Tips For Renters

Renting a property doesn’t absolve you from responsibilities per your rental contract. Learn some great tips to have a successful tenancy.

9/11 how does it relate to managing rentals?

September 21, 2011

We just observed the 10 year anniversary of 9/11. The take away for me was the reminder of how precious life is and the fact that our lives as we know it can be turned upside down in an instant.  So how does that impact owning rentals? We need to be prepared.  Once you own real [...]

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Know Your FICO Score

July 29, 2011

This month a new law was passed that stipulates if you apply for rental housing and you are denied because of your credit the property mgmt firm must give you your FICO score.  The State of California requires that if an applicant asks for their credit report you must provide it to them. If you [...]

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Keep Pets Safe this 4th of July

July 4, 2011

4th of July is a time to celebrate our independance, watch fire works, and have BBQ’s with friends.  It is also the one day out of the year that is the most frightening to your pets. Please keep your pets inside, and with you.  Have the TV on to midigate the sounds of fire works [...]

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July 1, 2011 – Save a Life!

July 1, 2011

Today it is law that all homes have Carbon Monoxide Detectors installed in them. Having personally known people who have died from Carbon Monoxide it is well worth putting the detector in your home. Rental properties have until July 2013, but in our company we have already installed them in all of our units. If [...]

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The Christmas Tree Goes up in Flames – Now What?

December 6, 2010

The biggest tip I can give renters is to get Renter’s Insurance.  We include with our lease a recommendation for Renter’s insurance – addendum.  It costs only about $150 for the entire year.  Your iphone to replace is more than $150 so it is worth it. I have seen too many fires and the tenant [...]

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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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Santa Cruz City Has Had It!

June 30, 2010

Last weeks post was about Party Houses well since then I attended a community meeting with the Mayor of Santa Cruz, Planning Dept heads at the Santa Cruz Association of Realtors office to discuss a new ordinance. To back up a bit an emergency ordinance was passed by the City stating that if property owners [...]

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