Maintenance Tips

Tenants are typically responsible for ensuring their property stays sanitary, clean and in good repair. A landlord is generally not responsible for making any repairs caused by the tenant’s own fault or if their guests damage anything. However, if a tenant notices an issue and fails to report it to the landlord, the tenant may be held liable for additional damage that would not have occurred had the tenant made a timely complaint.There are some simple maintenance tasks that tenants can perform to help resolve minor issues without making an appointment for service. In case of an emergency, dial 911.

American Beachside Brokers has provided the following maintenance tips and guide for tenants to troubleshoot problems:

Potential charges to Tenant

The cost for any maintenance repairs that are deemed to have been caused by your actions or negligence.
Missed scheduled appointment.
Office key copy to the property does not work.

No Power

Check you fuse box for tripped breaker switch.
Locate the GFCI outlets (outlets with the test and reset buttons) and press the reset button on all GFCI outlets.
Look for GFCIs in bathrooms, kitchens, garages and on the home’s exterior. Test and reset every GFCI you can find.
Reset the breaker by moving it to the full “off” position and then back to “on.”
Check appliances. Unplug all of them in the unit. Reset breaker, plug in one appliance at a time to find the faulty appliance.
Contact your power company to inquire if there are power outages in your neighborhood.
If the reset button doesn’t work, schedule a maintenance request.

AC not cooling

If the air filter has not been changed in 30 days, change it. Remember per your lease the filter must be changed monthly.
If the digital thermostat is not working check/change the battery.
If you notice ice on the coils at the unit, turn off AC and submit maintenance request.

Appearance of Mold

Refer to the EPA booklet issued when you were leased first – A Brief guide to Mold and Moisture in your Home
If problem persist, after following suggestions submit a maintenance request

No Hot Water

Check to see if hot water tank is leaking
Check fuse box for tripped breaker switch
Check pilot light on water heater, if not lit, contact Gas company first. It's free.
If it’s a gas water heater, check to see if pilot light is out, if you can’t turn it on, call your gas provider for instructions.

Garbage Disposal Not Working.......Try these steps first: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FL5GlsTzS-I)

If these steps do not work, please proceed with a maintenance request through your tenant portal.

Please Do Not do the following:

Do not use liquid drain cleaner in the kitchen sink or garbage disposal.
Do not let excess food, potato peels, coffee grounds, eggshells, etc. go down the garbage disposal. (They will stick to any sludge in the pipe and quickly create a clog.)

Is the garbage disposal making a humming sound? Run your hand along the bottom of the unit for a small button. Once you find the button, press it to reset the disposal.
Is the garbage disposal humming and not turning. Look for the disposal wrench attached to the disposal use it to turn the bottom of the disposal counter clockwise. Then press the reset button on the bottom of the disposal.
Check for blockage in the sink around the blades. Before putting your hands or utensil down the sink, make sure the unit is turned off. ** Never put these items down the disposal: chicken bones, onion peels, potato skins, grease, and corn husk! **
Grind lemon peels and ice to help prevent odors. You can also put in a couple of handfuls of baking soda and a half cup of vinegar. Let that set in the disposal hopper with the unit turned off. After it’s done foaming, rinse it down the drain with running water

Dishwasher won’t turn on

Flip the wall switch near the sink
Check to ensure that the lock is engaged
Check timer setting to ensure it is aligned properly

Clogged or Slow Sink (without using harsh chemical drain cleaners)

Pour a pot of boiling water down the drain, pour in ½ cup baking soda. Let it sit for a few minutes. Then pour a mixture of 1 cup white vinegar and 1 cup hot water and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Flush one more time with pot of boiling water.
For clogged bathtub and shower drains-pour boiling water down the drain to unclog hair and soap build-up.

Clogged Toilet

Use a plunger with short, quick motions. You may need rubber gloves; it can get messy!
Pour bucket of water to clear out.

Toilet Runs Constantly

Check for kink or disconnect of lift chain from the handle lever which is preventing the flap to seat properly.
If unable to stop toilet run – turn off water to the toilet using the knob behind the toilet until maintenance is able to access the problem. This will prevent high water bills.

Water puddling around toilet

Submit maintenance request through the tenant portal and call and text office immediately.

Washing Machine Not Working Properly or Not at All

Check whether the washing machine taps are turned on at the wall.
Check if appliance at the wall is turned on.
Check if lid is closing properly.
Check if settings knob is pointed directly on the desired settings
If the machine has stopped halfway through cycle you may have overloaded the machine and caused it to be out of balance. Try redistributing the wash evenly in the drum.
Don’t overload the machine
ONLY use laundry detergent NEVER use dishwashing detergent

Dryer is Not Working

Dryer can automatically shut down due to overload of lint in the filter Check whether the filter needs to be cleaned out. Remember to always clean the filter out. *Failure to clean the dryer is the leading cause of dryer fires. 2,900 home clothes dryer fires are reported each year and caused deaths, injuries, and millions of dollars in property loss.

Dryer Duct Cleaning:

It is the Tenant’s responsibility to maintain a clean dryer (clean the removable lint trap)

If the duct is clogged through to the outside of the home, please open a maintenance request through your tenant portal.

Refrigerator Not Staying Cool or Freezing

Check the thermostat to make sure it hasn’t been turned way down by mistake.
Be sure the vents on the back of the freezer compartment aren’t blocked by boxes of ice cream or frozen food packages-the vents have to be clear for cold air to circulate.
Vacuum the coils under or behind the fridge. Clogged coils can cause poor cooling
Clean the seals around the refrigerator doors to keep cool air from escaping

Smoke CO2 detector beeping or not working

If your smoke alarm or CO2 detector is going off, please go outside and call 911 immediately!
If your smoke alarm or CO2 detector is beeping and needs a new battery, please replace the battery, this is tenant responsibility.Do Not Remove Detector. It is required by law.

Garage Remotes/Doors:

First check your batteries! Here is a video on how to change the battery: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8JAnDic9T0

If replacing the batteries doesn’t work or you have other issues please open a maintenance request through your tenant portal.

Leak In Ceiling

Isolate when and where leak is coming from before calling for maintenance.
If leak occurs when toilet is flushed, turn off water to toilet and call the office.
If leak occurs when a bath is taken, use shower until maintenance can fix leak.

American Beachside Brokers wants you to remember the most important thing : your landlord is responsible for the maintenance and repairs for your home(per your lease). However these tips will help you address issues better and more efficiently for you and your landlord.

9

Jan

Prop 19 - Parents can no longer transfer property without tax reassess

Proposition 19 was passed and as part of the measure, children who inherit their parents’ houses will no longer receive a property tax break if they intend to keep it as a second home or rent it out.

This has a serious effect on the traditional parent-child exemption from reassessment under the original Proposition 13.

Previously, transfers of the principal residence of a parent, and up to $1 million of assessed valuation of other property, passed to children without being reassessed for property tax purposes, thereby preserving the benefits of Proposition 13 for heirs and trust beneficiaries.

Now, the exemption from property tax reassessment for property inherited from a parent (or grandparent if the parents are deceased) will only apply if the child occupies the real property and files a homeowner's exemption application within one year.

I hope this was helpful and feel free to reply or call me at 562.430.0609 with any questions you may have regarding this topic.

"I cannot overstate my satisfaction with Melissa and her company American Beachside Brokers, in connection with my house sale. They made ever effort to keep me informed as to the process they used to price the home, to negotiate the ultimate sale price and to navigate the escrow process. They went out of their way to minimize my costs and maximize the money into my pocket, and generally treated me, not as a customer, but as a friend or family member. When they say, It's not about money; it's about relationships, they are not kidding. I hope Melissa and her team continue to serve the community with care and skill for many years to come, and I highly recommend them to anyone interested in selling, buying, renting or just discussing real estate."
- Nancy C.

We're ready to List Our Home!