How to be Helpful to Your Tenants Right from the Start

Dustin Edwards • March 6, 2020

Being Helpful Can Keep Tenants Happy and Renting Longer

Welcome Packet for Tenants
As a rental property owner in Long Beach when you think about your asset you are likely thinking about the current rental market, what could be needed to maintain your asset, if it is time to consider a rental increase. While all of these are natural thoughts, your rental property won’t mean much with a great tenant!  

When you own (or manage) rental property you are not only concerned with the asset but you should be concerned about your tenant(s). We have found that when you treat tenants right they often will enjoy the property for years which is great for them and excellent for you as the owner.  

When a tenant first moves in, consider developing a “welcome packet” that includes key information that can help them adjust to their new home. Your welcome packet could include helpful items ranging from popular local restaurants, nuances about the appliances, or just helpful tips. This welcome packet can be a key part to help them stay longer as it shows you care about the total experience of living at the property. To help you on your path of developing your own welcome packet we invite you to consider developing a cheat sheet of the following items:

Renters Insurance
As a rental owner you likely have at least your primary property insurance as well as even an umbrella policy on your property, but what do your renters have in place? For many renting a property they might not be familiar with the concept of renters insurance. Consider taking the time to provide a small write up of the benefits of renters insurance to include in your welcome packet and then providing a few recommendations. Many of the top carriers (Geico, Allstate, Statefarm, etc.) provide renters insurance as an option which makes it easy to obtain. If you have developed insurance agents as part of your key vendor list then consider providing those names to your renters.

Street Sweeping and Trash Days
Few items are as frustrating as getting moved in, getting up to go to work and then pulling a ticket off of your car as you didn’t know that “Thursday” was street-sweeping day. To help alleviate potential frustration share with your new tenants what day street sweeping will occur and what day trash pickup is to ensure tenants don’t have to learn the hard way. You can also assist your tenant by providing them a list of the trash company for set-up and the phone number of the city if they are the ones who handle street sweeping.

List of Utility Companies
Yes most people can use their phone to quickly Google and/or look up the local utility companies, but why not make it a bit easier for them? Long Beach makes it easy with the utilities listed at on the Long Beach Government website and while you might think that is easy if someone is moving from out of state or even a different city from LA or Orange County it can help save them time.

Number(s) to Call When in Need
A key item to add to your cheat sheet is what phone number will a tenant call when something troublesome occurs (think water heater dies or toilet clogged). When you are managing your own property this might be your phone number but what happens if it is 2am? As a property management company we have traditional operating hours as well as back-up to support our tenants 24-hours a day. While you might not have a 24-hour service consider locating key vendors (i.e. plumbing and heating) that you trust that have 24-hour support and see if they will allow a tenant call when in need.

Your welcome packet will develop over the years as you determine what helps make the process as easy as possible for tenants to move into your property. When you want to hear how we on-board tenants to our client’s properties please call us at (562) 888-0247 and we will be happy to share how bring happy tenants to each property under management.

And if you would like to discover how much we feel your property could rent for, simply request our Free Rental Analysis.

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By Dustin Edwards June 6, 2025
With the real estate market as competitive as it is, many landlords are looking into building an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) or Jr. ADU to improve their bottom line with additional monthly income. While this is a great way to earn more, you need to be sure you’re investing in the right upgrade to your property. Below are some of the key differences between ADUs and Jr. ADUs; this way, you can make the right decision for your property. Differences between Junior ADUs and ADUs On the surface, the primary difference between an ADU and a Jr. ADU is the square footage. However, there are many considerations for each type of ADU , significant differences include costs and build limitations. ADUs are generally seen as a larger and more versatile build when compared to a Jr. ADU. They can be built detached from the main home, converting an existing structure, most commonly the garage. In Long Beach, an ADU can be up to 800 square feet or 50% of the gross floor area of the primary dwelling, whichever is smaller. For reference, an 800 sqft living space can be arranged as a 2-bedroom 1-bath home, though with creative use of the space, many investors have been able to fit 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms comfortably. If listing the ADU for rent is the goal, this can produce a higher yield, though at the cost of a higher initial investment. Jr. ADU, on the other hand, can only be a maximum of 500 sqft and must be built attached to the existing single-family home. While you can build an entire new addition to accommodate the Jr. ADU, it's not uncommon for homeowners whose homes are bigger than they need to convert a bedroom into a Jr. ADU in order to have additional income . A Jr. ADU does still require an efficient kitchen. Bathrooms can be shared with the main house, though this can deter some prospective tenants. Additionally, the utilities are oftentimes shared with the main house, which can simplify installation, though it can complicate utility costs with your tenant. When an ADU is Right Being able to build a full ADU provides an entirely separate and private living space, which is more desirable to prospecting tenants. This is the preferred choice for most investors, especially those who have unused space in their property. By being built apart from the main house, an ADU may cause less disturbance to those living in the main house, whether that be yourself or another tenant. In Long Beach, CA. ADUs can’t be listed as short-term rentals on apps like Airbnb; that being said, an ADU can command more in rent because of the aforementioned features. If you’re looking for a long-term investment, ADUs increase your property’s value while generating a consistent cash flow. Finally, if you ever plan on selling your rental property, the additional ADU can improve the appeal of your property to future buyers. When a Jr. ADU is Right While a Jr. ADU doesn’t have the same potential as a full-sized ADU, Jr. ADUs are far more budget-friendly. These are a great option for investors who have limited funds. Since Jr. ADUs generally require less work to be done in less time, allowing you to begin making a return sooner. Finally, if your property doesn’t qualify for a full-sized ADU permit due to the size of the property lot, a Jr. ADU can be built primarily through interior work, which may only require reconfiguring existing interior space. Whether you choose a full-sized ADU or a Jr. ADU, the decision depends on more than just the size of the structure, you’ll have to manage filling the vacancy and managing the new tenant. If you need help choosing which ADU is right for you or you need help managing your Beach City rental property, we invite you to call us today at (562) 888-0247 or complete our Owner Application online .
By Dustin Edwards May 30, 2025
Summer is a great time of year where people enjoy a number of outdoor activities. Though for landlords, summer brings with it a list of maintenance items and preventative care for their properties. Below, we’ve gathered three of the most important maintenance items to do before summer starts. Service your HVAC System Southern California summers are getting hotter and hotter, if you want to maintain tenant satisfaction you’ll need to have the HVAC or any A/C or cooling system properly serviced . Filters should be cleaned or replaced, and the ductwork should be inspected. For rentals with window units or mini-split systems should also be thoroughly inspected as well for optimal cooling. Doing proactive maintenance can reduce the risk of the cooling system breaking down during peak usage while also improving the system’s efficiency. This can lower utility costs for your tenants while extending the lifespan of your cooling system, saving you money in the long run. Additionally, consider inspecting your window and door seals for leaks. If the seals are broken, it allows hot air into the living space, this increases the cost associated with cooling while adding more load to the HVAC or cooling system. While not directly a part of the HVAC system, ensuring there aren’t any breaks in the seals helps extend the lifespan of your cooling system which is beneficial to your bottom line. Inspect your Roof The condition of a roof is oftentimes ignored since they tend to last over twenty years, and some property owners may not even be sure when the roof was last replaced . A poorly conditioned roof is one of the primary ways for a rental property to drive up the costs of repairs and tenant complaints. A damaged roof can inefficiently insulate a home, making it harder to keep it cool. It can also lead to water leaks during rainfall, which can lead to water damage, stains, and mold growth. While summers tend to be dry, the coastal cities such as Long Beach may see unexpected shifts in weather, which can bring sudden rainstorms or increased humidity. Fixing a small roof leak is relatively inexpensive, however, leaving said leak to grow can result in an emergency repair can cost thousands especially if a tenant has already moved in. A thorough roof inspection is a great maintenance item to do during a vacancy period especially as this can result in a positive experience with new tenants. This can lead to a long term stay with many lease renewals. Check for Signs of Pests Pest infestations are one of the fastest ways to ruin a tenant’s stay while also damaging a landlord’s reputation. Pests such as ants, cockroaches, other bugs, and rodents are common in many beach cities, especially during the warmer seasons. Being in a city, you’ll likely never truly be rid of pests, though, even a single complaint about an excess of bugs or rodent droppings can lead to bad reviews online, service calls, and in severe cases, lease termination. These pests not only create an unwelcome environment for your tenants, but they can also cause real damage to your investment property. Cockroaches are known to damage small wiring in appliances, ants can ruin food and get in everything, while rodents can chew through walls, plumbing, and even electrical wiring. Landlords should schedule regular ppest inspectionsto check for early signs of pest activity before the hotter season begins. Much like everything in this article, preventative maintenance is significantly cheaper than an emergency call, in this case to an exterminator. If you want to keep your tenants happy and your property well taken care of, preventative maintenance is a must. If you’re unsure about the signs to look for when doing routine inspections or you need help managing your Beach City rental property, we invite you to call us today at (562) 888-0247 or complete our Owner Application online .
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