent time answering all my questions. And then all I had to do was say “go” and the ball was rolling! From the time I signed my contract, 4 days later my property hit the market, and less than a week later, I had a tenant application vetted and approved. My new Property Manager Deeanna is already making sure I’m comfortable with the whole process and is taking good care of me. I am a very happy new landlord and just love my team at Realty Management Associates. Thank you for making this process straight forward and easy!read more

Mary Jones

20:40 10 Oct 22

What a wonderful experience!!! We have used property management companies for many years now and none have measured up... to the service we are currently experiencing. The staff has been very professional and DaNay has a wonderful personality which adds a fun dynamic to a very professional experience. We received some suggestions and followed the advice we received and were surprised when we had the perfect tenants within 24 hours of our listing. I can't say enough about how positive this experience has been and would highly recommend working with Realty Management Associates for both homeowners and perspective tenants. As a side note - while we were working on the outside of the house, we noticed between 15-25 people come and view the property. That says a lot about the photo quality and their advertising program.read more

Brooke Green

18:46 07 Sep 22

I was looking for a property manager for a home since I live out of town. Running the show was too much work and travel... to do it alone. I was able to contact DaNay at Realty Management Associates, Inc. It was at close of business where she could had ignored my call but she stayed on the phone with me and answered all my questions. I did not feel rushed or that she had other more important things to do. She also kept in contact and made sure I was thoroughly helped and taken care of. There is a lot to consider when looking at property managers and Realty Management Associates covers everything you need from finding renters, advertising and maintenance to the dreaded eviction. I appreciate that when I called, I was not sent to a machine, she answered the phone immediately. Other properties I found had automation systems where I could not talk to a person. Or I had to wait several hours or the next day. I had a wonderful customer service experience and recommend Realty Management Associates for you property management needs.read more

Jeff Fercho

16:17 03 Sep 22

The application process was very quick and easy. Brandi responded back to questions we had quickly and effectively. The... people there are professional to work with. Very responsive to melds. My rental is very reasonably priced compared to rental prices is the area as well.read more

Evelyn Henderson

19:30 31 Aug 22

I have been renting with them for over a year. They are quick to respond and nice to talk with. They follow up about... melds pretty quickly and has affordable prices.read more

Brandon Pieper

21:28 22 Aug 22

DaNay goes above and beyond for her clients. I am impressed with the owner services provided by RMA and recommend... DeNay and the rest of her staff to family and friends. Thank you!read more

john m

17:11 22 Aug 22

The team at RMA has been so helpful and responsive. They are great to work with.

Lori S

18:25 12 Jun 22

Used to be owned by someone else and it was an amazing company, now, not so much. Be careful what you sign, read... everything carefully and take lots of pictures to document everything. This company is not a good company to deal with.read more

Samantha Ker

18:56 09 Jun 22

I have been renting from Realty Management associates for about a year now! They are dedicated, easy to reach, and... always reach out about updates concerning the property. They are quick with any maintenance issues and always make me feel like I can reach out about any concerns I have!read more

Matt Stone

19:31 08 Jun 22

This company posts listings on properties they do not own or manage. I have found several listings on my own and other... properties where they have listed it for rent without authorization. This company provides false sales and tax information to listings they have no right to touch. Reply to your response: Yes you do. I am looking at your company listing my house for rent for a day on 2 different dates and I have never entered into a contract with you.read more

Max Ozturk

13:39 04 May 22

This is more of a heads up to potential renters. My wife and I were going to move into one of RMA's properties. They... were responsive and accommodating throughout the majority of the experience, but then we received a 24 page lease (including addendums). After reviewing it, we found a lot of sections absolving the agency/owner of being responsible for repair, maintenance, and damages to the property, even if it wasn't our fault. We really wanted to rent this specific property, so we brought up these points to RMA - totally willing to sign the lease as long as these sections were revised and/or clarified for us. They basically told us we were wrong and that was not what the lease stated. A professional real estate attorney and our realtor both read over the lease and advised us against signing it as well. While we did not expect to have problems while renting, it was not very reassuring to know that if issues that were out of our control happened, we would be completely responsible for it. Potential renters, please read the lease thoroughly before signing. Also, renter's and liability insurance is required in addition to the cost of rent. This seems to be standard in Idaho, but please keep in mind this is an additional cost.read more

Susan McDonald

17:15 24 Mar 22

I'm a property manager from Oregon and I was wondering what my experience would be "from the other side" as I tried to... find a rental house for my Boise State student. After calling many property management companies, I ended up working with with Brandy at Realty Management Associates and I can't say enough good things about her and others that I spoke with on the phone. Brandy was always happy to answer my many questions, never seemed impatient, and in the end, was able to help secure a great property for my daughter. Great experience and I highly recommend them to others looking for rental property in Boise.read more

James Wakeman

17:09 24 Mar 22

My company works as a vendor for them and many other property management companies. I can full heartedly say they are... one of the most caring property management companies I have come across. They take good care of their properties, they try to toe the fine line between property owner and client with as much tact as possible. They just seem like a really great company to rent from or work for. If your looking to rent i would definitely give them a call!read more

Amanda Godfrey

22:04 23 Mar 22

RMA has been a great property management company in the Boise area to work with. Their attention to detail and their... customer service has been exceptional and such an easy company to work with. I would highly recommend them!read more

Mary Simpson

18:20 18 Mar 22

One of the best Boise, Meridian, Nampa area property management companies in the treasure valley! They really care... about there tenants, vendors and clients. Great company. Give them a call.read more

Larissa Martineau

20:58 17 Mar 22

The people at RMA are so professional and thorough in their process. They very clearly explained the services they... could provide to assist in renting my property. I chose their Lease Only option, which was very reasonably priced. They found a lessee who met all of my terms and conditions in under two weeks. They really know the market, gave great advice, and managed my expectations very well. I highly recommend them!read more

Bret Carmichael

17:15 04 Mar 22

I met the president of the company a couple weeks ago at the Idaho Legislature. He was there talking about Tenant's... rights and the laws. There were things that I did not agree with but it was clear that his property management company wants to see tenants taken care of. There were other companies there talking on this as well and I just wanted to say how much we appreciate good business treating its customers.read more

cody jones

17:59 02 Feb 22

I had to move out of state on short notice for work and broke the lease...or so I thought. I happily paid RMAs "lease... break fee" along with an additional $120 a month for "marketing" to re-lease the space. Being told on the phone with them that is all we were going to be responsible for, now they want rent for the remaining months. A "lease break fee" makes sense, so long as that being it. Why would we pay the asked for amount to "break the lease". When all that means to them, is they are going take the money to "break the lease" as well as continue wanting rent for the space? I understand that's my fault for trusting them at their word. However, that just seems very unethical.... also 90% of the outlets in the house were loose and couldn't be used. That's besides the point though.read more

Wayne Wright

16:45 04 Dec 21

We have had no issues with RMA. Any requested maintenance work has been handled quickly. Should we become landlords in... Boise we would definitely consider RMA to manage the property.read more

Kyle Heron

00:14 23 Nov 21

Over the past couple months I have been renting through Realty Management and I have nothing but good things to say.... Their communication about what going on is very straight forward. They do not try to sneak in fees or charges when it comes time to pay rent and if there is a charge their is an explanation on what it is for. Also, if we need something checked on or fixed at the house we do not hesitate calling or putting in a work order. In the past we were always worried about contacting our property manager because they were sneaky with fees and not friendly. DaNay is the person we go through and she has made it so smooth and stress free. We have no problem reaching out if anything comes up. She is awesome with everything and if she does not know something she gets back to us in timely manner. Overall, DaNay and RMA are awesomeread more

Amber Bee

15:44 22 Nov 21

I have been renting from these guys for over a year and I have nothing but good things to say. Easy to work with,... prompt responses, and they have helped me get my credit score back up. Thank you RMA!read more

Chad Manchin

14:43 04 Nov 21

I have been rented a unit that RMA has managed for a couple years. The building I lived in sold to some new investors... just a couple weeks ago. Honestly I cannot say enough how responsible and personable RMA has been with me as a tenant. They have always been there when I have had questions and we have built a good working relationship. Any other property manager I work with in the future is going to have a high bar to match for the service I have gotten.read more

The Guru

22:01 03 Nov 21

Been living in Idaho now for 16 years and am no strange to the Nampa, Meridian and Boise Area and lived in many... different homes through the years here. We are still renting but I will NEVER again rent from these abusers. Realty Management Associates they refer to as RMA is the WORST company to do business with. I never had as many issues with prior property managements. This company is here to STEAL your money and they don't care. Don't be as naive as I was.read more

21:22 05 Aug 21

We own our home and have had serious issues with tenants that live in one of their rental properties next door to us... and their large dogs either trying to break through the fence and now, actually breaking through the fence, that we built and rebuilt on our dime, with little or no communication from RMA. The last tenant was breeding Great Danes and had no less than 2-4 very large aggressive dogs in the backyard, unsupervised reeking havoc with our chihuahua and golden lab. It’s very frustrating as a homeowner to have to worry constantly about the safety of our dogs and ourselves. They should have acted to evict the owner with the Great Danes long before they did. It doesn’t make for a good neighborhood when renters have nuisance dogs, with multiple complaints from multiple homeowners and the rental agency doesn’t take it serious enough. Now, we have two 20 lb.dogs next door, and one of them broke through the new fence and almost tried to get ahold of my 5 lb. dog who just had surgery. Luckily, I was right there with him and able to grab him or he would have been bitten in the face or dragged through the hole and either seriously injured or killed. I’m fed up! They can do better. I’m sick of promises and little action. Very disappointing to have issues like this in a home we OWN and have lived in for twenty years!read more

Doug Hofmann

15:20 28 Jun 21

I was referred to RMA several years ago from a fellow real estate agent. Not only do I use RMA's services myself, but... they are the only property management company I recommend. Their level of service and professionalism is far above any other prop management company I've found. They do a great job, highly recommend!read more

Stefano Balistreri

23:07 11 Jun 21

It's been a pleasure working with everyone at Realty Management Associates. Their online platforms really do make it... easy to schedule and complete all repair and maintenance projects on time. Our team enjoys serving their team and clients. Teamwork makes all the difference!read more

Kelsi Smith

07:45 08 Jun 21

I paid a very heavy deposit of $2,300 for a $900/mo rental. They took the entire thing at the end of tenancy and still... want $950 more. I cleaned upon moving out, there was no light in the living room- only a ceiling fan. I replaced the fan with an expensive drum light and left both the fan and light on the property when I moved. There is no central air in the property so you are left with one ac unit in the living room. I installed another ac unit in the bedroom to keep cool in the summer and also left that with them when I left. I hung things up, I understand they needed to patch holes. I expect them to hire professional cleaners and clean the property after you do. When attempting to use the very heavy blinds at that location- 3 of them came down as I tried to open and close the blinds (they were too heavy or not installed properly, I don’t know) and I left them in the property when I moved(my bad for not asking maintenance to rectify the problem while I was still living there). I’ll add- within the last 3 months of my tenancy with RMA, my boyfriend of 4 years committed suicide after our date and I was an absolutely broken individual and not on top of life- actually I was falling to pieces and hanging on to my life by a thread. I understand this is not their problem, but some grace would be appreciated. I never got any of my deposit back and a year and a half later I’m notified by collections that I owe them $950. I understand cleaning fees, I understand patching some holes and getting some new blinds. Spencer also implied i could drop by my keys whenever but I was charged for over staying like half a month when I wasn’t living there. Keeping $2,300 and demanding an additional $950 is ridiculous. $3,250 total. WHAT. Keep track of EVERYTHING if you rent here. They’re super nice in the beginning and then screw you over in the end. I also had a neighbor, who was one of their tenants- steal a package of mine and nothing was done when I reported it. Judging by the other negative reviews, I’m sure this one will be flipped around as well. Can you say gaslighting? Say goodbye to my credit. You could have called.read more

Donata Satriano

19:24 20 May 21

Spencer, the owner, is very knowledgeable and responsive to any questions that i had. Exquisite communication and very... friendly, will work with them again if i get the chance!read more

Tanner Collins

01:08 14 May 21

RMA has always been a great manager. I have lived in a few different apartments with different management companies... before renting my house now from RMA. Their office is very responsive to any maintenance concerns I have. It is clear they want to make sure the house is in a good condition for the owner that hires them, but are able to do that while letting me feel like this house is mine. I have had the chance to move a few different times but honestly I am tried of renting from shady landlords and appreciate what I have now. I'll probably be here until I can buy my own home.read more

Derek Duncan

17:25 03 May 21

Thank you for picking up the phone! We had been looking for a rental for weeks and it felt like every time we went to... call the landlord we would leave voicemails and no one would ever call us back. When we called your office we immediately spoke with someone. We asked our questions and although the property we inquired about was not longer available you were so helpful in helping us look for something else that would fit the size we needed in the area we were looking for. We appreciate you and your staff!read more

Teresa Maynes

23:46 24 Apr 21

We rented a house managed by RMA for 3 years. We had a very positive experience as renters! Our property manager... changed a few times but we finished with Jackie Lusk and she was great. Our requests were always responded to quickly and they were very understanding. Would definitely recommend!read more

Marc Seeley

17:47 09 Mar 21

We selected RMA to manage our property we recently purchased. After evaluating other available property managers we... selected RMA. This was an excellent choice. Setting up the account and transitioning from the previous manager was a smooth process. RMA has excellent communications regarding all aspects of their services: account set up, maintenance and inspections, tenant screening, billing and payments, etc. Staff are friendly, professional and knowledgeable and have great respect for both the owner and tenant. Being able to access our account on line and review income and expenses (including subcontractor invoices), at any time is a real plus. Our goal is to have a well maintained property with good quality tenants, and have professional, responsive property management. RMA fills that need and we highly recommend them.read more

Scout O'Gara

01:23 12 Feb 21

Our experience with RMA has been exceptional. Spencer has been professional and responsive, and he has been very easy... to communicate with. They have managed our rental property in exactly the way they said they would, and that has made our lives easier. I highly recommend them.read more

aaron avery

20:09 07 Feb 21

Excellent communication from all levels, the entire team is connected within their company and with you. You can be as... hands on as you like, if not they can handle the all of business aspects. Knowledgeable, swift, respectful and cost conscious. Would recommend.read more

Jeff Solomon

03:44 05 Jan 21

Claire and her staff are truly an excellent property management firm. As a real estate broker for more than 40 years,... I have dealt with my fair share of management firms and these guys are on top of their game. I will continue to refer my clients to them as they have been responsive and shown they really care.read more

Eric Weimer

20:57 21 Dec 20

I was a tenant with RMA for two years. They have been nothing but professional and kind through my residency! Very... willing to respond to my questions or needs as a tenant. Maintenance requests were acted on incredibly fast, and the gentleman that did the repairs was also really nice. Rental payments are also easy with their online system. I'm very happy with the quality of service I received and I would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone.read more

David Beardall

01:43 16 Dec 20

I am a former RMA client, and am tremendously satisfied with the service they provided. They assumed property... management duties from a different company, and were very responsive to address concerns with my HOA and tenant needs. I strongly recommend them to any one looking for a quality property management service.read more

Peter Vallimarescu

19:06 18 Nov 20

RMA has been great to work with. They are always prompt and professional. It's great getting to sit back and know that... everything is being taken care of!read more

Ka G

20:28 16 Nov 20

I am a current tenant with RMA and they are wonderful! They are always professional, courteous, and Prompt . The... Maintenance team is very responsive and takes care of any issues quickly And correctly. They always treat me with genuine kindness and support . The homeowners have also been very Kind and understanding with the current market Challenges.I am very grateful for all they have done. A very heart felt thank you to DaNay you are Awesome! and Brandy , Spencer and Pam have been wonderful to work with also! Thank you, thank you .💖 Katrina Goodrich.read more

Sachin Joshi

04:43 10 Nov 20

I own a property that is managed by RMA. Claire has been great to work with. Had a few things that needed fixing with... the old house to get started that took some back and forth - the process went pretty smoothly and haven't had any issues in the last couple of years. I would recommend considering RMA if you are looking for a property management company.read more

Susannah Heist

23:38 20 Oct 20

My boyfriend and I are very happy with RMA. They are attentive and prompt in their service without being overly... involved property managers. We are extremely happy with the rates and every part of our living experience. Having the full spectrum of property managers before and previous bad experiences we were careful in choosing our next rental. RMA has not disappointed; from the application process to renewing our lease they are lovely. (Official tenant for 1.5 years as of this review)read more

William Frost

00:30 14 Oct 20

The previous management company was very slow at repairs and answering any question we had. Your service has been quick... and friendly, when our AC had issues you fixed it in a day or 2 but the other guys took over 3 weeks! They also charged us $85 per month more than you do, they were shady if you ask me...read more

Steve Winger

20:26 13 Oct 20

Great firm with an established track record of professional service. I've referred several clients to Claire Fenton... and they have always been happy and well-served. Nice to see a management company that actually does what they say they will do!read more

Ning Han

07:48 03 Oct 20

Enjoy working with Claire and the team, very professional, upfront, and responsive. RMA possesses a great deal of... experience with market estimates and has been providing great services in managing our properties. We are very happy with services received so far!read more

Pamela Parker Gannon

15:17 30 Sep 20

Extremely satisfied with this company. If I could give them 10 stars I definitely would. We have just completed... business with them handling two rental properties (we sold one; we moved into the other). The entire process from rental of the properties, taking care of a rather difficult tenant and his demands, repairs, day to day events, and distribution of funds were done quickly and professionally. Spencer Henderson and Claire Fenton both could not have been more helpful, friendly and just a joy to do business with.read more

Royce Stearns

18:30 17 Sep 20

As a property owner, I came from one of the largest property management companies in the Boise area to Realty... Management Associates Inc. about a year ago. RMA was responsive to my inquiries, on boarded me quickly and handled a difficult tenant professionally. A number of things changed quickly this summer for one of my properties and they handled it better than could be expected. RMA continues to exceed all of my expectations.read more

Holly Wegman

14:16 14 Aug 20

I sent an email for maintenance repair and the repair was done within an hour. I have always had great communication... with RMA in general, but your maintenance team is AMAZING. They have always handled themselves professionally. They have taken their time to answer any and all questions calmly and respectfully. The easiest maintenance team I have ever worked with. All your hard work is valued!read more

Stephen Fox

21:20 16 Jul 20

I've worked with Realty Management Associates for the last 4 years. I highly recommend them!

Susan Clark

15:14 06 May 20

I put my home up for rent with RMA two years ago. Claire was very helpful explaining the way they work and all my... options. DaNay was the most responsive and friendly property managers I have had. I really appreciated all she did for me to ensure a smooth relationship with the tenants. When it came time for me to sell my home, she helped me find great folks to use to quickly spruce up my home for sale. Thanks RMA for a great experience as an owner!read more

Ben Acuna

14:02 15 Apr 20

Consistantly meet my expectations. Plays a good liaison between what is good for the tennants and what is profitable... for their client. Good follow up. Really nice reporting. I'd appreciate a bit more firmness on the parking and storage situation. My thanks goes out to the whole RMA staff.read more

Kris Miller

16:59 12 Feb 20

Rented a townhouse from them for the past year. They were really responsive to any repairs needed and respectful of my... space when handling property maintenance. Convenient to pay rent online and easy to work with. Great property management company.read more

Connor Tudbury

21:19 09 Jan 20

I had come here with the expectation of writing a very negative review. However, my property manager reached out and... was able to resolve my problems politely and promptly in spite of previous conflicts. While I was initially very upset about the service I received they were able to find a way to make it work in the end. In my opinion being able to turn an unhappy customer into a happy one shows better than service than simply keeping people satisfied.read more

Next Reviews

September 2020 – Change in Advertising Costs

Realty Management Associates Inc., CRMC®