How to Stop Your Tenants’ Number One Complaint

How often have your tenants complained about noises from the adjoining apartment? Thin walls are the number one tenant complaint in this country.  You’ve heard it: “the TV’s too loud” or “the couple upstairs won’t stop going at it.” Are you tired of refereeing your tenants?

A new product can end this property management nightmare, and the annoyance of these tenant complaints.

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Posted by Kim Ezzell on 03.31.2008. CLICK to Leave a Comment »

Filed under: AAOA Forum

Tenant Background Checks: Tenant Bank Accounts

A prospective tenant that does not have a checking account is a red flag.

An adult without a checking account is probably a very high risk tenant. They either could not get an account due to improper identification or their account was closed by the bank for bouncing too many checks.

In either case, landlords beware!

Assuming your prospective tenant has a bank account, check it out:

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Posted by Kim Ezzell on 03.31.2008. CLICK to Leave a Comment »

Filed under: AAOA Forum, Credit Screening

What To Do When A Tenant Leaves Early

Learn How This Property Manager Cuts His Losses When a Tenant Cuts Out

Thanks to Robert Machado, CPM, MPM, HomePointe Property Management for this submission:

There are a lot of reasons why a tenant might try to break a lease.  Some may be valid and require the landlord to allow this to happen.  One example is a military transfer.   But, most situations are simply a choice, like a civilian job transfer or promotion, don’t like the neighborhood, school change, and the like.

A landlord must protect themselves in these situations and enforce the lease.  One way to do this is with a clause in the lease so the resident is aware of what will happen ahead of time.  Here is HomePointe’s clause:

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Posted by Kim Ezzell on 03.31.2008. 1 Comment »

Filed under: AAOA Forum, Forms

How to Get Rid of Bedbugs

Bedbugs are a growing concern for apartment owners across the country. 

To avoid lawsuits and lost rents, landlords need to take responsibility for eradication.  But what should you do when the bedbugs bite?

While it is tempting to use self-help remedies like insecticides, this is not widely recommended within bug control circles:

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Posted by Kim Ezzell on 03.31.2008. 2 Comments »

Filed under: AAOA Forum

How to Spot Bedbugs

Bedbug bites are being reported across the country, but finding these illusive creatures by day is a challenge. Bed bugs are nocturnal, and very small. 

Their shape helps them squeeze into the smallest, darkest crevices in walls, floors, furniture and draperies.  To make matters work, they don’t need to eat very often, so they can remain hidden for days, even months.  Bed bugs may be able to survive for eighteen months or more without food. 

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Posted by Kim Ezzell on 03.31.2008. 2 Comments »

Filed under: AAOA Forum

Bedbugs are Back, and Spawning Lawsuits

Landlords are Feeling the Bite as Bedbugs Reach Epidemic Proportions

Bedbugs, once a scourge of by-gone eras, are back and have some landlords up in arms as they figure out how to eradicate these night-crawling blood-suckers.

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Posted by Kim Ezzell on 03.31.2008. 2 Comments »

Filed under: AAOA Forum

LEAP INTO SPRING WITH OUR NO-STRINGS TRIVIA GAME

WE HAVE A WINNER! Congratulations Tianna for guessing

McSorley’s Old Ale House

Thanks to Everyone Who Played!

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Posted by Kim Ezzell on 03.27.2008. 33 Comments »

Filed under: AAOA Forum

 Here’s a Coaching Program for Rehab Investors 

You don’t need to figure out income investing all on your own.

Brookview Financial offers an education program for investors interested in rehabs. 

They help you make sure you are picking the right deal, and help you plan so you are not overimproving or underimproving the property.

Coaching is available whether you are a first investor or you have already rehabbed a number of properties and need to find new deals.

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Posted by Kim Ezzell on 03.24.2008. 2 Comments »

Filed under: AAOA Forum, Financing

A Credit Tool That Allows You To Take Your Time Choosing an Income Property

Every investor knows last minute complications over financing can cost you an investment deal.  Brookview Financial offer investors a different option to conventional financing. Their program provides you with a guarantee of funding that is valid for the year, or in some cases, two years. 

This allows you to take your time to find the right investment, without the concern that your conventional loan lock will expire, or that last minute glitches will kill the deal.   

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Posted by Kim Ezzell on 03.24.2008. 2 Comments »

Filed under: AAOA Forum, Financing

Secrets to Profitable Income Property Rehabs

Choosing the Right Footprint for an Income Property is Crucial

“We don’t like to loan more than $50,000 for improvement on rehabs,” Paul Carrier of Brookview Financial confides. If an investor is going to spend more than that, the project is going to go beyond six months.  “Our general rule is to keep rehabs to a few weeks,” Paul continues. “Any longer than that and you have to question the soundness of the  investment.”

Investors need to be careful what they pick as a project. 

Here are some projects to avoid:

Posted by Kim Ezzell on 03.24.2008. 1 Comment »

Filed under: AAOA Forum, Financing