Landlords have a lot on their plates. Between finding and screening tenants, collecting rent, maintaining the property, and dealing with emergencies, it can feel like there’s not enough time in the day. Thankfully, some tasks can be handled by the landlord themselves without having to call in a professional. In this blog post, we will discuss what landlords can DIY and when they should call in the pros! Screening Tenants One of the most important things landlords can do is screen their tenants. This includes running a credit check, criminal background check, and checking references. While it may be tempting to skip this step to save time, it’s important to remember that your tenant will be living in your property, and you want to make sure they are responsible and will take care of your property. Collecting Rent When it comes to collecting rent, landlords have a few options. They can collect rent online through a service like RentPayment, or they can collect rent in person. If landlords choose to collect rent in person, they should have a system in place to ensure that rent is collected on time and in full. Maintaining the Property Landlords are responsible for maintaining their property and keeping it in good condition. This includes tasks like painting, repairing broken appliances, and mowing the lawn. Landlords should have a regular schedule for maintenance to ensure that their property is always in top shape. However, there are some maintenance tasks that landlords should not attempt to DIY and should instead call a professional. For example, if there is a blocked drain on the property, they need to call a local drainage company to clear it. There are some tasks, however, that landlords should not DIY. These tasks include: Emergencies If there is an emergency at the property, like a broken pipe or a fire, landlords should not try to handle it themselves. They should call the appropriate professionals to deal with the situation. Legal Issues Landlords should not try to handle legal issues on their own. If there is a problem with a tenant, like non-payment of rent or damage to the property, landlords should consult with an attorney to find out what their legal options are. Accounting Landlords should not try to do their own accounting. This is a complex task that requires knowledge of tax laws and regulations. Landlords should hire an accountant to prepare their taxes and handle their financial affairs. Hiring Employees Landlords should not try to hire their own employees. This includes handymen, painters, and cleaners. Landlords should use a professional service like Handy to find qualified professionals to work on their property. Marketing the Property Landlords should not try to market their property themselves. This is a complex task that requires knowledge of SEO, social media, and online advertising. Landlords should use a professional marketing company to help them promote their property. As you can see, landlords have a lot on their plate. Some landlords try to take on too much and end up biting off more than they can chew. But by knowing what they can DIY and when to call in the pros, they can make sure that their property is always in good condition!

In the property purchasing process, there are more people involved than just the seller and buyer. Financial institutions, building inspectors, and realtors are generally the people who help finalize the property sale. However, a person who is often overlooked in the property purchasing process is the real estate lawyer. The real estate lawyer plays a vital role in the successful conclusion of the property sale – even if your state doesn’t mandate their services. So, whether you’re going through the property purchasing process or you are a realtor advising your clients to get legal representation, you may need the services of Peter B Mason Real Estate Lawyer for four main reasons. 1. Protect Your Interests Hiring a real estate lawyer to facilitate the real estate transaction is the best way to ensure everything is above board and legal. Your real estate lawyer will examine the legal paperwork, act as an advisor for anything to do with the property, and serve as a mediator if there are disagreements between any of the parties involved in the property sale. Above all, your real estate lawyer will ensure that the real estate legal contracts serve your best interests and that you are protected. 2. Get Legal Advice If you have never gone through the process of buying or selling real estate, you probably won’t know what the process entails. Because legal real estate transactions and ownership can be confusing to the layman, you might have questions about how everything works, especially if you’re looking at modern million dollar beach front estates in a foreign country.  By hiring a qualified real estate lawyer, you’ll have someone on hand to answer any questions you may have about the process. You’ll also have someone to guide you through all the real estate purchasing or selling steps. A real estate lawyer will also be able to bring any legal issues to your attention to make sure everything is ethical and legal. 3. Avoid Expensive Mistakes Because there is a significant amount of money changing hands when you purchase a home, you may feel tempted to forgo hiring legal representation to avoid the costs involved. However, going through the real estate purchasing or selling process yourself may result in mistakes that can be extremely costly to rectify. A real estate lawyer will ensure that all the legal documents are in order and ready to be filed by the deadlines. If you try to get your documents ready yourself, you can easily become overwhelmed and miss deadlines. If you miss deadlines, you could incur extra expenses and fees that you may not have considered – or, even worse, the transaction could fall through completely. 4. Draft a Will When you become an official homeowner, you’ll need to ensure the continuity of your estate and asset. While you may not even consider the possibility of never making your mortgage payments or living in your new home, unfortunate accidents can and do happen. Your real estate lawyer will help you draft a will or set up a trust to ensure that your assets – including your new home – are distributed as you see fit. Your real estate lawyer will also ensure that the assets named in your will are handed over to your beneficiaries promptly should you pass away.

So, you want to be a construction worker? It’s not as easy as it looks. Sure, anyone can swing a hammer or carry some lumber, but there’s more to it than that. If you’re thinking of making a career out of construction, you’ll need to know your way around a job site. There are plenty of reasons why you might want to consider a career in construction. It can be rewarding work, both financially and emotionally. And with the right training and experience, you can advance quickly up the construction ladder. Experience If you’re just starting out in construction, the first thing you need to do is get some experience under your belt. The best way to do this is by working as an apprentice. An apprenticeship is a great way to learn the ropes and get paid while you’re doing it. There are many different types of apprenticeships available, so you should be able to find one that’s a good fit for you. Once you have some experience, you can start looking for entry-level jobs. These jobs will usually be in construction labour. You can expect to earn around $15 per hour when starting out in this field. With experience, you can move up to higher-paying positions such as project manager or site supervisor. It’s important to remember that experience is the key to success in the construction industry. The more experience you have, the better your chances of landing a good job and making a career out of construction. There are many different ways to get experience in the construction industry. The best way to get started is by finding an apprenticeship. An apprenticeship is a great way to learn the ropes and get paid while you’re doing it. There are many different types of apprenticeships available, so you should be able to find one that’s a good fit for you. Skills In addition to experience, you’ll need to have the right skills if you want to be successful in construction. Some of the most important skills you’ll need include: Being able to read and understand blueprints is an essential skill for any construction worker. If you don’t have this skill, it’s important to learn it as soon as possible. Blueprints are the roadmap for any construction project, and being able to understand them is essential for your success in this field. Another important skill for construction workers is the ability to use power tools safely. Power tools are a necessary part of the construction process, but they can also be dangerous if used improperly. That’s why it’s so important to make sure you know how to use them safely before operating them on a job site. Strong problem-solving skills are another must-have for anyone working in construction. There will inevitably be problems that arise during any construction project, and it’s up to the construction workers to solve them. If you’re not good at solving problems, you’ll likely struggle in this field. Good communication skills are also essential for construction workers. Construction is a team sport, and being able to communicate effectively with your teammates is crucial for your success. If you’re not good at communicating with others, you’ll likely find yourself struggling to get along with your co-workers. These are just some of the skills that you’ll need to be successful in construction. If you don’t have all of these skills, don’t worry – they can be learned with time and practice. The important thing is that you’re willing to learn and grow as a construction worker. Training In addition to experience and skills, you’ll also need to have the right training if you want to be successful in construction. There are many different types of training programs available, so it’s important to find one that’s a good fit for you. One option is to find a construction trade school. These schools offer programs that will teach you the basics of construction. They usually last around two years, and upon completion, you’ll have the skills and knowledge you need to start working in the field. Make sure you get the most out of being a student and take advantage of student deals offered by companies. Like Student SIM deals, for example, will let you use the internet to its full potential, as you’ll need it to look up diagrams, details in the blueprint, and more. Another option is to find an apprenticeship program. Apprenticeships are a great way to learn while you’re getting paid. They usually last around four years, and upon completion, you’ll have the skills and experience you need to start working in the field. However, it’s important to note that apprenticeship programs are very competitive, so you’ll need to make sure you have the experience and skills required to be successful. The important thing is that you find a training program that’s right for you. Not all programs are created equal, so it’s important to do your research and find one that will give you the skills and knowledge you need to be successful in construction. No matter what route you choose, remember that training is essential for your success in construction. Without the right training, you’ll likely struggle to find a job and make a career out of this field. Network In addition to experience, skills, and training, another important thing you’ll need if you want to be successful in construction is a strong network. Construction is a very competitive field, and having a strong network of contacts can give you a significant advantage. Some ways to build your network include: Attending industry events. Industry events are a great way to meet other construction workers and learn about the latest trends in the field. Attend as many events as you can, and make sure to introduce yourself to as many people as possible. You never know who you might meet and how they could help you in your career. Joining industry organizations. There are many different industry organizations for construction workers. These

Have you recently decided to reduce some costs by learning to do things like plumbing yourself? Let’s be honest; calling the plumber for doing something you can do yourself can be somewhat of a loss. Things like unclogging the drains, sealing the pipes, or changing the fittings, are easier than you would think. Learning about the various tools you can use to do the simpler plumbing work can help you maintain your house efficiently without spending much money. Want to start somewhere? Consider investing in these plumbing tools that are must-haves in your plumbing kit. You may not need them frequently, but you’ll have them handy whenever you have a plumbing issue. Drain Cleaning Tools Although keeping drainage tools in the house may seem unnecessary initially, they can be really helpful. Investing in good quality drain cleaning tools will save you many costs later, especially when your pipes need immediate cleaning. Here are the drain cleaning tools that you must have. No matter how much you need to get these, you can save a lot of costs later on since you’ll have these handy. 1.  Drain Inspection Camera The first and most important thing you need in your drainage tool kit is a drain inspection camera or a borescope. You should be able to take it deep enough, and the picture should be clear for you to inspect where the blockage is. When choosing a sewer camera, you need to have criteria based on which you’ll select the tool. Choose wisely, as the best sewer camera will feature self-leveling for stable viewing as well as 120-degree views. This will help you locate the clog effectively so that you can dissolve it. 2.  Hand Auger Although this is more like a traditional version, hand augers are useful enough to break apart drain clogs that aren’t too difficult to clear. Plumbers use these circular hand-held devices to steer a cable down a drain with a hand crank and clean out the clogs. 3.  Plumber’s Snake A plumber’s snake, also known as a snake machine, is a motorized version that helps to break down and clean out very stubborn and deep drain clogs. These are flexible and have enough strength to move deep into the clog and break it down. 4.  Hydro Jet This high-speed water jet is very effective in blasting out light clogs in the sewer. It comes with a hose that’s designed to blast water at high pressure in the clogged line and break the clog. The dirt then comes out of another opening and is dispensed off. Wrenches There are quite a few types of wrenches to choose from. Of course, there are the basic ones, like the torque wrench and the faucet key, that almost every household has. There are other types of wrenches that you must have. Why do you need them? Investing in these can save you a lot of money in fixing plumbing fittings. 1.  Internal Pipe Wrench Does the name suggest anything? Although a bit less common, plumbers use the internal pipe wrench to remove rusted nuts, bolts, and other rusted internal parts in old pipes. This helps in changing the pipes systematically, or just cleaning out and replacing the internal parts, thus saving costs. 2.  Adjustable Wrench This is nothing extraordinary, just something every household should have in their toolbox. However, this is something very essential. Most of the fittings and screws in faucets and plumbing lines are hexagonal. An adjustable wrench has a hexagonal fit which helps fix these parts of the pipes using enough torque. The bigger the diameter of the wrench, the longer it will be, thus providing more torque for bigger fittings. 3.  Basin Wrench Unlike any traditional wrench, a basin wrench is a T-shaped wrench whose design will allow you to use them in very confined spaces. Due to the length of this tool, it’s effortless to turn and fasten or loosen the faucet parts under the sink. There are various sizes of basin wrenches, so you can choose whichever you think fits most of your sink fixtures. 4.  Pipe Wrench Pipe wrenches are the most common tools plumbers love keeping in hand. They essentially help in doing most plumbing fittings. Have you seen plumbers use one wrench to hold the pipe while rotating the fittings in the right direction? Yes, those tools. Investing in pipe wrenches can help you effectively cut off costs when you need to change pipes or fix something in the plumbing lines. Of course, you should learn to use it in conjunction properly. 5.  Faucet Key A faucet key, also known as a faucet wrench, isn’t a traditional wrench. It’s an X-shaped wrench that helps to loosen and tighten all types of faucets that would be hard to open otherwise. Depending on the fittings you aim to fix, you can find various sizes of faucet keys in the market. By measuring the diameters beforehand, you can choose the one that’ll fit the sillcocks and spigots in your home well. Other Plumbing Equipment You Should Have There are other types of equipment that you must add to your plumbing toolkit if you don’t have them already. These tools won’t only help in plumbing and drainage work but will also be helpful in other cases. Knowing how they work can also help you fix things quickly. Here’s a list of these items and what their functions are. 1.  PTFE Tape Polytetrafluoroethylene film tape, or PTFE tape, is mostly used to wrap around pipe threads. It seals the threads to each other securely. There are a few names for this tape- thread seal tape, Teflon tape, and plumber’s tape. There are a few types of this tape, white, yellow, red, green, copper, and silver, each serving its purpose separately. Use them for sealing hose ends, natural gas fittings, water heater pipes, welding lines, pipes for medical purposes, and other types of pipe fittings. 2.  Pipe Cutters Sometimes, you need to replace pipes, whether they’re old

Flat roofs are currently among the top trending commercial and residential property designs. Moreover, interior décor and property magazines now feature flat roof properties in their listings. This might lead you to wonder: ‘What is so tempting about flat roofs that slanted roof designs are missing?’ Well, flat roofs are popular for several reasons. Flat roofs provide a cheap alternative for small businesses needing a tiny space for operations. However, small space units became increasingly hard to achieve with sloped and curved roofing designs. The desire for small living units due to changing lifestyles and the growing need for small office spaces has fuelled the demand for flat roof properties. The trend is primarily driven by consumer demand for clean, simplistic, and futuristic designs for properties with flat roofs. Apart from the simplistic aesthetic appeal, especially when paired with OptiLight roof windows or similar stylish ones, flat roofs are cheaper and easy to maintain. Additionally, insurance companies have started to offer personalised policies for businesses that construct, repair, maintain, or retrofit flat roofs, which is a crucial consideration when hiring the right contractor. The cover protects the numerous industry-related risks. You may be wondering how to go about installing a flat roof. Here are six factors to consider: Your roof’s slope determines the rate of flow of precipitation. The greater the elevation, the higher the velocity. A flat roof is not entirely ‘flat’ to facilitate gravity-aided drainage. A slight slope also prevents leaves and other foreign debris from accumulating on the roof.  Therefore, the flat roof should have a slight and well-balanced tilt to prevent stagnation of water and debris, which is essential to its longevity. If you’re brainstorming on a better design for your roof or planning a flat roof replacement, it would be proactive to consult a qualified contractor.  If it’s relatively calm where your home is, you’ll have to do regular cleaning to remove debris and leaves that accumulate on the flat roof. A regular cleaning routine helps to ease the flow of water from the roof to the gutters, but you must determine whether the existing drainage system works well with your flat roof.  The process should be easy if you plan to erect a building right from the foundation. However, if you plan to replace a sloping roof with a flat one, it would be advisable to consult property developers. The contractors will determine if the flat roofing will match your roof drainage system and advise you about any modifications that will be needed.  Flat roofs provide enough space at the top for water storage tanks and even water pools. Yet they also have a structural load limit. You may have opted for a flat roof because of its better storage space. Thus, if you’re planning on having more loads on top of the roof, ensure that it’s constructed using the correct materials to withstand enough pressure. This will ensure that the roof remains durable. R-value defines a roof’s resistance to heat transfer. High R-values insulate heat properly, and the same is true vice-versa. The R-value also depends on the roofing materials.  A relatively hot area requires roofing materials with high R-values for proper insulation, whereas a house in a colder region can do with lower R-values. A good contractor should be able to guide you on the specific R-values needed for your roof. The edges of a flat roof tend to be sensitive to strong winds compared to a slanted roof. Hence, it would be better to assess the wind speed in your location. If the place is windy, invest in more durable building materials to withstand the pressure and ensure your roof isn’t blown easily at the first sign of a storm.  Before settling for a flat roof, check the deck’s structural integrity below the older roof. A deck that adequately bears the weight of a slanted roof should also be capable of supporting a flat roof. A heavy or unstable roofing deck can affect the stability of a flat roof. However, this shouldn’t be a problem if you can reconstruct your roof decking to uphold structural integrity. Conclusion  When choosing a new roof, you’d want to consider flat designs because they’re simplistic, cheaper, and easy to maintain than curved and slanted roofs. Before installation, consider factors like drainage, maintenance routing, and the maximum load the roof can hold. For the best results, always go for a roofing contractor with vast expertise in installing flat roofs. It’s better if they’re insured to cover for any potential damage.