Buying Steps 43-44: Protecting Your Investment
Step 43
Unfortunately, these days it seems scams and rip-off artists are around every corner. As Realtors, we run across rental scams almost daily where the scammer has stolen pictures off the internet of a property for rent or sale, sets up their own fake rental on Craigslist using the photos, and tries to lure a trusting tenant to rent the property sight unseen.
So what can you do as a property owner to protect yourself? Our best advice is to set up a Google Alert on your home or rental property. Google Alerts are simple and free tools to get regular updates about something that interests you, such as your property and your tenants. Google Alerts will send you an email any time a new web page appears in the top 20 web results or top 10 news results for the terms you specify.
As a landlord, you should set up a Google Alert on your property’s address so you can see whenever someone posts something on the internet about your property to make sure it’s a legitimate post. You may also want to set up a Google Alert using the name of your tenant so you can be on top of what your tenant is doing in case he or she gets arrested or in trouble for any illegal activities. We also recommend setting up a Google Alert with your tenant’s telephone number. This could possibly tip you off if your tenant plans to move without providing notice. If they place a “MOVING SALE” advertisement on Craigslist with their telephone number it should turn up in a google alert notification.
As a homeowner, we also recommend setting up a Google Alert so you can make sure someone doesn’t try to run a rental scam using photos of your property.
It even makes sense for renters to set up a Google Alert on the address where they are living.
Setting up Google Alerts is simple. Go to http://google.com/alerts (note that you’ll need to have a Google login to use the service). For each Alert, you need to decide the following:
- Search Terms. This can be as simple as entering the property address in quotations. For example: “3537 Youngstreet Drive.” You may also want to set up another alert if there are alternate ways your address may appear, for example including the abbreviation for “Drive” (making the alert active for: “3537 Youngstreet Dr.”) or including the town (such as “2201 Bellingham Dr, Bellingham”). Using quotations around the search terms will help filter the results.
- Type of information to search. This tells Google which information to include in its search (Everything, News, Blogs, Web, Video, Groups) Setting this to “everything” will include all types of search results.
- How often the alert should be sent (as it happens, once a day, once a week)? Google will send notifications only when it actually finds new material in the top 20 (web) / 10 (news) results, so you won’t be getting messages unless there’s something to report.
- Volume. This setting determines how many results you see in each alert.
- How you would like to receive the alerts (email or via RSS feed)? For each alert you create, a separate email will be sent depending on how often you’ve chosen to receive it. You can also subscribe to the alert via RSS feed in Google Reader instead of email.
- Caveat: Google Alerts is not guaranteed to be 100% foolproof or reliable. And since it only sends alerts when new pages enter into the top searches means it may not be an exhaustive result for every term. However, it’s a great place to start and helps you cover your bases!
Questions? Contact us at andi@andidyer(dot)com or 360-734-6479.
Step 44
Peace of mind begins with changing the locks.
It's easy to get super excited about moving into your new house. But for your safety and security, be sure to cross these tasks off your checklist before you call it home.
Here's your new home checklist:
#1 Change the Locks
You don’t know who else has keys to your home, so change the locks. That ensures you’re the only person who has access. Install new deadbolts yourself for as little as $20 per lock, or call a locksmith — if you supply the new locks, they typically charge about $50 to $150 per lock for labor.
#2 Check for Plumbing Leaks
Your home inspector should do this for you before closing, but it never hurts to double-check.
Keep an eye out for dripping faucets and running toilets, and check your water heater for signs of a leak.
#3 Steam Clean Carpets
Do this before you move your furniture in, and your new home life will be off to a fresh start. You can pay a professional carpet cleaning service — you’ll pay about $50 per room; most services require a minimum of about $100 before they’ll come out — or you can rent a steam cleaner for about $30 per day and do the work yourself.
#4 Wipe Out Your Cabinets
Another no-brainer before you move in your dishes and bathroom supplies, especially if the house has been vacant. It's not uncommon for mice and other pests to move in quickly. Make sure to wipe inside and out, preferably with a non-toxic cleaner, and replace contact paper if necessary.
And if you do find traces of unwanted roommates, take the next step.
#5 Introduce Yourself to Your Circuit Breaker Box and Main Water Valve
It’s easier to do with two people: one to stand in the room where the power is supposed to go off, the other to trip the breakers or fuses, and yell, “Did that work? How about now? You’ll want to know how to turn off your main water valve if you have a plumbing emergency. Just locate the valve — it could be inside or outside your house — and turn the knob until it’s off. Test it by turning on any faucet in the house; no water should come out.
Questions? Contact us at andi@andidyer(dot)com or 360-734-6479.
