Homeowners have being turning to Utah property management to help them manage their rental homes in Utah. This eases the mind of the homeowner knowing that professionals in the rental industry are handling their home. You don’t want to make a mistake and cause any tension or legal problems when renting out.

KeyRenter is a team of experts in the industry who have helped hundreds of people with their homes for rent in Utah. There are several perks in being with a Utah property management company. This includes help with marketing your rental home online and print material.

KeyRenter provide a “for rent” yard sign and listing space on their online database available to the public on the internet. They also put your listing on a dozen other websites as well. They also use traditional advertising in print materials.

In the beginning stages, they can also help with rent analysis and give advice on your rental property. If your rental home is unoccupied, they can also put a lockbox on the house for security purposes and to increase the amount of people viewing your house. Lockboxes can let anybody in who knows the code. So when a potential tenant wants to look, but an agent can’t meet them, they can be told the code to check it out by themselves.

Homeowners usually fret about handling all the finances and taxes that comes to renting out a home. Utah property management can handle the rent check and directly deposit it to your bank account and create monthly accounting statements for you. Another perk is that at the end of the year, they’ll do tax summaries of the homes for your records.

It’s beneficial to use Utah property management when you feel you need more help with it. It also saves you time and stress when you don’t have to do everything yourself. They can also maintenance problems with their in-house crew and give you better deals on service fees if things need replacement or repair.

About the Author:

KeyRenter assists hundreds of Utah homeowners rent out their homes. As a Utah property management company, KeyRenter handles leasing, management, and accounting for various rental homes in Utah.

Over coffee this morning, I read an interesting piece about a fast-growing, new trend to rent — not buy — luxury items. It seems that even in this dismal economy, the American appetite to acquire luxury goods hasn’t been dimmed, just redirected.

This concept isn’t new. Men have been renting designer tuxedos forever and rentals of infrequently used clothing — like evening gowns for events like pageants, proms and weddings –has been around for years.

I even investigated this option myself years ago when I was in the market for a designer evening gown. Knowing it was highly likely that I would only wear it once, I visited a rental shop near Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia. Not finding anything that I loved, I went around the corner to (now defunct) Beautiful Beads and picked up a Bob Mackie for only $500. Off-the-rack? Yes. But actually a bargain compared to the rental prices of the designer gowns!

So when does renting make sense? And renting what types of items?

Intrigued, I had another cup of coffee and did a little online sleuthing to find that the “new renting” is not the exclusive province of evening wear. It’s now possible to rent everything from designer handbags, to sunglasses, to jewelry and even furs.

For example, One Night Affair established in 1986 by former model Sharon Gilchrist, has over 1,500 wedding gowns, 1,200 evening gowns, and hundreds of different bridesmaid styles. But they also carry a full line of accessories. And how many bride-imposed pieces of (ugly) jewelry do you have collecting dust somewhere? Sadly, I have quite a few!

Another site is Wear Today, Gone Tomorrow  founded by a former Lucky Magazine fashion editor. This site, whose tagline is “Borrow like a celebrity from the ultimate fashion closet” allows fashionistas on a budget to borrow beautiful designer clothing for a mere 10% of its retail price. Plus, there new arrivals every Monday – a critical advantage for those who want the most up-to-the-minute styles.

Finally, my personal favorite, is Avelle, the new Bag, Borrow or Steal. This amazing site offers a almost unbelievable number of guaranteed authentic designer handbags, jewelry, sunglasses and watches from Prada, Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Coach and even Judith Leiber. Unlike other rental options, Avelle allows memebers to keep items as long as they wish and never charges a late fee. Avelle also offer the option to buy items, so if you fall in love you can make it permanent.

I have an event coming up in September. If you see me sporting a fabulous dress or a Judith Leiber bag, you can ask me where I got it. Just whisper!

Like it or not, if you’re a renter, you are involved in a business transaction. The landlord isn’t dad, isn’t your dorm mother, isn’t even the goofy but lovable Mr. Roper next door. He’s a businessman, and no one promised that business dealings would be fair, ethical or even honest.

So before you sign, give in or pay, know first and foremost when to cry bull.

To help, here’s a starter plate of some typical outrageous excuses, you shouldn’t swallow them. Perhaps you’ve already heard a few of them yourself, or even fallen for some. Read on, and don’t make that mistake again.

1. Landlord’s claim: ‘You can just do the dishes by hand.’
Tenant’s response: “Yes, I know it’s possible to do dishes by hand. I’ve even done it before. But the apartment that I am paying you to use came with a working dishwasher. That was the deal.”

2. Landlord’s claim: ‘It was like that when you moved in.’
Tenant’s response: “Oh, good, so you knew the blinds were broken. Great, now come fix them.”

3. Landlord’s claim: ‘That will get fixed . . .’
Tenant’s response: “Great! Just give me a call when it’s fixed and that lease will get signed.”

4. Landlord’s claim: ‘What a mess. I needed all your security deposit to fix the thumb-tack holes.’
Tenant’s response: “Oh my goodness. I am so sorry that while paying you $15,000 to live in your apartment last year, I actually lived in your apartment.”

5. Landlord’s claim: ‘Water? Noise? Talk to the neighbor.’
Tenant’s response: “OK. How about if I go talk to the neighbor about what an unresponsive landlord you are?”

6. Landlord’s claim: ‘It’s in the lease.’
Tenant’s response: “Sorry, but did your Uncle Fred draft that lease? Let’s check state and local laws, too.”

7. Landlord’s claim: ‘I can’t afford to fix it.’
Tenant’s response: “Gee, sorry to hear you’re having money problems, but, um, can you tell me again how that’s my problem? Wait, here’s an idea: Why not use some of the rent I’m paying to bring the unit up to code?”

8. Landlord’s claim: ‘No one else complains.’
Tenant’s response: “Wow, what a lucky landlord you are! You’ve found tenants who don’t mind the smell of mold and the drip of leaky faucets! And what good news for me: By now you must have a hefty fix-it fund saved up!”

9. Landlord’s claim: ‘I don’t do repairs.’
Tenant’s response: “Oh, you don’t? So does that mean I don’t have to ‘do’ rent?”

10. Landlord’s claim: ‘I lost my house and have nowhere to live. I need the apartment back.’
Tenant’s response: “Well, I’m sorry that you haven’t been able to pay your mortgage, but I have been able to pay my rent, which means until the lease is up, it’s my home, not yours.”

On Your Team. www.irenapopilevsky.com

The task at hand is getting a clean well-kept apartment close to school

Smart Renting

Post by: Michael Guzzardi

A large number of young students venture out on their own during their four years at college, and many more graduates will soon after receiving their degrees.  It is common that the renter is so excited with the prospect of living alone that certain key elements are overlooked.  The price of rent, while being the most important factor, is not the end-all, be-all of finding a good rental.  Here are some things to look for that will make for a better first rental experience.
The location of the apartment can influence the effective monthly living expense.  With regards to the location, more specifically, the relationship between home and work or home and school, the commuting time and cost should be considered.  This proximity should be accounted for in the price, meaning if it is closer, the money saved on travel and or parking could go towards additional rent and if it is too far from your daily destination, additional travel expenses should be considered.  This is sometimes a hidden expense, but nonetheless one that needs to be addressed.
When looking, it is important to focus on the task at hand, that is getting a clean, well-kept apartment close to school or for the grads, your first big job. This dwelling will likely be for 12 months or more, and somewhere you spend considerable time every day, so choosing well is very important.  In my experience I have seen too many times, a young, inexperienced renter make decisions based on price alone, or the initial options determined by their credit. Cosigners or larger security deposits are ways of convincing a landlord of taking the increased risk of allowing a college student or grad in their investment.  Typically, three months will cover just about any cosmetic repair that so, and that is what our firm requests.  It should also be determined in advance if any parents are going to go on the lease as guarantors.   This can go a long way when making the final choice and selecting that apartment.  With the security of an established adult, many more doors will open and your dollar will stretch even farther.
With these common mistakes and suggestions to think about, hopefully you will get more for your money in today’s economy and be more informed with what you are getting into.  Be sure to check back next month for some decorating and seasonal maintenance tips.

Exclusive Downloadable Presentation on Renting by Michael Guzzardi available with subscription on www.dotedumagazine.com, slated for early 2010 launch!

Has the American dream really become a distant memory?  The white picket fence has been replaced with security gates, big front yards have been traded for the community pool, and the two car garage is now a reserved parking space. What really happened? Is it a fear of responsibility? A lack of knowledge? Or could it be a credit issue? People seem to think that they cant afford a home. But in reality people want a fantasy home…what they see on television. Trying to keep up with the Jones’ is one of the main reasons the real estate market is in the condition it’s in now. In my first year of being a realtor I have never seen so many people with the wrong preception of “good” credit. Having one or two items in collections, two or three late payments, and maxed out credit limits are not considered “good” credit.  I have also encountered a lot of people who want to buy homes, but are afraid to take on the responsibility of home ownership. Renting takes away some of the responsibilities and pressures of actually purchasing a home.  A renter doesnt have to worry about replacing the included major appliances, fixing broken pipes, or the leaky roof thats been flooding your livingroom floor.  A renter may feel at ease or secure but they are unknowingly wasting their hard-earned money. When buying a home you are investing in yourself, increasing your net worth, and credit. When paying rent your only making the leaser wealthy. We as realtors need to take on the duties of spreading the knowledge to the unknowing and unaware, and we should spread our knowledge throughout our communities and surrounding areas so we can inform everyone about how to purchase a home and to let people know that there should be no insecurities when it comes to home buying.  In all, buying is better than renting period. Be not afraid….when in doubt consult a realtor.

Signed: David, of Lawrence Johnson Realtors…….posted by: Rhon1985, for The Young & The Real Estate

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Leasing after a bankruptcy is not as difficult as people think so. For example, in order to get a car loan in bankruptcy, you do not have a stellar credit!

Until about 8 years ago, banks were looking for people with sub-prime credit and those who need car loans or car loan bankruptcy. And if, at a bankruptcy car loan was offered, the bank used to charge an interest rate hefty.

The funny thing about this type of loan was that the higher the rate,more interest were the people who pay in the early years of the loan bankruptcy auto!

In other words, after 1 year of paying on car loan in bankruptcy, it is becoming impossible to continue making payments. Indeed, a small percentage of their payments used to go to the source and amount of money they were still on their car has been very high.

Nowadays, banks and manufacturers have developed a way for everyone to enjoyleasing.

Accordingly, it is now possible for you to rent a new or newer vehicle, even if you do not qualify for a prime rate and are in need of bankruptcy car loan.

Following are some facts on this subject:

• A shorter duration of approximately 36 months is usually given to pay on the vehicle.

• It is required to pay only three years of use. This is because the end value is fixed and is supported by the loan amount.

• As interestbased on three years of use and not the total value of the car, the principle may be paid more quickly.

• Even if the car is taken, the lender remains in good position as regards the vehicles of the loan balance and current value.

Thus, to get you on the right track immediately after the bankruptcy, it is advisable to opt for a bankruptcy car loan or lease.

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If you think renters are immune to the heartache of foreclosure you are wrong.

“It is extremely confusing,” said Maria Foscarinis, executive director of the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty. “In fact, the tenant might be going along and paying rent, and may be even paying the rent after the foreclosure is finalized… not having been notified that the landlord is no longer the owner of the property.”

State and local laws regarding the foreclosure process and tenant eviction vary throughout the country, she said. To clear up some of the confusion tenants are facing, the center released a report on Wednesday, titled “Without Just Cause: A 50-State Review of the Rights of Tenants in Foreclosure.” Read the report on the center’s Web site.  http://www.nlchp.org/view_report.cfm?id=310

Don’t let foreclosure affect your family’s safety and well being.  Sign up for Landlord Investigators Rental Alert Program today!

On occasion I take one of my kids along with me to check on properties, tenants, etc. when appropriate. My eldest son (4 years old) and I (old enough to have a four year old) went to deliver some notices and check in on things a tone property this morning. One of my tenants drives an ice cream truck and leaves it parked in the parking area behind the building where it inconveniently blocks other tenants access in and out (partly the reason I was there). Like any four year old my little guy said “hey I want some ice cream from that ice cream truck” and I told him that he probably isn’t home and that we can get ice cream from the local gas station, trying to avoid an exchange of goods & services with my tenant which is always a bad idea. My son’s persistence in the over-priced brain freeze inevitable super pop led me to a claim that I couldn’t since he was a “tenant of mine and I don’t like to buy things from tenants” based on the fact that most tenants would love to sell you something with a little “landlord love” included whatever that might be. A good rule.
My son’s response was “but Dad, he is not one of my tenants” and I was stumped with a big smile on my face. Luckily for both of us the tenant was not home.
The moral of the story, since I had to have one for my son, “make sure you have a strict parking policy with no room for misinterpretation….and of course don’t buy ice cream from tenants”

Recently a question was asked……

Q:Where did the Jared Show go?  It was my favorite show, but now it seems to be gone furever!

A: Well, here’s the thing!  Since Adventure Studios (the sound, effects, and background or the Jared Show) has started yet another show, BABV Magic, we need to make a page for both shows!  Please check out the upcoming Jared Shows and the new show, BABV Magic, on the page, Adventure Studios/Productions!  

—————————————————————————————————

But wait there’s MORE!  You can now rent out Adventure Studios for your own show!  Pay me a few bearbills, or possibly credits or an item a week, and you can shoot your own show!  Then, it will appear on the Studios’s Officila Page with YOU in it!  And, plus, we can add effects and edits to your show for free!  Please sign up on the new page, and if you have questions, ONLY ask them at the Ask The Adventure Crew Page!  Thanks! ~and this is Jared, logging off.:)

I must say it’s quite a lot of work starting your own real holiday home rental. Going by my Second Life experience in rentals it looked all too easy – big LOL! Yet in fact, we’re still working on the official SuperGites.com and its reservation/payment system. Until that one is up and running, we’ll have to do it manually for friends and family.

You can rent the Water Mill of Tourteron starting April 1, 2010. Renting the mill includes a double fireplace, four bedrooms (each with its own bathroom), a 90-square meter living room, designer kitchen, and a warm welcome. It does not include electricity, wood for the fireplace, or cleaning.

Description
8 people
4 bedrooms; 2 double beds, 4 single beds
4 bathrooms
Pets and children allowed
400-square meter living space
5,700-square meter terrain
Garage for 2 cars
3 fireplaces
Fully-equipped designer kitchen
Linens available on request
TV
iPod dock stereo set

Costs
A full week’s stay (Saturday 14.00 hours to the next Saturday 10.00 hours) will be 1200 euro in high season and 800 euro in low season.

Seasons
High season is the the last week of June, the full month of July and August, the first week of September and three weeks around Christmas. The rest of the year is low season.

Long Weekends
In low season there’s the option to come and enjoy the mill for a long weekend stay (Thursday 14.00 hours to Monday 10.00 hours) for only 600 euro.

*Special WordPress Offer!!
Some people just can’t wait to get their 2010 vacations booked. To those who want to be the first to rent, we have an exclusive WordPress/Twitter/Friends offer! You early birds: When you pay before January 2010, you’ll get a 25% reduction.

Booking
You should check the calendar below to see if your week is still available and make a booking here. You will receive all further information by e-mail.

So the decision is in. Or rather, we stumbled across the decision. A small lump sum muscled its way into our bank account unannounced. It was labelled “Deposit Scheme”. And the numbers were wrong. They’d given him half the disputed amount. That’s nearly 500 quid. As far as we can tell, that’s 500 quid for a screw for the oven and some paint.

We rang them, obviously, the deposit people. And they said they “knew nothing”. Of course, why would they? “Ring the agents” they said. And they went back to downloading porn and eating Skips with big clammy fat hands oiled with the hand cream in the toilets paid for my the tax money they are given to do FUCK ALL when asked to adjudicate people’s deposit disputes

It’s no surprise, you know, that the amount is roughly half. They probably think it’s clever. Not enough to piss either person off enough for them to complain. 50:50. That’s fair. Yeah, caus that’s the sort of intelligence we are working with here. The TDS seems to be some sub-species of human intelligence where they think that despite having unarguable documentary proof that we did not owe any money and were due our entire deposit back, a 50:50 arrangement is fair.

It’s not

Because our ex-landlord is a scar along the centre of his head away from being a massive penis. Actually, fuck it, he is still a massive penis, whether he actually resembles one or not (which he sort of does, minus a scar along the centre of his head). HE ignored every rule in the contract and then added some new rules for his own fun. He’s a massive cunt.

But the options, alas, are limited. We are bound by what the half-brains at TDS decided. Of course, there are options…

1 Find the ex-landlord and egg his face. Ok, so we wouldn’t have any money back, but I’d have a massive fucking smile on my face.

2 Complain to the TDS. That would be like asking an X-Factor contestant to quantify there effort in a percentage less than 100%. Pretty fucking pointless.

3 Take them to court. All of them. Well, yes, that would be lovely, but the only winner here would be the lawyers who would be able to buy a nice new merc in which to fuck prostitutes.

4 Cry. And collect the tears to drown the ex-landlord. Tempting, but the saltiness of my tears and proliferation of gusty wind may mean quick evaporation by the time I found him and all I’d have left was some mushy salt crystals. Oh, and men don’t cry innit.

5 Put up with it and get on with my life. Ah the higher ground. So unsatisfying. And not even really higher ground. People are wrong, childish impulsive insults are much more appropriate than a David Mitchell-esque witty comment and a purposeful walk in the opposite direction. Shouting twat and throwing someone the finger is the more adult response. Surely

In the end of course the only thing I am likely to do is live out revenge fantasies on this blog and probably get locked up under some obscure terrorist legislation before being deported to the US of A for some interrogation and jail time. Caus that’s how the world works these days.

The world sucks. And my ex-landlord is the lucky cock it’s sucking.

I thought I would shed light on the problem of dealing with mice and how it relates to being a landlord and/or tenant.
The first fact to point to before the main content of this post is that mice only exist where they are provided for. Mice can venture anywhere looking for food, warm shelter and water, but they only stay and breed where those elements are readily accessible. Think of them as unwelcome guests that constantly eat your food and don’t clean up after themselves.
That being stated, many tenants will find a major problem with the fact that they appear and leave evidence of their scavenging. The first thing that you (the tenant) have to do is take a good look at your apartment/home by asking these questions:
1. Is your trash placed outside of your home/apartment at all times?
2. Do you vacuum regularly?
3. Do you clean up after every meal or snack so there is no possibility of leaving food behind (even very small crumbs)?
4. Do you store all your food in air-tight containers?
5. Do you clean up after your pets after every meal or snack (if applicable)?
If you have answered yes to all of these questions, make sure you can verify the following:
There are no open containers of any kind (trash cans, open bottles, soda cans, food containers, etc.) present within your apartment.
If you can positively assess that you are keeping your living spaces up to these standards then a couple of things can be assumed.
If you cut off an animals food supply, they will not stay around. If you violate any of the rules alluded to in the form of questions above then you are susceptible to a mouse invasion. Don’t blame the landlord for maintaining an “uninhabitable” dwelling unit when you are often the one to blame for forgetting to follow through with these principles of cleanliness.
If you are still convinced that you are the epitome of health and sanitation then take a flash light to all the dark areas of your apartment. Look for water leaks, small drops to ponding water since you know the little guys will need a drink once and awhile. Again, you have to take the offensive when getting rid of the problem, not with landlord but the mice. If you find leaks, old trash, wet basements, etc you can then inform your landlord that these problems exist and you can work together to eliminate these issues.
You can also set traps with bait to get rid of the problem. Mice have an interesting problem; their teeth are always growing so they have the constant need to chew to literally file their teeth down. The one thing they can’t chew through is metal or in the form of steel wool. You can stuff a liberal amount of steel wool into any open hole within the building that might allow their access in. Once all the points of ingress and egress are blocked you are left with stir crazy rodents. Mice without food (once you have taken it away) are left to chew holes in walls, electrical wiring, and shoes, whatever. So you need to make sure once you have them trapped you finish the job by trapping them or poisoning them.
I have found that the old fashioned traps yield the best results and they are inexpensive. I have read things like people leaving buckets of skunky beer out with a diving board type of entry for the mice so that when they take the plunge they can’t get out and you can fill in the blanks from there. I have not tried that and I don’t imagine it can be as successful as a cheese bait trap, but it’s a war and by all means use what works to stay on top of it.
You can venture into these other articles to find out more helpful info:
Helpful Tips
Mice & Your Pets / Children

# 1 Change your filters once a month.
Locate your furnace, take the old filter out and find the applicable size on the side of the filter. If you can’t find a filter in your furnace look for the largest louvered piece of metal in your place (located on a ceiling, floor or wall), open it and you should find one there. Go to your local hardware store and buy a dozen filters for approximately .75 a piece. This will be the best investment you can make to keep your utility bills down. It will keep your air cleaner & make it easier for your furnace blower to force air through the filters.

90% of the calls I get about inadequate heat or cool air are a result of dirty filters. It will reduce the efficiency of the HVAC components and often result in luke warm heat or air conditioning. A dirty filter can cause the forced air system (including window units**) to work extra hard and often create a fire hazard.
**The same concept applies for window units; they typically have a small reusable filter that can be cleaned by hand with water.
For more information about filters click here (link).

From time to time tenants don’t fulfill their lease obligations and leave a mess to clean up. Some messes are greater than others and although life circumstances can understandably make it difficult to pay bills and honor these contracts, the overwhelming majority of these delinquent tenants decide that running away from a problem is easier than doing what is right & working with the landlord to work it out.
No notice, past due rent, trash everywhere and damage to the property equals one obvious outcome when the tenants start the flight away from their responsibilities…..legal action. It is not my preference to pursue legal action since it takes extra time, legal fees and paperwork that I try to avoid. The reality is that I’m not the one making the choice for legal action, the tenant made that decision when they started their poor choice to run and leave an expensive trail of damages in their wake.
I have heard a few different & unconfirmed statistics concerning court appearances that usually claim 90% or more of the delinquent tenants don’t show up for their chance to dispute the charges. Once the judgment is entered you then have the difficult task of finding the tenant to enforce that judgment through garnishment or negotiations. There are those tenants that actually have assets and worth pursuing (i.e. you will actually get paid) and those that don’t and won’t have a dime to their name to take.
Sometimes the offenses are so great that sheer principle alone requires legal action even if the tenant will not have the ability to pay. It is for the greater good of warning future landlords and creditors.
The laws are clear about landlord and tenant rights and we have a legal system that allows both sides to defend their positions. When 90% of the defendants don’t show up it makes it easy to win judgments. If you happen to have a tenant show up and request a trial you are in the minority.
We have had the good fortune of not pursuing too many tenants since our inception. I have only had to show up to court once to defend our position and at the trial the delinquent tenant showed up 30 seconds too late and lost the trial by default.
Find a good real estate attorney that charges a flat fee rather than hourly for these types of cases. It will make all the difference. Don’t take risks when signing leases, show up at the tenant’s door when they get behind on rent and only pursue legal action if you have a case you will win.
You want to keep your winning percentage at 100%. If you lose you have not followed the rules correctly somewhere in the process.
Legal Disclaimer ***This post is for information purposes only and should not be taken as legal advice. Consult an attorney in your jurisdiction for legal advice.***

I had never actually cornered an animal until a week or so ago. A tiny bunny ventured into our backyard and our little kids closed in on it wondering if it actually yielded Peeps or Jelly Beans as commonly misconceived by our young audiences. As they corralled the cowering lil’ bunny I had the image of Monty Python’s Holy Grail “that’s no ordinary bunny” scene and laughed at the possibility. For a moment my boys gently pet the wild animal and experienced “the wild” as can only be experienced in city limits with the exception of traveling petting zoos and smelly pet stores. From that point in the week I have dealt with a few wild animal issues that led to the inclination to write about it in this venue since I can easily draw the relevance to this site.
“Bees your weapons are useless against them” – Tommy Boy

Honey bees in an apartment wall can be a very bad thing. I must have the greatest tenant ever, he was cordial and understanding about the weird happenstance and put up with the little noisy producers of sweetness but quite scary in groups protected class of insects. As they became trapped inside the apartment they died off in hundreds in the window that would not provide them a path to freedom. The moral of the story here, if you limit their access in and out, the thousands who are trapped in stay trapped so be careful which direction you send them. Oh, and make sure you call a bee-keeper not an exterminator for honey bees.
The smallest of animals always create the most damage.

On more than one occasion small dogs and even cats have ruined all the flooring in a few of the rentals I lord over. It is hard to imagine how something so small can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage. I have the receipts to prove it. I am yet to meet a pet owner that openly admits that their pet is not house-broken and urinates like a pirate anywhere and everywhere. We often convince ourselves that domesticating something intended to be free and wild can yield positive results indoors. Moral: check up on tenant’s pets as frequently as possible. The longer you wait the more expensive the repairs become. Tenant’s, when you find yourself thinking “it’s just a [enter pet type]….it will live” that is when you should give the pet away to a caring family immediately. Please.
Raccoons don’t belong in your air ducts.

If you have open holes in your home/property cover them with paper first. If a couple of days go by without the paper being dislodged or torn away, you can surmise that there are no animals in your dwelling and you can safely cover the opening. Guess what happens when you trap an animal inside with nowhere to go? We found a raccoon with its’ arm stretched out of a wall vent like a prisoner reaching for keys. You can imagine that a trapped animal will go crazy after being stuck in walls less than 6″ wide. Lesson learned: call a animal removal specialist first, they should give you helpful hints and suggestions before they make it there and charge you. Even if they have to remove the animal it is not to expensive and well worth paying for compared to the alternatives. A good visual inspection of the property monthly will help prevent all sorts of pestilence from your walls and air conditioning.
Big dogs bark very loudly.

The best security system is not always a big dog as many people seem to think. Big dogs in backyards make perfect sense, big dogs in 1 bedroom apartments simply do not. I will let you know in on a little secret, leave the TV on instead. Most people looking to steal rob and pillage will keep on walking if they think someone is home. Sure big dogs will do the trick, but the moral of this entire entry is don’t keep animals in spaces they don’t belong. Pets will literally go crazy if they are kept in environments not suitable for their kind. Crazy big dog equals a very dangerous situation.

Told you all would be revealed soon. This is soon, and this is all being revealed.

As you may or may not remember, the house we rent ‘mysteriously’ appeared in the local paper in the real estate for sale section. Somehow. This immediately made flags go up.

We decided to talk to a finance guy and see how our current situation money wise was. Turn out, we could comfortably afford a modest home loan. The day after talking to the finance guy our landlord called, letting us know they were definitely selling the house. Nice work.

So the last two weeks has been a blur of heat, travel, houses and meetings. But we are now nearing the pointy end of purchasing a comfy little place not far from where we currently rent. Contracts have been signed, cooling off periods have lapsed, insurance has been bought and building inspections have been done. Now we wait patiently while the bank processes and, ultimately, approves our loan.

And then?!

About two month of waiting to move in.

But we are okay with that. We are just happy to be in charge of our own place now, not having to pander to lazy landlords.

And yes, there does happen to be a generous sized room ready to accept battle of the tiny man kind.

Since I’ve been writing this blog for a few months, I figure it’s time to review the steps you need to take to move to the United Kingdom from Canada or America.

Step One:  Legalities

Can you legally make the move to the UK?  It’s not enough to have a Canadian or American passport! 

Check out this blog post:

• How to Get a Visa or Work Permit to Work or Study in the UK

Step Two: Bank Accounts, Accommodations and Flights

Once you know you can legally move to the UK, you’ll want to start getting everything in order to make the actual move. 

• How to Set Up a UK Bank Account From Abroad
• How to Get a Cheap Flight to the UK from Canada or America
• How to Find a Flat in the UK - watch this space for more details about my arrangement with London Relocation Services. They help you get a flat within 24 hours, and I’m working with them to get you a great deal on their services. Watch this space!

Step Three: The Job Hunt

Depending on your profession, this might actually be step 1 or 2.  In any case, here are my two cents:

• How to Get a  Job in the UK

Step 4: Network with other Canadians and Americans in the UK

Make new friends!  You are not the first American or Canadian to move to the United Kingdom, so why not make some new friends with others in the same boat as you across the pond? 

• How to Network with Other Canadians & Americans in the UK

Step 5: The Nitty Gritty – Health Care, Packing, Electricals, Shopping, Flights, Send Money “Home”…

• How to Get Health Care When you Move to the UK
• How to Move to the UK and Bring Your Electricals With You
• How to Send Money to Your UK Account from Canada or America and Vice Versa
• How to Book Flights Within Europe For Cheap
• 10 Books to Help You Make the Move to the UK
• How to Buy A UK Mobile Phone
• How to Shop in the United Kingdom

Wow!  That’s a whole lotta information that I wish I had when I moved to the United Kingdom from Canada.  I hope it helps you.

I am currently looking for more ideas for this blog.  Please help!  What would you like to see on here?  Any ideas?  Please share your thoughts below.

The locality of Salve is in province of Lecce, in the wonderful area of Salento. It is located in the southern area of Puglia, very close to some of the most beautiful beaches of the Ionian coast. To pass some comfortable holidays with the privacy of one’s own house and a significant saving, one can rent villas and apartments in Salve Puglia: Salve Puglia houses in the country but also on the sea or in the historic center.

During the summer, it is a very crowded locality thanks to its nice sea hamlets (Posto Vecchio, Pescoluse, Torre Pali and Lido Marini), that this year received the prestigious award Bandiera Blu 2009 by FEE (Foundation for Environmental Education), and to the numerous events that enliven this season. The coast is composed by golden sandy expanses and dunes facing a very clear sea.

A holiday in Salve is pleasant also during the other seasons since around it some wonderful rural areas extends: here, the typical pajare (some cone- or pyramid-shaped structures used by farm workers) can be seen. Moreover, from here one can reach the other small villages and towns of Salento, an area which is very rich from an historical and cultural but also food-and-wine point of view. Also the old village of Salve is worth visiting because of its artistic treasures such as Torre di Montano, dating back to 1563, the Gothic-style church of San Nicola Magno, palazzo Ramirez, Masseria dei Fani (outside the village) and Torre Pali, surrounded by the sea.

Gioiosa Marea, in the province of Messina, is a seaside resort on the Tyrrhenian coast in front of the Aeolian Islands. It was founded after the 1783 earthquake and the famine of the following year, that obliged the inhabitants of Gioiosa Guardia, located on Mount Meliuso, to abandon their village and build a new one on the coast. In the souvenir of their old village, but also to distinguish the new one from it, they decided to call it Gioiosa Marea. Still today there are some underpasses that connect the two villages (and that soldiers covered to reach the coast) and, on the mount, the site with the ruins of Gioiosa Guardia, from where one can enjoy a breathtaking view.

Gioiosa Marea is really worth visiting: it offers it tourists some wonderful beaches, a fabulous sea and unforgettable sunset with the sun that plunges and then goes out into the sea. You absolutely have to visit the granitic stronghold of Capo Calavà, about 3km from the village centre, where some important tourist facilities are found.

Several and varied accommodation facilities are available. In particular we point out the offer of Gioiosa Marea holiday houses: Gioiosa Marea city center apartments, such as Apartment Roma (on the second floor and with a wide terrace), and Gioiosa Marea Sicily houses by the sea, such as Apartment Ilaria (which is only 10m from the beach); smaller and more discreet apartments, such as the 4 beds houses in Gioiosa Marea Sicily (for example Apartment Lucrezia, which is ideal couples with young children) or biggest houses, such as the 8 beds villas in Gioiosa Marea Sicily, among which we point out the splendid Villa Calavà, a two-floor house with all the comforts.

Dejalo – Rilo Kiley

1) CMAs were amazing. Go taylor for rocking them like the all star that she is. 4 for 4 on the awards! amazing. it was all the good things about country/reminded me why i love country music too.

2) Second cabin trip was fantastic. fail at cranium and scene it. completed awesome mosaic puzzle that i want to put on my wall in a future apartment. beds SO comfy. great food, a fire, movies, music, mini hike, fun people. amazing weekend getaway.

3) ruby makes me happy monday was my first day on phones by myself. nerve racking but i stumbled my way through it. its a great place to work and i even got a cookie from amanda and some rubies! still working on getting to know people but i’m really excited for the holiday party in december. had yesterday and today off. back to work tomorrow. hopefully i don’t screw anything up the rest of this week!

4) having dinner with my cousin kristine tonight. little nervous because i haven’t had much contact, especially recently, with my cousins (they live all over the place and are at least 10-15 yrs older than me) but it should still be fun.

5) on the hunt for an apartment. can’t really afford $600/month and trying to find something closer to work. probably end up sharing with people…and even though that’s not my ultimate choice because of all the roommate issues i’ve had in the past it’ll be ok for now. stressing me out. most places require your income to be 3 times your income. mine definitely falls short. i’ve never rented anything before so that might be a problem for some places. not sure how my student loans will effect the screening process. its just frustrating and stressful and i feel like my options are so limited. finally got the job situation figured out and am getting settled in…but finding a place to live is just…discouraging. much like trying to find a job was. hopefully it works out in the same way…but sooner so i can stop imposing.

6) excited for thanksgiving even though its still aways out. well, maybe not. only a week. i feel like time is just flying by. i still don’t feel like i’m all gradumacated with a degree. maybe because i know i’m going back to school eventually so things feel unfinished. or maybe because my entire life school has been looming in front of me whenever a break is over. i guess i just feel like i’m on an extra long break.

7) working on updating info on here. trying to add books—one page for my favorites, another for what i’m currently reading. we’ll see how that goes. need to add more pictures too.

off to dinner and burlington coat factory!

]]> http://jsnorthrup.wordpress.com/2009/11/18/the-landlord-who-disappeared-foreclosed-home-scam/ Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:09:39 +0000 Landlord Investigators http://jsnorthrup.wordpress.com/2009/11/18/the-landlord-who-disappeared-foreclosed-home-scam/

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