Palouse Properties manager Karl Johnson said the Moscow establishment was the first property management company in Moscow, dating back more than 30 years.
Before that, most properties were managed by the owner or small real estate companies, but it wasn’t much of an industry.
“In my observation, I think we work harder at it than a lot of places,” Johnson said. “We take extra time to take people out for personal showings, answer their questions and don’t pressure them into making fast decisions.”
The business has a lot of tenant-friendly policies because they want people to be happy with the property they choose, he said.
“The best value to you is the property that best fits your needs,” Johnson said. “When we’re doing showings, we point out all of the factors having to do with the property — both good and bad — because if there are negative factors about it, we want to point them out so people know about them and don’t get surprises moving in.”
He said they have a responsibility to ensure the property is rented to people who will pay rent on time, take care of the property and get along with their apartment complex neighbors.
Courtesy
While their properties aren’t brand new, tenants still must maintain a good, clean condition in their homes.
“Most people make their choices based on one of three things: price, location or amenities,” Johnson said. “You don’t get all three of those things in one — there are compromises for everything.”
Johnson said he encourages students to talk to each other about their experiences before deciding where to live because not every tenant will be completely satisfied.
“While new paint, new carpet or a new washer and dryer would all be nice to have, we try to make things last as long as possible to charge the fairest price to the tenant,” Johnson said. “If we put everything in new, the price would not be desirable anymore.”
Sarah Pickel, a University of Idaho second-year, spent last semester searching for a two-bedroom apartment with her roommate. She found one through Palouse Properties.
Located behind WinCo in Campus View Suites, she discovered her home, which had more space than other units they had been looking at.
The whole process was easy, she said, from the scheduled showing to the smooth and easy application process with no required co-signer.
“Everyone is really nice at the front desk when you go in to pay your bill or need anything, but some of the maintenance (staff) became frustrated with us when we had multiple things break in a row, like our dryer, a toilet and the refrigerator,” Pickel said.
Recently, she signed a lease to live in a brand new apartment complex with Palouse Properties on Indian Hills Drive near Safeway for next year. It will still be affordable, especially for the location, she said.
Lizzie Jossie, a UI alumna, said she has lived on Vandal Drive for two years on the upper level of a duplex.
In a quieter and pet-friendly part of town with a yard and deck, Jossie said she was drawn this particular location.
With its vaulted ceilings and big windows, it makes the unit feel more spacious than others, she said.
She said the only drawbacks were renovations and repairs around the unit, which seem to have been done somewhat cheaply or lazily.
But the affordable price outweighed the inconvenience, she said. Jossie’s unlockable deadbolt and discolored paint touch ups are nothing serious enough to complain about.
“Everyone I have worked with at Palouse Properties has been highly professional and helpful,” Jossie said. “I can tell that they know how to run a property management business, and have proven to be much more reliable and trustworthy than some of the other rental agencies I have encountered in Moscow.”
Allison Spain can be reached at [email protected]