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Bernal Heights Agency of Vivre Real Estate
So you've decided to rent out your Bernal Heights home, but have you given much thought to all the details? Perhaps you've rented it before and you're looking at securing good, long-term tenants this time. Or maybe you're here because it's your first time, and you have questions.
It's important that you properly prepare your house for rental, so that the transition is smooth and the tenancy is too. The last thing you want is to find subpar renters that don't take care of your home, or a lack of willing tenants at the price you want due to broken appliances or an unwelcoming environment.
Check out this guide with easy steps on how to get your house ready to rent.
If you're renting out a house that you or someone else has been living in, you need to start by decluttering and removing personal items and valuables. Your potential renters want a space that is clean and functional, that doesn't feel like they're staying in someone else's house.
Remove any knick knacks that don't add aesthetic value, all clothing items, or any other personal accoutrements. Avoid shoving these items in a locked cupboard — your tenants will want storage, too! Move all the stuff you’re clearing out to your new home or a storage unit, or put them up for sale or donation to get them off your hands.
You need to make it clear to your renters what is included in the rental agreement and what isn't. Some homeowners rent out their homes fully-equipped with furnishings in the living areas and bedrooms, and crockery and cutlery in the cupboards. Others rent their homes completely unfurnished.
Right away, make a list of what is staying and what is going, so you can tell prospective tenants. Of course, tastes may vary, so be prepared for renters who might ask you to remove certain furniture items, re-paint walls, or make other unique requests. You may decide to oblige their requests, or not — either way, it helps to have a plan.
When you show your property to prospective tenants, let them know the specifics like whether you are taking the washing machine, or if the unit doesn't come with a fridge. This can sometimes be a 'make or break' factor for people, and it will save everyone time and effort by being clear up-front.
To properly prepare your property for the rental market, you need to ensure that everything is in good, working condition. Check for small things such as faulty outlets or blown light bulbs, as well as larger repairs such as the AC unit or leaks in your ceiling.
Before you place it on the rental market, perform an extensive check of your house (looking everything over thoroughly!) and make a written list of all the necessary repairs and replacements. You should start this list early on, so that you can add to it as you notice things, and so you have time to perform the needed updates.
It's advised to schedule vendors and contractors for repairs as soon as possible. The last thing you want is to be paying higher fees for last-minute, “emergency” repairs just days before your new tenant moves in.
Normal wear and tear is expected when you rent out a house, but completing the essential maintenance tasks will be important in securing the right renters. Keeping everything in working condition and looking nice will let you charge higher rental fees and attract and keep your tenants for longer.
Reference this quick checklist when inspecting for repairs.
You should check:
This is also a great opportunity to make any renovations or remodels in your home to increase the rental value!
Carpets are soft and comfy, but they also trap dust and other unwanted grime. Before you market your rental property, make sure its carpets are all freshly cleaned. If you had the carpets cleaned fairly recently, then a simple vacuum or shampoo should do the job.
However, a professional deep carpet clean is recommended when you're renting a house that has been occupied for a while. If you or your previous tenants owned a pet, then a deep cleaning is essential to remove trapped odors, fur, dander, and pests.
If this is your first time renting out the house and you are the only person that has lived in it, then there is no reason to change the locks or rekey the apartment.
In this case, simply go to the locksmith and get a few sets of keys made. Your renter will expect at least two sets of keys. However, if you're renting out a big home, or to a family or group of people, you'll need more so that everyone has access.
You will also need to keep a couple sets of keys yourself, for emergencies, repairs, and routine inspections.
If you had previous tenants, it's advised to rekey locks once a tenant moves out. The only way you can assure your new tenants that their assets are safe and secure is by rekeying the apartment, as you cannot be sure that your old tenants did not make copies of the keys.
Curb appeal and outdoor living space both make a big difference in attracting tenants. It's important that the building exterior and the surrounding area outside are clean and neat. This includes your garden and the street in front of your house. You don't want potential renters to get a bad first impression from broken furniture outside, unkempt landscaping, or trash strewn on the road.
Once you're sure that the exterior is looking sparkly and clean, it's time to deal with the interior. Check all the walls for scuff marks and give them a proper scrub. Assess whether they need to be repainted. A fresh coat of paint goes a long way in making the home feel clean and new, so we highly advise keeping the right paint on-hand for touching up your walls.
Also ensure the windows are clean, appliances are clean, as well as all the little nooks and crannies in cupboards, under shelves, in corners and crevasses, and so on.
Cleaning is critical when you're renting out a house. Once you've cleaned it once, double-check and clean it again! Good tenants want to move into clean homes, and above all you're looking for good tenants. If you have the time to do it yourself, that’s fine, but we often recommend hiring a professional cleaning service to spare yourself the considerable effort, and to make sure the job is done perfectly.
Are you prepared and ready to rent your home after reading these steps? It's a fairly straightforward process, as long as you ensure that everything is up to standard, clean, and working properly.
Perhaps you're interested in jumping into the rental game and considering buying a house to rent out. We are here to assist you with finding the perfect rental property with great investment value! Get in touch with us today to start the no-pressure conversation.
Is it time to upgrade and update your home? Every once in a while, we need to refresh our living space. With spring coming soon, you might be tempted to make some home renovations.
The question is: Will you save some cash and do a DIY home remodel, or are you going to hire a professional?
There are some jobs that you can do on your own, but others are really better left to people who know what they're doing. Do you know how to tell the difference?
We want to help you decide, so you don't run into any expensive mistakes down the line. Keep reading to learn all about when to hire a professional, as well as a few of our favorite DIY home remodeling tips for the easier jobs.
There are several quick remodeling projects that any handy homeowner can do on their own. These won't be complete game-changers as far as the look of your house goes, but they can still give you the refreshing new appearance that you're looking for.
The first of these, and often the most fun, is to reimagine your home’s exterior. Whether you plan to sell your home soon, or you just want to impress guests and neighbors, it's critical to maintain your curb appeal. One of the best ways to do that is by refreshing your front yard.
Even some exterior jobs are better left to the pros — like repaving your driveway, for example — but others are easy enough for you to do yourself. You can put down a new pathway that leads to your door or backyard, paint your shutters, add a neat water fixture, even start a new garden (or bring that old, dead one back to life).
Do you want to host awesome parties this summer? No problem. Refresh your outdoor space by introducing new furniture, replacing all of your weeds with fresh grass and flowers, and decorating with soothing pieces like hanging gardens, bird feeders or windchimes.
If you’re very handy, you could try and make yourself a new deck — but in that case this article isn’t really for you. Definitely leave that fancy new pool you want to the professionals too, but you can still get involved by carefully selecting all the decor and landscaping that will go around your new exterior space.
So what can you do inside? As a gung-ho DIYer, your options may be a bit limited. You can't tear down walls or install new cabinets as a nice weekend project, but you can still do some small modifications that make a big change.
The first is by changing your appliances. Some people might want a professional to help, but with enough willpower and time, you can make it work on your own. The great thing is that most big box stores offer delivery and installation of your new appliance, and they’ll even get rid of your old one too. (Usually this involves extra fees.) So you don’t have to do all the heavy lifting to feel like you’re making a difference.
Maybe your kitchen could benefit from a new stainless steel fridge and matching stove. While these may seem like minor changes, considering you aren’t tearing down any walls, they still make a huge difference in the look and feel of your kitchen.
Not ready to install new countertops on your own? You can use contact paper to create a convincing fancy countertop in the meantime. Sure, it’s not marble or quartz, but it’s much better than old, ragged laminate while you save up for the real thing.
Similar to the countertops, there are also stick-on tiles available for a stylish new backsplash or bathroom. Again, these aren't long-term solutions, but they make a big change to your home's appearance.
You can use them on your bathroom floor and walls to create the appearance of fresh and expensive tiles. They're also perfect for a kitchen backsplash, keeping your walls intact and easy to clean.
Of course, the biggest and easiest way to change your home’s interior is… paint! Just about everyone understands how to paint. It’s relatively cheap to buy the materials, and you can do it all with one person or a whole family. You can do it in a day, or in a week, or just a few hours adding a tasteful accent wall to make your living space “pop” with color. When you feel the remodeling bug, painting should be the first thing you consider!
Beyond small fixes and cosmetic updates, it's best to hire someone who knows what they're doing. Unless you're already a professional, it's likely that you don't have the required experience to do everything safely and in the most efficient manner. Sometimes the hassle, safety hazards, and engineering required to make the biggest changes to your home requires tools and training that any regular person just does not possess.
So, there are a few things that you should consider before starting the job on your own. Here are some of the top ones.
Many people are under the impression that getting a professional to do a renovation project is too expensive. They're better off saving money and doing it themselves, right?
For most people, this is incorrect. Sometimes, in fact, it’s no cheaper to DIY than it is to hire a pro.
Consider everything that you'll need for the remodel that you have in mind. How much will you spend equipment and building supplies? Do you have any of these on hand, or will they all be new purchases?
Furthermore, consider the cost of mistakes. When you do something wrong, you need to buy materials all over again, or live with your subpar handiwork.
While a good remodeler is expensive, the cost evens out when you consider how much goes into the idea that you want to bring to life.
A professional remodeling contractor knows how to work efficiently. While they may spend several days or weeks remodeling your home (depending on the project), they're working faster than you would be able to.
There’s always an opportunity cost to how we spend our time, and in some cases the savings and fuzzy feelings from DIY are simply not worth it. Sometimes hiring a pro gets you a better final product, for about the same overall expense, and faster than you could ever hope to do it.
You can't commit to your project unless you have a wide-open schedule (ie. no job or responsibilities). Even those who work from home have time commitments. The remodeling contractor does this as their job, so they have all of the time in their workday to commit to your project.
Especially if you’re investing in pricey home improvements, you may not be able to afford taking big chunks of time off work. And if you try to do projects piecemeal on weekends alone, that means that the project will take even longer.
What's the difficulty level of the project you want to do? Now’s the time to be honest with yourself.
Again, with simple paint jobs and appliance replacements, you don't need to worry. These are easy and quick.
On the other hand, if you're tearing down walls, making complicated measurements and precise cuts, or using tools that you're unfamiliar with, that's a whole different story. This is likely beyond your skill level, and it’s time to call a pro.
Let a professional handle the difficult tasks. You'll thank yourself later!
Next time you want to refresh your space, make sure that you take all the variables of DIY and hired help into consideration. Can you afford to do it on your own? Are you experienced enough to face the challenge? Do you have the right tools? Do you have the time to devote to the project?
The answer will vary depending on what you want to do. You'll know when it's time to hire a professional and when it's okay to take things into your own hands.
Of course, the biggest change you can ever make is moving into a new home altogether! Whether you’re looking to upgrade, downsize, “right-size,” or more, we are here to help. Connect with us to tell us more about your situation, and we can start discussing your options with a no-pressure consultation.
Are you trying to make a new neighbor feel welcome and cared for in the community?
Moving to a new area can be disorienting and lonely, especially in this era of social distancing. Being there for your neighbor in this crucial time can build the foundation for a beautiful friendship, cordial conversation, and maybe a shared cup of flour or two.
So be a good neighbor! Given the busy real estate market these days, chances are you have or will have at least one new neighbor on the street sometime soon. Take a look through some of our favorite creative housewarming gift ideas that will help you welcome your new neighbor home.
Here's something that will bring joy (and a little extra oxygen) to your new neighbor's life. If you're concerned about the difficulty of taking care of a plant, try getting something that doesn't require a lot of maintenance, like a succulent.
Houseplants can have a lot of personality. Whether you go for something cute or elegant, this thoughtful housewarming gift could be the start of a great neighborly relationship.
If you like the ecological vibe of a plant gift but you want to go for something more practical, try gifting your neighbor an herb garden! These days, there are lots of handy little kits that can get your neighbor growing basil, mint, and whatever else they find tasty in no time.
This is a unique housewarming gift that tells your neighbor you're excited for their roots to grow in this new home. Plus, anyone who frequently cooks at home knows the extraordinary value of being able to step outside for fresh herbs!
Whether you’re a seasoned chef or simply doing your best, there’s nothing like a home-cooked meal to warm the heart. This doesn't have to be a full-on, 3-course, Michelin-star-quality meal if you're nervous! Try baking a batch of your favorite cookies (but avoid using nuts or other allergens, just in case). Moving to a new place can be disorienting and lonely, so a thoughtful food gift can go a long way. Nothing warms the heart like a freshly baked treat or meal.
Lots of people bring flowers to a housewarming, but where do those flowers go? If your neighbors are first-time homebuyers, they are probably still building up their basic supply of home items. A beautiful vase will help them fill out their cache of decor, and it lasts far longer than the flowers you gift inside it.
Try picking out a pretty clay or glass vessel for your blooming beauties. Your new neighbors will think of the kind gesture every time they see your gift of flowers, and every time they use the vase! It’s a gift that keeps on giving.
Ever used a garlic press? How about a tortilla warmer? Items like these are well-loved by the people who use them, but chances are your neighbor doesn't have one yet.
When people move to a new home, they're often thinking of the basic items they need in order to get started. By giving them some thoughtful specialty kitchenware, you can make their cooking experience that much more unique and efficient.
If you're worried about going the specialized route because you don't know your neighbors too well, here's something that almost everyone would love.
A good cast iron pan can upgrade the quality of every meal. Cast iron is durable and truly timeless, an heirloom gift that can be passed down through generations. And even if your neighbor already has one, it's nice to have another!
You might have to sneakily find out what kind of coffee your neighbor likes to make before you get them a coffee set. But the nice thing here is that you can scale the gift up or down.
For a casual gift, you might go with some high-quality beans and a grinder. And for something more generous, you can get your neighbor a nice coffeemaker. There are also “coffee of the month” subscriptions that you can gift to your neighbor, so they can try all kinds of coffee and discover something new.
Taking the time to pick out a thoughtful gift for your new neighbor says more than the gift itself could ever convey. After going through the homebuying process, then moving in and getting situated, then learning the neighborhood and meeting new people… it’s a lot to do all at once. By reaching out to a new neighbor, you will plant the seed of friendship and community right away, and you’ll brighten your neighbor’s day.
So be a good neighbor! And if you want to hear about our experience matching homebuyers and neighborhoods, reach out! We'd love to hear from you.