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What is landlord insurance? And do you need it in northern Virginia?
In short:
Yes, you need landlord insurance.
But what is it, and why do you need it?
Landlord insurance covers property owners renting out one or more residential homes, apartments, or condos. Landlording is risky business, and you’ll need protection from any, and all financial losses that occur as a result of fire, break-in, severe weather and other such damages to your rental property. Landlords in northern Virginia can also get insurance to help cover loss of income in the event th
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Life as a Landlord Can Be Lucrative, Unless You’re Losing Money
If you’re a landlord, you know it can be a lucrative business.
But if you don’t quite know what you’re doing, it can be a business that’s… shall we say, not so lucrative. No one likes to lose money. But you might be doing just that:
If you’re a landlord, you might be losing money — hand over fist — every month. Maybe you don’t even know it, or maybe you do; maybe you do know you’re losing money as a landlord in Fairfax VA, and you’ve buried your head in the sand hoping th
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Yes, You Should Charge Your Adult Child Rent. Here’s Why.
We’ve all heard the stereotypes; millennials are lazy, and entitled. While there’s a bit of reality in every stereotype, it’s real talk time: This so-called ME generation, the twenty-somethings boomerang-ing back into their parents’ homes after college, saddled with tens of thousands of dollars in student loan debt, and who are only just now beginning to find stable employment as the economy regains its footing aren’t the ones to be blamed.
Their parents are.
We could talk abo
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Beware the Ides of… Rental Horrors Could Happen to You!
Who is it in the press that calls on me?
I hear a tongue shriller than all the music
Cry "Caesar!" Speak, Caesar is turn'd to hear.
Soothsayer:
Beware the ides of March.
Caesar:
What man is that?
Brutus:
A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March.
Beware the [day after] the ides of March.
No, we don't mean the George Clooney / Ryan Gosling, but March
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Should I Choose the Stock Market, Or Real Estate Investment? Northern Virginia’s Property Management Pros Have the Answer.
Happy birthday!
Not your birthday?
Happy windfall then!
You’ve suddenly come into a large sum of money, and you know enough to know it wouldn’t be wise to spend it all. Sure, you’ll spend a little; maybe take a few friends on an all-expenses paid vacation out of the winter wonderland that is Washington DC; eliminate some debt; and with the rest, make a few smart investments.
But the thing is, you’re not sure if you should invest in the stock market, or in real estate. Each path to be
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Checks & Tax Deductions: It’s the Little Things that Make Fairfax VA Rental Home Expenses Worth It
As a landlord, you have to paint, and clean, and advertise — all to find tenants. And then once you have a tenant living in your rental home, you have to mow the yard, and fix leaky faucets. Renting out a home, in northern Virginia or anywhere, comes with a lot of responsibility, but you knew that going in, and it’s those rent checks and the tax deductions that make all the work worth it.
Did you say tax deductions?
Oh yes, I did. Consult the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for full
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A Rental Safety & Maintenance Checklist for Landlords in Fairfax, Virginia — And Beyond!
Home. It’s a place of respite at the end of a long day; a place to put your feet up; a place you fill with love and family; a safe, warm, comforting place. Or it should be, but the reality is, sometimes home isn’t so safe. Accidents happen. Mold creeps in.
And tenants call for maintenance.
Listen, we’ve got good news.
When you made the decision to rent out your grandmother’s house in Fairfax, you signed on to answer the call. (Okay, you got me. That’s not the good news.)
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How Much Should I Charge to Rent my Townhouse in Old Town Alexandria?
You’ve decided 2015 will be your year: the year to see new places, the year to read more books, the year to exercise and eat right, and the year you’ll become a landlord for the first time. It’s a big, exciting decision. For months, you’ve asked yourself the same question, “Do I rent out that townhouse in Alexandria, or do I sell it?” For months, you’ve weighed the pros and cons of renting or selling, selling or renting, and finally you’ve decided that renting is the answer.
Con
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The Eviction Process in Virginia: A Guide for Landlords
Evictor, or evictee: The eviction process is not fun. No one wants to have to evict a tenant, and no tenant wants to be evicted. But sometimes, it happens; sometimes, it has to happen. When faced with the unfortunate decision to remove a tenant from your rental home, there are steps that must be followed, and obligations that must be met before a judge will grant your request to evict.
1. Give notice.
In the Commonwealth of Virginia, a tenant may be evicted for one of two reasons: Failu
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Winterize Your Rental Home: Do It Now
Brrrr. Northern Virginia may not be buried under six feet of snow like some other places, but it sure is cold. And it’s just going to get colder. Homeowners everywhere are breaking out their caulk guns, tuning up their HVAC systems, and reinforcing attic insulation, but your tenants must look to you — the landlord — to perform these, and other winterization tasks.
Winterizing your rental home will not only lower energy bills and reduce air pollution, so too will the necessity for costly r