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Landlord Newsletter September 22, 2010 - Home Operation

The LPA Newsletter
September 22, 2010

Dear Fellow Landlord,
Part of being a good landlord is being prepared for the expected and also the unexpected. People sometimes ask me skeptically why The LPA Lease contains certain clauses. The reason is to protect the landlord. When I'm asked about the likelihood of a particular clause ever being needed, I am reminded of "Murphy's Law". My attorney, John Reno once told me, "If it is not in the lease, you're out of luck." I believe it is better to have as much landlord protection as possible, because in these times, we need all the protection we can get!

Enjoy the newsletter ... and thanks again for supporting The LPA!

In this issue:

  • Home Operation Often Lacks Instructions
  • Ask the Attorney,Real Estate Attorney, John Reno
  • FREE FORM DOWNLOAD: LPA Appliance Agreement with repair Clause
  • Wealth Secrets & Quotes

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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Home Operation Often Lacks Instructions

By Lambert Munz MPM, RPM, Arbour Real Estate Mgmt, Inc.

Author of House Investor's ManualLambert Munz, MPM, RPM, Arbour Real Estate Mgmt, Inc.

Very few people have been educated in home operations. Especially young people. Most people are not handy and may not know how to use a screwdriver. I was fortunate that my dad was very handy and taught me basic skills. My wife is handy also because her dad taught her basic things. Curiosity has to be present which is a basis for learning.

We can't expect people to operate a strange home, without some basic instructions. Especially, if they are coming from an apartment community. In an apartment community many things were taken care of for them. The complex probably had an on-site maintenance staff, gardeners, etc.

It has to be pointed out that the days of instant service are over. A lot of preventive maintenance is expected from them. Turning over the keys assuming that they know what to do is simply not good management.

A big help in the operation of the home is having the operating manuals for instructions regarding the Thermostat, Sprinkler control box, Pool equipment, Oven, Microwave available, Location of Main Breaker box, location of Main water valve, gas meter, alarm system. Should include instructions of when to turn on and off sprinklers.

We will provide instructions as to shutting off gas main, location of disposer reset button and unjam procedures, filter changes, water heater temperature adjustment, carpet cleaning, preventive mold control, sprinkler and yard maintenance, and battery replacement for smoke alarms.

Remember not to instruct tenants to perform maintenance tasks other than normal housekeeping. (See our article "Trading Services For Rent")

It is helpful if the owner will provide instructions that help maintain the home. Some homes have some special procedures that an owner may consider routine, but isn't routine to the occupant.

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Tired of fixing appliances for your tenants?
Who is responsible for them?

LPA Appliance Agreement With Repair Clause

The Landlord Protection Agency's Appliance Agreement with Repair Clause is an excellent addition to many leases and rental agreements.

Appliance AgreementThe Appliance Agreement with Repair Clause explains in simple terms to the tenant that if the tenant wishes to use the existing appliances, he is responsible for maintenance and repairs on them.

This document includes a complete appliance checklist at Move -In, signed by the tenant, it also protects the landlord from costly repairs and maintenance by putting the responsibility of the appliances onto the tenant where it belongs.

We are not in the appliance business!

We like the Appliance Agreement because it covers the landlord completely for those annoying appliance repairs that seem to always crop up. This agreement is clear and easy to understand.

The more rentals you have, the more appliances you have that will need repairing and replacing over the years.


LPA Essential Form Download


enforce your lease. Collect your late charges.LPA Appliance Agreement With Repair Clause

Download This Popular Essential FREE!

Check out more Essential Forms





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Ask the Attorney

The Landlord Protection AgencyThe Landlord Protection Agency® is proud to introduce John Reno, Esq., a highly experienced Landlord - Tenant attorney based on Long Island, NY.

John Reno also does Mortgage Loan Modifications (Nationwide).
(Mention The LPA for a 10% discount!)

If you have a landlord tenant problem you'd like to ask a question about, please feel free to e-mail me your question.
Submit a landlord / tenant question for Mr. Reno
Please try to keep your questions as short and to the point as possible.


Dear Mr. Reno:
Does a lease remain valid and in force upon the death of the landlord? May a succeeding landlord negotiate new lease terms that the continuing tenant may choose to accept, or not accept and vacate? Thank you.
Elizabeth Carlin Metz, Rhode Island

A: 1. Yes.
2. No.
The landlord's estate "steps into his shoes" and the lease continues. The succeeding landlord has no more rights to renegotiate the lease than the landlord could have had he not kicked the bucket.

Read more from John Reno, Eviction Attorney



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Wealth Secrets & Quotes

"I learned that the easiest and cheapest eviction is the one when the tenants never get possession of your property!" - John Nuzzolese

"The winners in life think constantly in terms of I can, I will, and I am. Losers, on the other hand, concentrate their waking thoughts on what they should have or would have done, or what they can’t do." - Denis Waitley

"You must learn from the mistakes of others. You can't possibly live long enough to make them all yourself." - Sam Levenson

"Routine brings results. A disorganized genius is no match for the average person with a daily routine." - Robert Allen

"How much money did your last tenant problem cost you?" - John Nuzzolese, TheLPA.com

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Quick Check Credit Reports, Inc.

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!!

  • NO sign-up or set-up fees,
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  • Just lower prices!


Special Tenant Screening Discounts for LPA members. See our price list!



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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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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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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!

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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


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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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