How to Be a Good Landlord in Sacramento

We’re talking about what it takes to be a good landlord in Sacramento. 

On the surface, you might think a good landlord is maybe lenient and gives residents a couple extra days on the rent and doesn’t charge a late fee. Maybe you think a good landlord gives out gifts. Those things are nice, but they don’t make a good landlord. 

To be a good landlord, you have to provide high-quality housing in a sustainable manner. There are multiple steps required to get there. 

Inspect Your Sacramento Rental Property 

Being a good landlord starts with a vacant house. Before a resident moves in, you have to thoroughly inspect your property. Make sure the house is in really good condition and note anything that needs improvement. Check light switches and outlets. Check the cabinet doors and drawers. 

Be thorough. You want the house to be in good condition and professionally cleaned. Then, it’s ready to be listed on the rental market. This is the first step in being a good landlord: offer a great house. 

Select the Right Sacramento Residents 

After the house is ready, you want to be strict on who you allow in the property. This is an important part of being a good landlord because if you don’t get the right resident, you can’t be a good landlord. When they’re not paying rent on time or causing damage, it’s hard to be a good landlord. 

Take your time choosing an applicant. Use a written application and provide standard qualifications so they know what’s required. Use that standard criteria and you’ll find a good resident while avoiding fair housing trouble. 

Move-In Process

Once you’ve found a resident, make sure they can move in within one to two weeks of approval. You want them to pay rent and the security deposit up front. Have them sign your high-quality lease which protects both you and your residents. 

Document the condition of your property, and have residents sign off on the move-in condition report. Take a lot of pictures so you’re clear on how the house looks when residents move in. Give them time to check the home out themselves and add anything to that report. 

Maintenance Responsiveness 

After your resident moves in, you’re looking at maintaining the house. Be responsive with repair requests. You might not be able to repair things right away, but if there’s a hold up, a good landlord lets their residents know what it is. 

Conduct Annual Inspections 

A good landlord inspects the property annually. Check the condition of the home to catch any maintenance items that need to be addressed. There may be clogged gutters or other preventative repairs that are needed. You want to check out what items need attention. Water damage, for example, is especially something to look for. Small drips can become big problems. Let residents know this is a standard maintenance inspection. 

Commit to Rent Increases 

Most residents will understand that expenses go up every year. Some people think a good landlord doesn’t increase rent. It’s a nice thought, but you need to keep up with the costs that are increasing so you can repair the roof and the HVAC. You’ll need enough income to cover current expenses and have some money in a reserve when a big repair is needed. 

Increase rent once a year and stay within market rents. You don’t want to charge more than what the competition is charging, and you want to give residents incentives to stay in the property. 

Provide Resident Incentives 

A good relationship with your residents may include incentives such as a waived late fee if they run into a problem. Or you can write them a thank you note for maintaining the house. Some residents do an exceptional job with your property, and you might give them a gift card to a restaurant. 

Move-Out Process