Seven Tips For New Landlords

Just like first-time homeowners, new landlords are taking on a lot of new responsibilities and face a steep learning curve. Being a landlord isn’t as simple as posting your property on Zillow, filling it with a tenant, and collecting rent checks. Even if it is just one rental unit, it is still a business and in order to get the most out of your rental property, it is important to treat it as a business. Here are some tips for new landlords to help with the learning curve: 

It’s a business

Even if your rental property isn’t your primary source of income, it should still be treated as a business. Always communicate with your tenants professionally. Be responsive and attentive to the needs of both your property and your tenants. Becoming too casual or friendly with your tenants runs the risk of them not taking you seriously and they could try to take advantage of your business. Companies like Ziprent can help with the professionalism of your business. 

Have a Thorough screening process

A rental property is a big asset and a good source of income. You’ll want to protect that asset in any way possible. Making sure you have responsible tenants is an important step when it comes to protecting your property. This can create more expenses, but it can save you a lot of time and money in the long run. 

Check a potential tenant’s rental history. You’ll want to see if there are any evictions or red flags that might show they are a risk. You’ll also want to check their income to make sure they can afford rent. A rule of thumb used by landlords is to make sure a tenant makes 3x the amount of rent with their monthly income. You can also run a credit check to see if they have any outstanding debt or failure to pay creditors. Letting tenants know you screen for these things upfront may even prevent potential red flag tenants from applying in the first place. 

Know your local and federal laws

Even though being a landlord may not be your primary profession, you are still expected to be familiar with fair housing laws as well as any other state or municipal laws. You can read your local tenant-landlord laws online. If you’re having any trouble understanding the laws or are feeling overwhelmed, you can consult a lawyer. Knowing this information will help protect you from lawsuits. 

Have a well-written lease

A lease is a binding contract between you and your tenant. You’ll want to make sure the contract is clear about what the tenant is allowed to do on the property. There are the obvious aspects of a lease are how much rent is, when it is due, late fees, and the duration of the lease. There are other things to consider when it comes to writing a lease. For example, you’ll want to consider if a tenant can or can’t list extra rooms to rent on Airbnb. You can include pets that are and aren’t allowed as well as any fees included for pets. You can include what alterations a tenant can or can’t make like painting walls. Other things to include are lawn maintenance, parking instructions, pest control, as well as specifics about how the property can be used and subletting. 

Use software to manage property

If being a landlord isn’t your primary job or source of income, finding all the time necessary to properly manage the landlord business can be difficult. You won’t have the advantage of time and investment in development professionals have. One way to save yourself some time is to get some assistance through software. This will help you when it comes to collecting rent online as well as run reports like a profits and losses report to keep your finances up to date. 

Give incentives to keep good tenants

Good tenants are hard to find and high turnover can be costly and eat into your profits. Finding a quality tenant who intends to stay in the same place for a while is incredibly valuable. Even if you are increasing rent every year to keep up with the market rate, you’ll want to find ways to keep your tenant around. One way to do that is to agree to upgrade one item or part of the rental unit that needs upgrading. This can be anything from the toilet to the floors, or countertops. 

Increase rent annually

You’ll want to keep tabs on what the market rate for rent is as well as how much rent is increasing year over here. Recent trends show rents going up as the supply of housing stays low, if that were to reverse for some reason, then raising rent may not be the best idea. You’ll also want to make sure you don’t raise the rent too much if you have a tenant who wants to renew. If the tenant decides to leave because rent becomes too high, the turnover process could end up costing you more than any gains you’ll see from an increase in rent. 

Move-out Checklist For Tenants

Tenants usually think of checklists as something that should be used when moving in as a way to protect your security deposit. They should also be used when moving out. Moving is a high-stress situation and it is easy for many of the long lists of tasks to slip through the cracks. In order to prevent yourself from missing anything while moving out, use this checklist. This list will help protect your security deposit: 

Bedrooms and living spaces

Walls

Walls should be cleaned to the best of your abilities. Try to remove any markings if possible. If there are any holes in the wall they should be filled or patched up. 

Floors

Ideally, any hardwood or laminate floors should be free of any scratches, knicks, or deep grooves. Check to see the condition they are in and take any notes about the damage you find. Carpets should be vacuumed and floors should be swept and mopped before leaving. Carpets should also be free of any large stains or burn marks. Again, take note of any damages on the carpet before leaving. 

Closets

Empty out any closets and storage of personal belongings, even if you don’t plan on bringing them with you. The more items you leave behind, the more likely you are to be charged for their removal. Also dust, and vacuum the closet and storage space when done removing any personal belongings. 

Fans and vents

This can likely be ignored if you live in an older home without vents or fans, but dust down any ceiling fans or vents in the unit. 

Windows

Check the condition of the windows. There should be able to slide and lock properly without any cracks. Clean the blinds and remove any curtains you may have installed. Leave anything installed by the landlords. 

Kitchen

Range hood and stovetop

Clean the stovetop thoroughly. Make sure there’s no food, debris, or grease. Take note of any stains or burn markets that could cause some charges out of your security deposit. Check to see the condition of the range hood to make sure everything is functioning properly like the lights and the fan. 

Oven

Clean off any built-up grease and burnt food in the oven. Degrease and clean the oven racks and make sure the lights in the oven are working properly. 

Backsplash

Clean any grease and stains on the backsplash behind the sink and the stove. 

Sink and garbage disposal

Clean the sink and the garbage disposal to remove any excess food and grime that might have built up. 

Cabinets 

Empty out all of your cabinets and throw away or sell any items you don’t want to keep. Trash removal can take a lot of money out of your security deposit so try not to leave any junk behind. Wipe down all of the shelves in the cabinets and clean any stains or marks off of the cabinet doors. 

Countertops

Clean and degrease all the countertops. Try to remove any stains if possible. Take note of any permanent stains or burn marks because landlords could charge for those. 

Microwave

If your landlord has provided a microwave, make sure it is thoroughly degreased and cleaned on the inside so that it is in the condition it was when you moved in. Also, wipe down the exteriors to remove any grease or dust. 

Bathroom

Toilet

Clean and disinfect the toilet. Make sure there are no cracks and the flushing mechanism is working properly. If the take is dirty, use a tank cleaner as well. 

Shower and/or bathtub

Remove all of your personal items including the shower curtains if they weren’t provided by the landlord. If they were, clean and disinfect them. If any scum or stains have built up on the grout, use a grout cleaner. 

Sink

Clean and disinfect the sink. Try to remove any stains. Remove all personal items from the bathroom countertop. 

Mirrors and medicine cabinet

All the mirrors should be wiped down and personal belongings should be removed from the medicine cabinet. Be sure to also wipe down the shelves in the medicine cabinet.  

Should You Get Renter’s Insurance?

When it comes to securing your own belongings in a rental unit, there is more to consider than just the security features of the home or the building you’re renting a unit in. It’s not just potential theft a renter needs to worry about. There are a number of potential natural disasters or accidents that can cause you to lose your belongings and potentially the rental unit altogether. One way to protect yourself is to get renter’s insurance. Some landlords require renter’s insurance, but if they don’t, here are some of the benefits: 

It’s inexpensive

Renter’s insurance will cost you roughly 200 hundred dollars annually. If you break that down monthly, it would be like adding about 17 dollars a month to your rent. When you consider all the expensive electronics and other valuables in a home, paying 17 dollars a month to ensure it all can be a good deal. Costs can depend on a number of factors as well as the type of coverage you choose. Consider what best fits your needs when shopping around. 

It covers personal property

If for some reason your personal property were to be stolen or damaged, it could cost a lot of money to replace everything. It’s not just a matter of valuables like jewelry. Replacing all of the furniture in your home or an entire wardrobe can be both time-consuming and expensive. By insuring your rental unit, you’ll be able to ease the stress when it comes to the cost of replacing items in your home. Policies vary when it comes to protection, but here are some of the risks it can protect you from:

  • Damage caused by aircraft
  • Damage caused by vehicles
  • Explosion
  • Falling objects
  • Fire or lightning
  • Riot or civil commotion
  • Smoke
  • Theft
  • Vandalism or malicious mischief
  • Volcanic eruption
  • Weight of ice, snow, or sleet
  • Windstorm or hail
  • Damage from water or steam from sources including household appliances, plumbing, heating, air conditioning, or fire-protective sprinkler systems. 

Some other protections from natural disasters like earthquakes or flooding may not be covered in a traditional plan so be sure to look into what your risks are where your rental unit is located so you can get the best plan for your needs. Renter’s insurance also does not cover losses caused by your own negligence. If for some reason you were to fall asleep with your stove left on and you started a fire, it would not be covered through renter’s insurance. 

Liability coverage

One of the more overlooked risks of being a tenant is the liability tenants have for their guests. It’s a risk tenants either don’t know about or just assume it is taken on by the landlord. Tenants may also assume because the guests in their home are likely friends, they aren’t at any risk if there is some sort of accident. Renter’s insurance can protect you from any liability if someone is to get injured while in the unit you’re renting. This would cover any court judgments and legal expenses up to the policy limit. 

It covers belongings when you travel

Renter’s insurance doesn’t just cover your personal property when it is in your home. It covers any personal property that is left in your car or taken with you on vacation. 

Additional living expenses

If your home becomes uninhabitable for a variety of reasons listed above, your renter’s insurance could cover some of the costs to temporarily house and feed yourself while repairs are being made or you look for a new place to live. This can include rent, hotel expenses, food, and other living expenses. This all depends on the policy you choose, so consider what it may cover when picking a policy.

Cleaning Schedule For Tenants

While the responsibility for maintaining the functionality of the rental unit falls on the property manager or the landlord, maintaining the cleanliness inside is the responsibility of the tenant. Keeping to a regular cleaning schedule can help you maintain your home and potentially keep more of your security deposit if you plan to move out. To keep a regular schedule, you can break down cleaning tasks into daily, weekly, monthly, and annually. Here is a useful cleaning schedule: 

Daily

Wipe down surfaces

Every surface can collect dirt and dust. Give a quick wipe down of the surfaces around your home every day, especially those you use frequently like countertops and tables. This will help keep the rest of your home from collecting dust while also increasing the longevity of your furniture and floors. 

Clean the sink

Using dish soap or a cleaning spray, clean the sink every single day. This will help prevent bacteria from building up while also making the sink last longer.

Vacuum and sweep

Sweeping and vacuuming daily will prevent any dirt build up on your carpets and floors, especially in difficult-to-reach places like under your couch. Preventing the dirt build-up on your floors helps maintain the quality of your carpet and floors. 

Weekly

Clean sink and countertops

While you should wipe these down daily, once a week you should give a deeper scrubbing to these parts of the home. Make sure you get in all the cracks and crevices to keep any mold or grime from building up. 

Clean the microwave

With a sponge and soap, wipe down the inside of the microwave to prevent build-up which would make it a much more difficult task down the road. 

Mop the floors

After you do your daily sweeping, be sure to mop the floors at least once a week. This will prevent any built of dirt and grime that will be much more difficult to clean up later on. 

Scrub the toilet

Scrub the toilet at least once a week to prevent any buildup from hard water and human waste. This will help keep your toilet bowl looking sparkling clean and prevent any stains. 

Clean your fridge

Go through the contents of your refrigerator and remove anything that has gone bad. Be sure to wipe down the surfaces especially if there have been any leaks or spills. This will help prevent any bad odors from building up and a need for a deep cleaning later on. 

Monthly 

Dust above your head

Clean any dust and cobwebs from ceiling lights, high shelves, and fans. This will help prevent dust from building up in the rest of the house. 

Dust and clean your vents

Cleaning vents is an important safety measure as it can reduce the risk of fire in your home. It’ll also keep dust from spreading throughout your house when the heating or AC is on. 

Clean walls and baseboards

Walls can collect a lot of dust, dirt, and grime, especially the baseboard. Giving a monthly wipe-down will keep the paint in good condition and keep your home looking clean and presentable. Use this time to remove any cobwebs that may have built up in the upper corners of each room. 

Clean windows and blinds

Clean both the interior and if you can the exterior of your windows. They can collect a lot of dirt and dust over the course of a month. It is the same with your blinds. Waiting too long to clean your blinds can leave them stained and difficult to clean. 

Scrub the grout

Cleaning the grout regularly will help prevent mold build-up which would create more serious damage. If the grout is looking gray or black, it is in need of a cleaning. 

Clean garbage disposal

Use a garbage disposal cleaner once a month. This will help the upkeep of the garbage disposal while also keeping your sink from spreading bad odors throughout the house. 

Annual

Clean behind appliances

This may require some help from a friend, family, or roommates. If you don’t have anyone to help move the larger appliances, you might want to hire someone for deep cleaning. Pull the appliances away from the wall to give you enough space to clean and remove all the dust build-up. After the dust has been removed, mop the floor area and wipe down the walls. 

Deep clean carpets and upholstery 

If you need to, you can rent a carpet cleaner to clean both the carpets and upholstery. Another option is to hire a carpet cleaner. The best time of the year to do this is after the rainy season has ended in the spring or possibly the summer depending on the climate you’re in. 

Deep clean oven

This is important in preventing any grease build-up which can be a dangerous fire hazard. 

Wipe down shelves and cabinets

Since this is where you store your dishes and food, you’ll want to make sure there isn’t a lot of dust and dirt build-up.  

How To Replace An Electrical Outlet

There are a number of ways to reduce costs when it comes to maintaining your rental property. One way to do this is to make a list of small repairs around the house that can be learned and done on your own. This will help by reducing labor costs for minor repairs. One simple repair that can be learned easily and done on your own is to replace the electrical outlets. 

This is a simple and inexpensive replacement that can improve the look and functionality of your rental unit. Replacing old outlets will also improve the safety of your rental unit as well. Here is how to replace your electrical outlets: 

Step 1: Turn off the power

Cut the power to the outlet on the breaker panel. If you are unsure of which breaker is connected to the outlets you’re replacing, just cut the power to the entire house to be safe. 

Step 2: Remove the faceplate

With a screwdriver, remove the screws to the faceplate and take remove the faceplate entirely. Be careful when removing as the faceplate may be stuck to the paint. 

Step 3: Remove the outlet

Using a screwdriver, remove the screws connecting the outlet to the box. Once you have the screws removed, carefully pull the outlet out of the box. It’ll be connected to the electrical wires, so don’t pull too hard. 

Step 4: Detach wires

Loosen the screws on the outlet where the wires are attached to it. Once they are loose, remove the two electrical wires and the grounding wire from the outlet. 

Step 5: Attach the grounding wire

Loop the grounding wire around the screw in the box leaving enough length to connect the grounding wire to the outlet as well. The grounding wire will either be green or a bare copper wire. 

Step 6: Attach the outlet

Next up, you’ll need to attach the electrical wires and the grounding wire to the new outlet. You’ll know where to connect the wires based on the color of the screw and the color of the wires. Loosen the screws and wrap the wires around the corresponding screws, and tighten them. The black wire connects to the brass screw. The white wire connects to the silver screw, and the grounding wire connects to the green screw. 

Step 7: Insert outlet into the box

Gently insert the outlet into the box. Once the outlet is where you want it, use a screwdriver to secure it in place. Don’t tighten it too much. Instead, tighten it just enough so it doesn’t move. 

Step 8: Attach the faceplate

Using the screws and a screwdriver, attach the faceplate to the outlet. Make sure you tighten the screws only enough to secure the faceplate. If you screw them in too tight, you can crack the faceplate or run the risk of it cracking from being bumped later on. 

Step 9: Turn the power on

Head to your breaker panel and turn all the power back on. You can test the outlet with a phone charger to make sure everything is working properly. If you opted to install a smart outlet, you can also now take the necessary steps to set it up. 

Proposed Bill To Change Eviction Laws In California

A law that would change the rules for evicting tenants in California has been proposed in the assembly. AB 854 is a new piece of legislation aimed at protecting tenants from serial evictors. The big change in the law if the legislation passes would require landlords to own a property for five years before they can use the Ellis Act to evict a tenant. 

Changes to target serial evictors

The Ellis Act is a California law that allows landlords to evict tenants if they are taking the rental units off the market. A loophole that is regularly used is to convert apartments into condominiums. The proposed law would limit the ability of landlords to purchase an investment property and use loopholes to evict the tenants by requiring the landlords to wait at least five years before using the Ellis Act. 

The legislation still needs to move through all the necessary committees, then be approved by both the State Senate and the Assembly and signed by Governor Newsom before it becomes law. If it does pass, it likely will not impact mom-and-pop landlords who own and rent properties and aren’t regularly acquiring new investment properties. 

The legislation could see potential changes as it makes its way through each committee, but as of now, the major change would be requiring landlords to own a property for five years before using the Ellis Act. This should not impact the average landlord when it comes to managing properties, but it could have an impact when it comes to selling an investment property to other investors. 

DIY For Tenants: Setting Up Your TV Room

When moving into a rental property, you can be in a rush to just get settled and not take too much thought into positioning your TV and couch properly. When setting up your living room, you’ll want to make sure you get the TV and the couch set up with all the correct distances. This will include both the height of the TV and the distance to place the couch from the TV. 

Height

Generally, you will want to place the TV at around eye level. This means eye level when sitting down on your couch, not standing. This will be easier if you have a second person who can sit down on the couch and tell where to mark along the wall for installation. This can also be dependent on the tilt of the wall mount and personal preference, but the general rule of thumb is to keep the TV at eye level. 

Distance

The rule of thumb when it comes to the distance between the couch and the TV is to keep the distance of the couch to  1.5 to 2.5 times the size of the TV. This means if you have a 55” TV, you’ll want the couch to be between around 7 feet to around 12 feet away from the TV. 

Screen SizeRecommended Range
26″3.25′ – 5.5′ (1.0 m – 1.7 m)
32″4.0′ – 6.66′ (1.2 m – 2.0 m)
37″4.63′ – 7.71′ (1.4 m – 2.4 m)
40″5.0′ – 8.33′ (1.5 m – 2.5 m)
42″5.25′ – 8.75′ (1.6 m – 2.7 m)
46″5.75′ – 9.5′ (1.7 m – 2.9 m)
50″6.25′ – 10.5′ (1.9 m – 3.2 m)
52″6.5′ – 10.8′ (2.0 m – 3.3 m)
55″6.9′ – 11.5′ (2.1 m – 3.5 m)
58″7.25′ – 12.0′ (2.2 m – 3.7 m)
65″8.13′ – 13.5′ (2.5 m – 4.1 m)
70″8.75′ – 14.75′ (2.7 m – 4.5 m)

TV manufacturers will give their own recommendations that may be different. These are just guidelines to start from and what you choose to do can be based on manufacturer recommendations or just your own personal preference. 

The size of your room should also impact the size of TV you purchase. If you have limited space, you probably shouldn’t be buying a 75” inch TV. This could give the feel of sitting in the front row of a movie theater. 

You’ll want the viewing angle of the TV from the couch to be about 30 degrees. This means the seating area shouldn’t be too wide so the viewing angle is more from the side of the TV instead of directly in front of it.

Proper Record Keeping For Landlords

While much of the focus for landlords can be on the big picture stuff, like how much to charge for rent, or what renovations should be made, the importance of maintaining proper records can fall by the wayside. This can especially be the case if being a landlord isn’t your primary job. So what are some of the best practices for maintaining your paperwork and making sure the little things aren’t falling through the cracks?

Digital or physical

Some landlords are old-school and prefer to keep all their records and paperwork filed away in drawers in an office. Others have looked for more modern solutions through computers with spreadsheets and PDFs as well as specific software for managing properties. Both have advantages and disadvantages. Physical records can be available to you regardless if your computer is working or your internet is down. Digital records will give you access to everything no matter where you are as well as make them easier to find. 

Find what works best for you. Develop a system, and be sure to maintain that system. If you’re uncomfortable with computers and keeping digital records, you can start by transitioning everything to digital while still maintaining the physical records as a backup. Once you’re comfortable with digital record keeping, you can dispense of all the physical records. 

Tax records

The IRS and local governments require you to keep certain records for specified periods of time even after they are no longer needed for your day-to-day work. When creating a record-keeping system, make sure you keep track of which records you need to keep and for how long. This will include detailed reports of your revenue, your profits, and your losses. If you have any questions about which records need to be kept and for how long, consult a tax attorney or an accountant. 

Tenant records

Keep files on every tenant. Keep leases on file as well as any paperwork regarding walkthroughs during moving in and out. Also, keep track of any repairs during their time as a tenant. Keep detailed paperwork of expenses as well as their security deposit. This can save you if a former tenant wants to dispute any charges paid by the security deposit. 

Property Management

To help keep track of all your records, sign up with Ziprent. Ziprent will help maintain all your records as well as generate useful reports to help manage your business and the day-to-day operations of your properties. 

Know when to let go of your records

You don’t want to be a hoarder so make sure you know when paperwork is passed the IRS’s recommendations for record-keeping and dispose of the paperwork properly. If you keep physical copies of your paperwork, make sure you get a proper paper shredder which will make it impossible to put the records back together once they are shredded and tossed in the garbage. 

How To Lower Landscaping Costs On Rental Property

When it comes to cutting costs on rental property maintenance, one area that can often be overlooked is landscaping. There are multiple ways to go about cutting costs. It could be more about sustainability or properly maintaining the landscaping you already have. Here are a few ways to cut costs: 

Water overnight

Since it takes about a half-gallon of water per square foot of grass to properly water a lawn, it is best to water overnight.  Watering overnight will prevent water from evaporating, meaning it will require less water and save money over time. This also has the added benefit of reducing potential damage to grass and other plants since water can act as a magnifying glass under a hot sun. 

Use the 3-inch rule for grass

While having short grass may be more visually appealing, it can make maintaining a lawn much more expensive as it is more likely to damage the lawn while also requiring more regular mowing. Keeping the grass at least 3 inches in length will give it more surface area to catch more sunlight and help with photosynthesis creating a healthier lawn. This helps the lawn develop a strong root system that will prevent weed growth. This also helps cut costs when it comes to weed removal. 

Xeriscape 

This is a fundamentally different way of looking at landscaping. It is more of a long-term strategy that may require a lot of change when it comes to the plants that are currently in the yard. Xeriscaping is about using indigenous plants that evolved to succeed in the local climate. This means they would require less watering while having the added bonus of being able to sustain droughts where other plants would likely fail. You can research your climate and find out what pants naturally occur and landscape your property based on those plants. 

Talk to your landscapers

Some landscapers may take a one size fits all approach to dealing with weeds. This may be less effective on some weeds causing them to come back. If they aren’t using proper techniques, you can ask them to look into it, or you can look for a new landscaper who is more knowledgeable when it comes to yard maintenance. 

Plant perennials 

By planting perennials, you won’t have to worry about planting new plants every year. They will bloom around the same time every year and create more curb appeal for your rental property. This can help when it comes to tenant placement and finding the right tenants while also lowering the regular maintenance needed for the yard. 

Mulch

Talk to your landscaper about leaving the trimmings from mowing the lawn on the grass. This can help provide much-needed nutrients for your grass while also reducing the amount of waste that needs to go into the trash.

DIY: How To Refinish Interior Doors

When managing rental properties, costs can add up quickly. Routine maintenance doesn’t require just the tools and supplies to complete the job, it can also require the cost to hire labor in order to complete the tasks. One way to reduce costs is to select some tasks that can be done on your own in a timely manner. One task that can be done on your own is to refinish and maintain all the interior doors in your rental property. Here is how you do it: 

What You Need

  • Gel stripper
  • Brushes
  • Scraper
  • Steel wool
  • Mineral spirits
  • Rag
  • Random orbital sander
  • Sandpaper
  • Tackcloth
  • Stain
  • Clear finish
  • Sawhorses

Step 1: Remove the door from the hinge

Using a screwdriver, drive the pin in the hinge from the bottom up. Start with the lowest hinge and work your way up until you can remove the door completely. 

Step 2: Apply stripping gel

After removing the door from the hinges, rest it on a pair of sawhorses. With a brush, spread a gel-type stain over the surface of the door. Read the instructions for the gel and allow it to sit for the recommended amount of time. Once the required time has passed scrape the old finish from the surface of the door. Use fine steel wool to remove the finish from any remaining parts of the door. Soak a rag in fine mineral spirits and rinse the door. Let it dry before the next step. 

Step 3: Sand the door

Using a random orbital sander, sand the surface on the first pass with 100 grit sandpaper. To complete the process, use 220 grit sandpaper on the final pass before using the door stain. Wipe down all of the dust on the door with a  tackcloth, then flip the door over and repeat the same process on the other side. 

Step 4: Stain the door

Choose the color of stain for your door. Using a soft bristle brush, apply the stain to the surface of the door. Brush as evenly as possible in order to avoid runs and drips. Once you are done, allow for the stain to dry before moving on to the next step. 

Step 5: Lightly sand door surface

With 220-grit sandpaper, sand the door lightly and wipe off any dust with a tackcloth. Then flip the door over and repeat the process on the other side, wiping it down with a tackcloth when done. 

Step 6: Apply clear finish

Using a soft-bristle brush, apply three coats of clear finish. Follow the instructions for the proper drying team in between applying each coat. Using  0000 steel wool, polish the door between the first and second coats. After using the steel wool, polish with a tackcloth. Allow for the door to dry completely before turning over and repeating the same process on the other side. 

Step 7: Hang the door

Let the door sit overnight to allow it to dry thoroughly. Line the door up with the hinges and with a hammer, drive the pin down from the top. Start with the top hinge first and work your way down. 

With all the work that goes into managing a property, it can be difficult to keep track of all your costs as well as your income. Ziprent can help keep track of all of your expenses and revenue with comprehensive reports that are easily accessible on your dashboard. It’s easy to use and can help both small and large landlords manage each property efficiently.