Landlord Newsletter September 22, 2010 - Home Operation |
September 22, 2010 Dear Fellow Landlord, Enjoy the newsletter ... and thanks again for supporting The LPA!
In this issue:
Please e-mail us if you have any questions or would like to add or share any material / information. Home Operation Often Lacks Instructions
By Lambert Munz MPM, RPM, Arbour Real Estate Mgmt, Inc.
Author of House Investor's Manual We can't expect people to operate a strange home, without some basic instructions. Especially, if they are coming from an apartment community. In an apartment community many things were taken care of for them. The complex probably had an on-site maintenance staff, gardeners, etc. It has to be pointed out that the days of instant service are over. A lot of preventive maintenance is expected from them. Turning over the keys assuming that they know what to do is simply not good management. A big help in the operation of the home is having the operating manuals for instructions regarding the Thermostat, Sprinkler control box, Pool equipment, Oven, Microwave available, Location of Main Breaker box, location of Main water valve, gas meter, alarm system. Should include instructions of when to turn on and off sprinklers. We will provide instructions as to shutting off gas main, location of disposer reset button and unjam procedures, filter changes, water heater temperature adjustment, carpet cleaning, preventive mold control, sprinkler and yard maintenance, and battery replacement for smoke alarms. Remember not to instruct tenants to perform maintenance tasks other than normal housekeeping. (See our article "Trading Services For Rent")
It is helpful if the owner will provide instructions that help maintain the home. Some homes have some special procedures that an owner may consider routine, but isn't routine to the occupant.
Who is responsible for them? LPA Appliance Agreement With Repair ClauseThe Landlord Protection Agency's Appliance Agreement with Repair Clause is an excellent addition to many leases and rental agreements.The Appliance Agreement with Repair Clause explains in simple terms to the tenant that if the tenant wishes to use the existing appliances, he is responsible for maintenance and repairs on them. This document includes a complete appliance checklist at Move -In, signed by the tenant, it also protects the landlord from costly repairs and maintenance by putting the responsibility of the appliances onto the tenant where it belongs. We are not in the appliance business! We like the Appliance Agreement because it covers the landlord completely for those annoying appliance repairs that seem to always crop up. This agreement is clear and easy to understand. The more rentals you have, the more appliances you have that will need repairing and replacing over the years.
Ask the AttorneyThe Landlord Protection Agency® is proud to introduce John Reno, Esq., a highly experienced Landlord - Tenant attorney based on Long Island, NY.
John Reno also does Mortgage Loan Modifications (Nationwide). If you have a landlord tenant problem you'd like to ask a question about, please feel free to e-mail me your question.
Wealth Secrets & Quotes"The winners in life think constantly in terms of I can, I will, and I am. Losers, on the other hand, concentrate their waking thoughts on what they should have or would have done, or what they can’t do." - Denis Waitley "You must learn from the mistakes of others. You can't possibly live long enough to make them all yourself." - Sam Levenson "Routine brings results. A disorganized genius is no match for the average person with a daily routine." - Robert Allen "How much money did your last tenant problem cost you?" - John Nuzzolese, TheLPA.com
Quick Check Credit Reports, Inc. is proud to announce its affiliation and partnership with The LPA in helping landlords protect their interests by better screening tenants at lower costs!!
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Not only is Danielle Babb one of our county's most knowledgeable real estate analysts, she also shares excellent landlord information and advice in her book, "The Accidental Landlord". Plus she's a super nice person! - John Nuzzolese comes with all 2 - 5+ year LPA Memberships Be a more powerful landlord - able to handle just about any landlord / tenant situation in a professional way, saving you time and money. ALL FREE with LPA Membership! Yes, this offer also applies to LPA membership renewals! Having all the forms all on disk is a handy time saving convenience. Worth A Thousand Words! The LPA's Rental Advertising division,"Landlord's Corner" allows you to include up to 6 pictures (thumbnails and full size pictures) in each rental ad. LPA members: FREE! LPA Membership Expiring? |
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LPA members have been asking me for a while now about how to set up automated rent payments with their tenants. I'd like to bring your attention to ClearNow, the leader in electronic rent collection. ClearNow enables you to have your rent automatically withdrawn from your tenant's bank accounts and directly deposited into your bank account.
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