|
|
|
|
|
Real Estate News | USA Real Estate | Canada Real Estate | Real Estate Articles Personal Finance | Loans | Mortgages | Finance News
Get Real Estate Leads Prepare Your Rental Property for Occupancy
Among your many responsibilities as a landlord, the law provides for a warranty of implied habitability. This means that the dwelling must be considered habitable and any known problems must be fixed before you allow a tenant to take occupancy. When a tenant vacates one of your units, take this opportunity to perform a walkthrough of the unit to determine its condition and discover what repairs or maintenance need to be done. Here are some of the specific areas that you will need to examine in your property before you accept a new tenant. Do all the fixtures work properly? This includes faucets, showers, tubs, toilets, and any other fixtures. Make sure that the fixtures do not leak and that they consistently operate correctly. Address any leaks or other problems before you rent out your property. If a fixture is consistently causing problems, it may be easier -- and even cheaper -- to replace it to avoid future problems. In addition to providing quality fixtures for your tenants, repairing leaky fixtures can also reduce your water bill. If you pay for your tenants' utilities and water, this can mean substantial savings. Have the carpets been thoroughly cleaned? Mold, mildew, and pet stains are considered health hazards, and such problems should be completely resolved before you rent out your property. Diseases such as toxoplasmosis, which is normally found in cat urine stains, can be deadly. Proper cleaning of your carpets will ensure that that your tenants will have a healthy environment. If the carpet has mildewed or there is a mold problem, you may need to replace the carpet. Have the cabinets, closets, and storage areas been completely cleaned? Mildew and mold can lurk underneath cabinets, especially if you have had a problem with leaky fixtures. You may have to replace a cabinet if the damage is severe. Closets are one area that tenants frequently neglect when they vacate a property. Make sure that these areas are completely cleaned and that any forgotten property is handled appropriately. You may need to track down your previous tenants to notify them that they have abandoned their belongings. Set a specific reasonable response time, and if they do not respond in that specific amount of time, you may then discard the property. Are the walls free of chips, marks, and holes? Depending on the length of the previous tenancy, you may have to repaint the unit. Any existing holes should be fixed before you rent out the property. If you do not plan to repaint, examine the condition of the walls carefully and make notes so you do not hold your new tenant liable for damage caused by someone else. At a minimum, you should patch any obvious holes. Do all of the appliances operate properly? Old appliances waste lots of energy, which is a consideration for landlords providing free utilities to their tenants. Replacing old appliances with new models will save you money on energy and repairs and maintenance. Your tenants will appreciate the newer appliances, and your electric or gas bills should be lower as well. Does the unit have lead paint? Most properties built after 1978 do not have lead paint. But if your property was built before that, you need to determine if it contains lead paint. If it does, you must disclose this to your prospective tenants before they move in. Do all of the doors and windows operate properly? Check all of the doors and windows of your property to make sure that they open and close properly and that they are in good working order. This includes cabinetry, patio doors, and windows. Neda Dabestani-Ryba is a licensed Realtor in Maryland. She is a member of the President's Circle of Top Real Estate Professionals. She can be reached at (800) 536-3806 or visit her website for more information: http://neda.dabestani.pcragent.com/ Prudential Carruthers REALTORS is an independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential Financial company. Equal Housing Opportunity.
MORE RESOURCES:
Real-Estate - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Apartment Loan 101 So you're interested in going into business as a property manager? Have you given any thought yet to you'll enter this potentially profitable market? Reality check-unless you've just inherited a large sum of money from a relative or are otherwise independently wealthy you're going to find someone to borrow from. This is where an apartment loan comes in. What Makes Fractional Shares Different from Owning Other Kinds of Vacation Properties? Fractional shares ("fractionals") are sometimes confused with other vacation property options, such as time shares and condo hotels. While there are similarities, there are a number of things that make fractional shares unique, and thus suited for a certain type of vacation property buyer. The 5 Biggest Mistakes Made When Getting A Business Appraised Most business owners will, at some point, want or need to know how much their business is worth. They will be faced with the task of finding someone to perform a business appraisal or valuation. Canal Front Homes in Venice A bit about VeniceVenice, Florida was named by an early explorer who thought the beautiful, clean canals that snake through the coastal community starkly resembled the canals of the historic city of Venice, Italy. In the 2000 census, Venice, Florida had a population of 17,764 people and that number has continued to increase over the last five years. 5 Things to Look for in a Property Appraiser Homeowners who are seeking a property appraiser often ask "How should I choose which real estate appraiser to use?" When selecting a property appraiser, keep the following in mind:Always make sure a property appraiser is licensed or certified by the state to perform real estate appraisals. While state licensing and/or certification isn't always an indication of quality, it ensures that an individual is has met certain standards and been authorized to perform property appraisals. What are the Elements in Real Estate? Each element has a specific color associated with it. Because color (light) vibrates and is such a high frequency, it immediately lifts the "energy vibration" in our listings. What to Look for in a Home Searching for just the right home can be very exciting. You may plan ahead for the number of bedrooms and bathrooms that you want. Real Estate Investing In Belize Any trip to Belize starts fantasies of owning a beach villa, or a jungle resort. There are a lot of North Americans in this English speaking, former English colony. Hey Landlord! Is Your Lease Legal? The longer you are a landlord the more you strive to create the perfect lease/rental agreement. Landlords learn in the school of hard-knocks that some tenants are certified trouble makers and we try our best to protect ourselves with a carefully structured restrictive lease. Should you Sell your Home yourself? Should you sell your home yourself? Yes and no. Yes, you should leave the option of selling on your own open and no, you shouldn't rule out using the services of an agent to help you sell. Budgeting Your Log Home - Creating a Checklist If you've read my first article, BUDGETING YOUR LOG HOME: Where do you start?, you've got a very basic overview of the process. However, there are still a number of questions I'd like to address. Old House? New House? Weighing Your Options Maybe it has something to do with a childhood home we fondly remember. Many of us long for old homes built with solid construction, quality craftsmanship and beautiful details. The Benefits of A Real Estate Agent 101 Buying and selling property is not as easy as you may think. There are many things that you have to consider when purchasing a home, or when putting a home up for sale. Real Estate Investing - Makeovers vs. Flipping Please don't call it "flipping."Some real estate investors who practice the technique of buying property for immediate fixup and resale call it "flipping houses. Home Selling: How To Set The Right Asking Price Many homes remain unsold for a long time because they're over-priced. Pricing your home right is essential if you want to sell your home in quick time. Why Are Mortgage Notes Discounted Anyway? When real estate note brokers purchase partially paid notes, they pay the note holder a discounted price after factoring in the time value of money, the payer history, and property condition.If there is still a significant period of time left for the payer to make payments, the future payments are not worth the same amount in current dollars. Can I Sell My Private Mortgage Notes? In this country millions of homes are sold every year. In most cases buyers go to a bank or finance company to seek mortgage financing. Why Canadian Real Estate is Such Good Value Real estate agents, Canadian citizens and foreign investors interested in the Canadian property market are all in agreement - as Canada becomes a more desirable place to live year on year so property investment in Canada becomes a more attractive prospect year on year.Furthermore, because property in Canada is high quality, plentiful, incredibly affordable and easy to purchase, real estate in Canada is good value across the board. How to Show & Sell Your California Home Seller's Showing Instructions1. When the agent arrives with the potential buyers, have the window coverings open to let in as much sunlight as possible. 7 Marketing Methods for Real Estate Coaches You shower, shampoo, dress your best, check to see if you have plenty of business cards, drive about an hour, introduce yourself by saying "Hi, I'm Mary and I'm a coach" and the other person says, "Hi, I'm Jack and I'm a coach, too!". You meet more coaches than you knew existed.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
