Owners FAQs

Answers to your frequently asked questions

• What does Caddie Property Management charge?

  Caddie charges a flat $99/month for full-service management — the same rate regardless of what your property rents for. When we place a new tenant, there is a one-time leasing fee of 75% of the first month's rent to cover advertising, marketing, tenant screening, and lease execution. Lease renewals are a flat $300 fee.

  There are no setup fees, no onboarding fees, no maintenance markups, and no cancellation penalties. What you see is what you pay.

  For a full breakdown of what each fee covers, see our complete pricing guide.

• What areas does Caddie Property Management serve?

  We manage single-family rental properties throughout the Des Moines metro including Ankeny, Waukee, Johnston, Urbandale, West Des Moines, Clive, Grimes, Altoona, Pleasant Hill, and surrounding communities in Polk County and Dallas County, Iowa.

• What is included in Caddie's full-service management?

  Caddie's Full Service plan includes:

  • Advertising and marketing — your property listed on all major rental platforms simultaneously with professional photography
  • Tenant screening — credit check, income verification, rental history references, background check, and eviction history review
  • Lease creation and execution — current Iowa-compliant lease prepared and signed
  • Rent collection — online payment processing, late fee enforcement, and monthly disbursement to your account by the 20th of each month
  • Maintenance coordination — vendor dispatching with no markup on invoices; repairs under $500 authorized at Caddie's discretion; repairs over $500 require owner approval, except habitability emergencies
  • Move-in and move-out inspections — documented with photos and written reports
  • Periodic walk-through inspections — proactive identification of maintenance issues and lease compliance
  • Tenant communication — Caddie serves as the primary point of contact for all tenant inquiries, requests, and notices
  • Monthly owner statements — electronic accounting of all receipts and disbursements delivered by the 20th of each month
  • Owner portal access — real-time visibility into rent collection, maintenance, and financials
  • Eviction assistance — Caddie is available to provide evidence and testimony in any Iowa FED action
  • Year-end financial reporting — 1099 and annual statements for tax purposes

• Does Caddie mark up maintenance and repair invoices?

  No. Caddie never marks up maintenance invoices. You are billed at vendor cost — exactly what the contractor charges. This is stated explicitly in our Property Manager Agreement and is one of the ways our interests stay aligned with yours.

• How does Caddie handle maintenance repairs?

  For repairs and maintenance under $500, Caddie is authorized to proceed without contacting the owner and may apply the owner's reserve fund. You will receive an accounting of all repairs on a timely basis.

  For repairs over $500, Caddie will contact you for approval. As an owner, you agree to respond within 3 days of being contacted.

  In any situation affecting tenant health, safety, or habitability — including heat, water, or emergency conditions — Caddie may authorize repairs immediately without dollar limit and without waiting for owner approval. Iowa law requires landlords to maintain habitable conditions, and this provision protects you legally.

• What is the Reserve Fund and how does it work?

  When you sign a Property Manager Agreement with Caddie, you deposit $500 into a trust account as a reserve fund. Caddie may use this reserve to cover property expenses, repairs, maintenance, and management fees as they arise. If the reserve balance falls below $500, Caddie may withhold disbursements to you until it is replenished. The reserve is held in a federally-insured trust account separate from Caddie's operating funds.

• How does Caddie screen tenants?

  Every applicant goes through a full screening process:

  • Credit check — payment history and credit profile analysis, not just a score
  • Income verification — we require verifiable gross monthly income of at least 2.5–3x the monthly rent, confirmed with pay stubs, bank statements, or documentation
  • Rental history — direct contact with prior landlords
  • Background check — criminal history and identity verification
  • Eviction history — prior eviction filings reviewed

  Screening criteria are documented and applied consistently to every applicant for fair housing compliance. For more detail, see our guide on the real cost of bad tenants.

• How quickly will my property be leased?

  In the current Des Moines market, well-priced properties with professional photography typically lease in 14–30 days. Properties in high-demand suburbs like Ankeny and Waukee can lease in 18–21 days when priced accurately. Properties that are overpriced relative to current comps take significantly longer.

  Caddie lists on all major platforms simultaneously on day one, uses professional photography, offers self-scheduling showings, and responds to inquiries same-day. For more on how we approach vacancy, see how we reduce vacancy for Des Moines landlords.

• What happens if a tenant doesn't pay rent?

  Caddie handles all rent collection and late fee enforcement. Iowa law allows a 3-day notice to pay or quit after rent is not paid when due. Under your lease, a $20/day late fee applies beginning on the 6th day of the month, up to a maximum of $60/month, which complies with Iowa's statutory late fee caps for rentals above $700/month — the cap is $100/month, and our lease is conservative.

  If an eviction becomes necessary, Iowa's Forcible Entry and Detainer (FED) process applies. Under our Property Manager Agreement, the owner is responsible for court filing costs and arranging service of notices after filing. Caddie will provide evidence, testimony, and general assistance throughout the process. For more on Iowa eviction law, see our Iowa rental laws guide.

• Does Caddie handle evictions?

  Caddie assists with the eviction process but does not file on the owner's behalf. Under our Property Manager Agreement, the owner is responsible for filing the Iowa Code Chapter 648 Forcible Entry and Detainer action and paying associated court costs. Caddie will be available to testify, provide documentation, and generally assist. The parties may also mutually agree to divide eviction duties.

• What notice does Caddie give before entering a tenant's property?

  Iowa law requires at least 24 hours' written notice before entering a rental unit, except in emergencies. Caddie follows this requirement for all inspections, repairs, showings, and contractor access.

• Can I contact my tenant directly?

  Under the Property Manager Agreement, owners agree not to contact, deal with, or negotiate directly with current or prospective tenants on any matter related to management or leasing. All tenant communications should be referred to Caddie. This protects both you and the tenant relationship.

• What happens at lease renewal?

  If you do not notify Caddie in writing at least 60 days before lease expiration that you do not want a renewal, Caddie will initiate the renewal process. Renewal outreach begins 90 days before expiration. A $300 lease renewal fee applies for each renewed lease. Caddie assesses current market conditions before recommending a renewal rate.

• Is there a cancellation fee if I want to stop using Caddie?

  No. There is no cancellation fee. If the relationship isn't working for any reason, you're not financially penalized for leaving. The Property Manager Agreement can be terminated with written notice per the default and cure provisions.

• Does Caddie carry insurance?

  Yes. Caddie maintains General Commercial Liability Insurance and Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance. Owners are required to maintain their own landlord liability policy with a minimum $500,000 per occurrence that names Caddie as an additional insured, as well as property insurance for the replacement cost of the property.

• Should I hire a property manager or self-manage?

  This depends on your time, proximity to the property, legal knowledge, and appetite for the operational work. We've written an honest guide that makes the case for both sides: Should I Self-Manage My Rental Property?

• How do I get started with Caddie?

  Contact Caddie Property Management to discuss your property. We'll provide a free rental market assessment — what your property would realistically lease for in the current market — and walk through what the management relationship would look like before you sign anything.

  Contact Caddie Property Management

This FAQ reflects Caddie Property Management's standard practices and current lease and management agreement terms as of 2026. Individual lease agreements may vary. Iowa landlord-tenant law is subject to change. This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.