The Property Management Contract - What You Need to Know

The Property Management Contract - Taking it Apart

The manager will be taking on significant responsibilities with the owner's real estate. It is important to look at the contract and at a minimum it must

Property

1. Name all parties to the contract

2. The legal property address

3. Define the responsibilities of the manager and the owner

4. Enumerate all fees and commissions for leasing or real estate sales.

5. Define the term of the contract

6. Both parties must sign and date the contract

What is Agency?

"It may be referred to as the relationship between a principal and an agent whereby the principal, expressly or impliedly, authorizes the agent to work under his control and on his behalf. The agent is, thus, required to negotiate on behalf of the principal or bring him and third parties into contractual relationship."

Wikipedia

Basically you are signing off and binding the manager to act in your behalf and in your best interest regarding the management of the property.

The Take-away:

1. You should require a current license and go to search your state dept. of Real Estate to see if it is current and that there have not been any complaints or suspensions or revocations of the real estate license.

2. You should also check with your local Better Business Bureau and ask for referrals. 3. Finally, ask to see the general liability insurance policy and if the principals have errors and omissions insurance.

The length of the Contract: Often this is one or two years. Property Managers don't like a month to month contract because they need to get the tenants into the rent roll and into their system. They also need a little time to learn the property. One year should be a minimum.
The Take-away: Be sure that the contract can be voided, without having to provide reason and without penalty with a written 30 day notice to terminate the arrangement. Be sure that your written termination date matches the hire date or you may have a deduction for early termination. If the hire date was on the first, terminate on the first.

Duties and Responsibilities of Managers

1. Maintenance and Inspections: In a general sense they should perform all the duties necessary to maintain and manage the property. You may specify that certain tasks or procedures remain the owners to do. Many owners like to do their own maintenance.

The Take-away: Property management companies often have their own handyman and you should be very clear about how this works. If a light bulb is out and the handyman has to travel back and forth and change the bulbs, there is likely a minimum one hour charge. It could cost you .00 to change a light bulb.

2. Major Repairs: you should expect that all major repairs be completed with three independent bids and receipts to back up the billing.

Take-away: To protect yourself, you should establish limits on how much can be spent without having to get your approval. If the bids all seem high, we think you should have the right to bid it out yourself. If you do, you would then be responsible for the outcome and if it was not up to code, the management firm may not want to represent you. So, for those who know what they are doing, this might be a money saving option on big jobs.

3. Inspections: The manager should be there for all city inspections and without any charge. This is part of the management of the property.
Take away: you should have in writing that the company will also provide annual inspections and a written report.

4. 24 Hour emergency Service: This is part of basic management. There must be a 24 by 7 response team and there should be no extra charge for this. Its part of the basic manangement of a property.

Tenant Screening and leasing

1. Marketing and advertising the rental: The company should be familiar with the local market and be able to price the unit so that it rents reasonably fast and at the right rent. A poor rental process can cause you time on the market while all the bills still have to be paid. We have seen many companies try to hit home runs with getting the highest price only to be over zealous and cost the owner months of income.

The take-away: Ask the company how much leasing experience they have, how long a property is on the market. How to they come to their pricing strategies and how they intend to advertise, and are there any costs involved. We think that craigslist and a company website should do the job. With the exception of luxury properties, newspaper classifieds are a costly
expense.

2. Tenant Screening: What are the tenant screening criteria. he company should be able to clearly offer you a set of rules. This should never be an off hand "we pick em if we like em" approach. Thats a law suit waiting to happen. We will write on fair housing, the federal government's body of law governing housing and discrimination. meanwhile there are a series of articles at our website you can read if you need to know.

Financials:

All management companies should have accounts online and always available. The bigger companies will have an accountant in the company. Thats a plus.

The company responsibilities are:

1. Track income and expenses to determine profitability

2. Rents and other fees from the property shall be deposited into a special bank account or trust as required by law and cannot become mingled with the company funds.

Issue monthly income statements

3. Negotiate rental agreements

4. Respond to tenant requests and deal with problem tenants

5. The Agent should collect the rents and other income from the property promptly

6. From the rents received the Agent should pay all operating expenses and such other expenses as requested by the Owner. This may include the payment of mortgages or taxes.

Howard Bell for yourpropertypath.com

The Property Management Contract - What You Need to Know

www.yourpropertypath.com

At Your Property Path we believe that knowledge should be free and freely shared.

Introduction to Property Management

If you own any sort of property, be it residential or business related, you will need someone to manage it. The question you are probably asking is how professional management can help you?

So, what is property management? It's the managing, or handling, of real estate property by someone other than the owner. Most often, it is handled by a management firm, that might handle more than one client's real estate properties. Other styles include hiring someone to live on site and take care of tenants' requests, as a building superintendent or other building manager - but this style of management has fallen out of favor in recent years.

Property

It goes without saying that quality is a big issue with this service. A good management firm will act as a go-between for the real estate owner and the tenants, handling any questions and complaints that the tenants might have so that the owner is not forced to deal directly with them. This kind of service can include doing many different things, from collecting rent to hiring groundskeepers and repair people. They can keep an eye on repairs that need to be done, and suggest improvements on the property to the real estate owner.

In most states, those offering this service must be certified and licensed, most commonly as real estate brokers. This is especially true if the property managers (or someone in the the management team) is helping to negotiate leases, or collect rent on behalf of the property's owner. In other states (such as Connecticut), there may be no licenses required for these tasks. Most property managers are still required to register with the state they work in.

Property managers can also be essential in keeping an eye on your property - making sure that no one is vandalizing your real estate, and taking care of problem tenants as well. The actions that manger may have to take can include eviction, as well as involving the authorities, tasks that a real estate investor may not want to have to do. They can also be used as arbitrators between tenants, when disputes arise that are not severe enough to involve the police or other authorities.

When done well, property management is the answer to a lot of issues that real estate investors might face. The management team can do the hands on work while the investors reap the profits.

Introduction to Property Management

Aazdak Alisimo writes about property management companies for PropertyManagementServiceCompanies.com.

How Do I Find Buyers For My Timeshare? How to Really Sell My Timeshare Fast?

Be careful about soliciting the opinion of other people in regards to the topic of how easy it is to sell a timeshare property, for you will be on the receiving end of fairly contradictory statements provided by them. To some, it is the most difficult and tedious of legal processes, whilst others will proudly claim that they managed to conclude their sale with no trouble whatsoever. It is important to appreciate that you really need to make sure that you actually take the time to carry out the necessary "due diligence" and actually make use of the various tools at your disposal. This means you exert more control over the proceedings, which in turn means you are somewhat protected from having to pay out on huge fees.

How Do I Find Buyers For My Timeshare?

Property

The following is a brief overview of some of the effective methods to make use of when attempting to sell a timeshare:

-First and foremost, you need to be aware of the actual current value of your timeshare, i.e. how much money would the average, prospective buyer pay for your timeshare. This information can be found out in a matter of seconds, all you need to do is visit a relevant website, fill in the paperwork that they require of you and then wait for them to return the material. Simple!

2. Make A Decision Regarding The Usage Of An Agent.

Unless you have a significant amount of time on your hands as well as an intimate, working knowledge of the various legal documents which will cross your path then you should enlist the assistance of an agent as they will wade through the paperwork for you. Not only will these guys help you with the technical aspect of the process, such as the form filling and the legal stuff, but they will also be able to assist you with the actual sale of your timeshare. These guys are masters when it comes to locating a potential buyer who is interested in your property.

3. Advertise Your Property On As Many Websites As You Can!

If you do want to try and sell your timeshare all by yourself then make sure you advertise it on as many different websites as you want, in order to make sure that you gain the maximum amount of exposure possible.

How Do I Find Buyers For My Timeshare? How to Really Sell My Timeshare Fast?

The next step is to Click Here to find out what your timeshare is worth and Get Cash For Your Timeshare Fast. This is 100% FREE and you will get great information from a trusted reputable company dealing with timeshare sales.

Property Management on the Rise

How major economic and demographic trends are creating new opportunities and challenges for property managers.

Motivation

Property

Whether we embrace it with open arms or resist it every step of the way, we live in an era of rapid technological advancement and lifestyle transformation. Whereas previous generations could rely on similar patterns of work and personal life for decades at a time, we are faced with the need to adapt to significant changes occurring every few years. This rapid pace of change places unprecedented importance on forecasting and preparation. For those of us interested in growing our careers or businesses it is now a requirement to stay ahead of the curve. This paper aims to describe patterns that are deemed significant to real estate property management in the next two decades.

Property Management: A Robust and Growing Industry

According to the latest U.S. Census data the real estate property management industry experienced an average growth rate of 7-8% at the beginning of this decade. The data portrays a substantial and robust industry with over 140,000 active firms generating nearly billion in revenues. By virtually all expert accounts the industry is expected to continue to grow at an accelerated pace in the next two decades as the urban landscape of America undergoes a major transformation. The following four factors are considered amongst the most important demographic and economic forces behind this transformation:

1. The Baby Boomer Effect

2. The Generation Y Factor

3. Municipalities and the Planned Community Concept

4. The Local Living Movement

In this paper we discuss each of these factors and try to understand their main implications for property managers. At the end, we provide a series of conclusions and recommendations for further action.

1. The Baby-boomer Effect

Perhaps the most significant and most frequently discussed demographic topic of the past two decades has been that of the baby boomer generation nearing and entering the retirement age at an accelerating pace. This generation which has arguably had the loudest say in forming many contemporary trends, stands to have an even bigger influence given the degree of wealth amassed.

Who Are They? Numbering around seventy-six million, the American baby boomer was born between 1946 and 1964. A demographic that would be significant on account of its size alone, this group's characteristics include a higher level of education than previous generations and assumptions of lifelong prosperity and entitlement developed during their childhood in the 1950s. Aided by modern medicine and a better diet and exercise regime, the baby boomer generation refuses to get 'old' and continues to push the traditional age envelop by partaking in an active home, travel and work lifestyle.

Money Flows. After decades of gainful employment, running businesses and investing the proceeds, the typical baby boomer is looking forward to a prosperous and indulgent retirement. Multiple factors are at play that could make this dream a reality for many. For starters, baby boomers happen to be closing in on their peak earning years and by virtue of their higher levels of education enjoy healthy annual incomes. As another factor, consider that most baby boomers purchased their homes when home prices were substantially lower (as compared to household income) allowing most to pay off their principal residence mortgages early on. Most boomers offspring are also finishing college and forming their own families, further reducing expenses. Add to this mix the fact that this generation is increasingly in line to receive inheritance windfalls from aging parents and you have the recipe for a significant and unprecedented degree of liquidity in the next 20 years. In fact it is estimated that 10 to 30 trillion dollars will be spent by baby boomers on a variety of small and large ticket discretionary items in the next two decades.

New Digs. As baby boomers retire and are faced with an empty nest, they generally tend to downsize and move from larger single family homes to town homes or condominiums. In addition, given the ample funds at their disposal and the added free time to travel, they are increasingly purchasing second homes and vacation properties. It is quite imaginable to predict that the real estate picture in the next decade will be very different from what we have grown accustomed to in the past 30 years i.e., one that has been focused on owning a large plot of land in suburbia with a single family home built upon it.

What it means to property managers. Both types of transitions i.e., the move to smaller homes (typically condominiums or townhome complexes) and the trend towards vacation home ownership (especially resort properties) are foreseen as major drivers of demand for property management services as both of these trends happen to be away from unmanaged to managed or planned communities.

Not A Landlord, Will Invest. Real estate is a cyclical market with corrections taking place on average every ten to fifteen years. However history shows that well selected and professionally managed, real estate is a secure and stable investment vehicle with solid income generation and capital preservation characteristics. Whether you chalk it up to human nature, common sense or both, as we retire, we tend to want more stability and security in our lives and this is especially true when it comes to our nest egg. We tend to move our investments away from growth oriented, higher volatility assets such as stocks to more stable ones such as bonds. Today, despite the availability of many innovative financial products, real estate investment for the most part requires individuals to become landlords or take part in limited partnerships. While this is certainly possible and practiced gainfully by many, it is not for everyone. This requirement inherently limits real estate's exposure as a mainstream investment class. It is foreseen that in the next 25 years, real estate will become increasingly productized (from current 2-3% to above 50% securitization) and made available as an array of mainstream investment funds by major brand name investment firms.

What it means to property managers.This phenomenon will see the flow of trillions of dollars of new capital into real estate properties that will by definition require professional property management services to maximize yield.

2. The Generation Y Factor

Large suburban lots, quiet cul-de-sacs and spacious 5-bedroom homes may have sounded like the epitome of high living to the baby boomer generation but to the typical gen Y'er the same phrases spell isolation and a maintenance nightmare. While not talked about nearly as much as baby boomers, generation Y whose leading edge turns the home buying age in 2008, constitutes a powerful market force to study, comprehend and plan for.

Who they are. Gen y'ers, sometimes referred to as echo boomers were born between 1980 and 1999 and number upwards of 80 million as a large subset of the American population. This generation which is an even larger demographic than baby boomers is already entering the home rental and purchase market, a trend that will be accelerating in the next few years.

Technology & Media. Whereas computers and the Internet represented new tools to be learned and gradually incorporated into everyday work and home life for baby boomers, they are the natural bedrock of daily communication and social interaction for generation Y folks. Gen Y'ers are highly proficient and perhaps more importantly very comfortable with technology. More than 80 percent use the internet for school related work as well as for social networking. It is not a leap of faith to imagine that they will be making major purchase decisions such as those related to renting or buying homes based on information and research found on the Internet. Keep in mind that generation Y grew up being bombarded by mainstream marketing and branding messages and therefore developed a healthy dose of disdain for mainstream media. The advent of the Internet and explosion of niche media has afforded this demographic the luxury of being highly individualistic. In essence they take it for granted that they can tune into the information they like (be it music, news or home listings) when they like and in as much, or as little detail as they like. This is in sharp contrast to the TV generation who was essentially at the mercy of the broadcaster for type and timing of content being delivered.

Real Estate Preferences. Survey after survey shows that core city living and walking urbanism are hallmarks of generation Y preferences for real estate. As it turns out this demographic has a strong attraction to living and working in close proximity to downtown or at least re-styled suburban city centers where shopping, entertainment and work can all be readily accessed without having to drive. In his article titled Gen-Y Reshaping American Cities Rob Goodspeed quotes an important statistic: 77% of generation Y plans to live in core urban areas. This is a noteworthy figure to property managers considering the size of this demographic group (more than 80million) and their impending entry into the home buying and rental age. According to Goodspeed the bulk of this generation will be entering the housing market around 2012.

What it means to property managers. It is reasonable to predict that we will be seeing a massive surge in demand for managed real estate as Gen Y enters the home rental and purchase age. The current downturn in the housing market positions them well as first time home buyers and it is reasonable to expect they will be the primary force carrying the market in the next 5 years. The significance: property managers need to carefully consider how to appeal to this generation and its unique communication style.

3. Municipalities and the Planned Community Concept

Recent surveys show municipalities across the country and especially in the Sun Belt have been increasingly embracing Home Owner's Associations (HOAs) and other forms of managed communities with open arms. The so called planned community model is quickly surpassing the traditional single family lot subdivision as the preferred form of new community development. Upon closer examination the phenomenon is easily explained as a matter of economics: managed / planned communities allow municipalities to download costs while still maintaining similar property tax revenues-what is affectionately termed light governance by experts in the field. To this point, HOA's and other community associations are often responsible for trash pickup, code enforcement and landscaping of common areas, all responsibilities previously held and paid for by the cities. According to a recent paper by Jones L. Warren, the number of homeowners associations grew from 8,500 in 1970 to over 300,000 in 2005. By conservative estimates there are currently close to 400,000 Home Owners Associates (HOA's) and other types of managed communities in the United States with an estimated 80 million residents. In the next decade, HOA's and other managed communities are expected to grow at approximately 8-10% per year as the most preferable form of new community development for municipalities.

What it means to property managers. This is another driver increasing the number of properties requiring professional management and therefore another long term contributor to the rise in demand for professional property management services.

4. The Local Living Movement

Increasing energy costs, the shift towards greener living, mounting pressures on family schedule and last but not least a renewed longing for a sense of community can be cited among reasons contributing to the appeal of core urban living. In her article titled Urban living offers 'vibrancy' not found in suburbia Maureen B. Aikins a free-lance writer living in Greensboro, N.C. argues that when urban living is done right it offers a kind of vibrancy which contrasts sharply with the isolation of suburbia. Aikins cites greener living, ease of getting around and a desire for a more intimate community setting as the three main reasons people are attracted to the walking urbanism concept. As further evidence from the academic arena, a recent noteworthy CNN article titled Is America's suburban dream collapsing into a nightmare? quotes Christopher Leinberger an urban planning professor at the University of Michigan and visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution as saying "this trend [toward core urban living] stems not only from changing demographics but also from a major shift in the way an increasing number of Americans -- especially younger generations -- want to live and work. The American dream is absolutely changing". He further cites a recent market survey indicating that up to 40 percent of households surveyed in selected metropolitan areas want to live in walkable urban areas. All in all the above factors translate to further upward pressure on demand for core urban living which in turn contributes to further demand for property management services.

Summary & Conclusions

  • The demographic and economic factors discussed in this paper translate to a significantly growing demand for property management services. However this does not mean that property managers can simply continue business as usual and expect their share of this pie to grow. As droves of sophisticated, well-off and technology savvy consumers migrate to life in managed communities and as real estate becomes increasingly securitized, the standard of property management service will rise sharply. This will likely accelerate the current consolidation trend in the property management industry as quality leaders take market share. In a nutshell, property managers need to change their game to meet and exceed the established norms of service or risk seeing the erosion of their market share in the years ahead.
  • Property managers are seeing and should expect a significant influx of aging yet uncharacteristically active residents into managed communities in core urban areas. These new residents demand upscale finishings, high end appliances and availability of amenities such as hi-speed internet access as well as well-equipped social, recreational and fitness facilities. Be prepared to change your preconceived notions of a seniors apartment complex.
  • A large swath of generation Y will be entering the housing market in the next few years. This generation communicates using the language of technology and implicitly expects personalized and prompt access to information. Property managers need to meet this generation on its own terms by providing powerful web presence and rich, up-to-date and interactive content about and access to their properties.
  • The above two trends will see communities of two distinct age groups: baby boomers and generation Y living side-by-side. Interestingly many of the property features and amenities that appeal to the boomer generation are also attractive to generation Y (e.g., hi-speed internet access, social space & fitness). The challenge here is in the details of how these services are configured, presented and delivered. Each generation has its distinct tastes, life schedule and communication preferences. Property managers need to examine these differences in detail and then tailor the services to accommodate these preferences in a cost-effective manner.
  • There is massive upside potential for property managers who are willing to be flexible, open minded and progressive. These property managers will prepare their business with a combination of technology and respond to the needs of this new breed of residents, owners (and increasingly shareholders). There seems to be little doubt that these property managers will see tremendous increases in their occupancy and resident satisfaction rates and ultimately their market share.
  • On the horizon are exciting opportunities for fresh revenue streams from new categories of goods and services tailored to the distinct tastes and needs of both the baby boomer and generation Y residents.

Property Management on the Rise

About Trusterra

Trusterra is a web software development company focused on pioneering solutions and products that leverage the latest web technologies to streamline business processes, reduce costs, increase customer satisfaction and boost profitability. We place a great deal of importance on researching key markets and understanding and connecting with individuals and organizations in these markets. Publications such as this one are one way we use to share our understanding of the market with you. It is important to emphasize that we view this and other publications as tools to generate dialog. We want to hear from you and understand your every day challenges so we can ultimately build the right tools for you.

To give us your feedback on this publication or to send us your ideas please visit: [http://www.trusterra.com/FeedbackCommentonWhitePaperPMontheRise/tabid/70/Default.aspx]

To view available white papers from Trusterra including the one you are reading in PDF format please visit: [http://www.trusterra.com/Resources/WhitePapers/tabid/62/Default.aspx]

About the Author

Robert Sardary is a veteran of both the software and the real estate investment / property management industries. He is passionate about researching these markets and the impact of intelligent software on productivity. Robert regularly publishes his findings as white papers, online articles and on his personal weblog called "The Cool Property Manager".

Tips On Adding A Garage To Your Property

Often times, you may find yourself wishing you had purchased a house with a garage. You may need a place to store vehicles, or that lawn mower that is taking up room in the yard or shop. Fortunately, this is a solution.

Now, more and more people are deciding to add garages to their homes. Whether you wish to add an attached or detached garage, it doesn't have to be that difficult. This article contains tips that will help you in making the various decisions that will be necessary, and will assist you in getting started.

Property

A garage addition will help you use your property to its full advantage, and will provide you with many storage options. You will be able to store cars, boats, tools, and much, much more. They may be built as an add-on to the house, called an attached garage, or apart from the house, which will make it a detached garage. Depending on the amount of space you have close to your house, you may decide to build a larger garage as a detached structure, which will allow you to construct a larger building. If this is not an issue, an attached garage will probably work just fine.

A garage addition will also allow you to gain extra much needed space, develop a rental unit such as an apartment for college-aged children or your mother-in-law, r even establish a home office that will give you privacy while still allowing you the luxury of working at home.

By optimizing the location of your garage, you will be able to diminish the importance of the garage, while allowing your house to become the focal point of your property. Also, adding a garage to your property can enhance your property value, which can be very useful should you ever decide to sell.

If you are looking to minimize cost, try to use existing foundation. This, of course, will depend on the location of the foundation, as well as its load bearing capacity. This may also help you decide how large your garage will be because of the space you will have available for building the structure.

If location is important, keep in mind how you want others to see your garage. For example, if you want it to be visible from the street, do you want it to look like a garage? Would placing it somewhere else have a better overall effect? This, of course, will depend on the space you have available and how usable it is.

Make a list of what you want this new addition to contain. If you are just looking for a place to park cars, you won't need as many amenities as you would if you want a shop or to build a small apartment or living quarters. Keep in mind the budget from which you are working, and be sure to stay within it. Plan carefully, after all, the addition is permanent.

Tips On Adding A Garage To Your Property

Future Commercial Steel Buildings are based on the strongest architectural design ever conceived.

Using Color Psychology to Sell Your Home

When painting your home for resale, choosing the right colors can make a huge difference in your paycheck at closing. For instance, did you know that the exterior color of houses selling most quickly is a certain shade of yellow, but that choosing the wrong shade of yellow can kill a sale?

You'll find many brochures in paint stores, showing various combinations of exterior paint colors. But most people don't realize that most of those combinations actually include three colors, and not just two. Limiting your exterior paint scheme to just two colors also limits your income potential.

Property

For a fast sale, think fun colors and go for a third, or even a fourth, exterior color. Think "Disneyland Main Street," where every shop is painted in glorious multi-colors. Adding more colors will also add definition to the various architectural details of your home. Use gloss or semi-gloss paint on wood trim.

The Psychology of Exterior Colors

When choosing exterior colors, take the sales price of your home into account. Certain colors, especially muted, complex shades, attract wealthy or highly-educated buyers, whereas buyers with less income or less education generally prefer simpler colors. A complex color contains tints of gray or brown, and usually requires more than one word to describe, such as "sage green," as opposed to "green."

On the other hand, simple colors are straightforward and pure. Generally, houses in the lower price range sell faster and for higher prices when painted in simple colors like yellow or tan, accented by white, blue, or green trim.

The Psychology of Interior Colors

Using colored, rather than bland, white walls will increase your profit potential. Lynette Jennings tested the perception of room size and color, and discovered that a room painted white appeared only appeared larger to a few people when compared to an identical room painted in color - and the perceived difference was only about six inches! Most people also look better when surrounded by color, and feel happier, and since buyers pick houses that make them feel happy, that knowledge can put dollars in your pocket at closing!

Entryways should bring the exterior colors into the house. Repeating shades of the exterior throughout your home will make the entire home seem to be in harmony. Living and family rooms painted in a slightly lighter shade of the exterior color will ensure that you've picked a color your buyers like, because if they didn't like your exterior colors, they wouldn't have bothered to look inside. If they loved the exterior colors, they'll love the interior, too.

When choosing interior colors, consider the use of each room. For instance, kitchen and dining areas that are painted in "food colors," such as coffee browns, celery greens, and scrambled egg yellows, feel natural.

Since, deeper shades of color imply intimacy and serenity, I like to paint master bedrooms a medium shade of green or blue for warm selling seasons, and rouge red for cooler weather. Other bedrooms can be painted in creamy tones of green, blue, or a pale shell pink. (See the chapter on the Psychology of Color in my book "Joy to the Home: Secrets of Interior Design Psychology" for further information.)

Selling Season

Always consider your selling season (the time of year you'll be marketing your home) and climate when choosing colors. Estimate the amount of time you'll need to get your home ready for sale, and then add on extra days for unexpected delays. Use cool colors, such as blues, greens, and grays, to sell during spring and summer, and warm colors, such as yellows, reds, and maroons, when selling in the fall and winter.

Color Intensity

My husband and I usually use lighter colors when painting the exteriors of our investment dollhouses, because it makes them appear larger. On the other hand, our cabin in the woods looks richer when painted a darker color. When we decided to have it painted, I considered the usual cabin colors of dark brown and barn red, but fell in love with Olympic's gorgeous "Gooseberry" plum color.

When getting ready to paint your house, look at the colors of neighboring houses and choose colors that harmonize, yet stand out from the crowd. Colors that clash badly with other houses will detract from the overall neighborhood.

At the beginning of the article, I told you that homes with yellow exteriors sell the quickest. But which shade of yellow sells best? First, the yellows to avoid: yellows with green undertones look sickly to most buyers, and yellows with orange undertones give buyers an impression of cheapness.

The best-selling yellow exterior color is actually a pale, sunny yellow, especially when complimented with one or more carefully-chosen accent colors. For instance, a semi-gloss white trim will give your home a clean and fresh look, and adding a third color, such as green, can make your home even more attractive to prospective buyers.

Colors affect human beings in many ways, and by using the principles of Color Psychology, you can make your home stand out from the competition, sell more quickly, and at a higher price.

(c) Copyright 2004, Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.

Using Color Psychology to Sell Your Home

Professor Jeanette Fisher, author of Doghouse to Dollhouse for Dollars, Joy to the Home, and other books teaches Real Estate Investing and Design Psychology. For more articles, tips, reports, newsletters, and sales flyer template, see http://www.doghousetodollhousefordollars.com/pages/5/index.htm

Real Estate Investing Tips - Residential Property Vs Commercial Property

The definition of residential property is a distinct property that draws an income from houses, apartments, co-ops, and apartment buildings.

Commercial property is a term utilized for the description of property that's income is drawn from non-residential such as retail space, office buildings, industrial business tenants, and all other non- residential dwellings.

Property

The Advantages and the Disadvantages

Residential Advantages:

1. Large selection of tenants to rent to, and a great demand for rental housing.
2. High brink of income from consistent cash flow from multi-units and houses.
3. Residential property is relatively easy to finance, and can simulate home-financing.
4. residential property is commonly lower priced than property that is commercial.
5. Worst case scenario, you may dwell in a multi-family property and supervise tenants.

Residential Disadvantages

1. Management and maintenance is required consistently in residential property.
2. For a house that only has a single family inhabiting it, if no tenant pays or moves there is no income.
3. Repairs are more likely in residential property.
4. Harder to dispute a residential property tenant and there are boundaries that need to be adhered to.

Commercial Advantages:

1. Commercial properties offer long-term leases that provide consistent income and stability in the investment.

2. In commercial property management is not as demanding, because most leases state that is responsible for damage and repairs.

3. To fit up the space in commercial property the tenant can pay the landlord a flat rate fee and discount rent.

4. Commercial property owners flourish with steady incomes that increase as the value of the properties skyrocket.

Commercial Cons:

1. Commercial property loans are more difficult to obtain, because lenders require up front down payments that can be rather high as well as Adjusted rate loans can rise to unreasonable affordability.

2. Commercial spaces often are difficult to lease, and can sit empty for long periods of time; this is not positive for an investor who has limited funding. It also often takes attorneys to draw up the leases that commercial tenants must abide by.

3. Inexperienced individual's who want to invest in commercial property should be forewarned that it is not easy just to jump into, and can be overwhelming to a new property owner.

There is not a perfect answer on what property is right for a certain purpose or person, however whether it be commercial or residential an individual who is seeking this sort of investment need to consider all aspects of the venture. Ask yourself what you really want to accomplish and do not haste into making an ultimate commitment until you are well aware of every worst case scenario that can occur. Once you have really thought about it all you will recognize what option suits you best.

Real Estate Investing Tips - Residential Property Vs Commercial Property

Finally, did you know there are 7 secrets that most successful Real Estate Investors don't want you to know? In my free report "SHOCK & AWE Crisis Investing [http://www.realestatesyndicationriches.com/]", I"ll reveal these and many more techniques that can improve your bottom line almost immediately. You'll learn how to profit in any economic climate (that's something I bet you're interested in right now), how to be in the top 2.3% of investors who Never have to struggle to make money and you'll also learn the #1 reason you must change your business model ---right now.

Remember the report is free ---Don't Miss Out Click Here Now! [http://www.realestatesyndicationriches.com/]

Is Investment Property a Safer Bet for Your Retirement?

Should I buy an investment property or put all of my spare money into a pension? This is a question that, over the past few decades at least, has troubled many an individual, but which will be better when it comes to your retirement?

For people who ask this question, the truth is that investment properties should be seen as a type of pension. Investing in one type of asset, such as UK residential property, shares, foreign property or even art, cigars and classic cars, can leave you vulnerable to shifts in the market that can reduce the value of the investment. Having a balanced portfolio that includes assets in a number of classes is the safest way to plan, and investment property is often a good place to start.

Property

In the UK, house price increases over the past 20 years have been around the 500% mark, which is a tremendous level of growth. In the UK, this growth has slowed down a lot in the past couple of years, though many foreign markets are just starting to develop and it looks like now could be a great time to start building up the retirement fund with some key overseas investment property.

In certain places in eastern Europe, the Caribbean and Asia, the growth in property values is just taking off and as many of these economies do not suffer from the 'boom and bust' issues of the West, it can be argued that the investments are a lot safer in the long-term.

One of the main reasons why people choose investment property over traditional pensions in that pension plans in the UK can be complicated and inflexible. Investment properties are a physical asset and always hold a certain level of value, which can be realised simply by selling the property. Alternatively, the property can be handed down to family when you die - something that cannot happen with a typical pension.

Whilst there are often tax advantages to be had, the returns from pensions have recently been a lot lower than many investors had set their hopes on. One way of tying in investment property and pensions closer, to share some of the advantages, is to use a Self Invested Personal Pension (SIPP). Certain asset types, including UK commercial property and some overseas properties, can be put into a personal pension plan, giving the tax advantages of a pension and making the overall pot less susceptible to the fluctuations of the stock market. Putting property into a SIPP does have its drawbacks, such as greater administration costs and a more drawn out sales process.

One key thing to remember with investment properties is the time needed to see a strong return. An investment property aims to cover its costs with the rental income, so mortgage payments, insurance, maintenance and professional services are all paid for by the tenants, hopefully with something left over for the investor. Even if the property just covers its costs, the investor can hope to enjoy long-term capital growth, in the increased value of the property. Most property investors know that it is a long-term game - that's why the average UK investor is believed to hold onto their property for 15 years.

So long as you do your research and take the time to learn the pitfalls, investing in property can be relatively low risk and can give an investor greater control over the performance of the investment. As a part of a planned and balanced approach to retirement, with other types of investments, investment property remains a sensible way to prepare for your later years.

Is Investment Property a Safer Bet for Your Retirement?

If you are interested in researching investment properties in the Caribbean then visit www.caribbeaninvestmentproperties.co.uk where you will find a wide range of investment property in the beautiful resorts of St Lucia, St Vincent and other Caribbean islands.

Who Lives on My Street? How to Find Names of People Who Live on Your Street

Isn't it time you found out who your neighbors are?

Have you ever asked yourself "Who lives on my street?" I think that it's a question that most people ask at some point and sadly, few of us actually take the trouble to find out. You should find out something about your neighbors because it's so easy to do now as I will show you.

Property

It's a very common question when you've just moved into a new area and you don't know anyone. If you are lucky then some of them will come and introduce themselves to you. This might happen a lot in TV soaps but I'm not so sure about real life. I think that you might have to make the effort yourself.

Check out the street before you move in

If you are about to move into an area or you are just thinking about purchasing a property then it would be a very good idea to check out the neighborhood and do a little background checking on the people who live in the street. Make sure that you are moving into a good area before you make the decision.

What do you know about your neighbors?

If you have lived in your street for some time then there is a good chance that you still don't know the names of everyone in the road. That can sometimes be a little embarrassing especially when you meet them on the street while out walking. Even if you know their names you probably don't know anything about them. They could be criminals for all you know.

How to get a list of names of people who live on a street

The obvious way to find out who your neighbors are is to go out and meet them. Knock on their doors and introduce yourself. It will take time and you may have to go back several times before you catch everyone at home but it can be a very pleasurable experience and often leads to some great friendships.

Knocking on your neighbors doors is best done soon after you move in because that's when it feels like the right thing to do. It's not very practical to do though if you don't live there yet or you are just considering buying a place in the street. If you have lived there for some time then the thought of going door to door in your own street might seem a little daunting. So what else can you do?

How can I find out who lives on my street without knocking on doors?

Not so long ago the only way to find out who lives on a particular street was to go out and meet them, or to ask people that you already know on the street. Today it can be so much easier and you don't have to talk to anyone. You can search for people who live in your area on the Internet. You can do it quickly and without the risk of any embarrassment.

All you need is a membership to a low cost public records web site and you will have everything you need to start your list of names of people who live in the street.

When you do a background check on someone using a good public records web site it will give you the names and addresses of possible neighbors of that person. You can then background check the neighbors and in turn, their neighbors too. You can carry on doing this until you have a list of people who live in the street. You will also have access to a lot of information about these people.

Who Lives on My Street? How to Find Names of People Who Live on Your Street

Who Lives On A Street
Find out exactly how to use a public records web site to compile a list of names of people in your street.

Free Public Records
Unlimited free background checks with names and addresses of neighbors.