Odors and Dirt Challenges for Your Long Beach Rental
Dustin Edwards • September 13, 2021
Keeping a Rental Property Free of Odors isn't Always Easy
One of the biggest drawbacks for potential tenants is unclean properties, especially ones with a stench. Unfortunately for landlords, previous tenants may smoke, spill foul substances, keep rancid and moldy food, or simply take poor care of your property, leaving it in dirty disarray. While there are ways to prevent some of these instances, most are simply bound to happen.
As such, it is important that you encourage your tenants to maintain a clean property, and that you thoroughly cleanse your Long Beach rental after every tenant moves out. Below are some tips on tackling these challenges.
Set Expectations
When new tenants move in, make it clear that you expect them to keep your Long Beach rental
clean and tidy. Also, consider having a closet or cart stocked with cleaning supplies on your property, such as rags, scrubbing sponges, spray cleaner, air freshener, bleach, a toilet brush, a mop, a broom, a vacuum, and a duster. That way, your tenants will have every tool available to them.
Additionally, set rules for what tenants cannot have on your property. If you do not want to deal with the lingering smell of tobacco, tell your tenants they cannot smoke inside your rental. Granted, you may not know right away if your tenants are abiding by these rules, but hopefully, they will respect and follow them.
Similarly, if you are worried about the odors pets may bring, consider making your rental pet-free. Unlike smoking, having a pet is much more difficult for your tenants to hide, and they will almost certainly have to follow your rules or find a different rental that is pet-friendly.
Tobacco
After tenants move out, you may find yourself dealing with newfound odors that they left behind. Even if you bar your tenants from smoking inside your rental, they may do it anyway without you knowing. Unfortunately, the acidic and repulsive odor produced by tobacco smoke tends to remain in spaces for quite some time, and chronic indoor smoking can even produce a tarry layer on surfaces. In this instance, your only option is usually to remove all contaminated furniture, flooring, and drywall.
Chances are your tenants did not live on your property for more than a few years, which means that you likely do not need to take these extreme measures. However, removing the smell of tobacco is still a tricky process that requires patience.
Before you begin, it is important to open up any windows. This helps promote the circulation of clean air.
To start, fill a spray bottle with an even mixture of white vinegar and hot water and use it to wipe down all furniture, walls, ceilings, hardwood floors, doors, doorknobs, fans, portraits, and any other surface.
For carpet and fabric, sprinkle baking soda and leave it to absorb the odor for a day or two. Afterward, vacuum it up. Then, steam clean the carpets (Home Depot offers steam cleaners for rent) and wash couch cushions in the laundry with vinegar rather than detergent. Once they finish, wash them again in detergent.
As you can see, removing the smell of tobacco is strenuous and requires tough work. In some instances, the above suggestions are unsuccessful and you may need to call a professional house cleaner. All this added stress and strife further emphasizes the importance of making your Long Beach rental smoke-free and actively enforcing this policy. If at anytime you suspect that your tenants are smoking on your property, have an honest conversation with them and remind them of the expectations you set at the start of their lease.
Pet Odors
Pets, especially dogs, tend to spread odors that prove unpleasant to humans. If you decide to make your Long Beach rental pet-friendly, then you must be prepared to deal with the smells and stains left behind.
One way to stop pet odors before they even start is by adding a foaming pet stain remover to your tenants’ cleaning supplies. Resolve is an easy-to-use and effective brand that can clean up pet urine, vomit, feces, and dirt and reduce the chance of stains on carpet. Simply spray it on the affected area and the foam substance will absorb the stain and trap odors.
Furthermore, tenants with pets should frequently vacuum pet hair from carpets and furniture. Removing pet hair regularly will lower the chance of lingering odors and increase the longevity of your rental’s carpet and furniture.
Unfortunately, if your Long Beach rental ends up retaining a strong and unpleasant smell following tenants with pets, you will have to follow the same cleaning procedure used for eliminating the smell of tobacco.
Entrance Mats and Area Rugs
Entrance mats and area rugs are easy ways to prevent the spread of dirt throughout your Long Beach rental.
When tenants see entrance mats, they are more likely to wipe their feet before they come into the house. Even if they do not wipe their feet, the fibers on the entrance mat will inevitably collect some dirt upon contact. This reduces the level of dirt that tenants track into the rest of the property. You should place entrance mats at the front, back, and any other doors that provide frequent entry and exit access to your property.
Area rugs can also slow the spread of dirt in your property and protect hardwood floors from long-term exposure and wear.
Best of all, you can easily switch out entrance mats and area rugs between tenants. That way, every new tenant starts with a fresh, clean slate.
All of these tips and tricks can help make your property a cleaner and nicer place. If you need further assistance with caring for your Long Beach rental, we invite you to call us today at (562) 888-0247 or you can fill out our Owner Application online.
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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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