Pensacola Realty Masters Blog

Landlords and tenants alike have a lot of questions when it comes to what is defined as normal wear and tear versus tenant damage. Since there is not a clear cut answer to this, we rely on years of experience with Landlord Tenant attorneys and judges who set forth case law and guidelines to establish normal wear versus damage. Keep in mind, even when an item is tenant damage, the law requires items to be pro-rated to take into effect useful life and the time a tenant has remained in the property. Since this is a complex formula, we take each instance on a case by case basis; however, the following chart will help to demonstrate some basic differences between wear and tear and tenant damage when it comes to specific items in the home. 

Normal Wear & Tear                                        Versus                                              Tenant Damage 

Well-worn keys and locks/knobs                               vs.        Missing keys, damaged or pried locks

Sticky keys/locks                                                       vs.        Key broken off inside lock

Worn pattern/spot in counter tops                             vs.        Burn mark on counter tops

Rusty, scratched refrigerator shelf                             vs.        Missing/cracked/broken refrigerator shelf

Discolored, worn, or scuffed flooring                         vs.        Cracked/chipped tile, tears in vinyl, burn marks,
                                                                                                gouges, scratches from pets

Carpet seam unraveling                                            vs.        Stains, pet damage, burn marks on carpeting

Cracked paint at seams                                             vs.        Holes in walls, pet damage, crayon/marker on walls

Faded, blistered, sun-damaged blinds/drapes          vs.        Torn/ pet damage, dusty/dirty blinds or drapes

Window/vertical blinds won’t close properly              vs.        Missing turn stick, missing blinds

Faded, dirty or tears on window screens                  vs.        Bent window screen

Wobbly toilet                                                              vs.        Broken toilet tank lid, cracked toilet bowl

Rust stain under bathtub spout                                  vs.        Chip or crack in tub, dirt/scum build up

Loose, inoperable faucet                                           vs.        Missing/broken faucet handle

Bathroom mirror starting to ‘de-silver’                       vs.         Mirror cracked, caked with residue, missing mirror

Mildew in shower due to lack of ventilation              vs.         Mildew due to lack of cleaning or running fan being installed or no window                                                                               ventilation fan

The Realty Masters of FL Team

#1 in Pensacola Property Management and Leasing! 
Rental Office 4400 Bayou Blvd. #58B, Pensacola, FL 32503  (850) 473-3983 www.PensacolaRealtyMasters.com
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originally posted 04-16-2019

Energy Tips to Reduce your Heating and Cooling Bills 

We've had some cold weather lately and that means a sharp increase in your gas and/or electricity bill! 

To combat this, make sure you are using proper thermostat settings. Gulf Power warns that turning your heater up and down uses more energy than leaving it at a constant temperature. If anything, increase or decrease the termperature only at night. They also recommend keeping the heat set at 68 degrees or below during winter and set at 78 degrees or above during summer. 

Other items you can do to improve your energy efficiency in the winter months include:

• Open curtains on sunny days to allow sunlight and close the blinds and curtains once it's dark. 
• Replace your air filter monthly! This is often overlooked in winter when units are not in use as much but should not be ignored. 
• Make sure the switches on your ceiling fan are in the up position instead of the up position! 

Realty Masters of FL

4400 Bayou Blvd. #58B, Pensacola, FL 32503
(850) 473-3983 www.PensacolaRealtyMasters.com
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originally posted 01-09-2018

Phil Mathews, owner of Mathews Heating and Air in Pensacola, gives us some tips on how to keep your home cool this summer! By changing your a/c filter and understanding how your system works, you can enjoy your air conditioner with maximum efficiency.

Best HVAC routine maintenance and settings straight from the Professionals:

• You must change your A/C filter once a month.
• Gulf Power recommends settings thermostat to 78 degrees in summer and and 68 in winter.
• Don't set your thermostat below 70 degrees in summer.
• Your A/C will only cool 20-22 degrees below the outside temperature.

Mathews Heating and Air provides HVAC services throughout Northwest Florida. Realty Masters has been using the services of Phil Mathews for 20 years in the Pensacola, Florida area. Call them at (850) 995-8678. 

Realty Masters of FL~ (850) 473-3983
4400 Bayou Blvd. #58B, Pensacola, FL 32503
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#1 in Pensacola Rental Houses 

originally posted 04-27-2017

Phil Mathews, owner of Mathews Heating and Air, shows us how to complete proper monthly maintenance on your air conditioner by flushing the drain pipe with bleach and warm water and making sure your drain pipe is not buried. This maintenance, along with changing your ac filter monthly, is required for proper HVAC function.

Required HVAC monthly maintenance straight from the Professionals:

• Find your outside drain pipe and make sure it is not blocked by debris or other obstructions/
• Find the bleach port in your inside HVAC system.
• Turn your a/c off using the thermostat before adding bleach or working with your HVAC system.
• Pour a 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup of bleach and follow with 2 cups of warm water into the port.
• For systems with safety switches, Remove the safety switch, Dry the inside out using a cloth, and then pour bleach and water into port.

Mathews Heating and Air provides HVAC services throughout Northwest Florida. Realty Masters has been using the services of Phil Mathews for 20 years in the Pensacola, Florida area. Call them at (850) 995-8678.

Realty Masters of FL~ (850) 473-3983
4400 Bayou Blvd. #58B, Pensacola, FL 32503
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#1 in Pensacola Rental Houses 

originally posted 04-27-2017

Travis Rose with 1st Class Plumbing joins us for another installment of One Minute Maintenance Tips! Watch a licensed and experienced plumber show you how to prevent your toilet and hot water heater from overflowing during a plumbing emergency.

• How to Stop your Toilet from Flooding:

1. Make sure the flapper is pushed down securely against the toilet and does not remain in the open position

2. Locate your water shut off valve 

3.  Turn the valve clockwise until in the off position 

• How to Stop your Hot Water Heater from Flooding:

1. Located the water shut off valve to your hot water heater

2. Turn the water shut off valve clockwise until it is fully closed.

3. Locate your temperature and pressure (T&P) valve located on either the top or side of your hot water heater 

4. Turn the T&P valve into the off position  

Did you know?
There is also a water shut off valve beneath your bathroom and kitchen sink! 

If you are unable to turn the water off at the toilet, sink, or hot water heater, the best course of action is to turn the water off at the meter. Often times it is easy to turn the water off at the meter while others are digital and require a call to your local water company. Again, act fast in the instance of a plumbing emergency so contact your water company immediately if you are unsure of what to do. 

Remember, having this knowledge can help you stay cool in the time of crisis.  It is necessary to act fast in these situations as a small amount of water can create a huge problem once in contact with flooring, walls, baseboards, and doors. 

1st Class Plumbing offers full plumbing and gas services from minor routine maintenance to major plumbing emergencies. They service the Pensacola area including Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties and offer same day as well as 24/7 repairs. Give them a call at (850) 637-5781 or visit them online at http://1stclassplumbing.net/ 

Realty Masters of FL~ (850) 473-3983
4400 Bayou Blvd. #58B, Pensacola, FL 32503
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#1 in Pensacola Rental Houses 

originally posted 03-28-2017

Thanks to Florida Realtors for doing the research and providing this inforgraphic to tell our homeowners how long the average components and systems in your home will last.

This information is especially important for landlords! Don't be surprised as you have to replace major components in your rental home. As your home ages, so do the components in your home. Keeping up with preventative and routine maintenance is imperative for a landlord.

Realty Masters of FL~ (850) 473-3983
4400 Bayou Blvd. #58B, Pensacola, FL 32503
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#1 in Pensacola Rental Houses 

originally posted 03-08-2017

Our friends at Nelson's Appliance helped us with some quick appliance maintenance tips to keep your appliances running efficiently to kick off our new web series "One Minute Maintenance Tips."  Take a minute and learn how to keep your appliances running smoother for longer. 

The appliance maintenance tips are:

1. Use jet dry in your dishwasher. 

2. Always wash your dishes. 

3. Run your dishwasher twice a month. 

4. Clean refigerator coils. 

5. Use garbage disposal twice weekly. 

If you have any appliance issues in the Pensacola area, contact Nelson's Appliance at (850) 572-5102 or visit them online at www.nelsonsappliancerepair.com 

Nicole St. Aubin, Broker Associate

Realty Masters of FL~ (850) 473-3983
4400 Bayou Blvd. #58B, Pensacola, FL 32503
#1 in Pensacola Rental Houses & Apartments
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originally posted 11-01-2016