Safety Tips for Landlords and Tenants for the Holidays

Source: biggerpockets.com ~ Author: Sharon Vornholt


We have now officially headed into the holiday season with Thanksgiving this last week.


Traditionally many people will also begin decorating their homes for Christmas this week. I thought it was a perfect time to talk about how property owners can keep their property and their tenants safe.
Real estate investors are always concerned about safety issues where their property is concerned. But there is no better time than now as we head into the holiday season, to remind your tenants of some basic steps they can take to keep themselves and the property they live in (your property) safe. Putting up Christmas lights and holiday decorations presents you with many “opportunities” for additional liability in your rental property.




If you regularly send a newsletter to your tenants, this is a perfect topic to include in your holiday newsletter. If you don’t have a newsletter, then go ahead and mail out a “Happy Holidays” flier to each tenant reminding them that taking a few extra precautions can enhance their safety this year. Doing this will take a little time and effort on your part, but it can potentially save you big dollars and a whole lot of headaches down the road.

Approximately 13,000 people go to the emergency room every year in November and December because of accidents related to holiday decorations.

Indoor Christmas Lights

Most people know that indoor Christmas lights should be replaced at least every 3-4 years for safety however most of us tend to keep them a lot longer than that. Those lights have tiny wires can be easily damaged from normal use. Before you put any lights on the tree, they should be inspected for broken and cracked sockets, frayed, bare or damaged wires and loose connections. There is one safety rule you should always follow; never use more than 3 strings of lights on one extension cord as this presents a definite fire hazard.
Over the years, Christmas lights have gotten relatively inexpensive. Make it a practice to change them out every few years for fire safety reasons. Also be sure to remind your tenants to always turn off the Christmas lights when they leave the property.

Exterior Christmas Lights

Just about everyone loves Christmas lights. However tenants that decorate their homes with exterior lights can expose their landlord to some serious liability. Folks rarely replace these lists as long as they are working. Exterior lights should be inspected every year the same as interior lights, and should be replaced every few years as needed.
Not only are many people injured from roof falls and shocks every year when they get up on the roof to decorate, but just walking on the roof in very cold conditions can damage the shingles. As the landlord, any liability or roof repairs will land squarely on your shoulders.
Tenants should be reminded that any extension cords used for these lights must be certified for exterior use, and they need to be plugged into GFCI protected outlets for safety reasons.

Chimneys and Fireplaces

If you have a property with a wood burning fireplace, there are a few safety rules that you need to remember to follow. Be sure to have the flue cleaned annually. Creosote occurs naturally from burning wood. When it gets to be a quarter inch thick or thicker inside the chimney, it’s a fire hazard as it can ignite and cause a chimney fire.
Also, be sure to caution your tenants not to throw wrapping paper in the fireplace. Those materials tend to get very hot as they burn and they can cause flash fires.

Candles

Everyone loves candles, but they pose a serious fire risk if they are not handled properly. Most fires started by candles are a result of them being forgotten or being placed too close to something that is flammable. Just about all fires started by candles could be prevented just by using a little caution and common sense. Just give your tenants a reminder about candle safety.

Facts and Figures

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has some sobering statistics I would like to pass onto everyone that has rental property.

• Christmas trees are responsible for 300 fires annually which result in 30 injuries, 10 deaths and $10,000,000 in property damage.
• Candles start about 11,600 fires annually which
  result in 1200 injuries, 150 deaths and $173,000,000 in property loss.
• There are 12,500 injuries every year from roof
  falls and shocks associated with the installation of exterior Christmas Lights.

The last thing any landlord wants to get during the holiday season is one telling you that someone has been injured on your property or that the house has sustained serious damage from a fire. Take a little time out of your busy schedule to give your tenants a quick reminder about these simple but important safety tips during this busy holiday season.

Top 10 Reasons to Rent a Vacation Home for Thanksgiving

Source: flipkey.com ~ by Lee Foster

I don’t know about you, but Thanksgiving sneaks up on me before I even have the Halloween decorations put away. Suddenly everyone is talking about food, the cost of airline reservations and who is going where for dinner.  Since I live in the city, work full time and am not a good cook, I have found the perfect solution for Thanksgiving...

Rent a house in some great vacation place that is driving distance from home.  In my case, the Outer Banks is a perfect.  There are hundreds of great houses for rent and North Carolina has been known to have a seventy-degree warm spell over the Thanksgiving holiday.

For the more adventurous, find a place to reach by ferry: Bald Head Island, Nantucket, Oxford or Sausalito are great choices.  Having a vacation rental house in a magical place makes even the shorter holiday seem long and the memories more lasting. When we travel for Thanksgiving, we take along our traditional Thanksgiving accoutrements - special serving dishes, placemats and napkins, holiday sweaters, family recipes and, of course, a football.

In David Letterman style, I offer you my Top Ten reasons to rent a vacation house for the Thanksgiving holiday. Counting down, reason number:

10.  There is Room for the Extended Family

There are lots of large houses available for rent and splitting the cost between the guests makes them a better deal than a hotel – plus, a hotel doesn’t offer common space for charades or pillow fights – not to mention everyone cooking their favorite food and dining as a family.

9.  Houses with Fireplaces & Mountain, Lake or Ocean Views

I live in the city, and my view is lovely, but not exactly expansive - my neighbor’s roof is eight feet away.  So I love having a broad expanse of nature outside my window. I find it very relaxing - a prime goal for my holiday.  I do have a fireplace at home, but it involves carrying in the wood, getting kindling started and leaving the front door open to create the right draft for the flue.  Turning on a gas fireplace and watching the ocean sounds better to me.

8.  Great Outside Activities at your Door

For some of us, Thanksgiving is the last gasp of outdoor activity before clothes involving down are required.  Hiking, kayaking, walking on the beach and the traditional family football game all lure me outside. Shopping in small villages at the beginning of the Christmas season is also a treat.

7. A real Bed for Everyone- No Air Mattresses

Notwithstanding the improvement in air mattresses, they do not compare with sleeping on a real bed. This perk also prevents a post holiday trip to the chiropractor.

6.  Multiple Televisions for Football Games & the Macy’s Parade.

Our family starts Thanksgiving Day with the Macy’s parade no matter how many times we have seen the giant Snoopy and the Texas marching bands. Having it on multiple screens is great.  When the football games start there will be no arguments over which ones to watch. They can all be on, usually with large screen viewing.  (This is time for non-fans to participate in #8.)

5. Personal Chefs Available

OK, its not traditional, but it is possible. The property manager of your house can let you know how to contact someone to do the cooking for you.  For those of you who find cooking to be the fun part of Thanksgiving, some houses have huge kitchens that let everyone cook, talk and drink in the same space. I have seen some kitchens on the Outer Banks that could be their own vacation.

4. No one has to clean his or her house for company

No one knows that the towels are not clean and the beds are not perfectly made at your house, because – no one is coming to your house! Think of the hours saved and the “clean up your room” arguments avoided.

3.  Off-Peak Pricing

If you have only rented a house “in season,” then you will be astonished at how reasonable off-season rates can be at Thanksgiving.  The savings can be as much as 50% for the off-peak pricing. Some houses even have additional discounts for Thanksgiving week.

2.  Everyone is a Guest

Being the host can be an exhausting honor. Even when everyone shares the cooking they don’t share cleaning the house and preparing for a group sleep over.  When you rent a house, everyone is a guest and no one person will be in charge of making beds, putting out towels, setting the table or cleaning up.

1. Maid Service when You Leave

How great is not cleaning up! You just drive off at the end of the holiday.  I don’t even need the other nine reasons!

Winter Maintenance Tips for Landlords

Source: zillow.com ~ Author: Jennifer Chan

We all want to stay inside and hide from the winter cold. Keep your properties warm and dry this season by reducing tenant work orders before they happen – with some preventative maintenance, of course. Avoid the hazards of cold weather by completing these action items before the temperatures dip.

Check up on the heating and insulation system

If you live in a cold climate, the heating system will be running constantly during winter. This calls for proper cleaning, insulation and ventilation of your HVAC system, crawlspace and attic. Clean or change out your HVAC filter in preparation for heavy usage, and make sure the attic area is properly insulated. Insulation in the crawlspace and ceilings will keep the heat inside the living space and prevent warm air from escaping. Sealing the gaps around windows, plumbing, vents and lighting fixtures will also maximize energy efficiency in your property.

Prevent frozen pipes

Avoid frozen pipes this season – and all the collateral damage they can cause – by adding extra insulation to exposed pipes in the crawlspace, basement or attic. Damage due to frozen pipes is common but completely preventable. Taking the precaution to seal, insulate and wrap pipes will prevent cold air from getting into the pipes. Exterior faucets should be drained and shut off for the season. Educate your tenants about what they need to do when the temperature drops, such as leaving a trickle of water on overnight, leaving cabinet doors open, and keeping the thermostat at a consistent temperature.

Winter-proof the exterior

Your landscaping may have gone dormant, but you’re not done with yard work yet. Prevent damages from icy conditions by trimming trees and shrubs so they don’t brush up against the walls and windows. Regularly inspect your roof for the formation of ice dams, which can damage your roof and cause water leakage. Close any crawlspace vents in the foundation, and seal any cracks or small openings so small critters can’t burrow in. If your residents are taking care of snow removal on your property, move snow shovels and blowers to an accessible spot.

Prepare for the worst

A bad storm can result in a blackout or being snowed in. Remind your tenants to be prepared for the worst by keeping bottled water, non-perishable food, flashlights and emergency phone numbers on hand.

Cloverland Property Management is a full service property management company. Our clients include individuals and investors throughout the Northern California. Our goal is to provide the highest level of service to our clients with professionalism and timeliness. Call Cloverland Property today at (209) 821-3000 or visit the Cloverland Property Rentals website.

Rental Trends: A Third of Americans are Splitting the Rent

Source: zillow.com ~ Author: Jennifer Chan

In recent years, America has been shifting toward a more renter-based society – but not necessarily by choice. Across the nation, housing costs are rising at a faster pace than incomes; as a result, more adults are doubling up in order to afford the rent, especially in states like California and New York where rents are increasing the fastest relative to income.

The Zillow research team looked at the numbers behind this phenomenon to determine how it has impacted the national housing landscape. The results are significant: from the year 2000 to 2012, the number of working-age Americans sharing a home rose from less than a quarter of the adult population to more than a third.

During that 12-year span, the median household size increased from 1.75 adults per household to 1.83 adults. In practical terms, that means there are now 5.4 million fewer households than there would have been if the average number of adults per household stayed at year 2000 levels.

Doubling up is defined as working-age adults who are not married or in a partnership moving in together and combining incomes in order to afford housing – it includes both renting with a roommate and moving in with parents. Metro areas with the greatest share of adults in doubled-up households are New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.

Percent of Adults Doubled Up in Households in the Largest Metros 

“There is a silver lining behind this data,” said Zillow Chief Economist Dr. Stan Humphries. “Like a coiled spring, all of these doubled-up households represent tremendous potential energy for the market.”

With so many possible new households across America hidden within existing, joint households, there’s a lot of potential rental and home buying energy on the horizon. As incomes rise or housing costs normalize, these doubled-up households will most likely split off on their own, with individuals moving into separate rentals or entering homeownership.

Cloverland Property Management is a full service property management company. Our clients include individuals and investors throughout the Northern California. Our goal is to provide the highest level of service to our clients with professionalism and timeliness. Call Cloverland Property today at (209) 821-3000 or visit the Cloverland Property Rentals website.

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Cloverland has over 30 years experience in leasing, managing and selling properties with the intent of becoming a provider of world-class service in the property management business. Our innovative business model integrates the customer service and management disciplines of the institutional property management industry at a local level. This unique approach and our commitment to hiring the very best professionals have resulted in strong business growth and our long-lasting tenure in the area, making us one of the most respected and trusted local property management companies.