Premier Real Estate

When you are becoming a landlord, it is really hard to believe some of the things that you have to go through.  Well guys, I have some news for you – besides having a screening system for your tenants, there is also another thing that you have to set up and that is a payment plan for the rent.  Your tenants are going to have to pay rent and the best place to actually have them pay it is via your PayYourRent.com profile.

This website is amazing for anyone who is not used to being a landlord.  You can set up payments, allow your tenants to have access to the database to request repairs – which you will be able to track.  Tracking everything that you fix or do for your tenants is very, very important … as you can probably see from shows like Judge Judy.

Being a landlord is not all that difficult, you just have to be organized and make sure that you truly know what you are doing!

Becoming a landlord is something that is very popular these days.  Back in the day, landlords were people that were in charge of everything from apartment complexes all the way to condos, but now – normal people like you and me and are becoming landlords simply because we can not sell the house we have sitting on the market.  Instead, we are renting them out and hence, making us a landlord.

However, do you know exactly what is entailed in becoming a landlord?  I didn’t until I became one and I have some advice to share with you within the next few blogs.

Firstly, you need to make sure that you have a screening for your tenants.  You always want to make sure that your tenants are something that are going to be very, very close to you and honestly – they are going to be living in your space unattended.

In the next blog, we will talk about pricing and how you can keep track of those repairs that you do to the house.

Now, will you be able to talk some potential landlords into accepting your pets? You certainly will! However, you still have to be incredibly patient and extremely responsible.

For instance, if you have had previous landlords who allowed your pets, have them write a letter of reference, attesting to the fact that you took care of the animals, that they did not damage the property, and that you were fully responsible regarding any mishaps.

Have your vet write a reference letter as well, describing your diligence in the medical care you provide for your pet, especially if your pet has been spayed or neutered — sometimes landlords prefer that.

If the owner of a property you love does not allow pets, ask why. If it is due to a bad experience with a former tenant, you may be able to prove that you will not make the same mistakes.

When you are moving and have to rent a property, making sure you find a place that suits your needs is paramount. Many people are always on the lookout for rental properties that accept pets, for example. This can be hard. Most of us do not want to even think about giving up our pets; they are like our children, like family, and giving them up is not even an option for quite a few of us.

If you are conscientious, if you are responsible, if you are patient, and if you make the time to plan, it never has to be an option.

Going into this endeavor, however, you have to remember that some minds will not be changed. You may not be able to talk every potential renter into letting you have pets.

Now that we have talked about ads that are not posted by real estate agents, let’s go ahead and touch base on the ones that are.  Usually, these are the good ads that are not going to be scams … however; you still want to make sure that you give the real estate agents a call so that way you can see if they are legit.

Next, you want to make sure that you note if the deal seems too good to be true – most of the time it is.  For example, I had one that was one thousand dollars, a house, yard, fully furnished, all utilities included – that is too good to be true.

Next … if the people are overseas … do not send the ANY money.  They are just trying to take it from you.

So I have to say that finding real estate via craigslist is hard.  If you are like me and you are trying to find a new place to live in another state – as mentioned in the previous blogs, well you are probably having some of the same challenges as me as not really knowing the area you are moving to but also relying on people that you find on craigslist.

Well – I have a few tips and tricks for you to watch out for all of those craigslist scams in the real estate market so you don’t waste you money and throw it all away.  That is what we are going to explore in the next few blogs.

One of the first things that you need to be wary of is the ads that are not posted by real estate agents – those are usually the ones that are scams, but not all of the time!

Using the means listed in the last post, you should be able to work up a list of possible rental properties.

Once you have a list, start getting in touch with the landlords of each one. Ask about the specifics for each place. This will help you narrow down your choices and create a short list based on your needs.

You are now ready to go see these places. Now, that is not always possible. So, if you have a friend, family member, colleague, et cetera, in your new city, see if they can give you a hand. Failing that, again, a real estate agent or broker may be able to help you.

Make sure, when you finally make a choice, that you carefully read the rental contract before signing it. Get help with understanding all the legal jargon if you need it.

You find out you have to move — out of state — and you have to rent something, preferably as soon as possible. It happens. It can be scary, frustrating, and difficult, but it still happens. How do you start? How do you do it successfully?

For starters, you have to figure out where you have to move. If, say, you have to move to Baltimore but cannot afford the in city rents, find out what neighborhood, suburb, or nearby town you can realistically choose instead.

Now it is time to start looking at web sites with rental listings — Find Home Rentals, Vacancy Net, and even Craigslist can help. Online newspapers and classifieds are helpful as well.

You cannot do everything by yourself. You may need to find a real estate agent, a property manager, or a broker. Talk to the Chamber of Commerce.