THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE SIGNING LEASE

Getting a perfect rental property can be challenging, because a lot of work is to be done before choosing the right rental property, its feel like finding needle in bunches of grass. And your goal is to get a dream home in the perfect neighbourhood with reasonable monthly rent. If your dreams come true, then don't be in a rush to sign up any rental agreement or lease. Make sure that you get the complete information about rental property, it is a good idea to take visit on rental property several times in a day. Before signing on the dotted line, there is some information that you need to know.

Read the rental agreement and lease

As a renter, it is a good idea to read your rental agreement or lease agreement because these agreements all the terms and conditions, charges, late payment, etc. are mentioned, so don’t blindly sign on your rental agreement. It takes only few minutes only, or if there are any issues related to rental agreement you can ask your landlord or homeowner to clear your doubts. Or need to make any changes in your agreement ask to the landlord, don't go with verbally, ask to create a new rental agreement, there is no record of verbal conversation, so it is better to get it in written format and get a separate copy of your agreement.

Visit in different time

It's a good idea to take visit on different time in a day, for example homes for rent provided by landlords look gorgeous in the morning but become too dark at night, and silent in the day and noisy at evening, and several more issues may appear. If your rental property is just near to main road it becomes noisy by vehicles and horns, or too much away from the city can too silent or dark, but good to have in the middle of city or residential area. Try to get your rental property within or near to residential area, so it's become completely relaxed, secure and comfortable to you. And also ask the landlord about their rental property condition in different conditions of weather.

Changes on agreement

A renter can also make changes on the rental agreement, if you are not comfortable with any clause you can change it according to you need, it doesn't matter how it's small. If you need to repent, or get a piano, or putting a nail in the wall, anything you want to do, need to take permission from the landlord, to avoid these taking permission again and again you can specify in rental agreement. If you didn't take any permission or you just verbally tell your landlord and they forget, then your security deposit can be in risk. So it is good to make changes on the rental agreement in a specified manner, so you can save your security deposit by getting written permission in agreement.

Subletting option

Subletting means leaving the rental property without breaking a rental agreement, but another have to move in as a renter for remaining time with monthly rent. It is a great option for those renters who move out in middle or early before the expiration of the rental agreement or lease. May be you get transferred to another location, or dream home ready to move in, or get a new job in another location, in these subletting can be helpful both before leaving, you have to ensure that you get another person to move into rental property and the person has to pay their monthly rent and let know this to your landlord before the pass on the keys. If landlords are allowed for subletting pass the keys to another renter, otherwise penalties are heavier than eviction.

What’s included and be clear

Before signing lease or rental agreement ensure that what is included in the rent? Or what is apart from rent? Ask to the landlord that their home rentals come with basic needs or not, like gas and electricity are included in the rent, and know about the hidden cost of garbage pickup, parking, monthly pet fees, internet, etc., clear your all doubts because these things can cross your monthly budgets. You may also get help from neighbours and previous renter's as they will clearly tell you what they spend.

Above tips might be helpful for renters before signing lease and rental agreement. So don't be in a rush to sign on the agreement, it will not take a whole day to read rental agreement or lease, it just takes few minutes. And you will avoid lots of tension while the move, out in rental property.

Brighten Your Rental Property

As we know that, winters always come with holidays and celebration, but after the New Year celebration, it's become boring, dark and begins the countdown to spring. During this season tenants will search for new rental property or maybe they will move to new Rental property. Now, as landlord, you have a chance to make over your rental property with more bright and fresh look, to attract more tenants.

There are some ways which surely help you to make your rental property more brighten and happier place for renters are given below as:

Plants & Greenery

Greenery and plants will create freshness into your rental property. As we know that plants give oxygen and carbon dioxide, this will provide you better health with all day fresh air. If you don't give water all the time or you have very busy schedule you may buy some artificial plants that doesn't need water but gives you a greener look which is very close to the natural look. Both tenants and landlords will use this green effect of their personal space. Not the last, bamboo is also a good idea, it is a wonderful idea with low maintenance.

Mirror Illusion

Mirrors comes with the property of reflection, which can be used in homes for rent to get attraction from tenants. By placing mirrors you give a brighter look to your rental property, and in addition, feel your space larger. It's become more beneficial when you place the mirror at places where natural light can easily enter. If you are tenanted and suffer from the issue of low space you can implement this idea and give a different look to your rental space.

Let Nature Comes In

During winter season, we close all windows, blinds, doors, etc.. To lighten all the lights and trap ourselves inside of our home. If possible don't do it, if the sun still shine outside so open up the blinds, windows and let the sun rays enter into your space. Because nothing is brighter than sunlight, but ensure that windows will remain closed otherwise cold air will also enter into the room.

Use Positive Colour

For landlords, if you are going to use a dark theme for your Rental Property, then think twice, as it is not beneficial for tenants, may be tenants reject your rental property because of using dark colours. So always try to use light or bright colors which gives you a positive effect, by using light colours your rental space will look brighter with positive energy. For tenants, if your furniture become old and you are thinking to repair or purchase new one, then better to go with lighter colours as it will easily go through with any colour.

Clean Up

You may not like to hear of this, but cleaning your rental space will also make it brighter. If you want to give a brighter look to your rental space, you have to get rid off from clutters by yourself, you have to keep your rental space within an organised manner so that each and everything looks clean and clear. If it is one of resolution, then it is better to start from your rental space or home rentals, because nothing starts from tomorrow, so it is good to start from today.

For both tenants and landlords, by using above steps, you can make your rental property more brighter and happier place to live, because winter season are enough long to make your space dark. So get up and be ready to welcome the spring season.

How To Choose the Roommate

You are ready to share your new space with your roommate. We all know that nobody is perfect but you can find the perfect roommate at any place. Deciding to live with the perfect partner is an important discussion as it is a tedious task to research the perfect room partner. So, you should be careful and know about very well about your room partner before making a commitment. Read the following things:

Ask through your Circle of friends:

If you have a list of good friends and confident and suit a good match for you in terms in fashion, lifestyle and financial stability, go ahead and ask your friends  that they have any friend who are looking for the room or PG. word of mouth is the great research tool.

Search the roommate Online Ads:

There are plenty of options to find anything through internet like Craiglist, roommates.com and other powerful rental apartment websites and explore the other resources to get the perfect roommate. At the time of searching the roommate, first, you can see the qualification, family background and working or not thereby you can get a brief idea about it but the whole scenario will be confirmed after face-to-face meeting.

Interview your Roommate to be face-to-face:

It is the important task for the whole process. Grab a cup of coffee and interview your room partner and put a question that you want to ask such as an employment status, drink or smoke, and likes and habits.

Share your views to your roommate:

It is important to be honest with a potential roommate and share your views or expectations also in front of your roommate and vice-versa. Do not hesitate to tell anything like if you are smoker, then tell freely to your becoming roommate, so that she must be aware of those habits.

Give a rough idea about expenses:

Give a brief detail about your monthly expenses, both individual and shared. It is important to share an estimate before the beginning of your partnership.

Ask before signing the agreement:

It is really important to sign the agreement both you and your partner must be agree and happy to live together. It is a good idea to write down everything you have discussed.

EASY MOVING WITH KIDS AND PETS|CIRCL

As we know that moving to other Rental Property is very difficult and hectic task and it becomes more hectic when you have to move with kids and pets. Because while you're moving you have take care of all things like package, boxes, item that are going to be used, etc. But with kids and pets you have take care of all those item which is also going to be used by pets and kids, and they become easily tired while you are moving to the new Rental Property, so there are some tips which may be helpful while moving with kids and pets.

Talk About It

A kid doesn’t know much more about moving, according to them this is a big move. During the entire Moving process, they will become upset and tired. It's better to involve them in this task instead to avoid them. Give them small tasks according to their capabilities, and appreciate their work. Don't let them feel bored otherwise they disturb you again and again.

Moving Day Tasks

Now the time's come to move, you can keep busy your kids by giving small tasks to complete. Like you can ask them to check and visit to all rooms to ensure that nothing is left or take care of the dog to make a little walk with them. If your children are younger than ensure that you have to arrange a babysitter for them.

Care of furs

We know that Moving is stressful to use, but it is also becoming stressful to our beloved pets. Our pets get used in their homes and their surroundings and when it suddenly changed, it can be difficult to adjust for them. When we moved to new homes for rent, for our furry friends it becomes a strange pace to them, as they will not become comfortable. When you move into new home Rental it is better to keep them in a safe place or in a room and if possible keep their loved item on all the above which are easy to take out.

Before You Move

When moving day approach, you should make sure that you hired a babysitter, but preferred someone that your baby knows well and who can take him/her to their rental unit away from the chaos of yours.

Re-plan your route to your desired location, including emergency hospitals or clinics, just in case or may be your child or someone else needs any attention during your travels.

Be ready to make frequent stops, if you are traveling by car, it need time for breaks because maybe you are not able to drive continuously (for long drive). Or you can also look for those routes which have some parks and playgrounds for your kids.

What should need to take on your trip?

ü  Diapers, make sure you pack twice as many as you think you need

ü  Changing mat/towel

ü  Baby wipes

ü  Powder

ü  Bottles

ü  Baby Food/drinks/water

ü  Non-chokable snacks

ü  Clothing for changing weather

ü  Mild laundry soap in case you need to wash/rinse clothing

ü  Plastic bags to store dirty diapers/clothing

ü  Hat and sunscreen

ü  Stroller

ü  Toys, lots and lots of toys!

ü  First Aid Kit

ü  Sounds your baby loves

ü  Safety-approved car seat

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LEGAL MISTAKES AVOID BY LANDLORDS

Becoming a landlord is a very profitable profession, however it is very complicated and full of legal activities. There are so many laws created across the state and country to protect renters from bad landlords. As a landlord, it is very necessary to know the right rules and regulations and must follow them. A single mistake or misunderstanding can turn into a mess, when it’s going to legal proceedings. There are some common legal mistakes which are mostly done by landlords even their intentions are good:

Follow Outdated Leases or Agreement

As a landlord, you should be aware about the lease and rental agreement as what come into it or what should be written. To follow an outdated agreement is the method to follow the law, you should visit to your local law locality and cross check and their lease or agreement may be something new you can find or maybe it is different from your agreement or lease. In updated or new agreement, there are some new part added which is beneficial to renter and you still follow the old one, in this case landlord found guilty and should pay some penalties or fine as punishment. So don't use outdated agreement or lease, you should go with new or updated one, visit to near local law locality to prepare rental agreement or lease or you may also take help from property management companies.

Legal Questions During Screening

For landlord’s, screening is the best solution to find the perfect renters for homes for rent. Through screening process, landlord can avoid bad tenants who can't pay rent, damage property or break Rental agreement or lease by screening process. So the landlords can easily sort the good and bad tenants.

But as a landlord, you should also aware about the housing discrimination. You are not allowed to ask the wrong questions and some landlords don't know about what to ask in the screening process. As they ask from couple whether they are married or not, some ask from disable for their disabilities etc. these questions are come in the criteria of discrimination. If you reject any tenant, and they ask about the reason for rejection, then in return you have a perfect answer to their queries. You don't need to worry about asking the wrong questions while performing to tenant screening, you just need to only about genuine questions and you may make help from internet.

Fake Promises

As a landlord, if you make promises to renters related to repair, repaint job, parking space, etc. and you fail or don't deliver, then it became hard feelings from the tenant's side, which lead to a legal concern. So it is better to avoid fake promises that you can't do, if there. Is any issue you should repair or solve before renter move in or take an early action when a renter living in your rental homes.

Ignoring Eviction Laws

If the eviction process done by according to the law, then there will be a chance of 100% success, because when in any activity if there is an involvement of law then it will become 100% surety of success. But it can be complex procedure and need some time to become regular. As a landlord, you should know that you were given several chances to rend, to solve their issues. If landlords avoid eviction process through proper channel then it will be harmful for landlords.

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WHAT TENANT’S SCREENING INCLUDE’S ?

Tenant screening, it is processed which is used by residential landlords and property managers to evaluate the prospective tenants. The purpose of tenant screening is to assess the likelihood tenant with full fill the terms of the lease or agreement, and also it will take care of the rental property in their question. The process is ending with the decision of landlord approval or disagrees. With the approval renter may deposit some amount or renter may deny due to not submitting the amount.

Tenant screening process

The tenant screening process begins with the completion of the rental application, paying fees of application fees and holding a deposit. Rental application is used by landlords/homeowners to renters who visited or viewed their rental property or who interested in their homes for rent. Rental application is designed to collect the personal information of renters, which usually consist name, social security number, date of birth, address, employment, criminal record, eviction history, etc. Rental application requires an applicant signature as self-attested, which verify that all information are filled by applicant are true and verified and agree to follow the certain terms & conditions. A valid government issued identification with photograph is required in this process which is used for identifying the theft of red flags rules by the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s).

Tenant screening reports

To complete the process of tenant screening report, it strictly one or more elements which are following:

Credit report 

A credit report comes with the information of all credits such as current loan payments & past status.

Eviction records 

In eviction records, records of eviction, which is used by landlords in case of when renters/tenants failed to comply, pay, vacate within the specified time for their homes for rent.

Criminal records

A criminal record, relates to that person who involve in any criminal activity or against the law. It involves all records like pending cases, current case, charges, arrest, etc.

Sex offender registry search

It is a system which is used by various countries to keep track of the residence and activities of sex offenders, also included who have a criminal record.

Specially Designated Nationals (SDNs) search 

SDN’s deals with individuals, groups, and entities, such as terrorists and narcotics traffickers designated under programs that are not country-specific. Collectively, such individuals and companies are called "Specially Designated Nationals" or "SDNs." Their assets are blocked and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from dealing with them.

Rental references

Every time when a renter visits to landlord to final the deal of home rentals, landlord may ask for to provide references and documents that show you are responsible enough to pay rent.

Employment verification

It is the process of verifying the employment, eligibility and past history of work of the applicant.

Recommendation 

Its depend on the landlord, whether they accept the renter with the recommendation letter of the landlord.

LEASE VS RENT(DIFFERENCE & COMPARISON)

A lease is a contract for specific time it may be 6 or 12 months after which contract will expires, and the rent payment shall be made within the terms & conditions of the lease. Real estate leases are also called rental agreements.

Lease is a contract renting of land, building etc. for specified time period to a person or firm. The payment made to owner of a property for the usage as determined by the lease or rental agreement called rent. The length of lease is 6 to 12 months and it can be modified as per need but two or more parties should be agreeing in the lease. Rent payment can be made for long as lease requires it. Lease managed by property owner and Rent managed by tenants who pay the rent to use the rental property.

Relationship - Lease and Rent

In real estate lease is contractual agreement that define the terms of the use of property. This will includes that what is being rented & for how long with other conditions. Whereas rent is the payment made to owner after some specific time for the use of their property, which can be a building, residential space, house, apartment, room, lofts, condos, etc. But in business cases rent is the payment or series of payments made to owner of the rental property for using it, such as equipment, vehicle, machine, etc.

Time & Payment

Leases are mostly set for the period of 6 or 12 months, but it may cover more or less time. The rental agreement word relates to lease. Because lease is contractual agreement, both the parties are obligated to abide by it for the mentioned duration. But rent must be paid on time as per the agreement, if in case rent is late then late payments charges can be apply and same as it can be lies on the lease.

Month-to-Month

When the lease expires, renters are automatically move to month to month rental agreement until both parties will sign the new lease with the new expire date and both parties move back from month to month agreement.

Month to month agreement come with various pros & cons for the both parties. As a tenant, month to month rental agreements give the freedom to move out anytime, without any worry about transferring or breaking the lease agreement. But for the property owner, it will make rental income uncertain.

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RAISE RENT WITH MINOR UPGRADES

When your rental property looks like too old or become too dirty, then you should have to take steps to make it more clean and attractive. Any tenants or renters will not pay a good amount of rent for old and dirty rental property. If you want to increase some rent, then you have to make some decoration with cleaning. There are some ideas which will help you to make your rental property attractive and tidy:

it yours too

When you are going to clean, upgrade and renovate your rental property, then you should keep in mind that it is your home too and you are the owner. So it is your responsibility to make your home tidier with working equipment’s when renter takes a visit. When your renter vacant your rental property, then you should take responsibility to clean and maintain well, any damage should be repaired, repaint job, fixture of electrical fittings, etc. & also don’t try to make a temporary repair make a permanent solution. So it is better to treat your rental property as your own home, because any major damage to your rental property will cost to you not the renter.

Give right Vision

Whenever renters will take a visit to your rental property, you should show each and every part of your property and tell them about damages and repairs. Open all the blinds and show them the natural light, turn all light on, it is better if you bother or light color paint, it is better to place some extra light lamps. Because the more light will looks your space wider.

Repair & replace

When your renters vacate your rental property, it’s your turn to check the home for rent that any repair or any replacement is required or not? After a duration of months or years, some things need to repair or replace, because by passing of days and usage in daily routine will damage them, like doors, knobs, carpets, walls, ceiling, fans, etc. You can take help from professionals, to repair the damages , if repair is temporary then you should try to replace it, because sometime minor damage will lead to major damage. So don’t ignore the minor issues try to solve it before new tenant move in.

Kitchen or bathrooms

Nobody wants to cook in old types of kitchen, and washing themselves in the old and dirty bathroom. When renters take a visit to your rental property, they will surely ask and visit in these rooms. As a landlord you have to spend some cash on both kitchen and bathroom, if they look like 1970’s. You can visit to the nearest market and check about the latest accessories related to bathroom and kitchen. You may also take help from professionals, they will cost you, but they do their job with 100% perfection.

Cleaning & Fixing

Cleaning your home rental is a big mess when but it's become more difficult when fixing task is added within called fixing. There is a lot of dust with some bugs is taking place in your home for rent, you may take help or hire professionals like pest control they will work for you. Due to non-usage of item i.e. electrical or non-electrical, for a long time in duration of vacant of your rental property, these items will stop working or damage like leakages of gas line or water line, thermostat, electrical bulb or lights, taps, etc. so you should take care of these things. You can replace with some latest trends so that you have some reason to raise some rent.

Landscaping

We always forget about the best thing to add in our rental property to attract the tenants that are naturally in our property. You can add some flowers, artificial grass, etc. it’s up to you that what kind of thing you want to add in your rental property. While you are adding landscaping in your rental property you should know that these things should be low in budget and easy to clean. You may add trace garden or put some flowers in balcony. When you add gardening stuff your property will look neat and clean and more attractive than other properties. If you don’t want to add any these type of things then you should clean your rental property outside too, make when tenants take visit to your property, your rental property should look neat and clean from outside too same as inside.