Ask anyone looking for a home to purchase or rent what their top ten list looks like and chances are one of them will be a garage. While many people think of their garage as simply a convenient place to store their extra sporting equipment, bikes and lawn mower, your garage can become a major…

As an investor in real estate, you could on your rental properties bringing you a certain amount of money each month with little to no hassle. Unfortunately, though, tenant problems abound. Not only can these increase your stress level, they can make it less lucrative to rental your property. Here are some tenant problems to…

Whether you have one property that you are renting out or if you are trying to acquire a portfolio of properties to build up a steady income from real estate, you should be careful not to scrimp on the insurance policies you take out on them. Though it can be tempting to try and save…

When you rent your home out to another person or family, you essentially become the “business” and your renters become your “customers.” While the old saying, “the customer is always right” doesn’t fully resonate in this situation, there is a great deal of truth to it. Using a move-out survey can help you glean valuable…

When your property needs some repair work done on it, or if you need a system maintained, you count on the contractors you contact to do their job correctly and with minimal supervision. It might surprise you to learn that this is not always the case though. In fact, to protect yourself, you should screen…

Keeping your tenants informed about your expectations goes a long way toward a smooth relationship. A good case in point involves the deposit. Having your renter sign a list of items that could be deducted off the deposit is sure to motivate them to leave the property in the same condition that it was in…

Most homeowners who rent out their property only want to make money with an asset that they no longer need. Charging a security deposit as part of the moving-in package for tenants isn’t a sneaky way of wringing extra funds from them. Instead, it’s a method of protection in the event that something goes awry…

A checklist can help anyone stay on track when it comes to hectic life events. When it comes to starting a relationship with a new tenant. consider ways to make it easier on them and get it off to a great start. A comprehensive checklist can help. Build a Great Move-In Checklist A move-in checklist…

A tenant can leave unexpectedly for numerous reasons. While having a tenant break a lease is never the ideal situation for you as a property owner, there are some strategies that can help you manage these situations. 1. Market the Property You don’t have to wait until your property is empty in order to start…

Maintenance is part of owning a home, and your rental property is no exception. Without smart choices ahead of time, though it can seem like your maintenance budget grows continuously with no end in sight. The following tips can help: 1. Try to head off a crisis Of course, sometimes a crisis — such as…