Should my Long Beach Rental Become a Smart Rental?
Dustin Edwards • May 8, 2020
5 Smart Items to Consider for Your Long Beach Rental
Renters have choices when they look to rent a property in Long Beach. Even as a mature city there are new apartment developments and freshly renovated homes for renters to choose from and attracting the best tenants often means your property needs to stand out among the sea of choices that are possible; especially when you want to garner a great rental rate. One aspect to consider to make your rental stand out from the crowd of choices is making your rental a Smart rental.
A Smart rental is one that integrates common appliances and functions with Smart hubs such as Alexa, Google, and Ring. You may think “well no one really needs that” but it isn’t so much about “need” as adding a great convenience for your tenant that keeps them happy for years to come. To help you see what is possible for your Smart rental we invite you to consider the following elements:
Smart Thermostat
This is one of the most common upgrades
to make a property a Smart property as the thermostat can be used with even older AC/heating systems. One of the most popular is certainly the NEST system which integrates easily with Google’s systems. Products, like a NEST thermostat, optimize the heating and cooling needs far beyond just temperature guidelines as they can detect movement in a house for additional optimizations. An added benefit is one can control the temperature from a phone giving the tenant additional flexibility to control temperatures.
Smart Door Locks
One of the most common calls a property management company receives is regarding keys. Especially if you are managing your own property, taking time to invest in a smart door lock could save you many calls and the time required to organize a locksmith at the property. While there are many solutions possible consider a smart door lock system that integrates with an existing deadbolt to minimize investment and maximize the benefit. Systems such as those from August
provide multiple versions that you can control from your phone and it can track who is using the digital keys. These systems can also come in very handy when it comes time to allow a handyman or other trade service in the property.
Smart Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans probably aren’t one of the items in a rental that you put thought into...especially about making them smart. Ceiling fans though are a great way to help tenants optimize the temperature in your rental property and help keep the lifespan of your AC system going longer. Recently manufacturers have introduced smart ceiling fans allowing you the ability to control the ceiling fan from a mobile app (i.e. Hunter fans
have a SIMPLEConnect app) or by using systems such as Alexa, Google Assistant, etc.
Smart Sprinkler
A great looking yard makes for a happy tenant and attracts great tenants should one leave. To help keep your yard looking great and help your tenant optimize their water bill consider adding a smart sprinkler. For example the Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler
integrates a hyperlocal Weather Intelligence™ that takes into consideration 270,000 personal weather stations to ensure you are using water when it counts vs. just after a rain. With innovative water monitoring plus integration with systems such as Alexa, Nest, Google Assistant and more this is one of those items that should most certainly be on your list as you evaluate your landscaping.
Smart Lighting
Tenants that feel like your rental is their home stay longer. You can enable smart lighting that ranges from security lights to landscape lighting. Effective security lighting and landscape lighting can help tenants feel at ease with those daily tasks such as taking out the trash cans or getting home late with groceries. Smart lighting systems from Ring
easily integrate with Alexa making it a nice addition to the other smart features.
Making your rental a smart rental is an approach to help you differentiate your rental on the market. When you want to find out if your rental would benefit from smart features we invite you to call us today (562) 888-0247 and we can share our experience. 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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