Leveraging Free PR Distribution to Drive Website Traffic By Lisa Wells
If you are actively posting ActiveRain blogs, you already know how web-based content can drive your search engine rankings and website traffic. Congratulations for making a great start! Please take a minute to learn about free public relations distribution websites: another way you can drive visitors to your site and grow your online visibility.
Online PR distribution sites allow you to post relevant news about your upcoming events, such as open houses, or business accomplishments - using keywords like the tags on your ActiveRain blog posts to drive the news release's online visibility for your target audience. Many PR distribution sites will let you add URLs, pictures and even video links to your online press release.
I have successfully used online press releases for years to drive media inquiries, tv and magazine story placement and to naturally increase website traffic - in fact, one company that I worked with experienced a 200% increase in web traffic in less than six months with NO OTHER web-based marketing except the online press release campaign. If you are paying for Google ads or other online ad placement, you know how valuable this can be!
Most press release distribution websites charge for their services, but there are some great press release resources that are free for small businesses, or that offer a free press release service with the option of paid upgrades for additional services. My list of preferred online press release distribution services is below. I personally use these sites on a regular basis.
http://www.pr-inside.com - This free press release distribution site will let you upload pictures, embed video as well as URLs, and select a category to post your press release. Of all the PR distribution sites that I use, this one has the easiest PR content upload process. Here's an example of a press release that I distributed through PR-Inside.com recently: http://www.pr-inside.com/sigvaris-offers-deep-vein-thrombosis-prevention-r1085996.htm
http://www.1888pressrelease.com - Their unique services allow you to distribute releases to search engines, newswires and websites to help increase awareness of your product, company, or self for free. For a small fee, you can upgrade your submission for maximum exposure. This site stands out because all press release submissions are manually reviewed by editors before approval for distribution, which means you need to follow their guidelines to be posted. They offer a sample press release for reference at http://www.1888pressrelease.com/pr-sample.php
Step Up Your Sales: Five Easy Ways to Help You Feel Better on the Job By Lisa Wells
As a realtor or property manager, you're on your feet all day long, guiding real estate clients or potential tenants through one property after another. By the end of the day, your feet ache endlessly, and you can't wait to stop pounding the pavement. Sound familiar?
Have you ever considered how the physical stress of your job may negatively impact your sales? Think about it. When you feel good, you make a better impression on your clients through the energy and enthusiasm you give off!
When your feet, legs and lower back hurt after a long day of standing though, you can't avoid coming across as less than high-spirited. Even worse, your client may accidentally perceive you to be less interested in helping them.
Many employers already realize the value of healthy, happy workers and offer Corporate Wellness programs to improve their employees' fitness and morale. However, the first step to improving how you feel at the end of the day begins with YOU!
So take a moment to learn how a simple change of socks could improve your physical well-being and may translate to better sales performance. Remember, when you feel good - you'll sell more.
Why Your Legs Hurt After A Long Day of Standing or Walking When your ankles swell or your legs hurt after a long day of standing, most of the time this is due to circulation problems in your leg veins. In fact, 90% of leg disorders originate within the veins.
Why? Your arteries push blood down into your legs from the heart. Your veins fight gravity to push blood back up to the heart so it can be re-oxygenated. Your veins are smaller and more fragile than arteries, and can be damaged more easily. Damaged veins have a harder time circulating blood normally, and this can cause ChronicVenous Insufficiency [CVI] -- a condition in which blood pools in the vein rather than being efficiently pumped back to the heart.
Venous diseases like CVI are progressive. If left undiagnosed and untreated, minimal symptoms may result in a more serious condition. CVI can lead to Varicose Veins, Phlebitis, Thrombophlebitis, Deep Vein Thrombosis [blood clots], and changes in the skin, including leg ulcers. In most cases, leg problems do not just occur "out of the blue." Typical warning signs include:
Pain, swelling or aching in the legs
Dense spider veins or swelling around the ankle
Leg cramps at night
Skin discoloration or pigmentation changes
Inflammation
Who Is At Risk? If you have one or more of following risk factors, you're more likely to suffer from leg aches and pains -- and you're not alone. Over 59% of the population suffers from some degree of vascular disease, and approximately 24 million Americans have varicose veins. Risk factors include:
Heredity
Age 40 or over
Pregnancy - the risk increases after each one.
Obesity
Professions that require long periods of standing/sitting in one place
The impact of CVI and related conditions such as deep vein thrombosis is so widespread that Acting US Surgeon General Steven K. Galson, M.D., M.P.H., recently issued a Call to Action to reduce the number of cases of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in the United States. Galson urged all Americans to learn about and prevent these treatable conditions.
Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism affect an estimated 350,000 to 600,000 Americans each year, and the numbers are expected to increase as the U.S. population ages. Together, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism contribute to at least 100,000 deaths each year.
"Being hospitalized or confined to bed rest, having major surgery, suffering a trauma, or traveling for several hours can increase a person's risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism," Galson said. "We want to increase the awareness and knowledge of these potentially deadly conditions and encourage patients and health care providers to take the steps to prevent them."
Five Easy Ways to Keep Your Legs Healthy and Feeling Better on the Job
Moving legs are healthier legs! Avoid standing or sitting for prolonged periods.
Stay active. Frequent moderate physical exercise [like walking or swimming] is important for leg health and an overall healthy lifestyle.
Wear graduated compression hosiery [aka support hose] or socks. Compression Therapy helps promote blood circulation and reduce the CVI symptoms listed above.
When resting or at night, elevate your legs slightly.
Avoid extended exposure to heat from sunbathing, hot baths or the sauna as excessive heat will cause your veins to dilate and may cause swelling.
About Compression Therapy Of all the tips listed above, most were familiar to me but Compression Therapy was not. Compression Therapy means wearing socks or stockings that are specially designed to support your veins and increase circulation in your legs. When you wear compression socks or stockings throughout the day, the additional support that they provide prevents blood from pooling in leg veins, and reduces the side effects of poor circulation. Think of it as medicine that you wear, but the good news is it doesn't look like medicine!
A great video that explains how compression therapy works is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nrUNmFtCAo. Scenes include a pregnant woman who suffers from swollen ankles, a business traveller who is concerned about the long time she spends in flight, and a repairman who stands for long periods of time at work. Medical commentary provided by Michel Zummo, M.D., a leading vascular physician.
That said, it's easy to understand why Compression Therapy is many physicians' treatment of choice for tired legs and swollen ankles. If you could relieve your tired, achy legs simply by changing socks or pantyhose, would you do it? Of course you would!
Additional resources Several companies produce compression therapy hosiery and socks such as Juzo, Jobst and Mediven. SIGVARIS is generally considered to be the world leader. You can find their products in medical supply stores, pharmacies, retail drug stores and online. Visit www.sigvarisusa.com to find a SIGVARIS store near you.
For more information about leg health and venous disease, consult your physician or one of the following websites:
Note: This article provides content of a general nature and is designed for informational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a physician.
Hiring Talent with Bad Credit - Would You Do It? by Lisa Wells
With the economy, foreclosures, lay-offs and consumer credit issues what they are today, the sad truth is many talented people now have bad credit, and are looking for a job. Unfortunately their job hunt is even more difficult if they are applying for positions, such as those in the financial services industry, where credit worthiness is a factor in being offered a job.
I can see the issue from both sides as I managed services that allow employers and landlords to check applicants' backgrounds - including criminal records, MVRs and credit reports. Most employers that have credit score requirements do so when recruiting for positions that involve financial responsibility, cash management, inventory control, etc.
The general thought is if an individual cannot control their own finances, they may not be able to successfully handle those of the company, and those who are struggling with high amounts of debt may be more predisposed to steal [inventory, embezzle, etc.] on the job. And before you ask, yes, it is legal to have a credit score requirement when considering a job candidate, as long as that standard is consistently applied to all applicants.
Here's a quote from the Federal Trade Commission website: "Credit is so much more than a plastic card. It's your financial trustworthiness. Having good credit means it will be easier for you to get loans and low interest rates. Low interest rates usually translate into smaller monthly payments. That's important when you borrow money for a car or a place to live. Sometimes, people even check your credit when you apply for a job."
However, in today's credit environment, I believe that employers may be losing the opportunity to employ great people who have had unfortunate circumstances occur in their personal lives, simply due to a bias toward a low credit score. I believe that employers may need to revisit their credit standards for hiring in light of the unprecedented economic issues that millions of individuals are facing if we are to help stop this downward cycle of economic loss.
What do you think? Does credit matter when hiring for a financial position such as a broker, mortgage processor, or property manager?
Available July 1st. Rent is $1295 per month, plus 1 month deposit. All rental applicants will be background & credit checked. Pets ok with deposit of $100.
Please call 404-944-0081 or email homehints (at) hotmail.com to see the property. Thanks and happy house hunting!
Three-story townhouse with garage for rent in swim community - Whittington Views - just off Windward Parkway - Exit 11 on 400. Forsyth county, City of Alpharetta address.
This beautiful townhouse offers a Great Room, bonus room downstairs, laundry room, fireplace in living room, both full baths have garden tubs, curved foyer stairway, 9' ceilings on main, large deck with privacy wall, patio below, walk-in closets.
More PROPERTY DETAILS
· Condo/Townhouse • Approx.
1/3 acres lot
· Traditional • 3 bedrooms [2 on top floor, one bonus room]
· 3+ Stories • 2.
5 bathrooms
· Finished Basement • Shingle roof
· 1 Car Garage • siding exterior
· Built in 2004
PROPERTY FEATURES
· Central Air • Building name: WHITTINGTON
· Forced Air Heat • Type: Fee Simple, Interior unit
· Breakfast Area • Style: Townhouse/Multi-Level, Traditional
· Family Room • Dining room
· Walk-in Closet(s) • Family room
· Den/Office • Basement
· Bonus/Guest Room • Laundry room
· Laundry • Bathroom(s) on main floor
· Walk-out Basement • Hardwood floors
· Fireplace(s) • Fireplace(s)
· Hardwood Floors and Carpet• Fireplace features: Factory built, Gas Logs remain, Gas Starter, In Great/Famil
· W-W Carpeting • Swimming pool(s)
· Tile Floors • 1 car garage
· Ceiling Fan(s) • Attached parking
· Parking features: Attached, Auto Garage Door, Driveway
· Kitchen Pantry• Heating features: Central System,Electric,
· Dishwasher/Disposal • Central air conditioning
· Patio/Balcony • Cooling features: Central Electric, Zoned
· Fenced Yard • Interior features: 2 story foyer, 9 ft + ceiling(s), Bonus Room, Breakfast area
· Condo/Townhome/Coop Property • Exterior features: Patio, Private Backyard, Professional landscaping, Yard, Ass
· Status: Active • Exterior construction: Brick & Frame
· Area: FORSYTH COUNTY • Energy Info: High efficiency system, Ridge vents, Thermal pane windows
· County: FORSYTH • Community features: HOA
· Year Built: 2004 • Approximate lot is LESS THAN 1/3
Federal CAN-SPAM law updates: Email Marketing Basics You Should Know by Lisa Wells
In 2003, the Federal government enacted the CAN-SPAM Act to oversee and provide protective guidelines for email marketing campaigns. Recently, the Federal Trade Commission announced four new rules or requirements in CAN-SPAM that you should know if you engage in email marketing [this includes e-newsletters or any email that you send out that contains a marketing message for your product or service].
Here's a summary of the new CAN-SPAM rules:
• An email recipient cannot be required to: -- pay a fee,
-- provide information other than his or her email address and opt-out preferences, or
-- take any steps other than sending a reply email message or visiting a single Internet Web page to opt out of receiving future email from a sender.
[if you aren't including Opt-Out links in your mass emails, even newsletters, this is a HUGE violation of CAN-SPAM requirements.]
• The definition of "sender" was revised by the FTC to simplify which of multiple parties advertising in a single email message is responsible for complying with the Act's opt-out requirements.
• A "sender" of commercial email must include an address that can be an accurately registered post office box or private mailbox established under United States Postal Service regulations to satisfy the Act's requirement that a commercial email display a "valid physical postal address."
[This one is very important -- as most e-marketers struggled with providing a Physical Street Address in large email campaigns. Imagine sending a message to a million people and not knowing what address to provide if you have multiple company locations?]
• A definition of the term "person" was added to show that CAN-SPAM's obligations are not limited to "natural persons."
Question of the day:Do you have a good understanding of CAN-SPAM requirements and how they may impact your online/e-marketing efforts? I'm glad to help you with e-marketing! Just ask a question below.
Best of luck in your sales success!
As always, information in this article is not intended to be used, and should not be used, as legal, tax or accounting advice.
Will Kijiji Knock Off Craigslist As the Best Free Classified Ad Website? by Lisa Wells
Folks, if you haven't seen Kijiji yet - now's the time to check it out at http://www.kijiji.com/. I've been an avid Craigslist fan for years, but I have to admit, the classified ad posting engine at Kijiji takes the cake.
Just don't ask me to pronounce Kijiji because I have no idea how to do it! But for a site that works this easily in posting real estate ads, who cares if you can't say the name?
The ad posting process works exactly the same as Craigslist -- but all cities and all ad genres are completely free. The best part though is the designation you can assign to your classified ad. You can post it in the city or state of your choice, or opt to have it displayed in the same category across the ENTIRE nation. If you're advertising vacation property or retirement communities, what a wonderful time-saving tool!
So, check out http://www.kijiji.com/ and let me know what you think - does it beat www.craigslist.com in your opinion? Would love to know what your experience and response rate has been. Thanks!
Ways Media Directories Can Build Your Real Estate Business By Lisa Wells
Property Managers and Real Estate Agents: online marketing is an incredible vehicle to drive new traffic to your real estate business, but don't forget the traditional tools that land on your target audience's doorstep every morning! Media directories [i.e. newspaper contact lists] are a great resource for building your real estate business - here's why they are so valuable to you.
Pitch Your Property Expertise Over Sunday Morning Coffee
Let's face it, nowadays just about everyone hops online to check out the finer points of property that they're considering, as pictures tell the story better than a classified ad ever could. BUT KEEP IN MIND - your prospective buyer is usually lured online by something that peaks their interest, and nine times out of ten it's raised by something they read. The Sunday morning newspaper's home insert fuels countless Sunday afternoon drives through neighborhoods where your property is listed. Sure, your home visitors went online to get map directions to the property, and to check out specifics before the drive-by, but the effort may have been sparked by their daily or weekly newspaper.
More importantly, newspapers provide a excellent avenue to establish yourself as a community expert. Have you ever considered positioning yourself with your media outlets as a quotable authority on real estate, home financing, leasing options, landscaping or whatever property-related service you provide? A simple press release to papers in your region could help you gain excellent visibility and business referrals from a news article that includes your quote - and press endorsements are ten times more influential than any ad you could buy.
Promote Educational Events Within Your Local Community
Speaking of opportunities, newspapers are the perfect place to share information about your next homebuyer seminar, [held free for the community of course], on topics like obtaining financing or getting your home ready to put on the market. Most of the time, newspapers will publish your event information for free, but you might be surprised to learn that many also welcome your story suggestions and contributions on topics that appeal to their local audience.
Advertise Specialty Property Services to Out-Of-State Audiences
Are you marketing vacation rentals or retirement communities? How about property locating services for transferring employees? There are free places online like Craigslist where you can easily advertise in another city or state, but the biggest challenge of marketing is being in the right place at the right time with your message. For example, I wrote a blog on my dream of one day buying a home in Salt Lake City, even though I live on the other side of the country. Can you imagine how excited I would be to find an ad for Salt Lake City ski property in my hometown paper?!
If you are promoting property in heavy tourist or retirement areas like Florida or Hilton Head or the mountains, get the word out in the newspapers where your visitors are coming from.[Your local Convention and Visitors Bureau probably has a good idea where most of your tourism originates from if you need some help in targeting the right markets.] Differentiate yourself from the competition by being front and center for your prospects BEFORE they leave home in search of real estate.
Recruit Talent For Your Business
Growing your business doesn't only mean increasing your prospects. If you're doing a great job at that, eventually you'll need additional help. If your company is participating in a job fair, recruiting interns or posting open positions, reach out to newspapers at Universities and in smaller, nearby markets - consider weekly newspapers again as great alternatives with lower ad rates than daily papers in major metropolitan areas. A well-placed ad can translate into new talent that takes your business to new levels!
Media Directory Resources
"All right, Lisa! You've convinced me! So what's the best way to get in touch with newspapers across the country?"
Thought you'd never ask. J You can find newspaper contact information free online by using just about any search engine, like my favorite, Google. A bunch of free websites also list newspapers by state like www.thepaperboy.com. Free sites work great if you're contacting a small number of newspapers and you only need to look up four or five email addresses or fax numbers. Heck, you could even use the Yellow Pages.
But if you're planning a press release campaign, or if you're looking for papers outside of your local area, save yourself the time and headache in seeking them online - simply purchase a media directory that contains the Newspaper Name, Address, City, State, Zip, Phone, Fax, Email and Website information. Some even offer Circulation details as well, and that's a nice plus.
Here's a few downloadable newspaper lists to consider:
http://www.usnpl.com/ - US Newspaper List offers contact information on mailing labels that they will send to you or you can download their entire directory of 3300 newspapers for $124.95. College newspapers are not included. Their website also has direct links to individual newspaper websites in case you just want to go straight to the source.
http://us.cision.com/ - Most people in the media industry know Bacon's Directories as a household name, except now they've been acquired by CISION. The big momma of newspaper directories, Bacon's Newspaper and Magazine Directory contains information on every daily newspaper in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, all community newspapers in the U.S. and Canada, including over 18,000 trade and consumer magazines, newsletters and journals. And you can have it all for $495.
http://www.mynewspaperdirectory.com - this one's the best bargain of the bunch. Their directories include daily, weekly, Spanish, University, Ethnic, Business and Religious newspapers. For only $39.99, you can download a list of more than 6600 newspapers from across the country. Or, you can pay as little as $7.99 for a state-specific list. They offer a secure check-out process using Paypal.
You can load these directories into your favorite email or fax-blast tool, or CRM system, or consult the list via Excel to pull out the ones you want to target with a specific announcement, ad request or press release.
Final Thought
Remember the old joke -internet listings have taken over the world, but newspapers truly are black and white and read all over .... The better you are at getting the word out about your real estate business and the property you represent, using both new and traditional media, the better sales results you'll have.
Best of luck in your sales success!
As always, information in this article is not intended to be used, and should not be used, as legal, tax or accounting advice.
Freecycle.org - A Giving Resource For Property Managers and Real Estate Owners By Lisa Wells
Property Managers and Realtors, here's a great resource to use when you have a garage to clean out, household items to unload or past renters who have left behind their unwanted furniture! The Freecycle NetworkTM [ http://www.freecycle.org/ ] will find your unwanted goods a new home - and the beauty is in the name. Everything offered on this website is FREE - it's free to advertise or receive any item!
What is The Freecycle NetworkTM?
When you visit their website, you'll learn that "the Freecycle NetworkTM is made up of 4,299 groups with 4,721,000 members across the globe. It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer. Membership is free." To sign up, find your community online [you can browse groups at http://www.freecycle.org/group/US/?noautodetect=1 ] and subscribe to their daily posts.
How to post items or ask for those being offered Check out the member guidelines at http://www.freecycle.org/faq/faq/faq_guidelines. Remember, abide by the community rules to keep this a safe place for giving. The volunteer moderators are serious about the guidelines and member etiquette - two strikes and you're out! The basics are:
1. KEEP IT FREE, LEGAL & APPROPRIATE FOR ALL AGES.
2. NO POLITICS, NO SPAM, NO MONEY, NO PERSONAL ATTACKS/RUDENESS, NO PROSELYTIZING/RELIGION.
3. NO TRADING PLEASE.
The site works similarly to Craigslist and Ebay with the community posting system [with the key exception that everything listed on this site is FREE], but in order to view the postings, you must subscribe to your local list group to receive notifications by email - either in list form or individually. Warning: These are very active groups, so if you don't want to fill up your inbox, subscribe for the list version.
What Freecycle is NOT:
The Freecycle NetworkTM is *not* a place to just go get free stuff for nothing.
It *is* a place to give or receive what you have and don't need or what you need and don't have -- a free cycle of giving which keeps stuff out of landfills.
That perspective makes all the difference! Think about the impact that attitude has on the ActiveRain community...the same is true for this non-profit. Freecycle empowers people on a grassroots and local level to take charge and make the world a better place, keeping countless tons of reusable items out of local landfills. It is a cycle of giving, not charity. Everyone gives to everyone with absolutely no expectations of anything at all in return.
Below are some examples of people whose lives were positively impacted through the giving community on http://www.freecycle.org/.
" I gave a loveseat to a lady who had nothing. Her husband had walked out on her and her children, and they were starting over from scratch. She was so thankful she cried - over a loveseat I would have probably thrown away. " -Louisville, KY
" My Daughters' stolen bicycles were replaced in time for Christmas! " - mom of five, Austin, Texas
" A truckload of diapers, clothes and supplies was collected through Freecycle for an orphanage in Haiti. FedEx donated the shipping! " -San Jose, CA
" At a local Freecycle "Hurricane Help Project" event, hundreds of local community members helped victims of the latest hurricane with free furniture and building supplies. " -Melbourne, FL
Author's Note: I'm a believer too and an active member of the Atlanta community.
How did Freecycle begin?
According to the group's website, "On May 1st, 2003, Deron Beal sent out the first e-mail announcing The Freecycle NetworkTM to about 30 or 40 friends and a handful of nonprofits in Tucson, Arizona. At the time Deron founded The Freecycle Network, he worked with a small nonprofit organization, RISE, which provides recycling services to downtown businesses and transitional employment to Tucsonans in need.
As the team recycled, rather than watching perfectly good items being thrown away, they found themselves calling or driving around to see if various local nonprofits could use them. Thinking there had to be an easier way, Beal set up that first Freecycle e-mail group in a way that permitted everyone in Tucson to give and to get. Freecycle was off and running.
The Freecycle concept has since spread to over 75 countries, where there are thousands of local groups representing millions of of members -- people helping people and "changing the world one gift at a time." As a result, we are currently keeping over 300 tons a day out of landfills! This amounts to four times the height of Mt. Everest in the past year alone, when stacked in garbage trucks!
By giving freely with no strings attached, members of The Freecycle Network help instill a sense of generosity of spirit as they strengthen local community ties and promote environmental sustainability and reuse. People from all walks of life have joined together to turn trash into treasure."
The Freecycle Network is incorporated as a nonprofit in the State of Arizona.
Freecycle provides the following links on their website to help you learn more ways to reduce, reuse and recycle:
The Story of Stuff The Story of Stuff is an interesting discussion of the materials economy with Annie Leonard.
New American Dream The Center for a New American Dream helps Americans consume responsibly to protect the environment, enhance quality of life, and promote social justice.
The Internet Consumer Recycling Guide This recycling guide provides a starting point for consumers in the US and Canada searching the 'Net for recycling information. The goal is to help make recycling so easy and automatic that it blends into the flow of everyday life.
The Consumer's Handbook for Reducing Solid Waste Reusing products is just one way to cut down on what we throw away. This booklet outlines many practical steps to reduce the amount and toxicity of garbage. These aren't the only steps that can be taken to reduce waste, but they're a good start.
How to Get Rid of... This site, from the Peace & Environment Centre in Ottawa, Canada, is chock full of really creative ideas for reusing just about anything!
Earth911 This organization has an extensive database on recycling options and shares many tips for conserving energy, preventing air pollution, and dealing with household hazardous waste.
call2recycle This organization is the only nonprofit group committed to comprehensive, nationwide program to collect and recycle rechargeable batteries and cell phones. Local drop-off sites noted on their site. A portion of proceeds goes to select charities.
As always, information in this article is not intended to be used, and should not be used, as legal, tax or accounting advice.
My Renter Owes Me Money. Now What? by Annette West, CCIM, MBA, CPA
Editor's Note: Most landlords and property managers can tell you stories of renters who disappeared under the cover of darkness, and still owe them money. But many rental managers struggle with what to do to recoup unpaid rent after the resident is long gone. Here are some tips to improve your rental collections - and how to report unpaid rent as a consumer debt.
Two acts designed to protect consumers are usually not considered relevant by landlords or property managers: The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act; The Fair Credit Reporting Act. Until recently, the relationship between tenants and landlords was not viewed as a consumer debt relationship. However a recent case may suggest that anyone who helps landlords collect past due rents can be subject to the FDCPA, including property managers and attorneys.
The goal of the FDCPA is to stop unfair, unethical and illegal bill collection tactics by debt collectors. Personal, family and household debts are covered under the FDCPA. This includes money owed for the purchase of an automobile, for medical care or for charge accounts.
The act defines a debt collector as any person who regularly collects debts owed to others. This includes attorneys who collect debts on a regular basis. But does it include property managers or landlords trying to collect past due rent?
The answer seems clear: if you are the property owner, you need to follow landlord tenant law but not specifically meet the requirements of the FDCPA. If you are not the property owner and contact tenants about past due rent, it is recommended that communications with tenants meet the requirements of the FDCPA.
Within five days after first contacting the debtor, the collector must send a written notice stating the amount of money owed; the name of the creditor to whom the money is owed; and what action to take if the debtor believes they do not owe the money you may want to talk to your attorney first.
The National Multi-Housing Council recently requested an opinion from the Federal Trade Commission regarding the use of credit reports when screening tenants. The FTC reported back that landlords have obligations under the FCRA when they take adverse actions based on credit reports or other types of consumer reports. (A consumer report contains information about an individual's personal and credit characteristics, character, general reputation, and lifestyle).
The FCRA covers a report if a consumer reporting agency, i.e. a business that assembles such reports for other businesses, prepares the report.
Most property managers and landlords rely on these credit reports as part of the tenant screening process. Amendments in 1996 to the FCRA added a broad catch-all to cover all actions or determinations "adverse to the interests of the consumer," made in connection with an application made by, or a transaction initiated by, the consumer, i.e. a tenant denied housing due to their credit report.
The catch-all provision clearly covers the landlord-tenant situation. Thus, landlords who use consumer reports must now provide applicants Section 615(a) adverse action notices when they refuse to rent or lease a dwelling, or when they require an increased security deposit as a precondition to the rental, based on a consumer report.
John Darden, attorney at law with the Darden Law Firm in Las Cruces, NM, said: "While FCRA does not apply when a landlord's employee individually verifies credit information and adverse action is taken against a tenant applicant, if the landlord uses in any minor way a report from a tenant screening or credit reporting agency and takes any adverse action, a notice under FCRA must be provided.
"That adverse action may be as innocuous as requiring a larger deposit for FCRA to apply," he said. "FCRA gives tenants the right to access federal court and an award of damages and attorney's fees against the landlord. In some instances FCRA permits punitive damages against landlords. When in doubt, send the notice for each adverse action which depends in part upon a report to a landlord from any individual other than the landlord's own employee."
Additional Resources
Landlord2Landlord.com offers bad debt reporting services - if a renter leaves your property and still owes you money, you can report their debt through our website to all three credit bureaus - Experian, Equifax and Transunion. This means the renter's debt to you will appear on their individual credit report until the debt is settled with you. See http://www.landlord2landlord.com/bureaudebtreporting.aspx for more details.
We also have a contributory database that allows landlords and property managers to create Tenant Report Cards on renters, and to update those report cards at the end of the renter's lease. Renters in our system that have a history of evictions or not paying rent will be flagged when you run a criminal or credit report on a new applicant. For more information, please visit http://www.landlord2landlord.com/tenantreportcards.aspx.
As always, information in this article is not intended to be used, and should not be used, as legal, tax or accounting advice. Investors should seek advice from an independent financial advisor about their specific situation.
Landlord2Landlord is a residential and commercial tenant screening company that partners with property management companies and homeowner associations to help communities reduce neighborhood crime, and to protect home and business owners from renters with criminal backgrounds or a history of evictions and poor credit. We've offered credit reports, criminal records and bad debt reporting services since 1997.
Our website is easy to use, available 24 hours per day, and delivers instant, inexpensive results that comply with FCRA and Fair Housing Act requirements. See our Success Stories at http://www.landlord2landlord.com/SuccessStories2.aspx.
We also have a free monthly e-newsletter that contains information to help homeowners maintain and lease their residential properties more effectively. To receive the e-newsletter, please visit http://www.landlord2landlord.com/ezinesignup.aspx.
This is a blog offering residential rental management and property improvement advice, tips and ideas. I'm glad to share these articles for use on your real estate-related website, and only ask that you publish them in their entirety including the author byline.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
Therapy means wearing socks or stockings that are specially designed to support your veins and increase circulation in your legs. When you wear compression socks or stockings throughout the day, the additional support that they provide prevents blood from pooling in leg veins, and reduces the side effects of poor circulation. Think of it as medicine that you wear, but the good news is it doesn't look like medicine!
they're considering, as pictures tell the story better than a classified ad ever could. BUT KEEP IN MIND - your prospective buyer is usually lured online by something that peaks their interest, and nine times out of ten it's raised by something they read. The Sunday morning newspaper's home insert fuels countless Sunday afternoon drives through neighborhoods where your property is listed. Sure, your home visitors went online to get map directions to the property, and to check out specifics before the drive-by, but the effort may have been sparked by their daily or weekly newspaper.
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