1) HOW DO WE APPLY?
Simple. Go to www.zessin.twa.rentmanager.com/applynow. Each person over the age of 18 who will be living in the home needs to complete the application, regardless of who will be responsible for paying the rent.

2) IS THERE AN APPLICATION FEE?
Yes, each person over the age of 18 who will be living in the home will need to pay an application fee of $40.00. Once the application and fee is paid, it is sent off to Rental History Report who does the screening process.

3) HOW MUCH IS THE SECURITY DEPOSIT?
It depends. You have two options available. First is a traditional Security Deposit the same as any other place. It is refundable and is equal to one month's rent. The second is called a security bond. It is offered through an insurance company. It is a single payment that costs between 10%-40% of one month's rent, depending on credit. The insurance company decides the amount. We have never had anyone denied for a security bond. It is important to note that, although the security bond is much cheaper than the traditional security deposit, it is also non-refundable. For more information, please visit www.info.mysuredeposit.com .

4) DO YOU ACCEPT SECTION 8?
Yes, we participate in the Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher) program.

5) DO YOU ACCEPT PETS?
Yes, we do. We prefer that they be at least 1 year old and to limit the number of pets to 3 or less. ALL applicants, whether applicant has animals or not,  must create a pet profile at https://zessin.petscreening.com . Petscreening.com will provide Management with a ‘Pet Score’ ranking from 1 Paw (low) up to 5 Paws.   Each animal will have a monthly animal fee based on the ‘Paw Score’. 5 Paws will require $25 per month, 4 Paws will require $35 per month, 3 Paws will require $50 per month, 2 Paws require $75 per month, and 1 Paw requires $100 per month.

6) DO YOU USE CREDIT SCORES TO APPROVE/DENY APPLICATIONS?
Credit score(s) will be determined by averaging all credit scores together. Ideal applicant(s) will have a credit score average of 601 or higher.  Applicants with no credit score will be considered 600 and, if applying alone, will require a Credit Contingency Fee of $60 per month.   Applicant(s) with a score between 500-600 will require a rent subsidy (such as Section 8 or similar program) and a Credit Contingency Fee of $60 per month. All other applicants who have a 600 or less credit score will not be approved (unless one of the above conditions are met).

7) HOW LONG IS THE LEASE?
Typically it is a 1 year lease. You can opt for a month-to-month lease for a 10% increase in rent or a 6 month lease for a 5% increase in rent.

8) HOW DO WE PAY RENT?
Most of our residents pay online through our Resident Web Access portal with ACH (also called direct deposit) for free or by credit card for a small fee. Others choose to use our affiliate partner and pay with cash at many retailers including Wal-Mart, K-Mart, and 1st Currency Exchange.

9) HOW ARE REPAIRS HANDLED?
If you have an issue, you can access our Resident Web Access portal and submit a service issue. We then send it to the appropriate repair person. Our service technician(s) takes care of most small issues and general construction issues. Roofs, Heating & Air, Plumbing, Electrical, Appliance Repair,  and Pest Control are all handled by professional contractors.

10) WILL YOU ACCEPT CO-SIGNERS?
In general, we prefer not to take on co-signer and would rather require a higher deposit.  If we do allow a co-signer, they must complete a separate application and must be able to qualify for the home on their own without the income of anyone else. Additionally, they must be the owner of records to a home within Sangamon County.