Property Management Blog

How Long Does It Take to Evict a Tenant in Springfield, IL?

By Springfield Real Estate Tuesday, December 9, 2025

Eviction is one of the most stressful situations a landlord can face. Whether it’s due to non-payment, lease violations, or holdovers, understanding the process and timing is essential. If you own rental property in Springfield or anywhere in Sangamon County, here’s w...

Illinois Flood Disclosure: The Exact Wording Landlords Need (And How Not to Get Burned)

By Springfield Real Estate Monday, December 8, 2025

DOWNLOAD SAMPLE FLOOD DISCLOSURE ADDENDUMIllinois added Section 25 to the Landlord & Tenant Act requiring a flood-risk disclosure for every lease or renewal. You must:Give the disclosure before the tenant signs, and include it inside the lease/renewal with both parties’...

Safer Homes Act: What Illinois Landlords Must Do (and What the Official Summary Doesn’t Spell Out)

By Springfield Real Estate Monday, September 8, 2025

DOWNLOAD COPY OF THE SAFER HOMES ACT SUMMARYIllinois now requires a Summary of Rights for Safer Homes on page 1 of every residential lease and renewal starting January 1, 2026. The Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) published the official summary (with translati...

Springfield’s New ‘Problem Property’ Rule: What Landlords Need to Do Now

By Springfield Real Estate Wednesday, August 27, 2025

A practical guide to the city’s new cited-property registry, fines, and timelines.Springfield just adopted a tougher tool to go after repeat housing-code violators. If a property racks up 3+ independent violations within 12 months, it can be designated a &ldq...

Trust Accounts, Done Right: How Separate Bank Accounts Protect Owners, Residents, and Your License

By Springfield Real Estate Thursday, August 14, 2025

When rent and security deposits hit your business, you’re not holding “your” money—you’re holding client funds. Set up your banking wrong and you risk accidental commingling, audit trouble, and even uninsured deposits. Set it up right and you pr...

Trust Accounting, De-Mystified: Why Triple Tie-Out Protects Your Money (and Your Residents)

By Springfield Real Estate Monday, August 11, 2025

If you manage other people’s rent and deposits, you’re a fiduciary—full stop. That means zero room for sloppiness with client funds. The gold standard is a triple tie-out (also called a three-way reconciliation). Done monthly, it keeps you compliant in...

Fix It Fast, Keep Them Longer: How Proactive Maintenance Supercharges Lease Renewals

By Springfield Real Estate Wednesday, July 30, 2025

When residents weigh whether to re-sign, maintenance speed and quality rank even higher than rent in the decision matrix. National data and local case studies point to the same conclusion: well-maintained properties keep people put—and slash the $3,872 average turnover bill...

Summer Vacancies, Zero Headaches: A Landlord’s Guide to Safeguarding Empty Rentals in Springfield

By Springfield Real Estate Tuesday, July 29, 2025

School’s out, leases end, and your property might sit empty for a few weeks—or months—while you repaint, re-carpet, or wait for the next resident. Hot weather plus an unoccupied home is a magnet for thieves, squatters, and HVAC breakdowns. Use the checklist belo...

Your First Rental? Read This Before You Hand Over the Keys

By Springfield Real Estate Thursday, July 24, 2025

A Springfield-Focused Crash Course for New LandlordsLeasing out your first property looks simple—until late fees, fair-housing rules, and midnight maintenance calls hit all at once. Use this quick primer to sidestep rookie mistakes, stay legal in Illinois, and protect your ...

Pets or No Pets? A Springfield Landlord’s Guide to Weighing the Trade-Offs

By Springfield Real Estate Monday, July 21, 2025

In the United States, seven out of ten households own at least one pet – and Springfield is no exception. Allowing furry companions can widen your applicant pool and lift monthly income, but it also brings added risk. Below is a balanced look at the upside, downsi...