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Landlord Newsletter May, 2010 - Introducing Quick Check Credit Reports

The LPA Newsletter

Dear Fellow Landlord,
What is the key to finding good tenants? That is what this newsletter is about. Of course, the answer is proper tenant screening! I'm excited to introduce our newest tenant screening agency, Quick Check Credit Reports, Inc. along with other helpful and essential tenant screening ideas & tips.

In this issue:

  • Careful Tenant Screening
  • Credit Reports at Lower Prices! Introducing Quick Check Credit Reports,
    The LPA's Newest Credit Report Affiliate!
  • FREE DOWNLOAD: Employment Verification Form
  • Landlord Tip
  • Excuses

Please e-mail us if you have any questions or would like to add or share any material / information.
John Nuzzolese
John@theLPA.com


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The LPA's Newest Credit Report Affiliate

Quick Check Credit Reports, Inc.
tenant screening credit reports, credit reporting form Experian, TransUnion, Equifax credit bureaus

Quick Check Credit Reports, Inc. is proud to announce its affiliation and partnership with The LPA in helping landlords protect their interests by better screening tenants at lower costs!! You'll see we are serious about saving you money and helping you avoid unnecessary courses and fees when you order tenant screening reports through Quick Check!

If you are a Member of The LPA:
Special discounts off ALL already low priced Quick Check Credit tenant screening reports !

  • NO initial sign-up or set-up fee,
  • NO annual or initial membership fee,
  • NO mandatory compliance course.


    For more information about EASY and FREE SIGN-UP Click Here!




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    Careful Tenant Screening

    by John Nuzzolese

    From the time of first contact with the prospective tenant to the time you sign a lease with him or her, you are still in the tenant screening process. Keeping in mind The LPA article, How to Screen and Qualify Tenants in 5 Easy Steps, it is very important to decide beforehand that you WILL NOT accept anyone who does not meet ALL of your screening requirements.

    Often, landlords overlook certain "red flags" that indicate the prospect is NOT qualified to rent from you. It could be a sign of the tenant's financial stability, personal habits, respect or attitude toward the landlord. The important thing I'm saying here is, do your homework.

    What are your screening requirements? It's important not to forget some of the key ingredients when screening a tenant.

    1. Rental Application
      A fully completed and signed LPA Rental Application.
    2. Identification.
      Be sure you get a copy of the applicant's drivers license or other valid picture ID. Is it possible that a deadbeat would use someone else's identity and credit to get accepted as your tenant? You bet. It happened to me!
    3. A Non-Refundable Deposit.
      A serious applicant will have no problem leaving a substantial non-refundable earnest money deposit with you to secure the rental...

      click for the full article...




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      14 Tips on Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) Compliance

      Some consumer reporting agencies require you to pass an online course in order to be able to access credit reports. If you sign up with one, these tips may help.

      Before entering into a service contract with a client, a business has permissible purpose to obtain a consumer report on the customer for a potential new account.

      1. A bank has permissible purpose and may obtain consumer reports on customers who have defaulted.

      2. An adverse action letter needs to include more than the name and address of the Consumer Reporting Agency.

      3. A company may not check an individual's credit for recruiting purposes without permission of the prospect.

      4. If a store denies credit to a customer, and is then told of a dispute concerning the content of the credit report, the store is not obligated to reconsider it's decision concerning the original credit application.

      5. Accuracy is on of the main objectives of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

      6. Consumer reports can be lists of names.


      click for the full article...



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      FREE DOWNLOAD!
      Employment Verification Form

      Tenant screening usually involves verifying the prospective tenant's employment. Most of us simply go through the Rental Application and call the telephone numbers provided by the tenant. How often do we wonder if the "employer" is giving us the real scoop? Or if the "supervisor" is really the supervisor. Many landlords prefer to contact the employer in writing by fax or by mail. Sometimes it involves a small amount of detective work such as looking up the employer in the telephone book or online and sending an Employment Verification Form to the company, with attention to the "Human Resources" department.

      New LPA Form!

      Limited Time Only: Free Download for LPA Newsletter subscribers EXPIRED.

      Verify EmploymentEmployment Verification Form



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      Landlord Tip

      Landlord Screening Tip:
      When screening an applicant, ask for a copy of a picture ID or drivers license. Make sure the person in front of you is the same person on the application and credit report. - The LPA

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      "Where's the Rent?"
      Tenant Excuses


      "My new $1,000 dryer broke, and asking a single mom to pay late fees is predatory."
      Mummhummm. and.... I could do this excuse of the day thing everyday of the week…- Shannon, Dallas, TX

      "The electric company turned off our power and we got NO A/C!. I have to pay the past due balance to get our power back."
      I know which way this is headed. My LPA notice to pay or quit is ready and the attorney is standing by. - Chris K., New Jersey

      "The refrigerator light is off again. Some days it is on. I know it is because that bxxxxx Roger next door is stealing my electric."
      The old woman is paranoid and is convinced her neighbor s engaged in elaborate schemes to steal her electricity. - Marie, Hicksville, NY

      "I changed banks and they sent my check to the wrong bank, Ill have to pay you for two months next month"
      Sorry it doesn't work that way. You don't get to decide to play CATCH UP whenever you want ... Soooo you mean that this months check just disappeared completely from this plane of existence ? Like he couldn't cant pay as soon as you got the money re-sent? Squatters! ... I'm using the LPA urgent late notice AND the Pay or Quit form TODAY! - R Haddy, Charleston, WV

      "I got pulled over for not having tags on the '01 Acura I just bought, (4 months ago) and got a $500 ticket, do you know how to fix power windows on an Acura?" - Charles G, AR

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      State Specific LPA Lease downloadsThe LPA Lease is State Specific!


      We've customized The LPA Lease to conform with each state's requirements! Just select your state when downloading!





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      CD of landlord forms

      FREE BONUS - FORMS DISK
      comes with all 2 - 5+ year LPA Memberships

      Be a more powerful landlord - able to handle just about any landlord / tenant situation in a professional way, saving you time and money.
      ALL FREE with LPA Membership!


      Yes, this offer also applies to LPA membership renewals!
      Having all the forms all on disk is a handy time saving convenience.


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      Heads Up! E-Mail Notices and Reminders Collection
      FREE New Feature for LPA Members!

      Heads UP! Email RemindersWith more and more landlords taking advantage of free and low cost advertising such as Craigslist and other online options, many tenants and landlords establish their relationship online and continue to communicate by e-mail.

      Banks do it, utility companies and management companies do it, and you can too! You don't need a complicated program to be able to send your tenants a simple e-mail reminder notice. You can simply copy and paste these Heads Up! E-Mail Notices and Reminders into your e-mails and send them as needed.

      You can easily customize the existing notices for your tenants and even create new ones for other situations.

      The fact is, e-mail reminder notices are effective. In today's society it is often easier and faster to reach someone by e-mail than by phone or postal mail. The simple reminder of a payment coming due or other obligation can sometimes make all the difference.

      Please keep in mind that The LPA does not suggest these email notices as a replacement for printed official forms and notices. Official notices should be served to the tenant legally as described in your lease agreement, usually by certified mail and/or personal service. The e-mail reminders are merely a "Heads Up!" Friendly E-mail Reminder to let the tenant know of an upcoming event such as:

      • #1 Heads Up Pre-Rent Due Date Reminder
      • #2 Heads Up Rent Due Reminder
      • #3 Heads Up Early Discount Reminder
      • #4 Heads Up Rent Past Due Reminder
      • #5 Heads Up Renewal Reminder ...

        click for the complete article...


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        FREE LPA Gift with Book Purchase!

        Click here to order Dani Babb's Book,The Accidental Landlord Fellow LPA Member, Dr. Danielle Babb is a national real estate expert and author of the new Landlording Book, "The Accidental Landlord".

        Get your copy now... with a FREE BONUS! from theLPA.com

        Not only is Danielle Babb one of our county's most knowledgeable real estate analysts, she also shares excellent landlord information and advice in her book, "The Accidental Landlord". Plus she's a super nice person! - John Nuzzolese

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        NEW SITE FEATURE: PICTURES!
        Worth A Thousand Words!

        The LPA's Rental Advertising division,"Landlord's Corner" allows you to include up to 6 pictures (thumbnails and full size pictures) in each rental ad.

        (UNLIMITED FREE ADS come with LPA membership!)

        LPA members: FREE!
        Non-members: only $5. per ad.

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        LPA Membership Expiring?
        Take Advantage of the Renewal Prices!

        How to Check your LPA Membership Expiration Date:
        1. Be logged in with your LPA username & password
        2. On the "Main Menu" (top right), click on "Your Orders" (right below your name)
        3. The beginning date of your membership will be listed to the left of your membership order # in this format: YYYYMMDD


        NEW! Save Money with our Promotional Membership Renewal Prices!
        *Your Membership Expired? No Problem!



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        Electronic Rent Collection

        LPA members have been asking me for a while now about how to set up automated rent payments with their tenants. I’d like to bring your attention to “ClearNow, the leader in electronic rent collection.” ClearNow enables you to have your rent automatically withdrawn from your tenant’s bank accounts and directly deposited into your bank account.

        If you haven’t done so already, please check out …



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        Interested in past LPA Newsletters? Feel free to view the LPA Newsletter Archive

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