5 Rental Property Upgrades that Can Help Your Tenant Save Money and Help You Attract the Best Long Term Tenants
Dustin Edwards • April 17, 2020
Help Your Tenant Save Monthly
When many property owners think of upgrades they often think of the visually appealing items such as a kitchen or an essential replacement such as a roof or air-conditioning unit, but there are many other upgrades that can be done to a property that are far less expensive and have a benefit. With the rental market always being competitive for the best tenants we challenge our property owners to consider property upgrades that can help the tenant save and attract long term tenants.
Property Upgrade #1: Smart Thermostat
The variety of smart thermostats on the market today is incredible. Smart thermostats can operate from your phone and provide a level of control for your energy consumption that has not previously been available. These thermostats can truly optimize energy based on when people are home (or not home) to optimize heating and cooling needs. This all sounds great but how does this help you with your monthly rental income?
Today’s renter often looks for differentiators in properties beyond the location. With rents constantly increasing they look for ways to save and a smart thermostat gives your tenant the ability to save ~$180 annually. While saving $15/month might not sound like much it does add up over time and with many properties appearing “equal” saving that little bit extra can mean a tenant stays longer helping to increase your yield over time.
Property Upgrade #2: Tankless Water Heater
When you are managing 100’s of properties for clients you truly get an understanding of how often a water heater fails. Yes a traditional water heater should last 10 years but that is not always the case. For new construction you will see the standard has become tankless water heaters, but when it is time to replace your unit water heater at your property you still have a choice. A tankless water is more expensive to install initially; however, it offers the opportunity for an individual to save ~$100+ annually. This is another one of those ~$10+ a month savings that a tenant can see as an added benefit.
Property Upgrade #3: Including a Washer/Dryer
When you own a residential multi-family building (i.e. 2-4 units) there are ways to show value to tenants where you can make an incremental amount of revenue. For a 2-4 unit property you could have a coin (or credit card operated) washer and dryer unit. Many professionals recommend leasing the machines as it allows you the opportunity to keep newer units in your building that have less downtime and hassle. The incremental revenue will likely be small, $15-$50/month on a residential multi-family, but it is a value add to tenants that can keep them in your building longer as it saves them time from going to the local laundromat and you might be able to charge a bit less than commercial rates to help them save.
Property Upgrade #4: 240 Volt Charging for Electric Car
There is no doubt that electric cars will continue to become more and more prevalent. While the automakers have made it easy to use a traditional 120volt connection the downside is that charging times can be quite a bit slower. An upgrade to your home that can help attract top tenants is to install an EV Charger at your property that provides for 240 volt charging. There are indoor/outdoor models which would give you the flexibility for a variety of installation options. When tenants realize that your property allows them to charge quickly and to avoid finding a charging station they will be happy to keep renting your property.
Property Upgrade #5: Drought Tolerant Landscaping
In Southern California we traditionally are in near drought conditions and in different years have experienced drought guidelines where we have all been asked to cut back on our water usage. Optimizing water usage by installing drought tolerant landscaping is a great way to support the environment and it can even help your tenant save on their monthly water bill.
Consider that in Long Beach the average household using 10 units of water each month
would be billed $51.09. With each unit of water being 748 gallons and sprinklers running for an hour using ~1020 gallons you could see how a low water usage landscape could help save water and save a bit on the monthly bill for your tenant. Especially if you haven’t updated your landscaping in quite some time consider installing features that use a low amount of water. We aren’t suggesting that you have to go with a complete desert landscape but we are suggesting that you take into consideration plants and even a reduction in grass that can help overall water consumption.
It seems that each year different upgrades can help attract the top tenants. When you want to find out which upgrades are truly best we invite you to call us today (562) 888-0247. 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 can show you how your property will fair against the competition.
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ADUs are a great to expend your current rental property and increase unit count for rent, find out the different ways to convert existing structures into ADUs
There's value in keeping tenants happy. Discover 4 reasons keeping tenants happy is good for your property.
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 .
