Article by Elaine Salt

Everyone would like to be liked by everybody. Therefore, as much as possible, we try to please people around us. If you are a landlord though, you have to be careful about being too kind as being friendly is not on top of your to do list. Your primary goals should be the following: find good tenants, protect the value of your property, and manage it well.

Remember that it is better to be respected than being liked if you are a landlord. By delivering what you have promised and being very clear in stating what you are expecting from your tenants, you can create a good relationship with them right at the start. By laying down the groundwork for a good relationship with a good tenant, you are on the right path to success.In performing your duties as a landlord, you should not be too personal. The best way to go about it is to think of yourself as a property manager instead of the owner of the property. If you have an idea how rental property managers act, always ask yourself in any situation regarding the running of your business what would a property manager do. For example, when collecting rent from your tenants, ask yourself how property managers would go about doing it.The reason why you should do this is that property managers are known for their businesslike manner. They operate in an efficient way without allowing personal feelings get in the way of doing their jobs. Granted, it is easier said than done but if you believe in what you are doing and if you want the best for your business, you can learn how to act like they do easily enough.Basically, you do not want to be too personally involved with your tenants in any way. Small chats when you are collecting rent would not hurt but be careful that your tenant does not misinterpret your actions. Sometimes, tenants would think that because you are very friendly with them, they can ask for favors that would violate the terms of your agreement. Obviously, you have to be tactful in responding to cases like this as you do not want to come off as being arrogant.

When declining any favor being asked by your tenant, make sure that they understand why you are declining. If they respect you, they would not think differently of you. In fact, if you do it in a nice way, they could respect you even more.

About the Author

Elaine Salt invites you to visit Salt Lake Property Management to learn more information about property management and how to grow your rental property business.

Article by Richard Burgess

If you are contemplating letting out your property then getting some let property insurance quotes may be an ideal place to start. There may be a few points, which you may wish to bear in mind when your are reviewing your landlord insurance quotes:

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Article by House & Son

Finding a suitable property to rent can be a stressful experience, thus knowing how to choose your property is a first crucial step. Whether you are a student looking for temporary accommodation or a more experienced tenant, these tips can make the process of renting much easier.

1. Determine Your Budget – A crucial step at the beginning of the research process is to decide how much you can afford on a monthly or yearly basis, and stick to this budget when looking for actual properties. Most letting agents will state either the weekly or monthly rental costs, and whether any bills and council tax are included. When calculating your budget, it is always important to take utility bills, insurance, council tax, deposits and potential removal costs into account as well.

2. Property considerations – Before you actively start searching for properties, it is also important to decide exactly what kind of property you are looking for. Do you want a house or a flat? Do you need a garden and/or parking space? Do you prefer the property to be furnished or unfurnished? Are you planning to rent through a private landlord or a real estate agency? These are just some of the most important considerations to keep in mind before searching for your property.

3. Think about the location – Thinking about the location of your property is essential before renting one. If you don’t live in the close proximity, walk around the neighbourhood, and make sure that the local area has all the amenities you’ll need. Think about how important the proximity of hospitals or schools are, how the neighbourhood’s nightlife is, and how long it will take to commute to your workplace for example. If you think about all these factors carefully, you’ll save time and stress on the long term.

4. Search for properties – Once you have determined your options and expectations and have some knowledge of the local real estate market, you can start actively looking for properties. As a first step, you can look at some estate agents and search for properties to rent online. All estate agents nowadays will have websites, which will give you valuable information on available properties and agency fees. Arranging viewings with more estate agents and for a variety of properties is recommended so as to be able to choose the best possible option. You can also look for classifieds in the local newspapers, or ask around among your friends. If you take a walk in your chosen area, you might also find a suitable property, as landlords and estate agents often advertise rental properties with signs.

About the Author

Thinking of buying, selling ore renting a property? House & Son are professional estate agents in Bournemouth. Visit our website to find out more about our properties in Bournemouth and lettings in Bournemouth.

Article by Peter Richards

It’s not difficult to see why Cyprus remains one of the top tourist destinations in Europe with over 1.6 million people visiting the eastern Mediterranean isle between January and August 2008 according to the Passengers Survey. It is not only loved by thousands of holiday makers but by second home owners and also by expatriates who all choose Cyprus because of its inimitable climate, it’s fantastically relaxed pace of life, the standard of living and ultimately the beauty of Cyprus. You can add to these positive factors that stack up in Cyprus’ favour the fact that it is a low tax island, it’s a member of the EU, has a thriving business environment and its banks are in a much better position than those in much of the world with domestic banks reportedly having

Article by Yael Harari

Elaine, a new Olah from Switzerland, came to live in Ra’anana with her family. The family decided to rent a house as a “try-out” period at the end of which they would decide how to proceed for a more permanent arrangement.Shortly thereafter a suitable house was found, a lease contract was signed with an honest landlord and the family began their settling-in stage in Israel. A term of their house leasing contract obligated the family to insure the house with a reputable insurance company.

In order to comply with their contact, Elaine contacted a random insurance broker and requested a price quote for insuring the house as per the contract’s terms. Several days later, with her permission, the agent sent an appraiser to her house, who produced a detailed list and assessed the value of the various items in the house for insurance purposes, on the basis of which, the agent provided Elaine with the insurance price estimate.

Subsequently, Elaine efficiently contacted an additional insurance broker and requested another price quote for insuring the house, based on the copy of the survey report. Since this agent offered a cheaper price for the same coverage, she decided to sign an insurance contract the insurance company he represented, rather than with the first agent she approached.

Several weeks later, Elaine was surprised to receive registered mail from the first insurance broker stating she owed NIS 2,900 for her house insurance policy, demanding Elaine settle the debt immediately. A quick inquiry revealed that the first insurance broker Elaine approached, wrongfully issued an insurance policy, without Elaine’s consent which resulted in the insurance company demanding payment. Elaine contacted our company feeling helpless and unsure what to do and how to proceed. Without delay we drafted a letter on behalf of Elaine, clarifying that she specifically asked for a price quote and never intended for a policy to be issued. Additionally, since the insurance company would have demanded Elaine at least pay the appraiser’s costs as is the custom, we managed to reach a settlement with the second insurance company Elaine eventually signed with, that they bear the appraiser’s costs. As a result, Elaine’s family paid for only one policy, with the company of their choice.

Tips for Home Insurance• Like most service providers, costs of insurance varies between companies, make sure you shop around before deciding on an insurance policy.

• In order to take out a home insurance policy, you can contact the insurance companies directly or use an insurance broker. If you contact the insurance companies directly it will be cheaper, but you will have no “personal representative”. Rather, you will have to speak to a different representative each time you call the company.

• There are 2 types of coverage in home insurance policies: structure insurance and content insurance (and a third option, which is one policy that includes both). Structure policy typically covers the home structure i.e. plumbing, tiles, property foundations, heaters, permanent fixtures such as windows, doors, kitchen cabinets etc. Content policy typically covers the contents inside the property insured such as furniture, plants (inside the dwelling), pictures etc. The items are not insured if they are not held within the structure itself, so garden furniture and equipment, jacuzzis on roofs or in the garden, bicycles in the shed etc. are not covered.

• When “shopping around” for a good deal – do not provide payment details. Clearly inform any potential insurance broker you are interested in price quotes only, prior to making your final decision about the insurance broker and company you want to contract with.

• Often, when an insurance broker sends an appraiser to assess the value of the property contents and structure for insurance purposes, he does so on behalf of an insurance company which in return, undertakes to pay the appraiser’s costs. However, if subsequent to his report you decide to insure the house with a different company, you may be requested to pay the appraiser’s expenses yourself or reimburse the insurance company – clarify the payment to the appraiser issue with the insurance broker before you agree to a survey, make sure you will not be obligated to pay for the survey should you have a change of heart and decide to contract with a different insurance broker or company.

• Ask the insurance broker to provide you with detailed written explanations of the coverage offered, preferably a copy of the policy in English (available in some insurance companies) or a detailed translation in a language you fully understand.

• Prior to signing an insurance policy: 1) Carefully read the terms of the policy and the extent of coverage for each risk. Make sure the insured sum for each risk covered (the sum the insurance company is expected to pay) as well as the excess sum (the cost you are expected to pay yourself if an insurance event occurs), is clearly stated in the policy next to each risk. 2) Make sure that any promises given by the insurance broker are written in the policy, especially if these promises for coverage are personal and not a standard term in the policy – there is no value to any oral promises the agent gives you, unless they are specifically contained in the policy (if it is not written in the policy, it does not exists). 3) Ensure you comply with the house protection specifications as per the insurance contract terms. Some policies request special locks, alarms and security mechanisms. If you fail to comply with the policy’s terms, the insurance company may deny your claim.

• Jewelry – many insurance companies require expensive jewelry to be locked in a heavy safe, some policies even stipulate the safes must be screwed to the ground or a wall. The safes insurance companies usually specify as being satisfactory are very expensive, and if you are a tenant leasing the property, purchasing such a safe may not be worth the money. Moreover, permanently attaching the safe to the ground or a wall may prove to be problematic with the landlord. A cheaper alternative is to store the jewelry in your bank’s safe. However, this means the jewelry will not be insured under the home policy, but if stored at the bank, the risk for theft is drastically reduced.

• When renting property – ask the landlord whether he has home insurance on the property, and the extent of coverage. Many landlords have structure insurance but require tenants to insure the contents themselves. Alternatively, landlords may have both structure and content insurance but this does not take you off the hook. In the event of negligence causing damage covered by the insurance (whether structure or content), an insurance company will compensate the policy holder but retain the right (and exercise it often!) to sue for reimbursement from the negligent party. Therefore, if you are renting the property and negligently caused damage, the insurance company will pay the landlord as the policy’s beneficiary, but may then submit a claim against you for your negligence! There are several mechanisms to avoid this unpleasant situation, one of which is to ask the landlord to add you as a party to the policy. Since you are not the property owner the insurance will pay the landlord, but as a named party in the insurance, the insurance company is barred from submitting a claim against you. This is a common preventative step which does not cost the landlord anything but a phone call and does not affect him in anyway, but protects you as the tenant.

• When all else fails and you feel you were wronged by the insurance company, you can turn to the Insurance Commissioner (which is called the “Insurance Supervisor” in Israel). The Insurance Commissioner works within the Ministry of Finance and his role includes, amongst other things, to ensure that insurance companies do not take advantage of consumers. You can reach the Insurance Supervisor by internet through the Ministry of Finance (unfortunately at present this option is only available in Hebrew), or you can fax your complaint to 02-5695352.

Yael Harari, Adv., Esq. Co-Founder of TransHomation

About the Author

Yael Harari is an attorney both in Israel and in New York. She is a co-founder of TransHomation, a small boutique style company that provides personal, customized aliyah, relocation, settling-in and ongoing-support services to newcomers in Israel (www.transhomation.com).

Article by Mary Clogenmeir

Having a bad credit history does not mean you cannot buy a home, but the stark reality is that you probably will have to pay more than a borrower who has excellent credit. Although the legal period between bankruptcy filings is seven years, your credit report can be adversely affected for an entire decade. The key to realizing this elusive American dream is to spend a good deal of time researching all the various options you may end up encountering.

There are two types of loans available: a bad credit secured loan and a bad credit unsecured loan. A secured loan is highly unlikely since assets are not available and thus it will probably be a bad credit unsecured loan. These loans are not easy to get, as banks are understandably leery of people with bad credit. You may still be able to get one, but it will be based on you ability to repay (your income level).

Consider a Lease Option. This type of agreement is made with a property owner in which you are allowed to live in the home as if you are actually the owner. Usually the signed agreement is for a year or two and as soon as you qualify for a home loan within the agreed time period, you buy the house at the originally negotiated price. Technically, you are leasing the home with an option to buy it, which is a good deal because it gives you time to repair damaged credit.

There are other benefits associated with a lease option. For one thing, you don’t have to deal with a landlord, and you can renovate the home, as you desire. Also, as the home appreciates in value, the increased equity becomes yours since you are bound to buy the house for the original negotiated price. In a way, you are locking in the market price of the future today.

Credit cards are the best way to build credit, but be careful with them. Make payments promptly every month; it will not go unnoticed. If your credit is so bad that you can’t get a card, you can apply for a secured credit card at a bank. This entails putting a deposit on the card, which becomes the card’s credit limit, which is 0 or ,000 dollars. After about a year of good use, this card becomes a normal credit card and you are refunded your deposit.

About the Author

Concerned with discovering more about real estate in Boulder or other homes options here in Colorado? Our real estate brokers are here to aid you. Moreover, consider utilizing our complimentary information and real estate tools if you are in search of Superior Colorado real estate.

Article by Tulio Troche GRI Broker Associate

Tips for new Real estate Investors

You just started investing in real estate The market is getting soft. Lots of opportunities are out there for all of us to take our share now. If you are savvy, you understand that now is a great time to buy homes and keep them as rentals. Maybe you have a home that you just cant move. You don’t want to sell it because you know the market is going to turn around anyhow. Here are some important tips for newbie landlords:* The purchase price must be right if you expect to get something back at the end of the day. A house can only get a certain amount of rent. If you cant cover the mortgage payment with the rent now, you should seriously consider other options. You can only raise the rent so much before it would just sit vacant and wont rent. * A property manager can save you a lot of headaches. Look for him/her to: price the rent right, find good tenants, help you with local laws, etc.. * Run a credit check on potential renters and insist on references. * If you don’t visit Home Depot often…in other words if you are not capable of keeping your properties in good shape you are going to pay much more down the way. Keeping the property in good condition helps attract quality tenants. Budget for repairs!* Skimping on insurance can put a landlord in an tricky situation. * Try to get 10 to 12 per cent return on your money.. Finding a good accountant who understands the dizzying array of tax breaks, deductions and write-offs is often critical to achieving this margin.

Tulio Troche is a GRI Broker associate that works the Orlando Fl area. Always helping with homes, condos, investment properties.

By Tulio TrocheGRI Broker AssociateExit Real Estate Professionals407 581 7470Tulio@TulioTroche.comwww.ISellOrlandoHouses.com

About the Author

Tulio Troche GRI Broker Associate for Exit Real Estate Professionals is an investing realtor. Always looking at real estate to buy for himself and for a few selected that dare to make it happen for themselves.

Article by Karrie Rose

In the advent of the sub prime mortgage crisis many homeowners are opting to rent properties as opposed to trying to sell in this unstable and already saturated market. But, land lording involves some savvy, so listen up and heed some valuable advice, before diving into the world of renting and leasing your home.

Number one, take note that you’re not the only one is this position, so don’t immediately assume it’ll be easy as pie and that you’ll fetch a pretty penny in terms of your rental income. The reality is that in 2005 and 2006 when money flowed like Italian table wine, well everyone had the same idea to get rich fast through real estate. Today, these folks are your competitor landlords and it’s dog eat dog out there. With all this competition, there’s a lot on the market and rental prices are being driven steadily downward.

Because of this competitive market, if you want to ensure your place gets rented and stays rented for a while, then your going to have to price right- and in most cases this means under pricing your rental property. So keep a close eye on similar rentals in your area and be prepared to bite the bullet and offer yours at a bit less than everyone else’s. You want to be the dog with the bone, right? So, jump through the right hoops Bo Bo…

Make sure you meet your prospective tenants and do a proper walk-though with them to take stock on the condition of the property and to go over the terms of the lease. Of course, you’ll also want to check up on their credentials and credit history. Be absolutely thorough with this. Ask for references, both professional and personal and then call those references. You’ll want to use your instinct as well- but some hard and fast research is necessary to ensure these new tenants will be good custodians of your property.

When contemplating the idea of renting you must understand that there are still costs associated with renting a property. In many cases you won’t always be able to charge as much as your monthly mortgage payments, so be prepared for that shocker. Also factor in maintenance fees, insurance, the cost to make ready and to clean-up/repair when the tenant moves out. Likewise, if you use a rental agency this is another substantial cost to factor in. At the end of the day, you’ll want to compare these costs with the cost of selling your home and decide whether or not it’s actually worth it to rent.

About the Author

Florida’s hottest resort real estate market comes alive at Edkirkland.com. This website has everything you need to get started buying or selling property in the Destin real estate area and the South Walton real estate area.

Article by Ace Abbey

In order to streamline the moving process, organization is the key. Packing ahead, consolidating and purchasing supplies, using different type of boxes, utilizing luggage and keeping receipts are all beneficial practices.

Moving can often be a tedious task, especially if it

Article by Russell

The California real estate market has something for everyone,whether you’re looking to buy Malibu bank owned homes or rent an apartment on the beach. Those interested in renting have many options,but it is important that renters research each listing thoroughly and make sure that they can live with the terms of any lease presented by a potential landlord. Follow these tips for making the rental process run as smoothly as possible.

Considerations

Before you even look at rental listings,sit down and make a list of all the features and amenities you must have in an apartment. If you hate carrying heavy baskets of laundry to the laundromat,look for an apartment that has a laundry room or a washer and dryer in the unit. If you plan to take a dog with you,make sure the apartment building has enough outdoor space for regular walks. If you have more than one vehicle,you need an apartment building with a large lot or assigned on-street parking spaces. Writing down what you want will help you find the best rental to meet your needs.

Research

Once you find several suitable Malibu real estate listings,make note of their locations and conduct research to find out as much as you can about the buildings and their owners. If an apartment building is owned by a large investment group or run by a property management company,you may be able to find online reviews. Read these reviews carefully and make note of any consistent problems. If only one person out of 100 reviewers has a complaint,it could be that the person is a bad tenant and was evicted from the building. If 75 people out of 100 have the same complaint,you might want to avoid renting in that particular building.

Building Tours

Once you narrow down your list of prospective Malibu beach homes,you must visit each of them to determine if they are right for you. Look in hallways,lobbies and other common areas to see if they are well-maintained. If they are dirty or in need of repair,the landlord may not take good care of the building’s apartment units either. Once you enter an apartment,note any damage to the walls,fixtures and furniture. Check the shower head,sink faucet,bathtub faucet and toilet to make sure they work properly. Make sure the refrigerator,stove,washer,dryer and any other provided appliances work properly. Once you have completed your tour of each building,you can use your notes to make a final decision.

Moving In

When you move into your new apartment,one of the first things you should do is take photos. These photos can help document damage that existed before you moved in so that you do not get charged for repairs or replacements. Make sure the photos are time-stamped and dated so you can prove when they were taken,if necessary. Keep these photos and your signed lease in a fireproof safe or a bank safe deposit box so that they are safe in case of fire,flood or other damage.

About the Author

Russell Grether of Coldwell Banker Previews International is a real estate agent based out of Malibu,CA. He specializes in Malibu real estate, Malibu properties, Malibu Land for sale, Malibu rentals and surrounding area real estate from Montecito to the Pacific Palisades.