It’s no secret that some property management companies are tough to deal with — especially for prospective tenants. Whether it’s poor communication, unclear rental criteria, or a lack of follow-through, it’s enough to make rental home hunting a maddening process. Rent Portland Homes by Darla Andrew takes a different approach. At every stage, we strive to make the process clear and straightforward. That way, our prospective tenants always know where they stand. In a recent video published on our YouTube Page, leasing agent Mark Akey walked viewers through our application process. From start to finish, prospective tenants can accomplish the journey from house hunting to move-in in five easy steps.

Step 1: Visit our Website

Your journey begins by visiting our website at rentportlandhomes.com. Start by taking a look at our rental criteria page. Here you’ll find valuable information on our rental policies as well as our income, credit score, and background check requirements. If you believe you fit these criteria, you can then click on the Homes for Rent button in the top navigation bar. From there, you’ll be able to browse all our available listings.

To help make your search as efficient as possible, you can filter our listings by price (from high to low or from low to high), by the number of bedrooms, or by the most recent listing. You can also view our all current listing on a handy area map. When you find a property you’re interested in, click the View Details button in the lower right corner. This will pull up more detailed information about the home, including square footage, the number of beds and bathrooms, the monthly rent, pet policy, and more. Once you’ve found a home that fits your needs, it’s time to move on to step two.

Step 2: Schedule Your Showing

The next step in our rental process is to schedule your showing. You can make an appointment online by filling out our contact page, or you can call (360) 799-4802 to speak with someone directly. If the home you’re interested in is vacant, we can usually set up an appointment at the time of your call. If someone is occupying the house, we’ll talk with the current tenants first and then get back to you with available times. During your tour, a Rent Portland Homes by Darla Andrew property manager will lead you through the home and answer any questions you might have. After your visit, you can then start your formal application process online.

Step 3: Complete Your Application

When you’re ready to begin your formal application, return to our Homes for Rent Page and click on the Apply Now button for the home you’d like to rent. Before you begin your application, please make sure to have your photo ID and income documentation on hand. You’ll need that information to complete the online application. During the process, you’ll be asked to complete a few different sections, including:

  • You contact info.
  • Where you’ve lived.
  • Information about your housemates.
  • Your personal information.
  • Your income.

To complete the application, you’ll also need to pay a $54 fee, which goes towards covering your credit and background checks. If you have any furry friends who will be living with you, don’t forget to upload a picture of your pet with a description of what kind of dog or cat they are.

Step 4: Schedule Your Move-In Date

Once we approve your application, we will then set up a time and date for your move in. On your moving day, a Rent Portland Homes by Darla Andrew representative will meet you at your new home to hand over the keys. At that time, we’ll also take hundreds of photographs throughout the house to document its condition. That way, when you move out, we’ll have a record of the home’s condition when you received it. Move-in day is also when you’ll make your deposit payment.

Step 5: Sign the Lease and Make Your First Payment

As we’re scheduling your move in, we will also prepare your lease and send it to you for signature. Once you receive the lease, you’ll have a 24-hour turn-around time to sign the documents online and make your first monthly rent payment. Once the lease is signed and you’ve made your first payment, the process is over, and you can begin enjoying your new home.

Rent Portland Homes by Darla Andrew Makes it Easy

We want to make every stage of the application and move-in process straightforward and easy to navigate. If you have any questions about our process, our rental criteria, or any of our available homes, please contact us. You can call Rent Portland Homes by Darla Andrew at 503.799.4802 or by filling out the contact page on our website. If you’d like to watch video tours of some of our available homes, visit our YouTube page. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news and insight on what’s happening in the Portland rental home market.