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What every property manager needs to know about making sure their house is set up for a safe winter.

Winterizing Your Rental Properties: Do You Need To Do It?

Not so fun fact — at least, if you’re a landlord: every year, winter storms cause billions of dollars worth of damage to homes in America. In 2021, that total was over 15 billion. 

Sure, that number was inflated because of the blizzards that hit Texas in 2021. But there are two ways to look at that: you can write it off as a freak occurrence; or you can accept that the climate is changing on a global scale, and that it is increasingly difficult to predict what winter will hold for any and every biome.  So even if your property is located in a climate that typically doesn’t experience harsh winter weather, you can’t be sure the years to come will be typical. 

That’s why we encourage every homeowner to be familiar with the basics of home winterization. 

Many of the tasks associated with winterization you can accomplish on your own.  Some, though, take a level of expertise that your average homeowner does not possess. And considering how high the stakes are, it’s worth finding an expert who can help.

Benefits of Winterizing Your Rental Property

Efficient furnaces will still waste energy (and dollars!) if your home has air leaks. A well-maintained heating system, well-sealed windows and doors, and quality insulation won’t just keep your residents warm and toasty, they will also save on energy costs. 

Pipes are likely to freeze if weather dips below 20 degrees fahrenheit. Don’t wait until a cold front is predicted - by then it may be too late! 

Critters that would normally avoid being close to humans may creep closer as the weather grows cold. Spraying for bugs, sealing holes and air leaks, and cleaning your chimney can help avoid extra “guests” during the winter. 

If your rental home’s heater breaks during cold weather, you are likely legally obligated to get it repaired within 24 hours in most states. These maintenance emergencies are not only annoying and unsafe for your residents, they are also costly for you! An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure - schedule regular maintenance on furnace and HVAC systems before winter sets in.

Do I Really Need to Winterize My Rental Property?

Will these benefits of “winter proofing” apply to you? There are three main factors to consider when preparing for winter as a rental home owner: local climate, home vacancy, and landscaping. 

Even milder climates (i.e. Texas or California) may want to consider basic winterization, but locations with snow and ice should definitely expect to prepare their property for the harsher months. A good litmus test is if your residents will likely use heat for the majority of the winter. Even climates without snow can be cold enough to impact energy usage and plumbing. 

If you have water features in the landscaping

Ponds, waterfalls, pools, or any other water feature exposed to the elements should be winterized in most cases. A frozen pipe in a decorative landscaping feature can still cost you big bucks and plenty of headaches! 

This is especially relevant for short-term rentals (and one reason we suggest considering long-term rental properties instead). If you expect your property to be vacant for longer than 7 consecutive days over the winter, you should prioritize winterization. 

Think about it: all those leaves that have been falling off the trees have to end up somewhere. And those wet leaves can cause interior leaks and roof damage that occur because the water isn’t directed away from your house, and can end up getting behind shingles or window frames.

Not only can wind get through any cracks in your caulking, but heat can also get out. In both cases, the bottom line is your bottom line is negatively impacted: you have to pay more for heat to compensate. That’s one of the reasons we encourage self-managers to pay attention to the state of the caulk in their rental homes. 

You have to anticipate the damage winter storms can do to your property in general, not just the house itself.  Start with tree limbs – and entire trees – that are vulnerable to strong winds. Tree work can be expensive, so we advise you to get estimates that prioritize the trees closest to the house. Pay special attention to large trees that may require cables to hold together split trunks.

Make sure you move any outdoor furniture you have inside, or tie it down with bungee cords, or else they might become projectiles in windy conditions. The same goes for your grill. If you have a deck, you might want to give it an extra layer of sealant to protect it from the weather.  

While you’re in the backyard, be sure to shut off the water supply to hoses and water features, as well as drain them if they are full of water already. Even outdoor frozen pipes can be costly to repair and create a chain of plumbing issues. 

As your residents start running their furnace or space heaters, the risk fo carbon monoxide poisoning increases. A simple way to ensure they are kept safe is to annually check smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. 

This is an example of simple maintenance that you can do even if you’re not particularly “handy.” Most furnace manufacturers have helpful videos online showing you exactly how to check the status of the filters you have, and clean or replace them if needed.

Not only is it necessary in terms of making the house habitable during the colder months, but insulation can dramatically save on heating – as well as air-conditioning. The payback time can be as little as six months – or as long as three years, which really isn’t long at all.

In terms of immediate benefits, proper insulation is critical in terms of protecting your pipes. A little physics 101: in winter, water freezes, turning into ice; during that process, it expands. The added pressure can cause pipes to burst, which is not only a costly and time-consuming fix, it could cause damage to the property itself. 

It’s one of those situations where it doesn’t pay to cheap out: the stakes are so high that even if you could install the necessary insulation, we’d still recommend you call in someone to help. Because even a crack in a wall in an inopportune place is costing you real money.

Uncover 6 home renovation or remodel projects that will add value to your home for years to come.

6 of the Best Home Remodeling Projects for Adding Value Over Time

Home renovation and remodeling projects are often done right before a home is put on the market to increase resale value. But what about properties that you intend to hang on to? For a long-term investment property, vacation rental, or even the enjoyment of your own home, this article uncovers six of the best home renovation projects that will add value to your home today and for years to come.

As the adage goes, “kitchens sell homes”. The reason kitchens are so important to anyone choosing a home — be it to buy or rent — is that this area is the heart and hub of the home. A central focus point and place where couples and families will gather every day. It’s also one of the spaces you need to use the most and they can date fast. An old kitchen with outdated appliances is a big turnoff for residents, which is why it’s an important place to start when considering projects that will add both short and long-term value to the home. 

If it’s your own residence you’re renovating, consider a major remodel to bring everything into the 21st century. An upgrade to luxury appliances can also see you get the most daily enjoyment of the kitchen space, while increasing the long-term value of the home. 

If this is an investment property or you intend to rent out your home one day, even a minor kitchen remodel can make your home immediately more attractive to potential residents. Fresh kitchens look stunning in marketing photos and impress during home tours. 

If your home is used as a vacation rental, remember that most families opt for a home rental over a hotel for the ease of having access to kitchen amenities while traveling and will be eyeing off these spaces in online listings. A new backsplash, updating the doors on the cabinetry and an appliance refresh are all ways to give kitchens modern appeal without breaking the bank. 

Think of the last time you browsed home listings for sale or rent. Is there anything more off putting than a dingy old bathroom? It doesn’t matter how clean they are, old bathrooms make a home look tired and stale. Chances are potential buyers and renters won’t even show up for a tour, so a refresh is a good way to add both immediate and long term value to any home. 

A bathroom remodel is said to increase a home’s value by between 10-40%, depending on the types of finishes and if you’re adding sought-after features such as a bathtub or extra toilet to the home. There’s also the potential for cost savings on your water bill with low-flow toilets and showerheads. 

Livability is another consideration when it comes to bathrooms within rented homes. Bathrooms are susceptible to mold and mildew issues from lack of ventilation, hot water supply issues from aging heaters, leaky faucets and plumbing problems. In the long term, these could add up to high repair costs or even breach of your tenancy agreement due to the warranty of habitability in many states. A bathroom remodel could be a better financial investment than patch jobs over wear and tear. 

3. Create functional and appealing outdoor space

When considering how to refresh a home, don’t neglect the outdoor space. Having a deck or patio for entertaining has always been appealing — but the pandemic also made it essential. With people spending more time at home than ever, the humble backyard, patio, or balcony has become a necessary place to unwind and even escape the home office. 

Outdoor spaces not only improve the livability and joy that you or your residents will get from the home, they can also attract a great return on investment long-term. Adding a deck for example, increases the living area of your home but the cost per square foot is considerably less than adding square footage to the primary building. 

The added value of a functional deck or yard doesn’t extend to swimming pools. While an enjoyable addition for a family home in sunny locations like California and Florida, a pool won’t add value to your home long-term. If you have a rental or vacation home, the upkeep and maintenance costs of installing a pool would likely cost you more than it’s worth and may turn away potential buyers when it’s time to sell. 

4. Increase the curb appeal with landscaping and exterior upgrades

Another great way to add value to your home immediately and long-term is to up the ‘wow factor’ on your curb appeal. A well-presented home will be eye catching in sales or rental marketing — and it feels good to arrive home to a beautiful space each day. 

Cost-effective and value-adding ideas include:

New landscape gardening or even just a pop of color with flowerbeds

A fresh color or refinish the exterior of the home

For some inspiration, see below for some inspiration from a recent renovation project in Burbank from the Belong Pros. Updating the front door, window color and the stucco on the exterior has given this home a stunningly modern transformation that will attract attention and value to the home for years to come. 

Poor insulation, drafty windows and old doors all contribute to uncomfortable homes and high energy costs. Investing in the energy efficiency of your home can add value immediately and reduce the cost to heat or cool your home.

Energy efficient fixes could be as simple as updating the windows and doors (which will also increase curb appeal and add a fresh look to the home) or the installation of modern heat pumps that can heat and cool homes efficiently. 

While energy efficiency may not add many zeros to the price of your home at sale — newer, efficient upgrades are more attractive to buyers and not replacing these items could decrease the value of the home by being outdated and expensive to operate. 

Read More: 7 Cost-Effective Ways To Make Your Rental Home Sustainable in 2023

You don’t need to invest in big new additions or remodels to give your home a value-boosting refresh. Check out this simple but effective interior renovation from the Belong Pros on a home in Oakland. By replacing aging light fixtures, removing old curtains, giving the walls a fresh coat of paint, tidying up the floors, and upgrading the kitchen cabinets including, RTA cabinets, the home has a completely refreshed look. 

Get the right remodel for your home, guaranteed

Neighborhood knowledge and expert know-how are the best ways to ensure any residential construction projects you take on will add value to your home. What drives the most value for residents in California won’t be the same as Seattle or Florida. To get personalized advice from a trusted local professional, Belong can connect you with a trusted professional from a vendor network of over 10,000 contractors. 

Belong is simplifying the rental experience and helping more homeowners reach their financial goals through real estate. Visit our homeowner's page to find out more about how our services are helping people to maximize their rental value and ditch property management in Seattle, Redmond, Oakland, San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Miami and many more.

For an investment property, vacation rental, or your own home: Uncover 6 home renovation or remodel projects that will add value to your home for years to come.

Which will be more profitable for your home? We cover the pros and cons to weigh up your options

Short-Term Rental vs. Long-Term Rental: The Pros and Cons

Short-term vs long-term rental, airbnb vs property management — if you’re looking to rent out your home, this is one of the first decisions you will need to make. Is it more profitable to rent it to a single person/family or can you optimize your rental income by listing it as a short-term vacation rental on platforms like Airbnb, VRBO and HomeAway?

Ultimately it will depend on your personal circumstances, including how much time, money and energy you have to invest in managing the home. To help you weigh up your options, we dive into the pros and cons of both short-term and long-term rental for your home. 

The pros and cons of short-term vacation rentals

On the surface, the economics of renting your home as a vacation rental look promising. With rates charged per-night and huge fluctuations during holiday seasons, in the right location a vacation rental can be lucrative. It also allows you to access the home whenever you want it, so if you use the home throughout the year, this is a great option (provided you don’t mind the wear-and-tear on your furniture).

On the flipside, the payday that can come from a popular vacation rental becomes a lot less attractive when you factor in the number of hours you’ll spend working as a frontline customer service agent for your own property — especially when many Airbnb hosts are reporting a big increase in vacancy rates. 

Flexibility — you can rent out the home as little or as much as you like

You won’t need to put your furniture in storage if you are leaving temporarily

The per-night/per-week rates are higher than a flat monthly rental rate and can therefore be more profitable if the home is in a tourist hotspot and booked regularly 

There are several online platforms that are simple to list and manage bookings yourself

The property will be cleaned after every stay to help maintain the condition

You may be able to claim some costs on tax — such as fees, maintenance and cleaning

There is no guarantee of regular income as bookings will be inconsistent and you’ll be subject to last-minute cancellations

Many Airbnb hosts are reporting an increase in vacancy rates and that the work involved is making the option less profitable/unprofitable

You will need to handle all of your guest inquiries and demands — most likely on weekends, evenings and during holiday periods

You are removing housing options from your neighborhood and contributing to the rental price squeeze that is impacting families that are priced out of home ownership

The property will need to fully furnished and you will be responsible for the upkeep and replenishment of all amenities

You will need to hire a professional cleaner or be prepared for a lot of hard work between guests, cleaning the home throughout and laundering all bed linen and towels

You risk your home being destroyed during parties and a high turnover of guests (they’re technically banned, but there’s little you or Airbnb can do to stop them)

If guests are unsatisfied with the home or service, you could be forced to give a full refund within 24 hours, in accordance with Airbnb policies

There are ever-changing local regulations to comply with — some areas like LA have even outlawed short-term rentals for investment properties

You may need to collect and pay additional taxes or fees to have a legal short-term rental under local ordinances, which are becoming increasingly common 

You will have additional costs such as paying for all electricity, water, internet access etc

Neighbors don’t like short-term rentals, so you risk souring any relationships if you intend to come back to the home (and you could be in violation of your HOA agreement)

Management fees are high — if you don’t want to handle the workload yourself, you will pay up to 20-50% of total income generated for a company to manage a short-term rental



Airbnb guest coverage doesn't provide the right insurance to protect your home, with short-term rental insurance costing between 10-70% more than a homeowners policy

With rising inflation and property values in recent years, more Americans are feeling locked out of home ownership so they are renting for longer. There has been a sharp increase in rental pricing as a result, meaning the average rental homeowner is receiving drastically more money in rent than previous years. 

This means it’s a great time to hold an investment property and if you don’t intend to use the home during the year, having a long-term lease agreement on your home may be more profitable than a short-term rental, even at a lower per-month rate. 

Predictable income, with less vacancies and one person/family living in your home for 12-months or longer

High demand and attractive rental rates locked in for the lease term

Residents are vetted and screened, helping you to place responsible people in your home who will treat it as their own

With the right management, income can be truly passive, with no need to play customer service representative for holiday-makers

Provides a stable living environment for people who don’t want to, or can’t, buy their own home

Favorable tax breaks and capital gains depreciation

No need to furnish the home or worry about cleaning costs and replacing amenities

No utility costs, as residents will typically pay for these unless it’s included in their rent

Management fees are lower, usually around 8 - 10%

Less local ordinance hoops to jump through

You won’t have access to the home throughout the year as residents will be living there full-time

Short-term vs long-term rental, airbnb vs property management - which will be more profitable for your home? We cover the pros and cons to weigh up your options

Find out how to benefit from the Inflation Reduction Act's new carbon tax credits and rebates by making your residential or rental home more energy efficient.

How Homeowners Can Benefit From New US Climate Tax Credits and Rebates

The Inflation Reduction Act is now law and includes a big push to bring down energy costs for families while reducing climate pollution. In 2023, the Inflation Reduction Act will allocate $369 billion through tax credits and rebates to make it cheaper for homeowners to fit their residential and rental homes with energy efficient appliances and clean energy solutions (such as heat pumps and solar panels). 

Homeowners may qualify for up to $10,000 or more in tax breaks and rebates, depending on your household income and the type of energy-efficient upgrades being made to primary residences and second homes. While official details are being ironed out, this article is an overview of what we know so far and how to start planning your home efficiency updates.  

What are the new 30% tax credits and rebate schemes for home efficiency upgrades?

A tax credit is an attractive tax break for homeowners, allowing you to offset the cost of upgrades against your yearly tax bill. A tax credit is more beneficial than a deduction, because you receive the full amount (dollar-for-dollar) of the credit off your tax bill rather than using it to reduce the amount of your taxable income. 

This means that if you don’t have a tax liability, you won’t be able to take advantage of the credit on your refund. However, if you have insufficient liability to benefit, you can carry forward any unused credits to offset future tax bills. An accountant will be able to step you through eligibility and offer advice based on your individual circumstances. 

For the past few years there have already been tax credits in place for energy-efficient updates and appliances, however they have typically been reserved for primary residential homes and have been fairly minimal, capped at around $500. 

The Inflation Reduction Act will update and replace the older schemes, with new options set to roll out in 2023:

1. Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit

The former ‘Nonbusiness Energy Property Credit’ is being replaced with the renamed Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit as of January 1, 2023 (until 2032).

Every year, homeowners can apply for a tax credit for 30% of the cost of eligible home efficiency improvements made through the year. Examples of these upgrades include:

Installation of heat pumps/heat pump hot water heaters

Annual limits apply, with a $1,200 total cap per year and limits on some specific items. Heat pumps and water heaters are exempt from the limit, with a rebate of $2,000. 

The former Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit is being replaced with the renamed Residential Clean Energy Credit as of January 1, 2023 (until 2034).

These tax credits will help offset the costs of installing clean household energy solutions such as:

Solar power including panels and some battery storage options

Most eligible costs incurred from the beginning of 2022 would qualify for a 30% tax credit, with the exception of the new tax break for batteries which will begin in 2023. 

3. High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Program

In addition to the tax credit programs, the High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Program will provide an upfront point-of-sale rebate of up to $8,000 on the installation of eligible heat pumps that can heat and cool homes efficiently. There is also a rebate of up to $1,750 for heat pump water heaters and up to $840 to offset heat-pump clothes dryers. 

If a home needs to improve the electrical wiring or panels to support more modern and efficient appliances, there are also rebates available ranging between $2,500 - $4,000 to offset the cost. 

Better insulation and sealing is also one of the most cost-efficient (and fastest) ways to improve the energy efficiency in a home, so there is a rebate of up to $1,600 towards these costs. 

Can I apply energy efficiency tax credits towards updates on a rental home?

Investing in energy efficient improvements to your rental home can be a smart investment, attracting responsible and conscious residents while reducing your carbon footprint. 

Eligibility for the newer tax credits depends largely on your personal income and circumstances, however many of the credits and rebates are available for both a personal residence and second home. The schemes are geared toward low-medium income earners, so it’s worth getting professional advice on your situation before proceeding with any planned upgrades to your rental home. 

How can homeowners apply for the energy efficiency tax credits and rebates?

According to the bill, the rebates will start after December 31, 2022, so we expect further details on how to claim for credits and rebates to be revealed over the coming months. To be eligible for the point of sale rebates, household income cannot exceed 150% of the area median income as calculated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (which you can find here). When regulations and protocols are put in place, they may differ from state to state. 

In the meantime, the best approach would be for homeowners to speak to a professional to plan out energy efficient upgrades and discuss eligible solutions to offset the costs for work commencing from 2023 onward. The bill will have annual limits and credits available for the next decade, so you may wish to prioritize costs and plan out yearly updates to take full advantage of the tax credits and rebate schemes. 

Looking for more inspiration? Check out 7 Cost-Effective Ways To Make Your Rental Home Sustainable in 2023.

Sparsh Mehta

I grow new markets and bring our industry-changing experience to homeowners and residents around the country. Lover of the Outdoors, Scuba Diving, Skiing, Hiking, Live Music, and all things Technology.

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