choice

Making a Rental a Home

lori@callchoicerealty.com (Lori Todd) — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 14:58:22 GMT

What you can do to make your temporary space feel more permanent.

Although you may be renting a place for a short time or a year or two, having a rental can feel so temporary. There are many ways to create a more permanent feel without spending a bunch of money or making unapproved alterations. Start with decorating. One of the easiest ways to make your rental feel more homey is to decorate and accessorize. By adding plants, candles, throw pillows and other home decorating items, you can quickly create a warm and inviting space. If you're not permitted to put nails in the walls, you can use products that are temporary, such as double-sided tape or non-sticking hangers for wall art.

In addition to the inside, you can also consider adding some decoration to the exterior. Whether it's only a simple welcome mat or a welcome mat along with a door wreath, flowers or holiday decorations, adding to the exterior can make your entry more inviting and cheerful.

Internet Crime - How to Protect Yourself

lori@callchoicerealty.com (Lori Todd) — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 14:33:42 GMT

Cyber Crime is at an all-time high.

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March Madness

lori@callchoicerealty.com (Lori Todd) — Wed, 31 Mar 2021 19:42:04 GMT

Spring is Here & Rentals are Leased!

Combining the effects of the pandemic with the housing shortage, the rental market is as tough as the sales market right now. We are experiencing the highest retention in history with tenants choosing to renew their leases rather than move to a different rental. The housing shortage has also caused the rental rates to rise, some seeing more than 5% annual increase.

What does that mean for the future rental market? Some forecasting shows that the rental market will continue seeing rental rate increases for the next few years while some believe the market is due to level off in the next year. Until local, state and federal governments can help the private sectors in creating more affordable housing and less government restrictions, Bloomington will continue to struggle with the high cost of living.

Although it's a Seller's market right now, it may be a good time for Tenants to consult with a Realtor to see if it is a good time to consider purchasing. Studies show that lifetime wealth is substantially better for those who own real estate versus those who have rented. To learn more, contact our office for a free consultation.

Rent or Buy - What's Best for You?

lori@callchoicerealty.com (Lori Todd) — Tue, 02 Feb 2021 19:50:22 GMT

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Rental Forecasts Continue to Look in High Demand

lori@callchoicerealty.com (Lori Todd) — Thu, 14 Jan 2021 21:10:23 GMT

If you've been frustrated with finding for a Rental, expect to see the same for a while longer.

The Rental Market demand is not letting up. Across the Country, the rental housing market has been strong and in high demand. That trend is expected to continue well into 2022. College towns, such as Bloomington, should see the same activity. While there may be questions looming on the enrollment of Colleges and Universities, we generally see demanding market conditions in College Towns.

Even on the sales side of housing, when the market crashed in 2008-2009, Bloomington's outcome was much less than much of the State of Indiana. That market adjustment (aka Crash) also filled up the rental market locally. As people lost their homes or unable to purchase a home, they turned to the rental market and some have not went back into home ownership. Although, the Bloomington rental rates are often more than what a monthly mortgage would cost.

So, if you cannot find a rental and want to explore purchasing or you know you'll need a rental this Summer/Fall, our office has both Sales & Management and we can assist you in whichever option is best for you!

Lease Renewals Peak

lori@callchoicerealty.com (Lori Todd) — Sun, 13 Dec 2020 19:44:48 GMT

Is it another result from Covid19?

We are experiencing the highest percentage of lease renewals than we've ever seen in our 18 years of monitoring activity. Are tenants choosing to renew their lease so they can stay put rather than go out and search for a new rental during a pandemic? We think so. People who moved this year most likely experienced the inconvenience of moving during a pandemic. It was a hassle from every angle. Movers were less available, utility companies were slower to respond, cleaners were booked or pivoting with their cleaning procedures, and everyone was researching and finding ways to combat Covid19.

We're also experiencing a housing shortage with rentals just like we are seeing with houses for sale. We often hear people complain about the apartments around the County but when rentals are near 100% occupied, it's hard to argue that housing/apartments aren't needed. Sure, we'd love to see more single-family homes and townhomes built but building apartment buildings allows developers to maximize dollar per square foot. We need to see City & County regulations change so that developers have less upfront expense so that they become more willing and able to bring on the type of supply that would be a beautiful addition to the area.

Whether you are considering leasing or buying, our office is staffed to assist you.

Working from Home

lori@callchoicerealty.com (Lori Todd) — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 19:45:33 GMT

Even if you're renting, it's still HOME.

Working from home sounds great but it can be really challenging. Creating a separate work space is important for keeping a balance between work and personal life. In order to help keep work and life separate, be sure that you save house chores for personal time so that you're not distracted in your productivity. And, make sure you check out at work when it's time to enjoy some personal time off. It's also important to make sure you have good lighting for your work space and keep you lunch and dinner in the kitchen so you can keep or reach some healthy living during this time of quarantining and working from home due to the pandemic.

Watch for Rental Availability!

lori@callchoicerealty.com (Lori Todd) — Sat, 24 Oct 2020 18:57:55 GMT

We're in process of uploading rentals to our advertising sites....

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Leasing Process

lori@callchoicerealty.com (Lori Todd) — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 18:49:14 GMT

It's that time of year again.... Leasing efforts cycle again.

It's always mixed feedback. Some people think we start too early for leasing the following year while others start calling because they are ready to sign a lease. It's a constant battle of trying to balance demands of the leasing industry.

It's September. We just finished a huge turnover in July & August and many tenants are just getting settled in. In a month, we'll start working on lease renewals for current tenants and require them to commit to another year OR we'll have to offer their rental to other prospects who are ready to sign on the dotted line! We also require existing tenants to fill out new applications every year. Most tenants understand that's just the process but others can be quite irritated or even offended that they are asked to do this step for us. But, here's why. Things change. People change. Debt & Income change. In order to properly verify that tenants remain qualified and good tenants for the rental property, we must review their current situation. A lease has a start date and an end date. There is no guarantee that the next lease term will be approved and there is no law that states a landlord must allow a tenant to stay if the end date comes and goes. By doing this task, a property manager can reduce the risk of non-payment and reduces liability of any damage occurring to the rental property. It's a common practice in the industry and statistics show that it is a responsible process.

The housing shortage applies to both properties for sale and for rent. The next few months will have a large demand for leasing since we are a college town and do our leasing efforts early. This year, with the uncertainty of Covid19, it is expected to see more tenants renew their lease and stay in place so that they do not have to move during the pandemic. We shall see.

Being a Good Tenant Matters!

lori@callchoicerealty.com (Lori Todd) — Mon, 10 Aug 2020 19:03:10 GMT

It might not be your house but it serves as your home.

Have you heard people say 'I don't care, I don't own it' or 'who cares, it's just a rental'? Yep. We hear it all the time. Unfortunately, some tenants do not treat their rental with care because that's their mindset. When, really, they should care about their rental because it is their home for a period of time. And, when you care about the place you live, it can provide warmth and a sense of safety to the resident.

Even if a tenant knows s/he is moving in a year, the rental can still provide a permanent environment. Kids are greatly affected by this type of mindset. Moving around or knowing that a rental is only temporary, gives a child of sense of insecurity. Without some type of stability, kids generally do not do well in school and do not seek to make friends.

So, unpack those boxes. Hang your artwork and pictures of family and friends. Love your rental and allow it to love you back!

Rental Turnover in a College Town

lori@callchoicerealty.com (Lori Todd) — Wed, 01 Jul 2020 18:33:48 GMT

Hectic Preparations & High Stress Levels

If you've lived in a college town, you most likely are familiar with rental turnover time! In Bloomington, it happens throughout the summer months but peaks in July & August. We follow local ordinances and also have move-in and move-out office procedures. We have a helpful checklist for cleaning and a checklist for all the tasks related to moving, such as ending utility services, changing mailing address, and terminating ACH rental payments.

Scheduling movers and/or reserving moving trucks need to be planned ahead. Finding contractors for turnover tasks can be very difficult. Many times, people who are not tenants and not moving cannot find contractors because everyone is busy on rental turnover. The local hardware stores stock up on items, such as toilet seats, mini-blinds and light bulbs because those type of items are usually in high demand in July & August.

Patience is the best trait for Rental Turnover.

Getting Pre-Approved if You Want to Win!

lori@callchoicerealty.com (Lori Todd) — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 17:42:56 GMT

Are you really ready to buy a home?

The current market conditions are strongly in favor of the Seller. There is a lack of inventory so Sellers are able to push their prices up a bit. However, the record-low interest rates allow Buyers to afford more house for the same money. In a Seller's market, we often see multiple offers and even offers over asking price. For a Seller to even consider a Buyer's offer, it is critical for a Buyer to provide a pre-approval letter from their lender showing that they qualify for a mortgage, unless the buyers are paying cash, of course.

Before looking at one house, Agents should require their clients to obtain a letter of qualification. If not, it's truly a waste of everyone's time. Even if you're unsure if you want to buy and you think you might just go look first, don't. It's not the right process and it's not doing you or anyone else any good. In addition to being pre-qualified, it's a good idea to work with a local lender as that could make your offer even stronger. Do you think a Seller would choose an offer with a mortgage from a bank they've never heard of that is not even anywhere near the area OR would the Seller choose an offer from a well-known, local lender who has a great reputation of closing loans in a timely manner?

Selling a Home During Covid19

lori@callchoicerealty.com (Lori Todd) — Fri, 15 May 2020 17:33:22 GMT

There is so much unknown, many different reports on what is safe and what is not. How do we know what we should do or not do? Selling a home can be very stressful for a 'normal' time and now we add the worries of Covid19 into the mix.

The Indiana Association of Realtors quickly prepared forms for Realtors to use for home sales. Sellers can determine if and how they want to handle showings where people enter the home for a tour and Buyers can decide if and how they want to preview homes for sale. This is one more reason why hiring a Realtor is critical. Agents will oversee the transaction, making sure proper paperwork is executed and can help make the way through the challenging times like now.

Challenging Times

lori@callchoicerealty.com (Lori Todd) — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 17:46:16 GMT

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CDC.gov

lori@callchoicerealty.com (Lori Todd) — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 01:52:10 GMT

COVID-19 Challenges

Prepare for Disasters & Various Situations

lori@callchoicerealty.com (Lori Todd) — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 20:11:07 GMT

www.Ready.gov

How to be a Good Landlord

lori@callchoicerealty.com (Lori Todd) — Sat, 08 Feb 2020 02:03:47 GMT

Last month we blogged about Good Tenants so this month we wanted to talk about Good Landlords.

The rentals we managed are owned by Investors, not by Choice Realty & Management. We often say, 'We work FOR Investors but we work WITH Tenants". We have a management contract that sets out expectations of the Investor and the Manager but sometimes things just to fall under a paragraph on a paper. Being a good landlord requires willingness to invest funds into the rental property and prompt response to the manager's requests or questions.

Landlords can often get focused on the net profits and lose sight of the bigger picture. And, while the Manager must responsibly protect the asset, the Manager knows that often times spending extra funds can either satisfy and retain tenants for longer period and/or support higher rental income. A good landlord is willing to power wash siding to give a nice, clean look to the outside. And, a good landlord will choose to replace an old furnace to improve efficiency rather than repair it and waste energy costs.

Our office enjoys working with a variety of Investors and we realize that Investors can have a variety of goals and plans for their investment. When Investors trust the management company to market the property, maintain the property properly and open to suggestions, it creates a partnership so the team and the owner can reach the desired goals together.

To learn more about investing in rental property, please contact Broker/Owner Lori Todd at 812-331-7353 or Lori@CallChoiceRealty.com.

Why Agents May Not Answer Your Questions

lori@callchoicerealty.com (Lori Todd) — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 18:08:04 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

We recently had a prospect who got furious with us because we wouldn’t answer all of his questions. He threatened to leave bad reviews on the internet and went on to call us names, and even went as far as contacting the property owner to report us.

Unfortunately, this young prospect was completely in the wrong and I’m sure our tenants will appreciate our stance. So I wanted to share his questions and explain why we couldn’t answer all of them.

Does the current tenant live alone or is there a family living here?

What is the neighbors like and what do they do?

What is the neighborhood like?

Is there crime in the area?

Questions like these are actually illegal for Realtors to answer. Outside of legal positions, we would NEVER disclose who our current tenants are for basic safety reasons. Not understanding or accepting the privacy of tenants is just disrespectful! We did refer the prospect to the local police department who could provide reports on crime but this didn’t seem to satisfy him. He felt like we should answer the question directly but we don’t have that data as we, too, turn to the police department for information.

Due to local, state and federal laws, agents cannot legally profile what ‘type’ of person lives in a building or offer to stereotype a neighborhood. This can be considered discrimination and/or steering, both of which are illegal! Besides, we don’t make it a habit to drive around neighborhoods looking at people - we have plenty of other work and other things to care about! But, if a tenant or buyer cares about that, then they can spend time in the area to form their own conclusion.

If questions like these are important to you, then please know that you need to do your own due diligence because agents will not violate laws, discriminate or stray from our Code of Ethics.

How to be a Good Tenant....

lori@callchoicerealty.com (Lori Todd) — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 02:14:34 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

With the convenience of electronic signing of leases, we do not always have one on one time with tenants to share tips and guidance on how to be a good tenant. We don't mean just paying rent on time and keeping the rental neat and clean, but also notifying the landlord when there is maintenance needed or reporting issues with the rental or other concerns.

Many times, tenants do not want their landlords to enter the rental space so they don't report maintenance. Unfortunately, unattended maintenance can lead to bigger problems that could be avoided. In our lease agreement, we actually can hold a tenant responsible for repairs if it was purposely ignored. In addition to maintenance, landlords rely on tenants to share information about the property and/or neighbors and landlords want to make sure tenants are happy and content so that they stay longer.

Holidays

lori@callchoicerealty.com (Lori Todd) — Mon, 23 Dec 2019 20:19:44 GMT

Rentals & Holidays....

We understand how tenants can feel intrusion by the landlord when the leasing season is underway. We are mindful of the holiday season and try extra hard to notify tenants for showings and even avoid showings for occupied rentals during holiday week when we can. We want our tenants to feel like the rental is theirs, so that they can decorate for the holidays and truly enjoy their rental just the same as others enjoy their owned homes. It's also a time when we hear about break-ins and theft because tenants leave their rental unsecured with valuables inside. The holidays in Bloomington can seem pretty quiet since many students leave for winter break and many others go out of town. It's a good reminder to make sure you keep blinds closed and doors & windows locked!

Leasing Cycle goes round and round

lori@callchoicerealty.com (Lori Todd) — Wed, 23 Oct 2019 21:43:40 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

It's been a while since I took time to blog. We've been a little busy with peak turnover time and also our website back end changed so it was a new learning curve for us! Isn't that how technology works?! As soon as you master one thing, it changes. That's about how the leasing cycle feels!! As soon as you get moved in and feeling settled, the landlord is calling to ask if you are ready to sign a renewal. We get it! It's frustrating for us, too, but it seems like that is simply how our local market works. We do try to manage leasing and renewals in phases; starting with core campus area first then working our way outward through the county.

If you are a tenant and have not yet been contacted, you will be soon! If you are not a tenant (yet), we promise that we do our best to patiently work through the leasing cycle so that we are respectful of decisions that tenants are forced to make.

TENANT RESPONSIBILITY

Fri, 02 Aug 2019 07:00:00 GMT

It’s Turnover Time in Bloomington, Indiana. A crazy time for rentals when leases end and begin and tenants are moving around town. College Students are returning to Bloomington and local schools are getting ready to start. We’ve always had really great tenants who do a good job with moving out and leaving rentals in good condition. Until this year. This year has been a mess. We have had so many tenants leave their belongings, junk and trash behind.

We are trying to decide why this trend is happening……

Is it because people are becoming disrespectful?

Is it because we didn’t communicate well to the tenants that their junk is not our treasure?

Is it because people are not attached to their own personal belongings?

Unfortunately, the unexpected junk left behind causes a delay in the turnover process when we have to hire help to haul away the abandoned stuff before we can have cleaning crew and maintenance techs arrive to do the regular turnover work. And, unfortunately, the incoming tenant is the one who will be disappointed if their rental is not perfectly ready for their arrival.

We care about our tenants. We hope our tenants care about their rental and about other people. Time will tell.

TURNOVER TIME IN A COLLEGE TOWN

Fri, 19 Jul 2019 07:00:00 GMT

July & August are the busiest moving months for rental property in Bloomington. This is because of the activity and impact from Indiana University students. Non-students often get frustrated with the lease cycles and the amount of leasing/turnover at this time of year. Turnover affects so many other things, such as cost and availability of moving trucks and movers, the time needed to transfer utilities, cost and availability of cleaning crews, and so on.

It’s even recommended for traffic to stay away from major apartment areas and campus because of the people moving and extra vehicles parked in loading zones. For people not connected to the moving activity, that’s the best advice…. just stay away! Knowing it and accepting it can be the easiest way of keeping road rage and stress at bay. And, knowing students are returning so town will become crowded again, but it also means our economy continues to circle.

During this time, property managers are juggling their normal daily tasks with the extra workload of turnover time. Scheduling move-out inspections, then getting painters, cleaners, and maintenance lined up before it’s time for the next move-in inspection can be extremely hectic and stressful. Everyone is tired, those tenants who are moving and the staff trying to facilitate the entire process. Being patient is key to keeping sanity during this time!

RAIN + LAWNCARE = COMPLAINTS CONTACT US

Wed, 05 Jun 2019 07:00:00 GMT

We’ve already had plenty of rain this Spring and there is more to come. The most frustrating part about operating a lawn care service is working around the rain. We have had phone calls to complain about the length of grass DURING a rain storm. Seriously. And, it seems like it is common sense to know that just because the rain has stopped, it doesn’t mean the ground is immediately dry. Avoid mowing is wet grass because it will cause ruts from the tires and more damage will result from trying to cut grass. And, those weeds…. do they just pop up in a split second?! I weeded a landscape bed and within only a few days, it looked like it had not been weeded at all this season! Tenants want immediate service so lawn and landscape look good while Landlords do not want to pay for fast-growing weeds. It’s a hard balance and something we work on daily.

SPRING MAINTENANCE

Thu, 09 May 2019 07:00:00 GMT

I know I’ve mentioned it before, but maintenance is the hardest part about property management. Tenants want things to be maintained but some owners do not want the expense. Spring is a time where we focus on cleaning gutters, trimming shrubs, servicing AC units, etc. This can be an expensive time for landlords but we believe that being proactive will actually result in retaining tenants, higher rents and appreciation of property value. In addition to caring for the property, trimming shrubs can also be considered a safety measure as well. By keeping landscaped trimmed, we can keep the area more neatly groomed and more open which prevents scary events like someone hiding in overgrown bushes! Tenants also need to take some responsibility for Spring maintenance chores. It’s a great time to do some indoor deep cleaning, such as cleaning dust from ceiling fans and air vents as well as cleaning windows and bathrooms to prevent mold, mildrew and allergens from building up.

KNOW THE EXPECTATIONS BEFORE INVESTING!

Sun, 31 Mar 2019 07:00:00 GMT

One of the most challenging parts of property management is working with an investor who doesn’t have funds on hand to make repairs or doesn’t want to re-invest in the rental. As the property manager, we are responsible for following laws set forth by local, state and federal governments. We are also responsible for leasing to tenants a safe & habitable rental and also maintaining the condition that tenants have leased.

So many times, we have investors who dispute the process or the expenses incurred during the month and we waste a lot of time having to work through the process of explaining why they have expenses or trying to convince them that if they’d just listen to us, and allow us to do what we recommend, their rental would be better maintained and retain tenants which reduces turnover costs.

Our office proudly arranges for preventative maintenance which is proven to reduce reactive maintenance. And, we know that expected maintenance can happen during nights or weekends when emergency maintenance costs can be much higher. Although some tenants do not like when we schedule entry for maintenance, they do like to see that we are taking care of the rental they live in and pay for each month. Maintenance is the key to happy tenants and when Investors understand the big picture, it becomes the key to their investments as well.

RENTING IN A COLLEGE TOWN

Thu, 21 Mar 2019 07:00:00 GMT

Across the Country, people discuss the topic of Affordable Housing. We also hear the term Workforce Housing. Some areas, like ours, has not defined those two terms very well and often times use those terms interchangeable. But they are different.

Being in a college town, the local workforce tenant can be frustrated with the rental housing process and prices. The closer to campus you consider, the higher rents may be. This is not always true. As downtown has developed with multi-family buildings, we have seen an increase in student housing which has pushed rental rates higher for the downtown market as well.

In a recent study, we learned that South and West are the lower rent areas. We have 1, 2, & 3 bedroom rentals that are great for workforce housing and would be considered affordable. Unfortunately, inventory is low for rentals just as it is for sales. We are actively engaged with various organizations and researchers to learn more about how we can, as a community, improve the housing market for all income levels.

SPRING FOR FALL….

Wed, 13 Mar 2019 07:00:00 GMT

We may just be approaching Spring, but in B-town, we are working on Fall. If you need to lease a house or apartment this year, you should be securing a rental NOW. We are over 75% leased for Fall and we’ve heard many other rental companies are nearing full occupancy. We’ve also heard that IU may have a shortage for student housing. This could impact the workforce housing as well. So, how do you go about find a rental? Advertising has changed over the years and rental companies have adjusted to posting listings on company websites and various sites on the internet. It can be time-consuming to search and call each company but, unfortunately, many companies only lease their own rentals. While Choice Realty & Management only shows their own rentals, they allow any Realtors to also show the rentals and help get them leased for consumers. Remember, leasing can’t wait long!

SPRING LEASING

Sun, 17 Feb 2019 08:00:00 GMT

We are 75% leased for Fall but we still have a variety of rentals available. Whether you’re a student, working professional or family, we have options for you! Our property management department has online services with convenience for rental payments and maintenance requests. Check out our rentals and Q&A on our website!

2019 LEASING SEASON

Wed, 06 Feb 2019 08:00:00 GMT

We’ve been low-key during the holiday period but now that our New Year is off to a great start, we wanted to remind those looking for housing in 2019 to be actively looking now! We’ve learned that IU will have a housing shortage so approximately 2,000 students more than usual will be looking to rent apartments and houses this year. All of our available rentals are posted here at RentalsChoiceRealty.com. Rates have remained steady from last year. Let us know how we can help you!

BABY, IT’S COLD OUTSIDE!

Mon, 12 Nov 2018 08:00:00 GMT

Hey Folks! Now that cold temperatures are here to stay, please remember a few important maintenance tasks. You must unhook the garden hose from the water spigot, otherwise it can freeze and bust inside pipes causing major water damage to the house. And, it’s a good time to close crawlspace vents to prevent cold air from being underneath the house. Did you change your smoke detector batteries when Daylight Savings changed?! Using a programmable thermostat can help save money on utility bills. You can purchase one for $25-50 and will allow you to program the inside temperatures while home and away. By changing only one degree, you save a bundle each year!

MAINTENANCE ISN’T ABSENT IN RENTALS

Sun, 07 Oct 2018 07:00:00 GMT

One of the most challenging part of the property management industry is working with tenants when there is maintenance, especially major maintenance. We are always proactive doing general maintenance during the turnover vacancy period but sometimes maintenance repairs are unexpected and cannot be scheduled around what might be more convenient for tenants. We’ve had tenants actually ask for rent credits because of being inconvenienced. While we do our best in responding to repairs, sometimes there is a day or two delay in completing the repair due to availability of parts. For example, when the furnace has an issue, we may have to order a replacement part. In such a case, we would provide portable heaters so that the tenants have heat but realize it may be a bit inconvenient for the tenant. When we sign leases, we discuss maintenance procedures and educate our tenants on proactive and reactivate maintenance and repairs. The best thing a tenant can do is report any maintenance issue at the very earliest sign so that repairs are minor and easier/quicker to remedy.

RENEWING LEASE OR CONSIDER A PURCHASE?

Sat, 08 Sep 2018 07:00:00 GMT

Tenants often tell me that it’s hard to convert from leasing to buying because our market requires tenants to renew so early (sometimes 8-11 months before expiration). With many leases in Bloomington, Indiana, the lease cycle goes from August to August, so September/October is a perfect time to consider options for the following year. Although you are not ready to buy today, meeting with a Realtor to learn about the process and get some guidance is a must. A Realtor will recommend seeking pre-approval for a mortgage and this will help determine what you can afford and know how much of a down payment you’ll need. You’ll also learn the time line, so backing up the lease expiration date, for the pending sale period and considering the length of time for house searching, the Realtor will help you know when the time is right. Starting early also allows the tenant become familiar with the market pricing and conditions. To learn more, you can schedule a time to meet with our Team of Agents by calling 812-331-7353 or emailing Info@CallChoiceRealty.com.

CREATURES OF HABIT

Tue, 28 Aug 2018 07:00:00 GMT

Humans tend to like having a routine and keeping the same everything. Have you ever been to a two-day seminar and notice how many people pick the same seat on day two? Why is that? Does the brain tell us that is safe? Or, maybe, the brain doesn’t want change so it can predict what is happening? It’s interesting, really. I’ve always enjoyed change. I know sometimes it can be painful or scary, such as learning a new job or going to a new place, but change also brings new learning, new ideas, new activity. Last summer, we changed our property management software and boy was it painful for several months!!! But now, everything is flowing better, our tenants and owners have access to their accounts and reports, and the convenience for customers and staff has increased greatly. This summer, we implemented online leasing. And, that was not well-received by some, but we did it and got through it! Now the system is so easy and our new tenants have much more convenience that we wonder why we didn’t do it sooner. As summer nears an end (by the way, where did the summer go?!), let’s think about what we always do and see if we can change up a plan. You know the saying: If you always do what you always did then you always get what you always got. Maybe this Fall, you rearrange the furniture, or you add some holiday decorations, or you start prepping for healthy food during the work week. Or, how about changing your morning habits to leave a little early and take a different route to your destination so you can enjoy the scenery and maybe even see something new. As we transition from summer to fall, and soon thereafter the New Year, making effort for new and better habits will be rewarding.

HEALTHY (RENTAL) HOME

Sun, 19 Aug 2018 07:00:00 GMT

A healthy home is a happy home. I recently became more interested in essential oils so I’m reading and learning about all the wonderful benefits of these essential oils. I found a couple of apps for my iphone that have all the oils listed and what benefits they bring. It’s really amazing to think back in history and how humans cured many ailments with natural resources. I’m so impressed with doTERRA Essential Oils, that we’re adding this product to our office for buyers, sellers and tenants to incorporate oils into their home environment. Aromatherapy is a way to use aromatic plant extracts for therapeutic purposes and enhances a feeling of well-being. When showing houses, many times you will read that sellers should bake cookies. This is to make an emotional connection. The same is true for essential oils but there are so many more options. Having a light aroma in a home can make a buyer have emotional reaction which may help the showing process when there is competition of listings for buyers to consider. If your home is priced right and in good condition, do you think buyers would be more drawn to your house if the aroma provides a sense of a safe, comfortable and peaceful home. SURE, they would!! Tenants may feel less grounded or permanent in a rental that others may have in an owned home but sometimes renting is more sensible for people who may need temporary housing and would not be financially wise to buy. Using essential oils in a diffuser can conquer that feeling and give a joyful feeling to tenants during their rental period. If you’d like to know more about doTERRA Essential Oils, please contact Lori Todd @ 812-219-7778 or visit: my.doterra.com/loritoddhealthyhome.