Real Estate deaths are on the Rise

Last month, a real estate agent was assaulted at knifepoint during a For Sale showing in Salisbury, North Carolina. Thankfully, the agent was able to use a distress code to alert her coworkers back in the office of a problem, and now the suspect is behind bars.

 

The Bureau of Laborstatistics reports that in 2012 there were 50 real estate industry-related deaths.  What is most frightening about this is that assaults and/or violent acts accounted for more fatalities than any other cause of death.

 

According to InmanNews, most real estate offices and regional associations offer safety training at least once a year for agents.

 

There’s also an app agents can buy for $1.99 called REALALERT that was specifically designed to help you be more aware of your surroundings & provides quick access to emergency services.

 

For this and more information about added safety measures for those working in the housing industry, please visit our website http://www.alwaysscreen.com.

 

4-1-1 on Radon Testing

Landlords in Maine are scrambling to comply with a new law that requires radon testing in all residential rental buildings. The deadline was March 1, and while many are doing what they can to avoid being fined $250 per violation.

 

So, what is radon?  It’s a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that forms from the decay of  radioactive elements such as uranium, which can be found in soil and rock. Radon can transmit from the ground to air and water. It can be found outdoors in low levels, but in homes, dwellings or well water it can spike at dangerously high levels.

 

Long term exposure to radon can cause cancer. You can buy home testing kits to test the levels on your property, or you can hire a professional. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that all buildings be tested below the third floor for radon detection.

 

Landlords can address problems with radon in rentals in several ways. First, you can provide good ventilation with open windows and fans to disperse the gas.  Also, proper sealing of the foundation and lower levels will help to keep the gas from seeping from the soil into the dwelling. A radon contractor would be the best source of knowledge for your particular region and structure.

 

The EPA also has more information for tenants on their website.  You can also find a radon contractor in your area here.

 

For this and more information on maximizing the profitability of your rental, please visit our website at http://www.alwaysscreen.com.

Landlord Christmas List

Are you making a list and checking it twice? Here’s our list of people every landlord should include on his/her Christmas list!

 

Make your list, and check it twice!

1.      Your tenants: They like to know you are thinking of them during the holidays. A personalized not goes a long way in keeping the relationship running smoothly.

2.      Your trusty handyman: If he works weekends or holidays, you might want to send him more than a card. A bottle of wine or gift card to Home Depot couldn’t hurt either!

3.      Your security man (or service provider): Goes without saying, let them know you appreciate the work!

 

Others not to forget!

 

4.      Office Assistants: Because without them, you’d be completely disorganized!

5.      Property Managers: After all, you trust them with your investment

6.      Trash provider: Not an easy job, especially if you have multiple units

7.      Lawyers: As much as they love when you call for a problem, they like to hear from you when things are going well, too!

8.      Tenant Screening provider: Just because J

9.      Mail carrier: Their job isn’t easy either, especially if your property has multiple units and frequent change of faces.

10.  Real estate agents: You never know when you’ll have to call them up for help in filling a vacancy or buying a great investment property!

 

For this and more info on landlording, please visit us at http://www.alwaysscreen.com

Landords: Planning to take a holiday break? Here’s how!

We know that working in the property management industry it’s almost impossible to “disconnect” and break away for a vacation. But, perhaps this year you can no longer put off that trip to see Grandma for Christmas, OR you’re finally taking a long weekend to go skiing. After all, landlords deserve vacation, too! 

 

Before you take a holiday vaca, make sure your interim landlord is prepared!

So, assuming there is someone that you trust implicitly being left at the helm, here’s our advice on ways to ensure things go smoothly in your absence:

 

1.      Make sure your stand-in has the names, phone numbers and and addresses every single one of your current tenants.

2.      Provide your sub with an extra set of keys that are PROPERLY LABELED for each unit.

3.      Leave behind a credit card or some signed blank checks in the event theirs a major event (i.e. costly repair) that is needed while you’re away

4.      Send your tenants a letter or email informing them of your vacation plans, and the name of your substitute landlord, and all of their important emergency contact info.

 

Just taking a few extra precautions can ensure you get a restful break from the daily grind of landlording.

 

For this and more tips on managing your properties over the holidays, please visit our website.

Reasons Landlords Should be Thankful

1.      New laws favor landlords

Over the past year, we’ve told you about several laws across the US that have been passed in favor of making your job easier. In Florida, it’s now easier to evict and landlords in Wisconsin can throw away abandoned items without facing prosecution.  Having the law on your side is always something to be thankful for!

 

2.      YouTube can help you do anything.

So, perhaps you aren’t a handy landlord. The good news is that it’s 2013, and if you have a computer and the internet, you can fake it until you make it. Did you know there are tutorials on YouTube for ANYTHING and everything home-related? Would you like a 20-minute instruction on installing aceiling fan? How about learning to fix a toilet in 7-minutes? Yes, we will always be thankful for YouTube.

 

Be thankful the answer to many questions are just a click away

 

3.      Delinquency and Foreclosure rates have improved

How much have they improved? Some estimates say to their lowest rate since 2008. This is good news for property owners everywhere, as a dip in foreclosures and delinquencies can only help the value of your own property to stabilize or perhaps finally see some improvement!

 

 

So what are you thankful for this year? Tell us below! For this and more information about landlording and real estate investing, visit our website at http://www.alwaysscreen.com

Kelly Osbourne sues her Landlord

Reality star and TV host Kelly Osbourn is suing her West Hollywood landlord after he refused to return her sizeable security deposit. Osbourne claims the landlord failed to properly inspect the apartment before she moved in, and is now holding her responsible for damages she didn’t cause.

 

Kelly Osbourne is suing her West Hollywood landlord

 

The landlord kept the whopping $18,700 security deposit for both damages and cleanup charges. The rental is located in a building where condos have sold for upwards for $3 million. Other celebrity tenants there have included Lindsay Lohan, who had her own issues with a previous landlord.

For this and more information on why landlords can retain security deposits, visit ATS Inc.’s website at http://www.atshome.com

How Paint Color Affects Mood

Whether or not you decide to let tenants paint the interior is your decision. However, should you be so bold as to forego the standard neutral tones in favor walls with color, keep in mind that your decision could impact the mood of your renters.

Some psychologists believe that color changes the chemicals in our brains, which directly correlates to our brain energy and level of excitement. For example, it is believed seeing the color red can increase heart rate and make us more alert. Perhaps it’s not the best color to use in bedrooms where one goes to relax.



 

Orange is considered to be warm and joyful color. It reminds us of the sun and ripe fruit, and therefore would be best suited for gathering rooms such as a living room or kitchen areas. Your prospective tenants might be turned off to too bold of a color in bathroom or bedroom areas.

A blue bedroom can create a calming effect for tenants

Blue is considered the most relaxing of colors. It should be used in rooms where one wants to feel calm and centered, such as bedrooms, bathrooms, or a personal office space.  Green is on the same spectrum of blue, and is also considered to make us feel serene and refreshed. Keep in mind that you can add green to a room not just by painting, but by adding plants or having a window that looks out to a lush lawn or trees.

For this an other tips on decorating your rental property, please visit our website at http://www.alwaysscreen.com.

Landlords to get automatic police updates

The Illinois town of Rockford is about to launch a new landlord registry that will alert property owners of any 911 dispatches made to their rental. The Rockford Apartment agency said they hope the new system will help “bring stability” to neighborhoods, and help landlords to make better-informed decisions about the tenants residing in their rental properties.

In order to register for the alerts, landlords will have to submit their contact information and addresses of their rental units. Those who do not comply could face fines by the city.

 

The way it works is once emergency services are dispatched to a property, the police will update the database and send emails to landlords. Both residents and property managers are hopeful this service will aid them in better managing their tenants.

 

Landlords will know if the police are called to rentals

For this and more information about screening prospective tenants, please visit ATS Inc.’s website today!

Poor tenants to get shown the back door

A New York real estate developer has unveiled plans to build a waterfront tower in the Upper West Side of Manhattan that will include both luxury condos and affordable rentals.  What makes this building unique is that the developer plans to include two separate entrances to the building – one for the wealthy and one for the lower-income tenants.

Officials speculate that the builder is looking to cash in on tax incentives by offering affordable housing, but they want to keep the lower-income tenants are kept separated from those with the big bucks.

Just how much will it cost to use the exclusive entrance to the building? Well, a neighboring building by the same developer sells 1-bedroom condos for $1,000 a square foot.

Poor tenants have to enter luxury buildings through the back

The Department of Housing Preservation and Development is still reviewing the plans, which some lawmakers are calling “a blatant attempt at segregation.”  

What do you think? Should separate building entrances for higher paying tenants be considered discrimination?  

For more information about property management services, or to get the best background check for your tenants, visit ATS Inc.’s website at http://www.alwaysscreen.com

Pros of renting to tenants with pets

In a competitive rental market, some real estate professionals might suggest you offer incentives such as free wifi, first months rent free, or a store gift card to qualified tenants just for signing a lease. Others say the solution could simpler: just allow pets.

While pets can be taboo for landlords because of the possibility they could damage your rental, they can also bring about some positive benefits to a property owner.

Let’s look at some of the Pros to allowing tenants to have pets:

·         Less vacancies

If you advertise your rental as “pet friendly,” chances are there will be greater interest in your property.  One study found that rentals allowing pets rented in 19 days, versus 29 days for non-pet-friendly units¹.   

·         More long-term rentals

The same study found that tenants with pets tended to rent for an average of 46 months, as opposed to non-pet-friendly units where the average tenant rented for 18 months.

·         More profit for landlords

Researchers also found that landlords who allow pets see more demand, and therefore can charge higher prices for monthly rent. How much higher? According to the survey, 20-30% higher rents.

Tenants allowed to have pets rent for twice as long as those who can’t

What is your stance on renting to a tenant with a pet? If you’ve had a positive experience, we want to hear about it. Comment below!

For more information about tenant screening, and other tools every new landlord or real estate investor needs, visit ATS Inc.’s website at http://www.alwaysscreen.com.

^{1 http://www.firepaw.org/CompanionAnimalRentersPetFriendly.pdf}

SF Landlords Sentenced to 4 Years In Jail

Last month, two married California landlords were sentenced to four years in jail after being convicted of several reckless acts aimed at evicting and scaring their tenants. The crimes took place over a two-year span, and led the couple to become dubbed, “Landlords from Hell.”

The district attorney in San Francisco said the landlords harassed their tenants by cutting off power and phone service, changing locks, and illegally removing and/or destroying their belongings. They even were charged with soaking the victims’ clothes and electronics in ammonia and using a chainsaw to cut a hole in the floor of one tenant’s unit. They also severed floor joists in hopes of making the building unsafe, and hoping it would ultimately it collapse under the tenants.

The duo also sent fraudulent emails pretending to be their victims. The emails were aimed at making it appear as though the tenants were threatening to kill the landlords’ children.

Authorities say the motive behind the attacks was all due to the landlords wanting to renovate the rental units and sell them off individually. However, California has strict laws regarding the harassment of tenants by landlords, and prohibits the eviction of tenants without just cause.

For more landlord tips or to get the best background check, visit ATS Inc’s website today!

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Networking with other Property Owners

There are so many ways for landlords and property managers to network with each other via various internet channels. Why should you want to stay connected with other rental industry experts?  Here are just a few ways that networking can enhance your real estate investment business:

Keeping Vacancies Minimal

Nowadays, you can utilize social media networks and certain internet group forums to advertise a rental unit to a massive audience. If you are connected to other property managers and real estate professionals on social media, they can share your rental listing with their followers, expanding your reach even more. The more people who view your rental property online, the better the chances are of renting it out quickly.

Online Groups Help you Get Answers

There are many groups on sites like LinkedIn, Google+ or Facebook geared specifically for landlords, property managers, real estate professionals, etc. If you sign up and join these groups, you’ll be able to get tons of free advice from other industry experts. You can get ideas on various topics, from how to stage a small space, to how new laws might affect the terms of your lease agreements.

Establish Yourself as An Expert

Networking with other property management insiders can also help build your credibility as an expert within the rental industry as you offer advice to others. You can also answer questions in group forums, or share things you’ve learned  from your tenants. You can also offer to guest blog for another website, and reach out to a new audience who wasn’t familiar with your business or properties.

For more info on how to successfully network with other landlords , or to get the best credit report for landlords, visit ATS Inc’s website.