New legislation is inspiring a burst of innovative architecture

Street Shock: How ADUs and SB-9 Are Changing California Neighborhoods

New CA legislation on ADUs and sub-divisions under SB-9 is inspiring a burst of innovative architecture that can be financially rewarding for local homeowners.

Can a home built tomorrow be loved as much as one that was built decades ago?

It’s a question that is more relevant today – especially in California – than ever before, where a spate of recent legislation has made it easier than ever to build new homes. SB9 allows homeowners to subdivide their property in order to construct new rental units, while a revision to the California Health and Safety Code requires that cities and counties develop programs that incentivize the creation of ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units). Both are part of a wider effort to address the housing shortage in the state and create affordable homes for middle and lower-income families.

Yes, these laws are controversial, and many are opposed. But Belong believes that new houses can be instantly lovable, and that these laws create opportunities for innovation in the housing industry. Indeed, we’re already seeing an architectural revolution – a creative renaissance – that is partially enabled by these legislative changes.

One company that is turning ADUs into homes worthy of veneration is a start-up called Abodu that creates pre-fab units to deliver on the company’s promise: Backyard homes worth living in.

These backyard homes can be delivered in 6 months or less at a cost of around $200,000.  The buildings have a mid-century meets industrial vibe, and can quickly generate an unexpected level of affection: their Instagram feed demonstrates their cute covetability. Their website notes that they “…teamed up with world-renowned architects, Koto, to create beautiful, pre-approved spaces with enough custom design elements to make them your own. Every square inch is engineered to maximize the living potential of every yard.”

It’s an innovative model that others are also pursuing, given that the regulatory environment is so immensely favorable. ADU projects must be approved within 60 days of a permit being submitted. And cities are prevented from restrictions that might limit their proliferation: they cannot impose a minimum lot size requirement of an ADU structure, or off-street parking requirements. To help the process  along, the company says it has “pre-approved its structural engineering with California state-level agencies to ensure its units can be built statewide…”

Mayberry Workshop, an architecture firm with a commitment to building community through commercial and residential architecture in San Jose, believes that great design should be accessible to everyone. That's why although they specialise in custom work, they designed 30 pre-designed, pre-approved ADU plans so you can reduce costs and select your favourite. We quite like the way they describe the potential uses of these structures: “In-Law Unit. Home Office. Man Cave. Pool House. Shop. She Shed. Rental Unit.”  That about covers it, dontcha think? 

Last but certainly not least, Belong works with Modal to provide pre-fab ADUs to homeowners on their platform. Beautifully detailed and on-trend, these modernist-inspired homes can be quickly installed on-site by one of our thousands of vetted and trusted contractors for all qualified homeowners.

The Mercury News asks “what comes next” after the Bay Area’s single-family neighborhoods evolve. From 3,000 miles away, the New York Times writes that we are looking at what will be “A very different California.” But we are optimistic about where the combination of a pioneering law and frontier innovation will take us. 

It is a dramatic change, as neighborhoods built on the paradigm of the single-family house will become denser. The Times writes that last year:

“California cities issued about 13,000 permits for accessory units in 2020, which is a little over 10 percent of the state’s new housing stock …  up from less than 1 percent eight years ago. The effect is already visible …  four-unit buildings rising behind one-story bungalows; prefabricated studio apartments being hoisted into backyards via crane; blocks where a new front-yard apartment sits across the street from a new backyard apartment down the way from a new side-yard apartment.”

Read more about how new laws are changing Californian communities for the better

Change in urban areas is recognized as inevitable. The suburbs have been fixed in time, but that’s also changing in California – and will elsewhere. Density adds a sense of community and extends the sense of belonging – which our company is built on – to more people. 

As there are more homes to be loved, and more people to love them, neighborhoods and communities – families, too – will grow stronger and more connected, as extended families can live in warm proximity.

More local retailers – cherished bookstores and bakeries and butcher shops – will be started and supported.

There will be some challenges, for sure, but we are convinced that in a decade, or even less, we will look back at ADUs as a force for good.

How ADUs and SB-9 Are Changing California Neighborhoods

Before you pick the first on the list of "best property manager in X city", get some invaluable tips for digging deep and making an informed choice.

Looking for Good Property Managers? Search Beyond Google Listings

If you’re looking for information on anything today, the first place you turn is Google. Which is understandable – after all, Google is the gateway to the world’s information. It’s also risky, though, whether you’re looking for the best pizza, or the best property manager. Learn more about how to find the right information. 

That’s because the ability to show up as one of the top listings – or even on the first page – is subject to manipulation.   

Let us explain what that means. There are two ways to show up on Google; one is to pay for the listing, a process you might have heard about. Those listings will have the word “Ad” next to the search result. Even so, most people don’t pay attention to that and assume the listing is more objective because it is not sponsored. Research shows that two-thirds of people don’t know the difference, in fact! You might be one of them, clicking on the results for “Best property manager” without realizing that someone is paying to capture your eyeballs.

But it’s also important to understand that just because you’re not seeing “ad” next to a Google listing, it doesn’t mean it is the universal truth in the pizza or property management category. 

Although Google goes out of its way to make the point that its listings cannot be manipulated, indeed there is an entire industry called SEO – or search-engine optimization – whose purpose is to outsmart Google and get the listings of certain merchants as high in the search results as possible.

Deep diver when researching property managers

Now that we’ve given you a lesson in Google 101 – and you’ve learned why you should resist the search reflex we’ve been trained for – the logical question is “Okay, how do I find the property manager that’s right for me?”

The answer to that lies in knowing what to look for. Here are four key areas to investigate and questions to resolve; these are critical facts and signals about what it will be like to work with one property manager over another. The only way to gain these insights, as we say above, is to search on websites, not on Google.

Google won’t tell you if a property manager can handle everything from staging the house and doing any necessary repairs – to showing it and handling the move-in.

Google won’t point out if a property manager charges for photography and the creation of video tours.

Google doesn’t let you know if a property manager offers a 24/7 concierge, to handle matters large and small – and in between – with swift responsiveness and loving attention.

There’s a lot more about the search for the best property manager that, ironically, you won’t discover by searching. Some other examples include whether a property manager will charge you a fee even when your place is not rented … or if they will charge you a termination fee if you are not happy with their service. Both of those fall into the bucket of Not Very Good Days.

Also be on the lookout for hidden set-up fees – which can be as much as $500. 

In fact, unless you have some background on property management, and have done some research, it’s likely you don’t know enough to ask the right questions! Like, do I even need a property manager? What are the alternatives?

Belong is not a property management company, but could be the solution you need

Belong is dedicated to taking the mystery, misinformation, and mediocrity out of property management. So much so that we've thrown the old model of property management out the window.

Guaranteeing rent for homeowners (regardless of when it’s paid by residents)

Providing cutting-edge marketing and video tours to everyone, not just those who pay the most

Not charging hidden fees like setup costs and lease renewal charges

Offering real 24/7 concierge-level support, not just logging maintenance emergencies 

Offering financial solutions for managing cash-flow on your terms, even covering homeowners during vacancies — or providing a full year’s rent upfront 

Going beyond the owner portal for maintenance logging with two unique mobile apps designed for homeowners and residents to manage their entire renting experience

Using true market data and real-time interest from potential residents to maximize the value of your home

Connecting homeowners to an extensive vendor network of over 10,000 contractors for maintenance and repairs 

If you still want to view Google's top-rated property management companies in Washington, California or Miami, we have found them. Compare the rest or use the calculator below to see why you'd be better off with Belong. 

Keeping your residents safe is one of the major responsibilities of a landlord. That includes making sure the air they breathe is as clean as possible.

What Every Property Manager Needs to Know About Indoor Air Quality

Keeping your residents safe is one of the major responsibilities of a landlord. That includes making sure the air they breathe is as clean as possible. 

There are very few things that apply to every human being on the planet, that you can make blanket statements about. One of them is that everyone wants to feel safe and secure at home. It’s one step up from basic, physiological functions on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, and it's one of the reasons why Belong works so hard to ensure the residents on the platform can be confident in – and love - their homes just as much as the owners themselves do. 

Most of the things that threaten us in our homes are easily identifiable. If you see a pest, you know you have a pest problem; if there’s water weeping down the wall of the bathroom, you know you have a leaky pipe.  Some problems though are impossible to see. Which makes them even more insidious. 

Take indoor air pollution. Maybe you can see mold growing in a damp corner somewhere, but unless you call in an expert you can’t know if toxic amounts of it are being dispersed in the air. 

And there are other forms of pollution that are entirely invisible, that emanate from sources we have no control over. Radon, for example. A radioactive gas responsible for 21,000 lung cancer deaths a year in America, radon is naturally created by the degeneration of uranium in soil and rocks, radon can penetrate a house through its foundation and potentially inflict lethal damage to its residents.

Landlords and property managers need to be aware of the potential threats posed by these invisible invaders, not only for their own sake — because (depending on the state they live in) they might be liable for damages — but also because it is simply the right thing to do. 

There are at least four major indoor air pollutants that landlords should be aware of: mold, radon lead and formaldehyde. All can be quite dangerous. The good news is that there are ways to remediate them. 

Disclaimer: We strongly recommend discussing these issues with a lawyer versed in local, state, and federal laws that are relevant to these issues, and that you work with accredited experts should you need to take any steps to mitigate against contaminated air. 

Typically we think of mold as a bathroom problem, but the truth is that it can occur anywhere in your home: all it takes is a little bit of dampness and oxygen to turn your living room into a petri-dish that can endanger the health of your residents.

There is mold there can be seen, that’s easy to address. But some kinds of mold are invisible. As this reputable source says: “One of the most difficult concepts to grasp about mold contamination is that many times you cannot see it. Sometimes there is no visible growth on the walls or any sign that something is wrong.”

Visible or invisible, mold is actually a symptom of an underlying problem: if there’s so much moisture in your house that means there must be a leaky pipe somewhere in the walls, or a problem with your windows or walls or roof or sills that is letting in moisture from outside.

To remediate a mold problem you have to solve both these problems; you have to eliminate the mold itself, of course – individual states have their own certification process for mold remediators, but we also recommend consulting with the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certificatiom, a non-profit organization for the “inspection, cleaning and restoration industries.” But you also have to fix the underlying issue. So if the moisture giving rise to the mold is from leaky pipes, you need a plumber; if it’s coming through a poorly sealed window, you probably need a glazier.

In most states, there are laws that address those underlying issues: You have to ensure the home itself is weather-tight, as well as  provide adequate plumbing, ventilation, and non-porous, non-absorptive fixtures and surfaces in bathrooms and kitchens.

But oftentimes the laws themselves don’t even explicitly mention mold; California’s laws do so, but they’re the exception, rather than the rule.  

That’s why we encourage all homeowners to consult with the local housing authority, in order to gain absolute clarity as to what’s required of them. We also encourage homeowners to go above and beyond the base requirements. Because if mold becomes a persistent problem, your home being vacant is probably going to become a persistent problem, too. Besides, it’s hard to love something that smells like mildew and Limberg. 

Even though radon is potentially more hazardous and dangerous than mold, there is little legislation on a national or state level that requires landlords to take any steps to mitigate its presence in the house.

That doesn’t mean that residents have no recourse if they get sick from radon in a home you own; if your home is located in a place known to have a lot of radon problems and fail to test and/or warn tenants, they might have grounds for a lawsuit. Which can be a lengthy and expensive ordeal, even if they don’t win.

Again, we strongly advise that you consult with a lawyer regarding your potential legal exposure, should your tenants get sick from exposure to radon while living in your house. 

We recommend purchasing a radon detector, to see if your property has an issue, and also to monitor it, in case an issue develops. They are surprisingly affordable. Should your property have or develop a radon issue, there are ways to eliminate it: the foundation of the house should be checked for cracks through which the radon can pass, and specialized ventilation systems can also be helpful.  Given the complexity of the task your first step should be consulting with an expert.  Find a professional certified by the National Radon Safety Board, or contact your state’s official radon office. The expert will be able to identify the source of the radon and develop a plan to take care of the problem. 

The lead paint chips that you don’t want children or dogs eating under any circumstances can slough off particles in the air that are also quite dangerous.  If you own a home built after 1978, when the use of lead-based paints was banned in the US, you’re probably safe. If not, hire a house painter to strip the house and repaint it. 

In addition to these acute issues, there’s the air pollution caused by general filth. That’s why it’s important to change and clean air conditioner filters and make sure heating and cooling systems are in good repair; along those same lines you should vacuum any air ducts where dust and dirt might be accumulating. There are also new, technologically advanced air cleaners on the market like Molekule; Molekule units not only filter the air and give it a score based on its quality, but they also analyze the particles contained in it, to determine if there’s anything dangerous floating about. Air purifiers that use HEPA filters are also quite effective. 

Belong looks out for everyone within the residential network

Belong isn't a property management company, it's a residential network for homeowners and renters. Belong looks out for everyone on the platform — the homeowners, the residents, and the houses themselves. When you work with Belong, you have access to their extensive vendor network of over 10,000 professional contractors. They can take care of some of the underlying issues identified here, like leaky pipes or shoddy windows, or even stripping and repainting your house from top to bottom.

Belong is simplifying the rental experience across the US and helping more homeowners reach their financial goals with the most hassle-free property management service; Belong PRO.

Can you ban smoking in a rental home? While state legislation varies on smoking, there are things landlords can do to protect their property and air quality.

Can I Stop Tenants Smoking? What Landlords Need to Know About Tobacco

Though smoking is on the decline, it's still a topic important to landlords when renting out their home. While there are no federal laws around smoking in the home, there is varying legislation across the states. Find out what you need to know about renting to a smoker and what your rights are when managing your own rental property. 

If you’re self-managing your own property, you’re responsible for the health and welfare of the residents in your building, at least in part. Obviously, those responsibilities have their limits — you aren’t obligated to take your tenants in for their yearly check-ups — but when it comes to things like air quality, clean water, and functional radiators, you’re on the hook. 

Let’s pick up the air quality theme and talk about smoking — a touchy subject when it comes to property management. No one wants to impinge upon the rights of their tenants, but on the other hand, if the tenant is doing something that can potentially damage the property — or negatively affect the health of their neighbors — you might start to wonder if you should do something about it. And if so, what exactly can you do?  

Smoking laws for rentals vary on location

The answer to this question very much depends on where your rental property is located. There’s no federal law that limits an individual’s right to smoke cigarettes (or cigars or pipes for that matter) in their own home, even if they’re renting it. On the other hand, there are state and local laws that might provide some guidance to property owners. 

As is always the case when we discuss matters of law, we strongly advise that you consult with a local attorney before taking any action. But the bottom line is that you can prohibit smoking on your property if you want to. In California, for instance, property owners have the right to ban smoking on their property altogether. (For information on the laws in other states, this link is a good place to start.)     

It’s best to do this by inserting a no-smoking clause into the original lease; there are free online templates to help you do just that. But you can also turn your place into a no-smoking building in the middle of your resident’s lease. 

If you DO convert your home into a smoke-free property mid-lease, residents can continue to smoke until it’s time to renew.  Also according to Californian law, you have to delineate your rules on smoking in the lease itself — so if the smoker does choose to renew, you have to make sure the language of the lease reflects the change in policy. 

Despite the fact that you will be providing your residents with the written rules, we also advise you to have an open conversation before anyone signs anything. Reinforce the legal language of the lease. Tell potential tenants if smoking is prohibited altogether on your property (including outdoor areas), or if it’s only prohibited in certain places (in shared spaces, like hallways and entryways, for example). Be as clear as possible. Not only is it helpful for them, but if there’s a problem down the line and you have to enforce the rule, you can feel confident that you fully explained your position. If it’s in the lease, then the conversation is only a friendly gesture.

What can a property owner do to enforce no-smoking rules? 

There are dramatic actions you can take. You can sue the resident, or even try to evict them. But really, considering the stress and legal fees these more dramatic steps might incur, your best option might be to use the resident’s security deposit to finance a deep clean at the end of the lease.

We recommend consulting with a local lawyer to find out exactly what your options are in such a circumstance. 

How does Belong protect rental homes from smoke damage?

Difficult situations like these, that can be both time-consuming and costly, are part of the reason why so many people choose not to self-manage their own property. When you work with Belong, you can rest assured that we’ll do everything we can to make sure situations like this don’t occur in the first place. We personally interview every resident, are super-careful when it comes to articulating your smoking policy when we draw up your lease. And if, despite our best efforts, the worst happens — we’ll enforce your rules to the maximum extent of the law.  

See why thousands of US homeowners are ditching outdated Property Management in San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Tampa, Jacksonville, Concord, Berkeley, Orlando and more.

Even if you don’t know a socket wrench from a light socket, you’ll be amazed what you can do on your own when managing your own property on the rental market.

3 DIY Repairs for Landlords Self-Managing a Rental Property

Even if you don’t know a socket wrench from a light socket, you’ll be amazed what you can do on your own with a helpful how-to video and a little elbow grease.  

We’re facing a serious shortage of contractors these days. It’s a result of the pandemic-inspired housing boom, as well as the work-from-home trend encouraging people to invest more in their houses.

What that means for individuals managing their own rental properties is that you might have to take on more work by yourself. Of course, you won’t be able to do anything that requires a license, like electrical work. But there are lots of routine repairs that you can handle, even if you’re not particularly handy. You just need some basic information, some tips, and a few simple and intuitive YouTube videos.

For those of you who want to strap on the tool belt, we’ve scoured the Internet and gathered the best content we could find to help property owners triumph over routine maintenance needs, having to track down, wait for, and over-pay a professional. Think of it as a divorce from Angi.

Maybe it’s dealing with the odors and the muck and gunk, or maybe it’s simply the intimidation factor when you look under the sink and you see those heavy metal pipes curving in and out of the walls, but for whatever reason, simple plumbing jobs seem to scare homeowners to death. The truth is that with a few simple tools you probably already have lying around your garage, you can take care of many common plumbing issues by yourself. Case in point: unclogging the bathroom sink. For most clogs all you need is a pair of pliers, a Zip-Tie, and some paper towels to get the job done; for more serious clogs you might need an auger (also known as a drain snake). It might set you back 20 or 30 bucks, but it’s a lot cheaper than calling the plumber every time a drain starts to slow down.

Sometimes the biggest stumbling block when it comes to performing simple DIY fixes around the house is a lack of confidence.  These aren’t tasks that most of us are familiar with, and so we’re afraid that we’re going to screw up and make the problem even worse.  Step one when it comes to fixing a leaky faucet is opening up the mechanism, a process which often involves popping off a decorative cap or forcing loose a handle, which sometimes requires a lot of torque. But try not to worry: just follow the instructions in one of the following videos and proceed, confident that you’re doing the job the right way.

Laminate can be a cost-effective solution when looking to replace old countertops (and these days it can be an aesthetically pleasing solution as well). The problem with it versus more expensive materials like stone or marble is that it doesn’t last as long; flaps come loose and get unstuck years before marble shows even the slightest signs of wear.  Often times though loose laminate can be fixed with an iron; carefully ironing over the unstuck bits will reactivate the glues and contact cement that was holding it down in the first place.  

If the thought of performing these tasks is still causing you to break out in a cold sweat we suggest you check out Belong – the end-to-end property management alternative that has the neighborhood's best contractors on call. Belong's extensive vendor network gives you access to over 10,000 professionals across the country. Which means no more hunting around Youtube for DIY solutions you’re too scared to execute, and no more hunting around for contractors who might be able to fit you in next month.

Discover Belong PRO, the best alternative to Property Management in Seattle, Redmond, Oakland, and many more cities across California, Florida and Washington State.

No house is perfect, but some 'quirks' are total dealbreakers for tenants. We share 4 fixable issues in that have the potential to turn renters off completely.

The Top 4 Dealbreakers For Renters — and how Homeowners Can Avoid Them

No house is perfect, but some imperfections matter more to residents than others: what are they, and how can homeowners address them preemptively? We share 4 dealbreakers that have the potential to turn residents off completely. 

These 4 issues are the most common dealbreakers for residents, but don’t worry — fixing these issues with Belong has never been easier. Soon you’ll have residents clamoring to live in — and love — your home.

The first thing many potential residents check is the appliances.  A dated refrigerator, a stove that doesn’t live up to what today’s foodies are expecting, or a dishwasher that has seen too many Thanksgiving dinners.

These might seem like small problems to a homeowner, but to a future resident, they indicate that a house hasn’t truly been loved. After all, a homeowner doesn’t care about the house enough to take care of these kinds of issues, why would a future resident It starts the relationship off on the wrong foot

If the idea of replacing any of that seems daunting — and you’re tempted to say “Let the new resident take care of it” — our advice is: Don’t. You’ll end up taking more off the rent than the improvements will cost you. And thankfully, Belong Pros – teams of contractors and craftspeople employed by the company full-time —  will be able to handle these replacements. 

Maybe your home is perfect, but the neighborhood isn’t. Although homeowners have no control over the surrounding area, they often have first-hand knowledge of hidden gems that potential residents might not know about. Fun neighborhood restaurants, bars, parks, and other attractions help make the resident feel like they already belong. 

Prepare a list of “Why I love this neighborhood” and make sure potential residents get to see it.  Belong is the unique property manager who knows how to market houses to overcome even something as difficult as the wrong neighborhood.

Belong has never heard of someone who says “I want LESS closet space.”  So what are your choices without undertaking expensive and time-consuming construction?  

First, try organizing potential storage space in clever ways to maximize a home’s livability (and lovability). Here are “Ten Easy Hacks that Will Make Your Small Closet Feel a Lot Bigger.”

You also might want to look downstairs; we love these “24 Smart Basement Storage Ideas for an Insanely Organized Space.”   It’s the perfect place for out-of-season clothes, and along those lines HGTV tells you how to build a closet in your garage.  

A potential resident adores your home. Then the price comes up, and the light vanishes from their eyes. But it doesn’t have to be this way. There is a technology that can help you find the right price — the Goldilocks price — that will make homeowners AND residents happy. Wondering where you can find that technology at the same place where homeowners will find lots of goodies that no property manager has offered before? Check out Belong Home’s “Market Pricing Optimization” model, and discover the sweet spot - and profitable spot - of your home and the current market conditions.

Finding the right resident is hard enough without having to convince them your home is lovable. Luckily, if you keep the tips above in mind, sharing your home is easier than ever.

Good upkeep on a rental home is the law - and a key part of keeping tenants happy and renting longer. So how do landlords find a contractor quickly?

How To Keep a Rental Home Well-Maintained and Habitable

Keeping a rental property well-maintained is essential to keeping tenants happy. Not only that, your tenants have a legal right to a habitable home. But finding a contractor when you need them (i.e. fast!) isn't always easy. 

Let’s conduct a little thought experiment. Let's say you didn't hire a property manager and decide to self-manage. Let’s say instead you went it alone or decided to work with a broker who helped find a tenant and did a background check draw up the lease and get it signed.

Now the tenant’s moved in, all settled, sending in rent checks without any prompting or follow up. Life seems pretty sweet. 

Then a faucet starts dripping. Which causes a mold problem. Which attracts bugs. Which attract spiders. Then randomly a Hitchcockian pigeon crashes into a window and shatters it. Hell breaks loose, in other words. 

What’s a homeowner to do? You don’t know any good contractors or exterminators, much less a good glazier. And what started as a minor repair has now escalated into a potential legal issue. 

Finding a contractor for rental repairs is easier said than done

What's next? You think, “I’ll call a contractor. Big whup. I need to pay a property manager just so they can call a contractor? That’s what you call a compelling argument?”

The fact is that finding anyone to get work done is hard on the immediate-need level, and finding a contractor organize and supervise everything is even more difficult. They are notoriously hard to wrangle, especially in major metropolitan areas, where there is often too much work and not enough skilled labor to perform it. As a matter of fact, currently, in America, there’s a massive contractor shortage.

Some property managers have relationships with contractors and service providers, having worked with them closely over the years. But you’re still relying on busy, overtaxed individuals, and taking care of problems as they crop up, on a case-by-case basis. Then there's the markups... 

How minor repairs can create habitability issues for landlords

It's the law for landlords to provide 'habitable' rentals. This means a safe, clean and comfortable environment for your tenants, with a legal requirement to ensure:

The property is structurally sound and intact (including floors, stairs, walls, roof)

All electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and elevators are operating safely

No known hazards are posing any danger to tenants (such as lead pant, asbestos)

Reasonable measures are in place to prevent foreseeable criminal intrusions

This means that some minor repairs could quickly turn into a breach of your tenant's right to a livable place and allow them to take legal action against you, stop paying rent, or even move out without liability to their lease. For example, if your property has a front door that won't lock - this may sound like a minor repair, but it's classed as a habitability problem due to the risk of break-ins. Same with a faulty water heater. In these instances, you're going to need to get onto repairs very quickly, to keep your tenants comfortable (and yourself out of hot water). 

Belong connects you to over 10,000 vetted contractors

Belong's extensive vendor network puts over 10,000 qualified professionals at your fingertips. All you have to do is reach out to your concierge or put in a request through our app and we’ll find the perfect pro to do the job.

Learn More: Discover Belong PRO, the best alternative to Property Management in Seattle, Redmond, Oakland, and many more cities across California, Florida and Washington State.

Discover the surprising connection between the most physical of assets, and the most virtual of them.

Cryptocurrency and The Security Of Belonging

We discovered a surprising connection between the most physical of assets - the home - and the most virtual of them, cryptocurrency. Everyone is looking for a sense of security and belonging. 

Here at Belong, we think there is a reason that the word “real” comes before “estate.”  We believe in the power of home.  The value of a tangible investment.  

A lot of people agree with us: At this point in American history, more than 67 percent of us own our own homes. This is up from 47 percent at the beginning of the 20th century, which is especially impressive, considering the nature of the economy back then.

But at the same time, homeownership is not for everyone. As we say in our Vision:

“There is more than one American Dream. Owning your own home and loving it is one of those dreams... But there are other American Dreams.

Some of these dreams are about living differently than previous generations — for whom owning was everything. We may want to use the cash to start a business — perhaps the next Belong-. We may want to experience new places. We may not have the money yet for homeownership, but still, dream of living in a glorious home where we can put down roots and experience the sense of belonging.”

We’ve quoted John Allen before, who is the author of the book Home. (The book is subtitled “How Habitat Made Us Human,” which we think cuts to the quick of the matter.)	In the book Allen poignantly writes that “We know we have been successful in creating a new home when a dwelling feels like the one place in the world that belongs to us more than anyone else."

We’ve never found a better description, anywhere, of what Belong does. How it makes people feel. People don’t need a deed to experience a deep down sense of belonging.

So, home matters. Concreteness matters. But at the same time, let’s talk for a moment – just as everyone else is doing – about cryptocurrency.  There’s nothing more intangible than a $60,000 digital asset, backed only by the fact that someone is willing to pay $60,001 for it. 

And while crypto ownership is generally pegged at 14% of Americans (some estimates have it at nearly 50%, although that is debatable), that’s still a lot of people who’ve decided to invest in a virtual currency that was scoffed at even less than a decade ago.

How, then, do we reconcile the need for something tangible and the acceptance of a currency that has nothing of physical substance behind it?

The answer comes back to our name. Although Bitcoin is decentralized, as an article in the Financial Times writes, it is a network “defined by distinctive rituals, symbols and creation myths.” The article goes on to quote Mick Morucci, an anthropologist working in crypto, who writes that “Bitcoin community’s value systems and rituals . . . have helped to establish it as money (whose price is shaped) by community, beliefs and a sense of belonging.”

Looking at it through his clarifying lens, the same human emotion that draws people to the safety and security of home – and to the neighborhoods and communities where we live – attracts them to the shared values and community that exists in CryptoWorld. 

A blog post by Suhitesh Das – a venture capitalist and advisor – makes a similar point.  He argues that “Belonging can be easily related to cryptocurrency” because it is encrypted, noting that the same “sense of security is what people also experience with belongingness.”

We are now more inspired than ever to extend the state of belonging that exists between people and their homes, to a state of connections that flourishes within the larger Belong community.  Importantly, Das also writes that “Belonging is actually about recognizing oneself as a member of a community, and the higher-quality relationships that come with it.”

That community also connects everyone who works at Belong and shares the same mission – to our homeowners and residents. 

Fascinating, isn’t it, that whether you invest in a modern home or a modern currency, a desire to belong is behind it all.

Self-managing a rental property means more money in your bank account, but it's also stressful and time consuming. We look into where to find a happy medium.

To Self-Manage Your Rental Property or Hire a Property Manager?

Self-managing means more money in your bank account – but it also means more stress and time spent caring for the property. Many homeowners ask if there’s a happy medium – we dive into that here.

Self-managing your own rental property presents a unique set of challenges: You have to market and show the house yourself, background check potential tenants, and draw up a binding lease agreement. Once the resident has moved in, you have to collect rent, attend to all their problems, and find contractors to make the repairs that you can’t handle yourself. 

That last part can be particularly difficult, especially in this day and age, when decent tradespeople are few and far between. You’ll likely have to spend hours researching contractors online, browsing Angi and Yelp, scouring Facebook groups and NextDoor, even consulting with neighborhood message boards. All in all, managing your own rental home is a mountain of work.

The possibility of hiring a traditional property manager – and not having to worry about the complexities mentioned above – is a tempting alternative. However, this option presents its downsides. First and foremost, traditional property managers often overcharge for their services, making it difficult for you to maximize your income. Traditional property managers also have less incentive than you, the owner, to treat a home with the love it deserves. You know all the wonderful nooks and crannies of your home, and it feels practically like a family member. But to a traditional property manager, your property is just another entry on a long, long list.

So let’s be honest.  Neither of the above options is ideal — managing your own property can drain your time and energy, while hiring a traditional property manager can lead to mistreatment of the home and the misuse of your money.

There are a few things you can do, however, to make self-managing a property a viable alternative. Here are some of the “middle ground” options we alluded to in our headline.

Instead of using NextDoor and Yelp and Angi to find individual contractors on a case-by-case basis, find a local handyman you can trust and rely on. He (or she) should have their own network that you can take advantage of, to fill in any expertise gaps.

Also we recommend making friends with those who live nearby your rental property. That way, if there’s an emergency and you can’t get a hold of your handyman or your home’s resident, they can potentially pop over and take a look themselves. Obviously they’re not going to be able to fix a big problem, but still they should be able to give you a sense of the scope of the issue. And, of course, if they have lived in the neighborhood for a while, they are likely to be able to add to your Rolodex of support.

There are a lot of great software platforms out there specifically designed for Homeowners to help with everything from rent collection to organizing and itemizing documents you’ll need come tax season. Investopedia has a list of the seven best programs. 

Your resident is always going to be your first line of defense – your eyes and ears.  When a problem occurs, they’ll be the first to know. So identifying residents who are super-responsible and vigilant is especially critical if you’re going to self-manage.

It’s also important that you find residents who love your home as much as you do, and who are willing to pitch in when needed. For example, if there’s a property-threatening problem with a simple fix, in an ideal world you want a resident who’s willing to provide a temporary fix, before the real experts can show up.

4. Ditch the property manager for a modern alternative

Belong is has ditched the property management model to provide the services you have been waiting for – the happy medium that has never existed in property management. Whether you go it alone or get the full-service treatment, Belong can support your path to financial freedom. 

Our smarter, future-ready services include:

Guaranteed rent every month, regardless of if or when your residents pay

Optimized rental pricing that uses technology and real-time demand to price your home with accuracy

The Belong app that gives you and your residents access to everything you need

Innovative financial products including the option to spread maintenance payments over the term of your lease agreement

Access to dedicated landlords insurance to protect your asset (as well as coverage for your residents)

Integration with the most popular rental platforms to get your home loved faster

Instant access to an expansive vendor network of over 10,000 professionals that can handle everything from routine repairs to home upgrades

…and we’re just getting started! 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 services in places like Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Austin, Oakland, Miami and many, many more.

How do I rent out a property as a landlord, but live far away? Do I need a property manager or can I manage myself? We answer FAQs on owning interstate rentals

Long-Distance Landlord: How To Manage a Rental Home From Afar

Whether you had to move for work or picked up a steal of a property in another city, it’s not uncommon to live far away from a home you rent out. Even more so in 2024. With many homeowners holding onto interest rates too good to give up, renting out a home is often a better option when opportunity knocks in another city. 

This is why we get asked so often, “How do I rent out a property when I live far away?” 

Particularly if you’re considering the DIY self-management route, there’s a lot to consider before taking on the challenge from another state. It’s not impossible, but here are six questions to consider first. 

6 questions to consider before self-managing a rental home out-of-state

1. How often can I travel to my rental home? 


When preparing your home for the rental market, you will need to get it move-in ready. You’ll need to arrange a deep clean, attend to repairs and have professional photographs and video taken for your online listing. These are not remote tasks. Someone will need to be at the home to let in contractors, cleaners, and a real estate photographer.

If you travel to your rental home, be sure to keep accurate records of everything from your trip. You may be eligible to claim some costs such as airfares, hire car and petrol, even hotel accommodation as a tax expense for managing your rental home. 

If travel is too far or just not a viable option, is there someone you trust close by that you could enlist for help? This is where having a property manager or modern alternative like Belong can make the process much smoother, taking care of all preparations and listings on your behalf. If you do hire someone to manage the process, you can claim these fees at tax time too. 

Discover Belong: The best alternative to Property Management in Seattle, Redmond, Oakland, and many more cities across California, Texas, Utah, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, and Washington State.     


When you live far away from your rental home, how you collect rent is another consideration. Checks and cash are out of the question! Thankfully, paying rent online is commonplace these days — not to mention safer. 

But before you choose an online platform, be aware that using popular peer-to-peer online payment apps like PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, and Cash App can leave you open to disputes and rent payment fraud. While simple and user-friendly, they are not designed for landlords or rent collection. 

There’s also the issue of late payments. Do you have the time and resources to follow up and stay on top of unpaid rent bills from out of state? Aside from the time, effort and stress, the reality is that mortgage and expenses don’t stop adding up when the rent goes unpaid.

This is why guaranteed rent is Belong’s most popular product. It’s proven and beloved by over 2,000 Belong homeowners, who receive their rental income like clockwork (no matter when the residents pay).

Read More: How Guaranteed Rent is Changing Property Management Forever

3. Who will manage home tours and inspections?


Property management is not a set-and-forget kind of job. Aside from the initial tours to lease the home, inspections can help to monitor wear and tear or damage. It’s also an opportunity to connect with your residents to make sure they’re happy and are sticking to the conditions of the lease agreement.

You could opt for video inspections if you have established a good relationship with your tenant. But if this is a new lease or you ask residents to show you around virtually, you could miss important clues to damage or repair needs on the property. 

This is another reason why many long-distance rental owners prefer to hire someone to manage the home for them. If you still want to DIY, you’ll need to enlist some local help for the role of on-site inspections. This could be a trusted friend, an employee, or a service such as Inspectify, who can arrange an inspection report on-site. 

4. How easily can I access good local contractors? 


If there’s a maintenance or repair issue in your rental home, how soon can you respond from afar? It’s an important question for out-of-state landlords, because how you resolve issues is a reflection of your professionalism and can avoid minor issues from turning into costly headaches. 

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