Tips For Homeowners

Check out this section for tips specific to homeowners and feel free to share your tips with me!

Wear & Tear Versus Damages – Quiz Answers

February 9, 2011

Try this quiz: Wear & Tear (W&T) or Damages (D) Furniture scratches on wall Crayon drawings on wall Picture hook hole in wall Molly bolt hole in wall Hole in wall from doorknob Dent in wall from doorknob Mildew caulking in tub or around sinks Dead light bulbs Worn carpet at front door Stains all [...]

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Wear & Tear Versus Damages – Take the Quiz

February 2, 2011

Security Deposits are always a topic for heated discussion.  What is wear and tear versus damage?  Leaving a house dirty is not wear and tear.  It is dirty and cleaning can be deducted from deposit.  Security deposits aren’t to be used for last month rent because you may not have enough money left to cover [...]

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Business Systems – Tips & Tricks

January 12, 2011

1/12/2011 When I teach classes I am always telling the attendees that managing a rental property is a business and needs to be treated as such.  Here are a few tips: Have a filing system – any system will work Current tenant files should include:  application, credit report, emergency contact info, copy of renters insurance [...]

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Holiday Maintenance Checklist

December 8, 2010

Rental properties always need maintenance here is a list of To Do’s to get ready for the season and to prevent you getting that call on Christmas Eve when you have a house full of guests and aren’t in the mood to deal with a maintenance emergency on your rental. Check heater and install new [...]

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How to Rent Your Property During The Holidays

December 1, 2010

It isn’t ideal to have a vacancy in the Fall or Winter months but it does happen. Here are some tips to help you rent that property quickly. Make the outside look warm and cozy – decorate the front for the holidays Get to property early -  turn on the heat in the house Burn [...]

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Property Owners Show Appreciation

November 30, 2010

Annually I send my tenants at Thanksgiving time a card (I don’t do Xmas – everyone gets cards so I don’t stand out) thanking them for being good care takers of the property and I include a gift card.  Some years it is a gas card, other years it is a Marie Calendar card for [...]

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Fowl Play in the Backyard – Chickens Make a Come Back

July 14, 2010

I recently rented a cottage in Santa Cruz and was surprised to see the tenants had a chicken coop with 2 hens and they collected the eggs daily.  When I would show the cottage the hens would scurry around the yard – no bugs at this property was my first thought. As a property manager [...]

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Protect Your Belongings

July 7, 2010

On the news this morning was a report of a rash of arsons on vehicles near downtown Santa Cruz.  Whenever I see a fire situation or a flooding situation on the news my first thought is, “I hope they have insurance.” With every lease we have tenants sign we have a Renter’s Insurance Addendum where [...]

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