30 Ways to Boost Property Value | Christopher Seepe (President, Aztech Realty)

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About this Course

Expert Chris Seepe shares 30+ practical strategies to help residential rental property owners increase property value and improve profitability—even in economically challenging conditions.

Drawing on findings from three CMHC reports that reveal the financial struggles of multi-residential investment properties, Chris examines the systemic challenges landlords face, including government policy conflicts and increasing regulatory costs.

Despite the obstacles, this course offers actionable solutions and creative approaches to help landlords make their properties more financially sustainable. Whether you're a seasoned investor or new to property management, you'll gain valuable tools to strengthen your real estate business in tough times.

About Chris Seepe

Chris Seepe owns and hands-on operates 70 residential rental units in Ontario. He was a Broker of Record for 10 years specializing in residential investment properties (now retired), and recently retired as the 9-year past president of the Landlords Association of Durham.

Many of Chris's articles have been published in various national magazines and he has been a guest speaker at national and regional property management conferences (e.g. Springfest, PM Expo), various realtor association and brokerage education sessions, and has participated in numerous podcasts and independent video sessions.

Where to find Chris Seepe

Address
Aztech Realty Inc.
6 Riviera Drive, Concord, Ontario, L4K 2J1​

Phone
(905) 738-0896 (Office)
(416) 525-1558 (Direct)​

Email
[email protected]

What you’ll learn

• Understand the impact of Net Operating Income (NOI) on property value: Discover the direct relationship where every $1 increase in NOI can add $20 to your property's value, and conversely, every $1 of expense can reduce it by $20.

• Identify 37 specific strategies to increase property value: Learn actionable methods for both reducing costs and increasing income in your investment properties, applicable during any economic period.

• Gain insights into finding, analyzing, and managing investment properties: Explore topics such as cap rates, financing clauses, interest rate impacts, managing properties, and understanding key lease clauses like the "72 clauses" and guarantor applications.

• Navigate regulatory and financial aspects of property management: Understand concepts like Above Guideline Increases (AGI), carbon tax implications, suite metering utilities, and the advantages of incorporating your property business for liability and tax benefits.

• Access practical tools and expert guidance for landlords and property managers: Benefit from business templates, spreadsheet calculators, paralegal coaching sessions, and a year of Openroom software, taught by an experienced property manager.

Key Takeaways

• NOI is crucial for property value: A fundamental principle is that every dollar of Net Operating Income (NOI) directly contributes to a significant increase in your property's value, while every dollar of expense has an inverse effect.

• Always take maximum rent increases: Despite feeling empathetic towards tenants, consistently applying the maximum allowable rent increase is essential because operating expenses will inevitably outpace the government-set guideline increases, especially with long-term tenants.

• Long-term tenants can diminish equity: Tenants staying for many years, paying below market rates, can significantly reduce the potential equity of your investment property over time

• Suite metering is a high-impact strategy: Implementing individual meters for electricity, gas, and water (suite metering) can lead to substantial annual savings and hundreds of thousands of dollars in property value appreciation by transferring utility costs to tenants

• Transition from gas to electric appliances: Anticipate increasing carbon taxes and regulatory changes by replacing gas appliances with electric alternatives like heat pumps, which can offer significant long-term savings and rebates.

• Avoid leasing hot water tanks and laundry machines: Purchasing these items outright is more cost-effective than leasing them, as leasing costs can significantly reduce property value over time and are difficult to pass on to tenants.

• Optimize water meter size: Regularly check if your building has an oversized water meter, as switching to a smaller, appropriate size can lead to substantial annual savings and increase property value for a minimal investment.

• Consider "fees for keys" for low-paying tenants: Offering financial incentives to long-term, low-paying tenants to vacate can result in a massive increase in property value once the unit can be rented at market rates.

• Separate parking agreements and manage insurance deductibles: Implement separate parking agreements to allow for independent rent increases, and use high insurance deductibles ($10,000) for catastrophic events, not minor repairs, to keep premiums down.

• Incorporate your property business and manage loan-to-value: Operating your properties under a company name (preferably separate numbered companies for each building) limits personal liability, and maintaining at least 25% equity (75% Loan to Value) is crucial for financial stability and future growth.

In this class, we cover

[Coming Soon]

View Documents Chris Seepe’s Presentation

Resources Referenced

• CanLII – Canadian Legal Information Institute (platform for court orders/judgments) https://www.canlii.org/

• LTB (Landlord and Tenant Board) – Ontario’s tribunal for rental disputes and records
https://tribunalsontario.ca/ltb/ 

• Amazon - Keys for coin-operated laundry machines https://www.amazon.ca/

• Bell - Wi‑Fi & Internet operator https://www.bell.ca/

• Enbridge - Natural gas provider with rebate programs for gas appliance replacement (e.g., heat pumps) https://www.enbridge.com/

• CRA (Canada Revenue Agency): Active vs Passive Rental Income
Tax interpretation for rental vs business income https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/businesses/topics/rental-income/you-have-rental-income-business-income.html

• Durham Water – Regional water utility in Durham https://www.durham.ca/en/living-here/water-billing.aspx

• Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) – Ontario housing legislation https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/06r17

Collaboration Credits

About Openroom University

Free learning courses are part of the vision behind Openroom of creating a transparent and connected rental ecosystem. We believe that knowledge is power and we should have more information to make informed decisions.

If you like what we do, let us know at [email protected] or consider buying us a coffee!

Disclaimer

This information is provided for general guidance only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your specific situation

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