Longer term I do see the benefit of central air. It seems the younger people these days are less able to cope with any form
discomfort. Kids just seem to want to stay inside with the windows shut at a constant 70°F. My primary residence a few miles away
from the rental property came with central air when we bought it, which I thought was rediculous. I think I’ve used it twice –
back in 1997. But I think that times are changing, more people will expect air conditioning.[/quote]
I’m glad you see the long-term benefit of having central air. Even being so close to the coast.
I own several rental properties and I’d really LOVE a situation like this where a tenant was willing to pay for a big improvement like this.
The tenant sounds like an IDEAL candidate as well because she has a high credit score, stable work history/owns her own business, great track record at the last place she stayed, etc.
If she was willing to pay for it, I’d take the measures needed to protect yourself and get a real estate attorney to come up with a solid contract that protects you and I’d quickly get this done while it’s still hot out! LOL.
Being from the San Diego area you probably know that there are only a few weeks out of the year where you may need it but I can’t tell you how many potential renters from other cities that are moving here don’t know it and having a place with Central Air, especially if the other units in the area don’t is a huge selling point.
I find it a bit strange that some locals almost seem embarrassed or ashamed to use AC living close to the coast. It’s like some feel some guilt for using their AC or something. LOL. I don’t get it. My philosophy with a summer like this is use it if you have it!
I hope I get a renter like this! 🙂
Keep us posted which way you went with it.[/quote]
I second this.
We’ve not had A/C for decades…until we bought this house. It was the first thing we put in after years spent driving around in the car on hot days, often checking out houses (that’s one way to learn all about the local housing market!).
We are far more pleasant people now with the A/C — the greatest invention ever made! You have no idea how wonderful it is to finally be able to sleep during the summer months (we are very heat intolerant, and use almost no heat in the winter). Our SDG&E bills have been huge, but the attic ventillation sucks (project for the winter), and in a 1-story house with no tress shading it, it can really feel like an oven.
…..
We made thousands of dollars worth of improvements on our rental, but we also knew we’d be staying there for awhile. It ended up being 8 years, which was longer than most people who bought homes in our area around the same time. Don’t knock tenants who are willing to make improvements. Our wise ex-landlords made a habit of it. They always had long-term tenants, and these renters (not just us) paid for most of the capital improvements to the house: new shower, new flooring, new paint, upgraded landscaping, etc. I don’t think the LLs ever had problems with any of the tenants because of it, and they even let the tenants handle the whole thing — contract, color/material choices, etc.
My parents were long-time landlords and had a number of retal properties in CA and TX. They also let their tenants make improvements. Never had any problems with it. As a matter of fact, some tenants improved the properties pretty significantly.
Don’t forget, not everyone is hung up on the “ownership” label. They just want a nice place to live in for as long as they’re going to live there. Many people rent the same place for decades, while some “owners” only live in their homes for a year or so. Whether they rent or pay a mortgage to a bank, they simply want to improve their homes. There’s nothing wrong with that, and it has nothing to do with being flaky.
Why not agree to a longer lease term if she’s willing to pay for the A/C? Sounds like a good deal to me, and I’d jump at the opportunity if I were you.
While not everyone needs A/C, everyone is different, and some people are more heat/cold intolerant than others. If it means that much to her, let her add the A/C.
