Eviction Secrets Revealed!

You might think evictions only happen to tenants who are financially irresponsible or those who can’t afford rent checks for one reason or another. However, sometimes evictions happen to very wealthy people who were just very bad tenants. That is why you must perform eviction checks on all your tenant applicants, regardless of their income level.

Last week, several media outlets reported that troubled star, Amanda Bynes, was evicted from her NYC apartment. Bynes, who is reportedly worth $4 million, was kicked out following an arrest and numerous complaints. Neighbors say she was smoking in the hallways and very rude to the doormen.

Whitney Houston’s daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, denied rumors she was evicted from her Georgia apartment last week. Brown, who is also reportedly worth several million dollars, claims she moved because of discord with neighbors. However, the neighbors claim Brown threw loud parties and they had to file at least 10 complaints with police and property management.

Eviction checks and landlord references  are imperative, because they can tell you invaluable things about a tenant that credit checks and employment history cannot.

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How Landlords Can Improve The Bathroom in a Rental

One of the best ways landlords and property owners can make their properties more appealing to renters is by making improvements to the bathroom. However, most new landlords probably don’t want to get caught up in an expensive renovation during times of economic uncertainty. The good news is, there are ways to improve the bathroom without breaking the bank:

Freshen up grout and caulk. New tiling can be a very expensive upgrade. A simple way to avoid those costs is to clean up your existing tiles by re-grouting and re-caulking around the sink and tub areas. Grout and caulk are relatively cheap, and can make such a huge impact.

Replace faucet fixtures. If your rental property’s sink and shower faucets are more than fifteen years old, they probably aren’t energy efficient. New fixtures don’t have to be expensive, and they will make your bathroom shine. Big box stores sell faucets starting around the $30-$40 range.

Add storage. If the bathroom space in your rental is small, tenant applicants will appreciate having more storage options.  Consider adding shelves or cabinets to a small bathroom area to make the space more appealing.

Don’t just paint the walls. If a new sink and vanity isn’t in your budget, consider sanding and painting the existing one. A fresh coat of paint can make an otherwise older, outdated vanity look brand new.  Accent the piece with new knobs and modern drawer pulls. Your tenants will not even know the cabinetry isn’t brand new.

Update the little things. Don’t overlook the smaller, inexpensive fixtures. Replacing old toilet paper holders, towel racks and adding a quieter, more efficient ventilation fan can bring your bathroom’s style & functionality into the new millennium.

Many real estate experts believe that updating a bathroom is a great way to add value to your property.  While a huge renovation may not be in the budget for 2013, even small upgrades to your bathroom will make a huge difference in the appeal of your rental. 

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