San Diego is one of California's most competitive rental markets.
If you're a San Diego landlord, this presents an amazing opportunity to make some money. That said, being a landlord isn't about earning passive income. You've got important landlord responsibilities to take care of if you're going to keep your tenants content and vacancy rates low.
One of the chief responsibilities of landlords is property maintenance. In today's post, we'll give you some essential tips for maintaining your San Diego rental property. Keep reading and you'll do right by your tenants while keeping your investment property value high in the long term.
Tenant Screening
Maintaining your rental property starts with having tenants who treat your units with respect. Every rental property goes through an inordinate amount of wear and tear when compared with an owner-occupied property. That said, when you have delinquent tenants, the likelihood of damage skyrockets.
To avoid having bad tenants in your rentals, prioritize tenant screening. This process involves performing thorough background checks, financial checks, and contacting landlord references. When you do all of these things, you'll be left with a list of the best possible candidates for your rentals.
Routine Inspections
Even with tenant screening, you need to perform property inspections. Rental inspections come in two forms: move-in/move-out inspections and routine inspections during a tenancy.
A move-in/move-out inspection benefits landlords and tenants alike. You walk through the unit, making note of any existing damage.
When a tenancy ends, you perform the same inspection. If there's any new damage beyond normal wear and tear, you deduct the cost of repairs from the tenant's security deposit.
Under California law, you can inspect your property as much as you like during a tenancy. All you need to do is give the tenant 24 hours of notice before entering the rental. You should do this once or twice per year to ensure your investment isn't being damaged by the tenant.
Scheduled Maintenance
When it comes to the actual maintenance, the best thing to do is to stay on top of it with a schedule. Preventative maintenance is much easier to tackle than costly repairs due to a lack of maintenance.
Things like gutter cleaning, roof inspections, and HVAC maintenance can be done seasonally. You should also figure out how old your appliances are and budget for replacing them when they're old and worn out.
Most importantly, keep maintenance organized so you know what you've done and what you need to do. Have a list of professionals that you can call to handle maintenance and repairs you can't do and schedule them well in advance so nothing is missed.
Property Management for Landlords
Landlords have a lot on their plate. Whether you're a real estate investor with a dozen properties or you're a first-time landlord with a full-time job, it's normal to call in reinforcements.
Property management can handle every aspect of running a rental property, including maintenance, off of your plate. Income Property Advisors is one of San Diego's top full-service property management companies, so contact us to learn how we can help make your life easier.
