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Eddie Edwards, Rental Housing Expert, Nutritional Team Builder (The Rental Housing Centers)

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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

My property management company doesn't charge an on-boarding fee and I don't know about others in our area.

I don't know why they would though - they typically charge 1/2 month rent and then 8 to 10% each month. 

Mar 04, 2018 09:19 PM
Rainmaker
4,882,355
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

Sounds like a sneaky way to put a minimum $100 in the PM's pocket.

Mar 05, 2018 05:08 AM
Rainmaker
2,182,552
Michael J. Perry
KW Elite - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster, PA Relo Specialist

Are we talking about a Lease Up Fee for placing a new Tenant ???

Mar 05, 2018 02:43 AM
Rainmaker
2,220,654
Anthony Acosta - ALLATLANTAcondos.com
Harry Norman, REALTORS® - Atlanta, GA
Associate Broker

Never heard of it.

Mar 05, 2018 05:27 AM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

Done all the time.

Mar 05, 2018 04:59 AM
Ambassador
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Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

It costs money to pay the people who do the setting up of a new client, I hope that this catches on.

Mar 05, 2018 03:49 AM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

My guess is either a junk fee (like the document storage fees buyers get charged out here) or a fee to setup the new client in their system.  It could be that their rental management software has a per-user licensing model and they're passing along this cost to the consumer.

Mar 05, 2018 08:16 AM
Ambassador
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Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

I've never heard that term and I was a property manager.  I never charged an on-boarding fee, which I think would be equivalent to an administrative fee to set-up the new account.  Many other industries do this, though.

Mar 05, 2018 07:17 AM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

Bob Crane nailed this one!

Mar 05, 2018 05:38 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

No one works for free except real estate agents.

IN your example, should the applicant fail to qualify or execute, the PM can re-coop some of their costs OR....they are pulling the real estate broker trick and see this as revenue augmentation that broker disguise as a transaction fee. 

The renter that walks away from a property because of a $100 on-board fee most likely has other challenges.

Agents who work with renter/buyer/sellers should be doing the same thing. This is a business, not a hobby.

Mar 05, 2018 05:14 AM
Rainmaker
1,844,301
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Don't know. We have move-in/move-out fees. We have associations that charge $100 to renters for ??? who knows what.

Mar 05, 2018 05:05 AM
Ambassador
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Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Is it just an application fee? I don't know that specific terminology.

Mar 05, 2018 04:01 AM
Rainmaker
846,475
Marco Giancola
Beachfront Realty - Miami Beach, FL
Realtor (305)608-1922, Miami Beach Florida

New to me as well

Mar 05, 2018 04:00 AM
Rainmaker
1,196,798
Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street, Suite #5, Topsfield, MA - Topsfield, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

Can't say I've heard of an onboarding fee?

 

Mar 05, 2018 02:46 AM
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Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

Nickel-dime nonsense.   Ask them to waive it.  If they refuse, move on.

Mar 04, 2018 09:29 PM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Eddie Edwards - not much into rental. However, looks like they want more money for no reason!

Mar 05, 2018 09:39 PM
Rainer
289,607
Byron K . Jones
Coatesville, PA
List Today - Sold Tomorrow!

Large Rental communities in this area use it for "Set up" of your online prresence to pay your rent/electric..etc...the app fee for the background checks and the onboarding for basically doing nothing ...starts at $100 for one person, additional fee for each adult on the lease

 

Mar 05, 2018 07:55 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

I agree with Richard Weeks .  It is akin to the "tipping jar" one sees when all one did is enter it in the cash register the item you took off the shelf.  We are happy to tip for service but not for imagined service

Mar 05, 2018 07:48 AM
Rainmaker
1,466,207
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Eddie Edwards I am not familiar with the term. Here's what I found when I Googled it:

On-boarding Fee: An on-boarding fee, or setup fee, may be charged as a one time amount to establish a new partnership with management company and set up your account. Setup fees can vary depending on how many properties or units exist in your portfolio.

Mar 05, 2018 06:56 AM
Rainmaker
1,543,823
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

Free market = choices.

Mar 05, 2018 06:21 AM
Rainmaker
3,416,038
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

When i think of onboarding i think I need a cruise. But in rentals I have not heard of it. I could definately like it with some high needs clients. 

Mar 05, 2018 05:50 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

I have never heard of such a fee.

Mar 05, 2018 05:48 AM
Rainmaker
544,014
Dave Halpern
Dave Halpern Real Estate Agent, Inc., Louisville, KY (502) 664-7827 - Louisville, KY
Louisville Short Sale Expert

It's a new buzzword that millennials are used to

Mar 05, 2018 05:24 AM
Rainmaker
577,750
Gloria Valvasori, Accredited Senior Agent
BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS REAL ESTATE SIGNATURE SERVICE - Mississauga, ON
REAL Experience | REAL Commitment | REAL Results!

I have never heard of this "onboarding fee" in all my 31 years of real estate.  Sorry I cannot be of any help.

Mar 05, 2018 04:45 AM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

I don't deal with rentals so not much help to you here.

Mar 05, 2018 04:17 AM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Good luck.

Mar 05, 2018 02:47 AM
Rainmaker
1,598,452
Valeria Mola
SIB Realty - Miami, Sunny Isles Beach - Sunny Isles Beach, FL
305-607-0709 SIB Realty Condos for Sale and Rent

A lot of great answers are here. 

Oct 16, 2018 09:20 PM
Rainmaker
5,868,554
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

I do not do property management, and never heard of this term.

Mar 07, 2018 07:08 AM
Rainmaker
5,216,409
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

A "JUNK FEE" is the best way to describe it. It sucks but is the new reality.

Mar 06, 2018 04:43 AM
Rainmaker
1,622,432
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

I never heard of it as well. 

Mar 05, 2018 11:21 PM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

It is a handling fee to setup the property or you in their system. I have not heard it called onboarding though. We call it initializing or setup fee.

Mar 05, 2018 06:26 PM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

I 've not heard of that

Mar 05, 2018 05:17 PM
Rainmaker
4,160,899
John Pusa
Glendale, CA

Eddie Edwards never heard of it.

Mar 05, 2018 02:09 PM
Rainmaker
1,045,440
Dave Martin (703) 585-4687
Fairfax Realty - Fairfax, VA
Making Realty Dreams a Reality #WeWillGetYouHome

Think of it as a Setup fee in other words just an additional charge to become a client.

Mar 05, 2018 01:00 PM
Ambassador
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Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Junk Fee ... and no response is a response. I know you know that. 

Mar 05, 2018 11:42 AM
Rainmaker
1,239,901
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

When I call a call from advertiser promising leads or ads, I tell them how much onboard fee is I charge them. They hang up......

Mar 05, 2018 10:19 AM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

it adds to the fund raiser by and for the PM company....

Mar 05, 2018 09:34 AM
Rainmaker
4,572,283
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Haven't encountered this term. Until now. I would ask too.  Good luck. 

Mar 05, 2018 09:17 AM
Ambassador
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Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Never heard of this. Trying to make a quick buck?

Mar 05, 2018 07:51 AM
Rainmaker
7,836,169
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

I am not familiar with this term in real estate.

Mar 05, 2018 07:44 AM
Rainmaker
2,781,173
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Fees have long been a revenue source and those with the gold enforce it

Mar 05, 2018 06:37 AM