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Resident Move Out Checklist [ Instructions for Tenants & Landlord ]

Author: Scott
Categories: news
move out checklist

WE WANT YOU TO GET YOUR SECURITY DEPOSIT BACK.

If you are reading this article now, you are probably the type of resident who takes care of their unit.

As a consequence, you want to get your security deposit back as soon as possible, and the whole thing.

Fair enough; this article about rental property move-out checklist is for you

Move Out Checklist:  So That You Don’t Lose One Penny.

We have made the tenant moving out checklist so that there will be no doubt about what you have to do to get all of your security deposit back.

Please read these detailed move-out instructions for tenants.  If you don’t, you risk losing your security deposit, and possibly charges in excess of the security deposit.  If you have any questions at all, contact our office and we’ll be glad to go over them with you.

When you move out of the property, you must submit that you will be moving 30 days in advance of your move-in writing to the office of OKC Home Realty Services.

Contact our office to schedule a pre-move-out inspection 10 or so days prior to moving.  We’ll tell you exactly what you’ll need to do at the pre-move-out inspection in order to get your security deposit back.

Provide your forwarding address to our office so we can process and mail your security deposit refund.

Security deposit dispositions are sent out within 30 days from the lease end date.  We really appreciate your business!

And remember, if we have to do the cleaning and/or repairs, we’ll have to charge you for all the labor and materials.

Returning the Security Deposit

We love it when we can return 100% of your security deposit because that means less work for us.

That does mean that you need to hold up your end of the bargain.  For you to get back your deposit you must fulfill the terms of the lease and follow these move-out instructions.

Tuning in Your Keys and the Forwarding Address

All your keys (house keys, mailbox keys, garage remotes, entry fobs, etc) must be dropped off at the office of OKC Home Realty Services before 5:00 PM on the last day of your lease term.  All items should be placed in a padded envelope with your name, property address, and your new forwarding address.

If you fail to return your keys you will be considered a “holdover tenant”.  This is a violation of your lease agreement.  You will incur costly penalties.   

Turning Off Utilities

Leave the utilities on until after the move-out inspection.  Failing to do so may result in delays in getting your security deposit returned.

Stopping Automatic Rent Payments

It’s your responsibility to stop any type of autopay.  If you have been using the services such as Chase Quickpay, please be sure to deactivate your payment.

Inspections

OKC Home Realty Services will conduct the final move-out inspection once you have completely moved out and have returned all the keys to the property.  We compare the Move-In Inspection sheet you completed when you moved into the current condition of the property.

Read More: Do I need to be there for the inspection?

Please have the property in rent-ready condition for inspection.  You can prepare for the inspection by following the Move Out Checklist.

Inspections are not performed with the resident.

Also Read: Oklahoma Notice to Vacate

The Process of Releasing The Property

If the owner of your property is choosing to re-rent, we may be scheduling showings at the property.  We will began advertising the property as soon as you provide your 30-day notice.  We will start conducting showings one month before your lease ends.  According to Oklahoma law and your lease, you will be given at least 24 hours notice before any showing.  We do our best to minimize disruptions, and will not inconvenience you if at all possible.

It’s in your best interest to keep the property in show condition.  That will increase the chances of us renting sooner, and get us out of your hair.  Keep you pets put up for showings.

Painting & Picture Hanger Holes – What not to do

Please do not fill small holes in your walls with spackling compound or something similar.  Also, it’s often better not to do touch-up painting.  You can make the situation worse.  It may require us to do a total repaint the walls at your expense!

Look, small holes are normally considered normal wear and tear.  But sometimes it’s more.

If the walls are really bad and they need to be painted or touched up, please contact us and we can help you through that process.

Repairs

Your lease requires you leave the property in the condition it was when you first moved in, normal wear and tear excepted.  If there are items that you have damaged, such as broken blinds, screens, door handles, trim, cabinets, toilet paper holders, towel racks, etc., you will have to fix those items or be charged for them.

But sometimes it’s more than you can handle. I get that.

If it’s over your head, contact us so we can work something out.

Moveout Cleaning Checklist

The cleaning requirements are outlined in the Move Out Checklist.  Careful attention and meticulous cleaning will ensure prompt return of your deposit.

Cleaning can be tiresome.  And, add the hassle of moving on top of that, and it can all be too much.  You can hire a professional cleaner if you feel you will not have the energy or time to properly clean the property.  You should provide the cleaner with this check list to ensure they get everything. Do NOT leave the property unclean. 

If you need us to, we can refer you to a cleaning service that will take care of this.

Dirt is not considered ordinary wear and tear!  You will be charged for cleaning that dirt.

Carpet and Other Flooring

All carpet must be shampooed.  If you have had a pet in the property you are required to treat for fleas and address any pet stains.  If the carpets have not been properly cleaned, we will hire a professional service to have the carpet cleaned, and the cost of that cleaning will be charged to the security deposit.

Hardwood floors must not be scratched.  Be especially careful when you are moving to avoid scratching the floors.

Other Items:

  • All burned out light bulbs and batteries on smoke and/or CO detectors must be replaced.  They also must be on the walls where they belong.
  • Damages caused to the property must be repaired (e.g., a broken windows, marks on trim, etc.).  If it will not be possible for you to complete repairs before you leave the property, let us know.
  • Absolutely no trash shall be left at the property.  Put trash cans on the curb so the trash is hauled off.  Make sure the trash is hauled off before you discontinue service.  You’ll be charged from your security deposit if we have to haul off the trash.
  • All marks on the walls must be cleaned off.
  • You must dust all blinds and especially ceiling fan blinds.
  • You must dust all window sills and tracks, baseboards, light fixtures, and everything else that has collected dust.
  • All floors must be cleaned.  In addition, you must clean under all appliances.
  • Make sure you clean the fireplace, if applicable.
  • Be sure to remove cobwebs from the property, including ceilings, windows, corners, behind doors, appliances, light fixtures, etc.

Kitchen:

  • You must wipe down walls, back-splashes, and cabinets, and counter tops.
  • You must sweep and mop floor
  • You must clean sink and drains.
  • You must clean outside and inside of oven (replace drip pans if they are nasty) and vent hood, stove-top, control panel and dials.
  • You must clean microwave, dishwasher, refrigerator (freezer and top).
  • You must clean all cupboards and drawers inside and out.

 Bathrooms:

  • You must clean bathtub and/or shower, including fixtures.
  • You must clean sink and faucet fixtures
  • You must clean all tile and grout.
  • You must clean all mirrors, medicine cabinets, drawers should be cleaned and all items removed, and other surfaces.
  • You must clean and sanitize toilet.
  • You must wash or mop the floor.

Bedrooms:

  • You must vacuum and shampoo carpets, including edges.  Sweep and mop wood and/or tile flooring.
  • You must clean windows, window sills, and blinds.

Garage:

  • You must remove all items including any junk.
  • You must sweep floor.
  • You must remove any auto fluid stains.

Yard:

  • You must remove dead leaves, debris, limbs, junk, etc.
  • You must mow the lawn and edge the yard.
  • You must trim hedges and shrubs.
  • You must sweep walks, decks, and patios.
  • You must remove all pet waste and repair related damage.

Remove all personal items from sheds and outbuildings.

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Section 8 Housing Voucher

Author: Scott
Categories: Section 8
Section 8 Housing Voucher

The Section 8 housing voucher program was started in 1974 with the creation of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. The section 8 housing voucher program is a federal rental assistance program that provides aid for low-income renters to pay a certain portion of the rent. Section 8 housing voucher is the common name for the landlord and tenants in the US, funded by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program is a form of government rent assistance.

Section 8 Housing Participants i.e the tenants choose their own rental unit of their choice and pay a certain amount of the household’s monthly adjusted amount to rent. The rest of the rent is paid by the Public Housing Authority which manages the Household’s Voucher.

Types of Section 8 Housing Program

There are four types of Section 8 Housing voucher programs which are administered a little bit differently;

  1. Tenant-Based Housing Choice Voucher
  2. HCV Homeownership Program
  3. Project-Based Voucher(PBV)
  4. Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA)

1. Tenant-Based Housing Choice Voucher

Under a housing choice voucher program based on tenants, the voucher follows the tenant. The tenant-Based Housing Voucher is the most popular section 8 voucher. You can find your own home with a tenant-based voucher, as long as the landlord is willing to take part in the voucher program.
 This is the Housing Choice Voucher, and you, the claimant, have it attached. The Section 8 assistance remains yours for as long as you are eligible for the subsidy. You are entitled to use the voucher on any property that meets and respects the criteria set out by the PHA. 

2. HCV Homeownership program 

The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) homeownership program encourages families sponsored by the Section 8 program to use their vouchers to purchase a home and receive monthly aid in meeting the cost of homeownership.

Only families who have been accepted to the HCV program can use the HCV homeownership program and it is not funded by any public housing agency (PHA). PHAs have the authority to decide whether in their jurisdictions to enforce the HCV homeownership program.

3. Project-Based Voucher

The other form of Section 8 is known as the Project-Based Voucher, which is linked to a particular property. For Section 8 tenants, the PHA provides private property owners with a fixed number of vouchers each year to reserve units. The subsidy stays with the property if you move in and then leave; it does not follow you to your next home. These spaces will fill up quickly, but you may have to wait for the current occupant to leave and for your number to be called if they’re all occupied.

4. Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA)

Project-Based Rental Assitance i.e PBRA is not a voucher, but rather a form of rental subsidy. At a price below market value, a landlord can rent a unit because the gap is subsidized by the Section 8 program.
Project-based rental assistance provides low-income households around the country with vital affordable housing inventories. This form of rental assistance enables renters, based on their wages, to live in an affordable unit and pay rent.

How Does the Section 8 Housing Program Work?

Section 8 housing program is administered and monetized by the Public Housing Authority(PHA). If you succeed in obtaining the Section 8 Voucher and securing a home that accepts it, your portion of the rent would be 30% of your monthly income.
To receive Section 8 eligible vouchers, tenants have to apply to a local housing office. In order to join the program, these Section 8 tenants will be either accepted, rejected, or wait-listed.

After receiving a voucher that covers up to 70 percent of the monthly rent and utility costs, qualifying families will find a rental unit of their choosing. It is the duty of the families to pay the remaining 30 percent. Usually, Section 8 provides rental support for individuals with disabilities and senior residents, as well as households with low incomes.

Public housing authorities manage housing option vouchers locally (PHAs). Federal funds from the United States are obtained by the PHAs. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Department to oversee the voucher scheme. There is a waiting list in most communities to obtain assistance until the applicant is eligible.

Learn about: Section 8 Landlord Responsibilities

Eligibility to be Section 8 Tenants

Section 8 Oklahoma housing assistance program is run by the Public Housing Authority. The purpose of this program is to grant housing vouchers to those who meet the requirements. Even to receive the Section 8 Housing Voucher, certain criteria such as citizenship, Family status, Income, and Eviction history.

Infographics image

1. Citizenship

As long as you’re a US citizen or have an eligible immigrant status, you can apply for the Oklahoma housing Section 8 Program. In order to receive a section 8 housing voucher, individuals or applicants must provide evidence of citizenship or eligible immigration status to the Public housing authority.

For American citizens, Public Housing Authority will make you sign a declaration paper stating that you and all members of your family are American Citizens. Certain PHA may also verify each citizenship status by requesting a US passport, Social security card, or other documentation.

For Eligible immigrants, Public Housing Authority will make you sign a declaration paper that you have eligible immigration status. You have to provide Immigration and Naturalization Service(INS) document which proves your immigration status. Eligible immigrants must be ready to do immigration background checks.

Families that are made up of mixed eligible and non-eligible individuals can still qualify for the Section 8 Housing Voucher Program. The amount they will receive, however, be dependent on the number of family members eligible for housing assistance.

2. Income

The income limit will differ on the basis of family size. Income limits are created for families containing from one to eight members. Extremely low income for a family of one may be $15,000 per year, whereas for a family of eight members $30,000 might be extremely low income. The Public Housing Authority sets the income limit on an annual basis. The income level depends on the area’s median income.

Here is an example of the income or AMI rising as per the household size increase:

Household Size 2 3 4 5
50% AMI $30,000 $33,750 $37,450 $40,450

 They are segmented into three categories:

Type Income percent
Extremely Low Income 30 percent of the area’s median level
Very Low Income 50 percent of the area’s median level
Low Income 80 percent of the area’s median level

3. Family Status

To be eligible to get the housing voucher, you must meet first the definition of HUD’s definition of family. HUD has set some guidelines on what to define as a family but has given local housing authorities some flexibility in the definition of family.

An individual can get an insight into what family status is required to qualify for getting the housing voucher by going to the local authority office. 

In general, Family status means an individual or group of people who meets any or all of the conditions:

  • With or without children
  • Any of the individuals in the family is physically disabled or not
  • Any of  the individuals in the family is of age over 62
  • Has been displaced from their home due to government actions or due to the destruction caused by natural disasters.
  • Who stays in a housing unit where the household was receiving the section 8 vouchers after other families move out.
  • A single individual doesn’t fit any of the criteria above.

4. Eviction History

Section 8 Vouchers will not be granted to anyone who has been evicted from the property for committing a drug-related activity within the time period of three months or has been found producing methamphetamine in an assisted housing program.

Recommended Article: Renters Insurance Oklahoma.

How to Apply for Section 8 Oklahoma Housing Program?

An individual can apply for section 8 OKC in 3 steps;

  1. Obtaining the Application 
  2. Completing the Application
  3. Submitting the Application

1. Obtaining the Application

You can obtain the Oklahoma section 8 application through the internet, by mail, or by visiting the Public Housing Authority. 

You must submit the application form online if i.e the PHA requires you to submit the application form online. Mailing your application in this scenario can result in the denial of your application. You should carefully read the rules for the submission and follow the guidelines.

The application form for applying for the Section 8 Housing Program is available free of charge. If someones ask for the payment, don’t pay them. Instead, ask your supervisor or find and contact the Public  Housing Authority.

2. Completing the Application

You need to fill up the Application that you have acquired for applying for the Section 8 housing program. You may require to fill up the following things in the application form which are given below:

  • Name
  • Mail Address
  • Email Address
  • Date of Birth
  • Phone Number
  • Social Security Number
  • Criminal History
  • Gross income of the household member
  • Address

3. Submitting your Application

Whether submitting the application form for the section 8 housing program is offline or through online platforms such as email or mail address, you must submit it before the deadline. Submitting the application after the deadline has been met may result in the denial of your application.

What if You Have a Section 8 Housing Voucher?

Bring us your Section 8 housing OKC voucher.

We love working with the Section 8 housing program.

OKC Home Realty Services, LLC, has worked with the housing program for years.

In fact, we’re very familiar with the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) way of doing things.

And, the Oklahoma City Housing Authority (OCHA) way of doing things.

Many times, we pass the housing inspection the first time around.

We don’t want there to be any delays in your getting into your unit.

You probably already know that many landlords just schedule the first inspection without doing any work at all.

They get the list of repairs and just plan on doing the repairs that are on the list.

Not us.

We have a detailed pre-inspection checklist that our technicians go through so we have an excellent chance of passing the housing inspection the first time around.

Not all of our properties are approved for Section 8.

Call our office at 405-232-5800 to find out if a particular property is approved for your housing program today!

Check out our section 8 Properties OKC

FAQs:

Are Section 8 Vouchers transferable?

Yes, once particular requirements are met, you can move your Section 8 Housing Option Voucher to a different location. This method is known as “portability.”

How can someone lose Section 8?

The tenant will be liable to pay full rent which means will lose the Section 8 Voucher if he/she is found breaking any of the family obligations or has been found methamphetamine in an assisted housing program.

Can the tenant with no income receive the Section 8 Voucher?

Yes, The tenant with no income can receive the Section 8 Voucher. You can receive the section 8 voucher if you earn less than the income limit set by the local housing authority. Having no income at all falls under this category.

Does a Housing Choice Voucher pay for utilities?

In most cases, the section 8 voucher doesn’t pay for the utilities. If you do qualify for quality reimbursement, it won’t fully cover your actual monthly cost.

How does Section 8 verify your income?

HUD has an Enterprise Income Verification ( EIV ) system which is used to verify your income alongside the documentation provided by you

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What Is The Process Of Getting Approved For Property?

Author: Scott
Categories: news
What is The Process in Getting Approved for a Property

Step 1: Complete the Rental Application

You’ll need to complete a rental application.  To fill in an online application, <<Click Here Now>>.

Or, you can go by our office to fill in an application.

OKC Home Realty Services, LLC is located at 2532 W. I-44 Service Road, Oklahoma City, 73112.

You’ll need to provide proof of your income.

The most recent pay stubs from your work can provide that verification.

You’ll need to have your landlord reference from the last year.

You’ll also have to include $100 toward your security deposit with the application.

CLICK HERE for complete details on that.

A credit report may be required with the rental application (see the advertisement for the property).

Step 2: Submit the rental application and other items to OKC Home Realty Services, LLC.

Make sure you have it all together.

If we don’t have your pay stubs or landlord’s contact information, it may slow down the process.

Step 3. Allow time for processing.

How long will it take?

We’ll get it done just as soon as possible.

Sometimes it takes longer if your landlord is slow in getting back to us with a rental reference.

We promise not to leave you hanging…we’ll get you a yes or no answer just as soon as we can.

Step 4.  Sign a lease, and get the keys to move in.

As soon as you are approved, we can schedule a time.

We’ll try to be as flexible as possible in finding a time that will suit your schedule.

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How to Apply for The Property

Author: Scott
Categories: news
how to apply for property

If you love the property, put your application in before someone else gets it first.

The quickest way to get that property tied down is to come into the office to fill in an application at our office.

But you’ll have seen the Property first, of course.

Or, you can download and print the application from our website by <<Clicking Here Now>>.

Or, you can <<CLICK HERE>> to “Apply Now” on our other rental website, and submit your application online.

Just fill in the requested information.

Either way, you’ll need to bring to the office your reservation fee and pay stubs.

What is the reservation fee?

We don’t charge an application fee, but you will have to put at least $100 toward the security deposit.

If your application is denied for any reason, the money will be returned to you.

That money applies toward the security deposit if you are approved.

Again, we DO NOT charge an application fee of any kind.

The reservation fee is paid in the form of a money order with your application.

The only way you will lose that money is if we approve your application and then you change your mind.

What if you want to make sure no one rents the house from under you?

If you want to make sure no one else beats you to the punch, just put down the whole security deposit.

If we have that, we will move your application to the top of the stack.

We will screen your application before any others are even considered.

If your application is denied, all of your money is refunded.

Again the only way to lose this money is if after we have approved your application you change your mind.

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How to View a Property Now

Author: Scott
Categories: news
how to view a porperty

Want to see a property?

Great.  We can help you with that.

STEP 1: Contact Our Office

Make certain that the property is still available.

Find out how the property is viewed.

Some of the properties are viewed by appointment only.

Other have a lock box on them.

Let us know that you want to view the property.

STEP 2: Drive to the Property and/or Set an  Appointment

If the property has a lock box, you can immediately drive to the property you want to view.

Listed properties can be viewed Monday-Friday from 9am to 4pm.

If the property is viewed by appointment only, ask for Frances in order to set up an appointment.

STEP 3: Once you get to the Property, call the office

If you are going to a property with a lock box, call the office at 405-232-5800 once you get their.

We will give you step-by-step directions how to view the property.

* If you would like to set up an after hours and weekend viewing, contact Frances at frances@nicehome4u.com

To find out about how to apply for a property, <<CLICK HERE NOW>>>.

 

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