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Don’t Get Your Tinsel In A Tangle | Easy Damage-Free Holiday Decorating Tips For Renters

The holiday season is officially upon us. There are few things more exciting than decorating your home for the holidays, putting up the lights, and decorating the tree. As property managers, we always want our residents to feel at home! We also need to ensure that our owner’s properties remain in good condition and minimize any maintenance issues. Aside from checking your lease and complying with decorating standards, we’ve provided a few quick and easy tips for damage-free decorating!

Damage-Free Decorating Tips and Ideas

 

Tension Rods for Garland

Framing your front door with garland looks gorgeous! However, it may seem impossible to hang without nails or screws, right? Consider using a tension rod (shower or curtain) and hang the garland from that! This one is so easy and takes hardly any time at all. Measure your doorway, find a tension rod that meets your taste, and suspend the garland from the tension rod for a beautiful, holiday-themed entryway. There will be zero damage to the door frame, and you can use this trick for years to come!

You can purchase a high-quality tension rod like this one on Amazon for under $30.

 

Adhesive Hooks & Strips for Wreaths and Wall Decor

Piggybacking off of beautiful garland, every holiday door loves a good wreath! You don’t need a nail and hammer to hang a wreath. Simply place a damage-free adhesive hook on the door, and you have a beautiful home for your holiday wreath in one minute or less. You can also use adhesive strips to hang wall decor on the interior of your home year-round!

 

Flameless Candles

Nothing says holiday ambiance like a beautiful tablescape with candles to make a home feel warm and cozy. Am I right? The holiday season brings the most significant risk of house fires than any time throughout the rest of the year. Removing open flames from your home and replacing them with beautiful flameless candle options is one way to mitigate this risk. There are so many wonderful options out there! You can even get a large package of candles with timers and remotes, like these, and have your home glowing each day when you return!

 

Adhesive clips, Shingle Clips, and Gutter Hooks

Hanging Christmas lights can feel like a headache, right? Even on the best of days, something is tangled, or one bulb is missing. Once you get through that,  these S-shaped clips will make decking the halls a breeze! Adhesive clips will work on smooth vinyl siding, and single clips will help to frame your home by positioning the lights near the roofline. Be sure not to put too much weight on the clips placed on the gutters, as the weight of snow/ice/and lights could cause the gutter to detach and fall.

Window Cling Theme Setters

 

One of the most beautiful sights to see during the holidays are windows that have been decorated and glowing in the night light. Window clings are one of the easiest ways to set the scene are with window clings such as these. These decorations are applied to the interior side of your window and can easily be peeled off at the end of the season without leaving any residue. Window clings are also a safe and fun way to include younger family members in decorating by allowing them to place the decorations themselves.

 

Wrapping Up

See what we did there? Our entire motto here at RentWise Property Management is LESS HASSLE, MORE HAPPY! We believe that should apply to all things in life. The relationships, business practices and process we have built and continue to build guarantees our focus is on providing the best possible experience and pricing in our industry. Furthermore, if you want more information on incorporating our LESS HASSLE, MORE HAPPY motto into your investment property portfolio, visit us at www.rentwisepm.com!

SW Idaho NARPM | Q3 2022 Vacancy Report

Each quarter the NARPM Southwest Idaho Chapter conducts a vacancy survey with data sourced from local property management companies! This is to help investors gauge property performance and vacancy rates in the respective county that their rental properties are in.

The Southwest Idaho Chapter of the NARPM(National Association of Residential Property Managers) has released its findings from the 2022 Q3 Vacancy and Rental Trends survey. The report is as of September 30, 2022. This survey tracks key performance indicators and market trends for single and multi-family homes across the Ada and Canyon County region. There are a total of 9,018 managed between the counties, with a total of 314 vacancies.

 

Q3 Vacancy Survey Results

The rental market has seen some very interesting fluctuations this quarter! The number of vacancies in this report increased by 225 units. However, the number of rentals managed significantly increased by 3,654 homes. The 3rd quarter of 2022 closed out with an overall vacancy rate of 3.48%. The data collected indicates that vacancy rates are beginning to level out, and Q3 of 2022 is right in line with Q3 of 2021, in which the vacancy rate was 3.2%

Rental Rates

Ada County single-family rental rates decreased this quarter by an average of $42.00 per unit per month. The overall marketed rent rate for the combined single and multi-family comes in at $1,962 per month. To compare, that is a $324 or 19.78% monthly rental rate increase based on the Q3 2021 Vacancy Survey.

Canyon County rental rates showed a rental rate decrease in the third quarter of 2022. The rental rates for single-family homes showed an average monthly decrease of $97. This puts the average rental rate at $1,830 per month. The current data illustrates that rental rates in Canyon County come in lower for both single and multi-family properties.

 

Rental Rate Comparison By County

Here are some of the key metrics for review that are broken down by respective counties.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stay tuned for the Q4 survey results that will be coming out in early 2023. If you have more questions about how we can help maximize the return on your investment property or would like more information about our services and how owning an investment property can be LESS HASSLE, MORE HAPPY,  give us a call at 208-949-3083!

Amenities & Tenant Safety | Tips For Child-Proofing Your Rental Property

It’s no secret families with children and pets are ideal long-term tenants. Once families begin to expand, it is difficult for them to unnecessarily move from one place to the next every year or so. Recent statistics show that families generally stay put on average for three years. Those are great odds for rental property investors.

When searching for their next home, families typically have a few key points at the front of their minds. Location, schools, and safety are huge components of any home search. While thinking about safety, many property owners don’t consider that this can mean a child-proofed home for their prospective tenants. This often overlooked amenity can be a huge selling point when a family is viewing at home. If you’re looking to keep your vacancy rate low, there is no better way than to keep your tenants happy. And what better way to appeal to families than to protect their loved ones? More amenities and attention to detail equals a higher monthly rent, which in turn will boost your monthly passive income.

If you’re unsure where to start in the child-proofing game, you’re in luck. We’ve put together a short list of easy ways you can implement safety features into your rental property.

Windows + Window Treatments

Many rental properties have window coverings, or blinds, with long pull strings that can hang low to the ground. This makes it easy for young children to get tangled in the cords, and unfortunately, small children have died from strangulation. Many state legislatures are fighting to outlaw corded blinds in homes.

If you are looking for a great way to dip your toes into the child-proofing game without making it obvious, installing cordless blinds at your rental is a beautiful place to begin. They are visually appealing and are constructed infinitely better.

If you do not have the budget to overhaul every window treatment, there are still steps you can take to enhance safety around the blinds.

  1. Install a small hook where the cord can be tied up and out of reach of a child or pet
  2. Provide curtain cord covers that clip any excess cord from the blind

Additionally, ensure that the windows in your rental are secure and that the locks are in good working order. Inspecting the stability of the window panes and screens will eliminate the risk of a window falling on a child.

 

Electrical Outlet Covers

Once babies are on the move, there is no stopping them from exploring anything and everything they can get their hands on. Electrical outlets are no exception. Electrical outlets are a magnet for little fingers due to being eye level with a little tot. Babies and toddlers are infamous for wanting to touch outlets and stick their fingers and/or toys into the little sockets.

To protect against accidents, installing outlet covers is one of the easiest child-proofing measures you can take. There are many different options, all of which do not affect the functionality of the outlet. While this is a very inexpensive and easy fix, saving the tenant the hassle of doing it themselves is a huge bonus in showing that their landlord cares enough to take care of it for them.

Pools

If your investment property has a pool, there are steps that you must take to make accidental drowning a non-issue for tenants with children. Child-proofing the pool area will provide value for prospective tenants and protect your liability as the owner should an accident occur. Peace of mind is priceless for parents who not only want to provide a fun space for their children that is safe.

  • Signage. Post signs on how the pool should be used, maximum occupancy, and any emergency directions.
  • Pool Surroundings. Your property’s pool should have a fence with a tall, locked door that will prevent children from swimming unattended. The fence should be tall enough that even the most agile kiddos cannot climb over and sneak in.
  • Pool Covers. When looking at safety, there are many different options for pool covers. To protect the integrity of the pool, you may opt for a hardcover, which also can withstand a person’s weight. Another option is netting, specifically designed to securely stretch across a pool and eliminate the risk of drowning if someone falls in.
  • Pool Alarm. Designed to sound a loud alarm when the pool water is disturbed, this feature may make parents feel safer about having their child living in a home with a pool.

Falls

Not every rental property is one-story, and it is imperative to consider fall risks and safety when child-proofing a home.

  • Inspect the stability of all fences and railing to ensure that nothing is loose.
  • Be sure that balcony fencing does not have a wide enough space where a child could slide through.
  • Ensure the railing is tall enough that a small child cannot fall over the edge.

 

Other Considerations

While we have hit on some of the significant items, there are still many things you do to up your child-proofing game.

  • Install cabinet locks
  • Add child-proof door locks to all exterior doors
  • Install removable, walk-through gates at the top and bottom of each staircase 
    • Encourage your tenant that they are welcome to do the same
  • Add hand railings to exterior stairs and porches to discourage falling
  • Install appliance locks and appliance anchors to ensure that they cannot fall if a child climbs on them
  • Add rubber bumpers to sharp corners and edges

Going that extra mile to provide safety precautions and thus some childproofing strategies can positively affect your potential tenant’s family’s desire to lease your investment property.

If you have more questions or you want to find out more about our services and how you can have LESS HASSLE. MORE HAPPY when it comes to owning an investment property; visit our website at www.rentwisepm.com or give us a call at 208-949-3083.

 

Fall Overhaul | Our Seasonal Cleaning Guide for Renters in the Treasure Valley

Fall has officially arrived! Our favorite season! The mornings are feeling cooler, the days are getting shorter, and there are pumpkins everywhere. You’ll likely spend more time indoors as the temperatures drop. As you snuggle up on the couch with some hot cider, you may look around and realize it is time to tidy up your rental. Spring gets all the credit for the “cleaning season”; however, we think that fall is the perfect time to organize and declutter.

Proactively getting ahead of the cleaning game is essential as we will soon enter a new holiday season. Here is some motivation; there is a good chance you’ll be hosting friends and family for the holidays and will soon pull out all those beautiful decorations. Regrouping and decluttering before you add gifts and guests will make the fall and winter seasons even sweeter! These fall overhaul tips can boost your mood while providing a welcoming place to relax as the seasons’ change.

Decluttering & Organization

1. Take Charge of Your Closet

One of the easiest ways to know if you’re wearing most of what is hanging in your closet is to reverse your hangers the opposite way. Each time that you wear an item turn the hanger the right way. At the end of the season, you’ll have a solid idea of what needs to go due to not being worn.

2. Donate, Regift, or Recycle Unused Household Items

Donate gently used clothes & toys to shelters and other community-focused organizations that accept donations if possible.

3. Organize in Storage Totes

Keeping organized is no easy feat, and we’ve all been there. Separating and storing seasonal items, craft supplies, decorations, and more into their designated storage totes will make things easy to find when the time comes.

Fall Cleaning Tips

Living Areas

  • Vacuum all carpets and rugs, and vacuum your furniture. If you have a carpet cleaner, steam your floors and furniture.
  • Dust and wipe down all the hard surfaces such as bookshelves, end tables, dressers, and so on.
  • Wash all blankets and throw pillows
  • Wash all curtains and dust blinds
  • Clean all windows inside & out
  • Wipe down doorknobs, light switches, handrails, counters, and faucets with a disinfectant
  • Wipe down all baseboards
  • Dust off ceiling fans

Kitchen

  • Clean and disinfect the microwave, inside and out
  • Change the hood vent filter above your stove and clean off any grease from the hood
  • Use a plumbing safe cleaner for your garbage disposal
  • Pull the refrigerator out and vacuum the coils and the floor behind the unit
  • Clean out your pantry and, wipe down the shelves, donate any items that you may not use
  • Wash and disinfect your trash can
  • Clean out from under your sink and throw away any old cleaners
  • Clean out and disinfect the inside of the refrigerator and freezer
  • If applicable, run a self-clean cycle on your oven

Bedrooms & Bathrooms

  • Scrub your sink and remove any build-up
  • Disinfect the shower and tub
  • Scrub all the grout in the shower with a grout safe cleaner
  • Clean the inside and outside of the toilet
  • Sweep and scrub the floors
  • Wipe down cabinets and vanity
  • Clean all of the mirrors
  • Wash your shower curtain and shower curtain liner

Exterior & Safety

  • Keep gutters free of leaves and tree branches
  • Sweep your patio and/or deck and keep free of leaves that could damage the finish
  • Power wash your outdoor lawn furniture and outdoor toys and prepare to store them for the winter
  • Change the batteries in your smoke and CO2 alarms throughout the home
  • Change your HVAC filter at least once every 30 days
  • Test your furnace and thermostat to make sure that it is properly functioning

 

Free Printable Checklist

We’ve included a free printable checklist just in case you are anything like us and want to keep a reminder hanging around.

 

It is our ultimate goal here at RentWise to be the best in the business. We take pride in our team and the properties that we manage. If you would like more information on how we can help make owning an investment property “Less Hassle, More Happy”- we would love to speak with you! Give us a call at 208-949-3083 or email courtney@rentwisepm.com

3 Tips To Protect Your Vacant Rental Property

Do you own a rental property in the Treasure Valley in Idaho?

The overall vacancy rate between Ada & Canyon counties is at an all-time low of 1.67%! Although the vacancy rate is historically low, your rental property will become vacant at one point or another.

However, you may not have considered that a vacant home is a desirable target for thieves, crime, and vandalism. Empty homes are the easiest to break into without anyone noticing. Property damage from a break-in will likely be costly. Stolen plumbing, appliances, broken windows, and property damage can eat away your property’s profitability quickly. It will also take time to repair the damage so that it is livable again. There are several vital steps that you can take to ensure that your investment is protected and able to be rented as soon as possible.

Protecting Your Vacant Rental

1. Create The Appearance Of Activity

  • Increase Lighting- Keeping a vacant property well-lit is a considerable deterrent for those lurking. Installing motion-activated exterior lights on the front and back of the property is a great start. Further, having timed lights on the interior and exterior of the home will create the illusion that there is a resident in the home. If lights are kept on 24-7, it can quickly become evident to a criminal that there is no movement at the home.
  • Window Coverings- If you haven’t already invested in blinds or curtains, a vacancy is a perfect time to have those installed. Anyone can visit a property and look in a window; if it is apparent that the property is empty, this is an open invitation to crime. Covered windows can create the illusion that someone is home.
  • Maintain Landscaping- Overgrown and unkempt landscaping is the first sign that no one is living at a property. If your home is vacant and between tenants, landscaping will be a top priority to increase curb appeal. Further, keeping the lawn mowed and trimming shrubs and trash out of the yard will deter unwanted visitors.

2. Regularly Inspect The Property

  • Check Locks & Doors- Continue maintaining the home’s security by checking for broken doors and windows and ensuring that all locks are functioning correctly.
  • Remove Mail & Packages- Porch shoppers will quickly notice if there are boxes at the door. Additionally, if the mailbox is overflowing, this is a surefire indication that no one is home.
  • Visit the Property- If you are self-managing your rental and are local, visit your property regularly. However, be sure not to visit at the same time, as this will show a pattern. Thieves are sneaky and notice these small nuances when targeting a property.
  • Hire a Third Party to Inspect the Home- If you are not local or don’t have the time to dedicate to frequent visits, you may consider hiring a trusted third party to inspect the home. Experts such as TaskMasters Idaho will offer convenience and peace of mind to handle your vacant home inspections. A third-party inspector will enter the property frequently, test all doors, locks, and plumbing, and look for signs of forced entry.

3. Hire a Property Manager

It would be best if you were using one of Boise’s most-trusted property management companies. If you have potential tenants contacting you directly regarding your available vacant rental, be mindful of how much information you share. Your property manager can handle the many facets of protecting your vacant property and getting it tenanted quicker. Some of the details that your professional property manager will take of are:

  • Screening Tenants- Property Managers are skilled at screening potential tenants and spotting a scam. If you are inexperienced, you may disclose specific details regarding your vacant property to a stranger, which could set your home up for a break-in.
  • Marketing Your Property– The easiest way to eliminate vacancy concerns is to place great tenants in your property. Your property manager has access to a much more extensive network and will begin marketing the property immediately.

Final Thoughts

Owning a rental property in a place such as the Treasure Valley offers extremely low vacancy rates. Tenants are staying put and leasing properties for more extended periods. However, all rental property owners will experience a vacancy as tenants move from time to time. Additionally, considering the above tips, your vacant rental property will remain better protected. Further, staying proactive will lower the risk of costly damages due to theft, vandalism, or a break-in.

RentWise Property Management is committed to your success while owning an investment property. Investing in our services will not only save you time and money but will offer peace of mind that you are PROTECTING your investment long-term.

SW Idaho NARPM | Q2 2022 Vacancy Survey Results

Have you ever wondered how to gauge the vacancy rate of a particular market? Further, have you ever wondered what the vacancy rates are based on the type of property you invest in? Well, you are in luck if you are investing in the Treasure Valley! Each quarter the NARPM Southwest Idaho Chapter conducts a vacancy survey with data sourced from local property management companies!

The Southwest Idaho Chapter of the NARPM(National Association of Residential Property Managers) has released its findings from the 2022 Q2 Vacancy and Rental Trends survey. The report is as of June 30, 2022. This survey tracks key performance indicators and market trends for single and multi-family homes across the Ada and Canyon County region. There are a total of 5,364 units managed between the counties, with a total of only 89 vacancies.

 

Q2 Vacancy Survey Results

The rental market has seen some very intriguing trends this quarter! The number of vacancies decreased by 152 units. The 2nd quarter of 2022 closed out strong with a market vacancy rate of 1.66%. The data collected indicates that vacancy rates have decreased significantly down by 28.75% from the 1st quarter of 2022! This is exciting news as it shows that the rental market in the Treasure Valley is as hot as ever.

Rental Rates

Ada County single-family rental rates decreased this quarter by an average of $81.00 per unit per month. The overall marketed rent rate for the combined single and multi-family comes in at $2,004 per month. To compare, that is a $325 or 19% increase per month based on the Q2 2021 Vacancy Survey.

Canyon County rental rates showed a larger increase in the second quarter of 2022 than the first. The rental rates for single-family homes showed an average monthly increase of $180. This puts the average rental rate at $1,927 per month. The current data illustrates that rental rates in Canyon County come in lower for both single and multi-family properties.

 

Rental Rate Comparison By County

Here are some of the key metrics for review that are broken down by respective counties.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stay tuned for the Q3 survey results that will be coming out later this year. If you have more questions about how we can help maximize the return on your investment property or would like more information about our services and how owning an investment property can be LESS HASSLE, MORE HAPPY,  give us a call at 208-949-3083!