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. 

Consider using Autopilot, a property management software that helps landlords streamline maintenance by offering repair management as part of its services.

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 Size	Recommended 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.

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. 

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.

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 & Autopilot can help keep track of all of your expenses and revenue with comprehensive reports that are easily accessible on your dashboard. They are easy to use and can help both small and large landlords manage each property efficiently.

How to access your “Profit and Loss Statement“

Ziprent keeps a number of reports for each of your properties to make sure some of the most valuable data is all in one place. This information will assist in your ability to make smart and informed decisions based on each individual property you own. Keeping track of both your expenses and your income will help you figure out where you can cut costs as well as ways to increase income. If you have any questions about the reports, you can contact Ziprent. If you want to access your “Profit and Loss Statement” just follow these simple steps:

Step 1:

Log into your Ziprent account.

Step 2:

In the top right corner, you will see your username. Click on your username.

Step 3:

After clicking on your username, drag your mouse down and click on the “Reports” button. This will give you access to all of the reports Ziprent keeps for your properties.

Step 4: 

On the left side of the “Reports” page, you’ll see a dropdown box that will allow you to select any report you wish to see. Click on that dropdown box.

Step 5: 

After clicking on the dropdown box, drag your mouse and select “Profit and Loss Statement”

Step 6:

Under the dropdown box is a box where you can select which property of yours you would like to see the “Profit and Loss Statement” for. Select a property.

Step 7: 

Select the dates for the time period you would like the report to show. For example, if you want to see your report from 2020, you would select 1/1/2020 to 12/31/2020.

Step 8: 

Now you have your “Profit and Loss Statement.” You will be able to see your net income as well as your total expenses for your property. You can also download your report in the form of a PDF or a CSV, whichever you prefer.

Regular maintenance and repairs, especially when preparing a unit for a new tenant can get expensive. With a high turnover of tenants or the more units owned, those costs can add up quickly. One way to keep costs down is to do some of that routine maintenance yourself. 

New kitchen cabinets can cost over 5,000 dollars while refinishing and painting them yourself can cost only hundreds. You could pay workers to do the job for you, but that will increase the costs just to touch them up. Painting the cabinets yourself can be done in a weekend if you know what you’re doing.

Before starting

Examine the cabinets to make sure they don’t have any structural damage. As long as they are in good condition, you won’t need to replace the cabinets. There is also a good chance the older cabinets are made with a higher quality of material than any newer reasonably priced cabinets. 

Both oil and latex paints can be used. Latex paints tend to take longer to cure but they are more user-friendly for those who aren’t experienced. If you do choose latex paint, make sure it is a 100 percent acrylic formulation.

Brush and spray paint are both options. Spray painting may require you to pick up some extra equipment depending on what you already have. It will require a space that won’t risk paint getting everywhere and will also require a mask and this could end up being more time-consuming.

Be sure to use high-quality brushes. Purchase a 3 to 4-inch wide square brush as well as an angled 2 and a half to 3-inch wide brush. Use a synthetic bristle brush for latex paint and a natural bristle brush for oil-based paint.

If the existing finish is a clear coat, it’s a good idea to strip it down to the bare wood before painting. This will eliminate a potential adhesion problem with the new paint.

Step 1: Prep the kitchen

• Empty all the cabinets. Clear all the counters and remove all the free-standing appliances
• Move all tables and furniture out of the room 
• Tape rosin paper over the counter and the floor. Use plastic sheeting on the backsplash and any windows and doors. 
• Mask off the walls around the cabinets
• Set up a worktable for painting the drawers, doors, and shelves.

Step 2:  Remove the shelves, drawers, and doors

• Remove the hinge screws from the cabinet and remove the doors
• Working from left to rights and top to bottom, number each piece with tape and number where they came from with the same number. 
• Set aside shelf hanging hardware
• At the worktable remove any screws and hinges. Be sure to save anything that will be reused. 
• Move the numbered tape to the exposed wood where the hinges were 

Step 3: Clean the surfaces

• Use ordinary household cleaners to remove the grime from all of the surfaces you intend to paint. If ordinary cleaners don’t do the job, you can use trisodium phosphate, which is sold at hardware and paint stores. Make sure you follow all safety precautions.
• Once all the surfaces are clean, rinse them with water and let them dry completely

Step 4: Prep boxes

• Put on required safety gear. Open any windows in the room for ventilation. Dip the abrasive pad in deglosser and scrub down all the surfaces
• Hold a rag underneath to catch any drippings. Use a separate rag dampened with deglosser to wipe away any residue.
• If you’re relocating any of the hardware, fill the screw holes with a two-part wood or autobody filler
• Fillers set in about 5 minutes so only make small batches. It also shrinks when it sets so be sure to overfill the holes
• Remove any excess with a paint scraper or if it becomes too hard, sands it down smooth.
• Sand with the grain on all surfaces using 100 grit sandpaper 
• Vacuum all the dust when you’re done. Also, wipe down with a tack cloth to make sure there is no more dust

Step 5: Prime cabinet boxes

• Use a blocking primer on any heavily stained cabinets. It dries quickly and seals any knots and other surface defects that could possibly bleed through 
• Start brushing the primer at the top and across the grain, then tip-off. Pass the brush lightly over the wet finish in the direction of the grain then tip-off. Always do this in one pass 
• Be sure to follow the underlying structure of the cabinet and door with the brush. Where a rail butts into a stile, paint the rail first, overlapping slightly onto the stile, then paint the stile before the overlap dries.

Step 6: Sand, Caulk, and Fill

• When the primer is fully dry, use 220 grit sandpaper on the flat surfaces
• Using a medium grit sanding sponge, sand all profiled surfaces. They should be glassy smooth when done. 
• Squeeze a bead of latex caulk into any open seems. Caulk tip should be no thicker than the tip of a pencil. 
• With a damp finger, smooth the caulk. Fill any small dents, scratches, or dings with vinyl spackle. Smooth with a flat with a putty knife
• After about an hour when the spackle is dry, sand with 220 grit sandpaper. Then vacuum and wipe down with a tack cloth 
• Touch up any spots where sandpaper might have burned through the primer with a spray can of fast-drying oil-based primer.

Step 7: Paint the cabinet boxes

• If the new color is the same shade as the existing color, you might be able to get away with using just two or possibly one coat of paint.  Using a lighter finish over a dark coat would take three coats. Be sure to use a new brush with each coat. 
• Starting from top to bottom, brush across the grain, then tip-off with the grain. 
• Use a mini paint roller for the interior of the cabinet 
• Sand the surface between each coat and make sure to remove any dust or debris. 

Step 8: Prep, prime, and paint the doors, drawers, and shelves

• Be sure to use the worktable to reduce the risk of any drips, sags. or runs. 
• For paneled doors, start with the area around the panel.
• Next, do the main field panel, followed by the stiles and rails around the edges
• Wipe up any paint that ends up on the dry parts to avoid lap marks
• When you’re done painting, pick up the door by the screw and one hook and hang both hooks on a sturdy clothes hanger. 
• Hang from a curtain rod or clothes rod until dry

Step 9: Put everything back in place

• Make sure everything is dry before the next step
• Match the numbered tape on each piece and remove the tape before installing. Install all the hinges and knobs. 
• Replace the drawer pulls and install each drawer. 
• You’re done!

Routine maintenance on a rental property can get expensive. Especially if tenants aren’t staying in the property for more than a year. Having to pay painters to come in and touch up, or completely repaint a rental property whenever a tenant moves out can add up costs quickly. One option to reduce your costs is to take the time to paint the interior of your properties instead of paying professionals to do it for you. If done correctly, you can end up with professional results at a fraction of the cost. Here are some helpful tips so you can do it yourself.

Remove switch plates and outlet covers

Before removing the switch plates and outlet covers, make sure you turn off all the circuits so you don’t get shocked. Use a screwdriver to remove the plates and covers before painting. Soak them in warm water to clean them while painting. Cover the space where the plates were with blue painter’s tape so you don’t accidentally paint them.

Cover unmovable items and floor

Use plastic tarps or rosin paper to cover the floor and any other objects to protect them from paint dripping. 

Remove or mask trim

If possible, remove baseboards before painting. If you can’t, cover the top part of the baseboards with blue painter’s tape. Cover the edges of doors and window trim with painter’s tape as well. 

Patch the walls

Examine the walls for any holes, peeling, scratches, cracks, or gouges. Smooth over all of these to ensure a smoother and more professional finish. Use fine-grit sandpaper to smooth over any cracks. With a paint scraper, scrape off any peeling paint. Smooth over and feather edges of scraped paint with sandpaper. Sand and spackle large blemishes. 

Clean the walls

Any visible stains or blemishes will be visible after painting so make sure you clean the walls thoroughly prior to painting. You can wash the walls with tri-sodium phosphate. This is effective at removing oils and dirt. 

Fill a clean bucket with cool water and pour in the specific amount of TSP. Use proper protective gear like manufacturer-recommended gloves, protective eyewear, and long sleeves. Be sure to not get any on your skin or in your eyes. Read safety instructions beforehand and know what to do if any gets on your skin or in your eyes. Soak a sponge with the solution and scrub the walls. After walls are scrubbed clean, fill the bucket with clean water and wash the walls then let them dry before priming. 

Prime the walls

Primer can be used to help cover any stains on the walls. If the walls have been thoroughly cleaned, you can consider using self-priming paint. An oil-based primer is recommended for indoor walls. If stains couldn’t be removed before priming, use a specific primer to keep stains from seeping through to the paint. Continue to add layers of primer until the stains are no longer visible. 

Cut in the edges

This means painting the areas along the edges with a brush where rollers will not be able to reach. This will help you avoid getting paint on frames, trim, and baseboards. Use an angled brush or an edging tool when cutting in.  

Prepare roller with paint

Dip the roller into the paint but don’t keep it in too long. You want to avoid any paint dripping from the roller. Roll the roller back and forth in the paint until it is thoroughly coated and you can hear a sticky sound.

Use roller in a “W” shape

Start in the corner of the room and make a 3-foot downward angle pass and back up again making a W shape. Keep doing this until all the gaps are filled. It is important to move quickly before the edges have a chance to dry. 

Fill in and finish

Continue to this process while occasionally stepping back to look for any blank spots that need to be covered.  Look for any gaps at the edges of where you previously cut in along the edges and fill in with the roller with horizontal or vertical passes. 

Over the past two years the California state legislature has been looking to pass bills that would help address the housing crisis. SB 9 just got one step closer on August 19th the bill passed in the appropriations committee in the State Assembly. There was only one no vote in the committee and the bill has seen strong support in both chambers throughout the process. 

What happens next?

Now that the bill has moved out of committee, it will move to the floor for a final vote. Since the bill has already been approved by the state senate, it will head to Governor Newsom’s desk to be signed into law if the Assembly passes the bill. 

What would that mean for landlords?

Current laws in most areas limit the ability for homeowners to add more units onto each lot. Single family zoning which makes up a large percentage of housing in the state means that only one unit is allowed on each lot. SB 9 would change that for some single family lots, depending on where they are located. This means that if one of your rental properties qualifies under SB 9, a landlord could potentially add more rental units on each lot. 

SB 9 would allow for owners to build a duplex on a single family lot. It would also allow owners to split a lot into two lots, building a second home, or a second duplex on each lot. There are limits to how many units can be on each lot and the law restricts owners from adding accessory dwelling units to each lot that has a duplex built on it. 

Limits for developers

While SB 9 makes it easier for property owners to add more units on their lot, there are restrictions that are targeted to limit developers from buying up too many lots in the same neighborhood. If two lots next to each other are owned by the same person or company, only one lot can be split into two or have duplexes built on the lot. 

While SB 9 limits the ability of local governments to stop landowners from building more units on their lots, there are restrictions for those who own homes in historic neighborhoods. Depending on the local governments, there could also be certain design restrictions that require new homes to meet a specific style. Other than that, there is little a local government would be able to do to stop a landlord from adding more rental units to each lot. 

More opportunity

While some landlords may have just one or two properties and aren’t concerned with growing their business, others who are more ambitious and plan on growing their business will see SB 9 as a great opportunity. The California housing crisis is decades in the making and has a deep hole to dig out of in order to create a large enough supply of housing to match the demand. With rents going up fast in the short term and expected increases in the long term, adding more units to each lot is a great way to increase income and potentially buy more property.

Even with a housing shortage and tenants competing for housing, you can still try to maintain a high occupancy rate. The longer a tenant stays in a unit, the fewer days a year that unit sits unoccupied while it is being turned over. There are many short term and long term ways to keep your occupancy rate high. 

Location. Location. Location

When it comes to the rental properties you already own, this won’t factor into your equation. But when you are looking for rental properties, here are some things to consider: 

• Area job growth. Are more people moving into the area for work than leaving?
• Walkability. Is it the kind of neighborhood with restaurants, retail, parks etc within walking distance?
• Nearby transit. Not every tenant has or needs a car. Being close to transit means more tenants will find that property desirable. 
• Low crime. 

Tenant screening

Tenant placement is an important factor when it comes to maintaining high occupancy. You want to avoid people with checkered backgrounds or those who tend to not stay in a property for too long. A little extra work can go a long way in securing high occupancy. Here are a few ways: 

• Credit report. Make sure a potential tenant pays their bills on time and isn’t accumulating too much unpaid debt
• Check their eviction history. 
• Run a criminal background
• Speak with their employers to verify the veracity of information on their application.
• Talk to current and former landlords especially if there are any past evictions.

Good tenant/landlord relationship

While long term rentals aren’t the hospitality industry, customer service is still important. Tenants aren’t just paying for a roof over their heads and a place to keep their stuff. They are also paying for everything to be functional and in good condition both in the unit as well as any amenities on the property. Here are some options for keeping positive relations with your tenants: 

• Be sure to respond to tenants in a timely manner
• Keep in contact with tenants about any big changes being planned. Give them a heads up for renovations and repairs that might create a lot of noise or require the water to be shut off. Give your tenants ample time to make plans for any kind of potential disruptions
• Give your tenants privacy and space. While you do own the property, allow for them to feel free on the property without a watchful eye on them. 

Good upkeep

Maintaining the property as well as making important updates to certain amenities can help keep tenants in the same unit longer. Depending on how long a tenant is in a particular unit will require some updates and maintenance. Here are a few to consider: 

• Carpet cleaning. Pay for an annual carpet cleaning and the carpet will last longer and you’ll have a happy tenant. 
• Fresh paint. Both on the exterior and the interior. 
• Regular landscaping. 
• Upkeep of common areas like a laundry room and BBQ area. 

Other considerations

About 15.3 million households move annually. Some of those who move, tend to move once a year or even multiple times a year. Ideally, the tenants who tend to stay in one place for a while would be the one who moves in. If you find your tenants aren’t staying as long as you like, you can conduct exit interviews as they move out to try and understand why they don’t want to stay. 

Some market research might help as well. Look to similar properties in the area to find out if you are charging too much or too little rent. If the rent is too high, they could be seeking out a new place to live with more amenities and better value. 

Towards the end of a lease you can offer to upgrade some of the amenities. This can also be in conjunction with the need to raise the rent. Offer them two prices, a higher price for month to month, or a lower price for a year long lease and include any upgrades that would be planned if the unit were to be turned over.  

Be flexible on the lease terms or services. Consider what might work best for your tenants and try to work with them within reason. 

Maintain a user friendly website. This includes not just an easy way to find what rental properties are available, but also easy access to pay rent and make maintenance requests. 

At the end of the day, if your tenants are happy and feel like they aren’t being exploited, they are more likely to stay. A responsive landlord can make a tenant feel at home and taken care of creating a positive relationship and a long term tenant.