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  • California AB 2493: New Rules for Tenant Application Fees Explained!

    California AB 2493: New Rules for Tenant Application Fees Explained!

    California AB 2493: New Rules for Tenant Application Fees Explained!

    In California’s ever-evolving rental landscape, staying current with new legislation is crucial for both landlords and tenants. One of the latest updates making waves is Assembly Bill 2493, which introduces new rules around tenant application screening fees.

    Whether you’re a landlord who charges these fees or a renter navigating the application process, AB 2493 directly affects how much can be charged, how often those fees can increase, and what the funds are used for. In this blog, we’ll break down what AB 2493 entails, why it matters, and how to stay compliant in 2025 and beyond.

    Watch the video here!

    Don’t forget to subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more Property Management videos! Uplift Property Management

    Transcript

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    Here are the changes to the tenant application screening process in California. Welcome back inside Uplift Property Management I’m CEO Tommy Perfect here to talk about changes to the tenant application screening process and the new laws that are going into effect this year.

    So the new law is AB2493 and it talks about all of these different changes and when you’re allowed to charge a screening fee how you’re supposed to come up with that fee and then what kind of responsibilities you have as the landlord to give back to the tenant some of these things we talk about are when you have an application and when you have a property available you need to have a property that’s available for them soon after within what they call reasonable amount of time.

    Next you need to make sure that you have a system set up for screening those applications that come in really on a first come first qualified now when I say first come that’s first completed application that comes in with all the necessary documentation that needs to be there to complete the application the first one that’s there that meets your criteria is the one that needs to be approved applicants are allowed to change their application and add to it but you still need to make sure that you’re going off that first come first qualified.

    One of the main changes that this affects really mainly multifamily housing is where you have weight lists so AB2493 really limits the viability of a wait list in saying that you can only charge a screening fee on an application when you have a rental unit that is going to be available to the applicant within a reasonable amount of time now I don’t know what a reasonable amount of time is to the California legislature but I know for us at Uplift we generally will keep an application for about 60 days viable so we can only charge that screening fee when we actually have a unit that we will expect to be ready.

    One other point that AB2493 points out is that we are required as landlords to send the screening report that we use that that consumer credit report to the tenant in writing within 7 days of running that screening report so making sure that you are adding that layer of transparency to your application process.

    The main operational changes and implicate implications that AB2493 have for us property managers and other landlords is that one make sure that you have that clear first come first qualified application process second ensure that you have that transparency sending that screening report if you need it to the to the tenant and then three adjust when you’re going to be charging those application screening fees a lot of times that’s the first gateway into actually having your application uh considered just make sure that your practices are matching up with this law. Documentation requirements you know maintain those records of your process clearly defined for everybody out have a score on how you’re going to run that criteria for your tenants you know find some of those opportunities to add documentation to what can sometimes be a rather subjective process in screening an applicant and lastly, these deadlines and these changes it already passed this all went into effect January 1st 2025 so you need to make sure that you aren’t already behind the eightball and you’re following along with these changes that you’re required to make to help applicants have that level of transparency and trust with your property management company or with your housing experience.

    If there are any questions or concerns regarding your application process or how Uplift is running our applications and how we have that process line item out feel free to give us a call anytime and we’re happy to go over those things.

    Conclusion

    Understanding AB 2493 and Staying Ahead of the Curve

    AB 2493 represents another step toward greater transparency and fairness in California’s rental process. By adjusting how tenant application fees are calculated and regulated, this law ensures that renters aren’t overcharged—while also giving landlords clear guidelines to follow.

    For property owners, staying compliant isn’t just about avoiding legal trouble—it’s about building trust and professionalism in a competitive market. At Uplift Property Management, we help landlords stay up to date with the latest regulations and implement best practices that keep their rental business running smoothly.

    Need help updating your tenant screening process in light of AB 2493? Reach out to Uplift today—we’ve got your back.

    Claudina

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  • Pets in Your Rental: The Pros and Cons for Landlords & Tenants!

    Pets in Your Rental: The Pros and Cons for Landlords & Tenants!

    Allowing pets in a rental property can be a game-changer—but is it the right choice for you? In this video, we break down the pros and cons of renting with pets, from attracting more tenants to potential property damage. Whether you’re a landlord deciding on a pet policy or a tenant looking for a pet-friendly home, this guide will help you navigate the benefits and challenges.

    Watch now to make the best decision for your rental!

    Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more property management tips!

    Transcript

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    Hi and welcome Inside Uplift Property Management today we are going to be talking about pets-Everyone has them. Should you allow them into your rental? We’re going to weigh some of the pros and cons.

    The case for allowing pets 70% of Americans own pets whether that’s a cat, a dog, a lizard, a bird so we have a huge tenant pool that we can reach when we are allowing pets into our unit and for some of those pet lovers out there they will pay a higher premium for an apartment that’s that’s pet friendly or a house that’s pet friendly and then also with you know the changing laws you’ll see more and more units not allowing pets so longer tenency and that’s always important we want to keep tenant as long as we can.

    Now there are obviously risks when allowing pets into your units, pets they use the bathroom sometimes inside the house they can scratch things tear things up damage baseboard so there’s always that that property damage that can happen we have noise complaints if your dogs in the backyard barking and neighbors are going to be angry that can cause some issues and lastly we have you know allergies and liabilities future tenants might be really sensitive to certain animal hair things like that so that might require duct cleaning or you know, make the unit harder to to rent in the future and then we just have the liability of of pets right we don’t want dogs biting neighbors or or anything like that.

    So understanding the ever changing laws in California a convention has it where we used to be able to charge a pet deposit on top of a security deposit for allowing pets which was a huge motivation for owners to allow pets into their unit with some of the the laws that have changed unless you’re an exempt unit you cannot charge more than one month’s rent as a security deposit so for a lot of those multi-family units and apartments we’re no longer able to charge More Than A month’s rent which you know deincentivizes owners to allow pets into their unit you still can though pet do a pet rent here at Uplift we do $75 per pet but that’s that’s a pretty good you know way to make a little bit of extra income for allowing pets into the unit if you say no pets and the owner of the pet goes and decides to get a ESA for that animal you have to allow them into the unit and if they are an ESA you cannot charge a security deposit you cannot charge uh additional rent for that animal so just all things to to keep in mind.

    Best practices if we’re going to allow pets is you want to set clear policies you know and you can get granular with the amount the amount of animals the type of animals you want if you have restricted breeds cats only dogs only what whatever those things may be just make sure to set clear policies charge pet rent you know it’s it’s a little bit of extra income um but that can really go a long way especially in this declining rental market include a pet agreement or an addendum in your lease really important, you need to be able to outline all of those clear policies in the lease agreement so people understand what you know what they’re signing up for and what the expectations are for having a pet and then lastly conduct regular inspections you know annual inspections are really important getting inside the unit making sure that pet isn’t damaging you know any of the house or or anything like that is going to help you to side if if these tenants are good fit for your unit but also just staying on top of any maintenance or things that might need to be done it’s really important so those things don’t build up.

    So making the decision if you want to allow pets it’s really opening up your potential Market, the amount of tenants that will apply for your unit it’s very pet friendly here in Southern California but if you don’t, you know everybody’s risk tolerance is different, so if you don’t want to allow pets that’s totally fine too. If you have any questions regarding pets addendums in your lease or if you should allow pets or not feel free to give Uplift to call we’d love to talk over the the pros and cons with you.

    Conclusion

    Should You Allow Pets in Your Rental?

    Deciding whether to allow pets in your rental comes with both benefits and challenges. While pet-friendly properties can attract more tenants and potentially lead to longer lease agreements, they also come with risks like property damage and additional maintenance costs. The key is to establish a clear pet policy, including deposits, pet rent, and guidelines to protect your investment.

    At Uplift Property Management, we help landlords create effective pet policies that balance profitability and tenant satisfaction. If you need expert guidance on managing a pet-friendly rental, reach out to our team today!

    Claudina

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  • California AB 12: Big Changes to Security Deposit Rules Explained!

    California AB 12: Big Changes to Security Deposit Rules Explained!

    California AB 12: Big Changes to Security Deposit Rules Explained!

    New legislation is turning the rental industry on its head! California’s AB 12 brings significant changes to security deposit rules, affecting both renters and landlords.

    In this video, we take apart what the new legislation means, how it will impact rental contracts, and what you have to do in order to remain compliant. As a property owner or renter, these updates are crucial to understand!

    Watch now to stay informed and protect your rights!

    Don’t forget to subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more Property Management videos! Uplift Property Management

    Transcript

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    Welcome back Inside Uplift Property Management! I’m Tommy Perfect CEO and broker here at Uplift and today we want to do a legal update on California Assembly Bill 12 all about California security deposits.

    So what AB12 really is it’s talking about limiting what you can take as a security deposit and really if you haven’t already started implementing this in your business or in your rental property you are really behind because it went effective July 1st of 2024 what the gist of the bill is is it’s going to prohibit a landlord from taking more than one month’s worth of rent as a security deposit and they actually use the term “Securities” and that includes all fees or charges outside of the security deposit that are going in advance of the rent with a couple exceptions that we can talk about but it also covers furnished and unfurnished units so here’s those exceptions.

    First off you have to be a natural person or an LLC where all the owners are natural persons that means you or me not a corporation that actually owns a property right you also are limited on the unit count so you can have two properties not making up a total of more than four rental units so if you own a duplex and you also own a Triplex that’s five units and those are all rented out units you are not qualifying for that exception but if you just have a single family home that you own it as a natural person person then you are able to still charge up to twice the month the A month’s worth of rent as a security deposit.

    Now going into all of those other charges what they are calling Securities right this includes any additional deposits like if you have an HOA that requires you to have a key deposit or something that you have with them or pet deposits which pet deposits are a struggle already cause you limit what you are allowed to charge to that deposit so that’s an additional deposit so all of those kind of things are those additional Securities that are going to be calculated in to the one month’s worth of rent requirement or the 2 months worth of rent requirement if you qualify for that exception so essentially if your rent is $2,000 a month your security deposit can only be $22,000 a month if you also have a tenant that has a pet and you want to charge a pet deposit well really you’re still capped at that $2,000 one other exclusion to this is active service members they are still only at that one month’s rent even if you are a natural person that qualify for the exception the active service Duty members still it’s one month’s rent no matter.

    What long gone are the days that you are able to collect first month’s rent a security deposit and last month’s rent this bill actually changes the last month’s rent in a legal sense so really you can only charge first month’s rent in that security deposit you which I highly recommend you charge the first month’s rent when you charge it don’t PR rate when you start charge the full first month’s rent and the security deposit if you do qualify for that exception you can charge that last month’s rent but you might as well just call it a security deposit and increase that security deposit up to that two times amount if you’re qualifying for that exception what the law is actually saying is that when you have that last month’s rent it is included in that term Securities right? so you can’t actually charge that because essentially you’re going to have to hold that just as if you’re going to hold a security deposit but then you limit it to that you know use for only the the rent at the end of the tenency there is one exception to the last month’s rent cause you know these bills can’t be just straightforward but if you charge 6 months or more of rent that is your prepayment so if you have somebody that comes along and they say “hey I really want to rent it out I want to pay you 3 months in advance” that’s actually technically against the law now you have to have a minimum of 6 months in advance when you’re going to collect that as security for your lease.

    In conclusion, you’ve got AB12 limits you to one month’s rent that’s really the best practice you’re going to find that you’re going to be more competitive on the market if you aren’t trying to increase that security deposit when we have this changing Market a cooled off Market rentals are a little bit longer to get rented right now your renter is going to expect to have the security deposit be one month’s worth of rent and stopped at that again remember any additional deposits are included in that calculation for AB12 and your total amount that you can do and then you can’t charge that last month’s rent anymore so thank you and if you have any other questions feel free to reach out to us here at Uplift we’re always happy to go over these little updates and make sure that everybody can push the industry forward and we can all be good landlords going forward.

    Conclusion

    California’s AB 12 is a game-changer in rental legislation, limiting security deposits to make housing more affordable for tenants and demanding that landlords change their leasing procedures. From property owners dealing with compliance to renters learning your rights, being in the know is the secret to a painless rental experience.

    At Uplift Property Management, we’re here to help landlords navigate these changes and offer a seamless leasing process. If you have any questions about AB 12 or need expert guidance, reach out to our team today—we’re more than happy to assist!

    Claudina

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  • Navigating San Diego’s Declining Rental Market: What It Means for Renters & Landlords!

    Navigating San Diego’s Declining Rental Market: What It Means for Renters & Landlords!

    Navigating San Diego’s Declining Rental Market: What It Means for Renters & Landlords!

    Welcome back to Inside Uplift Property Management!

    San Diego’s rental market is shifting, and navigating a declining market can be challenging for both landlords and renters.

    In this video, we break down the latest trends, what’s causing rental prices to drop, and how property owners can adapt to stay profitable. Whether you’re looking to rent, invest, or manage properties, these insights will help you make informed decisions in today’s changing landscape.

    Watch the video here!

    Transcript

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    How can I price my rental? Welcome back Inside Uplift Property Management and today we’re going to be talking about navigating a declining rental market.

    So the current market reality here in Southern California is we’re seeing increased competition it’s a very price sensitive Market people are looking for those deals.

    Declining profit margins um and this is you know for the majority of our owners we’re seeing those profit margins start to to decrease and we’re coming off years of record high rents and you know year over-year as we’re increasing rents eventually that has to stop and and we’re kind of at that moment where we’re seeing a kickback in the market um and we’re going to start seeing those rental rates drop.

    Some external financial pressures that everybody’s going to see first and foremost the rise of property insurance specially now after these fires that have gone through Southern California we can expect property insurance to go up we can expect fire Insurance to go up the next cost that we’re going to see is increased property taxes and expect to see those HOAs if you live in an HOA Community their insurance is going up too so expect to see higher HOA dues maintenance seems every single year it seems like maintenance is getting more and more expensive same with those vendors they have their cost to pay uh expect to pay more for maintenance vendors and then also here in California we have a lot of ant anti landlord legislation so that’s something to always stay on top of you can always check out our website and our our blogs to see what new laws are in effect that might be affecting some of your your profit margins and how you can increase rent.

    So and that brings us to why competitive pricing matters like I said before this is a sensitive Market people are looking for a deal so what we’ve been communicating to our owners is price competitively uh when we’re looking on Zillow and we’re looking at at different uh comps um I really like to to dive into those comps and see you know what the prices of of other rentals in the area but also how many applications do they have how many views how long has it been on the market and that’ll give me a good indicator of okay hey we have a unit at 2500 and they’re starting to get some views I want to come in under 2500 2400 that way we can rent your unit quickly we can avoid that loss to lease.

    Key strategies for Market marting your unit competitively like I said before we want to research the market make sure we’re coming under other other units available adjust that pricing right so if you have your your listing on the market for a week and you’re not getting any views it’s listed too high and you need to drop your pricing offer incentives so move in specials that moving from place to place can be really stressful with security deposits first month’s rent you know there’s a lot of financial responsibility that goes into moving so any you know incentives 500 off your first month’s rent anything like that is really going to draw people to your unit and then lastly focus on value you know in your listing really highlight the things in your unit that you know separate yourself from other people so make sure we’re focusing on value.

    Balancing cost and revenue a few things we want to do is we just want to monitor expenses make sure you’re keeping a detailed accounting of what’s going on in your unit preventative maintenance those little things really build up so make sure we’re getting in there doing preventative maintenance to avoid a huge maintenance Bill and lastly just plan for those Rising costs uh vendors Insurance all the things we’ve talked about work that into your budget that way it’s not a surprise uh when those things start to increase.

    looking to the longterm you know you really want to focus on occupancy uh try to avoid tenant turnover now is the time to do that more than ever uh you want to build those tenant relationships it’s really important um that your property manager or yourself is is keeping a good relationship with tenants prepare for recovery so we’re seeing a lot of increase in prices but it’s it’s not going to happen forever we’re seeing decrease rent it’s not going to happen forever so just hold in there you know things will get better and just be sure to adapt and stay on top of all those legislation changes.

    So in conclusion, yes it’s a declining market and yes we’re seeing prices rise uh but as long as you plan correctly you budget correctly um only rental unit can can be a joy so um if you have any more questions about what’s going on in the market or how to price your unit competitively feel free to give us a call here at uplift we’d love to talk it over with you.

    Conclusion

    It’s time to think ahead of changes in San Diego’s rental market for both landlords and renters alike. A declining market can be very challenging, but it presents a unique opportunity: negotiating better lease terms, rethinking rental strategies, and even new investment possibilities. Stay proactive, use data-driven insights in your favor, and work with a trusted property management team to get through this change.

    At Uplift Property Management, we are dedicated to ensuring that property owners maximize their investments and that tenants find quality housing. For expert guidance through this changing market, contact our team today!

    Claudina

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  • Price Gouging in California: What You Need to Know!

    Price Gouging in California: What You Need to Know!

    Price Gouging in California: What You Need to Know!

    Price gouging is a big deal in California, especially during emergencies when people are already struggling. Recently, Attorney General Rob Bonta went after a real estate agent for jacking up rent on a couple who lost their home in the Eaton Fire. With over 500 warning letters sent to landlords and hotels, the state is cracking down on unfair pricing. If you’re a landlord or tenant, knowing California’s price gouging laws is key to staying on the right side of the law.

    But what exactly is price gouging, and how can you protect yourself?

    Watch our latest video to uncover the truth behind inflated prices, the laws in place, and what you can do if you suspect price gouging. Don’t get caught off guard—stay informed!

    Watch the video now!

    Transcript:

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    Welcome back Inside Uplift Property Management I’m Tommy Perfect CEO and broker here at Uplift Property Management and today I’m going to talk a little bit about some subjects that are going on here in Southern California with our recent wildfires and a big issue that comes up with price gouging and how that affects your rental property.

    All right so this week just last week actually Rob Bonta has issued a letter out and the department of real estate has sent that out to all their real estate agents talking about price gouging rules and the idea that our current attorney general of California is really going to come after any of these housing providers that are price gouging.

    What those price gouging rules really apply are about how much you’re going to increase your market rent right so first off you can’t increase rent more than 10% doesn’t matter if you’re exempt from rent control laws this price gouging law goes into effect for all housing providers and it actually applies to several other things like food emergency supplies and medical items. This is long-term rental property this is at your renewals this is short-term rentals as well so if you have your house on Airbnb or Vrbo these rates really apply to you so that you aren’t price gouging these people when there is a state of emergency in effect.

    I know most of us landlords are not really going after this price gouging thing but there are a few bad actors that are really taking advantage of people in a vulnerable time in a state of emergency so Rob Bonta has actually filed charges against a few different cases they have open cases that they’re actually working, one of the ones that they highlighted was somebody who was increasing rates 38% for people applying after they’d applied for rental property so really while you’re dealing with this changing time make sure that your rents and your rental rates stay consistent and stay compliant with that law that you aren’t going above that 10% increase.

    This price hike really is what was the kind of bait and switch tactic that a property management company used and obviously we don’t know all the details about that certain case and and how it’s being portrayed but that is what Rob Bonta is expressing to the public and to us property managers and landlords.

    As we’ve talked about them opening up cases they’ve actually issued over 500 other warning letters to housing providers in Southern California and that really is important that we pay attention to this because if it’s their focal point they’re going to try to find somebody to be their poster child right so make make sure that you are staying compliant the charges that come through are you know up to a $10,000 fine and up to a year in prison depending on how your case goes and that doesn’t even include all the attorney’s fees that you’re going to have to deal with.

    In times of state of emergency we really need to focus up and stand against exploitation of people these people really need us this is our time to have ethics and really live those Ethics in real time I know that some people might want to capitalize on our rental rate or take advantage of an opportunity right? capitalism but when people are at their most vulnerable it’s time to be a standup citizen here and work together again we have active investigations going on right now make sure you’re compliant make sure your listings are compliant and let’s make sure that we are not going to incriminate ourselves and find ourselves in hot water with the Department of real estate and your license as well as the Attorney General of California so let’s make sure that we are all continuing to Uplift our fellow neighbors and if you have any questions about this price gouging law and you know more opinion on it feel free to contact us at Uplift Property Management we’d happy to go over any of those things with you in more detail.

    Conclusion

    Taking advantage of people in a crisis isn’t just unethical—it’s illegal. California is stepping up enforcement, making sure those who break the law face serious consequences. At Uplift Property Management, we believe in fair and honest pricing, even in tough times. Tenants deserve respect, and we’re here to make sure they get it.

    If you suspect price gouging or have been affected, don’t stay silent—report it! Visit oag.ca.gov/LAFires to file a complaint or call the hotline at (800) 952-5225. Protect yourself and others by taking action against unfair pricing.

    Claudina

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  • The Ultimate Moving Checklist: Your Step-by-Step Guide for a Stress-Free Move

    The Ultimate Moving Checklist: Your Step-by-Step Guide for a Stress-Free Move

    Moving to a new home is an exciting milestone, but it can be overwhelming without proper planning. A well-structured checklist for the many tasks involved will make your transition smooth and hassle-free.

    Here’s your ultimate guide to managing every stage of your move, from planning to settling into your new home.

    1–2 Months Before Moving: Plan and Prepare

    The foundation of a stress-free move is early preparation. Start with these steps:

    • Declutter Your Space: Go room by room and decide what to keep, donate, sell, or toss. Moving fewer items saves time, effort, and money.
    • Create a Moving Budget: Factor in costs for movers, supplies, travel, and unexpected expenses.
    • Research Moving Companies: Get quotes from several licensed and insured movers, or consider renting a truck if it’s a DIY move.
    • Notify Important Parties: Update your address with the post office, banks, insurance providers, and subscription services. Don’t forget to notify your landlord if renting.
    • Organize Documents: Collect important papers like leases, contracts, medical records, and school documents. Keep these in a secure, easily accessible folder.

    3–4 Weeks Before Moving: Start Packing  

    Packing generally requires the most time during your move. Actually, packing starts well in advance:

    • Gather Packing Supplies: Get very sturdy boxes, bubble wrap, packing tape, markers, and labels.
    • Pack Wisely: First to be packed are items you don’t use daily, for example, seasonal clothing, decor, and books. Label each box with its contents and which room it goes into.
    • Box of Essentials: Put in toiletries, snacks, chargers, and extra clothes for the first night in a separate box. 
    • Utilities Scheduling: Schedule utilities, internet, and cable in advance for your new place. At your current house, schedule the utility disconnections on moving day.
    • Measure and Plan: Make sure large furniture will fit through doorways and into the new space. Create a floor plan to decide on placement.

    1–2 Weeks Before Move: Finalize Details

    With moving day just around the corner, it’s time to tie up any loose ends:

    • Confirm moving arrangements: Reconfirm with your moving company or truck rental. Verify arrival time and payment details.
    • Pack Personal Valuables: Secure jewelry, heirlooms, and important documents to transport personally.
    • Prepare Appliances: Cleaning, disconnecting appliances, defrosting the refrigerator, and draining water from washers and hoses.
    • Eliminate Hazards: Get rid of items such as paint, cleaning chemicals, and propane tanks that movers won’t move.

    Moving Day: Stay Organized

    Finally, the big day has arrived! Follow your plan to minimize stress:

    • Do a final walk-through: Ensure nothing is left in all rooms, closets, and cabinets.
    • Supervise the Movers: Guide movers as to what goes where, and keep a very detailed inventory of your goods.
    • Keep Essentials Handy: Carry the box containing your valuables and important documents along with you.
    • Take Meter Readings: Take a record of the utility meter readings at your old and new home to avoid billing disputes.

    After the Move: Settle In

    After arrival, let’s get this new house feeling like a home:

    • Unpacking the Essentials: Start unpacking the essentials: kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom items.
    • Check Your Goods: Report any damages or missing items and file claims ASAP.
    • Replace Locks/Rekey Home: For security reasons, replace or rekey the locks.
    • Get to Know Your Neighbors: Introduce yourself in your new community and become familiar with the local amenities.
    • Organize Gradually: Unpack and get settled in little by little. Try to work on one room at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

    Conclusion

    Though moving can be a daunting task, with good planning and an overall checklist, one can simplify the process and even make it enjoyable. Whether upgrading to a larger space, downsizing, or moving to a new city, staying organized will help you start this new chapter on the right foot.

    Is your rental property in need of management? Here at Uplift Property Management, it’s our mission to ensure your property journey is smooth and stress-free. Reach out today for professional help!

    Claudina

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  • Understanding Environmental Testing In Your Home

    Welcome back to Inside Uplift Property Management and welcome to our new Vendor Highlights series! In this first episode, we’re featuring Vert Environmental—experts in environmental testing services.

    Learn about the incredible work they do and how their services can benefit your property. Don’t miss it!

    Watch the video here!

    Want to apply as a vendor? Click here

    Connect with us!

    Instagram: @upliftpropertiessd

    Facebook: Uplift Property Management

    Vert Environmental

    Instagram: @vertenviro

    Facebook: Vert Environmental

    Claudina

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  • Ultimate Guide to Screening and Keeping High-Quality Tenants Every Landlord Needs!

    Ultimate Guide to Screening and Keeping High-Quality Tenants Every Landlord Needs!

    Want to screen and keep the best tenants? In this video, we share expert tips on screening applicants, avoiding common pitfalls, and building strong landlord-tenant relationships. Maximize your rental success today!

    Watch the video here!

    Transcript:

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    Are you having trouble with your tenant?

    Welcome back to Inside Uplift Property Management where we’re going to talk to you about how to avoid those tenant problems by screening and retaining high quality tenants. We know that finding a long lasting tenant that is going to take care of your home and pay rent on time every month and not destroy something and have unlimited maintenance requests coming in can be difficult really it’s it’s hard to find that but using proven techniques and through all of our experience you know here at uplift we man we do over 1,700 applications a year for our properties we learn those techniques to find those red flags and pitfalls in screening to find that highquality tenant

    In California we get highly regulated on how we find and Screen a tenant what we can do is look for those red flags and have a lot of experience and we can set some requirements for that property but what we can’t do is violate fair housing law and just discriminate based on you know ethnicity race gender even a lot of things like criminal history and income sources and things like that that get really sticky that we need to make sure that we have clear guidelines to follow fair housing and treat every application the same way every time

    This is really inside uplift Property Management here this is what our team uses every single day when they’re going going through application screenings we do it on a little scorecard and we kind of like our our numbers low so when we come through here we say all right here’s our applicant score total right? and we want every to be a one if it’s a one that means you scored perfect right so we go through good Fair poor and then things that we just deny straight up on that specific reason alone and so we go through we have income credit score rental history and then we even look at collection types right? and so income you know that’s pretty basic credit score everybody sees that you can call your residential history but honestly most of the time they don’t answer or they don’t tell you the truth or they don’t tell you the whole truth right? so then we actually like to look at our Collections and looking at what types of collections right? is it just medical bills that are outstanding or student loans and those kind of things that are dragging you down or is it Past due credit card is it rent owed to a previous landlord is it that they don’t pay their utility bill like they’ve got Cox and Verizon and you know you know San Diego Gas and Electric do they have all of those utility bills that are outstanding cuz those are huge red flags for us and those actually lead to a lot of those automatic denials of what types of collections so sometimes somebody even has that 675 credit score but they have $2,000 in collections with utilities that’s a big red flag for us cause if they’re not paying their utilities the option of them not paying their rent is a lot higher of a chance

    So we talked about the scorecard as a whole and we do want to look at it as a whole but diving into income requirements is really basic and this is some of the basic stuff we have right so minimum of 2.5 times the income right and you see people talk about oh is it 2.5 times their gross or should I be looking at their net income how should I be looking at that here we use their gross income 2 and a half times is our minimum standard right obviously if you have a better income ratio then you’re going to score better on our application we also like to look at the consistency of that income are they changing jobs all the time is this something that they just started did we just get an offer letter and it’s not even a job contract at this point all those things matter on whether or not that income is qualified income or if it’s just them making a fraudulent claim

    Usually we have a minimum credit score of 600 obviously we can change that for a different properties you know I’m not going to expect a a fancy five-bedroom mansion house that’s have all has the luxury amenities to it I’m not going to trust that to somebody with a 600 credit score right but if I have a studio or some area and that’s a little bit less desirable I might accept a little bit lower credit score but we try to stick at a minimum of 600 and then going making sure that we go over those collections again making sure that they don’t have those utility bills making sure that we have um a clear idea of what their overall monthly finances should look like so that they they have that capability of paying that rent that matches up with their income requirement

    This one’s a little bit questionable in the industry as property managers nowadays right we still go and call all of those residential history people that somebody puts on their application but how often do they just put a random friend that is going to act like their landlord and they’re just going to say oh give this glowing review and talk all about how amazing these tenants were right or you actually get a property management company and they never answer the phone they don’t respond to the email verification requests and you just get no answer or if they do answer they only answer just the minimum basic number of questions of is there an amount due you know they’re not going to ask anything they’re not going to answer anything subjective at all because they don’t want liability on themselves right? so residential history while it’s an important factor that people like to think about it’s something that we really have to take a nuanced approach to in today’s market

    So after we’ve screened and found that highquality applicant we’ve moved them into your house they’ve been living there what do I have to do to retain that tenant to make sure that they keep that lasting income for your property long term? and that starts even before they move in so you’re going to make sure that your communication is really accurate with them upfront and then you’re going to want to make sure that you take care of those tenants throughout the entire lease that’s where a professional property manager really is a benefit to you even though you don’t necessarily see more money coming in they’re going to help expand the lifetime of that tenant in your house and some of those things that we do you know like we said communication being on top of those maintenance requests even though sometimes it might be something that’s not necessary we want to do something nice for the tenant make sure that they feel like their the house or their unit is their home right and that they feel comfortable there and then as I’ve spoken about in the past we have a cool off market right now sometimes you know we’ve got to eight eight units in this building and they’re all one-bedrooms and some of them are renting for 900 and I was getting that you know $22,000 you know last year but then today I’m trying to Market one and it’s I have it marketed at 1,800 and I’m not getting any contacts right and I I might actually have to look at price decreases on this type of property so that I can retain those tenants you know offer them $50 less for signing a year lease right? in a cool off Market it favors the landlord to have that year-long contract and retain that tenant avoid the costs of vacancy avoid the costs of all the turnover maintenance that you have you know carpets painting cleaning all of those things that come while losing the income retaining the tenant is the most important thing to do to increase that longevity of your investment

    To wrap it up for today we love having a process behind everything that we do we are a data driven business so we have data driven processes to have that screening process done right and then have the the handholding and attention to detail for your tenant while they are in your unit so that we can help retain that tenant communication processes and actually getting things done is what sets Uplift Property Management apart from the rest and I know that if you are implementing some of those systems and processes to make sure that you are giving that attention and staying dedicated to your property you will be able to find those great tenants and extend the lifespan of that tenant in your property and make more money like we all want to.

    Don’t forget to subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more property management videos!

    Do you need a property manager? Get a free rental analysis with us!

    Claudina

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  • Top Rental Property Marketing Tips for Homeowners: Maximize Your Investment

    Top Rental Property Marketing Tips for Homeowners: Maximize Your Investment

    Welcome back to Inside Uplift Property Management!

    Ready to make your rental property stand out in a competitive market? Whether you’re a seasoned homeowner or just starting, marketing your rental property effectively is the key to attracting quality tenants and maximizing your investment.

    In this video, we’re sharing the top marketing tips every homeowner needs to know. These expert strategies will help you fill vacancies faster and with the right tenants.

    Let Uplift Property Management guide you to success—don’t miss out on these proven tips to elevate your rental property game!

    Watch the video here!

    Don’t forget to subscribe to our Youtube channel for more property management videos!

    Connect with us!

    Instagram: @upliftpropertiessd

    Facebook: Uplift Property Management

    Claudina

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  • Does your property manager know what they’re doing?

    Does your property manager know what they’re doing?

    Does your property manager have what it takes to handle your investment? In this video, we break down the key qualities of a great property manager and how to spot the red flags. Don’t leave your property in the wrong hands—find out what to look for!

    Watch the video here!

    Transcript:

    Transcript Scroll Box

    Is your property manager a true property manager? (Music) Hey everybody let’s talk about property managers and what kind of makes a property manager a good property manager. So today I want to talk about seven points that might be red flags of an inexperienced property manager a real estate agent that’s going into property management and then seven reasons why you should select a true Property Management professional that’s an expert in their field.

    All right the first point that I would want to Mark as a red flag for you know a novice property manager would be that they don’t have a huge knowledge base of California landlord tenant law.These laws get really intricate and detailed and can actually be a huge liability for a property owner as well as the the novice property manager if they aren’t able to follow the laws with exactness and it can cause huge Financial losses in the long term

    Point number two is that they don’t have a true dedicated property management software or database and systems around property management and how to run it efficiently and effectively they’re going to need to have this system in place so that they can not drop any balls as property managers we’re going from A to Z you know 1,400 things a day trying to remember everything and if you’re trying to do that on top of real estate transactions and then focusing on where where that next ball is going to drop it’s so hard if you don’t have a true property management software to fall back on.

    Point number three is that your property manager might have some inconsistent communication skills regarding these Property Management concerns a lot of times they’re going to have to be looking up those answers and they might have a poor response time to get back to you all of these delays end up costing the investor more money.

    Point number four is that they probably don’t have a real defined maintenance process now maintenance is one of those high points where you can lose a lot of money if you don’t have an expert vendor Network or really great qualified people to come in and promptly get things done again in this business time is always money and when you have a tenant in place habitability issues and no real process on how to accomplish those maintenance tasks when you have those mistakes you’re going to have to compensate for those errors and omissions that happen due to a poor experienced property manager.

    Point number five is that the the novice property manager most likely doesn’t have a very clear and well-defined way of screening the prospective tenant for your unit now they might say they have these standards and they put these standards in place but then an expert property manager will need to actually take those standards and be able to decipher based on the information that they receive from an applicant what’s true or what might be those pitfalls like if there’s outstanding phone or Internet bills you know how do those weigh heavier than say you know a medical bill that’s outstanding how can you look at the full application and fit that into the criteria to rent and make sure that it’s verifiable.

    Point number six is that often times a novice property manager will focus on short-term property gains as opposed to long-term asset value and return on investment they are looking at this through an eye of I need to get the most rent today possible in order to make my client happy when you really need to look at the total value of a property the equity that you’re helping an investor grow as well as those cash flow gains today and how do you create those value options for the for the client.

    The last point point number seven that I would make sure that you would look out for and a novice property manager would be looking for high vacancy rates long vacancies and constant turnover this can be due to again that lack of a process and communication system for your property manager to communicate with your tenant tenant retention will be one of those drivers of true long-term wealth and asset gain on your rental property.

    So turning the leaf over let’s look at seven reasons why you should hire a true dedicated Property Management professional so here at Uplift Property Management you know we we drive ourselves to be the experts continuously improving our our systems because we want to have that knowledge base and expertise specialized in Property Management so that we can provide value to you the investor.

    Our second point is that we have local focused market knowledge it isn’t just something that we’re seeing on the news that comes through on our social media feeds we are experiencing exactly what takes place in the rental market here in San Diego for us but anywhere you’re looking look for somebody that has that localized office that is centralized in an area so they can be the expert on those market trends.

    The third point I have is that a true expert Property Management professional will have an amazing vendor Network they will be connected with vendors that provide an expert value to you as the investor so that you don’t lose money on high expensive bills and invoices that are coming in that may be unnecessary or completely avoidable.

    Number four would be a focus on tenant retention now as a property management expert I know that tenant retention is something that will help provide dividends for myself as a property manager but also for you as the investor and limiting you know a vacancy or a turnover or unnecessary expenses or an upset angry tenant that doesn’t pay rent anymore like that could be something that could be catastrophic to an investment for for years so focusing on tenant retention is something that’s absolutely imperative.

    Point number five is that an a true expert property manager will know how to deal with the legal landscape of compliance in California or in your area right here in California we have loads of laws and if you don’t know them you’re going to shoot yourself in the foot you’re not going to be able to get that eviction process through cuz you’ve never gone to eviction court before and you’re going to trip over yourself over and over again you know learn from my mistakes that I I’ve already made right and understand that we take time and dedicated concerted effort to knowing the laws and how to manage and Implement those in our business being a dedicated property manager with that centralized expertise you also be part of Industry groups like narpm and when you get access to these groups and Industry knowledge you have a more concerted effort and focused information on those laws and legal compliances for Residential Properties in your area.

    Number six I feel like is the one that’s forgotten all the time and I feel like it’s so undervalued but that might come from my accounting background is uh detailed and accurate property accounting there are really specific issues that come up with property management and trust fund accounting for your property and making sure that things are done properly and accurately and transparently I think far too often you find that there’s mistakes and errors and it takes you a month to get your statement but a true Property Management professional will keep all that in place for you so they can give you one easy report at the end of the year with your $199 that you can hand your tax person and we take that burden off your plate.

    All right last but not least number seven experience with difficult situations I feel like I’ve had tens of thousands of conversations that have just had bad news and I feel like an expert property manager is always delivering bad news or at least it feels that way so having somebody that it’s experienced with knowing how to deliver that how to navigate tough situations how to get that tenant to just agreeably move out how to talk to that vendor about their pricing or the scope of work that they accomplished being able to get through those difficult conversations is something that is paramount for an expert property manager.

    All in all it may be tempting when a real estate market is cooling down to go with your friend who’s jumping into property management or the person that’s offering a cut rate plan for managing your property but you need to look at this as one of your largest Investments and you need a professional that’s an expert in managing that prop that property and managing that asset class so that you can maximize those returns for yourself that’s why you should select a professional property management company that knows what they’re doing to protect your asset.

    Don’t forget to subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more property management videos!

    Do you need a property manager? Get a free rental analysis with us!

    Claudina

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