Adults living on premises should be considered residents and should be on any official lease documentation. This popular policy is the cornerstone of landlords everywhere. Whether you're trying to avoid illegal tenants or just hoping nip long-term guests in the bud, detailing your guest policy can help make your rules clearer. Scott Safadi of Cal Bay Property Management urges fellow industry professionals not to become the guest police, but find a middle ground that can make everyone happy. Long-term guests are unofficial tenants who spend significant amounts of time living in a property without being on the lease. In some cases, the person may even have changed their official mailing address to their new unofficial residence. In some cases, guests move in expecting to stay a week or two and end up as unofficial residents. By clarifying exactly how long guests are allowed to stay in your lease, you can work towards limiting such extended stays. To create a reasonable guest policy, start by defining guest. A friend who is crashing for the weekend is very different, for example, than a college-aged son or daughter coming home for the summer months. Consider allowing long-term guests to be added to the lease. Such a policy could help offset the liability associated with additional adults being housed on your property. Some landlords opt to include a "use of premises" policy in the terms of their lease. This kind of language would dictate the precise number of nights allowed for guests before they'll need to be officially added to the lease. You may also want to include a warning that rent may be increased with the number of people on the lease. By working on a reasonable guest policy, you'll be able to face tenant concerns with ease and authority. Without one on the books, you could be stuck fighting battle after battle with your residents. - Scott Safadi, Cal Bay Property Management
0 Comments
As a property manager, you're bound to be the bearer of bad news at some point. Whether you're announcing an increase in rent, that you're closing the pool for the weekend or that the parking lot will be repaved, it can be tough to deliver such announcements with care. To ensure the best customer service experience possible, Scott Safadi of Cal Bay Property Management advises fellow real estate professionals to break this kind of news in the most tactful way possible. Fail to do so and you could find yourself on the receiving end of a bad review.
It helps to get strategic about your announcement. Rather than blurt out news as soon as you learn of it, take time to prepare a polite announcement. In most cases, tenants need several weeks warning to lessen the impact of the news. For example, letting your tenants know at the end of August that the pool will close on Labor Day is sure to draw complaints. Instead, open your pool in May a set end goal in sight. Fewer surprises will lead to happier tenants. The delivery of such information is just as important as the news itself. For those managing single family homes, a call to each tenant may be necessary. For multi-family properties, an email blast or text message can sometimes do the job. Technology can be a huge asset in the delivery of bad news, allowing you to set reminders to go out about the update before rent increases or the pool closes. In your message, it's important to acknowledge the impact the change will have on your tenants. While some feathers are bound to be ruffled, it helps to get in front of many of the most common complaints. For example, if you're no longer accepting rent checks after hours, you may want to include line in your message offering tenants another time to pay. Regardless of the bad news you have to deliver, doing so in a polite, professional manner can help ease tensions among even the tenants who complain the loudest. - Scott Safadi, Cal Bay Property Management Late payments are every landlord's pet peeve. Regardless of who you're renting to, where you're located, or how much you're charging each month, you're bound to get at least the occasional late rent payment. Thankfully, there are a few strategies you can use to encourage your tenants to pay on time. Scott Safadi of Cal Bay Property Management advises all property managers to create policies that make it easy for renters to do right by your team.
One way to do just that? Offer various platforms for tenants to pay their rent on, be it online, via an app or in person. While online payment has become more mainstream over the years, many landlords do not yet offer it to tenants. It's an easy and convenient way to ensure payments are made on time, and can save you valuable time you'd otherwise spend processing checks! While you're at it, consider sending friendly reminders of rent due dates each month. Even if rent is due on the first of every month, tenants can become confused when it falls on a Sunday or a holiday. A gentle reminder of when rent is due can help eliminate excuses tenants have about rent due dates. Late payment penalties are a tried and true strategy, and for good reason. People don't like shelling out cash unnecessarily, and even a small fine can encourage your tenants to pay up on time. The reverse is also true: by rewarding your tenants who pay by their due date, you up the odds of future payments being made in a timely fashion. Finally, if you find the same tenants are late each month, work to understand why this happens. Depending on someone's pay periods, they may struggle to make the deadlines you set. By working from an empathetic perspective, you can help yourself and your tenant! - Scott Safadi, Cal Bay Property Management There's always something exciting happening in the Bay Area. It's part of what makes the region such a draw for singles, families, students and seniors alike. Scott Safadi of Cal Bay Property Management encourages all Bay Area residents to get out and enjoy all that Spring has to offer in Silicon Valley and beyond. Here are a few picks to fill out your social event calendar this season:
42nd Annual Eggstravaganza April 20, San Mateo Central Park There's no better way to celebrate Spring than with a family-friendly Easter egg hunt! Join families from all over the Bay area for fun in the sun. Start with the pancake breakfast, enjoy a community parade, pose with the Easter bunny himself and finish out the day with fun games. Kids 4-9 are welcome to register for this event. Annual Guardsmen Kentucky Derby Party May 4, General's Residence Break out your favorite hat, it's time for the Kentucky Derby! Sip a mint julep while tasting Southern snacks and participating in lawn games at the General's Residence in Fort Mason. This chic soiree is sure to delight anyone who loves a themed party. Since this year's race coincides with Cinco de Mayo, you'll enjoy a fusion of both Mexican and Southern cuisine as you cheer on your favorite jockeys. Mother's Day Brunch Sail May 12, Schooner Freda B Mother's Day is one of the biggest days a year for restaurants. If you're tired of scrambling for a table in an overcrowded dining room, opt instead for a brunch sailing trip from Schooner Freda B in Sausalito. Sip wines from Napa Valley while you watch the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and the San Francisco skyline unfold before you. Of course, there will also be fresh baked pastries, veggie fritata and more to keep your family happy and never hangry! - Scott Safadi, Cal Bay Property Management |
AuthorScott Safadi leverages extensive experience in the real estate industry to serve as the CEO of Cal Bay Property Management (CBPM), which he founded in Palo Alto, California. Archives
January 2020
Categories |
Scott Safadi - Weebly