If you've decided to close, move, or expand your small business, one of your first steps may be to contact your leasing agent and inform him or her that you plan to vacate your current space. However, if you still have a substantial period of time remaining on your commercial lease, you could face some strong resistance. In some cases, your leasing agent or landlord may require you to continue making regular monthly payments until the termination of your lease -- even if they've found a suitable tenant in the meantime.
Read More
If you have always had a dream of getting away from the rat race and becoming a farmer, there is no time like the present for making your dreams come true. Perhaps the most crucial step in the process is finding the right farm for your needs. Acquiring a farm is not as easy as buying a residence in most cases. This article looks at some of the major considerations you should keep in mind.
Read More
The reasons for screening an applicant for your apartment are obvious—you want the best tenants possible so you don't have to worry about the state of your apartment. But what are some of the questions or talking points you should ask during the screening process? Here are three that can help you weed out the good tenants from those to avoid like cockroaches.
Can I run a background check?
Read More
Selling a house isn't as cut-and-dry as it used to be. Real estate listings are plentiful, but they are not all sold the same way.
1. MLS: Traditionally, a homeowner lists a house with a licensed Realtor who, in turn, places the home's information on the Multiple Listing Service. The MLS is a computerized database of all the homes for sale in the area. Any licensed Realtor can access the information for buying clients.
Read More
You love your hometown, but your professional career requires leaving the locale for months or years at a time. What can you do with the home while you spend the next two years working on the oil rigs in North Dakota or teaching scuba diving in Thailand? Why not rent out the house and hire a property management service to handle landlord duties? Do not, however, take a total hands-off approach just because a property management firm is at the helm.
Read More