| |
tenant screening: My Renter Owes Me Money. Now What? - 10/11/07 05:09 PM
This article is also viewable at http://www.landlord2landlord.com/Newsletters.aspx. For more articles like this, please join our Newsletter.
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 … (6 comments)
|
tenant screening: Using Credit Summary Reports In Your Rental Application Review Process - 10/09/07 03:12 PM
Using Credit Summary Reports In Your Rental Application Review Processby Lisa Wells
If you've been paying attention to the tenant screening industry over the last few years, you've noticed that all three credit reporting bureaus, Experian, Equifax and Transunion, have stricter requirements for businesses that wish to obtain credit reports for tenant screening or leasing decision purposes. These requirements were made stricter in light of the risk to consumers for identity theft and other misuse of their personal information by the inappropriate use and/or access to individual credit reports.
The upside to stricter requirements for obtaining credit reports is obviously increased protection of … (3 comments)
|
tenant screening: Becoming a Builder's #1 Ally: Real Estate Tactics for a Slow Market - 10/08/07 03:23 PM
Becoming a Builder's #1 Ally: Real Estate Tactics for a Slow MarketBy Lisa Wells
A recent BusinessWeek article titled "Homebuilders: Hitting Bottom at Last?" [http://www.businessweek.com/investor/content/sep2007/pi20070914_611413.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_businessweek+exclusives] illustrates the drastic measures homebuilders are using to sell new houses that are standing empty. Aggressive sales tactics are not only a sign of how desperate homebuilders are to unload their excess inventory, they also signal an opportunity for realtors and homebuilders to become strong allies- by teaming up to rent unsold property.
Ask The Right Questions To Solve Your Real Estate Sales Issue
The article asks the question "How much further will prices fall?" However, relationship-savvy real … (0 comments)
|
tenant screening: Landlord2Landlord Is Seeking Referral Partners - Protect Your Rental Property Clients & Earn Commission - 10/02/07 06:54 PM
Landlord2Landlord Is Seeking Affiliate/Affinity PartnersBy Lisa Wells
Has your income dropped due to the mortgage industry meltdown? Are you looking for ways to increase your referrals as real estate sales continue to slow? Consider recommending http://www.landlord2landlord.com/ as a risk management resource for your rental property clients!
Our tenant screening and bad debt reporting services can provide some of the most cost-effective tools that landlords and property managers have to prevent renter-related fraud, property damage, crime and lost income.
If you are a real estate industry professional, and have a rolodex of investment or rental property contacts, we'd like to talk to you. Landlord2Landlord offers an ongoing revenue share … (1 comments)
|
tenant screening: Landlord2Landlord Partners with Internet-Based Community Network Provider - Neighborhood Link - 10/02/07 03:35 PM
Landlord2Landlord Partners with Internet-Based Community Network Provider - Neighborhood Linkby Lisa Wells
A few weeks ago we posted a blog on ActiveRain [see http://activerain.com/blogsview/182686/Neighborhood-Link-Bringing-Communities] promoting NeighborhoodLink, which is a free website management service for homeowner associations and community organizations to help them communicate more effectively with their residents and community members.
As a result of that effort, Landlord2Landlord has partnered with NeighborhoodLink to contribute educational articles for landlords and property managers for the resource section available on all NeighborhoodLink-hosted community websites. The press release announcing our partnership is below.
Realtors, we hope you'll take the time to visit NeighborhoodLink to see how this service can also raise your … (2 comments)
|
tenant screening: How To Control Water Expenses & Promote Conservation on Multifamily Properties With Submetering - 10/02/07 02:44 PM
For more articles like this, please join our Newsletter.
SUBMETERING: CONTROLLING EXPENSES AND PROMOTING CONSERVATION by Mark Jarman, President, Inovonics Wireless Corp.
We all know multifamily property owners are business people driven by the bottom line, and you are unlikely to adopt new technologies in your communities without a tangible benefit to your books. The practice of submetering, or transferring variable utility costs to individual residents, is a proven, reliable and cost-effective way to increase profitability and encourage conservation at multifamily communities.
Submetering is an investment that's generally considered an easy decision because the technology typically pays for itself within five to nine months. For … (1 comments)
|
tenant screening: Increase Your Active Rain Article Visibility With Bookmarking Websites - 10/01/07 06:48 PM
Increase Your Active Rain Article Visibility With Bookmarking WebsitesBy Lisa Wells
Did you know you can re-post or link to your Active Rain articles on a variety of social bookmarking websites to increase your online/internet exposure? Why wouldn't you want to share "the good news" that you've taken the time to prepare?
This article shows you how to take advantage of free, easy tools that will increase your web presence with a simple click of a button or two. The secret lies within social bookmarking websites. While Active Rain is the leading web site of its' kind dedicated to the real estate industry, the … (13 comments)
|
tenant screening: Realtors: Grow Your Business With Self Storage - 09/25/07 05:25 PM
This article is also viewable at http://www.landlord2landlord.com/Newsletters.aspx.
Realtors: Grow Your Business With Self Storageby Lisa Wells
The explosive growth of the Self Storage industry has created a wealth of marketing opportunities for real estate agents across the country. Take a few moments to consider the available sales angles that appear when you expand your relationships with self storage facilities in your real estate coverage area.
First the FactsAccording to the Self Storage Association, the self storage industry has been the fastest-growing sector of the United States commercial real estate industry over the period of the last 30 years, when you count the number of … (14 comments)
|
tenant screening: Property Management Advice: Will a Wireless LAN help fill your rental units? - 09/20/07 03:17 PM
Property Management Advice: Will a Wireless LAN help fill your rental units?by Annette West
Part One-Smaller Complexes: Part Two for Larger Complexes will be published tomorrow.
A recent article in the Las Cruces Sun News (08/12/05, page 1C) discussed the increase in customer traffic a few local restaurants and most coffee shops are experiencing with the addition of free high speed wireless Internet access. A whole new type of customer is walking in to some of these restaurants.
Can landlords replicate this success story? Would tenants be more likely to rent if free wireless high speed Internet access was offered with the apartment? And … (0 comments)
|
tenant screening: Questions Every Realtor Should Be Ready To Answer - 09/14/07 01:49 PM
For more articles like this, please join our Newsletter.
Questions Every Realtor Should Be Able To AnswerBy Lisa Wells
MSN published a wonderful advisory article for prospective home purchasers today at http://realestate.msn.com/selling/Article2.aspx?cp-documentid=4855652>1=10431 . It encouraged consumers to ask the following questions of a realtor before selecting them as their agent. If you are an agent, you may want to take some time to read the story as it contains good points that can sharpen your marketing skills and sales approach.
The article's premise was that more than "600,000 new agents joined the National Association of Realtors during the real estate boom of the past few years, … (12 comments)
|
tenant screening: Why Rentals Can Increase Your Real Estate Sales - 09/12/07 12:51 PM
Why Rentals Can Increase Your Real Estate SalesBy Lisa Wells
With real estate sales slowing, an increasing number of ActiveRain agents are turning to rental business to fill sales gaps. Karen Ann Martin posted an encouraging blog on the topic at http://activerain.com/blogsview/202126/My-phone-is-ringing.
Look at it this way, by handling rental listings, you may find yourself in the right place for future business on either side of the rental transaction.
The property owner may decide to sell their rental units, or be in the market for additional property, and they will already have established a business relationship with you through the assistance you provide in … (4 comments)
|
tenant screening: Does Solar Power Make Sense for Property Owners? - 09/11/07 03:00 PM
This article is also viewable at http://www.landlord2landlord.com/Newsletters.aspx. For more articles like this, please join our Newsletter.
Does Solar Power Make Sense for Property Owners?by Annette West, CCIM, MBA, CPA
The recent Energy Policy Act of 2005, signed right here in New Mexico at Sandia National Laboratories on August 9, gives tax credits to consumers and tax deductions to businesses who make energy conservation improvements. (It also gives credits for buying hybrid gas/electric cars, but with a catch, as we will discuss later.) Remember-a tax credit reduces your income tax bill dollar for dollar, as opposed to a tax deduction, which reduces taxable income and … (0 comments)
|
tenant screening: Landlords: Cover Your Bases With A Move-In Inspection - 09/06/07 12:36 PM
Landlords: Cover Your Bases With A Move-In InspectionBy Lisa Wells
We often receive questions on landlord management at Landlord2Landlord, and share our opinions and experience on the topic to protect other landlords from going through the same ordeal! Here's a common complaint below.
Q: I am a relative newbie at landlording. I just purchased two fixer uppers on the same street and am now in the remodeling phase. I will begin looking for tenants in a couple of weeks. I am fairly confident on my rental price for the two properties and how to check my renter's backgrounds online. On the other hand, … (4 comments)
|
tenant screening: My Renter Stinks... Literally! - 09/04/07 03:16 PM
This article is also viewable at http://www.landlord2landlord.com/Newsletters.aspx. For more articles like this, please join our Newsletter.
My Renter Stinks... Literally!By Lisa Wells
We often receive questions on landlord management at Landlord2Landlord, and share our opinions and experience on the topic to protect other landlords from going through the same ordeal! Here's a common complaint below.
Q: I'm a Landlord/Owner of a single family home. My lease does not offer any utilities or Garbage service. I recently found out my tenants were storing their trash inside the home! I addressed the issue only to now find they still had not obtained a sanitation service but they … (7 comments)
|
tenant screening: Investing in Rental Property Where You Don't Live...But Hopefully Will One Day - 08/31/07 05:07 PM
Investing in Rental Property Where You Don't Live...But Hopefully Will One Dayby Lisa Wells
I began my rental property business five years ago, slowly buying low-maintenance property in easy-to-rent areas around Atlanta, such as condos in the Virginia Highlands neighborhood and a townhouse on Lake Lanier. I focused on buying property close to where I live mainly because I wanted to handle maintenance issues quickly and easily, and keep tabs on my property while I had renters in it. Then real life set in, and my "full-time" job forced me to commute to Manhattan every week for six months. Instantly, the convenience … (5 comments)
|
tenant screening: Who's Not Buying: What Your Average Renter Looks Like - 08/30/07 05:17 PM
This article is also viewable at http://www.landlord2landlord.com/Newsletters.aspx. For more articles like this, please join our Newsletter.
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.
****************************************************
About Landlord2LandlordLandlord2Landlord (http://www.landlord2landlord.com/) is a residential tenant screening company that partners with property management companies and homeowner associations to help communities reduce neighborhood crime, and to protect homeowners from renters with criminal backgrounds or a history of evictions and poor credit.
Our website is easy to use, available 24 hours per day, … (3 comments)
|
tenant screening: Feeling Abandoned? Dealing With Cars That Renters Leave Behind On Your Property - 08/29/07 02:59 PM
This article is also viewable at http://www.landlord2landlord.com/Newsletters.aspx. For more articles like this, please join our Newsletter.
Feeling Abandoned? Dealing With Cars That Renters Leave Behind On Your Propertyby Annette West
Your tenant leaves a car on the premises after being evicted. If you are like me, you may think you can recover some of the unpaid rent by selling the car. Unfortunately I recently learned it is not an easy process. Obtaining title on a vehicle that was abandoned on your property is somewhat complicated if you are not sure who the registered owner is. (And even if you know the name and address … (2 comments)
|
tenant screening: Why Landlords Are Identity Theft Targets: Ways To Protect Yourself From Renters - 08/29/07 01:49 PM
This article is also viewable at http://www.landlord2landlord.com/Newsletters.aspx. For more articles like this, please join our Newsletter.
Why Landlords Are Identity Theft Targets: Ways To Protect Yourself From RentersBy Lisa Wells
Recent studies have shown that landlords are one of the highest risk groups for identity theft. Did you know that landlords account for 50% of the identity fraud victims who knew the person that used their identity?
What is Identify Theft?Identity theft is the act of impersonating another, by the means of using the person's sensitive information, such as birth date, Social Security number, address, name, and bank account information. The thief obtains the information … (0 comments)
|
tenant screening: Capitalizing on the Re-Emergence of the Rental Market - 08/27/07 05:50 PM
This article is also viewable at http://www.landlord2landlord.com/Newsletters.aspx. For more articles like this, please join our Newsletter.
Capitalizing on the Re-Emergence of the Rental MarketBy Lisa Wells
According to CNN, "homeowners trying to sell last month faced the biggest glut of homes on the market in about 16 years, as declining sales and growing problems in the mortgage market helped push home prices down for the 12th straight month." [Source: http://money.cnn.com/2007/08/27/news/economy/homesales/index.htm?cnn=yes]
The good news is if you are a rental property investor, now is the perfect time to pick up great deals in the market, as home prices continue to drop. And, if you are … (9 comments)
|
tenant screening: Methamphetamine Labs: Brewing A Landlord's Nightmare - 08/24/07 03:41 PM
This article is also viewable at http://www.landlord2landlord.com/Newsletters.aspx. For more articles like this, please join our Newsletter.
Meth Labs: Brewing A Landlord's Nightmareby Annette West, CCIM, MBA, CPA
Imagine an environmental disaster waiting to happen in your rental property - a cooking process using caustic and flammable components, that at some stages produces the same gas used in concentration camps, creating an odorous reaction of chemicals and toxic fumes, brewed by people who usually do not have chemistry degrees...and you have the typical meth lab.
What is methamphetamine (meth)?It is a man-made amphetamine that has prolonged effects on the central nervous system and is extremely addictive. … (3 comments)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lisa Wells
Atlanta,
GA
More about me…
independent consultant
Email Me
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.
 Links
Archives
|
;)
;)
