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| Top 10 Things Every Landlord Should Know | |
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| Introduction | |
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| Getting Started | |
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| Is Landlording Right for Me? | |
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| The Qualities of a Successful Landlord | |
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| Can I Make Money? | |
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| Gathering Resources | |
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| Setting Goals | |
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| How Do I Get Started? | |
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| Renting Space in Your Home | |
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| Legal Considerations | |
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| Other Things to Consider | |
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| Finding the Extra Space | |
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| Maintaining Your Privacy | |
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| Will You Be Happy Sharing Space? | |
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| Buying a Space to Rent | |
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| Selecting a Rental Property | |
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| Start Big or Start Small? | |
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| How to Determine a Property's Value | |
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| Finding the Right Location | |
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| Considering Repair Costs | |
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| Finding Great Deals | |
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| What to Ask For | |
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| When to Pull In Experts | |
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| Tight Credit: Landlording After 2008 | |
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| Will You Be Able to Borrow Money? | |
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| Work with Experienced Professionals | |
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| Compare Prices and Products Before Making Decisions | |
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| Understanding Mortgages | |
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| How Can You Reduce Closing Costs and Interest Payments? | |
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| How to Identify Shady Lending Practices | |
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| Laws, Codes, and Permits | |
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| Federal Fair Housing Laws | |
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| State and Local Laws and Regulations | |
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| Occupancy Regulations | |
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| Zoning Ordinances | |
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| Building Codes | |
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| Lead Paint | |
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| Mold, Mildew, and Other Concerns | |
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| Requirements for Landlords and Tenants | |
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| Be a Knowledgeable Landlord | |
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| Fixing Up Your Property or Purchase | |
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| The First Steps | |
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| Repairing Versus Maintaining Property | |
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| Will You Have to Hire Help? | |
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| Valuable Inexpensive Renovations | |
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| Other Valuable Improvements | |
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| Amenities Tenants Like | |
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| Getting the Most for Your Dollars | |
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| Security and Safety | |
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| Better Safe Than Sorry: Insurance Issues | |
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| What Should You Think About? | |
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| Homeowner's and Landlord Protector Policies | |
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| What Is the Tenant's Responsibility? | |
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| Don't Get Unnecessary Coverage | |
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| Keeping Premiums Affordable | |
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| All You Need to Know about Liability | |
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| How Much Liability Coverage Do You Need? | |
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| Keeping Costs Down | |
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| Falls and Injuries | |
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| Tenant Carelessness | |
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| Natural Disasters | |
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| Environmental Hazards | |
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| Do You Need Terrorism Coverage? | |
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| Theft or Violent Crimes | |
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| Your Tenant's Insurance Responsibility | |
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| Making Money from Your Space | |
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| How Much Should You Charge? | |
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| Calculate Return on Investment (ROI) | |
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| What to Do if a Unit Stays Empty | |
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| Depreciate Building and Contents | |
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| Your Property Will Appreciate-Eventually | |
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| Sticking with the Budget | |
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| Marketing Your Space | |
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| For Rent | |
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| What You Can't Say | |
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| What You Should Say | |
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| Newspaper Ads | |
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| Other Ways to Advertise | |
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| Rental Agencies | |
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| Showing Your Property | |
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| Getting the Unit Ready | |
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| When Prospective Tenants Phone | |
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| Walking Them Through the Apartment | |
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| Avoiding Discrimination Complaints | |
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| Who Said What? Write It Down | |
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| Rental Applications | |
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| Finding the Perfect Tenants | |
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| Interviewing Applicants | |
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| Applicants with Section 8 Federal Housing Assistance | |
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| Applicant with No Social Security Number | |
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| Verifying Rental Applications | |
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| Background Checks and References | |
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| How to Do a Credit Check | |
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| Valid Reasons to Reject Applicants | |
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| Providing a "Perfect" Home | |
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| Cleanliness Counts with Tenants You Want | |
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| Make Them Feel Secure | |
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| A Quiet and Restful Space | |
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| Schedule Periodic Upkeep and Maintenance | |
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| Don't Forget the Grass and Snow | |
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| The Importance of Keeping Tenants Happy | |
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| Move-In Procedures to Safeguard Your Space | |
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| What Are Tenant's Checklists? | |
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| How to Use Tenant's Checklists | |
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| How Do Checklists Protect You? | |
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| Move-In Letters | |
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| Move-Out Letters | |
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| Rental Agreements and Leases | |
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| What's the Difference? | |
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| When to Make Rental Concessions | |
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| Lease and Rental Agreement Basics | |
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| Clauses about Rent and Fees | |
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| Clauses about Policies | |
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| Clauses for Protection | |
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| Security Deposit Policy | |
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| Renewing (or Not Renewing) Leases | |
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| Collecting and Increasing Rent | |
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| Collecting Rent | |
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| Late Payments | |
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| Bounced Checks | |
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| Partial Payments | |
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| How to Handle Rent Increases | |
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| Maintenance, Repairs, and Emergencies | |
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| What's the Difference? | |
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| Repairs | |
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| Maintenance | |
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| Is It Really an Emergency? | |
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| Your Rights in Emergencies | |
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| Calling In the Pros | |
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| Paying for Maintenance and Repairs | |
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| Save a Buck: Do-It-Yourself Repairs | |
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| What Can You Handle? | |
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| Tools | |
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| Simple Repairs You Can Do | |
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| Quick Projects That Save Money | |
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| Scheduling Work with Your Tenant | |
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| What If Your Cash Flow Is Still Tight? | |
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| Recordkeeping | |
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| Developing Your Recordkeeping System | |
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| Tenant Records | |
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| Property Management Records | |
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| Financial Records | |
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| Maintenance and Repair Records | |
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| How to Avoid an Audit | |
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| Should You Hire an Accountant? | |
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| Dealing with Difficult Tenants | |
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| Tenant Responsibilities | |
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| Noisy Tenants | |
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| Tenants Who Harass or Intimidate Neighbors | |
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| When the Apartment Is Wrecked | |
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| Tenants Who Get Behind in Rent | |
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| What If Drugs Are Suspected? | |
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| What You Should Never Do | |
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| Incentives for Difficult Tenants | |
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| Handling Evictions | |
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| The Procedure for Evicting Tenants | |
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| Drug Evictions | |
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| Going to Court | |
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| Do You Need a Lawyer? | |
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| How to Avoid Legal Hassles | |
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| What If They File for Bankruptcy? | |
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| When They Abandon Property | |
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| Keeping Good Tenants | |
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| Think of Them as Your Customers | |
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| Stay Professional at All Times | |
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| Be Personable, but Not Personal | |
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| Respect Their Privacy | |
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| Answer Phone Messages Promptly | |
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| Be Responsive When Repairs Are Needed | |
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| Schedule Periodic Upkeep and Maintenance | |
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| A Good Reputation Is Worth It | |
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| Resources | |
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| Sample Forms and Worksheets | |
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| Index | |