“Real estate is a long-term game. Don’t try to get rich quick. Instead, focus on buying properties that will generate income and appreciate over time.” Warren Buffett

What is a really inexpensive way to improve the curb appeal of your building when prospective tenants drive by? Your unit numbers can make a difference. I have seen nice and well maintained buildings with unit numbers painted on or using a peel and stick variety which makes the building look cheap. This is one of the first things the prospective tenant will see, so why not give your building the best look possible?

BACKGROUND I had a friend who was a broker and a housing provider years ago. He had done may rehabs on buildings from Huntington Beach to Blythe. He was a proponent of using attractive new unit numbers. It is something that many owners don’t do when they rehab a building. It is one of the most inexpensive ways to boost curb appeal.

TYPES OF NUMBERS. The design possibilities are endless. You want to get something that flatters your property and looks attractive. Types of numbers include Art deco, the silhouette style numbers look very nice in premium buildings or they can make a more generic building look premium. The modern, minimalist numbers can look great and even backlit illuminated numbers can give a great look to your building, although the installation can be a bit more complicated than many others. My advice would be to go to HOME DEPOT or LOEWS or any place with a wide variety of numbers to see what choices are available. You may even want to purchase a few different ones to see how they would look on your property. The ones you decide against can be returned.

MATERIALS Make sure you choose durable materials, as you don’t want to have to replace your numbers after you have already done so. Make sure they stand out from the street and are easy to read. I have seen some numbers which are too much. They are so artsy that they are difficult to read. Having easy to read unit numbers can also be important, in case the fire department needs to get to the correct unit number quickly in an emergency.

BEST IDEAS Consistency makes your units look clean and professional. Visability is important as well. You should make sure the numbers are four to six inches tall, unless the city where your units are located has different rules. It is a good idea to check with your city before you make changes. You should also make sure that the unit numbers are in the same position on every door. This will allow for a clean and consistent look and hopefully result in more and better applicants for your next vacancy.

” It’s the little things that are vital. Little things make big things happen.” John Wooden

What we at PRS PROPERTIES CAN DO. We can give you a good idea of the current value of your building. We can suggest changes you might want to make before sale to give you an idea what type of building you would be able to exchange into. You may decide to stay in the rental business or you may want to move into a more passive real estate investment, such as a triple net or a DSL. We are always available to chat. We can give you referrals for professionals, such as lenders, contractors, and engineers, so that you can decide who you feel best with. We can supply you with rent and sale comparable in the area of your properties, so that you know what rental values are in your area. It is important that you know the true value of your rental units, so that you can get them rented right away at market value, or at least as much as possible with rent control restrictions. We can look at potential purchases that you may be interested in to make the property more desirable, and maybe look at potential issues that an insurer might require you to repair.

If you should decide to sell your building, we can help you exchange into a larger or smaller properties. We can even help you move into something with less management responsibilities. We can also help with getting the paperwork together for a refinance if that is your desire. We can also recommend experienced licensed contractors who can perform any repairs or installations you may need prior to selling. We can also look at your building for other easy and inexpensive changes that might allow you to get a higher value. We can help you to get the maximum value for your property, should you decide to sell, or the maximum return if you are planning to keep your building.

We are currently looking for “as-is” properties and are willing to purchase with low rents, deferred maintenance or even with a problem tenant in place. We can offer a 7 day escrow and all cash at closing. Give us a call. We have also put together numerous transactions over the years which involve properties that are not listed for sale. Many investors are currently in 1031 exchanges and need to identify a replacement property before their 45 day identification period runs out.

Should you decide to put your property on the market, we will put together an aggressive, targeted and professional campaign to get your property sold fast. We have been doing this for over 40 years, and we will use all the tools available to bring you the most dollars at closing. If you are thinking of selling or are just curious about the value of your property, don’t hesitate to give us a call.