10 Questions Every San Diego Landlord Should Ask Themselves Right Now
Sometimes the best way to improve is to slow down and ask yourself some honest questions.
This isn’t a quiz with grades. It’s a gut-check — a series of questions designed to surface the blind spots that quietly cost San Diego rental owners money, time, and peace of mind. Let’s get into it.
Questions about Financial Health
- Do you know your current market rent — not what you’re charging, but what you could charge today?
Rents in San Diego shift constantly. Owners who haven’t benchmarked in 12+ months are often undercharging — sometimes significantly. A professional market analysis can reveal a gap you didn’t know existed.
- Have you reviewed your income and expenses in the last 90 days?
If the numbers live only in your head (or in a shoebox), you’re flying blind. Clean books aren’t just for tax time. They tell you whether your investment is actually performing.
- Do you know your vacancy cost per day?
We covered this in another post, but it bears repeating: every owner should know this number cold. If you don’t, calculate it today. And are you giving a product to the market that is desirable? Are your standards to high? Are you getting in the way of your home renting?
Questions about Operations
- When was the last time you did a formal property inspection?
Not a walkthrough. A documented inspection with photos, notes, and follow-up items. If it’s been more than a year, something has probably been missed.
- Are your leases up to date with current California law?
California rental law changes. Regularly. If your lease template is a few years old, it may have gaps that expose you to liability.
- Do you have a proactive maintenance schedule — or just a reactive to-do list?
If you’re only fixing things when residents complain, you’re spending more than you need to and straining those relationships in the process.
The Big Picture Questions
- How much of your own time is this property consuming each month?
Value your time. If you’re spending 10 hours a month managing a property and your management fee would be $200–$300, the math might already be there.
- Do your residents feel well cared for?
Happy residents stay longer. Shorter tenancies mean more turnover — and more cost. This one is worth thinking about honestly.
- Are you Fair Housing compliant? Fully and documented?
Not “I think so” — but actually confident you could demonstrate consistent criteria application if challenged.
- Are you getting the most from this investment, or are you just getting by?
That’s the big one.
📞 If a few of those answers made you uncomfortable, that’s actually great news — because it means there’s room to do better. FBS Property Management can help. Call (619) 286-7600 or schedule a free rental analysis.
