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Archive for October, 2009

Onsite Property Management Skills

October 16th, 2009

With unemployment at an all time high and the economy tight you might be looking for ways to save money anywhere you can. One popular way to save a lot of money is by looking at your living situation and reassessing. Did you know that many landlords will offer you free or reduced rent if you act as an onsite property manager for their unit? This can be an ideal situation as you can save a lot of money and learn a new job skill while continuing your current job.?

Each property is different but there are several skills you?ll either have to have or be able to learn if you want to be a property manager.

Diplomacy?

To be a property manager you?ll have to be diplomatic with other tenants and contractors as you try to resolve disputes, schedule repairs, enforce rules and handle all daily interpersonal interactions.

Light to Heavy Maintenance?

Some landlords want onsite property managers who can do all of the landscaping and most of the repairs on their property some don?t need as much heavy lifting but most of them expect their property managers to do light maintenance such as salting icy sidewalks, changing burned out lightbulbs, cleaning up trash on the property and other similar tasks.

Organization

Onsite property managers will need to have very good organizational skills in order to organize maintenance schedules, routine inspections, apartment showings, cleaning schedules and other events throughout the year.

Before you decide to become an onsite property manager make sure you learn all that is expected from the position and the hours you?re expected to be available. Finding the right job to fit your schedule and lifestyle is key to making sure everyone is happy and satisfied.

Building a Home? Don’t forget the Landscaping

October 15th, 2009

Are you in the process of building a home? If so, you are probably spending most of your time thinking about the design and interior decorating. Even though these are important details, you don’t want to overlook the landscaping. Many people do, and when their home is complete they end up regretting it.

When your home is built brand new from the ground up, the land is torn to pieces during the process. Construction vehicles are moved in and out, the land is leveled to make for an ideal build, and people are trudging the property for hours on end. As you can imagine, the end result is a lot of dirt and very little grass and trees.

Does your builder also offer landscaping services? If so, you may want to speak with them about how much it will cost. This way, upon completion your builder will be able to make the outside of your home look just as good as the inside. Of course, if your builder cannot help you out you can always hire a professional landscaping company to do the job.

Building a home is a fun process. Just make sure you consider every detail, including the landscaping. Curb appeal is important, and with a newly built home you want everything to be perfect!

photo credit:?Donna Cazadd

Types of Property Management Jobs

October 14th, 2009

If you think the property management field might be one you?re interested in joining it may help you to examine the three different types of property management and see which one fits your skill set best. The three areas of property managers are leasing, administration and management.

Leasing?

Property managers who specialize in leasings are responsible for getting people into the landlord?s units. They have to be good sales people but also have to be able to read people and know if someone is going to be a good tenant or not. Knowing the highlights and lowlights of a property is essential as is being able and willing to perform background checks on every single applicant. Property managers who specialize in leasing will also have to keep meticulous records.

Administration?

Property Managers who specialize in administration focus on keeping records. They handle rent payments, late notices, court actions, evictions, collection notices and actions, tenant complaints and a whole list of other activities that focus on accounting and legal actions. They may also be responsible for handling property bills and other bookkeeping activities.

Management

Although all property managers have something to do with management, but some of them focus specifically on the property itself, many of them live onsite or have specific office hours onsite. In addition to handling paperwork, tenant applicants, tenant disputes, small maintenance activities, routine actions, and court appearances. They?re sort of the catch all for issues and if they don?t handle it they are responsible for dolling out the duties to others.

Historic Buildings in Seattle

October 13th, 2009

For at least four thousand years, the area of Seattle, Washington has been inhabited by man. Today, the city is a boom town to its core, riding one boom of industry after another. As many know, it is the home of grunge music, but go back further and one will discover it was also the birthplace of Jimi Hendrix. Starbucks coffee hails from Seattle, as does Microsoft, and Boeing. The following buildings are some of the city’s most historically significant. They are also 100% Seattle. (more…)

Do you need to work with a Mortgage Broker?

October 12th, 2009

Taking out a mortgage to buy a home is very common. Most people do not have the cash on hand to pay in full. The question is: how are you going to find the best mortgage for you and your home? This is not always easy to answer. Some people turn to a mortgage broker for help. Others like to do everything on their own. Whether or not you work with a broker is up to you. You should know the pros and cons before hiring or turning down a broker.

The job of a mortgage broker is simple: to find the homeowner the best mortgage product available. The benefit of using a broker is that he can show you what is out there, while also searching far and wide for the loan that is best for somebody in your position.

But can you really trust a mortgage broker? A broker gets paid by the lender when your business is sent to them. This means that a broker, in theory, can push a particular mortgage to earn more money. Most brokers are trustworthy and would never do this, but it is hard to know for sure.

You are not required to work with a mortgage broker. If you want to learn more about the benefits of doing so, hire a broker and see what they have to offer. Remember, you are not required to do what the broker says ? they are simply available for help. It is up to you to decide if choosing a mortgage through a broker is in your best interest.

How to Sublease your Apartment

October 9th, 2009

Before deciding to sublease your apartment you had better check with your lease or landlord to make sure they allow subleasing, some don?t and those that do may have guidelines on how to do it. If you can sublease and it?s up to your discretion the following steps will help you find a subleaser for your apartment.

Find a Tenant

Because your name remains on the lease (typically) and you are ultimately responsible, you are basically the landlord so you need to do your due diligence in finding a responsible tenant who will pay the bills on time and stay through the length of the sublease.

Get it in Writing

Like a landlord you should get a lease agreement in writing with the subleaser. Make sure they have a copy of all of the rules your landlord stipulated when you signed your lease and that they agree to abide by these rules as well as any you may impose. And don?t forget the signatures.

Inform the Landlord

Your landlord should know everything that happens with your sublease so send them copies of your signed agreement and contact information for you and the new tenant just in case someone needs to be contacted. You should also make sure the new tenant has all pertinent contact information as well.

Spare Bedroom in a Snap

October 8th, 2009

Not everyone is lucky enough to have a spare bedroom in their home that is dedicated to those infrequent guests or impromptu overnights. If you don’t have the space you can create a spare bedroom in a snap by making your own spare bedroom kit and keeping it handy. Each spare bedroom kit should have the following essentials but you can always add additional items as you wish.

Air Mattress

Air mattresses have gotten more comfortable than they were in the past and they can instantly be inflated so setting one up for overnight guests takes mere minutes and doesn’t wind anybody.

Sheets and Blankets

Sure a blanket is a necessity but so are blankets. Give your guests the comfort of home with a fitted sheet, a flat sheet, pillow cases and enough blankets for the season.

Pillows

A variety of pillows is always nice although you may not want to or have the space to store too many of them. Look for back to school sales to scoop up some great deals on pillows and bedding.

Pajamas

Those impromptu guests may not have brought their pjs so provide them with something to wear. Simple elastic waist bottoms and a t-shirt works for most people.

Alarm Clock

Get a spare travel alarm for guests so they won?t be late for any appointments or for work and you don?t have to get up on their schedule.

Nightlight

A night light is a good option for guests as your home is unfamiliar to them and they may forget where they are or how to get to the bathroom without tripping over the coffee table.

Toiletries?

To make your guests feel really at home, create a little toiletry bag that features the essentials. Get trial sized versions so they can take them with them when they go and you?re not out a lot of cash.

photo credit:?jinkazamah

When to ?Settle? on an Investment Property

October 7th, 2009

Anytime you are shopping for real estate you want to be 100 percent confident in the deal before moving forward. The last thing you want to do is spend thousands of dollars and find that you made a mistake. That being said, there are two times when you may want to ?settle? when buying an investment property.

1. If the price is too good to be true. There may be a few details that you don?t care for, but with the right price you can make up for them. Of course, you need to make sure that the price really is too good to be true. You never know when an underlying detail, such as a major defect, will make the low price not so attractive.

2. When you see potential that everybody else is overlooking. Some people may look at an investment property and see nothing. But those with experience and vision have the ability to look past these details and realize that settling can be a good thing.

Settling is not always a good thing when buying real estate, but this does not mean that you should totally discount it. If one of the two situations above come up, you may be in perfect position to get a great deal.

Be Patient with Home Improvement Projects

October 6th, 2009

Are you the type of person who jumps into a project without thinking twice? While this may be your personality, it does not always work out well when it comes to home improvement projects. It is almost always better to be patient when improving your home.

Here are three reasons why you should exercise more patience the next time you decide to take on a home improvement project:

1. Better results. When you spend more time planning and completing the project you are going to be more satisfied with the end result. Even if you are in a hurry to complete the job you do not have to rush from start to finish.

2. Fewer mistakes. Let?s face it; making a mistake during a home improvement project can cost you big time. If you don?t lose money, you are going to end up with a result that is not visually appealing. Avoiding all mistakes can go a long way in ensuring that you are 100 percent happy with the end result.

3. Less stress. When you rush anything, whether it is a home improvement project or something at work, you are putting a lot of extra stress on yourself. The more patient you are the more relaxed you will become.

As you can see, it is very important to be patient with home improvement projects. This will lead to better results, fewer mistakes, and less stress.

photo credit:?Jeremy Levine Design

Spend your Time Wisely when Buying an Investment Property

October 5th, 2009

When buying an investment property you do not always have a lot of time to sit around and think about every last detail. For this reason, you need to spend your time wisely. Experienced investors know exactly what they are looking for, and then do whatever it takes to go through the proper steps in the most effective manner. Others, especially first time buyers, may find it more difficult to buy an investment property with a high level of success.

Spending your time wisely means making educated decisions in order. Even if you are in a rush, you have to take your time to ensure that every decision you make is the right one. To go along with this, you also need to move from one step to the next in a logical order.

There are some details that you have to make time for. They include a professional inspection of the property, and dealings with professionals such as your real estate agent and mortgage broker.

No two investment property deals are the same. Make sure you spend your time wisely, and answer all questions before making a final decision. If you feel rushed you are better off passing on the home for the time being.