How to Give Vendors Access to Your Long Beach Rental
Dustin Edwards • July 10, 2020
With Efficient Access You Can Have Happy Tenants and a Great Property
With any rental the time arrives where you will need the help and expertise of a vendor. Giving access to your property is necessary when a tenant moves out. You need to schedule multiple trades, perform inspections, and conduct repairs.
Sometimes access to a property is needed for a small challenge such as a backed up toilet. The most important task with a backed up toilet is to get the plumber access. A knee jerk reaction might be “can’t the tenant just let them in?” It can be difficult to align the schedule of a vendor and the tenant. Consider the following options when you need to give access to your rental.
Meeting Vendors at the Rental
When you have more detailed work that needs to be done at your rental, especially after a tenant leaves, meeting vendors at your rental is a great approach. In person meetings allow a property owner to review detailed written instructions with the vendor for complete alignment.
When a tenant moves out you might need carpet, paint, and even light repairs. To optimize your time we recommend scheduling all of the required vendors within a couple hour window (i.e. from 10am-12noon). Let the vendors know it is a rental and that you will have a few trades so they understand the additional importance of timing.
Situations requiring multiple trades and even multiple quotes are one of the scenarios where people most appreciate a property management company. Property management companies take care of all of the heavy lifting, organization, and quoting.
Keyless Door Lock
If you have taken the strategy of making your rental a smart rental
then you might have implemented a keyless door lock. A keyless door lock is most typical in short term rentals (i.e. vacation rentals generally made available via AirBnB or Vrbo). These systems allow you to set multiple codes and would be used on a daily basis by your tenant. They are more expensive than a traditional door lock system (often 50% more or even 2x more expensive) and they do require WiFi. The aspect of needing WiFi for a door lock can be challenging as for most long term rentals the WiFi aspect falls under responsibility of the tenant.
Keyless Hide a Key System
One of the most popular methods of providing access is the “hide a key” system. While many years ago this might have meant putting a key under a rock or a doormat; now there are a few options that allow you to offer a key to multiple vendors in a much more secure manner. MasterLock has a Vault system which allows you to program codes for different people to understand who was the last person to access the key. Since this system can be purchased for $60-$130 and doesn’t even require WiFi it is a great option to allow vendors to access your rental in those key moments.
Making your rental available to vendors to ensure work gets done doesn’t have to be a challenge when you use the options above. When you want to find out more about how we help our owners we invite you to call us today (562) 888-0247 and we can share more about our services. If you want to have a quick check to see how much your property could fetch in rent we invite you to fill out our Free Rental Analysis
where we perform a comprehensive comparison to share your rental stacks up to the competition
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Your property’s roof is its first line of defense from the sun, rain, and wind. Which means it will eventually wear out. Many landlords overlook this since a roof is generally designed to last twenty or so years, and they simply forget until the signs begin to show. Below, we’ve compiled a short list of five signs it’s time to replace your roof for when doing property inspections. Tenant Complaints When your roof has become damaged, your tenants will likely be the first to notice. When tenants report water stains on the walls and ceilings, it's a sign that you should inspect your roof. In severe cases, your tenant may notice water dripping from roof leaks. This moisture, if left unchecked, can lead to the growth of mold and mildew, which can be a health concern for your tenants. Some tenants simply move out, assuming the odors or recurring respiratory issues are caused by the rental and not just the roof. This leaves you with a vacancy to manage, and if you’re unable to find the leak during this period, the following tenant may have a negative experience as well. Many landlords have found it beneficial to have property inspections regularly in order to preserve both the property’s value and the tenant’s trust. Roof’s Age Even with the highest quality materials, a roof still has a shelf life. Most roofs in Long Beach, CA, use asphalt shingles, and these generally last around twenty to twenty-five years. Once they've passed this threshold, the faults begin to show themselves. A sagging roof line is a sign that your roof is due to be replaced, as it's a serious concern. It often indicates that moisture has entered the underlying decking and caused some structural damage. From ground level, you may not be able to notice these problems. However, during an inspection of the property, an experienced inspector should be able to notice soft spots or contours on the roof. These forms of damage often get worse over time. Coordinating these inspections and preventative maintenance can be difficult for landlords with an extensive portfolio, which is why many enlist help. Shingle Damage Damaged shingles are one of the most obvious signs that your roof is deteriorating. If you ever notice cracking, curling, or patches with missing shingles, the roof is no longer providing adequate protection to your property. Although you can buy time with spot repairs, if the entire roof shows signs of damage, it’s likely time to replace the roof. Aside from protecting your property, the roof affects your property’s curb appeal. A patchy and worn-out roof can drive down the rental appeal. Prospective tenants will easily be able to spot the differences between pictures taken in the listing when compared to the property in person. This can not only hurt your chances of filling a vacancy, but it can also hurt your reputation as a landlord. Granules in Gutters After heavy rainfall, it's a good idea to inspect your rain gutters. If you or your property manager notice large amounts of black or gray granules, it means your roof shingles are breaking down. These granules are critical for shedding water off the roof. Once the granules fall off the shingle, the shingle begins to degrade faster under the sun and elements. If you’re not sure how old your roof may be, Loss of granules can be a strong indicator that your roof is nearing the end of its lifespan. Regular gutter cleaning and roof inspections can help catch these problems early before they become expensive repairs . Increase in Utility Bills Your tenants complaining about their utility bills increasing or poor temperature control in the rental may not realize the roof is to blame. A failing roof can result in subpar insulation and ventilation. This can lead to higher heating and cooling bills for your tenant. This can be frustrating for your tenants while putting more strain on the HVAC system. This puts more wear and tear on your HVAC system. Being aware of the warning signs and being proactive can protect your rental property, maintain tenant satisfaction , and avoid emergency repairs. If you need help inspecting your roof 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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