ReLISTO Blog

5 Star Landlord Review

Looking to rent an apartment from a great landlord? The landlord for this wonderful Sausalito Property just secured a 5 star review! relisto.com/rentals/694111

ReLISTO recognizes the significance of endorsing their landlords to quickly secure responsible tenants. To accomplish this goal, ReLISTO agents post reviews from prior tenants on our website within the ad promoting the property, highlighting the landlords’ qualities and exceptional services. These reviews serve as a powerful tool in attracting potential tenants, showcasing the positive experiences of previous renters. Renters are more likely to be drawn to an apartment managed by great landlords and feel comfortable renting from them. ReLISTO’s strategy to promote landlords through prior tenant reviews not only helps clients find responsible tenants quickly but also provides peace of mind for both tenants and landlords.

ReLISTO is a San Francisco-based real estate company that specializes in leasing and managing residential properties in the San Francisco Bay Area. Since its founding in 2008, the company has offered a wide range of properties in various locations throughout the Bay Area, catering to different budgets and preferences. ReLISTO is renowned for its personalized service, with a team of experienced agents who work closely with clients and customers to meet their goals.

 

San Francisco Security Deposit and Rent Increase Calculator Back Online!

Attention San Francisco Property Owners and Tenants! We have some exciting news for you! The San Francisco Security Deposit and Rent Board Fee Calculator is back online and continues to be free for all to use! Plus, we are happy to announce that the San Francisco Allowable Rent Increase Calculator has been reinstalled and ready for general use!

The San Francisco Security Deposit and Rent Board Fee Calculator is an excellent tool for both property owners and tenants. This calculator helps determine how much security deposit interest landlords are to reimburse to their tenants, while taking into account the amount landlords have paid the San Francisco Rent Board for their annual registration fees. With this calculator, tenants can also quickly figure out the accurate amount of interest their landlords are to reimburse them on their security deposit, giving them peace of mind and hassle-free discussions with their landlord.

As for the San Francisco Allowable Rent Increase Calculator, it tracks allowable increases and banked rent, making it an easy and usable tool for both landlords and tenants to refer to. This calculator is designed for both rent controlled and non-rent-controlled San Francisco housing., helps landlords determine the maximum rent they can charge their tenants.

We understand the challenges that come with navigating the complex world of property rentals, leasing, and management. As such, we strive to provide you with the best tools to help you make informed decisions. These calculators are user-friendly and accessible to anyone, whether you are a seasoned landlord or a first-time tenant.

At ReLISTO, we are committed to making the renting experience as smooth and stress-free as possible. We hope that these calculators will be a valuable resource to both property owners and tenants in San Francisco. So head on over to our website and check out our calculators today! Both Calculators may be found using one single link https://www.relisto.com/calculators/

Thank you for choosing ReLISTO for your San Francisco Bay Area leasing and property management needs.

ReLISTO San Francisco Security Deposit Interest Calculator Updated

ReLISTO provides San Francisco a free calculator to determine the amount of security deposit interest due on funds held as security deposits.  The calculator has been updated to reflect the upcoming March rate. The rate of interest owed on deposits for the period March 1, 2023 through February 29, 2024 is 2.3%. The rate of interest owed on deposits for the period March 1, 2022 through February 28, 2023 is 0.1%.

Click Here To Use Calculator

 

December is one of the best months to rent your apartment

Landlords dread winter vacancies since there are fewer people seeking housing during this time of the year. Lets face it, there is a lot going on in December/January!  Here in San Francisco, not only are people enjoying the holidays, many leave town to visit with family, vacation or go skiing. This phenomenon applies not only to prospective tenants but to landlords and property managers as well. Many plan their yearly vacations during the slow months. and as a result, turnarounds take longer,  vacant properties will be held off the market (till the market gets better 🙂 )  or there will be fewer showings.

The fact that so many will keep their property off the market has become somewhat of a boon for us here at ReLISTO.  There are still people who need a place to live but are searching  in a much smaller pool of properties.  We leverage this for our landlords and continue showing our properties throughout the holidays. The end result is a fully executed lease, happy tenant and happy landlord.

For the 2022 Holidays ReLISTO is open for business.  Send us an email if you are in need of a qualified tenant for your vacancy or for year round property management services. We are here to serve.

Happy Holidays

Eric Baird
Lead Landlord Avocate

 

 

 

Don’t Let Lawmakers Force You to Stay in Business

Please contact your Assembly Member today and urge them to vote NO on two bills that threaten your right to sell your property, exit the rental housing market or move into your own home.

The following bills are on the Assembly Floor: AB 2050 (by Assembly Member Alex Lee, D-San Jose) and AB 2386 (by Assembly Member Richard Bloom, D-Santa Monica).

AB 2050 by Lee would require property owners to wait five years after purchasing a rental property before they can either sell the property or move in. AB 2386 by Bloom, meanwhile, would allow cities and counties to regulate the way in which owners hold property after converting from rental property to ownership property.

In rent control cities, one of the most common ways – and typically the only way – that owners can hold multifamily property after converting it from a rental property to ownership housing is as tenancy in common. Owners can then move in, along with other family members or individuals, and can each occupy a unit as their own.

Click here to send a letter.

Using Data to Secure Tenants Quickly & for Higher Rents!

Landlords Choose ReLISTO Agents Because We Do It Right

Landlords choose ReLISTO because we do it right. Our team is proactive, engaged, and prepared for any situation. Tracking data analytics on our landlords’ properties, ads, and more is one way that we accomplish this. In turn, this brings the highest quality of service to our landlords.

Why are Data Analytics Important?

Tracking data may seem like a mundane part of property management, but it is essential on decreasing vacancy time, getting the best rental rates for the current market, and securing qualified tenants.

Tracking numbers allows us to see important insights into a property’s performance. This data allows us to be proactive in marketing, interest, investment returns, and more. ReLISTO goes above and beyond with tracking data. This is why we’re able to secure quality tenants and high rents for our landlords while minimizing vacancy time and loss.

We know that your property is an investment for you, and we want to ensure you maximize your return and get the most out of your assets. 

It Starts With An Ad

When tracking data analytics, it starts with an ad. All of our property ads are syndicated on sites such as Zillow, Hot Pads, Trulia, Pad Mapper, and more, putting your property in front of as many prospective tenants as possible. All of our ads include stunning photography and videography to attract tenants and are optimized for SEO to ensure our ads are highly searchable to prospective tenants

What Data Does ReLISTO Track?

When tracking data, our team not only looks at the basics including phone calls about a property, rents on similar properties in the area, and how many showings a property has but at the more in-depth data as well. 

ReLISTO looks at the numbers to see how well our landlords’ properties perform on our syndicated rental sites.

How many people look at your ads? We look at these numbers to ensure that ads are performing as they should. We tweak SEO and marketing efforts when an ad isn’t getting the traction it deserves. 

Length of time someone spends looking at an ad. The longer someone looks at an ad, typically means they have a higher interest in the property. This is important data for gauging prospective tenants’ interest and is extremely helpful data in negotiations.

If someone looks at a property multiple times. When a prospective tenant returns to the ad multiple times, it often means they are highly interested, and can help with leverage in negotiations when the time comes.

If they are engaging with the ad. Are they sending the ad to someone else? Requesting more information? Saving it to their favorite? All of this is important data to know to gauge interest in a property.

Gauging prospective tenants’ interest in properties can help us be more aggressive in our negotiations. 

Talk to an agent today about letting ReLISTO care for you and your property, and track important data through data analytics.

San Francisco Rent Board Fee Changes 2022

What You Need to Know as a Landlord

Avoid late fees and being sent to collections!

Paying the Rent Board Fee is something San Francisco landlords have been doing for years. It was simple. Before, the bill was included with the property tax statement and paid along with one’s taxes.  When this was the case, no additional effort was required by the landlord and the city received its money.  

However, the City has sadly decided to make the process more complicated, in turn hurting middle-class property owners.  As a result, owners are now required to pay the fee separately. If a landlord fails to do this, even if unknowingly, they will be subject to fines and sent to collections!

It’s important for landlords to stay aware of this new law and to promptly submit payment when required.   

What is the San Francisco Rent Board Fee?

The San Francisco Rent Board states that “The City collects a per-unit fee for each residential dwelling unit that is subject to the Rent Ordinance. The fee funds the cost of operating the Rent Board.”. For the 2021 – 2022 tax year, the fee is $59 per apartment unit and $29.50 per residential hotel room. View the full fee structure here.

In previous years, the fee was billed by the tax collector’s office and billed directly through the owners’ property tax statement. This year, this will be removed as a line item on the property tax statement, and instead billed directly through the Rent Board.

At ReLISTO, we understand that this may cause confusion and potential difficulties for landlords. We are prepared to help landlords through this transition and aim to be a resource for landlords during this time. We’ve put together a list of resources and quick facts about the Rent Board Fee changes, view that here.

What Do You Need to Know as a Landlord in 2022?

How Will The Fee Be Billed?

Rent Board Fee notices will be sent out through the mail starting early January along with information on how to pay. Landlords need to be looking at for this notice in the mail, as late fees will be charged for delinquent payments. 

How Can Landlords Pay?

Along with the notice, landlords will receive a registration link to the online portal where they are able to make payments. Once set up with the online portal, landlords can pay with an e-check, or through debit or credit with a small fee.

If a paper check is preferred, landlords are able to make the payment this way by either sending the check through mail, or dropping it off at the Rent Board’s San Francisco office location (25 Van Ness Ave #320).

Are Late Fees Assessed?

Fees are due by March 1st. If unpaid, late fees WILL be assessed along with the possibility to be sent to collections.

The Rent Board will add a 5% penalty to the amount of the fee if the fee has not been paid by March 1, an additional 5% if the fee has not been paid by April 1, and an additional 5% if the fee has not been paid by May 1. If the fee remains outstanding as of June 1, the Rent Board will refer the matter to the Bureau of Delinquent Revenue.” – SFRB

Timely payments and staying out of collections is so important since this can have a direct impact on your credit. Having an account in collections shows as a negative item a credit report that can have a severe impact on your score as well as your ability to apply for loans, open credit accounts, and more.

How Can Landlords Collect the Fee From Tenants?

Landlords are permitted, by Section 37A.6 of the Administrative Code to recover 50% of the Rent Board Fee from tenants.  The fee may be charged directly to the tenant or deduction from the tenants’ security deposit interest.  View our security deposit calculator to calculate the security deposit interest owed to the tenant along with the Rent Board Fee amount.

When billing the tenant, the fee must be billed on a statement that specifically states the fee amount owed by the tenant for each year, as well as any security deposit interest for each year. Tenants must pay within 30 days, however non-payment of the fee by the tenant is NOT just cause for eviction.

ReLISTO is Prepared to Help

We understand that there is a lot of uncertainty and confusion with the new fee structure, so we are available as a contact and resource to our landlords.
Above all, we want to help landlords transition smoothly to this new fee structure and set them up for success.

Quick Links

San Francisco Rent Board: https://sfrb.org/

Rent Board Fee Information: https://sfrb.org/fee

ReLISTO Rent Board Fee Resources: https://www.relisto.com/san-francisco-rent-board-fee/

Online Payment Portal: https://portal.sfrb.org/FrontPortal/Page/RenderPage?tabId=20

Security Deposit Calculator: https://www.relisto.com/calculators/calculator/rent-board-fee

Who Are San Francisco Landlords?  In 2003, San Francisco had one of the largest percentages of individually owned rentals in the country. This is an exception as rentals are typically owned and managed by large professional management companies.  Here is the report conducted by the city with shares some of these details. https://www.relisto.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2003-SFLandlordSurveyReport_ReLISTO.pdf 

How ReLISTO Protects Landlords From Break-Ins in the City

Sadly San Francisco Property owners and tenants alike are  increasingly suffering from break-ins and thefts. Our team is aware of this problem, and proactive in taking steps to protect our landlords from break-ins.

Garage break ins are frequent.  For these type of break ins,  the thief  will use a drilling method through the garage door to break into the garage. This works by drilling a hole in the door, passing a wire through to pull the quick release latch, then opening the garage door and allowing the trespasser access to the home.

Drill Method

In the video below, Eric Baird, ReLISTO’s Managing Director, shows how our team protects against this type of break-in. The first thing we make sure to do is to remove the quick-release rope. This easy step prevents this type of break-in and keeps our landlords’ properties safe. Next, we zip tie the latch, so the trespasser is unable to pull down on this with the wire. We use zip ties since they can be easily removed in case of an emergency, and they don’t prevent the door from opening and closing properly.

At ReLISTO, we pride ourselves on being proactive in protecting our landlords from break-ins and keeping their properties protected and in great condition. This is just one of the many ways we take extra steps to ensure our landlords are receiving top-notch service. Learn more about our property management, and how our agents can protect your property.

Hands On Leasing in San Francisco to Secure Top Rents

ReLISTO focuses on hands-on leasing in San Francisco. We bring the most value out of every property we lease. That’s why when taking on a listing, we do a complete review of the property. This way, we can make recommendations on what a landlord could do to increase their rent or to better attract residents. We focus on low-hanging fruit, but if an owner is willing, we are happy to recommend sophisticated solutions as well.

san francisco leasing

In this piece, Eric Baird, the co-founder of ReLISTO, was visiting 3 bedroom property in the Marina District in San Francisco. Eric immediately noticed that the screen door was broken, and notified the owner who was not able to attend. With our owner’s permission,  Eric spent the time to perform the physical labor to remove the door and put it into the garage until the owner had a chance to properly fix it.  

Well-qualified tenants viewed the property on the next showing and decided to rent the property. These tenants have since moved in, showing that Eric’s efforts paid off!

Our goal is to highlight the beauty in each and every one of the properties we lease or manage. This is better for the landlord, the property, and makes for very happy residents. 

Learn more about how ReLISTO leasing can help you secure your next tenants!

Move Out Inspections – How ReLISTO Stays Proactive

Minimizing Vacancies – The Importance of Getting Properties Back on the Market Fast for Our Landlords

The Use of Move Out Inspections

ReLISTO’s pre-move-out inspections ensure our landlords’ properties are returned to their move-in condition as soon as possible. Pre-move-out inspections are crucial for minimizing vacancy time between tenants.

Eric Baird, Managing Director, and CJ Corman, Director of Property Management discuss ReLISTO’s move-out inspections in the video below. We want to find out what we need to do to return the property to its original condition before the tenant moves out. We do this so we can turn the property around within a week and get it back on the market fast.

Some items we look for during these inspections include touch-up paint and cleaning. This is so we can get the property owner an estimate and start scheduling a crew as soon as possible. We begin repairs immediately when we gain possession of the unit.

With these inspections, our top priority is maximizing the landlords’ investment. However, this does also help tenants in ensuring they receive their full security deposit back.

Our move-out inspections are just one way that our team acts proactively for our landlords. Learn more about our full-service property management to ensure you get the best value and shortest vacancy on your property.