Blog Post

Uncommon Property Upgrades to Consider for Your Long Beach Rental Property

Dustin Edwards • June 27, 2022

Unique Upgrades To Increase Your Property Value

Vacancy can mean a reduced income from your Long Beach rental property, but it also gives you an excellent opportunity for upgrades to remain competitive in the market. Seeing what neighboring rentals are offering can give you an insight as to what upgrades you may want to consider to stand out.


To help you with a bit of inspiration when it comes to adding something new to your rental we invite you to consider four uncommon upgrades to catch the eye of potential long term tenants.


Adding a Pool

Long Beach, CA, has fantastic weather nearly year-round. The great weather gives added value to having a pool and making a pool for your Long Beach rental an asset. Pools can be a strong reason a tenant may decide to rent your property, especially if they are socially active, enjoy hosting parties, or are athletic. Many of the costs of building a pool can be offset by your tenants, including maintenance. Though we recommend that you ensure your tenant understands this when reviewing the rental agreement.


A pool on its own is excellent, and
pool safety should be top of mind. If you build a pool, consider safety equipment and even a protective fence to mitigate accidents as much as possible. Many landlords shy away from renting properties with pools due to perceived liability, though a pool’s added benefits can make it an asset in Long Beach.


Adding a Hot Tub

Like a pool, a hot tub can be used nearly year-round in Long Beach, CA. However, unlike a pool, much less space is required to install a hot tub. Whether installed in the yard over an appropriate amount of leveled gravel (usually around 6 inches deep) or on a deck, a hot tub can be a luxury for tenants in the market for one. Some top-rated hot tubs at The Home Depot include Aqualife’s Niagara LS or Lifesmart’s LS600DX.  If the hot tub is installed with complimentary hardscape and lawn decor can add curb appeal and even increase the value of your rental property.


Much like a pool, some safety precautions and discussions about maintenance are needed to offset the cost of installing the hot tub, especially if landscaping or electrical work is required to install it properly. 


Outdoor Cooking Area

While having a meal outdoors can inspire relaxation and enjoyment from your tenants, consider building an outdoor cooking area. This can be as simple as a barbeque pit to provide tenants with the ability to host gatherings and serve burgers and hotdogs. Or as complicated as a custom-built outdoor kitchen with a refrigerator and plumbing. 


The most significant benefit of having an outdoor cooking space is that it can be a great entertainment area. When hosting events, guests can gather outdoors and not crowd so much inside. Cooking over an open flame is dangerous indoors, and anything smokey can leave lingering smells in the living space. Outdoor cooking reduces the amount of smoke entering the rental, reducing much of the odors as well.


Outdoor Office Space

In recent times, many people are beginning to work from home exclusively. Many tenants are looking for dedicated office space when looking for a home to rent. There exist many options for independent office space. A popular solution is pre-built offices you can order and install on your Long Beach rental property. Studio Sheds and Work Pods are excellent solutions as they deliver everything you need in order to install their outdoor office spaces as a do-it-yourself project or, in Studio Shed’s case, offer professional installation. Depending on your city’s building code, both options rarely require building permits outside of electrical. 


For more ideas on how to get ahead of the market or for help deciding what uncommon upgrades you can install in your Long Beach rental property, we invite you to 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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