Blog Post

Evaluating Proposals and Checking References When Working with Contractors for Your Long Beach Rental

Dustin Edwards • Oct 16, 2020

Taking a few Key Steps Can Help Save You Frustration

Evaluating Plans
The reality is that at some point your rental property is going to need work where the cost is more significant meaning a repair and/or upgrade that is going to cost north of $5,000. In the scenarios you will inevitably enlist a licensed contractor in a specific trade (i.e. Electric, Roofing, etc.). To help ensure that your property and future tenants are well taken care of we invite you to consider two key aspects in these repair situations: proposals and checking references.

Evaluating Proposals for Your Long Beach Rental
For larger jobs on a property, those over a few thousand dollars, we recommend that you get at least 3 proposals. Think of major items on a property such as a roof or a re-piping job where the work can easily be in the thousands.

While the gut reaction might be to go with the “lowest bid” we encourage you to take the time to truly evaluate each proposal to ensure you are getting value. A couple of items to consider as you evaluate the proposals:
  • Have they identified the materials they plan on using? - For example in a re-piping job have they identified copper or are they proposing PEX? On a roofing job what have they identified for the roofing underlayment (felt paper or possibly Tyvek)? Each option will have cost implications and also benefits for your property.
  • What is the lifespan of the materials that are being proposed? - When you are evaluating the materials on a proposal take time to look at the differences as many materials can come with different lifespans. For example roofing material lifespans can range from 20 years to upwards of 50 years depending on the material. Generally speaking the longer the lifespan the more expensive. It can be worth investing a little extra up front for a longer lifespan. Labor is usually a large component in the total price of a large home improvement project as a result of the skill required, liability, and insurance requirements for professionals.
Checking References of Contractors
Checking references is one of the most often skipped steps when evaluating contractors for larger jobs. Looking at reviews online is great and it can give you a good idea of what it is like to work with the contractor, but taking the time to call on references can be invaluable. We find that most people don’t check on references because they aren’t sure what questions to ask. When you take the step to check on references we invite you to consider asking a few key questions such as:
  • Did you find any incident or aspect frustrating? - Here listen for items where the proposal could have differed from the actual work. How did the problem get resolved?
  • Was there anything that surprised you? - Did the job go over the expected time or cost? If so, dig in to find out why and see if it was something that could have been anticipated or just an unlucky moment.
  • What is the top reason you are happy to give them a reference? - Usually references are the top clients, finding out why (cost, efficient timing, great interaction, etc.) can help you to see who is the best for your personality.
You certainly can ask more, but we find that a few questions will help you to get a better understanding of the working relationship. More importantly you will want to ask these questions across at least 3 references as that allows you to truly find out if the experience is consistent. 

At Beach Cities Property Management we have done the evaluations of hundreds of vendors over the years to develop a list of professional and competitive contractors for any given scenario of a property. When you would like to find out more about how we engage contractors and evaluate proposals for our property owners we invite you to request our Free Rental Analysis to see how we can help.

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By Dustin Edwards 01 May, 2024
Everyone wants to feel safe in their homes. As an investment property owner, it's up to you to decide whether or not to include security measures in your property. Many of the costs associated with the security measures can be included in the rent, meaning not only can you keep your property safe, but you can earn more income in the long run. However, you would still want your tenants to have renters insurance to protect their assets. Today, we’ll discuss the top five security measures you can add to your property and why they're beneficial to you and your tenant. Security Cameras Cameras are probably one of the first security measures people think about when asked about security. Cameras provide more benefits than just surveillance. They provide an extra level of security for the safety of the tenants and their belongings. Additionally, security cameras can be useful when repairs are required. Cameras can aid in supervising repairs and maintenance to ensure you’re receiving the agreed-upon work. During vacancies when the property is empty, security cameras can help keep the property safe from potential intruders. Doorbell cameras are incredibly popular now. They provide the aforementioned safety of a camera that can be accessed remotely, as well as the ability to communicate with visitors. Although one must be careful never to say you're not home, just say you're unavailable to strangers. Security Lights Security lights with motion detectors are another effective tool when adding security measures to your property. These lights brightly if a potential intruder attempts to get near your home. They can provide enough illumination to see the intruder or, at the very least, scare them off. Nowadays, you can find a combination of security cameras and motion-activated security lights, such as the floodlight cam wired plus from Ring . Additionally, because these lights only turn on when motion is detected, they’re more cost-effective than traditional lights with a switch. Illuminate the Property Light generally deters intruders as it's more difficult to hide. Adding lighting to the landscaping can increase the security of the property while creating a relaxing atmosphere. Lights can also be used in other areas of the property to accent features such as trees, benches, or artwork. This can help your property stand out while giving your tenants an additional feeling of safety. Keyless Entry Keyless entry is seen as both a convenience feature and a security feature. They usually use an electronic passcode, biometric data, or grant access through a smartphone app. Physical keys can be lost, stolen, or duplicated. You reduce the risk of unauthorized entry by eliminating the need for a physical key to enter the property. Many keyless entry systems include several features, such as remote locking and monitoring. Although keyless entry is a great new technology for keeping your tenants and properties safe, they’re best used with other security systems. Security Company Nothing beats having an extra pair of eyes on your property for security. This is where security companies like ADT and SimpliSafe come in. While companies may deal with security in varying ways, they aim to protect your investment. While safety is the primary role of a security company, remember that many tenants may be willing to pay more for a premium amenity like a home security company. Keeping your property and tenants safe is incredibly important to the longevity of an investment property. If you’re looking to improve the security of your Long Beach rental property or need help managing your beach city rental property, we invite you to call us today at (562) 888-0247 or fill out our Owner Application online .
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