Owner's FAQ
Discover the answers to some of our most commonly asked questions.
Leasing
Start by getting a free rent estimate here. Schedule a Virtual Property Consultation so we can learn more about your home. We can provide you with an rent estimate within a 10% range based on certain factors.
Rental activity is strong year around in San Diego. However, prices usually soften 5%-10% during the holidays (November – December).
Remove all furniture and other personal belongings. Renting unfurnished is better unless you are doing AirBnB.
If you want to handle any repairs yourself, follow these simple guideline:
All walls professionally painted (trim painted as needed)
All systems and fixtures checked for proper functionality
Smoke alarms with a 10 year sealed lithium ion battery installed in each bedroom, living area, and each level. CO alarm installed on each level
Landscaping should be well maintained
Home should be professionally deep cleaned, including any carpets.
Our average days on market is less than 2 weeks.
Once per year we do a walkthrough of the property and prepare a report.
We provide peace of mind to our clients through what is called our Good Pet Guarantee. At no additional cost to the owner, Good Life will reimburse the cost of damages to the home (above normal wear and tear) resulting from pets approved to live at the home by Good Life that exceed the tenants’ security deposit, up to $3,500 total! This eliminates having to ask for a pet deposit, thus lowering tenants’ move-in costs and typically leasing your home faster in San Diego’s pet-friendly rental market. Tenants with pets also generally tend to stay longer in rental properties, so your chances of a costly vacancy are decreased by allowing pets. To implement the program, Good Life charges and retains a pet rent from the tenants. California law dictates service animals are legally inclined to stay with a tenant licensed to have such an animal so Good Life cannot prevent them from living at the home. The Good Pet Guarantee does not apply to damages caused by such service animals.
To implement this program, the manager will charge and retain a pet rent from the tenant.
Maintenance
Vacant Properties
We create an inspection report and share it with you. You approve all maintenance costs over $500. Work under $500 we get underway ASAP so we can get your property on the market. We have relationships with professional 3rd party vendors who handle all maintenance work.
Occupied Properties
The tenant submits a maintenance request and you get notified. We troubleshoot common issues with the tenant If needed, we dispatch a preferred vendor who schedules a visit with tenant If the work is over $500 we contact you for approval. If under $500, we make the decision for you so it’s fixed fast.
It depends on the scope of the repairs needed. Often our team is able to give you an estimated range of cost for common repair items. If not, we can typically obtain a free estimate from our vendors within a couple of days.
We will utilize the funds that we have on hand for your property to pay vendors for any work performed. In the event we need additional funds, our clients will have access to a portal where they can deposit funds if needed.
If the property is vacant, yes.
If the property is occupied, we only use our preferred vendor network in order to protect the tenant and ensure repairs are done right.
- Plumbing blockages they cause
- Damage they cause above normal wear and tear
- Cleaning and carpet cleaning once they move out
We use a professional after hours maintenance service who is available 24/7/365. This company takes the call, troubleshoots, and dispatches emergency repairs based on our instructions.
If warranted, they contact the property manager after hours to help manage the situation.
The next business day, you will receive an update regarding what happened and the actions we took.
It’s important to note, after-hours emergency maintenance is handled without prior notification so that your property and the tenant are protected (and so you can sleep:).
Accounting
On the 1st of each month, we deposit the prior month’s rent into your bank account. We also send you an owner statement detailing income, expenses, invoices, and photos of any maintenance work that was performed that month.
Generally $25 less than one month’s rent. This is so the tenant does not confuse the deposit as last month’s rent. We are legally required to return the deposit within 21 days of getting possession back of the home. During that time period, we will conduct a move out walkthrough and coordinate any repairs needed. We will collect the receipts from the vendors and provide the departed tenant with the deposit, minus any deductions, as well as any invoices for deductions made.
No, we do not. However, if you would like us to take care of certain bills, then we would need a cash reserve.
If you are not a resident of California, the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) requires property managers withhold 7% of the gross rent and submit it to them.
If you are a California resident, you simply complete a Form 590 which we’ll send you with the management agreement.
If you are not a California resident you can apply through the FTB for a Waiver or Reduction from the 7% withholding, more information will be provided in your management agreement. Additional information can be found here.
No, we do not charge a fee when the unit is vacant. We only collect a leasing fee once the home is rented and a commission each month that it stays rented.
If you would like us to take care of certain bills, then we will require a cash reserve. We can pay anything except for mortgage and insurance bills.
General Questions
To build trust and give you flexibility, our agreements are month-month and canceled at any time with 30 days notice.
Yes. Approximately 3-4 months prior to the lease expiration, we will contact you about renewing the lease. We generally recommend increases of 5-7% annually depending on the market.
It’s usually best to wait until the home is vacant to sell it. However, if a client needs to sell while it’s occupied, we will work with the tenant to make sure things go smoothly.
You can only visit the property when it is vacant.
When it’s occupied, we ask owners not to visit the property. It breaks the buffer between you and the tenant and hurts our ability to effectively manage the property. To make owners feel confident the home is being cared for, we do an annual inspection and take photos of the property.
We do monthly updates on the market and important real estate news. Subscribe to our newsletter here.
We make owning rental property easy
Renting your property shouldn’t be a hassle. It should give you a greater abundance of time, money, and energy. We’ve developed a team of A-Players who have made this a reality for over 1,000 San Diego property owners.
We can do the same for you.
We can do the same for you.
Join our community of homeowners.
Good Life Blogs
We believe that education is empowering.
Service Animals & Emotional Support Animals: What Landlords Need to Know
There is a lot of confusion surrounding service animals, emotional support animals, and housing regulations. We’re here to explain how these support animals affect your rental property.
What to do When Your Tenant Doesn't Pay Rent
Landlords are unsure of what to do when their tenant is late on a rent payment. These are the steps you should take if you don’t receive rent on time.
5 Helpful Tips for First-Time Landlords
Renting out your home can be a big challenge if you aren’t prepared. These tips will help you become a great landlord.
