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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.

What is a Maintenance Emergency? | Your Guide to Identifying Emergency vs Routine Maintenance Requests

Undoubtedly, living at any property, you can expect things to break from time to time. Do you know what is considered an emergency maintenance situation? Sometimes, it can be undeniable in situations such as a severely leaking roof causing it to rain outside and inside your home. This certainly qualifies as an emergency, and requests must be submitted quickly. Other times, it may seem unclear as to what needs urgent attention. What if your oven stops working? Or your air conditioner isn’t cooling the home? Are these emergencies? What is considered an enormous inconvenience and emergency to a resident may not be an emergency when looking at the bigger picture. But, how can you identify an emergency or not? First, it is always a good idea to pull out your lease and read maintenance requests’ verbiage. Emergency maintenance may be identified as fire, flood, uncontrollable water, backed up sewer, electrical problem endangering life, or smell of gas. None of that sounds like fun. Let us break down a few situations that may fall under an emergency.

Emergency Maintenance

A maintenance emergency is something that, if it isn’t remedied immediately, could cause injury, pose a health threat, or cause severe property damage.

A few examples of maintenance emergencies can include:

  • A sewer back-up if it is flooding your home
  • A fire that is unable to be put out with your in-home fire extinguisher
  • The smell of gas / broken gas line / or suspicion of a gas leak (natural gas has an identifiable smell of rotten eggs)
  • Your roof is leaking and causes flooding and damage to the interior of the home
  • A broken pipe, waterline, or flooding inside your home
  • Air conditioning not working in sweltering weather
  • Furnace not heating home in frigid weather
  • Other electrical issues that, if not immediately repaired, could result in lasting damage, such as a fire

Routine Maintenance

Every maintenance issue is not an emergency. For example, if you have a leak from your toilet that is minor and can be contained with a bucket or some towels, this is considered a routine maintenance issue but not an emergency. Furthermore, a small leak, while annoying, would be considered a routine maintenance request.

Here are a few examples of situations where you can submit a routine maintenance request:

  • Your dishwasher isn’t properly draining
  • The garbage disposal is buzzing
  • There’s no hot water
  • Your stove burner won’t light or heat up
  • You have a clogged drain
  • Your ceiling fan stopped working
  • Your refrigerator is not cooling quickly
  • Your HVAC system isn’t heating or cooling in weather above 50 and below 90 degrees

Troubleshooting Maintenance

Many landlords and property managers expect their tenants to troubleshoot some issues before submitting a routine maintenance request. This isn’t because your maintenance team doesn’t want to help. Sometimes, things can be easily remedied with a quick DIY and will save you and the maintenance team time to tend to larger issues.

Below you will find detailed instructions on how to mitigate small maintenance issues in your home:

1.  Smoke Detector won’t work when tested: Test with approved smoke detector smoke spray and replace the battery.

2. Smoke Detector beeps: Replace the battery and check for proper wire termination connection.

3. No power to plugs or switches: Check and reset breaker panel or replace blown fuses. Check and rest all GFI outlets (located in the kitchen, bathrooms, utility rooms, and garages). Check if the plug works off a wall switch.

4. Garbage disposal doesn’t work: When on, do you hear a buzz? If you do not hear a buzz, hit the reset button on the bottom of the disposal and test. If you hear a buzz, turn off the disposal and unplug it from the wall. Mounted on the side of the disposal or side of the cabinet is an Allen wrench. Put the wrench in the center shaft and twist back and forth (this un-jams the disposal). Remove the object, turn it back on, and test. Repeat until the object is removed.

5. No hot water: Check the thermostat on the tank for proper temperature setting. Check that thermostat is not set to “vacation.” Check and reset the breaker in the power panel. Check and reset the button next to the thermostat.

6. Hot water is too hot: Check the thermostat on the tank and turn it down.

7. Plumbing or fixtures leak: Turn off the water fixture, turn off the water at the supply line and notify Landlord immediately.

8. Toilet is plugged: Plunge and test.

9. No heat: Check the thermostat. Check that furnace covers are in properly. Check that a switch that looks like an ordinary light switch is turned on (located in or near the furnace room). Did you pay or disconnect the utility? Clean and replace filter and test.

10. Dishwasher won’t drain clean food out of the bottom of the dishwasher.

11. Dishwasher grinds or no water is coming in. Turn off; if there is no water on the bottom, pour two large glasses of water into the bottom and re-start. If the problem continues, call Landlord and discontinue use.

12. Refrigerator too warm or too cold: Check thermostat in the refrigerator is set correctly.

13. Water drips from the freezer to the refrigerator compartment. Remove all food and store it in a cooler. Turn off the refrigerator and allow it to defrost. Turn the refrigerator back on and replace food.

14. No Air Conditioning: Check all circuit breakers. Clean and replace filter and test.

Filing a Maintenance Request

Do not avoid maintenance requests! Although, some tenants feel as though they don’t want to bother their property manager with maintenance requests, so they don’t notify anyone. Any maintenance request that the property management team is responsible for should be filed as soon as possible. Further, if you fail to submit a maintenance request and the issue has escalated, resulting in damage to the property, you may be held responsible for any damages for neglecting to turn it in. A small issue now could turn into an emergency if it isn’t handled properly.

Additionally, if you have noticed an issue but are unsure of how to proceed, reach out to your property manager! Likewise, they will be glad to hear from you and can direct you toward a solution or suggestion. Your property manager will be able to explain if your issue is considered an emergency or routine maintenance.

Furthermore, if your property manager utilizes online maintenance requests, be certain to familiarize yourself with the platform. Undoubtedly, knowing how to submit a request will make your life less stressful should a maintenance issue arise.

At RentWise Property Management, we promise that we make every effort to act in our client’s best interests in every situation.

Interested in learning more about our services and how we can provide you with this type of service? RentWise Property Management. Less Hassle. More Happy.

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!

See ya, Summer! | A Resource Guide for ’22 Back to School in the Treasure Valley

It seems hard to believe that it is time to think about kiddos heading back to school for another year. New school years bring hope, excitement, and sometimes stressful situations for parents. Whether you are new to the Treasure Valley, or are a lifetime resident, we wanted to make things easy for you. We’ve done our homework (see what we did there) and put together a resource guide filled with dates, school supply drives, and all of the extras to get a successful head start on the school year.

School Districts

Boise School District- https://www.boiseschools.org/

Nampa School District- https://www.nsd131.org/

Caldwell School District- https://www.caldwellschools.org/

Kuna School District- https://www.kunaschools.org/

Middleton School District- https://www.msd134.org

Mountain Home School District- https://www.mtnhomesd.org/

Back to School Fairs | School Supply Assistance

 

Boise Rescue Mission School Supply Fundraiser

Donations are accepted at: https://boiserm.org/school/

Backpack: A Program of The Idaho Food Bank-

https://idahofoodbank.org/programs/backpack-program/

Operation School Supplies

Assistance League Boise | https://www.assistanceleague.org/boise/philanthropic-programs/operation-school-supplies/

We sincerely hope that this guide helps to get a head start on the school year! The Treasure Valley community is phenomenal at supporting its residents. If you would like to know more about how RentWise Property Management ‘gives back’, visit us at www.rentwisepm.com, where we make finding your dream rental a LESS HASSLE, MORE HAPPY experience!

Creative Temporary Gardening | Tips for Renters to Keep Your Landlord Happy!

Summer has arrived, and you are seeing all of the gorgeous flowers and plants lining the porches and decks of all of the surrounding homes. Am I right? In addition to looking beautiful, planting flowers and plants have some huge health benefits. Not only is gardening a great way to get some exercise, but it also can help to reduce stress and anxiety.  If you are renting your home, you may also be wondering how you can achieve optimum green space without compromising the terms of your lease. There are many creative ways you can incorporate temporary gardening into your rental. The best news is that when you’re ready to move, you can take all of this with you! Here are a few tried and true options for temporary gardening.

Mini Porch Greenhouse

 

Our first option is this Tiered Mini-Greenhouse from Amazon. This is is an all-season structure that you can place indoors or out. It contains 5 tiered shelving options and provides a PVC cover to contain the humidity and moisture required for successful gardening. This small but mighty mini greenhouse won’t take up much space at all on your porch or in your backyard and easily stores when you are ready to move or take it down for the winter months. This is the perfect way to grow herbs and small vegetables in individual pots without having to worry about making space in your yard if you have one.

Raised Garden Bed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Raised garden beds are a fun option to incorporate greenery and plants into your landscape without having to do much digging. You can buy a manufactured raised garden bed at any garden supply store. Also, if you are ready to take on a DIY project, you can make one yourself with a little sweat equity, such as this one.

If you choose to purchase a raised garden bed with a higher elevation, this can be handy for keeping wildlife out of your fruits and vegetables. Additionally, raised garden beds that rest on the ground can be a great way to create a temporary landscape option. Raised garden beds are often more productive than if you were digging in the ground due to better drainage and the soil gets warmer quicker. One consideration with the ground option is to ensure that once you are ready to remove, you aren’t placing the bed over existing grass or landscaping. This could cause potential damage that may result in your landlord holding you responsible for remedy.

Verticle Stacking Planters

Verticle gardens such as this one from Home Depot are all of the rage in the world of temporary gardens! They are easy to install and easy to remove at the end of the season. Verticle gardens fit well in the corner of a deck or porch. Vegetables such as tomatoes, peas, and squash grow best in verticle gardens such as this. One thing to keep in mind is that these planters don’t drain as well as other conventional options so you must monitor for moisture containment and soil rot. Also, if not careful, this could leak on your neighbors below if you are on the second story.

Over-The-Rail Planter Boxes

Over-the-rail planter boxes are one of the absolute easiest ways to spice up your curb appeal and increase your plant presence without causing any damage. This will be a surefire way to make your landlord pleased! There are so many options for these planters including plastic, wrought iron, and wooden, and many different mounting options. If you have a deck or porch with a railing, these are the perfect option for you! Typically, sun-loving plants will thrive best in these planter boxes. Be sure that your planter box has drainage holes to ensure that moisture isn’t staying stationary on top of your railing.

Upside Down Gardens

Last, but certainly not least on our tips and tricks list of temporary gardening options are the quirky and visually appealing upside-down gardens! These hit the market as an ‘As Seen On TV’ product several years ago and have picked up a ton of steam with consumers trying to grow fruits and vegetables in an easy, mess-free, damage-free, environment. The planters are made of high-quality felt and are washable and reusable. The success of upside-down gardening comes from the shape of the hanging planters and that they promote excellent drainage and prevent root entanglement. This is the perfect option for a renter who doesn’t have a lot of space to grow fresh fruits and vegetables. You can hang these planters from a shepherd’s hook or from your porch or deck with no damage!

Making your rental home feel like your own can sometimes feel like a challenge. If you have a porch, balcony, deck, or small yard, there is a surprising amount of space that you can get creative with temporary gardening options. Greenery, flowers, fruits, and vegetables are one way that you can personalize the exterior of your home to your liking, all while keeping your landlord happy!

We fully support making your house feel like a home. If you are a prospective tenant in the Treasure Valley, our team would love to speak with you. Additionally, we can help you navigate through your home search and application procedures! View our available listings and schedule a time to view your dream home here! Our motto here at RentWise Property Management is LESS HASSLE, MORE HAPPY!

Beat The Heat | Tips For Renters To Increase Energy Efficiency

Summer has officially arrived in the Treasure Valley! Over the last few years, the United States has collectively experienced some of the hottest summers. 2021 set a record as the hottest summer EVER! In Boise, the average daily temperature throughout the summer months is in the upper 90s! As a renter, it may sometimes seem like you don’t have a lot of control over the energy efficiency in your home. It appears we are gearing up for another warm summer! We have put together a quick user-friendly list of ways to increase the energy efficiency of your rental home.

Change Your HVAC Filter

As a general rule of thumb, you should change your HVAC filter once every 90 days. In the midst of summer, it is a good idea to change your filter at least every 30-45 days. Dirty filters block airflow and decrease the air conditioner’s ability to absorb heat and produce cooler air. Clean air filters can help to improve the energy efficiency of your home by 15% or more. Many property managers have opted into automatic filter delivery programs as part of their leasing package. This means that your new filters will arrive right on your doorstep!

Adjust Your Thermostat

The U.S. Department of Energy recommends that for optimum energy efficiency your thermostat should be set to 78 Degrees during the summer months. 78 Degrees is the ideal spot between staying cool and keeping your energy bill low. Many property owners are installing SMART thermostats in their rental homes. These thermostats not only increase energy efficiency, but they can also heat and cool by learning your habits at home. This means that your home will be kept warmer when no one is home, and cooler when everyone arrives!

Use Appliances Strategically

It is no secret that ovens generate a ton of heat. If possible, try to use your oven later on in the afternoon to preserve the efficiency of your air conditioning. In the previous years, countertop appliances such as air fryers and toaster ovens can replace a conventional oven and do not generate the amount of heat that an oven will distribute around your home. Other considerations to make during the summer months are washing your clothes in cold water and hang drying rather than using your dryer. You may also consider decreasing the temperature of your hot water heater to decrease your energy use by up to 25%!

Fight The Sunlight

Natural light is one of the best features of any home. The heat generated from the sunlight can also be the enemy of those trying to increase their energy efficiency. Investing in quality shades, and thermal or blackout curtains can assist with reducing your energy costs by 10-25%. Using blackout curtains during the hottest times of the day can keep sunlight-generated heat out, and contain the cool air from your fans and air conditioner inside. While the initial investment isn’t cheap, you will find that over time they will more than pay for themselves with reduced energy bills.

Unplug

This one is easy to forget. From your television to your computer, to even your gaming system, all electronics will generate heat when plugged in. Even if your electronics are switched off, there are still levels of heat that are maintained in the wiring. It may not seem like much, but if you add up all of your unused electronics, every little bit helps!

Switch To LEDs

Most households have begun to make the switch to LED lightbulbs. If you are still using incandescent lights, they are extremely inefficient. LED light bulbs are the most energy-efficient option that is currently available. They do cost a little more upfront but will pay for themselves quickly with energy savings. LED lights last 25 percent longer than incandescent lights, and use 75% less energy.

Many of these tips will help you to save energy year-round, not just in the summer! When you create positive energy habits, you will improve efficiency and experience money savings on your energy bills! If you would like more information from RentWise Property Management on our services and tenant benefit bundles, please visit us at www.rentwisepm.com