Our Little Library Helps Smart Landlords Get Smarter
Inspection
How To Raise Rent Graciously And Effectively
Many landlords don’t feel comfortable when it's time to raise rent. So, here are six simple ways that may help the uncomfortable process be a little more, well, comfortable. Remember, you’re a business firstAs friendly as you might be with your tenants,...
read moreNew Law Allows Accessory Dwelling Units Regardless of City or HOA Rules
California's interest in Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) stems from the housing shortage. A new law effective January 1, 2020 streamlines the ADU approval process by requiring cities to approve applications within 60-days or it is considered automatically approved....
read moreWhat’s Normal Wear & Tear and Other Good Practices
It happens to every landlord at some point... a tenant moves out and they didn’t leave the property in the same spotless condition that you gave it to them in. So, you wonder what repairs and expenses can I deduct from their security deposit? California law draws a...
read moreShould I Say Yes To Pets?
Most of us count ourselves among the 6 in 10 Americans who consider pets to be members of their families. Yet, sadly as many as 90% of pets in shelters were given up by owners who simply couldn’t find pet-friendly housing. Since 62% of Americans have at least one pet,...
read moreStatewide Rent Control Passed
AB 1482 passed which limits statewide annual rent increases and puts in place just-cause eviction protections for tenants. The bill takes effect January 1, 2020, with a retroactive provision and will be in place for 10 years. Here's a simple overview for landlords......
read moreFreelancers Versus Contractors
Many landlords hire freelancers or unlicensed contractors to work on their Orange County rental properties. Most of the time it works out just fine, but when things go south, as they often do, a nightmare may unfold. By hiring an inexperienced freelancer, owners forgo...
read moreSuggestions For Increasing Cash Flow
Not all CPA's are created equal. Some know medicine, manufacturing, or aerospace and may not know too much about real estate... Whether a landlord owns one or one hundred properties, it's wise to talk to or retain a CPA that knows all the intricate...
read more4 Simple Landlord Insurance Questions to Ask Your Carrier
Not all insurance policies are created equal, so it's a good idea to talk with your insurance carrier upon renewal to ensure your policy is what you want it to be. Here's a few topics to cover... 1. Property Protection Insurance policies for rental...
read more5 Reasons To Allow A Tenant To Break Their Lease
As Orange County landlords, we want some amount of tenant stability; after all, tenant turnover is a cash flow killer. Very rarely do we allow tenants to break a lease without a very good reason, such as these that top the charts. Active or reserve militaryActive...
read moreWhy Pre-showing Rental Properties Is A Bad Idea
Sounds like a good idea right... market early to rent early? Yet this is not always the case. Here's some reasons why we don't pre-show properties... Help... I can't see! It's kind of like selling a car; we need the fries gone, vents cleaned, engine power washed,...
read moreWhen To Change Smoke/CO Alarms
Property management companies are routinely questioned by landlords about the cost of replacing smoke and CO detectors when they ‘appear’ perfectly fine. The life expectancy of smoke alarms is generally ten years and CO alarms are seven years after which their sensors...
read moreThe Importance of Rekeying Between Tenants
Most particularly, the more aware Orange County Property management companies are always looking to mitigate liability on every level – and there are many, many levels with tenants. One way to keep everyone out of a legal nightmare is to ensure the new tenants receive...
read moreHow To Handle Emotional Support Animals
Landlord and tenant rights are constantly changing and unfortunately California courts favor tenants. The current “money maker” for attorneys isn’t asbestos, lead or mold, it’s Emotional Support Animals. A tenant has the right to bring their service dogs and emotional...
read moreTop Three Reasons Why Tenants Sue Landlords
Tenants love unscrupulous attorneys, the simplicity of small claims court in a tenant friendly state… So what can a landlord do to avoid the three most common lawsuits filed by tenants? Basically, be fair, be square, and try to settle disputes quickly. Here are the...
read moreAlphabet Power!
Wondering why your house isn’t renting? Renters can see exaggerated or misleading language from a mile away. We’ve compiled a list of words that may be scaring your potential applicants away. Words to Avoid in Rental Listings are: Clean: This arouses suspicion–people...
read moreFour Do’s and One Must Not Do
Struggling to fill a vacancy? Wondering what’s preventing you from finding the perfect tenant? Here are four “must dos” and one major “must not do.” Here are four must do's: 1. Verify Market Rent Check comparable rentals in your neighborhood to make sure you’re asking...
read moreCurb Appeal is Appealing
Location is still king, but curb appeal is the queen influencer on perception of value. So if want more potential tenants to apply for your rental property here are tips to improve a tenant’s first impression and hopefully a lasting one too. De-clutter Order a...
read moreYou Know You May Want an Orange County Property Manager When…
If you're a out of area landlord with rental property in Orange County, the last thing you want to do deal with is tenants, toilets, troubles and attorneys from afar. Here are just a few reasons why you may want to consider hiring or perhaps should hire (or at least...
read moreA Few Simple Steps To Decrease Vacancies
It’s 2018 and landlords are seeing their “For Rent” perhaps signs up longer than anticipated. This is when we loves to show off our marketing, skills and leasing team to fill vacancies and maintain rent values to maximize the landlord's income. But not all landlord's...
read more