FAQs For Applicants
1- How to Apply?
Answer: Visit our website
www.MoveToValdosta.com
You will be able to submit your application from the property you are choosing or by clicking the “Apply Now” button to the right of the property listing you are interested in.
2- What are your requirements for approval?
Answer: We have a three-fold test for tenancy. Generally here is what we are looking for (Bear in mind there may be other items we request as your particular situation calls for).
Background Check: Credit/Criminal/Eviction
Credit history, criminal history, and eviction history are checked with our applications. Low credit score, history of late payments, prior evictions, collections, judgments, history of late utility payments, and certain criminal history can all be determining factors in your approval or denial for one of our homes. Regarding credit we are looking for a 600 or better credit score for all financially responsible parties to the lease.
Income Check:
Generally speaking we require applicants to make approximately three times the rental rate in net income. If you do not make exactly three times the rental rate this does NOT mean you are automatically denied, as we will take all the other factors into consideration. A lower income to rent ratio can impact your ability to rent a home, other factors depending.
If you are a W-2 employee who receives a paycheck stub each time you are paid, attach a copy of that stub for 60 consecutive days.
If you are a 1099 employee we will either need to see the prior year tax returns, if no older than 6 months, or a current P&L for your company covering the most recent quarter of the year.
We will verify your pay through the provided paycheck stubs and an employment verification process. This can often be done online but may require your employer to fill out documentation and release it to us. It is important that you provide current pay stubs and contact details for your employer. If you are currently unemployed but have a written job offer, you should provide the award letter at the time you apply for the home. This award letter should consist of the offer, the pay rate, and number of hours per week if applicable. Award letters without sufficient information to determine eligibility may be rejected.
Rental Reference Check:
We will reach out to your last landlord and ask questions about your tenancy with them to verify the information you’ve provided on your application. It is important that you provide all the requested information on our applications to the best of your ability as this part of the process is what often slows down the rental application approval. We will notify you when we’ve sent the request to your landlord and will ask you for help getting that information released to us directly. We do not take rental references from the applicant, this information must come from the landlord directly. If we are unable to reach your last landlord or are not permitted to, this could result in your application to be denied.
If you currently own your home and do not have a formal rental reference for us to check we will use mortgage payment history from your credit report to supplement this area.
3- How much is the application fee?
Answer: The background check is $50 per applicant, this covers the cost of our your criminal, credit, and eviction report. Anyone over the age of 18 that will occupy the home MUST submit an application. Payment can be made via checking or savings account drafts (A small transaction fee will apply), or by debit/credit card (credit card fees may apply). We do not take paper applications, everything must be done online. You can apply for any home you would like, here -> www.movetovaldosta.com
4- How many people need to apply for the home through your website?
Answer: Each adult (18 or older) will need to apply separately through our website to be considered for the home. If you have a dependent child who is 18 years or older, they do not have to be financially responsible for the home but they will still need to be run through the background process and listed on the lease as a dependent.
5- Do you have a Military Clause in your lease agreements?
Answer: Yes
6- How long does the application process take and what are the steps after completing the application?
Answer: The application process can be completed within 1 to 2 business days provided you’ve submitted the required documentation and rental verification can be completed. After you’ve submitted it the application just sit back, and enjoy the ride!
6- How long does the application process take and what are the steps after completing the application?
Answer: The application process can be completed within 1 to 2 business days provided you’ve submitted the required documentation and rental verification can be completed. After you’ve submitted it the application just sit back, and enjoy the ride!
7- Do you accept roommate situations?
Answer: This is handled on a home by home and case by case basis. Generally speaking, yes. Sometimes homeowners will require additional deposit. You will need call our offices 229-333-0768 and ask the property manager about the specific home you are looking to rent.
8- What information is checked and what would be a “negative” on my credit that would deny my approval for a property?
Answer: Credit history, criminal history, and eviction history are checked with our applications. Low credit score, history of late payments, prior evictions, collections, judgments, history of late utility payments, and criminal history can all be determining factors in your approval or denial for one of our homes. Generally we are looking for a 600 or better credit score for all financially responsible parties to the lease. Scores lower than this require other factors of consideration and may still be rent qualified. Look up your credit online before seeking out a solution to your particular situation, and then call the property manager to find out if you might still be qualified for a home.
9- What if I don’t have credit?
Answer: You are still required to submit an application. If you do not have credit established a “guarantor”, someone that can make payment/be responsible for payment on your behalf, will be required if you are applying alone. If applying with someone else, so long as they qualify for the home by credit, income, and rental history, you may still be approved without a guarantor under other stipulations determined by the Property Manager.
If a guarantor is needed this person will also need to complete the application process, pay the $40 background check, and be independently qualified for the rental home.
This process is reviewed on a case by case basis.
10- Can I get my money back from the background check if I am denied approval for a home?
Answer: No, that money is used to pull the credit, criminal, and municipal background checks. Applications are non-refundable.
11- Will I just lose the money I paid to apply to the home if the property is rented to someone who applied before me?
Answer: No!
You still have a couple of options at this point. You can look on our site and let us know if there are any other properties you would be interested in, www.movetovaldosta.com. If you find one you would like to move your application to we would be glad to move your application there at no additional cost, or if you don’t find one you are interested in we can always refund you your money so long as you have not been previously reviewed for approval under a different property. Just promise to think of us in the future!
12- Do I need to provide any documentation at the time of my application?
Answer: Yes.
You will need to provide a copy of 2 month’s pay stubs & a copy of your driver’s license or valid ID.
If you are a W-2 employee who receives a paycheck stub each time you are paid, attach a copy of that stub for 60 consecutive days of employment.
If you are a 1099 employee we will either need to see the prior year tax returns, if no older than 6 months, or a current P&L for your company covering the most recent quarter of the year.
(see requirement at the top of this page).
13- What happens after I am approved for a property?
Answer: You will be contacted by the Property Manager for additional information and/or an appointment for completing your lease and/or viewing the home.
Generally:
Step 1. You must sign the Lease Contract within one business day after approval is given in person, by telephone, and/or email. We will email you your lease for online signature (you do not have to come to our offices for any part of this process). If you or any co-applicant does not sign the lease within the allotted time, we will attempt to contact you to ensure you were no longer interested in the home and then offer your home the next person in line for the home.
Step 2. You must put down the agreed upon deposit within one business day of signing the lease (beginning after we’ve opened your online tenant portal). This is the only thing due before your move-in date. This too will be done online. We will notify you by email and/or text message once your online tenant portal is opened.
Step 3. Either before your move-in or on your move-in date you will need to do 4 things.
- Pay any rent or pet fees due on your online tenant portal
- Provide proof of renters insurance (be sure to list us accordingly as your landlord or interested 3rd part on your policy before providing proof. Failure to do so could result in not being able to take possession of your home on move-in day).
- Provide Proof Power has been turned on in your name effective your move-in date.
- (Where applicable) Provide Proof Water has been turned on in your name effective your move-in date.
Lastly, we will email or text you the day before your move-in letting you know if we are missing something still which could delay your move in.
Should you have any questions about what you still need to move-in, feel free to reach out to the property manager here!
14- How can I tell when a property will be available looking online?
Answer: Each property has an “Available” date listed in the property details. This is the date the home would be made move-in ready.
15- Do you do inspections of the home?
Answer: Yes! We inspect each home at least annually. The lease permits our access of the homes with a 24 hours notice. You are not required to be there at the time we do your inspection, but you are welcomed to be there when our employee shows up.
When we do an inspection we are looking at any repair needs, general state of the home, and for areas or items of the home in violation of the lease.
16- What are the typical lease term lengths? Do you offer any month-to-month, 3 month, 6 month or shorter than year term leases?
17- How can I view a home before I apply for it?
If the home is occupied by the current tenant still, we will require you to either apply for it first (so we can run a National Criminal Background Check on all parties), or wait until the home is unoccupied before we can check out the key.
If the home is unoccupied and has an “Available to View Date” of today or prior, you can check out the key to view the home.
- KEY CHECKOUT HOMES: Most of our properties are “key checkout” during business hours. We require a $20 deposit, a valid ID/Driver’s license and a phone number be provided to check out a property key. The deposit will be returned to you upon the return of the key.
- APPOINTMENT ONLY HOMES: 24-48 hours notice is required if the property is “appointment only”. Arrangements will be made with the current occupant (if occupied) to open the home or the Property Manager will meet with you to show the home.
18- What is your pet policy?
We have a two pet policy and only one of those can be a cat. Dog breed restrictions also apply (Doberman, Chow, Pitbull of all types including muts, American Bull Dogs, American Pits, American Staffordshire Terriers , and Rottweilers). You will be responsible for paying a pet fee. Pet fee’s are not treated as “Pet deposits” and the distinction is important! Pet fee’s are paid to purchase the right from the homeowner to have a pet on the property, and is not used to remedy issues caused specifically by the pet (that’s what you should do before you move out regardless), as well, pet fee’s are non-refundable. The amount of pet fee’s can change based on age, breed, weight, size, and number of pets. If you’d like to know how much your pet would be, please email me a picture, brief description of your pet (age, breed, weight, and kind of pet) here and I’ll get right back with you.
It’s always less expensive to report the pet than for one to be found. Found pet fees can be as high as $750* per pet, per day the violation is found (review your specific lease for specific details)
(Pet policy does not apply to Service, Therapy, or ESA Animal. Documentation Requirements apply to Service, Therapy, or ESA Animal)
19- What is the security deposit and are there any additional fees associated with my lease?
Answer: Security deposit amounts are the same, in most cases, as the rent amount (i.e. if $800 rent/$800 security deposit*). Sometimes conditional agreements will be made prior to your tenancy based on your ability to be approved for the home or not. These conditional agreements will both be known prior to your tenancy and will be made in writing prior to the signing of your lease. You are not required to accept any conditional agreements we propose but this may result in your not being able to rent the home.
Other fees associated with the lease are:
$175 Re-Key fee deducted from your security deposit at the end of the lease term.
$75 Administrative fee deducted from your security deposit at the end of your lease term.
20- Will I need “Renters Insurance”?
Answer: YES, The homeowner’s insurance will only cover the structure/property itself, not your personal belongings. In Touch Properties REQUIRE you have proof of renters insurance in place for the start date of your lease agreement before your keys are released for occupancy. We require certain policy limits, look out for that in the lease language.
In Touch Properties
3315 B N Valdosta Rd,
Valdosta, GA 31602
We hope you find this information helpful in the search for your next home. Please let us know if you have additional questions.