The two options for the soon-to-be landlord

Around the globe, there are just two options for everyone looking for the ideal tenant match for their house: One is easy but expensive and another is comparatively difficult but cost-effective and fully autonomous. The easy but expensive one is where you appoint a property management service to find and then manage the tenant and rent respectively in return of which they charge an amount. The second and only one left now is where you do all the hard work in finding a tenant and manage them in your space. While the level of guarantee as to the right tenant is less in either case but the moment you take things in your control, things become a hell lot easier both for your pocket and also provide peace of mind.

The takers for both these options are many but let us look at both the options for the first clueless timers’ sake.

For those comfortable with property management service

The choice to go for property management services is not bad, it not only saves time and effort in finding the ideal tenant but also do a clear background check to ensure that the tenants are genuine. If you are planning to opt for this model, there are just two things for you to consider: where to find the right service provider and being comfortable with the expenses that you will have to incur.

• Where to find the right property management service provider?

Depending on where your property is, you can either go for the traditional word of mouth medium or use reliable real estate portals available on the internet. The latter is much easier for all you have to do is put in your location and search, for example, if your property is in Bangalore, just put in ‘property dealers in Bangalore’ and you will get a number of results on time.

• Be comfortable with the expenses

In order to be comfortable with the expense, you will first need to get an idea of the exact amount. Confirm and research the going service rate in the market and also ask your provider if the cost of managing the property is recurring or one time. Doing this will prepare you for the coming expenses.

 

For the 'do it yourself' counterparts

Doing all the tasks on your own definitely makes you a Brave-heart. Although it may look impossible, it takes less time to get it

• Advertise your house

Begin online. For nominal fees and sometimes even free, you can now advertise your property on renowned websites. Like the last Bangalore example, what you can do is post a ‘Flat for rent in Bangalore’ ad that will eventually take the prospects to the hyperlinked image. For those who want a more advanced result for less money, they should try YouTube or Vine. Upload a simulated tour of the property, then share the links on different classified websites such as Craigslist, also add them in your various social media platforms. After listing your property, do not forget to put in the necessary "For Rent" signage in the front yard.

• Tidy it up

Strangely, some landlords do not even bother to tidy up their houses and apartments before putting it up for rent. Normally, the nicer and cleaner your house is at times when the prospect comes, the nicer it looks when they both stay and leave.

• Repair structural shortcomings

Replacing the busted appliances, chucking out left-behind scrap, pests and termites spray, getting rid of flies and mosquitoes by using the latest mosquito killer devices, and by simply adding new paint coat will take you far in attracting the ideal renter. Also the probability of getting a higher charge increases, big time.

• A ready rental policy

Have a document that clearly specifies the various lease’s TnCs, such as if pets are allowed, if you need a security deposit, and/or expect the tenants to bear their renters insurance. Make sure you have it ready even before you start shortlisting tenants.


We all know how difficult it can be to find the right tenant for your property. There is no right or wrong option here, everything depends on the efforts you can take and the money you have. Now that you know what it takes to go in either of them, make a sound decision.



This is a guest post by Tripti Rai. She writes about the real estate sector, she keeps her readers informed about the latest developments in real-time through her writing.

Why You Don’t Need to Leave Your Home to Find a New One

House hunting isn’t for the faint of heart.

No matter how structured your city is or well paying your job might be, you might still be short of a decent place to live in. A house hunt takes seemingly countless hours of neighborhood tours and location drive-by to finalize that decision on ideal property. If your weekdays are packed, chances are that you would also have to compromise on your weekends to go property hunting with your broker.

As if putting up with your broker isn’t enough, these incessant trips to different localities will also leave you physically and financially drained. Opting for an online realty search, you get to check out countless listings, be it rental or lease apartments, without even having to step out of your home.

Image: Pixabay

Here’s how taking your house hunt online can take a load off your shoulders.

• Saves Time and Energy 

Visiting each flat for rent personally would take up a lot of your time and energy. Additionally, you’d have to cough up parking and fuel charges if you plan on taking your own vehicle to new localities. Getting stuck in traffic for hours can also leave you frustrated.

When you search for properties online, you save yourself from all these unnecessary hassles. You can simply surf through numerous sites that give you a virtual tour of the property. You can make a list of a couple of properties that you want to check out personally, and pre-book a visit before you zero in on a particular piece of property.

• Eases The Documentation Process

Unlike conventional processes where the broker would be in charge of the situation while you were in the dark, you would take the lead here. You’d be aware of the proper pricing and wouldn’t be taken advantage of. Some of the real estate sites even help you understand the documentation process.

• No Brokerage Fee

When you opt to search for flats without brokers online, you directly interact with the owner and avoid having to go through any intermediate. This helps you in getting to know the owner and learning more about the property first-hand. You also free yourself from paying a brokerage fee and all that unnecessary running around.

• Refines Your Search

One of the best parts of searching for a property online is not having to go through hundreds of random properties to get what you want. Filtering your search according to the locality, specification, amenities, or the budget you are going for will help you streamline your search.

You can get your hands on the best deals when you compare different properties and their rates online. Doing your homework on the current real estate scenario across different neighbourhoods also helps you build confidence in your ultimate decision.  

• 24/7 Availability

Round-the-clock realty portals let you access different properties throughout the day. With just a PC and phone at hand, you can check out properties online without the even needing to get out of bed. You can get all the contacts and listings you need within the comforts of your home.

This means that you don’t have to compromise on your leisure time. Using this method, you can shortlist a few prospects before you shift into a new home in a different city.

You can now find the home of your dreams without giving up on daily activity. Comment below to let us know how online realty portals have helped you find the right place, and/or if you have a better suggestion!


This is a guest post by Sudarshan Purohit

What are the various styles of real estate investment strategy and factors that affects property investment?

Author: Sachin Gupta | Find me on Twitter Follow @sach_gupta

Are you an investor looking to invest in real estate? What are your motivations for investing in real estate? In this article, we will consider motivations for real estate investment, variables that affect property market, and various styles of real estate investment patterns.

Make no mistake; most retail investors avoid investment in stock markets because of complicated financial jargon and relative ease of realty market to absorb cash. The idea is to invest in property (particularly residential) and leave it as it is for years to generate handsome capital appreciation value. However, one must be careful before blindly investing in real estate. Understanding, the local micro market such as its demand driver and supply is crucial in order to reduce investment risks. In the following document, we highlight the objective of real estate investment, risks, and what are the various ways one can invest in property market:

What are the various styles of real estate investment strategy and factors that affects property investment from Green Realtech Projects Pvt. Ltd

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The 5 Craziest Haunted House Stories of All Time in India

Bam! A thunderstorm roars with scary intensity, seemingly taking the electricity with it.

Backup generators stop functioning and the temperature in the room seems to drop by 10 degrees, making it unnaturally cold. You know you are all alone in your apartment. But you get the sneaky feeling that you aren’t.

Sounds like the clichéd (and poorly written) horror movie plot, right?

Wrong!

These are some of the stories from people that have lived in or around some of the haunted houses in India.

But where are these houses, you ask? Here are the tales of some of the craziest haunted house stories the internet has heard of so far.

• The Vrindavan Society - Thane

Constructed by Raheja Developers, The Vrindavan Society is a luxury apartment complex with over 100+ apartments in the Thane region of Maharashtra. To this day, all the houses here are occupied (thanks to those irresistible ‘flats for rent’ placards). However, people here live in constant fear and are even worried to step out of their homes after dark.

Curious to know why? It was reported that a man living in this complex committed suicide. Ever since that fateful day, residents and night watchmen claim to have witnessed some paranormal activity almost every day of the week.

In fact, one of the night guards has a strange incident to narrate: during one of his late-shifts, while he was nodding off in his chair, a tight slap jolted him back from his sleep, almost toppling him off his chair. He summoned a few of his colleagues to check if an intruder had entered the premises.

However, after searches proved futile, residents concluded that this was the handiwork of the unnamed man that died within these quarters.

• House No. W-3, Greater Kailash, Delhi

As the legend goes, two elderly couples used to live in this rental property. Unexpected events saw them being murdered in cold blood by unknown assailants. But even after their death, the couples’ spirits have supposedly lived on in this place.

Passersby and other locals have complained that they’ve often heard muffled laughter, strange voices, and soft whispers coming out of the house; this has left the witnesses baffled and very, very scared.

• D’Souza Chawl, Mahim, Mumbai

Among the many haunted places in Mumbai, D’Souza Chawl takes the cake, and has even been reported several times in the media. According to local lore, the spirit of a deceased lady roams the corridors of D’Souza Chawl at odd hours of the night.

Supposedly, the lady fell in the only fresh-water well in the vicinity and succumbed to death and hasn’t found the peace she was looking for.

• Grand Paradi Towers, Mumbai

Located in one of the poshest areas in Mumbai, this complex has sadly played witness to over twenty suicides over the last decade. These unnerving stories begun with the suicide of a couple, followed by the jumping of their children and grandfather a year after that.

Ever since then, there have also been reports of maids and children falling to their deaths on multiple occasions. Just what the reasons behind this are, we don’t know.

• GP Block, Meerut

A lot of haunted places are abandoned, and GP Block in Meerut is no exception. This place has been so unnerving that people have supposedly even stopped passing by the building. According to reports, several of the locals have witnessed the sightings of ghosts: 4 drinking men illuminated by the presence of a single candle.

Initially, the story was discarded but upon further prodding by some youngsters, it has become apparent that the 4 men were in fact spirits and not a group of friends. There have also been tales of a woman in a red sari who accompanies these men and walks around in the dark.

So, next time when you are looking to lease flats be sure to do a recon and verify that the building doesn’t have an eerie, dark paranormal story behind it. Better yet, pick one of the convenient property management services, or log on to zenify.com to find the house of your choice.

• References:

http://www.holidify.com/blog/most-haunted-places-in-india-asi-list/

• Image References:

https://pixabay.com/static/uploads/photo/2013/10/24/01/45/haunted-house-corner-200065_960_720.jpg



This is a guest post by Chandni.

5 Top Affordable Rental Locations in Bangalore for Working Professionals

Bangalore has a number of IT and business parks where thousands of working professionals earn their livelihoods. But with the traffic situation in the city escalating to new heights every passing day, it doesn’t make neither financial nor logical sense to move to areas that aren’t close to your workplace.

However, there’s one more concern you need to address- the cost of living. Not every rental property close to these IT hubs come cheap, courtesy of the rising price of rental houses in Bangalore.

 (Picture Source – Pixabay)

Besides, not everybody can afford to buy a luxury apartment or live in a villa in this expensive city. So here are the top 5 affordable locations in Bangalore, you and every other working professional should know about.

• Whitefield

If you’re particularly in the IT industry, living anywhere in the Whitefield vicinity is the best decision you can make. For starters, you can find houses for rent at as little a budget as Rs. 7000 per month, which come semi-furnished with modular kitchen, geysers and the like. Another important aspect about Whitefield is that it’s a little far away from the fast-paced life of the city and sees relatively less traffic. Basically moving to Whitefield can save you a lot of money and time, which you’d otherwise spend on commute.

• Marathahalli

With plenty of tech parks and other employment hubs in its vicinity, Marathahalli is yet another locality that sees a vast majority of working professionals looking for an abode. You will get houses or flats for rental as little as Rs. 6000 per month, depending on the choice of area. Places like Prestige Tech Park, Ecospace, and Divyasree Technopolis are just a few of the well-known IT hubs in and around the area.

• KR Puram

With easy connection to ITPL and Marathahalli, KR Puram is slowly becoming the most sought-after locality in Bangalore. Besides, this area isn’t too far away from the city either. Located along the fringe of National Highway 44 (Bangalore to Hyderabad), this locality also offers you some respite if you’re looking to go for a long drive on a lazy weekend. Rents around here start from Rs. 6,000 per month for a 1 BHK and can go up to Rs. 20,000 per month based on your choices.

• Horamavu

Located along the Outer Ring Road stretch that connects Marathahalli and the Old Madras Road region to Bengaluru International Airport and Tumkur Road among others, Horamavu happens to be the least chaotic locality to live in. Close to Manyata Tech Park, which is at a distance of about 5 km from here, Horamavu offers a great place to relax and enjoy. Rent around the area start from Rs. 7000 per month for 1 BHK and can go as high as Rs. 30,000 per month depending on a house of your choice. It is close to several leisure places like Kammanahalli, an area that happens to be the most attractive proposition around here.

• Kaggadasapura

If you’d looked around Kaggadasapura over a decade ago, you’d either have seen acres of empty barren lands or under-construction apartment projects. But now this area is a major hub for working professionals. It is strategically located close to Bagmane Tech Park, which happens to be one of the most beautiful workplaces in the city with its own lake. It is also close to key parts of the city like Indiranagar and Domlur. You can find houses for rent around here starting from Rs. 6500 per month. In case you’re looking to lease flatsor apartments instead of renting, you can also find several interesting options to choose from.

Overall, these 5 prime localities are teeming with budget-friendly houses that you can choose from to improve your experience of staying in Bangalore.

This is a blog post by Chandni Lal

What landlords need to know about renters given the sluggish real estate market?

Author: Sachin Gupta | Find me on Twitter Follow @sach_gupta

If you’re a landlord owning a residential or commercial property for the purpose of renting it out, then you’re probably well aware of the rental market. Demand is limited but there is ample supply of real estate including the office space properties and residential houses. So, your property would fetch less. Except for the markets of Bangalore, and Pune, rental market is sluggish across all other cities in India.

A look at the commercial office space market in Gurgaon. See how rents have fallen across micro markets during the period of July - September 2014.

source: Magicbricks


It’s a buyer’s market to say the least. As renters sit comfortably in the driver’s seat, here’s what else they are up to:

• Saving money:

Renters who are looking to rent out office space or residential houses are able to save more in current market scenario. Barring the places like Pune, and Bangalore where there is steady demand for real estate, all other markets across the country are in downturn. Renters are getting office space or residential property at a substantial discount, thereby, able to cut their operating expenditures.

• Negotiating harder:

Renters are able to negotiate hard with landlords. Whether they are looking to rent office space or residential property, tenants are taking their time, sometimes months to finalize the deal. By doing so, they are being able to get substantial discounts on rent paid to the landlord. Many well settled tenants have also moved out of their existing properties to get new spaces at lower rates.

• Getting lucrative deals:

A rent deal these days is not just about rent and maintenance charges. Tenants are having a considerable say in the use of common facilities of the building. In addition to getting price cut on rent, tenants are bargaining for free car parking spaces, shorter lock-in period, and less upfront money which goes out in form of security deposit & advance rent. For example, a typical office space deal in past would have standard lease terms of 3 years lock-in period, 6 months security deposit. However, tenants are now negotiating hard for 12 months lock-in period and security deposit of just 3 months.

• Getting posh facilities:

Common facilities such as toilets, corridors, parking spaces, reception, signage boards, etc. are being renovated by the landlords to attract renters. In some instances, landlords are going out of their way to provide high quality interior work for furnished office spaces and residential properties.

Keeping all these factors in mind, many prospective buyers are also evaluating the pros and cons of renting versus owning. And in many instances, buyers are postponing their decisions to buy real estate and instead they are opting for lucrative rental deals.

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