Blog Post

4 Landscaping Tips for Your Long Beach Rental

Dustin Edwards • Feb 08, 2020

Help Attract Tenants and Keep Maintenance Costs Low

Efficient Landscaping for Your Long Beach Rental
Landscaping isn’t generally one of the items that property owners consider when they are looking to rent but it does have an impact in attracting tenants and maintenance costs. Whether you are renting your own property or enlisting a property management company consider these four tips to help your property today. 

Tip #1 Curb Appeal

Annually Better Homes & Gardens has it’s “Top Front Yards” feature and while it certainly would be a feel good to land in that issue we wouldn’t suggest that you strive for that with your rental property. To attract and maintain great tenants consider landscaping that features a select number of items to grab attention and truly add to the curb appeal of your property. Consider just a few key features if you are refreshing your landscape such as simple LED lighting to a layer of fresh bark in your planter box.

Tip #2: Keep it Simple

In Southern California we traditionally have drought conditions. While the lush landscaping of grass and vibrant plants might be what you desire consider the more robust your landscaping the more difficult and costly it will be too maintain. We aren’t suggesting that you rip out all of your existing landscaping for a yard that resembles a desert; however, consider optimizing the yard for low water usage and a select amount of plants to allow for easier upkeep over time.

Tip #3: Gardener as part of the Rental Amount

It certainly would be wonderful if every tenant that rented a property had a passion for yard work but that isn’t always the case. To keep the landscaping of your rental looking great throughout every season we invite you to consider having a gardener as part of your monthly rental amount. We have found this is a sure-fire way to keep your landscaping in great care because gardening is far more than simply mowing the lawn. A gardener can tackle items such as weeding, trimming plants, mulch, and even sprinkler repair. When we advertise homes for rent in Long Beach, and our owners agree with having a gardener, we market the property as having the utility of gardener included. Including a gardener can separate your rental from other Long Beach rentals in the market.

If you are considering having a gardener as part of your monthly rental feel free to ask us what the monthly investment would be as it can vary depending on the size and complexity of your landscaping.

Tip #4: Consider Automated Systems to Help Your Tenant and the Environment

In today’s era of smart appliances, thermostats, refrigerators there are even smart sprinkler controllers. It is not one that often jumps to the top of the list as it is a bit more entertaining to think of the Ring doorbell showing you your latest package from Amazon but there is a reason to consider a smart sprinkler controller. Smart sprinkler controllers can help you in two key areas of your rental property in Long Beach.

  1. Care of Your Yard - Landscaping is one of the first elements that will draw people in to your home to rent so if the grass is dead then people aren’t likely to rent because they will take the dead grass as a sign of how the home is cared for. A smart sprinkler can ensure consistent watering to keep your grass looking sharp all year round while still capitalizing on the wet weather for conservation.
  2. Tenant Retention - A smart sprinkler controller can help reduce water usage by as much as 50%. This is excellent for the environment and can contribute to tenant retention. Who isn’t going to want to keep their water utility bill low! After all who is going to want to move if they love their location and their utilities are lower than they anticipated.

Of course we can always help get a smart sprinkler installed with our professional gardeners or handymen available. If you want to evaluate what smart irrigation timers are available consider ones from Rachio or Rainbird.

When we come to evaluate our owners rentals we are happy to provide tips on landscaping. We want you to live worry-free knowing your property is well taken care of from the aspect of collecting the rent to the care of your yard. Find out today how much your property could rent for and even request that we share our advice on your landscaping by filling out out our Free Rental Analysis.

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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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