Thursday, December 19, 2013

Do’s and Don’ts Tenant Screening


This one goes out to all of the new landlords, or those feeling hurried with the hustle and bustle of the end-of-the-year:


Do:

Call the tenant’s references listed on the rental application.


Don’t:

Email or text the tenant’s references. You need to speak to a REAL person.

DO: Pick up the phone & speak with references


Do:

Run a credit check.


Don’t:

Ask the tenant applicant for a credit score and take their word for it.


Do:

Verify employment. Check a website, make a phone call and get proof the applicant is employed where they claim to be.


Don’t:

Take “self-employed” as an answer. Request W-2’s to prove there is an actual income!


Do:

Verify identity with license or government issued form of ID.


Don’t:

Ask them about their religion, sexual preferences, or native origin. It’s none of your business and has no weight on your decision to enter into a lease according to the Fair Housing Laws of the United States.


For this and more information about tenant screening, please visit our website at http://www.atshome.com


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Wednesday, December 11, 2013

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

Thursday, December 5, 2013

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.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

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

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Landlording by the #’s


Here are some interesting numbers and statistics about landlording in the United States:

 

·         Rented single-family homes are on the rise in the wake of the housing bust. Thirty-two of this country’s top metropolitan regions 1/5 of all occupied single-family homes are rentals (USA Today)

 

·         29% of single-family homes in Las Vegas are now occupied by tenants (USA Today).

 

·         Landlord insurance typically costs 25% more than homeowners insurance. (Houselogic.com)

 

·         Expect annual repair and maintenance costs to run about 1% of your property’s value every year. So, if your home is worth $100,000, you will probably spend at least $1000 in repair and maintenance. (MSN Money)

 

·         If your state does not have a law regulating late rent fees, know that a good average is 5% added on to the amount owed. (NOLO.com)

 

·         32% of homes in the United States are renter-occupied (National Multi Housing Council)

 

  

 
For this and more information for landlords, visit our website at http://www.alwaysscreen.com

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Which is better: Hardwood or carpet?


Every property owner has to grapple with that all-important choice: carpet, or hardwood?

 

For homeowners, the decision should be based on lifestyle. But for landlords, there is more to it. There are several pros and cons to both surfaces, so here are some things to consider:

 

Noise

Is your rental on a second floor or higher? Some buildings mandate carpet flooring if there is living space below the unit because of the noise. Carpeted rooms are quieter than hardwood and for that reason some people also prefer it on the 2nd floor a two-story home.

 

Pets

Animals can ruin carpet easily, so if you allow them in your rental unit you might want to consider hardwood (or even laminate flooring). That’s not to say pets excrement can’t ruin hardwood also, but those circumstances would have to be extreme. Constant carpet replacement and cleanings can get expensive if pets ruin them frequently.

 

Expense

If you are remodeling a rental, consider that hardwood is expensive to install – up to more than $10/sq ft. Carpet can run up to $5/sq ft. However, wood is longer lasting. While it’s a bigger investment up-front, it will add value to your property for years to come as it rarely needs to be replaced.

 

Routine Upkeep

Carpet will hide everyday dirt better than hardwood. A tenant would have to sweep a hardwood floor more frequently than they’d need to vacuum carpet.

 

So which do you prefer in your rental and why? Comment below!

 

For this and more landlord tips, please visit ATSInc’s website today!

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

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