Roland Violette Jr.

4 of the Most Common HVAC Issues During the Spring

Keeping your HVAC unit well-maintained is essential in extending its lifespan and reducing the chance of costly repairs. The spring season is the perfect time to ensure your HVAC system is in excellent shape and ready for warm weather.

These are some common HVAC issues during the spring and the best way to handle these problems.

#1 Inefficient HVAC System

An HVAC system sees the most use during the winter and summer months. Extensive use of your system can cause plenty of wear and tear. Scheduling an HVAC tune-up during transitional periods is a great way to keep your system clean and maximize efficiency. HVAC professionals can inspect your entire system to ensure that everything is in excellent condition.

#2 Leaky Windows

Another common issue for homeowners is having to deal with leaky windows. A leaky window makes it much more challenging to maintain the temperature in your home, which results in a higher energy bill each month. Always look at your caulking and weather stripping around each window to avoid any potential leaks.

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Real Estate Scammers—Not Bad for Business

The age of technology has made it easy for real estate agents of all experience levels to get their properties out there. A recent study reported that over 50 percent of homebuyers found their property online! This technology has made it easier for scammers as well, especially on sites with lenient listing requirements.

Recently, I encountered a scam myself. Or, rather, potential tenants encountered it. An individual looking for an August getaway found a listing on Craigslist for a beachside property. At $315 a day, it seemed like a steal! So, he queried the poster to get more information. However, the response was riddled with grammatical errors and looked suspicious.

The interested tenant played the role of a spy, first getting in contact with the rental agency tied to the property—the rental agency of which I’m a member! When the potential tenant learned that the listing was a fraud and that I had not authorized it, he continued his spy charade, managing to acquire the scammer’s email address and Zelle payment information. From there, the tenant and my agency flagged the Craigslist post.

Of course, no scammer story ends there. As of right now, the listing is still live. Thankfully, though, tenants are smart shoppers!

See the full story at RolandViolette.net.

Why Real Estate Investors Should Consider Renting Out Parking Garages

Many real estate investors often seek new and different methods of turning a property into profit. One emerging trend is renting parking garages. Parking garages might prove to be beneficial entities for investors because these structures are:

More Manageable Than Other Properties

The actual tenants of a parking garage are the vehicles that occupy the structure’s spaces. Because garage property owners don’t have to work closely with individual people, operating the facility can be more manageable. Necessary upkeep will include providing safeguards like adequate lighting and security cameras. That said, these items will not need to be updated frequently and will not typically require costly repairs.

Easier to Finance

Parking garages may be easier to finance than other properties. Purchase prices are often more reasonable because the land that existing parking garages are built on is not as valuable as houses structures like high rises or condominiums.

Read the full article at RolandViolette.net.

Should You Repair or Replace Your Managed Property Appliances?

When an appliance breaks down in a rental, every property manager must determine whether to replace or repair it. Completely removing the old device and replacing it with a new one does have some benefits, but repairing an object and keeping it can save some money. Here are a few things to consider when trying to choose the best option for any rental property.

Cost of Potential Repairs

One of the simplest ways of deciding whether a replacement is needed is to estimate the cost of fixing the problem. A general rule of thumb is that it is unwise to pay for a repair if the cost of repairing the item is more than half the cost of replacing it altogether. It can be exceptionally costly when a contractor must do the replacing or repairing. If a property owner has the skills and know-how to make necessary changes, this can save time and money.

Age of the Old Appliance

The exact age at which an appliance requires replacement depends on the device. Usually, there is no point in repairing an appliance that is near the end of its lifespan already, as this can negatively impact its effectiveness. Check to see how long that sort of appliance usually lasts to determine whether it is worth bothering with repairs.

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Easy Ways to Increase a Rental Property’s Value

Whether you’re investing in the stock market or in cryptocurrency, the point of any investment is to generate a positive return. Ideally, your rental property is doing the same thing for you. Hopefully you’ve done the proper homework on your property’s market and have put yourself in a good position to succeed, but being a successful real estate investor is about more than buying a home, signing a lease and handing your new tenants the keys. Especially now, with the entire global market in flux, it’s vital to maintain and improve upon your properties to set yourself up for a fruitful future. There are some things you can do to increase your property’s value without breaking your back or your bank account.

Paint

Putting a fresh coat of paint on and in a house immediately improves its perceived value. Spend some time researching what colors are popular and make plans to update the paint on your home accordingly. Don’t fall into the trap of buying discounted gallons from your local hardware store as they’re usually not mixed properly, so finding the same color for future touch-ups will be impossible. Spend the necessary money to get a good shade of paint to freshen up the look of the home.

Read the full blog at RolandViolette.net.

When to Switch Your Home Energy Source

There are several reasons to switch to natural gas heating, including a smaller carbon footprint and financial savings, but not all homeowners understand the need to change. Specifically, homeowners may wonder if switching from electric to gas heating will save them money. Some heating companies recommend this move for the cost-efficiency, but homeowners should consider the following questions when making their decision.

Does the home already have a gas line?

If so, switching is a no-brainer. If an existing line has room for another appliance, it might cost as little as $150 to switch. However, if there is no line or no appliances can be added, homeowners will have to pay per foot of gas line on top of the cost of a gas furnace.

Does the home have a forced-air system?

A gas-powered furnace distributes heat through ducts, much like central air conditioning. If a home doesn’t have the proper infrastructure, this is an additional cost. Homeowners can expect to pay at least $3,000 and sometimes more than $5,000 to add ductwork.

Read the full blog at RolandViolette.com.

How to Reduce Home Allergens

Homes serve as shelter from the outside elements. Unfortunately, even with sturdy walls and roofs, allergens can enter the house and trigger reactions. Indoors may also be the only place where specific reactions occur. Allergens may only cause mild allergic reactions as first. But if things like mold spores are allowed to situate, it can cause a whole slew of health issues. If you’ve been sneezy or wheezy at home, use these methods to reduce your home allergens.

Clean or Replace The Air Filters

There are many ways allergens can enter a home. One of the most common ways is through air filters. Over time, air filters become filled with all sorts of things like dust, dirt, pollen, and mold spores. If left unchecked, the HVAC unit will start to blow these contaminants into the home.

As a result, indoor air quality worsens and allergies flare. Furthermore, people with asthma are at an even higher risk of an asthma attack. Routinely cleaning or replacing air filters will keep the indoor air quality fresh and free of allergens.

Read the full article at RolandViolette.com.

Four Common Pitfalls in Flipping a Home

Property flipping can be profitable, but only if you know how to do it. Like any business venture, real estate comes with capital risk. If you approach it carelessly, you may find yourself holding onto properties that no one wants to buy and that you unload at a net loss. Here are four pitfalls to avoid:

Lacking Funding

The most common pitfall that novice house flippers make lacking sufficient capital. There are a lot of costs to consider when flipping houses, from insurance and utilities to marketing and closing sales. These costs can especially stack up depending on experience, the use of outside vendors, and other third-party negotiations. Calculate these hard and soft costs before sinking any money into a venture, and keep in mind that your ROI will depend on how precise you are with the project’s budgeting and cost management.

Read the full blog at RolandViolette.net.

5 Benefits of Hiring an HVAC Contractor

HVAC contractors fix, install, replace, and maintain heating and cooling equipment. Experienced HVAC contractors carefully adhere to industry standards and regulations, which can result in much-appreciated energy efficiency for your home or business. Here are five other benefits associated with hiring an HVAC contractor.

Industry Insight

In addition to being licensed and trained, HVAC contractors are typically well-aware of comfort trends and newer technologies, equipment, and techniques. So, when you hire a reliable HVAC contractor, you’ll enjoy high-quality results, which can contribute to long-term valve and savings, especially if you have fewer issues with unexpected repairs.

Read the full article at RolandViolette.com.

Property Repairs for Rented Spaces

Any property owner who wishes to rent out to tenants will want to make some essential improvements before letting anyone move into the place. Performing all the right repairs and maintenance work ahead of time leads to less hassle for landlords and tenants alike. Here are some essential improvements that a property owner should make before renting out any space.

Flooring

Property managers should examine carpets to ensure they’re in good shape and can be spot-treated for any stains. However, if carpeting is old and dilapidated, replace it with new carpeting that is comfortable to walk on and enhances the interior decor. Unusable carpeting can also be torn out and replaced with hardwood, laminate, or vinyl flooring. Different flooring types offer various benefits and downsides; consider factors such as weather and expenses before settling on one particular flooring type for a residence.

Read the full article at RolandViolette.net.