California has some of the strictest landlord and tenant laws in the country. As a rental property owner, you need to understand your responsibilities and your tenants’ rights. The courts can be tenant-friendly, and while this is frustrating to landlords, you can avoid expensive court cases and legal claims by understanding what’s expected and following the law carefully.
A positive rental experience starts with two things: a qualified tenant and a strong lease. A good lease will protect you and your property, and set forth the expectations and responsibilities of you and your tenant during the lease period.
People become landlords in a number of different ways. Whether you’ve moved out of a home you once lived in, you’ve inherited a property that you’ll turn into a rental, or you’ve intentionally invested in residential real estate in order to earn some hot returns, you need to decide how you’re going to manage that property.
Prospective tenants are likely going to look at your property’s pictures before they read the description or do anything else. Most people looking at online ads are visual people, and they’ll want to get an idea of what your property looks like. Appeal to those senses by providing high quality, professional photographs. While hiring a professional photographer is a great idea, you can probably take good pictures on your own if you pay attention to a few details. For example:
Setting a rental price for your investment property can be pretty emotional. This is your property, and you probably have some pretty clear ideas about what you think it’s worth. Or, maybe you’re concerned about meeting the cost of your mortgage, your insurance, taxes, and repairs.
Vacancies are an expensive part of investing in real estate. When you don’t have a tenant in your property and paying rent, you’re losing money on that investment. The goal is to limit your vacancy time, and today we have a few tips on how to do that.
