Blog Post

Do You Have a Seasonal Checklist for Your Long Beach Rental?

Dustin Edwards • Jun 26, 2021

A Checklist Can Keep Your Rental in Top Shape

Seasonal Checklist
Although Southern California may not face snowstorms or heavy rainfall, having a seasonal checklist can keep your tenants happy and safe. Everything on your property should always be clean and fully functional. Not to mention, maintaining your property’s appliances and fixtures increases their longevity, therefore saving you money that would otherwise be spent on repairs or replacements. 

Here are a few important rental maintenance items to add to your Long Beach rental’s seasonal checklist. 

Cleaning Rain Gutters
Occasional sprinkles and showers are typical seasonal elements in Long Beach. Over time, rain gutters fill with leaves, sticks, rocks, litter, and more that can cause them to clog. Leaving this debris untouched not only makes it difficult for the gutters to catch rain, but can also cause mold growth, leaking roofs, and rodent infestations. As such, it is important to clean your gutters at least once a year.

Autumn is usually the best time to clean your gutters, especially if your rental property is abounding with trees. Additionally, consider cleaning your gutters (or at least checking on them) after any downpour or windstorm.

Though it may seem daunting, cleaning your gutters is fairly simple as it only requires a few basic tools: a ladder, a small scoop, and a garden hose. 

Once you have all these tools, you can climb up the ladder and use the scoop to remove all the muck. Afterward, rinse out the gutter with a garden hose and it should look good as new! 

Cleaning Dryer Vents
Most rentals with a laundry dryer have an exhaust vent outside the property. This vent propels dust and lint during cycles. These particles can collect within the vent, leading to the growth of mold and creating a fire hazard. Yet, many people neglect to clean their dryer vents on a regular basis. 

To do so, all you need is a scrubbing brush and some cleaning solution (dishwashing soap will suffice). Lather the scrubbing brush in the cleaning solution and run it along the outside exhaust vent, making sure to collect as much dust and lint as possible. Doing so once a year is crucial to maintaining a safe area for your renters to wash and dry their clothes. 

Servicing Heating and Air Conditioning Units
Most Long Beach properties feature furnaces to combat cold winter nights. For those summer heat waves, some also include air conditioning units. It is important that you have any of your rental’s climate control equipment serviced once a year. 

Failure to schedule annual furnace inspections can have dire consequences for your tenants. Faulty furnaces may emit carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless, and deadly gas. Installing carbon monoxide detectors across your rental can help avoid any catastrophe. Nevertheless, you should still have your furnace serviced every autumn (before temperatures drop to chilling levels) to further prevent the accumulation of dust and mold in your furnance’s air filter and ensure that the furnace is effectively heating your rental. 

Similarly, air conditioners require annual check-ups to guarantee that they are running to the best of their ability. Most of the time, inspections consist of nothing more than cleaning the air filter of any grime and checking that all the parts are running smoothly. It is best to have your air conditioners serviced around springtime (before temperatures rise to blazing levels). 

To service your heating and air conditioning units, schedule an appointment with your local HVAC repair company or you can even call us for our preferred vendors. 

Servicing Tankless Water Heaters
There are plenty of positives to having a tankless water heater on your rental property. They take up less space, are more environmentally friendly, and save money long-term. Despite this, they do require added care and inspection than storage tank water heaters. 

Since tankless water heaters heat the water as you turn on the faucet, there is room for complication. Thus, plumbers need to check that your tankless water heater is heating properly and at the right temperature. Furthermore, the minerals present in water can impede flow over time, leading to irreversible damage. 

Taking these factors into consideration, you should have your tankless water heater serviced every six months by your local plumbing company. 

Replacing Plants
Plants can be a lovely and charming addition to both the inside and outside of your rental. However, some plants are much more difficult to maintain than others. Finding plants that are both affordable and low-maintenance, such as perennials, succulents, and drought-tolerant plants, can both beautify your Long Beach property and alleviate your seasonal responsibilities. To learn more about these accessible options, check out the following blog post: Low-maintenance Landscaping for Your Long Beach Rental.

Establishing a seasonal checklist is a vital component of property management. If you are looking for assistance with caring for your Long Beach rental, we invite you to call us today at (562) 888-0247 or you can fill out our Owner Application online.


Share this post

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 .
By Dustin Edwards 19 Apr, 2024
Communication is key to maintaining good relationships with clients. However, there are several ways to communicate, so we intend to give you the best methods we've explored.
By Dustin Edwards 10 Apr, 2024
If you're thinking about how much different managing condos are from single-family homes, look at these top 5 reasons.
Show More
Share by: