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If you are like many seniors, you have probably accumulated a wide variety of mementos, souvenirs, and assorted belongings over the decades, and you are running out of space to put them. At the same time, you may be considering a move to be closer to family or to live in the vacation destination of your dreams. In order to get the best of both worlds, you may want to consider downsizing to a smaller home. The benefits are many: you’ll be able to move where you like and can free up your clutter. Smaller homes also will take up less of your monthly pension than your current, larger home, and they have significantly less upkeep. If you have been thinking about moving, here are some ways you can make the downsizing process easier. Decluttering and Downsizing First, you’ll need to start going through your things . If your home is cluttered, this can be a massive task. Make it easier by starting well before your moving date and by approaching the task one room (or a section of one room) at a time. Once you’re settled in your space, start dividing your things up into three piles. In one pile, put your “must-haves” — the things you use every day or can’t live without, like a favorite pan or blanket. In the next pile, put things you have that you don’t want to fully get rid of. The third pile can consist of things you want to throw out. As you’ve divided it up, take the third pile and further divide it between things you can donate or sell and things that should be thrown away. The second pile, which typically will consist of larger pieces like tables and chests, is more difficult to dispose of — you can either store them yourself or give them to a relative, friend, or charity . Do a little investigation into your friend group and family members to see who might be interested in taking them off your hands. For the rest of the larger pieces, you could strike a balance and store them. Look for a self-storage unit near your new hometown and research the best prices. Keep in mind that prices vary wildly depending on your location and the time of the year — in Fullerton, California, for instance, prices are volatile and can vary by up to $89.84 . Typically, their storage prices are at their highest in September and at their lowest in March, so do some research beforehand. Find a Balance Between Accessibility, Beauty, and Location Next, you’ll need to find the perfect home . Keep in mind that this is your opportunity to strike the perfect balance between accessibility, beauty, and location, so take your time shopping around for houses. Depending on your needs, you may want to look for a home with fewer steps (or a condo with an elevator) that’s in a smaller community, rather than a large complex, to save money. Also, look at the surrounding town before picking a house. If you like to play golf or tennis, are there courses or courts available nearby? Is there an active senior or recreation center? Is traffic typically busy, or are the roads more clear? All of these kinds of things should be of interest to you when you are looking for your new house. Organized Packing Tips Finally, you’ll need to pack . Try not to use large boxes — smaller ones are easier to carry, particularly when they are heavy — you can find small moving boxes at Home Depot for around $1.68 a piece. Clearly label each box so you can know the contents without opening them up. Finally, use packing paper (U-Haul sells a box of wrapping paper for $12, or you can use old newspapers) to help protect your belongings while they are in transit. One of the best ways to continue your independent way of living while reducing costs is by downsizing. You can make the process easy by starting decluttering well in advance, researching all aspects before choosing a house, and by labeling each box. Photo Credit: Pexels

Evicting bad tenants should be rare. If you have a great screening process in place and you know how to interview people, you can place a tenant who will pay rent on time, take care of the home, and follow the terms of your rental agreement. However, bad things happen to good tenants. If your tenant is unable to meet their obligations, you may need to pursue an eviction. This process can be expensive and time consuming, especially if you aren’t sure what you’re doing. Even an innocent mistake can set you back months and cost you extra money. Try to avoid evictions when you can, and if you need to use the courts to remove a tenant, talk to an attorney or a property manager. Serving Notice When your tenant doesn’t pay rent, you must serve them with a notice demanding payment or vacancy. Usually, you’ll hear from your tenants at this point, and they might want to work out a payment arrangement or ask for a few extra days to catch up. If they don’t pay rent after the notice is posted, you will need to file an Unlawful Detainer lawsuit to evict them. Filing the Eviction in Court You’ll need to file your lawsuit in court, and wait for the tenants to be served with the Summons & Complaint. The tenants will have five days to respond, and you’ll either receive a summary judgment from the courts or you’ll have to attend an eviction hearing. When you win your eviction case, you’ll get a Writ of Possession, which entitles you to ask the sheriff to remove the tenants from the property and restore possession to you. Working with Professionals When it comes to evicting a tenant, we always recommend you seek professional help. We have two eviction protection plans at White Glove Property Management, and that will protect you in the event that a tenant needs to be removed. California tends to be a tenant-friendly state, and it’s easy to make an expensive mistake.

The tenant you place in your rental home will impact the kind of experience you have as a landlord. With a great tenant, you’ll earn consistent income, get the home back in great condition, and trust that the terms of the lease will be followed. With a bad tenant, you could end up suffering through the eviction process and paying for expensive property damage. Our approach to finding and placing tenants is a little different than other management companies, and we’re sharing that process today. Marketing Your Property Marketing and advertising your home is not rocket science. It’s honestly done the same way by most property management companies. We all do online marketing, take great pictures, and invest in professional yard signs. When you’re looking for someone to manage your property, understand that marketing is a commodity and not something that necessarily differentiates one management company from another. Screening Your Tenants Tenant screening, however, offers management companies like ours an opportunity to really differentiate ourselves. We do the general screening that everyone does; checking credit and completing a tenant background check. We verify income and check landlord references. We also interview the prospective tenants thoroughly. This is where the rubber meets the road. My background in the corporate world gave me the opportunity to learn how to talk to people. Based on a conversation, I can tell how cooperative and responsive a tenant will be. I ask questions and conduct interviews to see how tenants respond. If they’re quick and clear and willing to communicate, I know it’s a tenant worth pursuing. If they’re hesitant to cooperate or they try to dodge questions, I’ll know that it’s probably better to pass. White Glove Service Plans for Fullerton Property Management We guarantee every tenant we place. That means we’ll have a vested interest in placing a good tenant who is capable of performing well for you. If we have to replace a tenant we place, we’ll do so at no cost to the owner. Depending on your property and your level of comfort when it comes to risk, we offer two different plans to protect you against problem tenants and the threat of eviction: Platinum Service: When the tenant is no longer paying rent, we will pay you for up to two months of the rent. This protects your income while we deal with removing the tenant. Gold Service: If eviction is necessary, we will cover the costs of evicting the tenant we placed.

Successfully owning rental property requires you to identify the best possible partners to help your investment perform well. Instead of seeking out property management, you need to look for real estate asset management. That’s going to provide you a broader range of services with better outcomes. There are a number of things your management company should do for you. Today, we’re focusing on the top five things you need from your property manager. Real Estate Investing: Maximize ROI You probably don’t own rental properties just for fun. You want to make money, and your property manager should know how to do that for you. A good manager will understand the market and price your home correctly. You’ll need to be able to save money on maintenance and minimize your vacancy times and turnover costs. Property managers should find tenants who will pay rent on time, take care of your home, and renew their leases. If your property manager isn’t making recommendations on how to improve your property so it earns more and attracts better renters, you’re not getting the service you should. Reducing Risk and Sharing Liability Your property manager should also be managing your risk and keeping you in compliance. It’s easy for landlords to make innocent mistakes that quickly become fair housing lawsuits or security deposit claims in court. With the right property manager, you’ll be protected from costly errors and potential legal battles. Your manager will share the risk by managing the lease, inspecting your property, and taking care of your tenant. Advocating for Property Owners Managers serve both owners and tenants. However, the owner’s best interest should always be the priority when it comes to making decisions and taking action. We are here to make your rental property a successful investment. That means holding the tenants accountable and protecting your home. If your property managers own rental properties themselves, they will understand your needs. Exceptional Customer Service Good asset managers are responsive and available. Your manager should be accessible to you and have the tools and technology to deliver outstanding service. You want to feel comfortable leaving your investment in the hands of a manager, and the company you choose should focus on customer satisfaction. Real Estate Asset Management: Communication

At White Glove, we often talk about ourselves as being real estate asset management professionals rather than property managers. That’s because we focus on your return on investment (ROI). We want to help you earn more on your asset, and there are a few things we do to help you meet and exceed your goals. Today, we’re talking about the top three ways to maximize your real estate ROI. Increase Your Income If you want to increase your ROI, you need to maximize the amount of money you make. That starts with rent. Make sure you’re pricing your property correctly. You might automatically think this means asking for as much as you can, and raising the rent every year. That will help in some cases, but often you can earn more by pricing your home competitively and keeping your rental increases modest. When you do that, you can be certain that you’ll attract and retain great tenants. You’ll avoid vacancies and turnovers. You can also increase your rental income and your ROI by making minor and inexpensive repairs and upgrades to your home. A fresh coat of paint, new hardware on the drawers and cabinets, and updated appliances will help you ask for more rent and stay competitive in the marketplace. Decrease Your Expenses Earn more ROI by keeping costs down. Minimize your risk. Investment in real estate often comes with liability, but you can avoid expensive lawsuits and costly mistakes by educating yourself on the laws and the requirements of landlords in California. Working with the right vendors and contractors will help you keep your maintenance costs down. Focus on preventative maintenance so you aren’t shocked by expensive repairs and emergency fixes. Work with the Best The best way to increase your ROI is by working with a talented team of real estate professionals. When you have experts looking out for your property, you can trust that you’ll get the best tenants placed and paying the highest possible rents. You’ll know that the condition and value of your asset are protected, and you’ll have peace of mind that your property is earning as much as it can for you.