If your lease is coming to an end, then you may be struggling to decide whether you should renew it or look for another place. You may be thinking about looking for another place, but it is important to remember that the grass is not always greener on the other side. There are many benefits that you can benefit from a lease renewal.

Save Money In The Long Run

One of the reasons that people look for another place is because they are trying to save money. While the rent at another place may be cheaper, you may actually end up paying more money in the long run. Moving can easily cost you hundreds of dollars. Additionally, if your leases overlap, then you may have to pay the rent for two places.

You Are Wanted

It is a lot easier and cheaper for property managers to keep their old tenants than it is for them to look for new ones. That is why they appreciate good tenants. Many property managers will even give you an incentive to renew your lease, such as a gift card or a discount on the rent. Property managers often go above and beyond to make sure that tenants are comfortable in their homes.

Renewing Your Lease is Easier

There are a lot of things that you will have to do before you move to another place. You have to purchase boxes, pack up all of your belongings, clean up the place, turn off your utilities and ask people if they can help you move. If you need a moving company, then you will have to book them in advance.

Furthermore, you will have to change you will have to make sure that your mail is forwarded. This can be quite time-consuming. You do not have to worry about doing any of those things if you renew your lease. The only thing that you will have to do is spend five to 10 minutes filling out the form. Once you fill out the application, your living arrangement will be set until the lease ends again.

There is a lot of uncertainty that comes along with moving to another place. You will not know your neighbors, and you may not know much about the area. You are already familiar with your current place. That is why you may feel more comfortable staying there.

As a renter, it is important that you maintain the apartment you live in for many reasons. For one, it will give you a great feeling to walk into a clean apartment. It will also allow you a better chance of getting your security deposit back when you decide to move elsewhere. One of the main things your landlord will be looking at is your carpet. A carpet, if maintained, can last for many years. The following are some carpet cleaning tips to help keep your carpet looking new in your apartment.

Daily Vacuuming

One of the main reasons that carpets look dull and worn is that they are not vacuumed on a regular basis. The more that dirt and debris stay on the carpet, the deeper it goes inside the carpet fibers. By vacuuming every day, you will stay ahead of the dirt and debris and prevent them from getting deep into the fibers.

Cleaning Up Spills

When you spill something on the carpet, do not rub the spill or it will simply spread it further. Instead, place a soft, absorbent cloth over the spill and place pressure on it. In most cases, stepping on the cloth will soak up the most amount of liquid. Keep doing this with a new cloth until the cloth comes up dry.

Cleaning Stains

Stains can quickly make a new carpet look awful. Before you clean, be sure to check what the recommended cleaning agent is before using one. If you cannot find it and your landlord does not have that information, club soda will usually do the trick. However, you do not want to pour this on the stain as it will push it further down. Instead, blot the stain by putting the club soda onto a cloth. This is usually very effective and will not damage the carpet.

Keeping your carpet looking new is important when you are renting. Along with the above tips, you will want to have it deep cleaned on a regular basis. However, as stated before, never use any type of cleaner on the carpet until you know which one is right for the carpet or you have tested in an inconspicuous place on the carpet. The last thing you want to do is cause more damage.

Now with these carpet cleaning tips, you will maintain your carpets looking good as new for many years.

A great looking space can certainly attract quality tenants, but even the best rental is going to be undesirable if it lacks a reliable HVAC system. Of course, heating and cooling equipment are a big investment; however, there are some simple tips that can help tenants protect their HVAC system and enjoy a more comfortable living environment.

Change Filters Regularly

An essential part of protecting HVAC equipment is making sure that the air filter is changed on a regular basis. The frequency will depend on the type of filter that is used; however, tenants should understand the importance of keeping a clean filter in their HVAC system. You can provide filters or leave it up to tenants to purchase their own, but the filter should be changed every month or two. An HVAC system that runs with a dirty filter not only costs more to operate but can place additional stress on the equipment, leading to premature breakdowns.

Keep Condensate Line Clear

The condensate line drains the natural accumulation of water from your HVAC system. A small line runs from your indoor unit to the outside of the building. Of course, when you have any type of environment with regular moisture, mold and mildew can pose a problem.vThe drain line for your air conditioner is certainly no exception.

Fortunately, with a little preventative maintenance, it’s possible to keep this drain line clear and your HVAC system running smoothly. Tenants should be provided information on how to keep the condensate line clear.

Most HVAC professionals recommend using a 50/50 solution of water mixed with either distilled white vinegar or bleach. Tenants should carefully pour this solution down the condensate drain line every couple of months in order to keep the line clear and prevent a complete system shut down.

Keep Vents Clear of Obstructions

An air conditioning or heating system needs good air flow in order to function properly. Sometimes, something as simple as tenants placing boxes or furniture in front of an intake vent can cause problems. In the summer, a blocked air vent could cause the air conditioner to freeze, leaving the tenant without the comfort of air conditioning. Likewise, all vents should be open for proper air flow throughout the property. Some people think shutting vents to some rooms will help their energy bills down, but it will typically create an uncomfortable indoor environment as well as poor AC performance. Partially shutting vents is more effective than closing them all the way.

If you don’t take the time to paint each rental unit every time a tenant moves out, you are making a mistake and you could be losing money. A light neutral paint color invites warms the space, makes it look bigger and brighter, and it gives the tenant the feeling that they are moving into a space that’s new. Here are a few of the main reasons why you want to paint between each rental agreement.

Quickly Eliminate Blemishes

It can take a lot of scrubbing and washing to get scuff marks and other blemishes off the walls when a tenant moves out. Save your time and energy and paint over the walls to hide all the markings. This makes the space look new and the fresh paint will be a great leasing benefit for the guests.

Mask Odors

When people cook, have pets, burn incense, and do other things that leave behind odors in the space, it can be difficult to get rid of the smells. Paint with latex can mask and seal these different types of odors so the next tenant doesn’t have to suffer. Use a paint that blocks odors even if the cost is slightly higher, because it’s difficult to lease a unit that has any type of unnatural smell.

Kill Bacteria and Pollutants

Paint with latex doesn’t just eliminate odors, but it will also kill bacteria like mold and mildew. Mold and mildew don’t just cause a musty smell, but they also can cause allergy or asthma problems for some of the tenants, and underlying mold problems can be a risk for the tenants. Without killing these pollutants you could have liability issues later on.

If you don’t want to take the time to paint the unit yourself, hire a professional painting company or ask a property management company to have the work completed each time someone moves out. This is an easy and affordable way to give your rentals a facelift regularly.

Moving into a new apartment can be exciting. However, it can also be very expensive. There are many things that you can do to save money when you move into new apartments. Below is a list of tips that will help you.

Set A Budget

In order to save money, you will have to set a budget. When you are setting a budget, it is good to use the 50/30/10/10 rule. Fifty percent of your income should go towards fixed expenses, such as insurance, rent, car payment and loan payments. Thirty percent of your income should go towards fixed expenses, such as utility bills and groceries.

At least 10 percent of your income should go to your emergency fund. If you have more money left over, then you should definitely consider putting more in your emergency fund. You can put five to 10 percent of your income towards things like entertainment and fun.

Buy Cheaper Furniture

You have to buy furniture for your apartment. However, there are things that you can do in order to get what you need for a cheaper price. For example, you can purchase items from a thrift store or a flea market. You can find new or gently used items for an inexpensive price at a discount store. You may also be able to save money by shopping online.

Cut Your Energy Use

Your electricity will probably be one of your biggest expenses. There are many things that you can do in order to cut your electricity bill. For example, you can invest in compact fluorescent light bulbs. These light bulbs are energy-efficient, and they last longer. You may also want to invest in a programmable thermostat.

Purchase Renter’s Insurance

You can save a lot of money by not purchasing things that you do not need. However, renter’s insurance is definitely a worthwhile purchase. Renter’s insurance covers your belongings if they are damaged by a disaster or stolen. It also offers liability coverage. Renters insurance can help you save a lot of money in the long run.

As a landlord, you will perform inspections on a regular basis. During this process, it is easy to neglect lower-traffic areas for efficiency’s sake. Here are 3 frequently overlooked inspection items.

Closets

While it’s reasonable to assume that no one throws a party in the closet, the “out of sight, out of mind” mentality certainly comes into play here. People tend to store their bulkiest, most obtrusive items in closets; therefore, the potential for accidental damage is just as high as the potential in a living room or bathroom—if not higher.

When inspecting the closets, check the trim, shelf anchors, and lower and upper walls for damage. Often, you’ll find that well-meaning residents have accidentally punched a hole in the wall with a poorly-placed suitcase.

Stove and Laundry Outlets

The temptation to disregard areas behind large appliances such as the oven or washing machine is strong, but by the same logic, tenants often neglect these places when cleaning. Grime, rotting food, and even mold can accumulate in these areas. You don’t want to be responsible for a rodent infestation or an allergic reaction, instead, pay special attention in the kitchen and laundry room.
In the same vein, if the tenant did decide to pull the oven or washer/dryer out to clean, chances are they scraped up the floors or trim on the counters.

Tall Cupboards

The spaces above the refrigerator and stove often serve a similar purpose to the closets: bulky, messy, or otherwise unseemly items that your tenants don’t use on a daily basis often go in these places, which means that the potential for abrasive damage is high. Their general inaccessibility usually means that you’ll find neglected items, scrapes, and grease build-up.

Keyrenter East Bay is dedicated to keeping you informed and up-to-date on your responsibilities as a property owner. For more information on how you can make the most of your inspections, call us today!

The constant need to find new tenants to fill out houses and apartments is one of the most taxing responsibilities of property management. In the past, renting was a stepping stone for many young professionals and new families on their way to home ownership. However, the current economic climate and cultural shift in the millennial generation has opened the opportunity for preserving lasting relationships with tenants. Here are 5 tips for turning temporary tenants into long-term residents.

1. Maintain respectful relations

Maintaining a healthy professional relationship with your tenants is essential for creating trust and comfort for both parties. Respect the privacy and convenience of your tenants whenever possible by scheduling examinations, repairs and other necessary visits on their schedule. Give as much notice as possible so they can prepare.

2. Address problems quickly

One of the biggest complaints that tenants have about their landlords is how long it takes them to remedy issues that arise. If a tenant calls you to complain about a clogged pipe, leaky roof or any other serious problem that impacts their quality of life, you should respond as soon as possible and start working to fix the issue.

3. Offer incentives or gifts to retain good tenants

Property management professionals and seasoned landlords know that good tenants are priceless. They can be hard to find, so holding on to them is a top priority. Instead of increasing their rent every year, you can keep their rate the same as a gesture of thanks. You may even consider giving small gifts or other incentives to tenants who put effort into improving the property.

4. Survey and ask questions

Even if your tenants aren’t actively complaining about an issue or inconvenience, that doesn’t mean they are completely satisfied with their experience. Excellent landlords go the extra mile and talk to their tenants at least once or twice a year to make sure they are comfortable and content with the unit. This shows your residents that you care about them personally, and not just as tenants.

5. Put it all on the lease

This may seem like a basic step, but many disputes and disagreements arise because of misunderstanding regarding the obligations of both parties. Consult a legal professional when drafting a lease agreement for your tenants to sign, and make sure it includes every relevant detail. This provides tenants with the expectations up front, so they aren’t surprised later.

The Advantages of Long-term Tenants

Keeping tenants from year to year reduces administrative expenses since you don’t need to conduct financial or background checks on prospective residents. It also allows you to wait longer to repair wear and tear damage, like carpet and scuffed walls, that would likely be redone between tenants.

Maintaining productive relationships with tenants is certainly rewarding, but it can also represent a lot of time and dedication. That’s why many property owners turn to Keyrenter East Bay as their property management professionals. We look for the best possible tenants for your house or apartment and retain them to maximize the value of your investment.

Your real estate is an investment, and renting properties is one of the most lucrative ways to get a return on that investment. Renting is not a simple process, however, and a decision you face is whether to manage the rental yourself or hire a property management company.

Many people and companies with rental property in and around Berkeley, California, will turn to a service like Keyrenter East Bay. On the surface, such a service may seem like just an additional expense, a convenience, but professional property management can actually improve your bottom line.

Quality Tenant Retention

Perhaps the two greatest challenges any renter in Berkeley or anywhere faces is retention and tenant quality. Low retention is a problem because establishing new tenants is not a free process, and any month without rent is not just a loss of income but a potential expense. Tenant quality is important because low-quality tenants often result in costs not recoverable from the security deposit alone.

Companies that specialize in managing properties are uniquely suited to overcome these challenges. They know California law and have a network that extends throughout the state. They can reach quality tenants through marketing, and vet and process them in a way that makes retention likely.

Efficient Maintenance and Repairs

Maintenance, repair, and appliance replacement costs are among the chief concerns when it comes to increasing margins. Repair costs during a bad month can easily sap profits. Having quality tenants who take pride in their space and respect your property will certainly help keep maintenance and repair costs low, but they can be even lower.

One of the great advantages a company like Keyrenter East Bay can provide you is access to local trade networks and the discounts that can come with that. Additionally, effective proactive spending on maintenance can actually lower the overall costs in a significant way. A manager can schedule preventive inspections of the roof, HVAC system, electrical system and so forth.

Managed Rate Increases

A challenge landlords face is knowing when and when not to increase rent. As someone who owns a single rental property, you may not think of yourself as a business operator, but that’s exactly what you are. Ideally, you should base rate increases on a number of economic factors.

A property management firm like Keyrenter East Bay has great access to such information. How are employment rates? Are area incomes rising or falling? Has Social Security and other government organizations increased cost-of-living supplements. Perhaps most importantly, how does your rent compare to similar rentals in the area.

Lease Protection

Another potential loss of revenue for landlords is the lease, and another important way that a property management company can protect you is by providing an ironclad lease. Many leases provided by people who rent out their own properties are from leases that are lacking. A personalized lease ensures that you’re protected from unnecessary daily expenses and that you’re on firm legal ground should you or the property manager need to go to court in order to recoup damages from a tenant.