Is it possible to buy anything without some emotional attachment? Even when we grab a slice of our favorite pizza, the smell and taste of it can bring back memories of time spent with friends and family. And pizza is such a small thing to spend a few dollars on. A house is so much bigger. A bigger investment. A …
The Ins and Outs of Insurance for Landlords and Renters
Renting or leasing a home has its fair share of difficulties, and the one thing you don’t want to forget about is insurance. The reality of the process, however, may mean call center wait times, talking to numerous people before getting to the right person and then being asked so many questions and you may not know all the answers. …
A Guide to Good Tenant Relationships
It’s a binding contract. It’s also a handshake with eye contact. You’re the landlord, they’re the tenant. You have a business relationship and a human connection. Some of the landlord-tenant relationship is simple, black-and-white business. But some circumstances ask you to honor the human side of the relationship with a little psychology and a little give-and-take. Here are some tips …
Home Repairs to DIY & Those You Should Leave to the Pros
“Do it right for less.” It’s “how doers get more done.” Besides the catchy slogans, there’s a reason Lowe’s and Home Depot are doing so well. DIY home repair is alive and thriving. Whether you want to save money, or you simply enjoy the satisfaction of working on your own home, it’s hard to resist the siren call of hammers, …
First Time Managing Your Own Rental Property? Avoid These 7 Rookie Mistakes
It seems pretty easy. You buy a property, make sure the appliances work, slap on some paint and boom—you’re in business. The thing is… being a landlord IS a business. Just as you’d approach your day job like a professional, you should approach renting to tenants like one. But everyone is a new landlord at some point, and mistakes are …
The Pros & Cons of Renting to College Students
A college town means college students. Which means young people who need a place to live. If you own rental property near a college, it’s only natural to explore the possibilities of meeting their demand with your supply. It can be an excellent business move. But it helps to know what to expect when you rent to students and how …
Remote Ready: Tips to Work and School from Home
With the crisis of COVID-19, a lot of people have suddenly been forced to work from home. And their kids are being schooled from home. But it’s temporary, right? We hope! Depends how you define “temporary.” Tech giants like Facebook and Google are allowing many to work from home through the end of 2020. Global Workplace Analytics estimates a whopping …
Real Estate Investment for Beginners
You’ve saved some cash and you’re ready to take the plunge… you want to invest in real estate. Now what? Start with your goals. Would you rather put in a lot of work over a short amount of time for a quick profit? You might want to buy and flip a single-family home. Or do you want to invest longer …
Having the Advantage When Selling Your Home in Winter
Traditionally, selling a house is left for the warmer months but there are some advantages to throwing the routine out the window. With a few specific tweaks here and there, you can woo prospective buyers into your home during the winter and get them to sign on the dotted line. It’s all about making the most of what you have …
Renting My Home vs. Selling My Home
If you own your current home, you may be ready to upgrade to a larger home to support your growing family. Maybe you are ready to downsize because your children have grown and now your nest is empty. The question is, what do you do with your current home? Should you sell it or does renting it make more sense? …