Breaking a Lease in Colorado – Know the Laws
A lease is a legal contract that dictates both the landlord’s and tenant’s rights during the tenancy. That said there are circumstances that could result in that agreement being broken early. Like many states, Colorado has its own set of rules when it comes to...
13 Keys Of Rental Success
Successful rental owners follow these guidelines to ensure the success of their rental, and maximize their owning experience. 1. Treat your rental property like a business… because it is a business! 2. Have a financial reserve set aside for the “unexpected.” Placing...
Turf Wars- Tips to Maintain Lawn and Order Out Back
For most of us, Lawns create a magical halo of nostalgia for childhood games in the yard. If you are reading this, you likely have a yard yourself now, and we want to help you best navigate the complex and sometimes overwhelming ‘adulting’ needed to care for it. Back...
A Guide to the Eviction Process in Colorado
Landlords have certain rights under the Colorado landlord-tenant law. And among these is the right to evict a tenant for a violation of the terms of the lease or rental agreement. Some of the common reasons for a tenant eviction in Colorado include nonpayment of rent...
Save Yourself Some Money! Top 5 Security Deposit Charges
A few hours left before I give the keys back to the landlord, what should I spend my time on? We’ve all been there and we’d love to help. Let’s get you as much of the security deposit back as we can. After analyzing all the charges from recent move-outs, here’s our...
Denver’s Best Breweries
When it comes to picking a favorite beer, we understand that personal beer tastes are a HOT topic and can range as wildly (and with as much intensity) as the flavor combinations themselves. But here’s the good news! Colorado is home to over 400 breweries, of which...
Colorado Security Deposit Laws
Contained in the Colorado landlord-tenant laws are security deposit rules. These rules apply to all landlords that ask for a security deposit as part of the move-in costs. A security deposit is a one-time payment that tenants make to a landlord prior to moving into...
Denver’s Summer Secrets: By Locals, For Locals!
We all know that when you sit down at your computer (or on your phone, it is 2022 after all), and search “Top Summer Activities in [your city here]”, the list they inevitably come up with is never the most exciting or out of the box. I guarantee if you were to go look...
Colorado Rental Laws – An Overview of Landlord Tenant Rights
Under Colorado law, a rental agreement can either be oral or written. And once established by both a landlord and tenant, both parties obtain certain rights and responsibilities. For example, your Colorado tenant obtains the right to peaceful enjoyment of their...
Landlord Dos and Donts
Taking a leap of faith and entering into the property management world is a pivotal period of excitement and uncertainty. There are many different aspects of property management you’ll need to learn – after all, owning a rental property is now your new business....
Spring Cleaning and Organization
The cold weather is on its way out, and spring is finally here! As you prepare for the new season, you may have noticed some dust collecting on the shelves from wintertime. (Don’t feel bad: It happens to all of us!) However, we’re here to help you get – and stay! –...
Moving Out? Here’s What to Do!
Moving out can be extremely stressful. You may find yourself with a mile-long checklist that includes packing, cleaning, and so much more. Fortunately, we are here to help make the move-out process easier by ensuring all the boxes are checked off before moving out of...
Renting Vs. Selling
The million dollar question, should I sell or rent my property? Now more than ever this question seems to be popping up. The selling market right now is crazy! Surely, you have seen neighbors or family members selling their property and the property going for way...
3 Ways to Make Your Rented Apartment Feel Like Your OWN!
When we rent a space to live it is usually an empty shell of what we hope it becomes. However, creating a space that feels like home can be overwhelming. Where to start? what to buy? what not to buy? Not all of us are interior designers and have an eye for how to...
How Can I Improve My Chances of Getting My Security Deposit Back?
Upon renting a home or apartment, the landlord or property manager will often require a security deposit. Security deposits ensure that, when tenants leave, the home or apartment is in the condition in which they found it. If the tenants meet certain standards, the...Denver City Council New Ordinance for Required Residential Rental Property License
We have been receiving more questions about the rental licensing, here is what we know so far. A quick recap regarding rental licensing, this passed through city council, for the city and county of Denver on May 3, 2021. All multifamily properties, meaning multiple...
How Denver Property Managers Can Save Owners Time and Money
Owners of investment properties want to make sure their rental is profitable, well-kept, and occupied by excellent tenants. That’s a tall order that takes a lot of time and effort on the owner’s part. What if you could offload some of those...
Back to School Safety & Home Security Tips For Denverites
It’s that time of year again! The kids are all going back to school, which means it’s time to step up your home’s security. After a long summer of relaxing at home with the family and enjoying the warm weather, your property will now be empty for most of the day. As a...5 Proven Ways to Make Your Rental Property More Attractive to Millennials
Brief Description: Millennials make up 45% of the rental market, so if you’re not making your rental property attractive to them, you could be missing the mark big-time. Constant cultural shifts impact the way potential tenants view a rental property. In a 2021...7 Types of Bad Tenants & How Landlords Can Best Deal With Them
Brief Description: There are seven common types of terrible tenants in Denver. As a landlord, you must know how to handle them effectively. We’ll show you how. One factor that can separate a great landlord experience from a horrible one is the type of tenants that...10 Ways to Boost Tenant Retention (& Profits) From Your Rental Unit
Brief Description: Stop wasting time and money trying to find new tenants and focus more on retaining the ones you already have with these proven strategies. How much time do you waste looking for new tenants in Denver rather than trying to retain the ones you already...
Top 5 Reasons Why Real Estate Investors Need a Financial Plan
Welcome to the collaboration mini-series from our financial planning friends over at Colorado Wealth Group (CWG). Not all wealth management firms are fans of real estate; however, CWG believes that proper real estate investing, and passive income production, can...
What is Normal Wear and Tear in a Rental?
How do Property Managers determine what qualifies as “normal wear and tear” in rental units? This is a common question both tenants and owners often ask. The answer is complex and there is typically no easy answer for this. The majority of Denver Property Managers...
How to Know when you Need to Hire a Property Manager
Here at Keyrenter, we speak to many DIY (Do-it-yourself) landlords who are coming to realize that they’re just not cut out to be a landlord, or that they simply don’t have the time and resources to manage the entire process when it comes to owning an investment...
4 Tips on How to Fill Vacancies Faster
Nowadays, most customers expect instant and reliable services. Even as the pandemic struck brick and mortar stores, consumers ordered an entire week’s groceries with a click of a button. When there was no source of entertainment, they pulled out their smartphones and...
How to Deal with a Tenant Who is Subletting a Unit
If you’re a landlord and you suspect that your tenant is subletting the rental home to someone else, they might be in violation of the lease they signed with the landlord or Property Management. First, you need to fully understand and review the lease that your tenant...
When Is The Right Time To Be Buying a Denver Investment Property?
We get quite a bit of existing or new investors who ask us about the best time to buy an investment property in the Denver, Colorado market. There isn’t a clear black or white answer, but rather a few things that you should think about when purchasing an investment...
How to Rent Your Rental Property In the Dead of Winter
Winter isn’t a bad time to offer your rental property to prospective tenants. However, you might have to work a little harder to make the unit appear warm, cozy, and inviting enough to counter the dreariness that comes with the season. Don’t worry though; we’ve...
4 Decoration Ideas For Tiny Yet Beautiful Rooms
Thinking Outside The Box—Even If That Box Is A Fine Room A little room can have big heart when it’s decorated properly. If it isn’t properly decorated, it can be stifling or flat-out dull. Being imaginative with how you design such spaces can have a truly...
5 Ways to Increase Cash Flow
Every investor or rental property owner always wants to aim for maximizing their property cash flow. While there are plenty of ways to do so, here are a few of the most common opportunities to increase property cash flow. RefinanceIf you purchased your own with a...
Online Leasing, Attract Tenants With These Dos and Don’ts!
Before the pandemic, you met with your tenants to show them around the property and sign the lease in-person. However, necessity breeds innovation. Today, there are much more seamless processes for renting over the internet. Let’s explore the basics of online...
How Do Property Managers Get New Owners
Are you wondering how to make your property management company more lucrative? The success of your business depends on strong partnerships with the right people. The following tips can help you get new property owners. Develop a Marketing Plan Every business needs a...
Landlord’s Guide for Renting to Someone With Bad Credit
Owning and renting out property can prove to be a lucrative and rewarding gig. Yet, it involves a lot of work, and ensuring that you lease to tenants who always pay their rent on time, is a priority. As a landlord, you’ve got the flexibility to adapt your...
Did COVID19 Affect the Condo Market in Denver?
The COVID19 pandemic had a significant impact on the real estate market all over the United States. March and April saw a decline in purchases as sellers delisted their homes. They were concerned about the risk of catching the virus by opening their houses to...
3 Free Design Ideas to Spruce Up your Living Space – Keyrenter Denver
Color coding your library of books is an easy and quick idea to bring your space to life! All you have to do is match the colors of a rainbow. Pick a Focal Point The focal point of a room attracts the eye and helps create order within the design. If your space is...
5 Reasons Why You Should Hire a Property Manager in Denver
Many accidental landlords or first time landlords usually get stuck with the question of whether or not they should self-manage their rental property or hire a Property Manager. Here’s a list of the top 5 reasons why you should hire a Property Manager. Screening...
7 Ways to Make Your Rental House Your Own – Keyrenter Denver
Decorating your Denver rental home makes the space feel more like your own, but it can be a challenge to put your own spin on the space because many rentals have restrictions in place. Even with limitations, there are still numerous ways to make your rental house feel...
Why Corporate Housing Might Be the Right Choice for Your Property – Keyrenter Denver
Many landlords can potentially make much more money by offering corporate housing for their rental properties. In some cases, renting a furnished corporate rental can bring in up to 3 times more money than a typical long-term 1-year rental. Corporate housing is...
Top 5 Rental Property Tax Deductions – Keyrenter Denver
While cash flow and extra income is typically at the top of the list for most landlords, it’s important to remember tax deductions should also play into why owning investment properties in Denver makes sense. We rounded up the top 5 tax deductions when it comes to...
Landlord Tips for the Winter Cool Down – Keyrenter Denver
For landlords in Denver, it’s important to keep in mind that the rental market tends to “cool” down with the weather each year, which means be prepared that your property will most likely sit on the market longer than it normally would. Here are...
Colorado Landlords and Marijuana
Back in 2012, Colorado became one of the first states to allow recreational use of marijuana. Many landlords are confused on what they can or can’t do in a state where marijuana use is legal. The truth is, not a lot has changed since Marijuana was legalized in...
Smoking In a Rental Home: Is Cannabis smoke as damaging as cigarettes?
Here in Colorado where marijuana was legalized recreationally in 2012, marijuana use is common, frequent, and even sometimes one of the reasons why people move to Colorado. However, it can also be a reason why some owners might be nervous to rent out their homes....
6 Home Improvements to Raise Home Value
When you sell a home, a primary goal of yours is to make the most profit possible. However, if you ask for a lot of money but your home doesn’t provide an equal amount of value, it could sit on the market for months. Instead, you need to make improvements in and...
Should I Add My Property Manager to My Insurance Policy?
The short answer is an emphatic YES. SHORT EXPLANATION If you don’t add your property manager as additional insured, and you and/or your property manager are sued by a neighbor, tenant, visitor, etc. for something related to the property, you will be required to pay...
Is It Better to Sell or Rent During COVID-19?
Is It Better to Sell or Rent During COVID-19? Owning your own home is one of the main parts of the “American Dream.” However, with COVID-19 turning the world upside down, you may begin to wonder if buying a home and making this big of an investment is really a good...
Guide to Owning an Eco-Friendly Rental Home
There’s lots of talk about making your home more eco-friendly, but that can be hard to do while being the landlord or tenant. Some landlords don’t want to invest the necessary money to provide their tenants with a more eco-friendly home, and on the flip side, some...
Tenant Relief Fund
https://keyrenterdenver.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Keyrenter-Tenant-Relief-Fund-1.mp4 The current situation has been difficult for many of us, but especially for those hard-working people who have had incomes reduced and are having a hard time keeping up. Some of...
Red Flag Warning Signs of Potential Problem Tenants
Every landlord hopes for tenants that pay their rent on time and look after their investment property. However, not every landlord is willing to put in the time it could take to find these golden tenants. A screening process is helpful, but it’s also important to be...
What Are Millennials Looking for in a Home?
If you haven’t noticed yet, millennials are in no rush to own a home — and instead, they’re opting for property rentals. Other than the obvious reason that housing prices have drastically gone up in the past few years, CNBC notes that millennials are making housing...
How to Make Your Rental Property Stand Out and Show Well
When a prospective tenant reaches out to you, they’ll usually want to schedule a property showing. You’ve probably posted many photos online, but nothing quite sells like a prospective tenant walking through the doors and imagining themselves living there. Here are a...
Low Maintenance Landscaping for Rental Properties
Curb appeal is one of the best ways to sell your property. It’s also nice for people to come home after a long day to a well-kept yard. However, few people want to do the work necessary to make their landscaping look nice. It takes a lot of time, effort, and money to...
5 Things You Should Know About the Fair Housing Act
Owning a successful rental property can take a lot of work, so it’s worth knowing important legal issues around being a landlord. One important factor is finding tenants in a fair and legal manner. No one wants to make the mistake of approving tenants illegally, or...
Top Ten Tenant Screening Questions To Ask
Finding the right tenant can make or break your rental business, so it’s important to take the time to screen prospective tenants and find a good fit. However, it can be hard to know what questions to ask to find what you’re looking for. Here we’ll list the top ten...
Top 2020 Design Trends You Should Know About
The year 2020 is here and with it comes new design trends for your home. This year is especially exciting as these trends give designers the opportunity to experiment with trends of the past and find their own individual style. However, there are a few guidelines to...
Property Owners: What to Look For During A Maintenance Inspection
It’s every landlord’s right to do a rental inspection at least once a year. It can be intimidating to ask to come into a tenant’s private space and look around in case they see this as an invasion of privacy. However, it’s important to make sure they’re using the...
Top 6 Day trips from Denver
Getting ready for a quick days scenery change outside Denver? We’ve got a list of our favorite day-trips outside Denver anyone can reach in under 2 hours. Boulder: Boulder is an easy 40-minute drive from Denver with plenty to do for the city slickers or outdoors...
How to Ensure Your Out of State Rentals are Profitable
Real estate is generally a great investment to make. You can offset mortgage costs with rental payments as the property appreciates in value. However, it can be difficult to manage a rental property that is out of state. Ensuring that your out of state rentals are...
Should I Furnish My Long-Term Rental Property?
One of the most common questions we get with investors or homeowners looking to rent their property is whether or not they should leave their property furnished or unfurnished. There are many factors to think about when making your decision. We’ll break down the pros...
Short-term or Long-term Rental: Which One is Best For Your Investment Property?
This common question comes up often, especially in this day and age with Airbnb, VRBO and other platforms. In this sharing economy, it’s a decision you’ll really have to weigh out. If you choose the short-term route, your property will act as a hotel, providing...
Best Ways to Retain Good Tenants without Cutting Rent
Any landlord knows that poor tenant retention leads to increased expenses. Not only can it be time-consuming and costly to find new tenants for your property, but you aren’t making income during the search and there is the possibility that you will obtain a problem...
High Income Tenants Seek Rental Property in Denver
High income households are the fastest-growing segment in America. High income households are seeking rental homes, with the figures increasing over 175% in the past decade. What does this mean for real estate investors? Should you seek out higher income tenants for...
Best Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants in Denver
I bet you 10 years ago all the Denver Natives thought Vegan food was a mystical tale from California. Well, fortunately (or unfortunately), there are now plenty of options for vegan and vegetarian options here in the Denver area. Not every veggie burger is alike...
Where to Eat and Drink in LoHi
Where to Eat and Drink in LoHi We can all agree that LoHi (Lower Highlands) part of Denver has a plethora of spots to eat, drink and be merry. With everything being walking distance from each other (or a scooter away), you can even try to get all in one day if you’re...
5 Ways to Cut Costs When Moving
Moving is time-consuming and can be extremely stressful. It can also be very expensive. Hiring a professional moving company alone can cost several thousand dollars depending on how far you’re moving and how many belongings you have. And, if you’re making the move a...
Top 10 Breweries in Denver
If you’ve ever been bummed to miss the Olympics of beer – the Great American Beer Festival – worry no more, there’s plenty of beer to go around in Colorado and Denver alone. People come from all over the country to check out the local microbrew scene in...
Are Renters Responsible for Pest Control Costs
Pest control relates to a number of different types of pests. Failure to act promptly when a renter reports a pest problem can lead to expensive eradication costs and possible litigation. Who is responsible for pest issues within a rental property? Common pest issues:...
6 Top Neighborhoods in Denver
Denver is a large city that has everything to offer for every age from hiking and biking trails to hot restaurants, bars, and sports venues. Here in Denver, you can find every type of living from luxury condos with skyline views or luxury lofts, to family-friendly...
5 Cost-Effective Ways to Boost Your Property’s Curb Appeal
After you have purchased your Denver rental property, one of the first things you will likely consider is renovations. Sometimes first-time rental property owners will neglect exterior renovations and prioritize the interior. This makes sense in some ways since the...
Capital Expenditure vs Repairs and Maintenance
Managing the checkbook is one of the most difficult and taxing (pun intended) parts of being a rental property owner. Knowing the difference between Capital Expenditure and repairs and maintenance is essential to mastering your taxes as well as your bookkeeping for...
Creative Ways to Fund Your Rental Property Investment
When finding ways to fund your rental property investment, it’s important to have a solid business plan and determine what your unique needs are. For example, how many investment loans can you qualify for? What lender will finance the type of property you want to...
Does Paying Rent on Time Build Credit?
Does Rent Build Credit? Sometimes, paying your rent on time might help you build credit. All the 3 major credit reporting bureaus will show positive rent-payment history on your credit reports if it has been provided by landlords. Anytime you are planning to rent...
Which are the Landlord Legal Responsibilities?
Being a landlord can be rewarding, but it can also be quite challenging if you are not sure what to expect. When it comes to being a landlord, it pays to know what is legally required of you. Failure to know the law can land you in hot water with tenants, and could...
How to Run Tenant Background Checks in Colorado
Before admitting a tenant into your residential property, you need to run a background check on his or her previous rental records. You will need to know his or her previous rental history for the safety of other tenants and that of your property. Failure to do a...
Top Questions to Ask a Property Management Company
Finding the best property manager can be a daunting task, especially if you have never let a property before. It is not a decision that you can rush into without much consideration on the credentials of a prospective property management company. That is why it is very...
All You Need to Know About Tenant Guest Policy
Everyone wishes to own a house at one point. We, however, appreciate that some will not manage to own one and will, therefore, be tenants. The relationship between the landlord and the tenant has rules to guide their harmonious existence. If a tenant wishes to host a...
Property Owners: Learn How to Reduce Energy Costs
Learning how to reduce utility costs on a consistent basis can make a big difference in our bottom lines as property owners. This is true concerning properties we occupy, where utilities are included in the rent when energy costs are billed on a submetered basis and...
Law for Tenants: What are the Legal Responsibilities of a Landlord?
As a landlord trying to run a profitable rental business, there are some legal requirements you need to understand and uphold. As with any relationship, sometimes differences may occur between you and your tenants. There are various laws that you need to follow to...
6 Denver Landlord Tenant Laws That You Never Want to Break
As a landlord, you never want to break any rental laws, and ensuring that you don’t is a great argument in favor of hiring a respected property management company in Denver. Whether you choose a representative or handle the duties yourself, there are six laws, in...
Where Do Millennials Live? Increasingly, It’s Denver
If you ask people “where do millennials live?” they’ll probably answer with a snarky joke: in their parents’ basements because they have no ambition; in the hipster coffee shop that serves cold brew out of a Chemex. In truth, of course,...
Beyond the Credit Report: How to Screen Potential Tenants to Find the Best Fit
It can be incredibly stressful to end up with a bad tenant. There are quite a few horror stories that can be told from landlords who have had bad tenants. You don’t want to be able to relate to those true story accounts of terrible, nightmare tenant behavior. It...
Why rental homes are a good long term investment strategy?
Rental homes and similar income properties continue to be among the best long-term investments available, and this is particularly true within a diversified investment approach. Even at a time when markets continue to recover from one of the lowest points in history,...
Pros and Cons of Renting to College Students
If you own a rental property in Denver, you have likely considered renting to college students. A large number of students looking for a rental makes the prospect of renting to them quite attractive; however, our experience as a property management company for owners...
Why Renters Insurance Is A Worthwhile Investment
Moving into a new place can be very expensive. That is why many people feel that it is best to go without renters insurance in order to save money. In fact, it is estimated that 63 percent of renters do not have insurance. However, renters insurance is definitely...
4 Tips for Downsizing From House to an Apartment
People downsize for various reasons. Some people downsize because they want to save money on their rent and utilities. Others downsize because their children have grown up and moved out of the house. Many people find that downsizing is very difficult. Fortunately,...
Top 4 Reasons to Hire a Property Management Company
Whether or not to hire a property management company is an important consideration for any landlord. Though there are many advantages to using a property management company, there are also associated costs to factor in. If you are considering hiring a property...
3 Keys To Ensuring an Optimum Property Maintenance
They say that a first impression last and it is particularly the case when it comes to your tenant’s first day in your rental. I have noticed that my average tenant will stay in my rental for two to three years or more, so I want to make a strong first...
How to Cure the Two Most Common Landlord Blues
A landlord provides their tenants with a place to call home, but it can be as challenging as it is rewarding. Every property manager has faced sleepless nights worrying about past due rent checks and buildings overrun with pests, but there are ways to keep the...
4 Helpful Tips for Choosing Quality Tenants
It’s one thing to fill a vacancy but another entirely to fill it with a reliable adult who’ll remain living at the property for an extended period. Vacancies cost money. Filling vacancies cost money. Tenants are not only valuable but become increasingly so each...
3 Tips to Make Sure Your Pets Are Always Welcome
It’s hard enough to find the right home to rent, but to find your pets will be accepted too is not something to be taken for granted. As a tenant, you’ve paid your pet deposit and arranged for any monthly fees, but you still want to be sure your much-loved...
How to Choose a New Home for Rent
Renters should always make sure that they take a tour of the home for rent they are interested in before they decide to move in. It is important to look for several things upfront to make sure that you are going to be comfortable in your new home. It is also important...
10 Tips That Will Keep Your Property Rented
One of the most frustrating situations for a landlord is a vacant rental property. Every day that a rental property is not occupied, the property is costing the landlord money. Have you ever had a rental property that was vacant for several months? If so, there were...
How to Determine a Fair Cost-of-Living Increase for Your Denver Renters
As more and more people move to Denver in the hopes of finding jobs, real estate value continues to climb. With that in mind, it is reasonable for your raise your rental rates when a tenant renews his or her lease. However, you have to balance kindness and profit with...
The Basics of Property Entry
As a landlord, you have several distinct advantages over your tenants, chief among them being your access rights. Though using your power to break up the occasional party may seem tempting, familiarize yourself with your state’s rules regarding random entry first....
Tenants: Don’t Settle for a Denver Rental Property You Don’t Like!
The truth of the matter is that Denver real estate and the rental demand is going up, which means that more and more landlords are running to set up rental properties for people like you. As a renter, you have a ridiculous number of properties to choose from, and the...
What Colors Make a Room Look Bigger?
Are you concerned that your new rental home lacks the square footage to truly decorate? We have good news! With some clever arrangement, even the smallest room opens up into a more open, welcoming space.No doubt you realize that clutter makes an already small room...
How to Make Moving Easier for the Whole Family
Moving to a new home, especially if it’s in a new city, creates stress. This stress can be troubling for children who do not fully understand what’s going on. Though adults can justify changes in environment and routine, little ones need extra time to process. When...
All About Welcome Packets
What Goes into a Winning Welcome Packet? As a landlord, you want to provide incoming tenants with helpful information to make the transition into their new home or apartment as easy as possible. A welcome packet is a great way to deliver that information. If you’re...
Should You Rent a Single-Family Home or an Apartment?
As you shop for your new home, it is likely that you’ll come across a number of very different options. In this increasingly competitive market, the cost to rent a home is often comparable with that required to rent an apartment. With cost being less of a factor, you...
How to Manage Noisy Tenants
Now that the renter population has increased in Denver and more and more people are investing in rental properties, the unfortunate reality is that many property managers will inevitably have to deal with tenants that don’t get along. The most common complaint?...
How to Choose Whether to Sell or Rent Out Your Property
If you’re looking to move out of the place where you are currently living, you have a choice in front of you: Do you sell the property or rent it out to others? Making that decision can actually be more difficult than you might think. There is a multitude of factors...