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The most familiar aspect of real estate law is the purchase or sale of a residential home. In this case the attorney oversees the closing, protecting the interests of his client, whether buyer or seller. Usually the main concern is that the title is clear, in other words, that there is no lien on the property. For example, if the current or any previous owner has had work done on the house but has not paid the contractor, real estate law permits a mechanic’s lien on the property. An attorney can help the buyer decide how to respond to a defective title.

While most real estate transactions proceed smoothly, odd things can happen and people do not always behave as expected. Issues with the condition of the property occur regularly, the most common being the seller removing something unexpectedly. One seller removed the entire central air conditioning unit. While this is extreme, permanently attached features such as window treatments, shelving, chandeliers and ceiling fans vanish on a fairly frequent basis. More serious are defects that do not become apparent until after closing, such as a roof that leaks or a basement that floods with the first thunderstorm. Real estate law sorts out all of these situations, but the wronged party must be protected by a solid contract. The time to contact a lawyer is before signing the contract, not after an issue arises.

Real estate law also addresses threats to home ownership such as foreclosure and eminent domain. If a homeowner misses mortgage payments, the bank may choose to foreclose on the property. Eminent domain allows the government to seize a home for the greater public good but must compensate the owner for the fair market value of the property. If a homeowner finds himself in either of these risky circumstances, he had best consult with an attorney.

Other aspects of property rights covered by real estate law include easements and encroachments. One enthusiastic new homeowner purchased fencing in eight-foot increments and proceeded to assemble his eight-foot sections right past the lot line, hijacking four feet of his neighbor’s yard. A letter from the neighbor’s attorney was enough to cause him to rethink his new backyard and rebuild the fence.

In these and many other situations, a homeowner may find that a simple consultation with an attorney that specializes in real estate law protects their interests and mitigates their risk.

First impressions matter immensely, thus a property owner should never neglect their investment property’s landscaping. A real estate agent who is getting a property ready for sale spends time, energy and effort making the most of a property’s curb appeal to entice a potential buyer to buy for the highest possible price. A rule of thumb is that a realtor who invests $1 dollar of curb appeal improvements will gain their clients $3 of return at close of escrow. In the same vein, a property manager should counsel his clients to invest some time, energy and effort in sprucing up their rental property exterior landscaping to help attract more potential renters or keep the ones they have. The art of providing just enough curb appeal, just the right balance of attractive landscaping, while maintaining a fixed maintenance budget can be achieved through education, experience, and common sense. Experienced property managers should be able to put together a plan for their owners at no additional expense.

Long Term Landscaping Planning for Your Portfolio of Properties is Key

An experienced property manager can and will help their clients improve their exterior landscapes with just the right balance of attractive components while not breaking the bank. A proper mix will help the owner keep the property rented, while at the same time reduce the monthly maintenance of the property, which in turn reduces costs. For example, although lush, cool, beautifully manicured green grass is very attractive, the cost of installing and maintaining the grass is not as cost effective as keeping a small patch of grass with other drought resistant groundscape like gravel, bark, mulch and wood chips. These other ground cover alternatives also help keep moisture in the ground to reduce water consumption. An experienced property manager can evaluate and help an owner make some design changes to improve aesthetics and reduce maintenance costs.

Trees, Trees, and More Trees

Other than the property’s building a well-thought out scattering of trees are by far the most valuable asset a property exterior can have. Mature, gorgeous, and sky-reaching trees can also help reduce cooling costs for a rental property which in turn makes the property more attractive to rent. If your investment property lacks trees consider having an arborist or landscape architect suggest some different species of trees and locations to plant them on the property to maximize their possible benefits.

Seven (7) Ideas for Low-Cost Landscaping

When you have an opportunity you should get together with your property manager and try to implement a long-term plan for landscaping improvement and maintenance with the goal being to improve aesthetics and reduce maintenance costs. The following list includes some low-cost ideas to think about and brainstorm with your property manager:

1) City Tree Program – Some cities and towns actually give away trees for property owners as long as the owner follows certain guidelines;

2) Look for Sales – Wait until the end of the growing season to go shopping for trees, shrubs, soil and mulch because the retailers that didn’t sell all their inventory will be looking to get rid of these items at a discount;

3) Demolished Buildings – Look around your neighborhood for demolition sites as there are often free bricks or other building materials which can be used in your landscaping designs;

4) Work Your Existing Plants – Educate yourself to help keep and shape the trees and shrubs you already have to give them new life and vitality, or even relocate them.

5) Buy Small – Buy smaller sized plants, shrubs, and trees which will be less than larger ones.

6) Make Your Own Compost – You can easily build and maintain a composter on your rental property where you or your gardener deposits all of the grounds clippings, waste, and leaves. This compost will eventually produce fertilizer which is one more thing you won’t have to purchase.

7) Use Drought Resistant Plants – Not only is water scarce, but it is getting more expensive on a monthly basis, so a collection of drought resistant plants is important for long-term maintenance cost reduction.

Be Patient and Watch Your Property ROI and Exterior Improve

When you have slowly but surely implemented a long-term plan for exterior landscaping improvement and maintenance your reward will be improved aesthetics, reduced maintenance and reduced costs. More importantly your investment property will be more attractive to potential renters and those renters who do live there will not want to leave. Finally, the improvements and maintenance expenses are fully tax deductible provided you and/or your property manager has saved the receipts and properly recorded them.

Remember, first impressions make a huge difference. A property owner should get together and implement a plan with their property manager and never neglect their investment property’s exterior landscaping and overall appearance. If your property manager is not making these types of suggestions maybe it is time to begin looking for a new property manager.

Earlier we gave you 4 tips for Happy Home-Based Business Partners. Now we’ll cover 4 more.1. Give Up Every Now and Then – Just like in a marriage, you must learn to compromise in your home-based business. You can’t always have it your way; you have to learn how to give in to what your spouse is doing sometimes. You have to consider your spouse and their ideas and needs in order to make the business work.2. Remember Why You’re Doing What You’re Doing – Keep focused on the fact that you’re building a home-based business for your family and use that as your motivation. Remember that when times get difficult or stressful, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.3. Leave Something Behind – Proverbs 13:22 says a good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children… Use your home-based business as an inheritance to your children and their children. Imagine teaching your children all of the skills you have learned and developed while building your business. Do you think they will be ready for the real world when they get out of school? Of course they would.You would have left them with something that no one can take away from them. You would have taught them how to be self-sufficient and how not to depend on someone else giving them a job in order to provide for themselves.4. Create Your Legacy – Make sure that your name (and your spouses) is a good name. Make sure that when people hear your name they think honest, integrity, intelligent, character, encouraging, fair, loving, hard working, etc. When people think about the two of you they should have the upmost respect for you and what you have done in your home-based business.So before you and your spouse take on the task of building a home-based business together, remember these points. And if you are already in business together you may want to re-evaluate your partnership and make some changes so that it is prosperous financially, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.Make sure you read the Resource Box for more information on a great home-based business and follow the instructions there.To YOUR Success,Rodney