2017 has been a year of renovations for our rental properties. We’ve acquired two new units and renovated five. And we’ve had tenant turnover like never before. In all but one of our suites, our tenants have changed. But that kind of turnover creates the …
How to Renovate Your Rental Property for Max ROI
As a landlord managing several investment properties, I’ve always advocated for, when needed, renovating your rental property with high-end finishings. What I mean by that is where there are laminate countertops, replace with granite. Linoleum in a bathroom, replace with tile, and where there are …
A Valuable Lesson on Home Inspections
A mixture of rain and hail was pelting the ground as Calgary was hit with the worst summer storm I’ve ever seen. It had been raining hard for a week, and this storm was the climax of it all. Thankfully, the family and I planned …
How to Avoid the Tenant from Hell
Ah, the tenant selection process… it’s where you are made or played as a landlord. Almost your entire success as a landlord hinges upon selecting the right tenant for your rental property. I just went through the process again this July for one of my …
The One Thing Every Great Office Needs
Your office space… It needs to be perfect, for you. It should inspire and be a place you enjoy going to. It should empower. The sunlight that comes in through the window, the pictures on the wall, it all matters. You need to customize your …
Why Tenants Should Live Better than Landlords
Ask the kitchen staff of a fine restaurant who eats better, them or the patrons… same goes for car dealers; often the clients drive better cars than the sales staff. Hotels too – guests sleep in nicer suites than the workers live. At the end …
Landlord Etiquette – How to Build Rapport with Tenants
A tenant is a landlord’s business partner, and they should be treated accordingly. This means they should be shown respect, but also held accountable. Essentially, they are watching over one of your most expensive assets – therefor it is imperative your relationship with them is …
Property Managers Take Landlords’ Money and Provide No Value
Thinking about hiring a property manager for your rental property? I have a comparable idea: Take 10% of your rental income and light it on fire… Unless you live in a different city than your rental property, or you’re just so busy you can’t take …
How to Sell Your House in a Weekend for Top Dollar
You may have read a recent blog of mine, which mentioned the fact we were selling our family home. With a growing young family, my wife and I decided we need more land for the kids to play on, so we committed to build a …
The 5 Biggest Mistakes Landlords Make
Investment properties are simple to run when you’ve done your homework or have experience – it’s not rocket science and being a landlord is one of the best ways to generate passive income. However, rental properties can be disastrous for haphazard first-time landlords. In light …