New landlords: Avoid these five tenant types

One thing I learned from being a property manager is that landlording is not for nice guys. That's not to say that I didn't like most of my tenants or try to be nice to them; I did.

But I also learned, at my boss's urging, that sometimes you have to say "no." No to unnecessary repairs or upgrades, no to extraordinary lease provisions and even, sometimes, no to prospective tenants who had applied to rent with us.

My latest article is targeted at landlords, particularly new ones. It's "Five Tenant Types Unfit for Your Investment Property."

Some rental applicants just are too risky to rent to or are too likely to bring headaches with them to your property. Learn who they are by clicking on the article title above.


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How to view an apartment -- one room at a time

We're going back to the basics for this blog post, and it's aimed squarely at newbie apartment hunters or those of you who haven't looked for a new apartment in a long time.

Here are some tips on what to look for when you're looking for an apartment. Check out the article's room-by-room apartment-viewing tips written especially for first-time apartment hunters.

"How to View an Apartment: A Guide for New Apartment Hunters" also links to a printable apartment-hunting checklist for your convenience. I think you'll find it useful if you're searching for a new apartment -- Good luck, and happy hunting!



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Apartment amenities: What features are on your apartment shopping list?

Maybe it's a community pool you can't do without; maybe it's a balcony. Can you live without air conditioning? Without a dishwasher?

Savvy apartment hunters make a shopping list of "wants" and "needs" when they start their apartment search. If you want to make sure you haven't forgotten to include something on your own list, or if you're just curious about which amenities are the most sought-after by other apartment hunters, check out the Top 10 Best Apartment Unit Amenities for 2010 and the Top 10 Best Apartment Community Amenities for 2010.

These articles count down today's most important apartment features and apartment community amenities, from covered parking to on-site laundry to green space allotted for dog-walking. They also take a look at what developers of new apartment buildings are including in their site plans in order to attract tomorrow's tenants.

Enjoy!




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Denied an apartment due to poor credit?

If you've recently applied to rent an apartment but were turned down due to blemishes on your credit report, here are some tips on what you should fix first: Denied an Apartment Due to Poor Credit? Best Credit Fixes for Renters.

Some fixes can get you back on track so you'll qualify for an apartment in as little as 30 to 60 days. Priority No. 1? Check your credit report for errors. Some creditors are lightning-quick to report late payments or unpaid bills to the credit reporting agencies but notoriously slow -- or even negligent -- about reporting that the debts finally did, in fact, get paid. Get those old, erroneous debts off your credit report and you'll have much better success getting approved for an apartment.

For more tips and info, read the article here.




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Spring Apartment Hunting Advice

Spring has sprung! And although my sinuses protest (yours, too?), spring is a time of action for many of us, including those who are in search of a new apartment.

Many apartment leases end in spring and early summer, so right now is when a lot of tenants are choosing whether to renew their leases or find new digs. If you choose the latter, you may want to read Spring Apartment Hunting Reveals an Apartment's Secrets: Beware the Subtle Signs of a Bad Apartment, published just this week.

You'll discover how to assess an apartment's landscaping, how to look at the gutters for signs of poor building maintenance and how to survey the common areas for signs of inconsiderate neighbors. Don't view any apartments this spring until you've read this article and learned how to sleuth out the secrets of your prospective new place.




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Cold-weather apartment hunting can give away a landlord's secrets

Time is running out for cold-weather apartment hunting!

Generally, the arrival of spring is all-around a good thing, true. But if you're apartment hunting, the shortcut to finding out all you really want to know about a prospective apartment is to view it in the wintertime.

Figure out how you'll be treated as a tenant year-round and what the building's condition really is, by reading my tips for super-savvy apartment hunters here.

No pay stubs to prove income on your rental application?

It's pretty standard for apartment managers and landlords to require proof of income before they'll rent an apartment to you. Generally, they'll ask to see several of your most recent pay stubs.

But what if you don't work a traditional job?

Fortunately, there are other acceptable ways to prove your income and qualify to rent an apartment. Read about them here.

What's the best time of year to find good apartment deals?

"If you're an experienced apartment searcher, you may have realized that many apartment communities advertise move-in specials and reduced security deposits year-round, no matter what time of year you've looked for an apartment. What you may not know, however, is that there is one particular time of year when apartment-seekers have the most power to negotiate the very best apartment deals.

That time of year? ... "

Go here to read my latest advice article for apartment-seekers and find out!