Working with a Milwaukee property management company proves beneficial because it can prevent serious property issues before they turn litigious. The fact is that a letting a professional property management company take care of your property will lower the risk of getting sued. Even if a tenant takes the legal route, a property manager usually has everything ready to turn the verdict in your favor.
However, if you’re managing your property on your own, the chances are you don’t have comprehensive information about the laws related to rental properties, security deposits and other similar issues. How do you think you will come out of a situation in which a tenant sues you and wants you to appear in court?
The Most Common Issue Leading to Lawsuits
The majority of tenant-landlord issues in Milwaukee are related to security deposits. There is usually a disagreement on whether the tenant is responsible for untidiness or damages on the property, and whether the repair cost mentioned and deducted by the landlord from security deposits is reasonable or not. With the involvement of a property management company the issue usually gets resolved before it gets blown out of proportion.
Defending Yourself in a Court of Law
If both parties fail to resolve the issue, you have to face the unwanted. After the tenant has filed a case, you should get ready and take measures to present your argument in court. You have to gather all the evidence that would confirm that the property was in poor shape and needed cleaning or repairing. Remember, if you cannot bring some evidence of damage, the tenant can win easily because all they have to produce is proof of residence with proof of security deposit along with any proof that confirms you haven’t repaid the deposit in full.
It makes great sense to work with a property management company in Milwaukee from the very start because it can produce evidence in case a tenant has sued you. Property managers will always proceed professionally. They always prepare a “move-in” inspection report the moment your tenant moves in. They also prepare an inventory sheet that clearly documents the condition of your property before the tenant moves in. They even take photos and make videos to document the condition of your rental property including the condition of every amenity in every room.
Some property owners find it easier to make videos when a tenant moves in, but they often overlook the fact that certain small claims courts don’t accept videos as evidence. Only photos are considered evidence, but taking images of every nook and cranny is a tiresome task. Therefore, it seems wise to let a Milwaukee property management company to take control of things and take steps long before a problem arises.
