Laurel Property Services is your trusted partner for property management
in the greater Denver Metropolitan Area. To help you get started, we’ve answered
some of the most common questions we hear from homeowners and investors.

The rental rate for your property is influenced by several key factors.

• Seasonality: Demand for rental properties fluctuates throughout the year. We always recommend setting your lease to end on May 31st. This way, the property becomes available when demand is highest, allowing you to secure the best possible rental rate.
• Condition and Updates: A property with fresh paint, modern flooring, and updated features will always command a higher rental price than one that is outdated or in poor condition.
• Pet-Friendly Status: In the Denver and Jefferson County areas, a large number of renters own dogs. Making your property pet-friendly can significantly increase your chances of renting it out quickly and for a better price. Properties that don’t allow pets often experience longer vacancies and may require price drops to attract tenants.

When your tenants report a maintenance issue, our team dispatches the appropriate vendors as quickly as possible. Recent laws require landlords to respond to and begin work on most maintenance requests within a short timeframe. Our vendors are paid from your management reserve, and your account is reimbursed the following month from the collected rent.

For minor issues like a leaky faucet, we’ll handle the repair and notify you on your monthly statement. We believe a key benefit of a property manager is taking these smaller worries off your plate. For larger, more expensive items—like a new water heater or appliance—we will contact you to ensure you’re aware of the cost while still meeting the required repair timelines.

We recommend keeping a reserve equal to at least three times the monthly rent. This helps ensure you’re prepared for major maintenance costs and any potential vacancy periods.

We ask that you do not contact tenants if you use our full-service management. A major benefit of hiring a property manager is that we serve as the buffer between you and your renters. This prevents them from trying to negotiate with you directly about things like late rent or costly upgrades. Our past experience has shown that direct contact from owners can make tenants feel uncomfortable and that it violates their privacy.

Renting out a property with sentimental value is a big decision, and only you can make it. The most important thing to remember is that a rental property is a business. While most renters will take good care of the home, they likely won’t treat it with the same level of care you would. If you plan to move back in or sell the property later, be prepared to do some updating and repairs, such as repainting and replacing carpets.

Typically, built-in kitchen appliances are included with a rental. For higher-end properties, it’s common to include a washer and dryer. Keep in mind that Colorado law requires landlords to repair or replace any appliance included with the property.

Please do not leave “attractive nuisances”—items that could be a hazard or liability—such as hot tubs, playground equipment, trampolines, or power tools. You should also never leave anything of personal or sentimental value, as we cannot be held responsible for them.

If a tenant hasn’t paid rent by the 8th of the month, they will be served a 10-Day Notice to Pay or Quit. If payment is still not received, we will file for eviction. Our attorneys handle all court appearances on your behalf. While the evicted tenant is ultimately responsible for the legal costs, these fees are initially paid from your reserve. We then work to collect and reimburse these costs to you.

Once the property is vacant, we make any necessary repairs and quickly get it back on the market.

As soon as your current tenants give notice, we begin marketing the property to find new renters. During peak leasing season, we often have the next lease secured before the current tenants move out.

Expenses between tenancies typically include advertising fees, a lease commission, new keys, and replacing old carpet or paint. While tenants can be charged a prorated amount for damage, these items generally have a lifespan of 10 years and are often a cost to the owner.

If a property is vacant for a longer period, we will arrange for services like lawn care or snow removal at your expense to keep it maintained.

To make your home rent-ready, we need to:

• Change Locks: We will install specific KwickSet locks that can be easily rekeyed. We also need to replace any double-cylinder deadbolts with single-cylinder ones for safety.
• Install Detectors: We’ll ensure the correct number of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are installed.
• Professional Cleaning: The entire home, especially any carpet, should be professionally cleaned before the tenants move in.
• Property Upkeep: All lawn care and snow removal should be taken care of before the lease begins. We can hire vendors for this if needed.

No. For liability reasons, we only use vendors who are licensed, bonded, and insured. We have established relationships with a network of trusted professionals who often provide us with bulk discounts, which we pass on to our clients. We do not allow friends, family, or neighbors to perform work on properties we manage.

Yes! We offer a “Lease Only” service. We will market the property, conduct showings, screen applicants, collect the security deposit and first month’s rent, and sign the lease. Once the tenants move in, we hand over all the documentation and the remaining funds to you, and you take over management from there.

You will receive a monthly statement detailing your income and expenses. We’ll also send occasional email updates regarding maintenance, lease matters, or important announcements. We communicate almost exclusively via email to keep everything documented and clear.

After the documents are signed, you will need to provide a few things:

• A copy of your homeowner’s insurance policy, updated to list the property as a rental and Laurel Property Services as “Additionally Insured.”
• A check for your management reserve, equal to one month’s rent.
• Keys to the property.

If there are already tenants living in the home, we’ll also need their contact information, a check for their security deposit, and copies of their lease documents. Once we have everything, we will set up your owner profile, give you access to our online portal, and get your property on the market.