How to Rent Your Properties Faster and Easier
As an investor, you already know the investment strategy you want to use. However, you may not know the best way to find and attract quality, longer-term tenants. I’ll give you a hint: It’s probably not by advertising in your local newspaper classifieds.
The newspaper is still a good place to find tenants for lower-priced properties. That’s because some folks renting in that range still don’t use the Internet much or at all. That may be hard to believe, but it’s true.
For most properties the best place to look is, yes, the Internet. More people are doing business and research online than ever before. The November 5th Denver Post mentioned that a car is sold online once every minute., According to an October 31st article in USA Today, subscriptions to almost all major print newspapers in America are on the decline.
Print newspapers have to charge higher advertising rates to cover their production and distribution costs. A single Sunday want ad can cost $45 to hundreds of dollars - more if a photo is included. The ad is good only for as long as the reader keeps that day’s paper, and actually finds your ad out of hundreds - sometimes thousands - of competing ads.
More and more people are using the Internet to find the specific information they need. That’s why search engines such as Yahoo and Google are so popular. Newspapers offer vast amounts of general information, which is why they aren’t as effective as websites that only address a specific niche. Internet usage is a technological and cultural shift that will only accelerate in the future.
Most newspapers run classified ads on their websites. However, a web posting is usually offered as an add-on when you purchase a print ad. These ads will only be kept online for a limited time. As a property owner, you never know how long it’ll take for your property to rent. You’re playing a guessing game in deciding how much advertising to purchase. That problem is eliminated when you advertise - for free - on a website that’s targeted to your niche.
While the Internet is a great way for potential landlords and tenants to connect, its interactivity increases the possibility of scams and frauds. One way to avoid funny business is to deal locally with potential landlords or tenants you can meet in person. This way there’s no misunderstanding or funds that can get ’skimmed’ off.
Another tip to avoid fraud is to never wire funds via Western Union, Moneygram or any other wire service - which scammers love to use. You also want to be on the lookout for fake cashier’s checks or money orders. If you cash these fake documents at your bank, the law says you are responsible for the funds, and they will come out of your account. It’s wise to verify that any funds sent to you as security deposit or rents are good funds.
You should also NEVER give out any financial information, like a bank account or Social Security number, eBay or PayPal user ID or passwords. Scammers LOVE to get their hands on these to take money, and steal someone’s identity to use their credit for personal gain.
Here are the key phrases and methods that scammers will most commonly use:
- An inquiry from a country far away, such as Nigeria or South Africa
- An offer of an ‘escrow service’ or ‘guarantee’
- An offer written in very poor or broken English
These tips are (or should be) mostly a matter of common sense, but it’s important to slow down and take precautions to make sure you’re protected. By using this advice, you’ll make the marketing and renting of your homes more enjoyable and profitable.
Dave Watts is a real estate investor with over 30 years experience in buying and renting homes. He now helps other investors find quality tenants through his web site, www.ForRentByOwner.com
A Safe Apartment
There are special dangers involved with apartment living. This is because you live so close to many other people. Their actions can jeopardize your safety and so it?s very important for you to be aware of what you must do to safeguard yourself, your family and your possessions.
Fire Safety . . .
Fire is perhaps the greatest danger in apartment buildings. With so many units joined together, it doesn?t take long for fire to spread from one to another. The following guidelines are critical to your safety:
? Install smoke detectors in the kitchen, all bedrooms, the laundry area and hallways. You must test them every month and replace the batteries every 6 months. They won?t do you any good if they aren?t in working order.
? Keep fire extinguishers handy in the kitchen, laundry area and near your outside grill.
? Develop an escape plan. This plan should include two ways of exiting ? in most cases, this will probably include the main door and either a window or door wall. If you live on a higher floor and don?t have access to a fire escape, purchase a rope ladder to use for exiting from windows or a balcony. Practice your escape plan regularly so each member of your family knows exactly what to do in case of fire.
? Never use an elevator during a fire.
? Never park in front of fire hydrants or in fire lanes and make sure your guests don?t either.
General Safety . . .
Fire isn?t the only danger in an apartment building. You must also be aware of hazards that can exist no matter where you live and take precautions to prevent them.
? Install a carbon monoxide detector.
? Install screen guards or window stops and doorstops on your patio door to protect your children from falling.
? Keep your apartment and building number near the telephone so your family or babysitter can access it in case of an emergency. Remember that memories can fail during emergencies.
? Make certain your apartment number is clearly marked on your door.
? Be sure that each person in your family knows how to dial 911.
Protecting from Intruders . . .
There are many people coming and going in an apartment complex. Criminals count on this anonymity. That makes it very important to get to know the other tenants. When you do, not only are you better able to identify someone who doesn?t belong, it also makes it more likely that tenants will look out for one another.
? Consider forming an ?apartment watch?. This is similar to a neighborhood watch but confined to your apartment complex. If a group of tenants is on the alert for suspicious behavior, they can prevent many problems from arising.
? Install quality deadbolt locks on your door and place a wooden rod or steel brace on sliding doors. One caution about deadbolt locks ? don?t purchase those that require a key. In an emergency, you won?t have time to search for the key.
? Make sure your landlord has installed good lighting in all stairways, hallways, and common areas like the laundry room.
? Make sure that if your building has a common entry, the entry door locks so that only tenants can enter. Never open that door for strangers.
If you follow these guidelines, practice good common sense, and are alert to what?s going on around you, your apartment will provide a safe home for you and your family.
Kyle Thomas Haley has been helping people relocate on the Internet since 1999 with Apartment and Relocation Websites: <a href="http://www.apartment-rental.net">An Apartment Directory</a> and <a href="http://www.relocation-guide.net">A Relocation Guide</a> Copyright 1999 ? 2005 STANZEEKAY Inc. You have permission to publish this article, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included and none of the links or content are removed or changed.
The Unpleasant Process Of Tenant Eviction
Tenant eviction is something that no landlord wants to have to go through, but sometimes it is the only option. Although most disputes can be sorted out through negotiation, there are times when eviction is absolutely necessary. If you are a landlord, then it is important to know the process of tenant eviction in case you need to use it. If you do not follow the proper steps, then you could end up losing money or not being able to get the tenant to leave. You could even end up being sued by the tenant for poor treatment. Therefore, getting the process of tenant eviction right is crucial. Reasons for tenant eviction Although there can be any number of reasons why tenant eviction needs to occur, some of the most common reasons include rent arrears, complaints about tenant behaviour or other breaches of the tenancy agreement. Of these, rent arrears is the most common reason for tenant eviction. If a tenant cannot pay you the rent that is due after a number of warnings, then eviction may be the only option left. However, before going ahead with eviction you should seek advice. A great place to get advice about eviction and other property investment issues is the investment property forum www.singingpig.co.uk. However, if eviction looks like the only option then here are some steps you need to follow before eviction can occur. Getting paperwork in order Before evicting someone, you need to make sure that all paperwork regarding the property and the reasons for tenant eviction are in place. This will include the tenant s original rental application, the tenancy contract, and evidence of tenancy violations. For example, if the tenant has stopped paying rent then documentation showing this will be necessary. Clearly stating reasons in the eviction notice When you serve the eviction notice, you need to make sure that you clearly state the reasons why you are seeking eviction. Make copies of this notice both for the tenant and for your own records. It is important that the exact reasons for eviction are known to the tenant so that there can be no chance of a misunderstanding. Check the property Some tenants will damage or destroy property in order to get back at you for eviction. Before the tenant leaves you should inspect the property, making a checklist and taking pictures to prove the condition of the property. You will need to give the tenant at least 24 hours notice before conducting an inspection. This inspection will help you to withhold a security deposit in case anything gets damaged. Giving the correct notice You need to make sure you give the correct amount of notice after serving the eviction papers for the tenant to leave. This is usually between 30 and 60 days, although it can be much quicker if there are sufficient grounds, such as violence or serious criminal behaviour. If you require this, then you will probably need to go to court and get an order for fast eviction. Although tenant eviction is something that no landlord wants to do, if you follow these steps then you will find the process easier and less painful for both you and the tenant being evicted.
Julie-Ann Amos is a freelance writer with www.exquisitewriting.com on business and property investment. She recommends www.singingpig.co.uk as one of the most effective sources of information for small businesses and property investment. Their property investment forum is a place to find information hard to locate elsewhere.
Football Celebrities are Good Neighbours
Against the opinion of Lee Dixon, Lambourne s business partner and a former Arsenal defender that some people would perhaps rather have a doctor for a neighbour there are a many advantages to have a famous football player moving to your area. A research from a buying agency specialised in finding homes for sports celebrities revealed that towns and villages in which footballers have bought properties have had bigger price increases than in similar areas. There are many examples that can sustain this opinion. John Terry, the Chelsea captain owns a home near the club s training ground in Cobham, Surrey. Since he moved there in 2004 the price of a detached property in the area has risen by 28 per cent. An even more impressive change in the value of the properties in the area they moved was given by David and Victoria Beckham. Since they became residents of Sawbridgeworth in Hertfordshire in 1999 property values have risen by 84 per cent. Five years ago, the Arsenal defender Sol Campbell bought his home in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire. Since that moment prices have gone up by nearly a third. The prices in the area where Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United s young Portuguese winger, owns a flat have been growing too. Actually not only Alderley Road in Wilmslow, where Ronaldo s property can be found is more valuable but the entire Cheshire, which is close to Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Everton and Blackburn, particularly in Gold Trafford , the triangle that runs from Wilmslow to Alderley Edge and Hale. An explanation for the rising prices of the properties in the areas where footballers are buying comes from Jeremy Lambourne, director of Oakhall, the same agency that came out with this finding. Lambourne says that football players will very often improve an area because they spend money on their homes and bring in investment, Not far from this opinion is Stuart Flint, who covers the smartest parts of Cheshire for Knight Frank who believes that footballers are well advised these days and they understand the importance of maintaining their properties . But are any disadvantages in having a football celebrity as your neighbour? The same residents that benefited from the increased prices of their properties in Cobham, Surrey had to face the congestion created by the cars parked along the narrow roadside when John Terry held a party for his team-mates at his home. David and Victoria Beckham s neighbours have had to suffer an invasion of paparazzi and fans since these celebrities became their neighbours. But generally footballers are not worse neighbours than ordinary people. Another interesting finding about the properties where footballers chose to invest is revealed by by Country Life. Their survey s results suggest that rather than always going for Dallas-style new-builds, footballers are increasingly buying country houses. The same magazine reveals that 20 prime country homes costing more than 2 million each have been snapped up by premiership footballers over the past three years. As Mark Hedges, editor of Country Life, says: Like most people who buy these properties, footballers ” despite what you may see on TV ” are looking for somewhere with character that also has peace and quiet.
Please visit <a href='http://www.moveto.co.uk'>MoveTo</a> for a wide choice of <a href='http://www.moveto.co.uk'>properties for sale in London</a> and <a href='http://www.moveto.co.uk'>houses to buy in Surrey</a>.
