HowToDoThings.com Recent Renting & Leasing Articles

How To Screen a New Prospective Rental Applicant

firsttroycorp — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:24:09 -0500

Landlords should try and find the best renters available who they think will pay the rent in a timely manner and not damage the rental property. This can be accomplished by performing credit checks and other pre-leasing tests. Here are the proper ways to screen a new applicant for a rental apartment or rental townhome:

How To Settle into Your First Apartment

MissySJ276 — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 13:47:53 -0500

So, you did it. You've accomplished what most twenty-somethings everywhere are dreaming of...settling into your own place. It's the ultimate step in independence. You've stepped out of the shadow, and out from under the roof of Mom and Dad. Congrats!

But now what? Before you head to the mall to start shopping for all the gizmos and gadgets you've been dreaming up for your new pad, you might want to read the following steps. From conquering those ugly bills to the most overlooked apartment necessities to tips on how to save the green stuff (aka cold, hard cash), this article has got you covered.

How To Choose the Right Style Home

Youshouldown — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 15:38:40 -0500

Homebuyers often confuse one style of home for another. When searching for your next home or trying to determine the style that matches your needs, it's important to know the different styles of homes available and on the market. Below is a breakdown of the many styles and their descriptions.

Bi-Level: A bi-level style home is typically a one-story floor plan that has been raised above ground level, where another level of living such as a basement or additional rooms resides. They are often considered ranches or split-level homes. In fact, when you enter the front door and have to climb stairs to get to the kitchen or main living space, you're typically in a bi-level style home.
Bungalow: A bungalow style home is a compact 1-1/2 story house that contains smaller rooms. There will typically be 2 or more bedrooms on the main floor, along with a bathroom and living space.

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How To Make Your Home a Resort

Youshouldown — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 23:53:38 -0500

In today’s world of home channel popularity and all things fashionable, making your home magazine-perfect and envied by all isn’t such a hard or expensive thing to do. Even the smallest changes and additions can make a huge difference for less than a weekend getaway. After all, you live in your home before and after the getaway.

How To Find a Real Estate Newsletter

Grace170 — Fri, 22 Sep 2006 03:45:00 -0500

If you are looking to get into the real estate market, or simply to increase your knowledge about this industry it is wise to invest, or search out a real estate newsletter. Newsletters can come in a variety of ways (electronic, flyer, etc.) and have varying degrees of quality. Here are some tips on real estate newsletters.

How To Lease To Own a Home

Grace170 — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 06:23:00 -0500

Many people looking for a new place to live find themselves in a position where they prefer not to rent, but cannot swallow the idea of making that big purchase. For some, there is an in-between option, also known as "leasing to own" a condo or home. "Rent to Own" or "Lease Purchase" are other terms to describe this real estate transaction. Here is how you can approach a landlord and/or seller with the idea of leasing to own.

How To Understand Landlord Tenant Law

Grace170 — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 04:15:00 -0500

If you are planning on becoming a landlord in the near future or if you have just signed a lease as a tenant, you should familiarize yourself with the Landlord Tenant Laws. The Act governing most states is the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. Although "URLTA" is used by thirteen states, the laws governing the Landlord Tenant Laws elsewhere in the country have similarities. In the follow article we will summarize the major points of the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act in order to get a better idea of what the Landlord Tenant codes are in the United States and what the relationship between Landlords and Tenants should be.

What is the URLT Act? The URLT Act was formed in order to clarify landlord/tenant rights and responsibilities, to impress upon both the importance of creating and improving the quality of housing, and to define what the relationship between the landlord and tenant should be.

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How To Lease Property

Grace170 — Thu, 13 Jul 2006 04:47:00 -0500

You have an apartment building that you want to rent out. You have some land that you are interested in loaning someone in exchange for payment. You own a marina and you want to sell dock space for a duration of time in exchange for money. If any of these scenarios are true, you are looking into "leasing" property. Residential leasing typically takes the form of renting an apartment. We'll explore the logistics of this type of leasehold in this article, as well as talk briefly about other forms of leasing.

How To Take Advantage of Lease Busters

Grace170 — Sun, 09 Jul 2006 16:09:00 -0500

A lease is an agreement between a landlord and tenant. It is a document binding both parties to the terms of the agreement-it is a legal and binding commitment that is enforceable by law. Should either party default, or "lease bust," the other party may take legal and according action. Here are some examples of how a lease is "busted" and how the damaged party can respond.

Tenant abandonment. If the tenant decides to up and leave the apartment rental without the proper notice (as indicated by the lease agreement), the landlord may seek damages. The statutes vary by state, so you should refer to RentLaw or the website for the specific state in question. In most states, the landlord can seek money awards for the months the tenant has "skipped out on" in the rental housing authority circuit or small claims court.

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How To Take Advantage of Renting Over Buying

Grace170 — Sun, 07 May 2006 04:17:00 -0500

Most real estate agents will tell you, without hesitating, that it is always better to buy than rent. In many instances, in fact, most instances, this is probably good advice. Here are some situations where renting makes more sense than buying.

Interest rates. If you do not have much money to be put towards a down payment, if your credit report is hindering your ability to secure a loan at a decent interest rate, or if your mortgage broker cannot get you an attractive overall package, it may be a good idea to wait until this changes. Typically speaking, the more money you put down at closing the lower the interest rate. If you think that, in the next year you may be able to muster up more cash, wait. If you think that your credit report has blemishes and you can clear them up in a year's time-wait.

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How To Rent a House

Ashtyn198 — Fri, 05 May 2006 21:00:00 -0500

Renting a home is a necessity of life for some people. If you are not suited for apartment living, and are not in the right financial situation to buy a home, then renting one is going to be the right answer for you. Luckily, renting a home is simple. In fact, in most cases it is easier than renting an apartment.

You will not need a real estate agent to rent a home. Most rental homes are handled by the people that own them. This allows for a one on one relationship with your property owner, which is something that is often lacking in an apartment building.

If you plan to rent a house, there are things you must do to prepare for the move. The following tips will help you prepare for renting and for moving, once you have signed the right rent agreement for your living situation.

How To Rent Your House

Grace170 — Sun, 30 Apr 2006 18:15:00 -0500

Renting your home for part of the year, or for a longer period of time, generates great income. Because you are renting your home, as opposed to a property specifically designed for renting, you will want to be more careful with the terms you set in the lease.

How To Break or Terminate Lease Agreements

Grace170 — Sun, 30 Apr 2006 17:16:00 -0500

You have the landlord from hell. The upstairs neighbor has recently purchased a tuba and plays it at all hours. You have rats. Or, you have found the perfect apartment-in another state. Whatever the reason, you need to get out of your lease-ASAP. Here are ways of getting out of your apartment lease. Be forewarned, it is not that easy and the landlord usually has the law on his or her side.

First, ask your landlord for some leeway. If you have paid rent on time, kept a clean apartment, and have been cooperative for the duration of the lease your landlord might let you off the hook. If you have a legitimate conflict, for instance, a new job or a great opportunity elsewhere, you may find your landlord to be amenable to you leaving early. Honesty is usually the best policy and you may be surprised with the results.

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How To Evaluate a Lease Agreement

Grace170 — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 06:07:00 -0500

You have just found the perfect apartment after weeks of searching. The location is great, you have your own parking space, you have great views of the city, the landlord seems nice, and the rent price is acceptable. Now, what about the terms of rent? When you go to sign a lease here are the things that you should look out for and the information that should be present in the lease document.

Term of lease. How long do you plan on staying at the apartment? You and the landlord should set start and end dates for the lease. Typically leases last one year, although sometimes tenants and landlords will agree on a "Tenancy At Will," meaning the tenant can choose to stay month by month, usually with the provision that he/she will give sixty or ninety days notice.

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How To Rent an Apartment

Grace170 — Sun, 23 Apr 2006 10:14:00 -0500

Renting an apartment is a great idea for people who do not have the money or desire to buy a house or condo. Here are some of the steps to take and possibilities to consider if you'd like to rent an apartment.

Narrow down your search by location. When you begin your search, chances are you will check out a few towns and cities. Spend time researching the various locales by reading community newspapers, talking with locals, and frequenting the shops, restaurants, bars, and cafes in town. If you do not like the feel of the town, or if the town does not provide you with essentials (parking, access to public transportation, great restaurants, proximity to work), look elsewhere. If you don't enjoy visiting a place, you won't enjoy living there.

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