Southeast Michigan is susceptible to some very cold and intense weather from the months of December through March. If your property comes vacant during these months, you have a few options to prevent unnecessary damages.
One option you have is winterization. Castle works with a dedicated …
There are several factors that drive demand for a property, but only two an owner has control over: quality and price.
For quality, there are often discretionary repairs or improvements an owner can make that will improve the appeal of the unit. For example, outdated kitchen decor and …
The only way to know for sure how much your property will rent for is to put it on the market and find out. However, we can generally make an estimate by looking at comps of other, similar properties in the area. Contact us and we’ll happily provide an estimate for your property.
When …
We do not conduct drive-bys on a regular schedule.
When a property is vacant, someone from Castle will visit the property every 1-2 weeks on average for showings or an initial walkthrough.
When a property is tenanted, we rely on the tenant to report maintenance issues. Most houses need …
Property taxes are the responsibility of the home owner or the owner's business entity. You will receive a notification from the city government when taxes are due. Although Castle does not pay taxes on behalf of owners, we are happy to provide resources that can help you with the process.
…Our listings are syndicated across a wide variety of sites, including (but not limited to): Zillow, Craigslist, Yahoo Homes, Trulia, Hotpads, Apartments.com, Lovely, and Zumper.
Additionally, applicants can view all our listings at listings.entercastle.com.
If the property is occupied, tenants are responsible for paying utility bills. When we move a new tenant in, we’ll guide them through the process of getting the relevant utilities in their name. For single family homes, the tenants are typically responsible for all utilities. For multi-unit …
A property is rent-ready when:
Request a tenanted property inspection here
Tenanted Property Inspections
Owners can request a Steward to conduct an inspection. The Steward will be looking out for exterior/interior conditions of the property as well as violations of our lease and "House Rules." When the …
Request assistance for property access here
Facilitating Property Access
Owners can request a Steward to facilitate access for deliveries and maintenance. Many of our owners ship appliances and items to the home and need someone to meet with the shipping company. Many owners also need help …
If a tenant notices something wrong with their home, they can notify us online or via our 24/7 phone hotline. We’ll notify you by email immediately when new maintenance issues at your properties are opened.
For repairs under $350, we’ll go ahead and address the issue on our own. For repairs …
The bulk of this article refers to properties in the city of Detroit. For information about properties in other cities, please scroll to the bottom of this article.
Every new owner is required by law to register their rental property with the city. Failure to do so may result in heavy fines …
In order to earn a Certificate of Compliance in Detroit, your must obtain a Lead Certificate and pass a rental inspection.
In the City of Detroit, 98% of houses contain some sort of lead. Children exposed to lead face many serious health complications. Lead exposure can also have negative …
We can reduce potential break-in damages by storing the furnace and hot water tank while your property is vacant.
Our dedicated …
To start, please refer to this guide to learn more about the process of working with the Detroit Water and Sewage Department.
Unfortunately, turning on water and sewage utilities with the Detroit Water and Sewage Department (DWSD) is not part of Castle's scope of work. However, we can, at an …
To start, please refer to this guide to learn more about the process of working with DTE, the gas and electricity provider for most properties in the Detroit metro area. Consumers Energy, the other major provider in the area, follows similar practices.
Unfortunately, turning on or …
Cities may send warnings or tickets at your property if there's a violation of city code. These are typically sent in the mail to the property owner or registered agent.
Property owners or tenants (if the property is occupied) are responsible for the area in front of the home to the middle …
Michigan law obligates rental property owners to keep their properties in suitable condition for rental. The requirements are:
The intended use refers to the warranty of habitability, or responsibility for the building to be reasonably …
In the unlikely event that you and your family are unable to stay in the home due to an emergency maintenance issue, (like a burst pipe or a broken furnace,) Castle will help get you set up with a hotel near you while we make the necessary repairs.
We’ll reimburse you up to $100 per night …