Do you know how much the eviction process in Utah can cost? On average, the cost of eviction can be upwards of $3,500 and takes anywhere from three to four weeks to complete. Basically, an eviction does not come cheap. Most people believe that an eviction is a fairly simple and affordable process, but the reality is it might actually end up costing the owner more money to evict someone rather than try to meet their demands or compromise. There are certain factors when it comes to eviction, which most people don’t know about. This is where a property manager can step in. When you put your rental in the hands of an experienced property management company, they can help you avoid the eviction process from the very beginning, but we’ll get to that later. To start, let’s breakdown the top six costs to consider when deciding to evict a tenant because unfortunately, it doesn’t come cheap.
1. Legal Fees
If there are any disputes between you and your tenant, you may find yourself in need of a lawyer, which means money out of your pocket. More than likely, you’ll need an experienced lawyer to assist you with the process and make it as smooth as possible. The cost of a lawyer depends on whether or not they charge a flat fee or by the hour. On average, the cost of an eviction case could range anywhere from $200 to $750.
2. Court Costs
Paying for a lawyer is just one part of the legal fees you’ll be paying. The cost of going to court and filing paperwork may range from $100 to $300. All evictions must be filed in court since evicting a tenant without a court order is against the law. Bringing the eviction to court can cause a messy situation that is a headache of its own. In addition to the costs of the actual court, you must take into account what it will cost to attend the court proceedings such as missing work and travel.
3. Downtime
If you make it through the process of an eviction successfully, you have to consider what happens afterward. Be prepared to have a loss of fixed revenue for a period of time. It can vary depending on how well your property manager can promote your home(if you have a property manager), but at the very least you can expect to not have a tenant for at least a month minimum.
4. Loss of Rent
Typically, you will lose two to three months’ worth of rent during the eviction process, sometimes more. This is directly correlated to any downtime you experience when you successfully evict a tenant. Until you can find a new, responsible tenant, your property will surely lose money, which means that your income will be stalled and you’ll be paying out of pocket.
5. Marketing
If you don’t have a property management company, you will have to start advertising your property or hire someone to do it. The cost of advertising will come out of your own pocket, and so will the cost of hiring someone if you choose to do so. If you want your property filled fast to avoid the aforementioned downtime and loss of rent, marketing the available unit is a must.
6. Set Up
Before a new tenant can move in, you’ll need to repair any damage the evicted tenant may have caused. Ideally, they didn’t cause any damage, but that certainly is not always the case. You may need to spend anywhere from $500 to $2,000 to get the place ready for the next renter.
While any kind of tenant turnover comes with extra costs, eviction can be pricier than when an average tenant moves out due to their lease ending. So, before you evict a tenant, it’s important to keep these costs in mind. On the other hand, an experienced property management company could help you avoid all of this altogether.
The Cost of Property Management Could be Less Than an Eviction
As we said, a property manager could save you money in the long run as they tend to cost less than an eviction. Property managers are experienced at tenant screening, which means they choose the very best candidates right from the start so you don’t have to worry about losing any rental income. They also take care of all the marketing, tenant placement, and day-to-day operations of the rental property. This gives you peace of mind knowing your rental is taken care of, while also helping the property run smoothly. At Wolfnest Property Management, we are experienced in handling all types of properties. We can help you find the best tenants so you don’t have to go through the eviction process in Utah. To learn more, contact us today and we’ll be happy to help you get started with our property management services!
