Sagareus Policies
Zero Discrimination Tolerance Policy
Sagareus upholds a Zero Tolerance Policy for Discrimination in all aspects of leasing, property management, and tenant relations.
We strictly comply with Fair Housing laws and are committed to ensuring that no applicant, resident, or vendor is treated differently based on:
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Race or ethnicity
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Color
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National origin
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Religion
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Sex
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Familial status
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Disability
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Sexual orientation
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Gender identity
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Any other class protected by federal, state, or local law
This policy applies to all Sagareus staff, contractors, property owners, and affiliated vendors.
We understand that property owners may have preferences, but any request that violates Fair Housing laws—or puts Sagareus at legal or ethical risk—will not be accommodated.
If a property owner requests, encourages, or insists on discriminatory practices, Sagareus reserves the right to immediately terminate the management agreement.
Our commitment to ethical conduct and legal compliance is non-negotiable. We are proud to maintain a respectful, inclusive, and lawful approach to housing for all.
Professional Photography Policy
All rental listings are marketed with professional photography to ensure high-quality presentation and brand consistency across the Sagareus portfolio.
Owners are responsible for the actual cost of photography, typically ranging from $200–$300, depending on the vendor and property size.
Pricing is subject to change and may vary by location or photographer.
Sagareus does not profit from this policy. It is in place solely to maintain a consistent marketing standard that maximizes exposure and minimizes vacancy across all properties.
Annual Property Inspection Policy
Sagareus conducts a required Annual Inspection of each property under management to ensure proactive maintenance, verify lease compliance, and protect the long-term value of your investment.
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Inspection Fee: $75 per unit
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Frequency: Once per year
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Scheduling: Based on the move-in date of the most recent lease
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Scope: Includes a visual review of interior condition (plumbing fixtures, appliances, flooring, paint, blinds, fixtures), safety features (smoke/CO detectors), and exterior areas (roof, gutters, landscaping)
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Reporting: Owners receive a detailed report with photos, maintenance recommendations, and any tenant compliance issues
This inspection is mandatory and cannot be waived. The $75 fee includes coordination, documentation, and reporting.
The purpose is to uphold high property standards, reduce deferred maintenance, and mitigate liability across our portfolio.
Eviction Delegation Policy
In the event an eviction becomes necessary, Sagareus delegates all legal notices and eviction proceedings to a licensed third-party legal team, LT Services, who specialize in landlord-tenant law.
This approach ensures that:
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All notices and filings are legally compliant and properly served
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The process is handled efficiently and professionally, minimizing delays or liability
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Our team can remain focused on core management functions while your interests are represented by qualified legal professionals
Owners are responsible for all legal fees and court costs associated with the eviction process. Sagareus coordinates directly with LT Services on your behalf and provides regular updates throughout the process.
Property Condition Standards Policy
Sagareus is committed to maintaining high standards across all properties we manage. As part of this commitment, we require Property Conditions to be maintained.
The purpose of this policy is to protect tenants, preserve asset value, and uphold our company’s reputation.
Key Principles:
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Habitability is Non-Negotiable: All properties must meet basic health, safety, and habitability standards at all times, in accordance with local and state housing laws.
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Timely Maintenance: Owners must approve and fund necessary repairs promptly. Deferred maintenance or patchwork solutions that compromise safety or habitability are not permitted.
Sagareus reserves the right to decline management or terminate agreements with owners who refuse to maintain their property to these minimum standards.
This policy ensures we continue to attract high-quality tenants, reduce liability, and manage properties we are proud to represent.
Owner FAQs
How do you screen applicants?
All applications undergo a full background check, credit history review, and manual income and rental history verification.
Owners choose their level of criteria that is advertised and enforced through the leasing process.
Criteria options are listed below, however, custom criteria may be used per Owner preference.
Rental Criteria Options
- Standard: 2.5x rent gross income, 650+ credit score (Recommended)
- Strict: 3x rent gross income & 650+ credit score
- Lenient: 2x rent gross income & 650+ credit score
View more details on our Screening Detail Page.
How long will it take to lease my property?
There are many variables to consider when estimating days on market including:
- Property condition
- List price
- Pet policy
- Screening criteria
Sagareus' objective is to lease all units within 30 days.
We can provide a detailed estimate with current leasing data by location & property type with PM Proposal.
How do you handle maintenance requests?
Standard maintenance requests can be submitted online via the Resident Portal or by email to mgmt@sagareus.com. Requests are received and processed within 24 hours for response or dispatch.
Maintenance Emergencies are addressed immediately with our Emergency Maintenance Line.
Each property is assigned preferred vendors based on owner preference (if available), then by Sagareus preferred vendor list.
Sagareus operates within the confines of the Authorization amount; If a repair exceeds this amount, the owner will be notified and provided with options and recommendations.
Standard maintenance items are non-emergency issues, such as:
- Small leaks, running toilets, or dripping shower / tub faucets
- Drain Clogs
- Broken interior door knobs, locks, or hinges
- Broken or malfunctioning microwave, dishwasher, or washer/dryer
A Maintenance Emergency includes:
- Anything that may be a fire hazard, such as broken heater, stove or oven, or exposed wires.
- Anything related to security or your ability to exit, such as broken locks or windows
- Anything related to your ability to cook or store food, such as broken refrigerator or stove top.
- Anything that may be a flood issue, such as a major leak.
- A broken water heater
What is your pet policy?
Property Owners choose their own pet policy.
Sagareus recommends our standard pet policy of up to 2 pets, 30lb weight limit; $50 / mo pet rent.
The final decision is up to the property owner & Sagareus will enforce owner's chosen pet policy.
Full discussion pet policy options:
Do you have an online portal?
Yes, Owners have access to all of their property documents and financials 24/7/365 via Owner Portal established at Onboarding.
Current clients can log in to Owner Portal Here.
Do you have a minimum contract term?
No, Sagareus Property Management Agreements are written at will. Owners may terminate the agreement at any time without penalty.
Offboarding property takes 30 days.
How are utility charges handled?
Sagareus DOES NOT put water / sewer bills in tenant names. Instead, Sagareus receives all bills and then "bills back" the tenants by adding the utility charge to the resident ledger:
- Sagareus receives the utility bill
- Sagareus pays the utility bill out of owner operating account
- Sagareus adds the exact amount to the tenant's ledger to post during upcoming rent cycle
- Tenant pays entire ledger amount
- Sagareus accounts for utility income as "Utility Recovery"
Sagareus follows this process for four reasons:
- Reduces Utility expense by collecting 100% of utility costs from the tenant(s)
- Allows management to watch for high usage, which indicates a leak or extra people living in the property
- Allows management to ensure utility bill is being paid regularly
- Reduces admin work of changing account between leases
When and how will I receive funds?
Owner distributions are sent monthly via electronic funds transfer (EFT), accompanied by monthly reports.
See our Accounting Detail Page for full discussion.
I need to terminate agreement with current management firm, Can you help with this?
Yes, Management Firms work together often to transfer portfolios and services seamlessly.
We can assist you make the transition at anytime.
What is an authorization amount?
The Authorization amount is the dollar amount Rental Owner agrees to allow Sagareus to spend to arrange all maintenance, repairs, and replacements necessary to maintain the property.
Our standard Authorization Amount is $1,000 with a minimum of $500.
What is the property reserve?
This reserve ensures funds are available for necessary payments between the owner draw and the next rent cycle.
The reserve amount is determined by the Authorization Amount specified in your Property Management Agreement.
Why is there an Admin Fee on my Bank Reconciliation?
Occasionally admin fees are collected by management from tenants. Most often, these are credit card surcharge fees that tenants incur when using a credit card to pay rent.
Since the tenants payment is paid directly into owners account management needs to expense these fees out of the owner's operating.
Owners will see these admin fees expenses on the bank reconciliation but, since they are management account, they will not be reflected on or impact the other owner reports.
Why am I paying utilities?
- Sagareus receives the utility bill
- Sagareus pays the utility bill out of owner operating account
- Sagareus adds the exact amount to the tenant's ledger to post during upcoming rent cycle
- Tenant pays entire ledger amount
- Sagareus accounts for utility income as "Utility Recovery"
Sagareus does this for 4 reasons:
- Reduces Utility expense by collecting 100% of utility costs from the tenant(s)
- Allows management to watch for high usage, which indicates a leak or extra people living in the property
- Allows management to ensure utility bill is being paid regularly
- Reduces admin work of changing names between every resident
Why are utilities billed as a flat fee?
When a property has more than one unit sharing utility meters (and submetering is cost prohibitive), Sagareus recommends flat fee utility billing as opposed to splitting the bill between tenants for a few reasons:
- Allows tenant to set up automatic monthly payments, reducing forgotten/missed payments; Or incorrect payment amounts
- Reduces disputes between tenants -- if they are splitting the bill, they can point fingers at one another for driving cost up due to more people, frequent visitors, disputes on how often to water plants, etc
- Overall, the simplicity & clarity provides a better tenant experience
Why is my management fee too little or too much?
What is the property reserve?
This reserve ensures funds are available for necessary payments between the owner draw and the next rent cycle.
The reserve amount is determined by the Authorization Amount specified in your Property Management Agreement.
I've received my reports, where is my owner distribution?
Monthly Owner Reports and Owner Distribution are sent within minutes of one another.
Electronic Funds Transfer can take up to 3 business days to deposit to your account.
Why is Security Deposit $100 less than advertised rent amount?
Sagareus advertises $100 less than rent amount for security deposit as Seattle has mandated that "Move In Costs" be no more than 1 month rent; Seattle has defined Move In costs as security deposit, application fees, and any other admin/cleaning fees charged at move in.
Why is the late fee only $10?
- Different jurisdictions have limit on how much late fee we can charge. Sagareus defaults to the most restrictive rules, which is a $10 Late rent fee.
- Late fee has minimal impact on motivating tenants to pay rent regularly.
- What actually gets tenant to pay is:
- Focused follow ups to execute a signed payment plan
- Pay or vacate notice - mailed + served
- Abandonment & non response notice - mailed and served
- 3 follow ups - email & call
- If tenant is not able to execute a payment plan, we start eviction within 35 days
- Every follow up communication is documented
Learn more about each process in our Property Management Services
