Typically, our fee is 10% of the rent we collect— and that’s it. There are no hidden fees or additional costs for our property owners. We only get paid if we successfully collect rent. Since every property is unique and may require different levels of service, this fee may vary depending on the property or the number of units you hire us to manage. Fill out the form here for a free rental estimate and to learn what we would charge to manage your property.

Maintenance diagnosis and coordination is covered under the monthly property management fee and is conducted by our property managers who coordinate between tenants, vendors and property owners.

For work completed by our in house maintenance team we bill out around $50-$60 per hour. Find out more here.

Absolutely. Our screening process includes thorough credit, criminal, and eviction background checks, as well as references from previous landlords and income and employment verification.

No, you can rest easy knowing we take every precaution to secure reliable tenants. Our leasing process includes a rigorous and proven application system to ensure we select the best candidates for your property.

It is the owner’s responsibility to deliver a "rent-ready" unit to Bigfoot, ensuring that the unit is in excellent, habitable condition and ready for new tenants to move in seamlessly. The reason for this is to ensure that a new lease starts off on the right foot and that is clear what damages the tenant has caused and what damages were preexisting. “Rent Readiness” includes:

1. Functionality: All appliances, fixtures, plumbing, heating, cooling, and electrical systems must be fully operational, safe, and free of issues.

2. Cleanliness: The entire unit should be thoroughly cleaned, with attention to floors, walls, and surfaces. Carpets must be professionally cleaned to remove any stains, dirt, or allergens.

3. Repairs: Any necessary repairs must be completed before turnover, including patching and painting any holes or damage to the walls, addressing wear or deterioration, and replacing broken or outdated items as needed.

4. Removal of Personal Belongings: All personal belongings and debris must be removed from the property before turnover. This ensures the unit is fully ready for the next tenant and upholds the professional standards expected by Bigfoot. Any personal items left behind may delay readiness and impact tenant experience.

5. Download our “rent ready” checklist here.

If the unit is not delivered in a "rent-ready" condition, Bigfoot may utilize its in-house cleaning and maintenance team to complete the necessary preparations, including cleaning, repairs, debris removal, and personal item removal. An hourly rate of $50 will be charged for these services, covering labor for cleaning, removal, or any additional tasks required to bring the unit to rent-ready standards.

We will do our best to deliver you a clear estimate of what it will cost to get your unit rent ready but there are often unforeseen issues and material costs are not always predictable. As general rule one months rent is often needed to get a rental to a rent ready condition for units older than 20 years, while newer properties are typically easier to make rent ready with the majority of costs usually revolving around cleaning.

As a rental owner you need to be prepared to invest in your property in order for it to operate properly from day one. We have found that this initial investment leads to a far more successful tenant placement, lease and move out process, ultimately saving you money in the long run.

If you utilize Bigfoot’s maintenance team to make ready the property we can take the invoiced amount out of the first months rent so you do not actually have to put cash down. This does, however, mean that you may receive a smaller dollar amount at the beginning of the lease to cover the cost of work done to your property.

The short answer is no. The long answer is that furnished rentals are costlier for property owners and often generate less income due to increased vacancy loss. While we’re here to support your goals, we typically don’t manage furnished units. Instead we have often worked with property owners to remove their furniture and make the rental unit “rent ready”. Our rental philosophy and systems focus on traditional unfurnished rental units.

Unless otherwise agreed upon in the contract phase, no. Personal belongings like furniture, ultimately cause problems with tenants and become a liability for property owners. In order for the property to be “rent ready” all personal belongings need to be removed from the leasable space.

Some owners opt for locking off a portion of the space, like a garage or shed, to store their personal belongings which may lower the lease rate and it is important that you know we are not responsible or liable for any stolen, lost or damaged personal property. If there are any utilities or mechanical located in locked areas we will need keys or access to these spaces in the case of an emergency.

If your property is a single-family home, the tenant will typically be responsible for paying all utilities. To facilitate this, we’ll need utility designations or landlord agreements in place, allowing tenants to transfer utilities into their names.

For multiplex properties, a utility plan will need to be established. Your designated property manager will assist you in navigating this process. Whenever possible, we’ll structure arrangements so individual tenants pay their own utility bills. However, if that isn’t feasible, we’ll work with you to explore alternative options that may be more beneficial for you as the landlord.

No, you are not required to allow pets in your property. However, it's worth noting that 62% of Montanans own pets. By not allowing pets, you may significantly limit your pool of potential tenants.

We encourage property owners to consider allowing pets, as we believe the issue lies not with the pets themselves but with irresponsible pet owners. To address this, we implement a thorough screening process to ensure we work with responsible tenants who care for their pets and your property.

Yes we will increase both the rent and security deposit if a renter has pets.