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What Does a Property Inspection Cover?

When you are thinking of buying an investment property to rent out as an Airbnb in Scottsdale, AZ or another kind of rental property, you’ll want to have a property inspection done. A property inspection isn’t always mandatory according to your lender, but they are recommended. The following are some things that the property inspector will look at.

Windows

The property inspector will carefully assess the condition of the windows, looking for signs of insulation failure. They won’t necessarily inspect every single window in the property, but enough to determine the general condition of the windows.

Fireplace

Fireplaces are also thoroughly examined. Property inspectors check for indicators of wear that suggest a fireplace hasn’t been cleaned or maintained on a regular basis. They also inspect for potential fire threats, such as creosote accumulation on the walls of the chimney.

HVAC

The complete HVAC system, including the heating, cooling and plumbings systems, is examined by property inspectors. They’re specifically searching for signs of corrosion, leaks, mold development, and ventilation issues. In addition to the major components, they will thoroughly examine the tubing and wiring connections.

Electrical Problems

The electrical connections in the property will be examined by the property inspector. Any evident electrical issues, as well as situations that violate local and state construction codes, such as the absence of GFI outlets in rooms with running water, such as the laundry room, kitchen and bathrooms, will be documented. Every outlet, circuit breaker, fixture, and switch will be inspected.

Hand Rails and Banisters

The stability and proper installation of safety and guard rails and stairway banisters will be checked. This will include problems like shaky banisters that are not tightly connected to the walls, or areas where one or more balusters are missing. The property inspection report will also mention areas that should have safety railings but which are lacking. Railings along balconies, deck and pool areas are examples of locations that will be assessed.

A property inspection will help to ensure that your potential new rental property is actually a good investment. Once you are ready to start accepting tenants, get property management services in Scottsdale, AZ so your passive income stream can begin! Contact us for more information to get started.

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3 Things to Know About Guest Screening and Rental Properties

When it comes to renting out your property, it might seem like guest screening is relatively straightforward. However, there’s a reason why horror stories exist in the industry, and it’s not always because they’re one-off anomalies. Too many property owners can let the short-term benefits crowd out the long-term consequences of choosing the wrong tenants, and how a short-term property manager in Scottsdale, AZ can help you avoid any issues.

1. Decide Your Balance

There’s a wide range of things that you can do to screen your tenants, ranging from accepting anyone who applies to demanding a full background check and blood sample before you even think about letting them onto your property. The first thing you need to do is decide where exactly on the spectrum you fall and how your decision will affect your occupancy rates. The more you demand from well-meaning people, the easier it will be for them to look elsewhere.

2. Don’t Ignore the Red Flags

Just because someone can pay the deposit upfront, doesn’t mean that they’re not lawsuit hungry. It also doesn’t mean that they’re going to take care of your property. If you’re working with someone with somewhat dubious reviews or social media pages that suggest they have some growing up to do, you don’t want to ignore those elements before accepting them. Also, keep in mind that glowing reviews could be fake, so watch out if they largely say the same things or otherwise have a ring of authenticity.

3. A Short-Term Property Manager in Scottsdale, AZ Can Help

A short-term property manager in Scottsdale, AZ is essentially there to help you cut back on the hassle of renting out your property, as you likely have plenty of other things to be doing with your time. While it’s an investment, it’s one that can ultimately save you the hassles of an expensive lawsuit or destructive repair costs. Sojourn Properties LLC is here to make it possible for owners to be more confident about who’s stay in their place and how they’ll act if and when a snag comes along. Contact us to see how our services can be a great way to conserve more money in the long run.

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Best Practices for Screening Guests for Your Short-Term Rental 

You have worked hard for months preparing your home or rental property for guests. Even though your short-term rental units are clean, safe, and inviting, you still have a lot of work to do before the first guest spends the night. At this stage, you need to invest in an aggressive marketing campaign and complete guest screening. After all, there is no sense doing all that work and then having the first person who stays in your short-term rental destroy the place. That is why having a professional Airbnb property management company handle your property to make it completely hands-off!

Plan to Complete Initial Telephone Screening Yourself

With each application you receive, you should reach out to the prospective guest by telephone to ask a few basic questions. Here are some typical examples:

  • How many adults and children will be staying in the short-term rental unit? Keep in mind that you cannot refuse to rent to families with children under federal and state laws. The most you can say is that your unit may not be as kid-friendly as the guest would like.
  • Will you be bringing any pets? You do have the right to make your short-term rental pet-free or request a deposit to cover any damage caused by pets if you do allow them.
  • Do you smoke? If the answer is yes, you can request that guests not smoke on your property or limit their smoking to certain areas.
  • Have you stayed in a short-term rental unit in the past? Can you provide me with references?

Be sure to go over the house rules with your prospective guest once you have completed your telephone interview. You should also put your rules in writing and mail to the guest prior to the scheduled stay.

Questions You Cannot Legally Ask

The Federal Fair Housing Act makes it illegal for property owners to ask questions or discriminate against potential renters based on the following:

  • Age
  • Country of origin
  • Marital status
  • Physical or mental disability
  • Pregnancy status
  • Previous arrests, although you can inquire about charges against the person
  • Race
  • Sexual orientation

Work with Sojourn Properties for a Comprehensive Guest Screening Experience

Guest screening in Arizona is an involved process that requires many additional steps. We invite you to contact our office in Cave Creek, Arizona to learn more about this and other property management services that our experienced team can handle for you.

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Why You Need to Always Screen All Your Airbnb Guests

Why You Need to Always Screen All Your Airbnb Guests

As you rent out your Airbnb to guests, you have to accept that inviting strangers into the property poses a certain level of risk. Fortunately, you can minimize the risk of adverse events by screening each and every one of your guests. With that move, you can keep potentially costly events at bay and make the most of your rental experience. Whether handled by your property management company in Scottsdale, Arizona, or on your own, here’s how proper screening can benefit you.

Prevent Theft and Damage

Without proper screening, you truly don’t know if your guests are who they say they are. As a result, you’ll likely find it quite difficult to hold them accountable for any theft or damage that occurs during their stay. Beyond that, without full verification, guests may not feel as accountable for the condition and security of your property as they would otherwise.

Drop Booking Restrictions

With a regular independent screening process, you can drop booking restrictions, like only accepting guests with a high rating on Airbnb. This allows you to get more newcomers to stay at your rental, potentially resulting in long-term loyalty to your properties. Furthermore, you can pick up last-minute reservations more often, which are often considered high risk without screening in place.

Boost Overall Revenues

As screening helps you keep damages to a minimum, boost reservation rates, and increase loyalty to your Airbnb properties, your revenues will come up in kind. You can then get more out of every stay, allowing you to funnel the money back into the property and make it even more popular with short-term renters. You might even get enough to buy another property to use as a rental, boosting your income even more.

If you’d like to optimize your guest screening process, our Scottsdale Airbnb property management team can help. We’re available at 602-492-4121 any time you’d like to talk about boosting the performance of your Airbnb. We can perform a free property analysis or simply take over the care of your rental, so you can enjoy excellent revenues while saying goodbye to the daily demands.

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Why Security Matters for Short-Term Rental Properties

When you operate short-term rentals, whether it is townhomes, Airbnb properties, or otherwise, you can have a variety of guests seeking a comfortable place to stay. So many important things go into keeping your property attractive to prospective guests, but it is al-too-easy to forget a really important factor: security. Take a quick look at just a few of the reasons why security is such a big deal for short-term rental properties.

Guests want to stay at a place where they feel safe.

The number one reason security is a smart investment for your short-term rental is that guests will appreciate it. Any time someone stays in a new environment in an unfamiliar place, it can help them feel safer if they are in a secure structure. Something as small and simple as a security light over the driveway or a video doorbell can make your rental unit seem more safe and comfortable.

Good security protects your short-term rental.

You really can’t go wrong when it comes to protecting your short-term rental from damage, and security is an easy way to do just that. Properties that have good security features may be less likely to be compromised when the unit is not rented. For example, if a vandal sees the property is protected by surveillance cameras, they may be less likely to break in and cause destruction to the property.

Integrated security features can mean a higher price point is possible.

Good security in your short-term rental is automatically more attractive to prospective guests. Therefore, you could easily get by with charging just a bit more for your rental without compromising its popularity among guests. Most owners do charge more for rentals that have specific types of security, such as access control units or on-site surveillance, to cover the initial investment costs. However, those upped prices can yield a nice ROI once the initial investment cost is recouped.

Need Help with Short-Term Rental Security?

It can be difficult to manage security when you have several short-term rental properties to contend with. Working with a trusted property management company can ensure you get the security your properties need. Reach out to us at Sojourn Properties, LLC if you are interested in learning more about our property management services and how we can help.

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