by Suzanne Rodoni-Silverberg | Dec 11, 2020 | Property Management
Rental property inspections are the best tool you have to protect the condition of your investment home and ensure your tenants are following the terms of your lease. Inspections also allow you to check for deferred and unreported damage.
Most property owners know they have to inspect before tenants move in and after tenants move out. These inspections will help you document the condition of your property before and after the residency. While California law is strict about when and how you should enter a tenant’s occupied home, it’s a good idea to get inside at least once during the leasing period for a maintenance walk-through.
There may be reasons to inspect more frequently. If you have a reason to believe your tenant isn’t taking care of the property, or you see something suspicious while driving by the property, you might want to schedule an extra inspection. Otherwise, you want to balance your need to protect your investment against your tenant’s right to privacy and a quiet living environment free from disruptions. (more…)
by Suzanne Rodoni-Silverberg | Nov 27, 2020 | Property Management
With tenants moving into your Santa Cruz rental property, you need to make sure the place is clean, welcoming, and functional. Offering tenants an easy and stress-free move-in experience will set a positive and professional tone for the entire tenancy. It’s a great opportunity to establish a great relationship with your residents.
As you put together your move-in checklist, make sure it includes these important items. (more…)
by Suzanne Rodoni-Silverberg | Nov 13, 2020 | Property Management
There have been some big changes to California law in terms of the landlord and tenant relationship. Even before the pandemic put a moratorium on evictions, there were rent control rules that grew even stricter throughout the state and new eviction requirements that rental property owners have been struggling to incorporate.
Renting out a property in California is risky. It’s easy to make mistakes, and if you’ve never thought about working with a professional Santa Cruz property management company, this is a good time to consider it. (more…)
by Suzanne Rodoni-Silverberg | Oct 30, 2020 | Property Management
Rental property maintenance is rarely something property owners like to talk about. It’s expensive, but it’s also necessary. When you’re renting out a Santa Cruz home, there will be routine and emergency repairs. Part of budgeting and being prepared is putting together a great list of vendors. The professionals you use to complete these repairs should be licensed, insured, and bonded. It’s the only way to protect yourself, your property, and your tenants.
A lot of landlords seem content to hire anyone willing to do the work. It often seems to be the cheaper way out of a maintenance issue. We don’t recommend that. In fact, we strongly caution you against it. This will only invite risk and liability, and it could cost you a lot more than you think you saved. (more…)
by Suzanne Rodoni-Silverberg | Sep 18, 2020 | Our Blog, Property Management
Your relationship with the property management company you choose needs to be built on trust, communication, and a shared set of responsibilities and expectations. You’re paying your property managers a monthly fee in exchange for a scope of services. If you feel like those services aren’t being provided or you’re not getting the value that you’re paying for, it may be time to re-think your relationship. (more…)
by Suzanne Rodoni-Silverberg | Sep 4, 2020 | Our Blog, Property Management
Insurance is part of your risk management plan when you own investment property in Santa Cruz. Your rental property is most likely one of your most valuable assets and it’s important to protect that investment. Insurance can be confusing, especially if you’re a new investor or you’re renting out a home that you once lived in yourself. (more…)
by Suzanne Rodoni-Silverberg | Aug 21, 2020 | Our Blog, Property Management
When you want to protect the condition of your Santa Cruz investment property and work towards retaining great tenants, you have to have a reliable and responsive plan in place to address maintenance requests. Sound maintenance practices not only keep your residents happy and secure, they also protect the condition of your investment. (more…)
by Suzanne Rodoni-Silverberg | Aug 7, 2020 | Our Blog, Property Management
Placing well-qualified residents into your Santa Cruz rental property is an essential first step in having a positive and profitable investment experience. Good tenants will pay rent on time, take care of the home, and follow the terms of the lease agreement. They’ll communicate well with you and report maintenance issues in a timely manner. (more…)
by Suzanne Rodoni-Silverberg | Jul 24, 2020 | Our Blog, Santa Cruz Property Management Education
Understanding the landlord and tenant laws in California is an important part of renting out a property in Santa Cruz. To make the legal landscape even more complicated for owners, these laws change all the time. In 2020 alone, we have seen new rent control and just cause eviction laws. An eviction moratorium went into effect because of the COVID-19 pandemic. (more…)
by Suzanne Rodoni-Silverberg | Jul 10, 2020 | Our Blog, Santa Cruz Property Management Education
When you’re choosing a Santa Cruz property manager, there are many questions to ask. The typical questions have to do with fees but there is so much more that goes into choosing the right manager for your property.
One of the most important things to look for is experience. That doesn’t only mean that you want a company that’s been in business for a long time. Experience covers a lot of different things, and if you can find a Santa Cruz property management company that puts its experience to work for its owners, residents, and community – you’re probably working with the right company.
Santa Cruz Property Management Experience: Local Knowledge
Local experience is particularly important. When you work with a local Santa Cruz property manager, you can be sure you’re getting up-to-date knowledge and resources that is specific to the market and the tenant pool. This will help with pricing your rental home and marketing it strategically to high quality tenants. Local property managers will understand the trends of the real estate market and how those things impact what tenants are looking for and what they’re willing to pay for a rental property.
There are many excellent real estate brands with nationwide reach. But, when it comes to managing your local rental property, we think you need a property manager who lives and works in Santa Cruz and understands the unique qualities of this rental market.
Industry Experience and Best Practices
Industry experience is important, too. You want to work with property managers who spend time staying on top of the latest laws, best practices, and industry trends. You need a management company with innovative technology and marketing. You want someone who is efficient and effective, and those are qualities that come from years of experience and continuing professional development.
Before you hire a management company, ask what professional organizations they belong to. A good start would be the National Association of Residential Property Managers (NARPM) and the California Apartment Association (CAA).
Years of experience are only a plus when they are positive. Are they actively invested in the market? What is the pay on time rate for their portfolio of tenants? What is their eviction rate? How have they adjusted to the COVID epidemic? Do they have systems, processes, and procedures that are designed to protect you and your property?
Experience with Your Santa Cruz Investment Property
It’s also important to find a company that is experienced with the type of rental homes you own. When you want to rent out single-family properties in established neighborhoods, a management company that specializes in new construction apartment buildings may not be your best resource. Talk to your property manager about the types of homes they’ve managed and why they’re different from other types of rental properties.
We have some additional suggestions on how to find a great Santa Cruz property management company with the right kind of experience. Contact us at Real Estate Eight Three One for more information.
