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Daily Archives: April 1, 2025

Tips from Our Contractor

A gold-colored background states the title โ€œTips from Our Contractor; Episode 96.โ€  There is a picture of a microphone and photos of the hosts, Kevin Kilroy, Stacie Casella.

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We are lucky enough to have a general contractor who has been a part of our team for over 15 years.

This week on the podcast, we will be discussing all of the tips our contractor, Jim, has shared that have helped us stay on top of inspections, preventative maintenance, and what to know about hiring general contractors.

We share real-life experiences from our rental properties and offer practical tips to help self-managing landlords find reliable, skilled contractors for their maintenance and renovation projects. From hiring a licensed general contractor to ensuring they hold proper insurance coverage; this episode covers everything you need to know to protect your investment and maintain tenant satisfaction.

What Youโ€™ll Learn in This Episode:

โœ… Why using a licensed general contractor is crucial for safety and compliance

โœ… Where to find reputable contractors and get multiple estimates

โœ… The difference between being an additional insured vs. an interested party

โœ… How to handle tenant communication during renovations

โœ… Why detailed contracts and written agreements are essential

โœ… Tips for working around tenant schedules and minimizing disruptions

โœ… How routine inspections help prevent costly repairs

โœ… Key maintenance tips learned from years of working with contractors

Key Takeaways:

๐Ÿ”น Stacie and Kevin highlight the importance of working with experienced professionals like their trusted contractor, Jim, who ensures all work meets building codes and legal requirements.

๐Ÿ”น Learn how to vet contractors by checking licenses, insurance, and references, plus why itโ€™s essential to get everything in writing.

๐Ÿ”น Communication is keyโ€”whether itโ€™s setting clear expectations with your contractor or keeping tenants informed about upcoming maintenance or repairs.

๐Ÿ”น Take advantage of tenant vacancies to complete larger projects and avoid inconveniencing current renters.

๐Ÿ”น Routine inspections can help landlords catch potential issues early. Stacie and Kevin share how Jim walks through their units, checking for leaks, unauthorized pets, and cleanliness issues that could lead to pests.

๐Ÿ”น Smart maintenance practices like regular garbage disposal use, timely water line replacements, and proper appliance management can save landlords thousands in repairs.

๐Ÿ”น Labeling breaker boxes and paint colors behind switch plates can save time and money during repairs and touch-ups.

๐Ÿ”น When remodeling, simple upgrades like reinforcing toilet paper holders with wood backing can prevent future issues.

Resources & Free Downloads:

๐Ÿ“Œ Watch our DIY Garbage Disposal Fix Video & Insinkerator Garbage Disposal Universal Wrench

๐Ÿ“Œ Mohawk Fil Stick & link to Newsletter to see before and after floor photos

๐Ÿ“Œ KwikSet Rekey Set & YouTube How to Video

๐Ÿ“Œ Porc-A-Fix Porcelain Sink Repair & How We Repaired Our Sink Video

๐Ÿ“Œ Check out the kitchen faucet we use

๐Ÿ“Œ Watch our video on reinforcing TP holders

๐Ÿ“Œ Listen to Episode 4 for more on inspections

๐Ÿ“Œ Learn about rental reserves in Episode 28

Connect with Us: 

๐ŸŒŽ Visit our website 

๐Ÿ“ง Subscribe to our newsletter.

๐Ÿ‘†Click this LINK to select from our FREE Landlord Forms and Docโ€™s

๐ŸคณText Us SMS text to 650-489-4447. We love questions and love letters, hate mail not so much!

๐Ÿ“ฉEmail us at: [email protected][email protected] 

โœ”๏ธCourse Waitlist: From Marketing to Move In, Place Your Ideal Tenant

๐Ÿ“ฑ Follow us on InstagramFacebook, & join our private Facebook group 

๐ŸŽง Listen & Subscribe on Apple PodcastsSpotify, or your favorite podcast app

Check out samples of our newsletter๐Ÿ‘‡โ€‚If you love it, you can subscribe from there!

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