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Everything you need to know
Renters
How to apply for a rental
Applying with Rentals by Spivey is entirely online and takes about 15 minutes. Here's how it works from start to keys.
1. Find a home. Browse available units and note the address of the one you want. New listings post to our site, newsletter, and social channels the moment they open.
2. Apply online. Complete the secure application in our portal — personal details, income, and rental history. Applications are kept on file for up to six months, so you can be considered for other homes without reapplying.
3. Know the criteria. Every application is scored on our 9-point system: 3× monthly income (assistance counts), credit 620+, matching lease start date, 100% payment history, clear background check, no more than 2 people per bedroom, non-smoking preferred, pets matching the unit standard, and 1+ year at the same job. A perfect 9/9 is rare — we regularly approve 7/9 and 8/9. The only automatic disqualifier is a history of violent crime.
4. Hear back fast. You'll get an approval or denial email within about a week — often the same day. Once approved, we prepare your lease, collect your deposit (equal to the first month's rent), and set your move-in date.
What to have ready: a government-issued photo ID, proof of income (recent pay stubs or an offer letter), previous addresses and landlord contacts, and the application fee (paid securely online).
Renters
The move-in checklist
A little setup before and after you get the keys makes moving day smooth. Here's what to line up.
Before move-in
- Sign your lease online and pay your first month's rent plus deposit
- Set up e-pay in the Resident Center so rent is never late (due the 1st, grace through the 5th)
- Transfer utilities into your name — PUD (power), water/sewer, and garbage
- Arrange renters insurance if your lease requires it
- Save our numbers: office 360-519-4425, plus the Aberdeen (360-537-3213) and Hoquiam (360-533-8935) water-emergency lines
Moving day & after
- Do a walkthrough and photograph the unit's condition for your records
- Test smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors; report anything through the Resident Center
- Note quiet hours (10pm–7am) and where to park and place trash
- Submit any non-emergency maintenance in writing through the Resident Center
Questions on move-in day? We're reachable seven days a week — just call.
Local
Moving to Grays Harbor
Grays Harbor is one of the most affordable places to live on the Washington coast — median rents run well below the state average, with easy access to beaches, rivers, and the Olympic Peninsula.
Aberdeen & Hoquiam are the twin commercial hubs, with historic downtowns, riverfront neighborhoods, and the most rental options. Cosmopolis and Montesano (the county seat) offer quieter, family-friendly streets, while Elma and McCleary sit on the east side with quick highway access toward Olympia.
For coastal living, Westport & Grayland bring marina life and Pacific beaches, and Ocean Shores is a resort community of dunes and canals.
Each town has its own school district and character — explore our neighborhood pages for local schools, market snapshots, and available rentals:
Owners
Is professional management worth it?
If you own a rental, the honest answer depends on what your time and peace of mind are worth. Here's what management actually costs — and what it saves.
What it costs. Our management fee is 10% of collected rents, with transparent, itemized charges: 50% of the first month for new tenant placement, 25% (12-mo) or 12.5% (6-mo) for renewals, a $250 onboarding fee ($25 per additional unit), and maintenance at $70/hr. No hidden fees, and you can cancel anytime with 60 days' notice.
What it saves. Lower vacancy (our stand-out marketing and 9-point screening keep quality tenants in place), stable income (careful screening and proactive upkeep), and your time back — we take every tenant call, coordinate maintenance, serve legal notices, run inspections, and deliver a clean monthly statement to your owner portal.
The results. Across hundreds of units we maintain a 97% occupancy rate and 98% rent-collection rate — and we've been voted the top property management company in the Twin Harbors every year we've been in business.
The short version: if you'd rather not field 10pm maintenance calls, chase rent, or track WA landlord-tenant law changes, professional management pays for itself in fewer vacancies and far less stress.