When you've scored the perfect apartment in your ideal location, you won't be eager to let your lease end any time soon. Overlooking lease renewals is a fast track to the headache that is apartment hunting. With these quick and easy tips, you'll be on your way to another year of living in your space:
Check Your Lease Start by determining when your lease officially comes to an end. In most cases, you'll need to give your landlord at least 30-60 days of notice about your plans to either renew or move on from your lease. Make your decision well in advance to ensure your plans align with your landlord's. Understand Your Terms Some landlords expect lease renewals of at least one year. Others may only require a month to month commitment. Make sure you understand the terms of your lease renewal before signing. If you have plans to move from the area in the foreseeable future, you'll want to ensure your lease won't be holding you back. Ask Questions Leases often rely on technical terms and real estate jargon to outline policies and procedures. If you're unsure how what any of the lease language refers to, don't be afraid to ask the property manager or your landlord for clarification. By renewing your lease, you're signing a contract that you'll be legally held to - don't risk your future by failing to ask questions now. -- Scott Safadi, Cal Bay Property Management If you're thinking about searching for a new apartment, it's important to begin well in advance of your preferred moving date. In fact, experts recommend starting your search at least 60 days before that date. Scott Safadi of Cal Bay Property Management recommends this timeline for apartment hunters:
60 Days Out Start by reaching out to your network. Lets friends, colleagues and acquaintances know that you're searching for a new place. Word of mouth is one of the best ways to discover under the radar properties. While you're at it, set up alerts for rentals in your preferred neighborhoods.. You can optimize your search to run automatically, alerting you only of the most promising leads. 45 Days Out Now is the time to start scheduling apartment tours. Save time by viewing virtual tours first. Only proceed to in person tours once you're sure you're actually interested in renting a place. Once you've toured a few spots, drive or walk through the surrounding neighborhoods to get a feel for what it might be like to live there. Chat with neighbors whenever possible. They'll give you the inside scoop! 30 Days Out At this point, you should have a newly signed lease in place with a firm move-in date. Set up mail forwarding with the USPS and contact a moving company to schedule a delivery date for your furniture. Once you cross those chores off the list, packing can begin. By starting early, you give yourself plenty of time to get all the tiny details in order! -- Scott Safadi, Cal Bay Property Management Everyone wants their moving process to go as smoothly as possible. One way to cut down on the stress that so often comes with the moving process is to seek out a fully furnished apartment for rent. A fully or semi-furnished apartment is especially appealing to those without a lot of furniture, making them ideal options for college students and anyone just getting their start. Before you make a move into a furnished apartment, though, it helps to fully understand the pros and cons of living in such a rental.
Pros of Renting a Furnished Apartment Having just a few boxes to move into your new place is a major benefit of renting a furnished apartment. Without the need to move a bunch of furniture, you can save serious time and money when moving day arrives. Many furnished apartments also offer flexible leasing options, which make them ideal for short-term stays or for getting your bearings in a new town. Cons of Renting a Furnished Apartment In many cases, you may pay a higher than average price for renting a furnished apartment. That's because you're also renting access to the furniture inside. You also open yourself up to potential damage costs if you stain, tear, or ruin any of the unit's furnishings. Furniture quality may also not be up to your personal standards. There are a number of pros and cons to weigh when deciding where to live, but with enough forethought, you're sure to find the perfect place to call home! -- Scott Safadi, Cal Bay Property Management The spread of COVID-19 shuttered countless businesses, storefronts, and gyms in the initial months of quarantine. Now that America is opening back up with restrictions, more and more people are wondering: is it safe to return to the gym? While only you can make the call for your family, many apartment-dwellers are opting to work out in their community gyms once again. If you're hoping to protect your health and look out for the best interests of your fellow gym goer, try these COVID-19 gym etiquette tips:
Wear a Mask Studies show that COVID-19 often spread by microscopic droplets of saliva, often exhaled when a person is speaking, singing or breathing heavily. Since you're likely to work up a sweat in the gym, make sure to wear a mask as you work out. While it might not sound ideal, there are all kinds of new masks designed specifically with exercise in mind. Don't knock this idea until you try it! Disinfect Machines Before and After Most gyms encourage people to wipe down their machines after they're finished working out. In the age of COVID-19, there's no such thing as being too careful. With that in mind, disinfect your machines both before you work out and after you finish. You'll gain serious peace of mind once you do! Be Mindful of Social Distancing Most apartment gyms are fairly small in square footage. Maintaining at least six feet of distance is the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in such spaces. That may require adjusting your workout plans or returning during off-peak hours when you can have the space to yourself. There's no doubt about it: COVID-19 has made it harder to get your workout in. With a little bit of foresight, though, you can safely return to your apartment community gym without fear! -- Scott Safadi, Cal Bay Property Management Composting is a fantastic way to bring new life to the biodegradable waste you might normally throw out. It's a highly prized hobby for gardeners everywhere, as the resulting soil becomes enriched and full of nutrients. Curious about how to start composting as an apartment dweller? It's simpler than you may realize.
Start by saving food waste. Coffee grounds, banana peels, and avocado peels all make for excellent compost material. Foods like cakes, bread, and pasta, on the other hand, may attract pests, so stick with truly organic material. Many people are hesitant to begin composting because they worry about the potential for waste to get stinky. While garbage does tend to smell bad, composting doesn't come with the same odors. Because the material is all organic, the resulting smells tend to be earthy and neutral. If you're worried about the odors, you can rely on a specially designed composting tumbler or ceramic pail. These seal in odors and prevent your apartment from smelling like your leftover breakfast ingredients. Depending on the size of your compost pail, it may take between a few weeks and a few months for your compost to finish breaking down. Once it's the color and texture of the soil, you'll know it's ready to be added to your garden. Use it in your house plants, a balcony herb garden, or anywhere that might need some extra nutrient-rich soil! -- Scott Safadi, Cal Bay Property Management Renters know the importance of great sleep. When you're sharing walls with your neighbors, you'll do anything to get a good night's rest. A mattress is a fundamental if sometimes overlooked component to a restful night. If you're in the market for a new mattress, here are a few tips to help guide your search. Firmness Matters Every mattress has its own unique blend of firmness and softness. You may prefer a mattress that supports your body throughout the night, while others may opt to buy a model that feels like floating on a fluffy cloud. Whatever you decide, make sure your shopping process is informed by your own personal preferences. Know Your Sleep Position Stomach sleepers have different needs than side sleepers who have different needs than those who sleep on their backs. The right level of firmness for each of these kinds of sleepers will vary greatly. Go in knowing your priorities for bedtime comfort and your shopping process will be made much easier. Latex vs. Foam vs. Innerspring Mattress technology has come a long way over the years. Instead of traditional innerspring mattresses being the only option in stores, latex, foam, and hybrid mattresses are all the rage. Before you order a bed in a box to be delivered straight to your door, however, you may want to try them out in-store first. Memory foam and latex can hold onto body heat, so if you're a hot sleeper, you may want to stick with an innerspring option. -- Scott Safadi, Cal Bay Property Management When it comes time for fall maintenance chores, some take obvious priority. While cleaning your gutters might not sound very exciting, taking care of this task is most important than you might realize. Fail to clean your gutters and you may see them become clogged with leaves, pine needles, acorns, rodent nests and other debris. Scott Safadi of Cal Bay Property Management recommends keeping these possible consequences in mind as you prepare your property for the fall:
Building Damages Clogged gutters often mean poor water drainage. That can cause plant destruction, erosion and even water seeping into the basement level. Fail to clean your gutters and you may even see the foundation of your property impacted. Siding Damage When water has nowhere else to go, it runs down the side of the dwelling and behind the siding, causing rot to set in. That rot can build behind the walls, doors, and windows, even permeating the wire and piping of the building. Pest Problems The debris caught in gutters is the ideal material for birds, squirrels and mice to call home. If gutters stay clogged long enough, you may need to recruit an exterminator for help. -- Scott Safadi, Cal Bay Property Management Nearly one in five adults aged 18 to 29 say they vape regularly. After decades of cigarette use trending downwards, the vape trend marks a comeback for the tobacco industry. While vaping may be marketed as a healthier, cleaner alternative to traditional tobacco use, the practice can still leave behind a residue on walls and floors. This all begs the question: should you allow vaping in your rental property?
Cleaning up behind a smoker often requires steam-cleaning carpeting, washing non-porous surfaces, and painting the walls. Removing odors can be downright impossible, which is why many landlords opt to ban indoor smoking for tenants. Some even choose to ban smoking in common areas like balconies, stairways, and halls. Keeping your space clean and fresh is just one concern. Safety is another consideration. While vaping doesn't carry quite the same hazards as falling asleep with a lit cigarette in hand, the danger is still there. The lithium-ion batteries used to charge such devices have been known to explode, catch fire, and cause serious injuries and property damage. Whether you decide to allow vaping in your rental property or not, make sure you do your homework before setting your new policy. As vaping continues to grow in popularity, you'll likely have more and more tenants inquire about your preferences. Include any specific policies in your lease to clear up any misconceptions. -- Scott Safadi, Cal Bay Property Management Fall is an exciting time. Everyone is breaking out their sweaters, cozying up with their favorite hot beverage, and making plans for nights around the bonfire. It's also the perfect time of year to cross a few seasonal maintenance projects off your to do list. Here are a few ideas to spark your weekend plans:
Clean Your Gutters When leaves fall, some will inevitably land in the gutters. This can cause serious clogs when it rains, leading excessive amounts of water to flow onto your siding, foundation, and even the roof. Prioritize gutter cleaning this fall and you can avoid serious water damage to your rental property! Clean the Dryer Vents A drop in temperatures often means a build up of static electricity. It also means a greater chance of the lint in your dryer vents catching on fire. While it's a good idea to remind renters to clean out the dryer vents of their appliances, it's on the landlord to clean the external dryer vents from time to time, too. Inspect Your Heating System and Chimney While it might not yet be cold enough to crank up the heat, it will be soon enough. Take precautions now to ensure your HVAC system will work as intended when your tenants need it most. While you're at it, hire a chimney sweep to perform annual maintenance, too. An once of prevention can is worth a pound of cure, and taking a little time to ensure the safety of your rental property will save you endless amounts of time and stress later! -- 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
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