Basics of Property Management: Screening Potential Tenants
3 Features To Look For In A New House That Can Save You Money
Jesse Obrien
When looking at homes for sale, it is very important to consider house features that can save you money in order to offset your mortgage payments or simply to cut down on your overall monthly bills. Listed below are three house features to look for that can save you money should you choose to buy the house.
Copper Roofing Tiles
One of the main features that you should consider looking for when buying a new house is the material used on the roof. In particular, you will want to look for homes that utilize copper roofing tiles because those tiles can actually make your home a few degrees cooler during summer days, which can equal less time spent with your air conditioner on. As a result, your monthly electric bills will decrease.
The reason that copper roofing tiles can help you decrease your electric bill and keep your home cooler is that the tiles will reflect sunlight instead of absorbing it. Since the sunlight is not being absorbed into a copper roof like it does with other roofing materials, it will not be causing your roof to heat up, which means that the heat will not be seeping into the rest of your house and make the temperatures rise.
Vaulted Ceilings
Another great feature to look for in a new house that can save you money on your electric bill is vaulted ceilings. The reason that vaulted ceilings can help is that the hot air that fills your rooms in the summer will rise to the top of the room.
This means that the hot air will be above the heads of you and your family so that you will not feel it directly, while the cold air produced by your air conditioner will collect at the bottom of the rooms where you and your family can enjoy it more easily. This will allow you to cut back on your air conditioner and electricity usage because you will not feel the hot air as much.
Shade-Providing Trees
Finally, you will want to look for a new house that has large trees that can provide shade on the house itself. The reason for this is that the trees can prevent sunlight from reaching your house, which can keep the house cooler. In addition, these shade-providing trees can also keep the sunlight from striking your windows directly, which can further lower the temperature within your home and help you save money on your cooling expenses.
Make an appointment with a real estate agency as soon as possible in order to discuss the money-saving features that you are looking for a new house. Copper roofing tiles, vaulted ceilings, and shade-providing trees are all good house features to look for that can cut down on your monthly utility expenses.
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For the last several years, I've used a property management firm to help with my rental properties. One of the tasks that they handle for me is screening applicants who would like to move into one of my vacant units. Their expertise has helped me lower my tenant turnover and find people who want to stay with me for years. Part of the process is a tenant screening credit check. Before any further contact takes place, my manager orders credit reports from at least two agencies. That is enough to tell us if an applicant is a good financial risk. Assuming the references work out, I meet the candidate and make the final decision. If you own rental properties, let me tell you more about the benefits of having a property manager. I'm betting you'll find this type of arrangement will work for you too.