How to Pre-Screen Potential Tenants

Business Legal

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Renting your home or apartment is a great way to invest in your future, but you definitely need to know what you are doing. Every landlord knows the importance of carefully screening potential tenants before anything is signed.  This typically begins by requiring the interested person to complete a detailed application form which will collect the applicant’s financial and credit details, references from past and current employers and landlords, and information about things like whether the applicant smokes, owns pets, or has ever been convicted of a felony.

However, getting this information is only the beginning – in order to make sure that you are protected, you need to follow through on the process of actually checking the information you have been provided – this means calling references, reviewing credit reports and obtaining a criminal background check. This process, however important, takes time and energy.  Savvy landlords know, however, that the screening process actually begins before the application – these landlords will ask several pre-screening questions when they are first contacted by the applicant that help them to determine if it is worth the time and energy to undertake a more careful screening. Here are a few things to find out before you take the process further.

How many people/pets will be living in the property?

This preliminary question is important to ask for a few reasons.  First, there are laws in some states against renting to more than two tenants per bedroom – this is in place to prevent over-crowding situations for reasons of safety and health.  It is also relevant because more people using the space means more wear and tear on carpets, bathrooms, appliances, and so on.  In this case, you may be justified in asking for a higher rent, or to exclude utilities or apply a premium if they are included.  Similarly, if there are pets, there is reason to anticipate that damage may occur as a result, and again you may want to increase the rent or include a damage clause.  This is something that could be discussed in your first contact with the potential tenant, and this will be their opportunity to decide if they are willing to pay a higher rent.  If not, then the conversation can end there.

Will they provide references from their employer and landlord?

For obvious reasons, you want to know something about their record of employment and especially about their reliability as a tenant.  Anyone who indicates that they are not prepared to give you that information, or who has a story about why that information is not available, should be politely declined during the first conversation.

Will they allow you to check their credit report and conduct a criminal background check?

Anyone who refuses to allow you to check their background or conduct a people search on them should be immediately passed over.  Potential credit problems may have a legitimate explanation, and a credible person will be prepared to let you check and will provide an explanation that you might accept.  Similarly, a criminal background check is necessary because you as the landlord may be responsible for criminal activity on your property. Again, you should not automatically discriminate against someone with a criminal past, but you should be wary of anyone who refuses to disclose it.

With these simple questions in mind as you take phone calls from people interested in renting your house or apartment, you can focus your screening efforts on serious applicants and find the right tenants for you.

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DIY Safety Upgrades for Your Car

Auto

 

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There have been many important innovations in auto safety in the last number of years, and even if you are driving an older vehicle, you can take advantage of these new technologies with some affordable upgrades and make your ride safer.

Upgrade your Headlights

Brighter headlights make it easier for you to see at night, and make your car more visible.  They are easy to install in about 30 minutes, and contribute enormously to your overall safety.

Collision Mitigation and Adaptive Cruise Control

Traditional cruise control systems will keep you going at a constant speed, but the latest systems work to adjust your speed when needed to help you to maintain a safe distance between yourself and the car by slowing your vehicle automatically if you get too close.  It will also send you an alert if it senses an object ahead of your car, and will even automatically apply the brakes to stop your car if you don’t respond to the alert.  It only takes a moment to become distracted, and this technology prevents that momentary distraction from resulting in an accident.

Object Proximity Sensors

These sensors use electromagnetic or ultrasonic sensors to detect unsafe distances between your car and objects around it, and will beep to alert you.  They don’t detect moving traffic, but will definitely help you avoid hitting parked cars, hydrants or low barrier walls.

Upgrade your tires

Tires are the only part of your car that touches the road, and for that reason, no matter whether your car is brand new with high-tech anti-lock brakes and traction control or is ten years old without any of that technology, your ability to stop ultimately depends on the quality of your tires.  For that reason, tires are one of the most effective safety upgrades you can make if you want to significantly increase the safety and also the performance of your car.  Buy the best tires you can afford.  If you are planning to hold onto your car for a few years then tires with a longer-lasting tread are worth the investment.

Backup Camera System

Sadly, it is not uncommon for children or other pedestrians to be hurt by people backing out of their driveways.  Not only do back up camera systems reduce the possibility of accidents, but they also make parallel parking much easier.  A backup camera system is thus a very important and life-saving upgrade. It is easy and affordable to install a safety view wireless backup camera system.

Driving an older vehicle does not necessarily mean you cannot benefit from latest advances in safety technology.  Many of the most important safety features can be added to your car with relatively little expense or time. And given the demonstrated life-saving advantages, you should definitely consider upgrading your vehicle with these easy to install upgrades.

 

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Five ways to save space in your bathroom

DIY / Home Improvement

Looking for ways to save space in your bathroom?
Photo by CC user Zceittf on Wikimedia Commons

One of the most difficult rooms in the house to design is the bathroom. Why? Because it’s usually the smallest. Most people find it difficult to add the fixtures and fittings they want in tighter spaces, and sometimes it’s near impossible to include a bath. Of course, for families, the priority is often storage too. It’s a constant battle between style and practicality, but hopefully these next few tips will help you to win it. They should be able to give you a few tricks that mean you don’t always have to compromise on design for space.

  1. Fill every corner

If you’ve always wanted a bath, but on measuring up you think you simply can’t accommodate one, look into corner suites instead. There are some beautifully sleek, modern designs on the market now, which will mean you can have that little touch of luxury every evening, but on a slightly smaller scale. From sunken styles to Jacuzzis, this can free up more floor space to give a far more spacious feel.

  1. Why not walk in?

Walk-in wardrobes might be every girl’s dream, but every interior designer’s dream is the walk-in shower. As there’s just an opening rather than a hinged door, it’s perfect for tight spaces, but the walk-in shower enclosures can also be very discreet. Opt for a shallow base with a light-coloured tiled floor and you’ll get the practicality you need, but with the visual illusion of a much larger area.

  1. Be creative

The tighter the space, the more you need to try and think outside of the box. For example, you may have some recesses in the walls that you would otherwise see as annoying features, but can you turn it into some added storage space, by adding shelves, draws or a full unit? Think about the things you need to have in your bathroom, and be creative with how you can include them. Why not add pockets to your shower curtain for razors, soaps, facial washes and other things you use regularly? It will save on the clutter, keep things in order and give the appearance of more space.

  1. Think vertical

Speaking of storage, how do you use your walls? Are they covered with mirrors and themed artwork? If you’re short on space, try using them as a tool instead; whether it’s a series of hanging baskets in disused corners, or long and tall radiators to avoid towels being discarded everywhere, you need to make use of areas that would otherwise be empty.

  1. Don’t rule out wet-rooms

These can be ideal solutions for ensuites in particular. Many renovators and property developers use these as a way of getting an extra bathroom into a home when a much larger master bedroom is available, and they can steal a chunk of space away from it. They’re easy to keep clean and maintain, and they can look incredibly stylish with the right finish.

Do you have any more space-saving ideas for the bathroom?

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Get Educated on the Best Paralegal Schools

Education Legal

What are the Best Paralegal Schools?
Photo by CC user Mdesigns on Pixabay

If you’re shopping around for the best paralegal schools nationwide, how do you know which ones stack up to be the best?

As more people gravitate towards adding to their knowledge base in order to advance through the workforce, having as much education on your side as possible is crucial.

That said many people are holding down full-time jobs, not to mention several part-time jobs too in order to get by. In those situations, it can seem like getting more education is all but impossible. Where do you find the time? Can you afford to get the education given your income abilities? Will the education you go after now be enough in today’s demanding workplace?

In order to answer some or all of those questions, it is important that you do your research, looking for the best opportunities for you.

So, are you ready to become educated on how to locate the best paralegal school for your needs?

Do Your Research

So that you can find the best paralegal school out there, keep a few pointers in mind:

First, make sure you look for a number of schools, allowing you a solid list of candidates with which to choose from. While you may ultimately end up selecting the first school you come across, having myriad of choices will allow you more time to think through your decision.

Among the qualities you want in a paralegal school would be:

  • Best learning environment – Is the school conducive to your career needs? Does it provide you with the tools to become an outstanding paralegal when all is said and done? Will you be exposed to some fantastic coursework and some of the best professors (see more below) out there?
  • Best professors – Although you may learn a lot about the paralegal field on your own through studying and attention to detail, your professors certainly make a difference. Look for a paralegal school where your instructors are the best out there. You not only want professors with great experience as lawyers and paralegals, but also those willing to help you become a great paralegal in your own right. That means taking the time to answer your questions and encourage you to want to learn as much as possible.
  • Best accreditation possible – You want a school that is accredited, giving you some muscle when you go in for job interviews or look to move up the ladder in your current position. Be sure to go to a school that is known for producing only the best students in the best learning environments possible.

Time Management is Critical

If you are currently in the workplace, getting a paralegal degree will take both time and effort, so make sure you are able to provide both.

While the onus is on a paralegal school to provide you with a well-rounded education, it is up to you to commit 100 percent of yourself to the process.

Look to see how you will properly divide your time between your current job and studying for a paralegal degree. If you have a family, properly juggling everything can prove even more of a challenge, but it is one that will be well worth it in the end. You should discuss with your partner and children (depending on their age or ages) how they can help you to allocate time for studies etc.

Make sure you also do not take too much time away from your current job, thereby not risking losing that position while studying for a paralegal degree.

Opening the doors to a job in the legal profession isn’t always easy, but it can be very rewarding once you are firmly inside.

By taking the proper amount of time and focus on where to get your paralegal degree, you can properly position yourself in the legal field.

Once there, the sky can be the limit.

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What’s the Difference Between Internet Plans?

Tech

internet plans
internet plans
Photo by CC user tipl on Flickr.

With the vast amount of internet plans available on the market today, it’s no wonder that you may feel like your head is exploding. With each internet provider such as Frontier Communications, you’ll find several different internet plan options as well as internet bundles, making it so that you have a lot to think about. With this said, how do you go about choosing the right one for you? First off, we’ll need to take a look at what an internet plan really is, what your general options are and what added options you can include in conjunction with your chosen plan. Once you’ve gone through all the information below, you should find yourself having a much easier time figuring out which of the internet plans available is the right one for you.

What is an internet plan

Essentially, an internet plan is a plan where you’ll find yourself privy to internet access for a certain dollar amount each month. You’ll also find that most internet plans are based on a subscription status, generally 6 months to a year, though you can sometimes have the option to subscribe to a 2 year service.

What are the different types of internet plans available on the market today

Although all are considered internet plans, they do vary widely from one to the next. This is because of the differences that each plan offers, along with the cost differences and speed at which you’ll be able to surf the internet. The main differences that you’ll find when searching for a new internet plan is the:

  • Cost- Costs vary widely not only from internet service provider to provider but also between each of the different internet plans within the same company. These costs generally range due to subscription service length, internet speed chosen and the data plan chosen.
  • Speed- Internet speeds do vary, but you do get to choose a speed that is closest to what you’re looking for. Generally speaking, if you need to access information extremely quickly, you’ll want to go with a faster internet speed plan.
  • Data plan- Some companies offer different data plans at different monthly rates. These data plans differ depending on how much you plan to upload and download.

How to choose the best internet plan for you

Depending on what you plan on using the internet for, you’ll find that not all plans work in your favor. If you plan on using the internet for your home office, most likely you’ll want to go with a plan that offers high speed access and a large data plan. If you just plan to use the internet every now and then, you’ll want to stick with a small data plan. If you use streaming services on a regular basis, then a plan offering a high speed connection is certainly the best option for you. Some plans also come with a discounted option of adding in a TV subscription or phone line, so you’ll want to take those into consideration as well.

Hopefully, with the information provided above, you now have a clearer understanding of what direction you’d like to head in. Just remember, internet plans do vary a lot both in what they provide, how fast the service is and how much they cost on a monthly basis. This means that it’s best not to rush into one plan over the other and to instead take the time to dissect each plan. That way you’re much more likely to be happy with your plan in the long run.

 

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Tips for New Homeowners During the Winter

Auto DIY / Home Improvement

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The winter months are notorious for snow, cold and ice. While this may be bad enough for those who have to go through it, it can present additional challenges for homeowners. If you are a new homeowner, what should you know about keeping your house in good condition during what could be the worst weather conditions of the year?

Keep the Gutters Clear

The first thing that you need to do is make sure that the gutters are keep clear of snow, ice or any liquid that may accumulate in them. This is because water can easily freeze and create an ice dam. An ice dam can then force any additional melting snow or rain that falls to move back under the shingles and into the roof. From there, it could leak into the home and get all the way down to the foundation.

Keep Pipes Clear of Water

Just like water can freeze on a gutter, it can freeze in your home’s pipes. If that happens, it could lead to cracks or even a pipe bursting. That could then lead to water damage as well as a pipe that needs to be replaced. Therefore, it may be a good idea to drain your pipes and make sure that they are kept above freezing at all times. Keeping cabinet and other doors open can help circulate the air, which may prevent water from achieving a frozen state.

Hire a Snow Plow

While you may think that you are up to shoveling the driveway when it snows, it may not be in your best interest to do so. Although you may be able to keep it clear after a small snowfall, what happens if your driveway is covered in a foot or more of snow an hour before you have to go to work?

For new homeowners, buying a snowblower may not be feasible as you may not have hundreds of dollars sitting around after you spent thousands on closing costs and other expenses. A snowplow contract is usually less than $50 a month, and you can rest assured that your driveway will be clear before work in the morning.

Buy a Winter Car

It may be a good idea to buy a cheap winter car to take the wear and tear that the winter months put on a vehicle. For less than $1,000 you can have something that will take you to work or help you get to the gym or to the store down the street. Once the winter is over, you can sell the car to get back some of your original investment.

Since you only put a few hundred or few thousand miles on the vehicle, you probably don’t have to invest in an oil change or perform any other type of maintenance on the vehicle. However, you should get it inspected before you buy it to ensure that there are no major safety issues that could put yourself or other family members in danger.

You will learn a lot about your home after spending your first winter in it. However, as a general rule, you should make sure to keep the gutters and pipes clear from snow and make sure that all drive and walkways are kept free from snow or ice that can make traversing them treacherous.

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7 Inspirational Beauty Vloggers to Model Your YouTube Channel On

Fashion Tech

Michelle Phan is one of many Inspirational Beauty Vloggers you should emulate
Photo by CC user 22007612@N05 on Flickr

If you are a new to the vlogging scene, there’s so much to look forward to. Sharing your passion with the world is such an exciting endeavour, you never know where it will take you to next.

Being a beauty vlogger is one of those activities that require adequate preparation and if video editing is not your thing, don’t worry, there are many user-friendly apps that make it easy. Still unsure of how to go about your YouTube videos? Here are some inspirational beauty vloggers to benchmark your videos on.

  1. Estee Lalonde

The UK-based Estee is one of the internet’s beloved vloggers in the beauty scene. She’s best known for her friendly, girl-next-door online personality. She has a great resource for beauty reviews, and covers everything from dieting to interior design. You can pick a thing or two from Lalonde’s style diversity.

  1. Michelle Phan

Michelle began beauty vlogging in 2007, and has since gained millions of followers for her YouTube channel. Her videos are enhanced with colourful costumes and themes which give them a lovely look. Learn Michelle’s colour style and adapt them to your videos for effect.

  1. Nitraa B

Nitraa B’s videos stand out for their perfect combination of fun and information. She coined the term “purple glitter smokey eye” and it’s a hit among many millennials. Come up with your own distinctive names for makeup style and people with associate them with you.

  1. Samantha and Nic Chapman/Pixiwoo

These sisters are the talent behind Pixiwoo. Their specialty is recreating celebrity makeup looks. So, if you liked how Katy Perry looked at the last VMA awards, chances are Sam and Nic can show you how to recreate it. You don’t have to copy exactly, but you can borrow a page from their creativity and incorporate into your style. Their basics videos are great for newbies.

  1. Lisa Eldridge

This London-based makeup artiste has a celebrity client list as long as my arm. With the likes of Kate Winslet, Keira Knightly and Emma Watson in her portfolio, her vlogs are a go-to for professional makeup. She is also the creative director for British cosmetics brand No.7. Her makeup tutorials embody professionalism and elegance. Look up her “Ultimate Guide to Red Lips” video.

  1. Kandee Johnson

Kandee has such as big personality and throws it into her tutorials. People love to learn with fun and Kandee doesn’t disappoint. You don’t have to be a comedian, make your video interactive and viewers will be endeared. One of my favourite Kandee videos is “How to Do Pin-Up Girl Make-Up.”

  1. Felicia Walker Benson

Felicia does a lot in the beauty tutorial scene for people of colour, and her products are a favourite any day. If you plan to launch your product line someday, Felicia is a great resource for inspiration.

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How Often Do You Really Need to Visit the Dentist?

Health & Fitness

Visiting the dentist is one of many people’s least favorite things to do, all that drilling and digging about in your mouth is hardly enjoyable and as such, keeping your teeth in great condition is worth doing. It’s not just the visiting of dentists that can cause problems, even finding a good dentist isn’t easy, especially if you are looking for a dentist with not just great skills, but also a calming bedside manner. I recently had an issue when I was traveling and spent an age searching for dentists in Fremantle, thankfully the one that I found was friendly, helpful and got the job done.

As much as you may want to avoid it, and even if you do have healthy teeth, you do need to get your teeth checked up on from time to time, just to make sure that everything is healthy in your teeth and gums, so how often should you really be visiting the dentist?

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Problem Free

If you look after your teeth through regular brushing and the avoidance of foods or activities that can cause damage to your teeth then an annual check-up is all you will need at the dentist. This annual check-up will just be so that the dentist can spot any changes in the way your teeth are growing or if any small problems are developing. IF you do look after your teeth then this check-up should be quick and very painless.

Possible Problems

Some activities that you can do to risk the health of your teeth included smoking, not brushing regularly, eating a lot of sugary foods and drinking a lot of things like coffee and red wine which will stain your teeth.  If you fall into this category then you are at a much higher risk of having dental problems and you should be going for a check-up at least twice a year if not 3 times. If you are high risk and you are getting regular check-ups then this will allow your dentist to spot any problems which you may develop early, the dentist can then start any treatments that he needs to make before the problem becomes bigger. Also if you are pregnant or are undergoing chemotherapy then you should also be getting regular check-ups.

Children

If you have children then it is important that you take them to the dentist at least twice a year, this is the time when the teeth are growing the most and if any corrections need to be made to straighten the teeth, then these should be done at an early to improve the chances of success. You don’t need to take your child to the dentist every time one of their baby teeth fall out but staying in regular contact with your dentist throughout this time will help your child best when it comes to the future of their adult teeth.

Nobody loves going to the dentist and the best course of action is to live a life then helps you to keep your teeth healthy, this way you can have an annual check-up that should be problem free.

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Things to Consider as You Plan for Retirement

Money

There are many Things to Consider as You Plan for Retirement
Photo by CC user 120360673@N04 on Flickr

Like getting an education, beginning a career and starting a family, retirement is an important stage of life and one that should be planned for in order to get the best results. It is always a good idea to get professional advice from an expert like Keith Springer, but there are some general things that you should keep in mind as you think ahead to retirement.

You Are Never Too Young to Start Planning

From the perspective of your twenties or thirties, it may be hard to imagine that there will ever be a time when you are not working – it can be difficult to think past 40, let alone to imagine yourself at 60 or beyond. Perspectives and circumstances change, of course, but you are never too young to imagine the kind of life you want to have in your senior years and to begin thinking about how to make it happen. Are you interested in early retirement? Do you want to live on a tropical island? Do you expect to have a family to take into account of in your planning? The best part about thinking seriously about retirement when you are young is that you will benefit from the incredible power of compound interest to maximize your wealth with relatively small investments.

You Are Never Too Old to Start Planning

Maybe you never quite got around to really thinking about retirement until it was looming on the horizon. Or, maybe you were thinking about it but didn´t feel like you had any extra financial resources to sock away for retirement – between career and family obligations the budget was stretched tight already. Chances are though, as you enter your 50s, the heavy expenses that come with raising a family are mostly behind you, and have probably come close to your highest earning years. Don’t give into the “it’s too late to start saving now” mindset. Yes, it is better to start earlier, but it is definitely better to start late than never. And, there is a certain advantage in starting later – the questions that were open-ended when you were young are now mostly answered and you have a clear focus that can motivate you to save in a purposeful way.

Inflation Makes Savings Not Worth Saving

It is true that some of the safest investments (bank accounts, some bonds or T-bills) may be hard-pressed to keep up with inflation. However, the younger you start to make these sorts of investments, the longer you can “lock in” your money and the higher the rates you can expect. Riskier investments have the potential to bring higher payouts, but of course, the older you are, the less likely you are to want to take risks with your savings. But a carefully selected and diverse portfolio can go some way towards minimizing risk while maximizing returns. And some investments are more resilient against inflation than others – real estate, for example, is generally seen as a way to hedge against inflation. The bottom line is that fears about inflation should not be reason that you don’t save.

No matter how old you are, the time is right to think seriously about the life you want to have in your retirement and to begin planning today.

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Different Ways to Get a Wooden Floor

DIY / Home Improvement

If you like wooden floors, you are certainly not alone. In the UK, hardwood floors were so popular that at one stage that the Office of National Statistics included it in the national “basket” of goods, which is used to measure inflation. This was the case until 2014, when demand for real wood floors started to fall.

However, that does not mean that the Brits fell out of love with wooden floors, quite the opposite. What happened is that consumers realised that there were cheaper and easier ways for them to achieve the wooden floor look they desired.

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Wood effect laminate flooring

In 1977, Perstorp launched a new form of flooring, called laminate flooring, in Sweden. It sold well there, but did not become available in Europe until 1984.

This innovative new product is made by overlaying a high quality digitised photo of a real wood floor onto wooden boards. A tough transparent finish is then sprayed over the top, which protects the photographic print.

The tougher the final layer is the longer the floor will last. Provided high quality images are used, this type of flooring is very realistic, as you can see by visiting the Discount Flooring Depot website.

Laminate flooring is graded. There are five different types from AC1 to AC5. The higher the rating the better the quality is. If you want to lay a new floor in a guest room where there is very little footfall AC1 grade laminate flooring is fine. However, if you are replacing the floor in a high traffic area, you will need to pay a little extra and lay AC4 or AC5 grade flooring.

Engineered woods

Engineered wood is made in a similar way to laminate flooring.

It is also made up of three layers. This type of flooring consists of a composite board that is overlaid with a veneer, which is protected by a transparent protective layer. The veneer is made from thin slices of real wood.

Usually 2mm is the thinnest and 9mm is the thickest. From an aesthetic point of view, it does not really matter how thick the veneer is, but it does affect how durable your floor is. Generally speaking, the thicker the veneer is the more hardwearing the floor will be. However, that is not the whole story. You also need to look at how thick, and durable, the transparent finish is. It is best to use the grading system to ensure that you choose engineered wood that is designed for the level of footfall your new floor is likely to be subjected to.

Which option is right for you?

Of course, if you want to you can still buy a traditional wooden floor. However, doing so can work out expensive. Especially if you need a professional to lay it for you, which is why consumers are increasingly choosing to use laminate flooring or engineered wood instead.

Which option is right for you is dependent on your budget, how long you want the floor to be down for, and how much work you are prepared to do to maintain your floors. Typically, real wood floors are the most expensive option. In addition, as you can see from this page, they require much more maintenance.

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