Top House

About Rental Insurance
Many renters don?t stop to think about what happens if there is a fire, someone breaks in and steals their new TV or stereo, or a visitor slips and falls on their property. The sad truth is; you will be responsible! While your landlord has
insurance that covers the actual building, that coverage does not include your personal property or liability for injuries which occur in the space you rent ~ be it an apartment or a house and yard.

If a fire should destroy or damage your home, your landlord?s insurance will cover the structure. It won?t cover damage or loss of your belongings. Neither will it provide for the cost of temporary housing for you and your family.

You may think you don?t own enough personal property to make the cost of insurance worthwhile. You?re probably wrong! If you sit down and add up the cost of everything you own, you may be in for a big surprise. Consider what you have invested in such things as:

? Furniture and accessories
? Electronics like TV, stereo, computers
? Small appliances like microwaves, toaster ovens, etc.
? Clothing
? Art work like paintings or prints
? Dishes, silverware and cookware
? Sporting equipment
? Books
? Jewelry

Could you afford to replace all of these things?

Even worse, what would you do if a friend is injured on your property and decides to sue you for medical costs and more? It?s a scary thought, isn?t it?

Are you beginning to see why rental insurance may be a very wise investment?

The cost of rental insurance is based on several factors:

? The dollar amount of your coverage

? Deductibles

? Whether you choose to be reimbursed for Actual Cash Value or Replacement Costs (more about that in a minute)

? Where your rental property is located and the number of previous claims made, not only by you, but by others living in the same area.

Let me explain the difference between Actual Cash Value (ACV) and Replacement Costs. ACV is the value of your property at the time a loss takes place. For example, if your television set is five years old, it?s valued at much less than if it were brand new. The lesser amount is what you are reimbursed.

However, if you opt for Replacement Cost, you?re paid whatever it costs to go out and buy a new TV with similar features. Insuring for replacement cost raises the amount of your premium so it?s a good idea to get quotes for both ACV and Replacement Cost policies. Then you can decide which option fits your needs and budget.

Another thing to keep in mind is that jewelry, valuable collections, and guns are usually covered under a separate policy or ?rider?. If you own these kinds of items, be sure to tell your insurance agent. You don?t want to find out after disaster strikes that they aren?t covered or that they aren?t covered for their true value.
One way you can reduce the cost of your rental insurance is to check with whichever company insures your car. If they provide rental insurance you may be eligible for a multi-line discount.

Rental insurance may be worth the investment just for the peace of mind it offers you.

Kyle Thomas Haley has been helping people relocate on the Internet since 1999 with Apartment and Relocation Websites: <a href="http://www.apartment-rental.net">Find Apartments</a> <a href="http://www.relocation-guide.net/">Relocating Guide</a> Copyright 1999 ? 2005 STANZEEKAY Inc. You have permission to publish this article free of charge, as long as the bylines are included and none of the links or content are removed or edited.

Disclosing Defects is Every Seller s Responsibility
Sellers have the responsibility of disclosing any defects in the property to the buyer. The seller should disclose defects which could affect the value of the property as well as the living conditions. The defects may relate to insulation, structure, plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling systems, fixtures, etc. No defect is too small to be kept away from the buyer. It is understandable that most sellers feel that disclosing defects may result in a lower price, so why should they subject themselves to this? Firstly, because it is unethical and unfair to those buying your home. If this is not a good enough reason, consider the damage you will suffer if the buyer decides to sue you later. Some states require sellers to fill in a disclosure form which has to be handed over to the buyer. If the seller does not present this form, the buyer can easily withdraw his offer and get a complete refund of his earnest money deposit. Laws have becomes stringent over the years to protect consumers, in this case the buyers. Some items have to be specifically disclosed and vary from state to state. Federal law requires disclosure related to lead content. Even if there are no strict laws applicable, one is not allowed to mislead the buyer. You may choose to hide a minor defect but leading the buyer to believe something which is false will surely get you into trouble. If you lie about a particular defect and the seller finds out later, you will be required to reimburse for repairs and perhaps suffer litigation. Get an inspection done if you must but reveal the condition of the property truthfully. If it is possible you should consider fixing some of the major defects. Even if you are selling your home as is , it only means that you are not required to renovate or repair defects. You will still have to disclose the defects to the buyer. Find out the legal obligations of the seller in your state to fulfill your duties completely. Although it is up to the seller to reveal all defects, it is suggested that one should do it. It will provide the buyer a clearer picture and save you from getting slapped with a lawsuit.

Sameer S Panjwani - ChoiceOfHomes.com - <a href="http://www.choiceofhomes.com">Listings of homes for sale and rent</a> in the United States.

How to Rent Your Properties Faster and Easier
As an investor, you already know the investment strategy you want to use. However, you may not know the best way to find and attract quality, longer-term tenants. I’ll give you a hint: It’s probably not by advertising in your local newspaper classifieds.

The newspaper is still a good place to find tenants for lower-priced properties. That’s because some folks renting in that range still don’t use the Internet much or at all. That may be hard to believe, but it’s true.

For most properties the best place to look is, yes, the Internet. More people are doing business and research online than ever before. The November 5th Denver Post mentioned that a car is sold online once every minute., According to an October 31st article in USA Today, subscriptions to almost all major print newspapers in America are on the decline.

Print newspapers have to charge higher advertising rates to cover their production and distribution costs. A single Sunday want ad can cost $45 to hundreds of dollars - more if a photo is included. The ad is good only for as long as the reader keeps that day’s paper, and actually finds your ad out of hundreds - sometimes thousands - of competing ads.

More and more people are using the Internet to find the specific information they need. That’s why search engines such as Yahoo and Google are so popular. Newspapers offer vast amounts of general information, which is why they aren’t as effective as websites that only address a specific niche. Internet usage is a technological and cultural shift that will only accelerate in the future.

Most newspapers run classified ads on their websites. However, a web posting is usually offered as an add-on when you purchase a print ad. These ads will only be kept online for a limited time. As a property owner, you never know how long it’ll take for your property to rent. You’re playing a guessing game in deciding how much advertising to purchase. That problem is eliminated when you advertise - for free - on a website that’s targeted to your niche.

While the Internet is a great way for potential landlords and tenants to connect, its interactivity increases the possibility of scams and frauds. One way to avoid funny business is to deal locally with potential landlords or tenants you can meet in person. This way there’s no misunderstanding or funds that can get ’skimmed’ off.

Another tip to avoid fraud is to never wire funds via Western Union, Moneygram or any other wire service - which scammers love to use. You also want to be on the lookout for fake cashier’s checks or money orders. If you cash these fake documents at your bank, the law says you are responsible for the funds, and they will come out of your account. It’s wise to verify that any funds sent to you as security deposit or rents are good funds.

You should also NEVER give out any financial information, like a bank account or Social Security number, eBay or PayPal user ID or passwords. Scammers LOVE to get their hands on these to take money, and steal someone’s identity to use their credit for personal gain.

Here are the key phrases and methods that scammers will most commonly use:

- An inquiry from a country far away, such as Nigeria or South Africa
- An offer of an ‘escrow service’ or ‘guarantee’
- An offer written in very poor or broken English

These tips are (or should be) mostly a matter of common sense, but it’s important to slow down and take precautions to make sure you’re protected. By using this advice, you’ll make the marketing and renting of your homes more enjoyable and profitable.

Dave Watts is a real estate investor with over 30 years experience in buying and renting homes. He now helps other investors find quality tenants through his web site, www.ForRentByOwner.com

To rent an apartment or condo in Bangkok?
By info at 4:48 am on Wednesday, June 13, 2007 Edit This Many people ask, what s the difference between an apartment and a condo in Bangkok? Well, condos are individually owned units whilst an apartment is a block of rental units owned by a company, family or individual. There are, of course pros and cons to renting an apartment over condo and hopefully this article will shed some light on the apartment versus condo rental issue, and help you with your final decision. Rental prices When it comes to price, I don t think it differs very much whether it s an apartment or condo. The rental rate is usually determined by the location, age and grade of building, size of unit, number of bedrooms, facilities, d ©cor and furnishing. For a guide on what your rental budget will buy, click here. Utility bills. Now, this is where the main disadvantage lies in renting an apartment over a condo. Apartments tend to have a minimum charge for water (usually around 1000 baht per month) and a surcharge on electricity (around 5 ” 6 baht a unit compared to the 3.5 baht charged by the MEA). All this can amount a hefty difference in utility bills at the end of every month. I live in a 3 storey townhouse with a family of 6 and my water bill has never exceeded 500 BHT a month, ever. We do a lot of washing and drinking too! Building management fees These fees apply more for condominiums since apartments have already accounted for their operating cost in their rates. This is usually around 40 baht per square metre and most of the time; this fee has already been included in the rent. However, if you got you a really good deal i.e. a nicely furnished 95 sqm 2 bedroom in the CBD for 25,000 baht/month, then it s likely that your landlord will not be paying the building mgt. fee for you. I think that s reasonable enough. Others At the end of the day, whether you are renting an apartment or a condo, who you rent it from is extremely important. With condo owners, I feel that it s a lot easier to negotiate on the rent since these individuals can be more flexible, compared to an apartment which charges standard rates that are usually non-negotiable. However, finding a suitable condo for rent is a little trickier on your own since you ll have to know where there is a unit for rent and the owner s contact. That is where real estate; and property agencies like Bangkok Findercan help you. The other thing is maintenance. It s definitely a lot more convenient if you are living in an apartment since there is usually an in house maintenance guy hired by the building at hand. However, I know of many condo owners who take very good care of their property and have their own handyman who usually respond within a day. The cost can be foot by the landlord or the tenant depending on the initial agreement. Again, the cheaper the rent, the more you ll have to account during your lease tenure. Apart from that, apartments and condos both offer 24 hour security and feel safer for most, compared to living in a house. There is also NO chance of flooding inside your home, which is a major concern for most people looking to rent or buy in Thailand. Those are the main points really. Now, are you ready to start your home search? Here are apartments for rent and condos for rent in Bangkok.

Maddy Barber runs Bangkok Finder a property rental agency that specialises solely in properties for rent in Bangkok, Thailand. She has lived and worked abroad in India, Malaysia, China and various parts of Asia previously before moving to Thailand 6 years ago with her family. Her vast experience in negotiating and finding homes in a foreign land led the way for Bangkok Finder, which today helps hundreds of expats yearly, relocate and settle into their new home in Bangkok. She speaks English, Mandarin, Thai and various Chinese dialects.

Creating The Right Atmosphere: Rental Properties
Creating the right atmosphere in a rental property is one of the most important aspects of the rental game. There are any number of sub-standard rentals available in almost any city, but with questionable properties come some particular problems. If a property is run-down then likely it will be renting for a lower price in terms of the local market. This will, in turn make it available to a lower income bracket. That in itself is not a problem, everyone needs good housing, but lower income tenants are not as permanent as those in the higher income bracket. You may find yourself having to get new tenants fairly often and this can be a time consuming procedure.

Regardless of what price you decide to rent your property for, you still need to make the place nice and livable right? Of course. Nobody, regardless of income or social standing wants to live in a dump. Renters want nice, clean homes just like anyone else. The first thing that any landlord should do is try to identify their target market. If the property is close to a college then aim for the student crowd, likewise with a property that is close to the city center; try to market to the young business crowd. In marketing to a more refined group, you can easily add some perks that will make the home more attractive. Perhaps offer a high-speed internet connection or bundle it with cable television. This is of course assuming that it is not the stated responsibility of the tenant to see to these utilities.

Perhaps the most simple and appreciated thing that you can do to make the rental more attractive is to have the property clean and in perfect working order. Take the time to ensure that all of the appliances work as they should and that there are no sanitary issues regarding the rental. Beyond that, simply upgrade anything that needs replacing and make sure that the property is carefully marketed. Its always a good idea to require and check references for tenants. After all you need to ensure the safety of your property and the security of your investment.

Michael Peterson is a representative of NationalRentalProperties.com. The one-stop site for locating rental properties across the nation. Contact us anytime or visit us online at www.nationalrentalproperties.com