5 Great Outdoor Activities For Spring In Santa Cruz
Springtime offers a lot of options for activities in Santa Cruz and many of them happen outdoors to take advantage of the return of ideal weather and longer days. It’s no secret that Santa Cruz is an outdoor loving community and you’ll notice a lot more people out and about when the weather starts to cooperate on a daily basis.
Helpful Real Estate Tax Hints
Collect a Security Deposit to Protect Your Property
The security deposit is one of the ways landlords are able to protect themselves financially from tenants who are careless or rough on property. Requiring a security deposit at least equal to a month’s rent can also protect landlords from tenants who are financially unstable or who move out without giving notice.
7 Reasons to Hire a Property Manager
If you have a Santa Cruz property you’re considering renting, there are several important decisions to make. The first is whether to handle all the landlord responsibilities yourself or hire a property manager. Many people are afraid of the costs of a management company. You don’t need to be. Here are seven reasons that property management is a good use of your money.
How Santa Cruz Property Management Will Save You Time
Owning a rental property in a city like Santa Cruz can easily be quite lucrative. However, the duties of a landlord can also be time consuming. Hiring a Santa Cruz property management company can end up saving you both time and money.
The advantages of having a property management company start with setting the monthly rent. Blue Sky has an online system that easily compares rents on comparable properties. When you list with Blue Sky, tenant screening is also quick and simple. Prospective renters apply in an online form embedded in the advertisement. These two tasks can be extremely time-consuming if you don’t have good systems in place.
Santa Cruz property management also streamlines the process of collecting rents and taking care of necessary repairs. Tenants are able to pay their rent online and report problems all in one centralized place. We have relationships with local companies that will fix issues promptly and competently.
Blue Sky has been working with rental properties in the area for years. We know the housing regulations and property laws for landlords. We take care of keeping your property in compliance with the law. We’ll also make sure that the day to day management of your property runs along smoothly. Santa Cruz property management is a great way to maximize your real estate investment and leave you plenty of time to enjoy your life.
Readying Your Property for Santa Cruz Home Leasing
If you are considering getting into the Santa Cruz home leasing market, you need to get your property ready. A property in top shape is key to attracting the best tenants. This starts with the property’s exterior. Real estate agents often talk about ‘curb appeal’. If you passed your property in a car or walking and saw the ‘for lease’ sign, would you want to stop and find out more? Nice landscaping, free from weeds, fresh paint or a power wash will all help to make your property appealing.
Once inside, is the property sparkling clean? This is the kind of thing that will make the photographs of your property stand out from others online. Santa Cruz home leasing searches often begin online. We recommend our clients hire a cleaning service that specializes in vacancy cleaning. A bright, clean rental says to tenants that you care about your property, so they probably will, too.
Finally, make sure everything is working properly. Do all the light bulbs work? Are the drawer pulls and cabinet handles in place? Are the blinds in good shape? How about the baseboards and the switch plates over light switches and outlets? These are all fairly minor, but they can make a big difference for tenants who are looking a lot of properties.
Contact Blue Sky Santa Cruz Real Estate and Property Management when you’re ready to put your property on the rental market. We can walk you through the process and help you get the best tenants possible.
How to Handle a Pet Deposit as a Landlord
One of the questions you’ll have to decide as a landlord is whether to allow pets. Many landlords explicitly prohibit animals because of the potential for damage to their Santa Cruz property. Because of this, allowing pets can expand your pool of eligible applicants. Pet owners who rent are more likely to stay in a unit where they can keep their pet, which decreases turnover. If you decide to allow pets, consider how you want to handle the security deposit. California law prohibits charging a specific pet deposit. This means you would have to charge a larger security deposit for all tenants, regardless of whether they had pets. This eliminates the perceived unfairness of a pet deposit. If the deposit gets to be too large, it might also shrink the number of people who are eligible to rent your property.
Keep in mind that just because you allow some animals, you don’t have to allow huge breeds or those with a reputation for destruction. A very clear pet policy, detailing the number of pets allowed, their size, and species is critical. You might also consider putting a clause in the lease agreement stating that all pets are subject to landlord approval. This might save the headache of repairing damage done by a poorly-behaved animal. Be sure to consult with your Santa Cruz property management company about the wording of a pets clause. You need to maintain fairness, stay within the law, and protect your property.
