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Thinking of Engaging an Architect to Improve Your Rental Property?

Dustin Edwards • March 18, 2022

An Architect Could Bring Valuable Ideas to Improve or Increase Your Long Beach Rental Property

There are many reasons why you could improve your Long Beach rental property. When you engage with an architect be sure to request references of previous projects both completed and in various stages of construction. Especially when considering using an architect for a rental property, ask the architect about their experience specifically with rental properties as the approach differs dramatically when compared with a personal residence.  Be clear with them about your ideas as well as your budget. Ask clarifying questions about costs and timeframes.


Below are some suggestions of what could add additional value to your Long Beach rental property.


Adding a Bathroom to Your Rental Property

Adding a second bathroom to a single family home rental property can give your tenants a second option to get ready in the morning. With many people working from home, bathrooms are a hot commodity especially if there are children and multiple people getting ready. A two bathroom home is generally far more appealing to tenants and will often fetch higher rents.


The cost of a new bathroom is about $22,000 for a new addition on average. Adding a bathroom to an existing space can be $7,600 on average but you will lose square footage in the living spaces. When you add a new bathroom factors that increase costs include:


  • Location
  • Size
  • Design
  • Age of Property


There is also the possibility of unexpected costs to keep in mind. Be sure to put additional money into your budget in the event problems arise once the walls begin to come down. Problems such as leaks, mold, pests or worse, are common to uncover. It's better to be prepared and if there is nothing unexpected, the extra money can go back into the general budget. 


Adding an Additional Bedroom to Your Rental Property

More bedrooms can allow a property to rent for more. An additional room can increase market value as many new tenants may be looking for the extra space to work from home or if they are looking to start a family. A benefit of adding new bedrooms is the added square footage. More square footage, means your property could sell for more should you ever want to. 


A more affordable option that doesn’t add square footage is dividing an existing space into a seperate bedroom. Depending on what room is being divided installing a wall can range between $2,500 to $6,000 per wall. And an additional $1,000 to $2,000 if you need to add doors and windows.  In these scenarios an architect's advice on the flow of the floor plan can be essential and consulting with a
property management company on what is common in the neighborhood can help you in your decision making process.


While some additions to your Long Beach rental can be more demanding like bathrooms, bedrooms in comparison are far easier. When adding an additional bedroom you have no need for additional plumbing. The cost to add a bedroom is in the range of $15,000 to $17,500 from foundation to roof depending on the size.


Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU)

When you are thinking about developing an ADU in Long Beach for your rental property your first thought will probably revolve around upfront costs. The statewide median cost of an ADU is approximately $250 per square foot. While many people initially only consider adding a small unit, it is important to understand the neighborhood and market. Though this is the largest investment of the ones listed, the costs for upsizing an ADU is not exponential. Meaning you can build a larger unit and gain overall value for it.


Consider the configuration you want for your ADU because this will determine the size of the ADU. To determine what a fair, marketable rent should be, examine the cost of other rental in the area including single family homes, apartments, or townhouses.


When it comes time to add more space to your Long Beach rental property there are many choices to consider. To help you understand how adding bedrooms, bathrooms or an ADU can contribute to your monthly rental income, or how they can increase long term value to your property call us at (562) 888-0247 or feel free to fill out our
free rental analysis to see what your rental could yield today.

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Having clear communication with your tenant is essential for maintaining a healthy landlord-tenant relationship. By being transparent in all relevant interactions, landlords can prevent misunderstandings while resolving repairs and disputes efficiently while improving tenant satisfaction. Having good communication with your tenant is beneficial for landlords too. Effective communication also protects your investment property. Remember that while your tenant is living in the property, landlords need to take care of the repairs. Below are the three best things to do during tenant communications. Prompt Responses Addressing tenant concerns quickly is essential for building trust and maintaining a positive relationship. Tenants feel valued when landlords respond quickly, knowing that their needs are being prioritized. Building this trust not only enhances your tenant’s satisfaction it lowers the possibility of conflicts or misunderstandings to arise. This ultimately creates a healthy and successful rental experience for you and your tenant. Some of the most common inquiries will oftentimes include repair requests, among others. As an example; if your tenant reports a leak under their faucet and the repair is delayed, this can be damaging to your landlord-tenant relationship, as well as your property. If left ignored, that leak can result in hundreds of dollars in water damage and a vacancy . Which can further affect our bottom line negatively. For landlords with multiple properties, this can become difficult to keep track of. A property manager can help with scheduling repairs and communicating with your tenant on your behalf. Document Everything Keeping a detailed record of all interactions with your tenant is an important element when managing a property. There are many choices for documentation including email, text, or written notices. Although many property management companies and landlords have opted to use apps or dedicated tenant portals to log communications. A great example, for instance, a tenant may claim they’d reported a repair issue that was never addressed, if everything is to be documented, both you and the tenant would have a copy of the request. Maintaining transparency with tenants. Having thorough documentation ensures agreements and requests between all parties are clearly tracked. Documenting communications with your tenant provides landlords with a foundation for addressing misunderstandings, or disputes if and when they arise. Provide Regular Updates Regular updates show tenants that their landlord is organized and has an attentive approach to managing their property. Giving tenants ample time for maintenance, inspections or policy changes is a simple way to build trust with your tenants while showing your professionalism. Giving tenants advanced notices reassures them that you’re aware of how changes can affect them and you understand that time might be needed in order to adjust. Surprises are best kept for birthday parties. Proactively notifying tenants of changes helps clear the communication channels and minimizes disruptions which helps tenants feel valued and satisfied. These small yet consistent efforts can contribute to a positive tenant stay, which can encourage lease renewals and long-term tenancy. Additionally, having a good relationship with your tenants can give you a great reputation which can provide you with leads when looking to fill a vacancy . It cannot be understated the importance of communication for a healthy landlord-tenant relationship. Even if your tenant may not agree with some of the decisions a landlord needs to make, by giving your tenants ample time to process the change tenants generally are more accepting of said change. If you’re having trouble communicating with your tenants or if you need help managing 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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