6 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Renting Your Home

Owning multiple properties can be a great investment. With rental properties in demand, homes and multi-family dwellings like duplexes can offer an opportunity to get your feet wet at being a landlord. But before you start posting availability and interviewing possible renters, it's important to make sure you ask yourself some important questions. You need to fully understand your rights and responsibilities as a landlord. Landlord tenant laws vary greatly depending on where you live.

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Renting Your Property

1. What are the terms of the lease? You will want your renters to sign a lease stipulating the details of their agreement to rent your property. Not only does this outline your expectations, it also specifies how you will handle issues that may arise. Make sure you have a legal professional review your lease prior to having your tenant sign.
   
2. What are tenant privacy rights? Landlords are permitted to enter a home to make repairs, show the property to prospective tenants or deal with an emergency. Generally, with the exception of an emergency, the landlord can only enter the home during normal business hours and must give a tenant notice in advance. This may be subject to change depending upon the language of your lease or the local laws that apply to it.
   

House Hunting Tips Part III: Getting Emotionally Ready to Buy a Home

Are you thinking about buying a home? If you've done your share of house-hunting before, you know that finding that perfect house can be an exhausting endeavor financially, physically and emotionally.

In this Part III of our Home Buying checklist series - we're going to review the emotional prep work necessary to get the most out of your house hunting.

How to Deal with A Difficult Homeowners Association

Whether you currently live in a community with a Homeowners Association (HOA) or are considering buying a home that is subject to an HOA - odds are you might have some concerns about how to best deal with a difficult homeowners association.

Understanding the Bylaws is Key

Bylaws are created upon the formation of a homeowners association to help create a standard of expectation. As a homeowner, reading the bylaws helps you know what is expected of your home and property as well as the proper course of action you should take to make changes or additions. An HOA will be far less of a nuisance if you follow the rules and procedures outlined in the Bylaws.

Should I Add Solar Panels to My Home?

"Going Solar" is a hot phrase going around right now. There are billboards, magazine ads and television commercial circling the nation focused on how easy it is to add solar panels to your home and the resulting benefits. However, just like many homeowners, you might be wondering if "going solar" is really as good as it sounds. If you're considering jumping on the solar band wagon, we're here to share some of the pros and cons so you can make the best decision for you and your family.

4 Ways You Might be Killing Your Lawn [and Hurting Your Home Value]

A plush green lawn is part of that "white picket fence" ideal often associated with home ownership. Logistically, your yard is an extension of your home. It frames your landscaping as well as provides a great area for activities and enjoyment. A well maintained lawn can also add value to your home. A yellowing lawn can alternatively, hurt your home value. If you're struggling to keep your grass looking lush and healthy - here are 4 questions to consider that might reveal what is standing in your way. 

Do You Know What Type of Grass You Have?

Believe it or not - but there are dozens of lawn grass variations available to for homeowners to use in their yards. Many lawns are also composed of a mixture of grasses that work well together to create year-round enjoyment. Depending on your area, you might have a Bluegrass/Rye/Fescue grass combination or maybe you've chosen a Bermuda grass or a Bent grass. These variations might require different watering levels and maintenance. Knowing which kind of grass you are dealing with is half the battle to keeping your lawn "happy."
Click here for an easy tool to help identify your grass »

How to Hire a Reputable Moving Company

You've bought a new home and moving day is here! The truck arrives and the movers begin unloading your boxes and furniture when you realize...some items are missing. And then you notice a grease stain on your favorite chair and your grandmother's mirror is shattered. Suddenly, your dream home is filled with the nightmares associated with an unreliable moving company.

If you are planning on moving this year - the best advice we can give you is to follow these 4 key ways to ensure your experience is a happy one.

1. Start by Doing Some Research

As with any service industry, there are companies that excel at what they do and others that do the bare minimum to get by. There are also companies that stoop to scamming their customers. The most effective way to find the kind of moving company that will treat your belongings with care and respect is to educate yourself. Go online and look at several moving companies. If you find a company that you like but have questions - pick up the phone and call. Make sure you get all of your questions answered before you schedule or make a payment.

• Is their website professional? Does it answer your top questions?
• Do they ask for a deposit or full payment up front? (beware of companies that want to be paid in full before the service is completed)
• Are they clear about what their service includes? What will you need to do/provide?
• Do they display their credentials? Ask for the registration number with the U.S. Department of Transportation
• Is the crew made up of employees or sub-contractors? Do they do background checks?

Winter-Proofing Your Home the Smart Way

As the temperatures begin to chill, many regions of the country face snow and rain that can wreck havoc on utility bills and your overall home comfort. We have a few questions you should consider when assessing how prepared your home is for cold weather.

Is your home leaking?

The most obvious way to keep your home cozy in winter is to keep the warm air in and the cold air out. 

A leak can present itself in many forms but essentially it allows for the outside air into your home. Examples include:
• Gaps under doors and around windows
• Poor wall insulation
• Gaps around plumbing, wiring, light fixtures and flues
• Un-sealed joints in heating/air conditioning ducts
• Poor insulation between attics/basements and main areas of the house
• Chimneys that cannot be closed

5 Benefits to Becoming a Homeowner

Everyone will tell you that there are financial benefits to owning a home but it’s important not to forget other positive reasons that have nothing to do with money.

1 – Security

If you’ve been a renter before, you know that your ‘rights’ are limited and many times the possibility of moving rests on the whim of your landlord. When you buy a home – it puts you in control. As long as you make your payments, you are the master of your castle and that security can help you sleep better at night.