The new year is upon us, and as such people are setting goals, getting gym memberships, and starting new diets.  Ah yes, the new year.  So much anticipation, so much hope, so much planning. In this blog I wanted to lay out a short checklist for you to go through in order to make sure you are doing well with your Chico or Redding rental property.  

Check the New Laws 

There are updates to rental housing laws every year and they can vary from state to state. You can find a list of new laws for 2020 in California here.  A fair housing lawsuit, or some other sort of legal battle is the last thing you want in the new year.  Make sure you are up to date with the latest procedures and policies you need to follow.  

Plan for Capital Expenses

Have you done your maintenance inspection yet? How is the condition of your appliances, floors, HVAC, water heater, roof etc.  Make sure you are doing at least one annual walk through inspection of all your rental properties.  This will help you to plan for those capital expenses.  

Research New Tax Laws for 2020

There are always changes happening to our current tax structure.  Here is a good overview of  deductions and depreciations and how rental property owners can get the best refund. 

Check the Market

You should always be doing this, but do a deep dive.  There are plenty of websites out there that can help you gauge the market.  Here's an article about How to Determine the Rates for Your Chico Rentals. Even just perusing Craigslist or Zillow will give you some good insight.  Pay attention to not only what people are asking for rent, but also how long those properties have been sitting there.

Doing a deep dive into the rental market will give you valuable information to know what your proforma rents will be for the new year.  Can you drive rents?  If so, by how much?  This is valuable information for your future planning.   

Go Out to Bid on Your Vendors

Now, if you have a great vendor and you like the price you are currently paying for landscaping, management, pest control etc. then just skip this one.  However, if you’re not so sure you’re getting the best service or prices, then use this new year’s motivation to spend some time researching vendors in your area.  You would be amazed at how much money over a year you could save by shaving a little bit here and there.  

We have all heard the age old adage that if you fail to plan you plan to fail.  So as you sit down to write your new goals, plan your new diet and workout routine, take some time to also plan for this next year with your rental property.  You’ll be glad you did.