Most Recent Renting Articles
CREATIVE EXCUSES MADE BY DEFAULTING TENANTS
Penalties for late payments and monthly reminders seem to be a lost on some tenants. Though it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to see the originality of the excuse in the moment, some of them are truly unique in hindsight. Below are some of the most creative excuses the RE/MAX of Southern Africa network has heard over the years… Technical Difficulties “The electricity
Read more
HOW TO FOLLOW UP ON LATE PAYMENTS
You’ve screened the tenant thoroughly and their credit check returned a glowing review. You even built a clause into the rental agreement that stipulated that any late payments would accrue interest payable on the following month’s rent. And yet, your tenant is still late on his/her payments. What is a landlord to do about this? The reality is that every landlord will likely have to
Read more
KNOWING WHICH REAL ESTATE AGENTS TO AVOID
Choosing the wrong real estate professional is like wearing an incredibly expensive pair of uncomfortable shoes. Unless you swap them out for a better fit, you’re going to have blisters to deal with at the end of the day. If the shoe doesn’t fit, don’t force it. The easiest way to tell that you have the wrong agent is if they make you feel doubtful or uncomfortable in any way.
Read more
RENTING 101
Renting is often a race against time where the fastest applicant claims victory. To avoid the disappointment of losing out on your ideal property, you need to be fully prepared before you even start the process of looking for a place to rent. For those of you who have never rented before, below is a step-by-step guide for first-time renters: Step 1: Find out what you can afford The rule of thu
Read more
MILLENNIAL TENANT DICTIONARY
If you overheard your tenant explaining to a friend that their landlord was being really extra about this lit party that was thrown for bae’s birthday the other night, would you have any idea of what they were saying? Considering that most South Africans can only afford to purchase property in their late thirties, it is highly probable that most tenants belong to the Millennial generation
Read more
HOW TO PULL OFF A SELF-MOVE
Moving into a new home comes with such a long list of expenses that hiring a professional moving company is one of the first expenses that many buyers tend to try and work around. While using a professional moving company will reduce the risks of damage to your furniture and injury to yourself, smaller moves can be done effectively by yourself if you plan carefully and take all the necessary preca
Read more
4 QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR APARTMENT’S SECURITY GUARD
The gates are closed and there is a security guard onsite – I should be safe, right? The unfortunate reality is that this is most often untrue. Many buyer’s take for granted that the security or concierge at the front desk is well-trained and familiar with policies and procedures for access control. The fact is, this is often simply not the case. If you want to make sure your apartm
Read more
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW AS A FIRST-TIME LANDLORD
Building an investment property portfolio and becoming a landlord can be a great way of increasing your income or making a living, however being a landlord is not for everyone. While letting out property is a viable option for generating income, there is a lot more to being a landlord than signing lease agreements and collecting the rent. Many landlords underestimate the amount of time and ener
Read more
BE AWARE OF POSSIBLE RENTAL SCAMS
While the Internet is an extremely useful tool, it has also made it easier for criminals to prey on prospective tenants – with the number of incidences on the increase. Emotionally driven, enthusiastic tenants who are excited about the prospect of finding the ideal rental property are often more susceptible to fraudulent activity. Time is also a factor. Tenants are often eager to find the
Read more
THE PROCESS OF REZONING OR SUBDIVIDING
If you are looking to rezone your property for business use or subdivide to sell a portion of your land, it may take longer than you initially expected. Whether applying to rezone or subdivide a property, the application will need to follow a series of procedures before it is considered, which takes time. The application will need to be submitted to the relevant local authority and can anywhere
Read more
TENANT SELECTION IS IMPERATIVE TO RENTAL SUCCESS
Purchasing an investment property and renting it out can be a mutually beneficial arrangement for both the landlord and tenant, provided the owner of the property adheres to a few key principles from the start when selecting a suitable tenant. Due to South African legislation, selecting the right tenant can be a rather complex process. However, there are several methods that landlords can use t
Read more
LETTING OUT YOUR HOME - THE PROS AND CONS
Although it may not have been your original intention to become a landlord and let out your property, there are certain situations in life where the need may arise. Be it needing to relocate for work or dealing with financial difficulty that needs to be addressed, if the end goal is to hold onto the property, letting it out could be a feasible option. However, it does have both advantages and disa
Read more