Renting Out Your House – Everything You Need to Know

May 14, 2012 in articles, Uncategorized | Leave a reply

Interest rates in the housing market are lower than they have been since the 1960s. Interestingly enough, more people are still choosing to rent rather than own.

In 2010, 33.1% of Americans were renting rather than owning and analysts say that this percentage will probably continue to rise.

This expanding rental market has presented a great opportunity to homeowners who are unable to sell their homes. If you’re considering renting out your house, there are some important things you should know before taking the fatal plunge.

What Does It Take?

Being a landlord is not a walk in the park. Even with model tenants, there are many responsibilities that will fall on your shoulders. The more planning you do, the more prepared you’ll be for whatever comes your way.

The Lease
The first thing you need to do is draw up a lease. Unless you’re a law professional, you’ll need the help of an attorney to do this correctly. The lease spells out your rights as a landlord and the rights of your tenants. A good lease should include rental due date, late penalties, pet policies, rules of behavior, repairs, eviction terms, etc…

The Law
Each state has different landlord-tenant laws. Before renting out your house, read up on the laws in your state. They will influence certain terms of your lease; for example, security deposits. Make sure that what you write in your lease is in accordance with state laws.

Rent
How much to charge? That is the question. Since potential tenants will be shopping around for the best prices, you’ll need to set a competitive price. Find out what other landlords in your area are charging and then set a price that will attract tenants; but that also makes renting worth your while.

Insurance
Protect your property with rental home insurance. This is a policy that you’ll need to add to your existing homeowner’s policy. It covers legal costs, medical expenses, loss of rental income, and repairs. You should also encourage your tenants to buy renters insurance.

Getting the Word Out

Hiring a real estate agent can make finding tenants a lot easier, but the service can be pricey. Many landlords choose to minimize expenses by getting the word out on their own. Local newspapers are one good option, but you can reach a bigger pool of candidates through the internet.

RentalAds.com is a rental property website with thousands of rental choices and it attracts thousands of potential tenants. Renting out your house on the site is easy and free.

Choosing a Tenant

You’ve drawn up the lease, taken out an insurance policy, and listed your home. Now you get to choose the tenants. Make your choice very, very carefully!

You need to find a dependable person who will pay rent on time and who will keep the home in good condition. If you are going to share the home with the tenants, make sure they are people that you will feel comfortable living with.

One way to find good tenants is to ask for references, check criminal history, and look up their credit histories.

Happy Renting!

Renting out your house has many potential risks. However, if you take care to understand all your responsibilities, prepare thoroughly with professional help, and choose a good tenant; you can turn it into a good, profitable experience for you and your tenant.

Healthy Foods For Kids

October 14, 2010 in Uncategorized | One comment

Recent studies have shown that kids actually taste things differently than adults. They think that vegetables taste bad in some cases because to them, they actually do taste bad. When they put an apple in their mouth, it tastes different to them than it would to you. It’s not surprising that as they grow older, tastes may change. Of course, some kids do not grow out of picky taste, because they remember their childhood experiences. It is always important to make sure that your kids get healthy meals while they are young. It will also help them to learn healthy habits early on.

1. Try to eat at home as much as possible
Just like adults, foods you will find at restaurants are not necessarily suitable for daily consumption in children. When you eat at restaurants, you generally get fattier foods, larger portion sizes, and of course you end up paying more. When you eat at home, you have quite a bit more control over what you are consuming.

2. Decorate fruits and vegetables
It may be as simple as peeling a little bit of the peel up on the head of an apple slice to make it look like a rabbit or putting peanut butter and raisins on a stick of celery. Whether they think they like it or not, the best way to get them to try healthier foods is often to make it more appealing. Whether you do this with unique taste or elegant presentation, it can be helpful.

3. Don’t make them clear their plate
Most kids know when they are full. When you tell them to finish their plate, regardless of the fact that they may well be full, you are actually disrupting that natural cycle. When you allow them to eat when they are hungry and avoid food when they are not, you allow them to maintain the right idea. Over-feeding your child will teach their body to become more accustomed to over-eating and can lead to obesity.

4. Give them snacks throughout the day
This encourages the small portions and 5 meals a day policy. When they are not desperately hungry at any given meal, you will find that they will eat more, but they will optimize their own bodies to burn more calories therefore naturally maintaining a healthier weight.

5. Encourage outside activity
Whether they are involved in a sports league, climbing trees, or just playing with their friends, it is important to encourage active and outdoor activity. This will encourage a more active lifestyle in the future with plenty of exercise and the enjoyment thereof.