Meet the Team: Tyler Rackley – Richmond Real Estate Expert

Summer Vacation: How to Prepare Your Rental for an Extended Stay Away!

emily@brickroadrentals.com (Emily Brick Road Rentals) — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 18:49:21 GMT

Getting ready to hit your summer vacation? You'll want to be sure you have your apartment ready to go for your extended stay away! Today on the blog, we are sharing a few steps to take to ensure your rental is prepared and stays in great condition during your vacation!

Quick and simple steps to prepare your rental for your summer vacation away!

Take out the trash- The last thing you want is to return from your vacation to a foul smelling apartment! Get rid of any garbage throughout the rental including kitchen, bathrooms, garages, etc.
Clear out your refrigerator- Just like trash left behind can cause an unwanted odor, so can expired food in your fridge! Throw out any food or drink that can potentially expire while you are gone.
Pause your mail- Head to usps.com to temporarily pause your mail while you are gone! This way you don't lose an important package or letter.
Do the dishes - Returning home to a sink full of dirty dishes is not fun! Be sure to run and empty your dishwasher before heading out on vacation so you can come home to a nice clean and fly free house!
Set your thermostat- Make sure to adjust your thermostat to a reasonable temperature! It's a good idea to check in with your landlord on what temperature they require during the summer or winter months for extended stays away.
Unplug your countertop appliances - It's always a good idea to unplug your countertop appliances when you go on an extended vacation. These are things like hair straighteners, coffee pots, microwaves, etc. These are potential fire hazards and you can save a few dollars on your next energy bill!

We hope these tips will help you prepare for your summer vacation! Enjoy!

RVA named 3rd in the nation for attracting new residents during Covid-19!

emily@brickroadrentals.com (Emily Brick Road Rentals) — Fri, 16 Apr 2021 19:36:49 GMT

How the Continued Growth of Richmond is Affecting Rentals!

Covid-19 has affected many areas of our lives over this past year. One of the biggest changes is the way we work. Many companies have transitioned their employees to virtual workplaces allowing them to virtually move anywhere in the country they want! You can now earn a New York City salary but live in an affordable up and coming city like we have here in RVA! Out of 38 major cities, Richmond was found to be the 3rd most popular to attract new residents during the pandemic!

We first saw an article regarding this topic by our local new station ABC8News . You can read their article below:

https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/richmond/richmond-3rd-in-the-nation-for-attracting-new-residents-during-the-pandemic/

So how does this affect rentals?

We have noticed at the beginning of our leasing season, our properties are renting faster than ever. We will list a property for rent and have applications on it much quicker than in the past! With so many new residents moving to Richmond, the demand for rentals and homes is increasing more than ever! New tenants have to be competitive when it comes to finding a lease just like the current home sales market.

As Richmond continues to grow and bring in new residents, it will be fun to watch the areas in the city that continue to expand to adapt to this growth!

Friday Tip: How To Be A Great Neighbor to Your Fellow Tenants!

emily@brickroadrentals.com (Emily Brick Road Rentals) — Fri, 05 Mar 2021 21:20:01 GMT

Have you ever experienced living in an apartment with noisy neighbors or on a street with neighbors who seem to be up at all hours? Maybe this has even been you! Today on the blog, we are sharing tips on how to be a great and respectful neighbor to your fellow tenants in your building or fellow residents on your street!

1. Keep the noise down after dark

-It is always respectful to consider your neighbors if you enjoy playing music, having friends over, etc. at night. If you know you are having a special event, the courteous thing is to always let your neighbor know! Make sure these events are not an every day occurrence. Our recommendation would be to limit all loud noise and music by 10pm at the latest, earlier on weekdays!

2. Put your trash in designated areas

-Always be sure to clean up after yourself in common spaces and put any trash in the designated areas! Your rental company should let you know where the trash is located at move in. Do not leave your trash out in the hallway or out back. Remember to always take it directly to the designated area to prevent your neighbors having to experience a bad smell or trash in their way!

3. Don't park in your neighbor's parking space

-If your apartment building or rental property has designated parking spaces, be sure to only park in the spot assigned for you! If you have guests over, make sure they do not park in your neighbor's spot. We suggest communicating with your neighbor if there ever is a time you need to borrow their spot! But remember, if they say no, that is their paid spot and to be respectful of their decision!

4. Don't litter

-Just as it is important to place you trash in designated areas, it is also important to not litter in any areas of the rental property. You should always be cleaning up after yourself in all common areas and especially outside. If you do not clean up after yourself, you could potentially cause future problems for your neighbors such as rodents or bugs.

5. Be kind and have great communication

-The best tip we can give is to always remember to be kind and have great communication with your neighbors. If you show respect to them, they will most likely return that same respect to you! Many times, an issue can be solved with simple communication. If that is not the case, we recommend contacting your rental company for further advice on how to proceed!

We hope these tips will help you have an enjoyable experience with your neighbors at your current or next rental!

How Covid-19 Has Changed the Leasing Process: What To Expect

emily@brickroadrentals.com (Emily Brick Road Rentals) — Fri, 05 Feb 2021 21:14:50 GMT

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed many ways we live our lives and handle everyday activities. With new restrictions in place, many industries have had to find new and creative ways to handle their businesses and day to day responsibilities.

The leasing industry is no different! In the past, when looking for a rental, you most likely inquired online, set up a showing time, viewed the property and proceeded to submit an application. Due to the pandemic, our procedures with how we rent and show properties have shifted and today we will share the steps to take when looking into one of our units!

Steps for leasing a rental property with Brick Road Rentals

Search For Available Units - Head to a search engine or our website www.brickroadrentals.com to view our current vacancies.

2. Submit An Inquiry - Once you've found a property you are interested in learning more about, you'll want to submit an inquiry online! You can do this directly through our website or many online rental platforms like Zillow , Trulia , HotPads , etc.

3. Pre-qualification Questions- Once you submit an inquiry, you will receive an automatic email reply with a few pre-qualification questions you'll need to answer. These questions are to ensure you are a good fit for this particular property! Be sure to check your junk folder, many times this email ends up there!

4. Virtual Video Tour - One major change since the start of covid-19 is how we show our vacant properties. If a property is still occupied by tenants, it can be challenging to have many groups of people in and out for showings. We have virtual tours filmed for our vacant properties we email to each prospective new tenants once the pre-qualification questions have been answered!

5. Application Submitted - Once pre-qualification questions are answered and the virtual tour has been viewed, the next step is to submit a formal application for the property. This application is available on our website www.brickroadrentals.com . The entirety of the application is online and once completed will be automatically sent to our team for review.

6. In-Person Showing of Property - Currently we are only offering in-person showings to prospective tenants who have applied for the property and been pre-approved. This means, the overall application looks qualified. We will set up a time with the current tenants of the property and the prospective tenants to allow for an in-person view of the rental.

7. Approval + Lease Signatures - Once each of the above steps are taken and the prospective tenants are ready to move forward, final approval will be decided and a lease signed. From there you will decide on a move-in date and a few other steps we will share in a future blog post!

Overall, the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the way we lease and show our rental units. We hope this list gives you a reference point when interested in one of our rentals and how the process will go.

The advantages of using our Online Tenant Portal

emily@brickroadrentals.com (Emily Brick Road Rentals) — Fri, 22 Jan 2021 21:08:58 GMT

Renting a property is a much simpler process these days than it was 10-20 years ago! With all the advancing technology, submitting an application, signing a lease, paying your rent, submitting maintenance requests and more have become quick and easy things to do. As a property management company, we love having these technologies to make our jobs more efficient and the process for new and future tenants streamlined.

Our online tenant portal, powered through AppFolio , allows our tenants and applicants to easily contact us! Here are a few advantages for using our online portal both as a new tenant or prospective tenant.

Paying Rent

One of the biggest advantages of an online tenant portal, is the ability to pay rent online! You no longer have to drop a rent check off to your landlords office. Easily pay your rent on time every month. You can even set your portal to automatic payments to ensure you never recieve a late fee!

Submitting Maintenance Requests

Another great advantage of an online tenant portal is the ability to submit maintenance requests fast and efficiently. You can easily communicate with your landlords when there is a problem that arises and needs to be looked at. You will still need to call your landlord for emergences!

Simple Application and Lease Process

The last thing that makes renting with a property management company using a platform like AppFolio easy is the entire application process is online. Once you view a rental you love, its as simple as filling out a quick online application to get the process started! No longer do you have to fill out a stack of papers and drop or fax them to a location. Everything we need to know is in the application you complete.

Once you are approved, you'll even sign your lease online making the process for everyone quick and efficient. We love using a AppFolio for our property management needs as well as offering it to our tenants!

Vendor Highlight: One Way Home Services

emily@brickroadrentals.com (Emily Brick Road Rentals) — Fri, 08 Jan 2021 20:45:00 GMT

Managing properties throughout the greater Richmond area, comes with many different challenges! We are lucky to work with excellent vendors and want to highlight a few of them over the next few months! We appreciate everything each of our vendors does for us, our tenants and owners each day.

One Way Home Services- Caleb DeHart

The first company we will highlight is One Way Home Services. Caleb and his team at One Way Home Services are our go-to company for many maintenance repairs and updates we need to complete! Caleb and his company have been in business for the past four years and continue to grow. As one of our tenants, you will most likely get to know this team well! They do everything from fixing small repairs to updating spaces when needed! Here at Brick Road Rentals , we can always count on them to help when needed.

The team behind One Way Home Services are always great with communicating directly with our tenants when required to coordinate repairs. They are very respectful of our tenants space during each visit. The team works hard each day to make sure our properties stay well taken care of for our owners and as well as tenants. We are grateful for their punctuality, attention to detail, and commitment to all they do.

We look forward to continuing to highlight our vendors over the next month!

How To Properly Clean Your Rental When Moving Out

emily@brickroadrentals.com (Emily Brick Road Rentals) — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 18:53:04 GMT

Moving Out? Follow these steps to properly clean your rental property to ensure you receive your security deposit back!

When moving out of your rental, cleaning is one of the most important final steps! Once you have moved your furniture out, you will want to make sure to clean each of these listed areas. This list is what we send to our tenants but we also suggest reaching out to your landlord if you do not rent with us!

1. Stove Top/Oven

This is one of the main areas tenants forget to clean! You will want to make sure the stove is cleaned inside and out. Any food particles should be cleaned away.

2. Refrigerator/Freezer

Another big area tenants forget to clean is their refrigerator and freezer. Just removing your food will not do the job. Be sure to thoroughly clean each shelf and make sure no food particles remain when you are done!

3. Bathrooms

Sinks, toilets, tubs/showers, vanities, etc must all be cleaned in your bathroom! Don't forget to clean your toilet too!

4. Cabinets/Countertops in Kitchen, Bathroom, etc

All cabinets should be emptied and cleaned throughout! Make sure any leftover food is disposed of and cleaned.

5. Baseboards

Many tenants do not clean baseboards often but you want to be sure to clean these before you move out! Over time they will collect dust and need a good vacuum and wipe down.

6. Garage/Storage Areas

Make sure to clean out anything you have stored in either of these areas and clean after it is empty! Depending on the area, you will want to vaccum, mop, etc.

7. Floors

Whether you have a carpeted rental or hardwood floors, you will need to make sure they are freshly cleaned. If your landlord requires you to get your carpets professionally cleaned that is a great idea to proceed with to ensure you receive your security deposit back. If they do not require professional carpet cleaning, be sure to vacuum and use stain remover if any stains have occurred. If your floors are hardwood, sweep/vacuum and mop!

8. Windows/Window Coverings

Windows and window sills must be cleaned inside and out along with any window covering in your rental! Be sure to dust any blinds!

9. Walls/Doors

If there are any marks or scratches on your walls or doors you will want to clean them off as best as possible! Using a magic eraser is a great way to quickly remove these scruffs.

10. Lights/Switch Plates

All light fixtures will need to be dusted off in your rental. You will also want to wipe down any switch boards!

Moving out can be a daunting and stressful task making cleaning your rental fall to the back burner. We hope these reminders will keep you on track to properly move out of your rental property and receive your security deposit back!

Inclement Weather Reminders: Preparing Your Rental

emily@brickroadrentals.com (Emily Brick Road Rentals) — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 20:11:00 GMT

As we approach the winter months, we need to prepare for potential inclement weather. Many renters do not know the procedures to take when faced with below freezing temperature. In today's blog post, we will be sharing a few key items in your rental you will want to make sure are prepared for inclement weather!

What To Do: When The Temperature is Below Freezing

1. Maintain heat at all times- Do not lower your thermostat below 55 degrees, even if you're planning to leave for an extended period of time. This may cause your pipes to freeze and potentially burst.

2. Slow drip and open cabinet doors- When the weather is forecasted to be below freezing, let your water faucet maintain a slow drip. Also, open your cabinet doors to allow warm air to circulate under any exposed pipes under your sinks.

3. Emergency Heat- If your rental has a Heat Pump (hot air produced by an electric heat), you may see that your thermostat reads Emergency Heat from time to time. This is done when the temperature is low and the unit needs a boost to increase its effectiveness. On many heat pumps there is an option to manually turn on emergency heat. Do use this function, if needed, but do not leave your system in emergency heat for an extended period of time, as doing so will increase your electricity bill.

4. Snow Removal- You will want to check with your landlords and lease for snow removal policies. We recommend to not use salt or de-icer as using those products can deteriorate the interior of your home if accidentally brought in and cause damage to flooring. It is always a good idea to use caution when removing snow.

If Your Pipes Freeze

Frozen pipes are not an emergency unless the frozen pipe has burst and is leaking. If your pipes do burst, please call 311 the (City of Richmond Emergency) line or your local emergency line. The City of Richmond will send someone out to shut off your water. Once you have contacted them, notify your property management.

If you see a pipe has burst and is causing damage to the property, locate the water valve and shut it off yourself.

For additional information please visit:

https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/winter-storm.html#About

How To Find A Great Potential Roommate!

emily@brickroadrentals.com (Emily Brick Road Rentals) — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 21:32:47 GMT

As we discussed in this previous blog post, living with roommates can be challenging and present different obstacles. Today on the blog, we are sharing how to find a great fitting roommate. Not everyone moves to a city filled with friends or is always comfortable living with their closest friends. Keep reading for a few simple tips to find your next roommate!

Roommate Finder Website

Back in the day you would have to find a roommate through advertisements for apartments in the newspaper. Luckily with today's technology, there are many easy and efficient ways to find a suitable roommate. Websites like, roommates.com and roomiematch.com , help individuals find and communicate with potential roommates. Not only will they help you get matched with roommates interested in the same location and price range, they'll even narrow it down to personal interests!

Social Media

Another great resource for finding potential roommates, social media. Creating a simple status on your Facebook letting your friends know you are looking for a roommate or posting a Instagram story, could potentially find a great roommate match quickly! You never know who you are mutual friends with and they just may need a roommate also!

Alumni Networks

If you are a recent college graduate who moved to a new city, reaching out to your alumni networks is a great way to find a roommate. Whatever type of activity you were in, most likely there are fellow members all around the country in similar circumstances, looking to connect with new people. Take advantage of this network and post on your alumni pages or email the head of alumni relations for information on how to get connected in your area!

Moving to a new area or finding a new roommate can be daunting tasks, but we hope with these tips the process can be smooth and easy!

Holiday Travel Tips: How To Prepare Your Rental

emily@brickroadrentals.com (Emily Brick Road Rentals) — Fri, 13 Nov 2020 21:00:45 GMT

As we enter into the holiday season, many renters will travel or head to other locations for the holidays! Whether you are a college student headed home until second semester or just visiting your hometown for a week or two, it's always good to prepare to leave your rental for a period of time.

Here are a few tips to make sure your holiday is stress free and your return in the new year is smooth!

Set Your Thermostat!

When you leave your rental for an extended period of time, you do not want to turn off your thermostat. This can create many issues moving forward. You will want to set your thermostat to an appropriate temperature while you are away. We recommend setting your thermostat to 55 degrees in the winter and 80 in the summer!

E mpty Your Refrigerator!

The last thing you want is to return from your holiday to a foul smelling refrigerator filled with expired food. Before you head out for holiday break, be sure to throw away any items that will expire before your return!

T ake Out The Trash!

Along with emptying your refrigerator, you should take out your trash before you leave. Leaving trash in your home for over a few weeks will make your return less than pleasant! You could potentially have a pest issues as well. Being sure to leave your rental clean is important before an extended period away.

S top Your Mail Delivery!

If you plan to be gone for more than a week, you will want to request a hold on your mail or have it forwarded to your holiday stay! This can be done through usps.com . Leaving your mail unattended too long could not only announce your absence to potential burglars but your mailbox could hit its full capacity.

Notify Your Neighbors!

This may not be as important if your rental is in an apartment complex with multiple units, but if you are renting a single-family home, it may be a good idea to notify your neighbors you'll be out of town! This way, if they notice anything out of place, they can notify you.

We hope you enjoyed this weeks blog post and are excited for the holiday season. Have a great weekend!

Keep It Peaceful: Tips for Living with Roommates!

emily@brickroadrentals.com (Emily Brick Road Rentals) — Fri, 06 Nov 2020 19:39:50 GMT

Whether you are a first time renter or have been living in a rental property for years, living with roommates can be both an exciting experience and bring unique challenges. Everyone has different ideas of how they want to live and whether you are bestfriends or found each other on a roommate finder website, things can sometimes get complicated.

We are here to help and give advice on how to not only be a great roommate but how to communicate effectively with your roommates to make your experience living together amazing!

Set Ground Rules

It is always a good idea to discuss a few important ground rules with your roommates when you move in together. If there are certain things you don't want to share with your roommates (pots and pans or hygiene products) make sure to let them know from the start. The more conversations you all have at the beginning, the less likely you are to get in disagreements because you set these boundaries!

Decide How You Will Pay The Bills

In many rentals, you will have the ability to pay your individual rent separately but many times you and your roommates must pay utility bills together. We suggest deciding which roommate will be responsible for paying which bill each month. One roommate can be in charge of the electric bill, one the water/sewer bill, and one the cable/internet bill! Each month, you will need to decide how to get the appropriate amount of money to your roommate to pay your portion of that bill. Luckily we have it pretty easy these days with apps such as Venmo or Zelle. Easily transfer money automatically to your roommates account so they can quickly and efficiently pay the bill on time!

Be Considerate- Communication is Key!

When you live with a roommate or multiple roommates you always need to take them into consideration before hosting any dinner parties, friend gatherings, etc. A simple discussion to set plans with your roommates will open a conversation to make sure everyone is comfortable with a plan and each person is on the same page. Open communication about guests will prevent issues or arguments in the future.

Clean Up After Yourself in Shared Spaces

One of the simplest ways to show consideration to your roommates is by cleaning up after yourself. Whether you just cooked dinner in the kitchen or have been hanging out in the living room all afternoon, it's best to tidy up after yourself. This way your roommates do not come home or are expected to share an area you have created a mess in. If everyone does their part to clean any shared spaces, you will avoid upset feelings! How you keep your individual bedroom is up to you but cleaning any shared spaces is a must.

T alk About Your Schedules

The last topic we believe is important to discuss with your roommates is each persons individual schedule. This will be helpful to know to prevent any conflicts. Whether that is both needing to use the bathroom at the same time to get ready for work or knowing you need to try your best to be quiet in the mornings after your roommates late night shift, this conversation will help get everyone on the same page!

We hope you found this post helpful and will use a few of these with your future or current roommates to ensure a happy and healthy living arrangement!

Meet the Team: Tyler Rackley – Richmond Real Estate Expert

emily@brickroadrentals.com (Emily Brick Road Rentals) — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 20:43:57 GMT

We hope you have been enjoying getting to know us over the last few weeks. Each individual member brings their own unique charm and personality to the table making us a well-rounded team . Last but not least, we want to introduce you to our owner and fearless leader, Tyler Rackley . Tyler completes our team here at Brick Road Rentals and we are lucky to have him leading us to be the best property management team in Richmond.

Richmond's Real Estate Expert- Tyler Rackley

Tyler has been a native of Richmond since 1996 and has spent his time since then falling in love with the city and the surrounding areas. Tyler was licensed as a Real Estate Salesperson in 2006 and received his Real Estate Brokers license in 2016. Over the course of his career Tyler has assisted with over 500 real estate sales and was listed as a Top 20 real estate agent in Central Virginia Regional Multiple Listing Service. After hearing about how upset his investors were with their lack of options for property management in Richmond VA, Tyler decided to do something about it. In 2015 he opened Brick Road Rentals and the rest is history. Tyler now manages Brick Road Rentals, his sales team The 20/20 Team, and is the Principal Broker for Go Real Estate Inc . When Tyler is not busy with real estate he enjoys his time spent with his family. Tyler is married to his beautiful wife, Carol, and father to his wonderful daughter, Isabela. He also enjoys singing in various musical groups around the Mid-Atlantic area including his barbershop quartet Forecast.

We've enjoyed sharing more about each of us and look forward to serving you and your rental properties.

Five Things To Do in Richmond, Virginia!

emily@brickroadrentals.com (Emily Brick Road Rentals) — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 20:29:22 GMT

Whether you have lived in Richmond all your life or just moved to town, you will always find something new and fun to do here in the river city! The Covid-19 Pandemic has limited a few activities but we wanted to share a few of our favorite and safe things to do during this time! Grab your masks and check out these spots.

Maymont Park

Maymont Park is a historic estate with over 100-acres of land right here in Richmond, VA. From the Maymont Mansion, the Japanese and Italian gardens to the different historic exhibits, there is so much beauty and history to see in this one-location! A great outdoor activity in Richmond!

Carytown

Carytown is one of the most popular areas in Richmond. Filled with plenty of shops, restaurants, and more, you will always find something to do! Every business located in Carytown is taking extra precautions to safely provide great experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Belle Isle

Another great place for an outdoor activity is Belle Isle . With gorgeous views of the James River and downtown Richmond, this is a great spot to go for a hike or to relax by the water. The new pedestrian bridge has a stunning view of the city scape.

Scott's Addition

Scott's Addition is a great up and coming area in Richmond. You will find every type of activity to do here. From restaurants to breweries and more, every one will enjoy Scott's Addition!

Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens

The last place we will share with you is Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens . With thousands of gorgeous flowers to see and a peaceful ambiance, this outdoor space is a great day or night time activity! Tickets can be purchased online only during this time.

We hope you found a new area of Richmond to check out! Enjoy exploring!

Ways To Decorate Your Rental- Without Causing Damage!

emily@brickroadrentals.com (Emily Brick Road Rentals) — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 19:49:28 GMT

Whenever you move into a new rental, one of the first things you want to do is make it feel like home! Adding personal touches to align with your personal style and taste. Because you are in a rental, you want to make sure how you decorate does not cause damage! In most leases, you will find limitations of what you can do.

Today we are sharing a few safe and easy ways you can make your new rental feel like home without causing damage and potentially losing your security deposit!

#1- Command Strips/Hooks

Command strips are the perfect alternative to putting nails in the wall of your rental. Available in a variety of colors and finishes, you can find a command strip/hook to go just about anywhere and hang most items. Use these to hang picture frames, plants, dog leashes, keys, and more! When it is time to move out, the command strips are easily removed and cause no damage.

# 2- Bookcase

In most rentals, you are not allowed to hang floating shelves or anything that will create large holes in the walls. A great alternative to this is a nice sized bookcase. Not only can you use this for storage but you can also display your favorite decorative objects such as picture frames, candles, etc.

#3- Large Mirrors

Another great way to decorate and make your rental feel larger, is by adding a large mirror. You can find 6-8 foot full-sized mirrors at places such as Home Goods or T.J.Maxx for afforable prices. Prop a large full sized mirror in your bedroom or hallway to make the space appear larger and add an extra touch to the space.

#4- Colorful Furniture

In most rentals, you are not permitted to paint the walls a different color than what is already there. Typically the walls of apartments are various shades of white, beige or gray. A great and fun way to add color to your rental is with pops of bright furniture. You can also use colorful throw pillows or rugs!

#5- Floor Lighting

Depending on your rental, you may have amazing natural light or not very much at all. Adding unique floor lamps can be a fun and simple way to decorate a space and add extra light. Most likely your landlord will not allow you to replace or switch out any light fixtures yourself, so by adding floor lamps you can spruce up your apartment to fit your interior decorating style.

#6- Patterned Curtains

A final way to make your rental feel more like home is by adding curtains to your windows! If your rental does not already have curtain rods installed, instead of creating holes in the walls to install your own, use tension rods. The perfect way to add a pop of color or unique pattern to your living space, give you extra privacy, and insure no damage is caused!

Each of these are creative and damage-free ways to make your next rental feel like home! We hope you enjoyed this post. Leave a comment if you think of any additional fun ways to add your own touch to a rental!

Flushable Wipes: Not so Flushable

matt@brickroadrentals.com (Matt Brick Road Rentals) — Sun, 04 Oct 2020 14:00:02 GMT

In today’s times toilet paper is more precious than ever. I am sure we can all recall just a few weeks back when store shelves were empty of this important commodity that we all took for granted. And as toilet paper becomes scarcer, more people have turned to flushable wipes as an alternative. But this may not be for the best. As Richmond’s property management experts we have seen our fair share of plumbing emergencies and you may be shocked to hear they are mostly caused by items advertised as flushable.

Are you sure?

Technically, if you want to split hairs, these products are flushable. They can be flushed down the commode and make it through the big curved pipe at the base of your toilet, also known as the S-bend or S-Trap. But then again so can things like keys, rocks, toys, and cell phones. So the question we really want the answer to is: “Are flushable wipes truly safe for our plumbing and septic systems?” And in my opinion, and the opinion of many Richmond plumbing professionals , the answer is undoubtedly no. The only things that you should be flushed down the toilet are bodily waste and toilet paper.

But why?

Toilet paper is specifically designed to disintegrate in our pipes and septic systems whereas wipes are not. Many of the most popular brands are typically made with things like plastic, polyester, or polypropylene that will not disintegrate and don’t break down. This means that if a wipe is caught in a pipe it won’t get washed out with the next flush. Instead, the next item to travel down the line gets stuck behind the wipe and causes a clog. This could lead to waste water and sewage backing up in all your plumbing fixtures and you stuck with a plumbing bill for hundreds of dollars to clear the line.

Now what?

You may now be wondering, “What’s the easiest way for me to avoid these costly clogs?” and that’s easy. Don’t use flushable wipes. Toilet paper isn’t just better for your plumbing but can be better for your body as well. While wet wipes may get your bottom clean as a whistle, they can actually cause extra irritation down there. However, if you must use them in your home we strongly advise that you dispose of them in a sanitary way, like a special garbage can used for baby diapers or feminine products, until trash day.

Meet the Team: Tyler Rackley – Richmond Real Estate Expert

Summer Vacation: How to Prepare Your Rental for an Extended Stay Away!

Quick and simple steps to prepare your rental for your summer vacation away!

RVA named 3rd in the nation for attracting new residents during Covid-19!

How the Continued Growth of Richmond is Affecting Rentals!

Friday Tip: How To Be A Great Neighbor to Your Fellow Tenants!

How Covid-19 Has Changed the Leasing Process: What To Expect

Steps for leasing a rental property with Brick Road Rentals

﻿

The advantages of using our Online Tenant Portal

Paying Rent

Submitting Maintenance Requests

Simple Application and Lease Process

Vendor Highlight: One Way Home Services

One Way Home Services- Caleb DeHart

How To Properly Clean Your Rental When Moving Out

Moving Out? Follow these steps to properly clean your rental property to ensure you receive your security deposit back!

1. Stove Top/Oven

2. Refrigerator/Freezer

3. Bathrooms ﻿

4. Cabinets/Countertops in Kitchen, Bathroom, etc

5. Baseboards

6. Garage/Storage Areas

7. Floors

8. Windows/Window Coverings

9. Walls/Doors

10. Lights/Switch Plates

Inclement Weather Reminders: Preparing Your Rental

What To Do: When The Temperature is Below Freezing

If Your Pipes Freeze ﻿

How To Find A Great Potential Roommate!

Roommate Finder Website

Social Media

Alumni Networks

Holiday Travel Tips: How To Prepare Your Rental

Set Your Thermostat!

E ﻿ mpty Your Refrigerator!

T ﻿ ake Out The Trash!

S ﻿ top Your Mail Delivery!

Notify Your Neighbors!

Keep It Peaceful: Tips for Living with Roommates!

Set Ground Rules

Decide How You Will Pay The Bills

Be Considerate- Communication is Key!

Clean Up After Yourself in Shared Spaces

T ﻿ alk About Your Schedules

Meet the Team: Tyler Rackley – Richmond Real Estate Expert

Richmond's Real Estate Expert- Tyler Rackley

Five Things To Do in Richmond, Virginia!

Maymont Park

Carytown ﻿

Belle Isle

Scott's Addition

Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens

Ways To Decorate Your Rental- Without Causing Damage!

#1- Command Strips/Hooks

# ﻿ 2- Bookcase

#3- Large Mirrors

#4- Colorful Furniture

#5- Floor Lighting ﻿

#6- Patterned Curtains

Flushable Wipes: Not so Flushable

Are you sure?

But why?

Now what?

3. Bathrooms

If Your Pipes Freeze

E mpty Your Refrigerator!

T ake Out The Trash!

S top Your Mail Delivery!

T alk About Your Schedules

Carytown

# 2- Bookcase

#5- Floor Lighting