Helping Your Renter Save Money with a Fully Stocked Kitchen

Staying in a corporate rental can save a traveler a lot of money - especially considering the cost of eating out these days! To help your renter eat-in, make sure you stock your kitchen will all amenities your renters will need to prepare meals for themselves.

What kitchen supplies should you provide in your corporate rental? Here's a checklist to help you get your kitchen up to par:

Place Settings:
Studio apartments - dishes/table setting for 6
1-2 bedrooms - dishes/table setting for 8
3+ bedrooms - dishes/table setting for 10

Kitchen - Accessories:
Blender
Broom/Dust Pan
Coffee Maker
Dishwasher
Fire Extinguisher
Garbage Disposal
Icemaker
Microwave
Mixer
Mop
Oven
Refrigerator
Scissors
Stove
Tea Pot
Toaster
Trash Can

Kitchen - Cooking:
Baking Dish
Broiler Pan
Can Opener
Colander
Cookie Sheet
Corkscrew (Wine)
Cutting Board
Fork/Tongs
Grater
Ice Cream Scoop
Knife Set
Ladle
Measuring Spoon set
Measuring Cup/Set
Mixing Bowls
Pizza Cutter
Salt & Pepper
Spatula-flipper
Spatula-scraper
Spoon–slotted
Spoon–cooking
Tupperware
Utensil Holder
Vegetable Peeler
Water Pitcher

Kitchen – Drinking:
Coffee Mugs
Drinking Glass Set
Wine Glasses

Kitchen – Plates:
Large Plates
Small Plates
Bowls

Kitchen – Pots and Pans:
Large Frying Pan
Small Frying Pan
Large Sauce Pot
Small Sauce Pot
Large Pasta Pot

Kitchen – Cutlery:
Cutlery Tray
Forks
Spoons
Knives
Steak Knives

Kitchen – Linen:
Dish Towel
Dish Cloth
Potholder
Placemat Set
Napkin Sets

For more details on how to furnish your corporate rental, please refer to the Corporate Housing by Owner User's Manual.

Seattle Couples Converts Mother-in-Law Suite into Furnished Rental and Makes $10k Per Year!

In July 2003, Colleen Cameron and her soon-to-be-husband, Michael, were looking to buy a house in the North Shoreline area of Seattle. While house-hunting for their dream house the couple stumbled upon a beautiful chateau that had everything they wanted… and then some.

“It just so happened that the house we fell in love with also offered great income-producing potential as it had an 800 sq. ft. mother-in-law suite in the basement,� says Colleen.

After the married coupled settled into their new home, they decided that rather than rent out their mother-in-law suite as a “regular� rental (which was plentiful in their area already), they would convert their mother-in-law suite into a furnished, corporate rental. They spent about $4,000 to finish the basement and convert it into a full-fledged rental property.

“We knew by offering our mother-in-law suite as a furnished, short-term rental, we could reach a different niche and have less competition in the rental marketplace,� says Colleen. “Plus, furnishing the property was easy since we both brought furnishings into the marriage – we had two of everything so we were able to furnish our downstairs apartment without spending a lot on furnishings.�

To find renters, the couple lists their mother-in-law suite on Craigslist.org and CorporateHousingbyOwner.com – both sites, say Colleen, have brought her solid leads, although she says with Craigslist the process is more manual because she has to post her property daily. With CorporateHousingbyOwner, she says, her listing is always front-and-center.

“In five years of renting out our furnished mother-in-law suite, we have only had one month with no renter,� she says. “In fact, our most successful renter stayed for two years. He was a divorcee who needed flexible housing to get him through his life transition.�

Benefits Galore

Colleen says that there are many great benefits to renting out part of their home as a corporate rental.

For one, she says she is able to command a higher rent because the basement apartment is fully furnished and offers flexible month-to-month rental terms. Colleen says her mother-in-law suite has been so profitable that she has been able to supplement her family’s income by about $10,000 per year, with the potential to bring in more.

“Renting out a part of your home is definitely worth doing if you have a basement apartment with a separate entrance,� says Colleen. “The main reason is you can instantly diversify your income stream. While my husband and I are gainfully employed, there’s always the risk that one or both of us could lose our job. We have this extra income to fall back on, just in case.�

Also, Colleen says she enjoys not being tied to any one renter for 12 or more months in case things didn’t work out. She also likes the fact that her renters only bring along their necessities and that they don’t move large furniture in and out of her basement, which means less wear and tear on her home.

Another huge benefit to renting out her basement suite, Colleen says, is that she lives on-site. “I can conveniently take care of requests and keep an eye on the place.�

Plus, because the couple is already paying for amenities like cable, water, electricity, trash, wireless Internet, etc., it doesn’t cost them a whole lot extra to provide amenities to the basement apartment.

“We’re able to offer our home at a low, all-inclusive rental rate because we don’t incur a lot of extra fees ourselves,� says Colleen.

A Word to the Wise

Colleen says that renting out a furnished apartment isn’t for everyone.

“You do have someone living in your house and you have to continually be on the look out for your next renter,� says Colleen. “It can be time-consuming to market your home.�

She also advises that someone shouldn’t buy a home with a mother-in-law suite unless they can afford the full mortgage payments themselves.

“We are fortunate that we can afford our mortgage. Any income we make from the mother-in-law suite is a bonus. I tell people looking to do what I’m doing to make sure they’re not dependent on income from their rental suite because they’re putting themselves at unnecessary risk.�

Overall, Colleen says because they have found so much success renting out a part of their home they may never go back to not renting it out. “It’s a peace of mind for us. We don’t have to think twice about money since we supplement our income with our greatest asset – our home!�

Saving Money While On the Road or Traveling for Business

Extended travel can be expensive and the last thing you want to do is blow the budget on food.

Consider this: A sit-down meal at a restaurant can cost anywhere from $10-$25 per meal. Multiple that by three meals per day for 30 days straight and you're looking at a food bill of $900 - $2,250! A family of four may not even spend $900 on groceries per month.

Sometimes spending this amount of money is unavoidable because travelers have had little options when it comes to meal time. Most of today's hotels do not provide full sized kitchens, making eating out or room service the norm.

But smart families and business travelers who opt to stay in corporate or vacation rentals are finding it easy to ease the financial burden.

Corporate and vacation rentals are fully furnished and offer a full-sized kitchen will all the amenities of a common kitchen, including a stove top, microwave, fridge, pots and pans, dishes, etc. This is good news for travelers who want to take a bite out of their exploding food budget. They can simply go to the grocery store, buy cereal and milk, cold cuts, spaghetti, hamburgers and prepare their meals themselves.

Since a corporate rental means you won't have to blow your budget on food, you'll have more money in your pocket to enjoy a nice night out or upgraded flight amenities, etc. Score!

Renting out part of our home as a corporate rental. What you need to know

Many homeowners these days are looking to make a little extra cash and the first place they often look is their home. Renting out part of your home can be an effective way to make a little extra money, but you need to go into the process with a little education first.

There are two ways individuals are renting out parts of their home.

The first way involves someone renting out a room in their home. Room rentals are not considered corporate rentals and should not be marketed as such. However, a great website, Sublet.com, connects individuals renting out a room in their home with potential rentees. I recommend keeping your rental asking price reasonable as to attract more tenants and have a greater pool to choose from - after all, this person will be sharing your living space as a roommate would.

The second way is to rent out a basement, attic, or floor of your house. For it to be considered a corporate rental, it must have a private, keyed entrance and all the amenities required in a furnished home, including a kitchen with standard appliances, a bathroom with a toilet, sink and shower, and a living/sleeping space.

Obviously renting out a part of your home will come with some downsides (noise, etc.), so it's important to set ground rules before doing this. If you are renting out your walk out basement, for example, you will want to make sure you clarify rules on sharing parking and laundry, as well as rules about parties and loud noises.

The upside is that you not only make some income from your home, but also you are on-site to oversee how the property is used and to maintain the property, which makes the process much easier for a do-it-yourself-landlord.

You can market your rental basement or attic on CorporateHousingbyOwner.com, just be specific in your listing as to the nature of your rental property. Good luck!

Rental Security Deposits. What you should ask for and how to handle disputes

Security deposits are one of the most important tools a landlord has to protect his/her rental property.

We have found that 92% of landlords collect a security deposit - as it is generally considered standard operating procedure for furnished rentals.

The average security deposit on a corporate rental is as low as $500 up to one month's rent. Owners sometimes charge a separate pet deposit to insure themselves against damage and wear and tear caused by a pet. Security deposits must be given back to the tenant (if no damage is done to the property) in a timely fashion. State laws govern this time period (generally within 21 days). I recommend returning it as soon as the tenant leaves and you've had a chance to inspect the property. The more time that passes, the more questions may arise as to whether the damage was done by that tenant or a following tenant.

In today's tight business market, corporations often balk at the idea of locking up money in a security deposit - and it can kill a deal. Because landlords feel pressured, they may skip the security deposit in order to seal the deal. But beware if you do this, because someone who isn't willing to pay a security deposit may have something to hide. Do your homework and research the client before making any rash decisions about whether to skip the deposit or not. If it's a reputable corporation, you can probably feel good that the property will be gently used by its employee and that the company will cover any damage to the unit. After doing a little research on the company or individual and things turn up okay, you can also have them sign a LOR, or letter of responsibility, which you can download from your MyCHBO account.

Remember, security deposits are meant to protect your property and yourself from unruly tenants. Most of the time (especially in the corporate rental world) they are never tapped... but they sure do make an effective incentive for a tenant to keep the place orderly. That said, you can be flexible with your security deposit policy when working with reputable corporations. Ultimately you have to go with what works best for you taking into consideration your clientele.

Recoding a Garage Door Remote For Added Security

In one of my prior entries, I suggested re-keying door locks as a more cost-efficient, do-it-yourself method than having an entire lock changed repeatedly after each tenant occupancy.

I realized that I left out another helpful method of re-securing a home for each new tenant. Not all rental properties are condominiums or apartment complexes with large common garages. Some landlords rent out a house in the suburbs with a garage attached to the home.

Recently, I had to hire a specialist to re-program a garage door remote and learned how simple it is.

In the case of the Genie brand, it's as easy as a press of a button. Here's how to do it:

Locate the garage door transmitter box above your head in the garage. It is the big box that commands the garage door to open and close when a remote control button is pressed. You will need a ladder as you will need to press a button on the box. By pressing and holding this button for a few seconds, it sends a computerized recoding message to your hand held remote. If anyone else has a duplicate copy of your original remote control it will not work anymore.

Find out the exact make of the garage door, either Genie, Craftsman, Raynor, Amarr, etc,, to see if the brand has any unique instructions (you can Google anything!).

I found this site containing helpful instructions for the Genie brand.

If needed, extra garage remote controls can also be purchased at stores such as Sears, Lowe's and or Home Depot.

Companies Reluctant to Relocate - Be wearing if you're asked if you "rent or own"

This weekend, The Denver Post featured an article about how companies are hesitant to relocate employees due to sour housing market. I was grateful to have been interviewed by reporter Margaret Jackson for the article.

I found it really interesting that it costs more than $76,000 to relocate an employee who owns a house whereas only about $22,000 for someone who rents.

With this in mind, I told Jackson that there is nothing stopping employers from asking a potential candidate whom the company is interested in relocating if they own or rent - as employers want to know if this is going to be a costly relocation for them. With all other variables being equal, the renter will get the job.

Check out the article, "In Sour Housing Market, Companies Relocating Fewer Employees" online and be weary if an employer is asking you if you rent or own... because it may hinder you from getting the job.

How to Create a Pet-Friendly Furnished Rental

If you're catering to the many business travelers who take along their beloved pet these days, here are a few tips to pet-proof your home and to show you welcome animals too!

1) Purchase a dog bed for each floor of your house. It's a small investment to make but may save you big time in the end. Pets need an inviting and soft place to lounge - by giving them their own beds you are deterring them from spending time on your couches or beds.

2) Use a semi-gloss paint on the walls because it is easy to clean up with soapy water and a sponge. For difficult stains, try Mr. Clean's Magic Eraser. It's amazing at cleaning dirt and grime off walls.

3) Avoid having exposed hardwood floors. Keep hardwood covered with large rugs and runners or opt for Pergo or carpeted flooring. Exposed hardwood floors can get scratched by a dog or cat's nails.

4) Keep pet feeding supplies on hand, like a bowl for food and a bowl for water. It's unlikely a homeowner would travel with those supplies and they might end up using your good dishes to feed Fido - ick!

5) Invest in a good vacuum. Encourage your homeowners to vacuum weekly or ask them to pay an extra fee for a weekly cleaning service. Pet owners are happy to pay extra if you let them keep their animal in tow.

6) Set ground rules. Dog poo must be picked up. Leave plenty of baggies to encourage pet poo pick up. Also, discuss with your renter the possibilities the dog could bark and disturb neighbors, damage property, and other issues ahead of time. Set a plan for handling such situations so there are no conflicts.

7) Think about leaving a few dog treats or toys in your home to show the homeowner you're welcoming not only the humans but also the animals too. Pets owners love pampering their pets after all and you will certainly make them feel welcome by inviting their dog into the home.

Taking Pets on Business Trips - Why Your Corporate Rental Should be Pet-Friendly

Americans love their pets and if possible, many are taking their pets along when going on lengthy business trips. I can only imagine how difficult it would be for a single professional to be put on assignment in another city and leave behind their beloved companion in a kennel or with a burdened friend.

Many corporate homeowners have shied away from accommodating pets because of worries of damage to the property, but airlines and hotels have made it easier than ever to take Lassie along for the ride and no longer see pets to be as "damaging" as once assumed.

If you have a corporate rental and have not considered ways to appeal to this growing number of business travelers who commute with their beloved dog in tow, you may want to rethink your pet strategy.

Here are some dog-gone good reasons to allow pets in your corporate rental:

-More traveling business executives and traveling professionals are taking Fido along for the trip. By not opening your home to animals, you may be limiting the number of prospective tenants.

-Pet owners are willing to pay an extra fee or deposit. They don't mind as long as they can take along their beloved animal.

-Pet owners are quite responsible. If they're taking their pet along with them, it usually means they care for them dearly and are quite responsible themselves.

On the other hand, there are many travelers who will look for just the opposite accommodation. They may have an allergy to pet dander. So there is a space in the marketplace for "pet-free accommodations" as well (so don't be discouraged if pets aren't your thing).

My next post will discuss how to make your corporate rental pet-friendly.

How to regrout old tile to make it look new again

Have you ever cleaned something to the point that it smells clean but just doesn't sparkle? I noticed that tiles, whether it's the ones covering the bathroom floor, bathroom walls or kitchen counter tops suffer the most wear-and-tear. Bathrooms and kitchens see such frequent traffic. When tiles get dirty, so does the grid of grout in between. They get discolored and stained, making a white bathroom look unkempt.

While regularly web surfing for do-it-yourself instructions, I've come across Eric Stromer's videos. He has plenty of good advice for various home improvement topics.

I've learned that regrouting is a simple process that can make a kitchen and bathroom look new again requiring only a few tools. Tackling such a project in between renters can make your rental appear cared for, attractive and appealing. To ensure further maintenance of your bathroom and kitchen tiles, provide your renters with cleaners such as Lysol basin and tub spray cleaner. For the eco-conscious audience, there are brands like Method and Ecodiscoveries. Or provide a spray bottle with a homemade concoction, such as a vinegar and baking soda mix as this blog suggests.

Check out Eric Stromer's website for handy tips around your house like these!

Business travel outlook for 2010 better but not good

A new survey says that business travel may show some signs of improvement for 2010, but not much.

A staggering 10% unemployment rate and companies continuing to be frugal with travel costs are keeping analyst expectations for a solid travel in the year ahead at a minimum.

Here's how each industry impacted by business travel stacks up.

Airlines: The survey says that business-class fares on airlines will be up 1-6% while fares in general will be up 2-7% in 2010.

Hotels: Hotel revenues have fallen nearly 20% in 2009 and are predicted to fall another 1-6% in the year ahead as supply remains plentiful.

Conventions: Meetings and conventions have been cut this year and key convention destination cities like Las Vegas and Orlando are reporting visitors to the area are down 26% and 9% respectively.

But don't be discouraged by this news.

Corporate housing is utilized by more than just business travelers and we're seeing more relocated families, traveling nurses and professors, visiting mother-in-laws and more taking advantage of fully furnished rental properties. Plus, corporate housing is becoming a well-known alternative to hotels. As more business travelers become responsible for booking their own travel, more will come to personally learn about the perks the corporate rental world offers.

Security for hotel and temporary housing no laughing matter

An article in USA Today got us thinking about hotel security - and general security of any rental property. Barbara De Lollis, a writer with USA Today, told the story of her dad asking the front desk of a hotel for a new key card and the hotel staff made him one right away, without even checking for ID. They simply believed his story.

We have all heard stories about how hotel security isn't always what we'd hope it would be. People getting key cards they shouldn't have. Doors being left open while cleaning staff is in there. I even remember a 20/20 hidden camera investigation a few years ago where a man (actor) entered a room that was wide open and being cleaned. He told the cleaning staff member in the room he'd forgotten something and quickly stashed someone's stuff without the staff member second guessing who he was.

In corporate housing, you rarely run into these situations because you and your landlord are the only ones with access to your temporary living quarters.

If you're worried about security in a corporate rental, ask your landlord these questions:

1) Are the security codes for the garage and such changed between users?

2) Are the keys collected promptly and are the locks periodically changed?

3) What should I do if I suspect a security issue?

4) Who has access to the property besides myself?

5) Do you have chain locks on the front and garage entrances?

If you're a landlord, you want to make sure your home is secure and that your renters feel secure living there at all times.

Assure them that you change security codes and that the locks are re-keyed on occasion. Kwikset has keys that can easily be re-keyed by the homeowner without involving a locksmith. This could be a worthwhile investment, especially if security in your area is of concern. Check your local Home Depot or Lowes stores for these do-it-yourself re-key locks.

Another great way to make your homeowners feel safe while in the home is to install a chain lock on the front door and garage entrances. They way a homeowner can use the chain lock when they are home and not worry about someone entering the home while they're present.

Negotiating Strategies: How to get renters to pay what you're asking

It's likely many of your leads are asking you for a price break these days. Even I was asked for a deal when I sold my rental home a few months ago.

It seems like no one wants nor expects to pay full price for anything these days... period.

But if you're like me, you want to get a reasonable market rent because you've priced your home strategically to begin with. I've come up with a few tips to help get the price you want without souring the deal:

Anticipate the Negotiation: You have researched your market, you know the comps and you priced your property accordingly (and yes they probably know the comps too), however, the media has been training them to ask for concessions so be ready for them to negotiate and don't get frustrated and walk away from a possible good deal. Take the time to develop a dialog.

Give them Understanding: Everyone wants to know their needs are being listened to and understand what they're paying for. If someone is stuck on price and they're trying to get a lower rent rate from you, make sure they know that if they went to a hotel, they would have to pay for parking and Internet usage and other hidden fees. With you, it's all inclusive - turn-key! Some times renters need a little understanding of all the great add-ons they get with your property. And you can rest assured that most of us hate being nickel-ed and dime-ed by hotels - so planting that thought in their head will keep them hooked on you.

Develop a Relationship: Explain to them that as their landlord you will take good care of them and they're in good hands. Illustrate how your previous or current tenants have enjoyed the property. Making them comfortable with you as a landlord will make them see that they're not getting a run-of-the-mill property to rent - but a thoughtful landlord too, which is priceless!

Offer Incentives: If a homeowner is stuck on price, rather than lower your rate or heading down the negotiation path, offer instead to throw in an extra service. Maybe you provide a weekly maid service or a discount if they agree to a longer lease or a monthly metro pass to use public transportation to get to work. Think outside of the box. If you also own a vacation rental offer a discount if they choose to rent it for their next vacation. This way you can get two properties rented in one deal.

Leave Wiggle Room: While you want to price your home as strategically as possible, go into
the process knowing everyone wants a deal. Set your rate and then cushion it with a little wiggle room. This way you can still price yourself competitively and negotiate to make your renter feel like he's getting a deal. A win-win for all!

Lump Sum Relocation Trends - 3 tips to get more rentals!

One of the world largest financial institutions contacted CorporateHousingbyOwner.com a few weeks ago to learn more about our property listings and how their employees can rent them. The company representative said she wanted to recommend the site to all of her company's relocating employees. In the past, a company HR official would have coordinated the entire relocation process for an executive, but this phone call reinforced that the relocation trend now involves lump sum payments.

Lump sum relocations are where employers give an employee they are relocating to a new city a lump sum of money to cover their costs. In the past, the employer would coordinate the entire transition, paying for moving and travel expenses and putting up the family in a corporate furnished rental.

But today, with tight corporate budgets and a do-it-yourself employee attitude, companies will simply give an employee they're relocating a sum of money and let them coordinate their own moving process and expenses.

The executive who called us a few weeks ago wanted to recommend CorporateHousingbyOwner.com to her relocated employees so the employees could negotiate their own corporate rental fees and choose where they wanted to live.

What this means for you as a corporate housing landlord:

First, if your rental property is located near a business district or specific business (Microsoft, Comcast, etc.), you need to put this information in your listing. For example, you could say, Chicago corporate rental located in heart of downtown Chicago near Accenture, Boeing, Aon, RR Donnelley, etc. Chances are executives are being relocated to these big name firms and they are choosing their own corporate rental accommodations. Relocated employees given lump sum relocation fees will search for such company names in the keyword section and you want your property to "show up."

Second, be sure to follow up with all leads you get on your property. Some property owners only want to work with companies, however, an individual contacting you may be working with a company but managing their own relocation as a lump sum recipient.

Third, if you do work with a lump-sum relocated employee and you have a positive experience, ask them to recommend your property and CorporateHousingbyOwner.com to their HR team. Growing recognition for you and the CHBO site will only help you attract quality renters in the future.

Good luck!

I'm not sure.. Maybe I could try.

What properties work for corporate housing? Who rents corporate housing? Is the marketing going up or down? What don't I know? These are normally the first questions I get if I am talking to a reporter, a business associate or a property owner. Mostly I just like to answer with stories. I also like to tell about the stories that most people don't think about.

Renters - Last week an insurance company needed a new home because a family's home heating oil leaked and their home is going through an environmental cleanup. This week a new mother-to-be needed a place for her parents when they visit when the baby is born. Find other stories: http://www.corporatehousingbyowner.com/corporate-housing/Testimonials

Property Owners - This week we posted a new case study about a couple who bought their dream condo 3000 miles away and needed income to keep it.
Find other stories: http://www.corporatehousingbyowner.com/corporate-housing/Owner%27s%20Experiences

Do you have a story you would like to share?

Converting inquiries into rentals

You may get lots of people emailing and calling you to inquire about your furnished rental property, but are you effectively converting those inquiries into full-fledged rental customers?

Here are some tips to help convert a rental prospect into a customer:

Respect each lead. You never know how a lead will turn out so never let any stones go unturned. If you don't call back a lead because you don't like their rate or pet you may be missing out on the perfect renter who is willing to make compromises to work with you!

Call. Whenever possible get a potential lead on the phone - email is nice and fast but great renter relationships are developed through personal connection. Take the time to better understand their needs over the phone and you'll find that they will do a better job at taking care of your property and they will likely stay longer too! Also, return calls promptly. Chances are the prospective renter is sending out several queries - you want to be the first to snag the lead!

Ask for referrals. Don't just focus on converting this one lead, but see if you can use it to build future renters as well. If your renter is connected with a company, remind them to have their housing coordinator register for free as a CHBO Corporate User and have them bookmark your property for future employees.

Remember, ensuring that your rental property continually rented takes some time, but if you make the extra effort with each and every lead, it's likely you'll be a successful corporate housing landlord! Good luck!

List your home on CorporateHousingbyOwner.com for FREE if you live in the Atlanta metro area; help flood victims find temporary, furnished housing!

Prolonged rains in Atlanta, Georgia have caused massive flooding, leaving thousands of homeowners displaced and left to find alternative housing solutions.

To help find temporary, furnished housing for these displaced Atlanta residents, anyone offering a furnished rental property in and around the Atlanta metro area will be given a FREE listing on CorporateHousingbyOwner.com, a website connecting homeowners offering fully furnished, temporary housing with renters in need!

Anyone offering a furnished rental property in the Atlanta metro area should contact a CHBO property specialist at 877-333-2426 to get their free month-long property listing coupon code.

Currently, CHBO has hundreds of furnished properties listed as available in the Atlanta, Georgia metro area, which can meet some of the demand for temporary housing created by the flooding.

Who should list their home through CHBO?

• Anyone who has a home listed for sale that is vacant but still furnished (staged).
  
• Anyone who owns an investment property, corporate rental or vacation rental in the Atlanta area.
  
• Anyone who is not living in their home for the next several months who can offer their property as a short-term furnished rental (i.e. someone who lives elsewhere part of the year).

Who should rent through CHBO?

• Anyone whose home has been damaged by the flooding or who has evacuated because of the floods in Georgia.
  
• Any insurance companies looking to find temporary, furnished housing for flood victims.
• Families with children and pets who have been displaced but don't want to stay in a transient hotel - furnished temporary housing is the right solution for these families.
  

Be Careful if you Substitute your Current Listing with a Different Listing

I was just reading a multi-page user agreement from another rental site and one item popped out at me as a feature of CorporateHousingByOwner.com that our customers may not be aware of.

Did you know that you can change your property listing and all details at anytime without any penalty or any additional fees? In other words, you may substitute your current property with a different property at any time. That means you can swap out a property that is already rented with one that is searching for a tenant. No need to buy two listings if you can't afford it.

Of course, I want to remind you that swapping one property listing for another isn't always the best move in our Web 2.0 world. That's because your property details may already have been ranked with good search engine placement. When you change your property details it may take some time for a search engine to pick up your new listing's information. So be careful and think about the changes and if they're in your best interest. There's always trade-offs and this is one of them.

Who uses Corporate Housing: Relocation and Consultants

From the beginning of the Corporate Housing Industry there have been two primary consumers of corporate housing (1) Relocating Executives and (2) Business Consultants. Over the past 40 years, however, corporate housing has evolved into a mainstream lodging segment and today serves a wide range of diverse business travelers and individuals in need of temporary housing.

Relocation Executives: According to a recent HR Magazine article, relocation was down in 2008 but the numbers are still huge. In 2008, 11.9% of the population relocated and $24 billion dollars is spent annually on US corporate relocation.

Relocation Surveys also indicated that, for the first time, prospects for selling and buying real estate surpassed family concern and spouses’ careers as the most important issues! This is why Corporate Housing by Owner (CHBO) is such an important element in relocation today. CHBO can allow a family to relocate to find the perfect job because it gives them the option to rent their current home and test drive a new furnished home at their chosen destination. This cuts down on costs, eliminates the uncertainty of the real estate market, and makes it easy to reverse if the new job doesn’t work out. These surveys also highlighted companies trend to Lump Sum Relocation packages allowing employees to look for their own corporate housing through resources like CHBO.

Business Consultants: CHBO would also like to take this opportunity to salute 2009’s Top Consultants according to Consulting Magazine and thank them for using Corporate Housing.

2009 Top Consultants – Consulting Magazine

Jim Bramante, IBM Global Business Services

Bruce Barge, Buck Consultants

Michael Conover, KPMG

Claudia D’Arpizio, Bain & Company

MaryAnne Fraschan, EDS

Cory Gunderson, Protiviti

John Kaltenmark, Accenture Technology Consulting

Brooks Kitchel, Kurt Salmon Associates

John Kovalchick, Proudfoot Consulting

Rich Lesser, The Boston Consulting Group

Robin Lineberger, BearingPoint

Bryan Marsal, Alvarez & Marsal

Leslie Moeller, Booz & Company

Ken Mungan, Milliman

Jacqueline Olynyk, PricewaterhouseCoopers

Laurie Oppel, Navigant Consulting

David Rodman, Hitachi Consulting

Jim Roth, Huron Consulting Group

Vance Scott, A.T. Kearney

Amy Shah, Sapient

Ed Stark, Capgemini Consulting

Ming Tsai, Infosys Consulting

Tim Wiest, Deloitte Consulting

Rob Wilhite, KEMA

Stephen Wood, Ingenix Consulting

Top reasons to stay in corporate or furnished rental home over a dingy hotel

Many people don't know that they have lodging options when they travel. In fact, if you're a savvy traveler, you know that you almost never have to stay in a noisy, cramped hotel. If you stay in a corporate rental, for example, you can eat meals in and save money, among other perks!

Here are five reasons to stay in corporate housing vs. a hotel during your next business or family trip:

1. Cheaper - If your stay is one month or longer, it is much cheaper to stay in a corporate rental. No extra lodging fees or taxes, no daily charges for Internet, no parking fees and hassles and you can eat your meals in vs. opting for expensive room service. Plus, paying a daily hotel rate adds up - most corporate rentals give deals for longer stays shaving hundreds, maybe even thousands, off a lodging bill.

2. Residential Feel - Staying in a corporate rental just gives off good vibes. No transient guests coming and going like in a hotel. You stay in your home or condo and feel like you're part of the community. In other words, you can live like the locals live - a bonus when you're exploring a new city!

3. Full Size Kitchen - One of the best reasons to stay in a corporate rental is that you can cook and eat meals in. Talk about saving money and hassle! Every corporate rental comes with a fully furnished kitchen complete with dishes, pots, silverware and the works! A quick trip to the supermarket will enable you to eat many meals in and save the splurging for special meals out!


4. More Beds and Baths - If you're traveling with a family or a business colleague, staying in a two or more bedroom corporate rental will allow you each to have privacy while saving money (i.e., no need for two hotel rooms but each person gets his/her own room). Plus, families with young kids will enjoy having an extra room due to the variations in bedtimes.

5. Privacy - In a hotel you can hear people talking and walking in the hallways, elevator bells ringing and your neighbor's TV blasting! A thin wall separates you from your neighbor. If you want some privacy and quiet time, corporate rentals are the way to go!

Remember, you have lodging options when you travel. Next time opt for a corporate rental over a hotel. You'll be happy you did!

List your So. California home for rent on CorporateHousingbyOwner.com for free - displaced wildfire victims need temporary furnished housing

CorporateHousingbyOwner.com issued this alert today to help ease the housing woes plaguing Southern Californians affected by the wildfires.

CorporateHousingbyOwner.com Offering Free Listings to Individuals in Southern California and Los Angeles with Furnished Homes Available for Rent by Wildfire Victims

Company Aims to Help Area Officials and Insurers Meet the Housing Needs for the Estimated 10,000 Displaced Southern California Residents

September 1, 2009 – To help the 10,000+ residents of Southern California who have lost their homes or been evacuated as a result of the wildfires, CorporateHousingbyOwner.com (CHBO), a website that links individuals offering furnished short-term rental properties with renters in need, is offering a free month-long listing to anyone offering furnished properties for rent in Southern California and the Los Angeles metro areas.

The goal of this effort is to help meet the housing needs of the thousands of residents who have been evacuated or have lost their homes due to the wildfires.

“We don’t want to see thousands of families forced to live in an impersonal hotel. These displaced families need to know that there are hundreds of furnished, residential properties available for rent,� says Kimberly Smith, founder of CHBO and corporate housing expert. “Victims of the wildfires are undergoing enough stress and need residential, not transient, housing. Corporate housing fits this bill, and we hope our efforts will get more available rental properties listed to meet this need.�

Anyone offering a furnished rental in Southern California or the Los Angeles metro area should contact a CHBO property specialist at 877-333-2426 to get their free month-long property listing.

Currently, CHBO has hundreds of furnished properties listed as available in the Southern California and Los Angeles metro areas, albeit not to fill the demand created by evacuations.

Who should list their home through CHBO?

• Anyone who has a home listed for sale that is vacant but still furnished (staged).
• Anyone who owns an investment property, corporate rental or vacation rental in Southern California.
• Anyone who is not living in their home for the next several months who can offer their property as a short-term furnished rental (i.e. someone who lives elsewhere part of the year).

Who should rent through CHBO?

• Anyone who has lost their home or has been evacuated by the wildfires
• Any insurance companies looking to find temporary, furnished housing for wildfire victims.

What is Corporate Housing?

If you're a landlord or real estate investor and have never heard of corporate housing, you are missing out on a new real estate trend that could make you more money.

Corporate housing is an industry that has existed for decades and last year reported $2.7 billion in domestic revenue. That said, the reality is most people have never heard of it unless they have been relocated or are a consultant.

The other funny thing is a lot more people have stayed in corporate housing they just didn't know it had a specific name. In today's changing business and real estate environments corporate housing is transitioning from an industry that was focused mainly on business-to-business sales into business-to-individual transactions and now, with CorporateHousingbyOwner.com, even individual-to-individual transactions.

What is Corporate Housing?

Corporate housing is quite simply a residential property that is rented furnished (with specific industry standards) on a monthly basis. If you are retired and live in Northern Canada and spend your winters in Florida your monthly rental falls into the category of corporate housing. If your home was damaged or destroyed in a hurricane and your insurance provider paid for you to stay in a furnished residential property, you were staying in corporate housing whether you realized it or not.

Notice I keep using the word "residential" property. That is really the second key to corporate housing. What this means is that unlike a hotel or extended stay property where everyone comes and goes, in a residential property the majority of the occupants or your neighbors consider that property their primary residence and don't come and go.

I am always interested in hearing about examples of people who have stayed in corporate housing and why. Here are some interesting examples:

Did you know when large amounts of troops come home from Iraq the local military housing on base gets full and the soldiers are given a per-diem to find temporary furnished housing until base housing becomes available. Where do they turn? Corporate housing!

Did you know that professional athletes who are frequently traded generally have one main permanent residence and then rent a fully furnished property for the time they are in the new city.

The end result is you should know about corporate housing and how it can save you money, offer you more square footage, and gives you a more comfortable and safe living environment. You should be talking about it with your neighbor because some day s/he will need it too!

What's the difference between Serviced Apartments vs. Managed Corporate Housing vs. Corporate Housing by Owner?

Corporate housing can be confusing because not all corporate housing is the same. In fact, there are three main types of corporate housing:

(1) Serviced Apartments

(2) Managed Corporate Housing

(3) Corporate Housing by Owner

While these three types overlap, they also serve very specific needs. Let me explain.

If you are an HR director and are relocating a group of 20 executives from New York to Denver and you need 20 one-bedroom properties that all look the same and in the same location, you need to go to a corporate housing provider that offers Serviced Apartments. These type of corporate housing companies take apartments, furnish then, turn on the cable, phone and Internet and sublet the property for the term needed by the renter.

If you are a Senior VP from a large financial institution and you need to be invoiced and professionally taken care of - and you're looking for an urban 2,000 square foot loft in the trendy area of town - your best bet is to rent through a company that offers Managed Corporate Housing. These types are companies are licensed real estate brokerages that manage privately owned, fully-furnished properties throughout high demand business areas.

If you are a family relocating to a new city and want to be in suburban home in a specific school district, your best bet is to rent a home directly from the property owner (By Owner) because corporate housing companies generally trend to maintain properties in higher density areas.

Now these are some HUGE generalizations and there are lots of reasons the tenants I have referenced above may choose one kind of corporate housing over another. In today's world where every detail of a property can be accessed by everyone over the Internet, everyone is looking everywhere for the perfect property at the perfect price.

The great news is there are lots of options and you just need to decide what is best for you.

Renting directly from a property owner normally gets you a better price with broader property styles and location. On the other hand, working with a professional property management company might be better for someone who prefers the security, professionalism and service provided by a professional entity with 24 hour emergency services.

The key to deciding what is right for you is asking a lot of questions to learn about each property and company.

My companies are all members of CHPA - Corporate Housing Providers Association - which adheres to a code of ethics and has a formal program for processing complaints about providers. A membership like this gives a company a certain level of credibility above a company that chooses not to be a member of their industry's trade organization.

Don't underestimate the power of staging photos

Remember most of your potential tenants will not personally see your property before they rent it and are going to be making their lodging choice directly from the photos you have posted on the CHBO website.

A good way to get potential renters to take notice is through staging photos. Staging photos are pictures of your home with the table set and the lighting just right for the mood. If you have a pool, you'll want the picture to include lounge chairs, towels and lemonade. Such a photo can put people in the mood and help them imagine what it would be like living in your home.

Property #3909 is a perfect example of how a great staging photo can really get a property rented - check it out!

PS: While you are viewing this property notice this property has the "Power Owner" logo and just by clicking on the logo you can see all the properties this owner has on the CHBO site. The "Power Owner" program is one of the complimentary marketing programs offered on CHBO.

Don’t Let the Bed Bugs Take a Bite Out of Your Rental Income

With bed bugs on the rise, particularly in hotels, the situation has put corporate housing landlords on notice as well. In fact, a recent corporate housing landlord I know spent $8,000 to eradicate a bed bug infestation that took over her rental property. The home was clean and sanitary, but some one brought a bed bug into her home and it created a big and expensive problem literally overnight!

How are bed bugs introduced to a home?

Bed bugs are introduced into homes and buildings via luggage and personal belongings of guests and workers. They typically take up residence in beds, but are often found on carpet, luggage, sofas and behind wall hangings too.

While bed bugs don’t transmit any illnesses, they do create itchy welts on their victims' bodies. A single bed bug can lay 500 or more eggs in a lifetime, so most bed bugs come with their families to attack an unsuspecting victim.

Preventing bed bugs

The best remedy for bed bugs is prevention.

A simple way to prevent bed bugs is by purchasing a sealed mattress pad specifically designed to prevent bed bugs and dust mites. This will cost you a bit more upfront (about $50-$200 depending on the size of your mattress), but it will deter bed bugs from taking up residence in your home.

Also, homeowners should be vigilant about checking their beds after each visit. If you see tiny bed bugs or small black or red spots on the sheet, you need to get professional pest control help immediately. Be sure to also check the carpet, baseboards and sofas for further infestation and eradicate as necessary. The sooner you catch a bed bug problem the less likely it is that the problem will spread throughout your entire home.

Also, once you notice a bed bug problem, notify any previous tenants that they may be a carrier – encourage them to vacuum their luggage and inspect their beds as well.

Remember, prevention is key in avoiding problems with bed bugs. Hopefully it will help you and your tenants sleep a bit easier at night.

Multi-Tenant Buildings Can Share Internet Costs

If you own a multi-unit building or have several corporate apartments in one building, you can consider sharing Internet costs.

Keep the Internet going in one central apartment. Then replicate what hotels and coffee shops do, provide wireless Internet service. To do this, buy a wireless router box at any electronic's store such as Best Buy or Radio Shack. The router costs anywhere between $70-$150. A better quality, stronger antennae box will cost more but may be required for larger buildings. I suggest you make that initial investment because it will pay off over time.

Wireless routers can be secured with a network name and password. Simply furnish this information to each new tenant so that the neighborhood doesn't tap into the network.

Some larger buildings with multiple floors will experience a weak WiFi signal. In this case, another wise investment would be to purchase a router extender. This extender box can be placed in another location to improve signal reception.

Strategies for Furnishing a Corporate Rental

Have you heard the old adage, “How do you eat an elephant?� The answer to the question is, “bite by bite.� While no one “eats� elephants, this old adage shows that you have to tackle big tasks bit by bit, piece by piece.

A corporate rental requires a lot of stuff, after all, the average cost of furnishing a 800 square foot property is about $8-10,000… more if you have a office and additional bedrooms.

To furnish your corporate rental, take to heart these tips:

1. Furnish your property by shopping at three locations: Remember time is money and if you’re furnishing a place you’ll want to do it fast and cost-effectively. Sure, you can look for bargains and run around, waste gas, and end up waiting around for multiple deliveries, or you can shop for your items in three stores and be done (recommended). Here are the three places you should go to furnish your corporate rentals:

-A big furniture/discount warehouse – try to get everything from one location and with one delivery fee and hassle
-Target or Walmart where you can buy just about everything you need in terms of linens, kitchen supplies (unless you buy the standard Kitchen Kit, which is recommended), decorations, etc.
-Best Buy or a big electronic box store where you can buy all your electronics in one swoop.

2. Don’t get carried away. Remember, a $5,000 couch won’t get you more rent money, so buy the nicest couch you find with the smallest price tag.

3. Negotiate. Negotiate. Negotiate. If you’re going to buy all your furniture or electronics in one place, ask the store manager if you can have a 10% discount or if they’ll waive the delivery fee. They want ALL your business, don’t they?

4. Understand how your home will be utilized. Some homes are larger and may be used for entertaining while others will be used simply for a single person traveling on business. If you think your property may be one used for entertaining you may need to spend a little more on furnishing the home with extra dishes and silverware, serving pieces and utensils, etc.

5. Keep things fresh. There are things that get used a lot in a home and can get icky with wear. You don’t want to furnish a rental home with oven gloves that are burned or stained kitchen rags. Buy those items at a low cost and replace between tenants or as needed.

6. Don’t use garage sale finds in your rental. While it’s tempting to want to furnish on the cheap and use old items from your house or a garage sale find, the best course is to simply buy everything new. Don’t risk turning off a tenant and potentially getting a bad review because you decided to cut corners and put your old dingy blender in the property.

7. DIY when possible. Try to purchase items that don’t require installation or assembly or that can easily be done by yourself. Remember to account for assembly fees in your budget and when considering purchasing specific items. Something you think will save you money may end up costing you more in the end.

These are some simple strategies to help you get started furnishing your corporate rental. Remember the goal is to keep it simple and cost-effective. Don’t spend too much time running around and stressing yourself out. Be strategic in your approach and you’ll find that furnishing a corporate rental is much easier than you think.

The Kitchen Sink – What does it cost to furnish a corporate kitchen?

Furnishing a kitchen in a corporate rental can be a tedious task. You need to have everything ready and available from a potato peeler and cheese grater to a salad bowl and cutting board.

A good way to cut your costs and save time is to order a standard Kitchen Kit offered through CHBO. It has everything you need to furnish a kitchen and is delivered on a single day in about 2-3 boxes depending on size of kitchen. The cost is about $407.33 for a kitchen in a standard one bedroom property.

Buying the Kitchen Kit offers several benefits.

1. It ensures you meet quality standards of corporate rentals. You’ll get everything you need without having to run around a store to find all the items. It takes the guess work out of furnishing a kitchen!

2. If one of your dishes break, you can call the supplier and order additional dishes. They are always in stock and the styles never change like they do in department and big box stores.

3. The Kitchen Kit has evolved over the years to ensure it has products that function and last for a long time. You want the most quality at the lowest cost and our Kitchen Kit provides that.

This post isn’t meant to be a big sell on the Kitchen Kit – it’s meant to help you furnish your kitchen quickly, cost-effectively and with quality items. That is the goal and we hope this information helps!!

Contact us for more information on the Kitchen Kit.

Moving to a New City? The Case for Renting Over Buying

I'd like to share the stories of Jane and Maureen. Both are 20-something single women moving to the Denver metro area for a new job.

Jane:
Jane is stressed to the bone trying to find a new home in Denver. After a quick weekend trip to Denver, she visited a few houses near her new office and quickly made an offer to buy a home in Parker, Co. What Jane didn't know is that while Parker is known for its large homes at an affordable price, the suburb is filled with young families, not single 20-something women. After a year of living in suburbia, Jane wished she wasn't saddled with her Parker home and that she could be a part of the swank neighborhoods around Wash Park, Bonnie Brae, Cherry Creek or LoDo. With the housing market in a rut, Jane is stuck in suburbia, at least for the time being.

Maureen:
Like Jane, Maureen quickly needed place to live in the Denver metro area. Rather than buy a home, she decided to put her furniture in storage and rent a short-term corporate rental in Parker, Co., near her office. After four months of living in Parker, Maureen decided the suburban life wasn't for her. She wanted to be near her new friends in LoDo. She spent a few months searching and found the perfect condo in the heart of downtown Denver. She is happier than ever with her choice and plans to stay put for many years.

The stories of Jane and Maureen are very commonplace. People move to a new city and think they quickly need to rush and buy a home. But the truth is there is no rush. There is nothing wrong with renting and figuring out a city first before buying.

Some tips to finding a home in a new city:

1. Take Your Time. If you're moving to a new area, take time to get to know the city before buying. Don't rush to buy something you might later regret.

2. Trial an Area Before Buying. Spend a month living in an area you have your eye on. If Wash Park (a great neighborhood in Denver) sounds like the neighborhood for you, find a corporate rental in or around the area and spend a month living there. See if you like it before committing with a 30-year fixed mortgage!

3. Check Out Corporate Housing. Corporate rentals are furnished properties offered for one month or more at a time. Corporate rentals feel like home and enable you to explore a neighborhood before buying into one for good. An investment in corporate housing for a few months upfront will help you know you're making the right choice for the long run!

Seattle Home Owners: Protect Your Rental Rights

In Seattle, a battle is underway between Michelle Acquavella, who runs a successful Seattle-based property management company (specializing in managing short-term vacation and corporate rentals), and the Seattle city government.

In 2008, one of Acquavella’s property was issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) because it was being used as a short-term rental. She challenged the notice and after a grueling legal battle, the Superior Court finally ruled that Acquavella’s short-term rentals were legal and acceptable under City Code in May 2009.

That said, Acquavella’s long-term battle was nowhere over. She acknowledges on her blog that the ruling may be appealed – and that the Department of Planning and Development is trying to change City Code to ban vacation rental properties.

I urge you to wake up, Seattle! We are in the middle of a housing crisis in America. The last thing that the government needs to do is strip homeowners of options. Homeowners who can’t sell their homes are able to offer them as short- and long-term rentals. Real estate investors are buying properties (many homes that they are saving from foreclosure) and converting them into rental properties. Why in the world would Seattle’s city officials want to strip local homeowners of their options?

I suppose it’s tax payer money hard at work - I vote we work on simplifying regulations that we can hold the big guys to - not trying to create new ones that hurt the little guy!

Follow this story as it unfolds – check out Acquavella’s blog.

Is Demand for Corporate Housing Waning?

I'm Nelly, a tenant relations specialist at CHBO and my job is to work with property owners to make sure their property listings are accurate, focused and set for success.

The single most common question I get is, "Are there tenants looking for corporate rentals these days?" It's no secret that we're living in tough economic times and corporate travel has been slashed by most major corporations. However, the answer to this question is still a very simple, "Yes!" The world is still doing business and there is still a huge need for furnished, temporary housing.

I personally know that the demand for corporate housing is high because:

1) Day-in and day-out I am bombarded with tenant leads. While most people find the housing they're looking for on the CHBO site, still can't find a home in a city of their choice that meets their requirements. I work hard to connect them with the many property owners listing through CHBO. The more properties we have listed on the site, the more chances we have for finding a successful renter/rentee match.

2) Many industries are still booming. Companies often contact us to help them find temporary housing for their employees. Here is a sampling of the industries that have utilized corporate housing in the last several weeks:
- Engineering/Construction
- Medical Supplier
- University Medical Center
- International Graduate Student
- Wildlife Rescue Center
- Construction Flooring
- Engineering/Stress Analysts
- Security Consultants
- Marketing Media Strategist
- Dance Company
- New Job
- Relocation Package
- Motorcycle Company

3) Requests for corporate housing keep coming in and they remain quite lucrative. Here are some of the requests for corporate housing we received in the last few weeks:
-1 Bedroom request for $3,500 per month in Davenport, IL
-House for more than $10,000 per month in Orange County
-3 bedroom request for $4,999 in New Jersey
-1 year rental in Boca Raton for $2,500 per month
-3 month request in AZ for $5,999 per month
-6-9 month rental in DC for $4,999 per month
-Weekly request in Carlsbad for $6,999

4) Corporate housing isn't just for business travelers anymore. People are in need of temporary furnished housing for a variety of reasons - here are some requests we received just last week:
-new grandparents looking for temporary housing near their family,
-people who are renting out their larger home because they needed to downsize,
-a couple who wants to rent a home so they can first try a new area before buying.

As you can see, the need for corporate rentals is not waning - if anything it's growing. Tap into this market by listing your property with CHBO too!

Posted by Nelly

How to Dress Up Your Corporate Rental

You wouldn't go to a job interview or a blind date with wrinkled, mismatched fashion or disheveled hair, would you?

If you have ideas of turning your abode into a corporate rental, whether it's your vacation pied-a-terre or investment property, remember that the same mantra applies to featuring your rental property: Dress it up!

As a property manager, I've seen properties that have never seen a day of vacancy and properties that languish on the market.

Why you ask? Well, of course location and amenities have a lot to do with it. But I’ve also come to realize that a little internal sprucing up can do wonders for improving a rental property's occupancy rate.

Here are some tips to help you spruce up your property:

Put on a fresh coat of paint. Add some color contrast to your walls – don’t just stick with plain old white! Check out pictures in magazines or go to open houses of other corporate rentals on the market. Observe the lay-out and decorations and take note of the most tasteful and imitate it.

Invest in comfortable, elegant pieces. Try to avoid the mass-produced pieces at franchise shops and instead seek out sales held by staging companies or corporate furnishing stores. Some have warehouses and outlets. If you don't know where to look, contact a few real estate agencies in town to inquire… they probably know!

If your forté isn't in color coordination or interior decorating, fret not. In today's rough and tumble economy, employment is scarce. So that’s why hiring a professional decorator won’t break the bank – and in fact can help improve the desirability of your rental property to ensure maximum occupancy. That said, if you still can't afford the services of an interior decorator, then think-outside-the-box. Go to the local college and seek out some blossoming student talent. Put up flyers near the university’s design department and make up your own interview process. Many students will be thrilled for the work because they welcome the income and experience!

Posted by Dawn

Part II of II: The Pet Dilemma. How-to Ensure Good Pet Practices

As discussed in Part I of The Pet Dilemma series, allowing pets in your corporate rental enables you to attract a greater number of potential renters.

But if you allow pets, here are a few things to ask and a few rules to set to ensure good pet practices:

What kind of animal is it? Most animals are fine, but you may want to avoid allowing tenants with pitbulls or other animals that could be considered dangerous to the families living around you. A dangerous animal might require you to change your homeowners insurance and you don’t want to have to deal with that added hassle.

Is the animal noisy? Dogs like to bark, especially at strangers and passerbys. This can be very annoying and disruptive to neighbors. Make the owner agree that the dog will be kept inside most of the time and only outside when supervised by his owner. You may even set hours (i.e., the dog can’t be outside after 10pm) to ensure the dog isn’t barking late at night.

Who is going to clean up? Outline specific rules on what you expect your property (inside and out) to look like while the tenant lives there and upon returning the home to you.

Who will pay for damages? If the pet chews through your wood coffee table, spell out in your contract that the renter is responsible for all damages – big and small. Note: Don’t forget to collect an additional pet security deposit – typically 50% more than a regular security deposit – to insure your property against damages caused by the animal.

How old is the pet and is it house trained? This is actually a very important to ask as you don’t want a puppy “marking� up your carpet or having accidents in your bed. Make sure the animal is at least one year old and is house trained.

How many pets? It’s wise to limit the number of pets to one large animal and maybe two small animals.

Is the pet properly vaccinated? You don’t want any animals carrying or being exposed to disease on your property. Ask for proof of vaccinations and make sure they’re up to date.

Also, be sure to check with your insurance provider to ensure you’re effectively covered to allow pets in your corporate rental.

Overall, allowing pets can be quite lucrative. Be sure to ask the right questions so you product yourself from liability and your property from damage.

Divorced and in need of temporary housing? Corporate housing rentals can help

Sadly America saw a once happily married couple, Jon and Kate Gosselin, fall apart on camera last night. The Gosselin's announced on their TLC reality series, "Jon and Kate Plus 8," that they will be splitting for good.

The Gosselin's are not alone. In fact, we have worked with many individuals going through the uncertainties and difficulties of a divorce. That's because when a couple splits, inevitably one party is left to fend for their own shelter. The party looking for home usually ends up in a hotel or a friend's couch because they don't want to rush and buy a home if they're uncertain of where they need to live and the kind of house or apartment they're going to need for the long run.

So during this emotionally charged time we find a lot of divorcees turn to corporate housing. A corporate rental is furnished and the lease goes month-to-month as to not tie someone into a long term housing situation or breaking the bank. The property is fully furnished and includes a full-sized kitchen, bed and bedroom linens, cable and Internet, and all the creature comforts of a home.

While a corporate rental is not a long-term solution, hopefully it can provide comfort, privacy and dignity to the divorcing party left homeless.

Part I of II: The Pet Dilemma. Should You Allow ‘Em?

I am constantly asked whether a corporate rental should allow pets. On one had, your property is furnished, so there are things that can easily be damaged by a pet. On the other hand, you want to maximize the number of renters you attract, after all, this is an investment and you don’t want your home sitting idle without any renters.

So, while pets can be a pain, I do think homeowners should make every effort to allow them. Here’s why:

First, you open the door to a larger pool of possible tenants. Traveling with pets has become commonplace these days and more traveling executives and relocated families are bringing Fido along for the ride. It’s also unlikely that an executive or family traveling with a pet for months at a time would want to stay in a hotel – so a corporate rental is quite attractive for this audience.

Second, you open the door to making more money. Yes, you can charge more for renter’s who bring along a pet – and you can demand a larger security deposit too. People traveling with pets expect this and are happy to oblige because they simply want to bring Fido along.

Third, you might increase your occupancy rate. Because you allow a larger pool of possible tenants, it’s likely your rental property will have very high occupancy rates – boosting your bottom line!

Fourth, if you own a single family home, it’s the best way to get more renters. Traveling executives like to be near their office, so they may not venture too far off into suburbia. But those that require temporary, furnished rentals homes AND have pets will turn to the single family homes listed for rent, even in a less desirable location (suburb vs. city) just so they can have a yard for their pet to play in and so they can be near parks. So I’m saying if you have a property not centrally located, allowing pets might be one of the few ways you attract a constant stream of renters to your property.

If you do decide to allow pets in your rental property, there are a few precautions and rules you must abide by first. Read Part II of The Pet Dilemma.

Make Your Doctor Happy: Lower Your “Grief Per Dollar�

One of our customer service reps just told me he got a call from a homeowner who was switching her vacation rental to a corporate rental. She told him she was tired of turning over her property every five days. By making it a corporate rental, she would only have to turn it over once a couple of times per year at the most and, in effect, she would lower her GPD or “grief per dollar,� she says. :-)

And she’s right! Corporate rentals are traditionally monthly stays that average 80 days in the most recent industry report and have a much lower turnover rate than vacation rentals. Those that own vacation rentals know just how much work goes into turning over a place every few days and sometimes the hassle is just too much. Last quarter 32% of the leads received by CHBO were for nine months or longer, that would result in a significant decrease in GPD.

Should You Allow Weekly Rentals: Revisited

Since I posted the entry about renting weekly rentals a few weeks ago, something interesting happened.

I broke my own rules because I just rented a downtown loft I manage for to two consecutive weekly-renters in June.

While this property is not located in a vacation spot, as it's in the heart of a metro downtown, the property became available and I had two inquiries for two weekly stays in June. I then learned about a third monthly reservation that would start the first of July.

In this case, things worked out perfectly because I have the property rented for two weeks in June and am able to advance-book the July reservation, which will be a 3-4 month-long stay.

The reason I'm telling you I did this is to show that there are, on occasion, appropriate times to make exceptions to even your own rules!

Should Your Corporate Rental be Green?

Going green is all the rage, but does that mean you should make your corporate housing rental green too?

A primary concern for real estate investors is the perception that green practices are more costly than non-green practices. But the truth is that there are ways to incorporate environmentally responsible practices into your rental property without breaking the bank.

And don’t forget that your renters want it – a recent survey said that 60% of renters demanded eco-friendly features in their rental property.

If you’re looking to go green, take these ideas into consideration:

Recycling: Leave recycle bins in accessible places within the property with instructions on what can be recycled and when recycling is picked up. If you live in a condo, leave instructions on where the renter should unload the recycle bins when they’re full.

Energy Efficient Light Bulbs: Putting in energy efficient light bulbs will actually lower your electric bill and force less maintenance on your home since the bulbs last longer and require fewer changes.

Low Flow Toilets and Showers: Low-flow efforts can shave dollars off your water bill and be kinder to Mother Earth – just make sure the shower still provides good flow and the toilets flush well. :-)

Leave Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products: Leave eco-friendly cleaning supplies and detergents in the property. The costs for eco-friendly products have really come down – and you’ll find the price isn’t far off from the leading brand’s price either.

Buy Energy Efficient Appliances: When the time comes to buy new appliances, replace the old ones with energy efficient dishwashers and washing machines. Cut your water and energy bill and feel good about saving the planet too!

Market Your “Green-ness:� And most of all, don’t forget to promote keywords like “green,� “energy-efficient,� and/or “eco-friendly,� when marketing your rental property on CorporateHousingbyOwner.com.

Is Do-It-Yourself Property Management the New Black?

Do it yourself industries are nothing new. But just because you can do-it-yourself, does it mean you should?

I read an article recently about Lowes Co. beginning to offer a series of workshops to teach the do-it-yourself home improvers some tricks of the trade. Apparently Lowes had done away with these workshops because people were paying contractors to do the work - but with the recession, do-it-yourself fixing is back in business.

In the corporate housing world, do-it-yourself property management isn't as common although it's definitely on the rise. A typical property manager charges 35 - 50% of the total rent - and they work very hard for that commission. They secure tenants (and in corporate housing, it might be anywhere from 1-12 tenants per year!) and then they handle transition between tenants, maintenance and general tenant and property management.

These responsibilities take effort, know-how and time. However the biggest challenge is how to find the right tenants. You've probably been here before:

You know of a large company 10 minutes away and your property would be a perfect corporate rental for its traveling execs. But you tried calling the HR folks to pitch your property and they wouldn't even take your call! If you could just connect with them you know you could get your property rented.

This scenario is very real because property management companies that focus on managed corporate housing already have relationships with HR departments. But it's possible for individual owners to reach these companies; they just need to use the right marketing tools, like using an online tool that connects them with both corporate HR departments and individual renters.

Attempting to do-it-yourself? Check out these resources:

I highly recommend that anyone attempting to manage their own corporate rental make sure they have the time to do it and that they do their homework! These two things are essential to finding success.

For those willing to take the time to manage their own properties and learn how to do it well, there are several resources we'd like to recommend:

1) Check out our website - CorporateHousingbyOwner.com. We allow you to download our User Manual for free - giving you all the tools and tips from the experts of do-it-yourself landlording. CHBO also includes links to various property management resources as well.

2) Check out the Complete Landlord site. While the site is not specific to corporate housing property management, it does offer a ton of free and premium information about finding success in landlording.

3) Corporate Housing Providers Association (CHPA). CHPA is the official association for corporate housing providers and the site is chocked full of news about the industry and tips for success.

Another good way to do your homework is to talk to professional and do-it-yourself property managers. Assess the responsibilities involved and how much time it will take you to do it all.

Don't want to do-it-yourself?

And if you find out you're not up to doing it yourself, hire a property manager to do all the work for you. A good way to identify a property manager includes checking listings on Find a Property Manager.

Also, if you're a typical property manager and would be interested to learn more about "managed corporate housing" there is a new program called AvenueWest Global Franchise that you can join to add a true corporate housing program to your company. For more information contact Angela Healy at Angela@awch.com or directly at 303.800.1381.

Should you allow week-long stays in a corporate housing rental?

From time to time you may be asked by a potential renter if you would be willing to rent out your property for a week-long stay – and usually those booking for week-long stays are looking to book for a future date. While most corporate housing stays are at least a month long, if not longer, it’s not uncommon for corporate housing owners to be approached with this question. So should you do it?

The answer to this question is “yes� and “no.�

YES – You should consider pre-booking week-long stays if your property is located in a market that is prime for vacation renters. During certain times of the year (tourist season), offering your property as a weekly vacation rental may help you capitalize on greater income potential because weekly rentals charge more than monthly rentals. You should only do this if you feel comfortable that any advance booking you take won’t deter potential long-term corporate housing renters.

NO – If your market is not in prime vacation rental territory, then I would advise against offering it for anything less than a 30-day rental for advanced bookings (a month or more in advance). The true formula for annual revenue success in the corporate rental business is occupancy and this is best achieved through longer-term tenants of one month or more. If you secure a week-long rental, you might tie-up your property and thereby prohibit a future renter from staying in your property for the long-term. Many corporate renters give little advance notice and need to see immediate availability. And remember, longer rentals means less wear and tear on your property too, so it often makes good business sense to stick with longer-term rental strategy.

Did You Know? About 50% of all tenant leads generated from CorporateHousingbyOwner.com were for rentals of 90 days or greater! In fact, 15% of the CHBO leads were for a year-long or more rental and 35% were for 4-11 month-long rentals, well above industry average.

Read this blog post - I broke my own renter rule!

How much should I spend on my marketing efforts?

As a general rule of thumb, corporate housing landlords should dedicate any where from one to three percent of their total annual revenue to marketing and advertising their property.

Here are some other general rules of thumb about how to go about successfully marketing your corporate housing rental property:

Don’t Limit to Local: Property owners should not only look at local marketing (such as local housing lists, newspaper classifieds, flyers, etc.), but instead turn to national marketing efforts. Furnished properties are being searched for by locals and non-locals looking for temporary living but the majority of people needing furnished housing come from people not living in your immediate area.

Beware of Classifieds: Because corporate rentals, by nature, have higher turnover than unfurnished rentals, you need a way to immediately market your property without having to wait for the Sunday classified section to run. And if you post it for free on an Internet list, you may find that 100 properties within the last hour posted rental properties too and your post is now buried. Having a long-term Internet marketing strategy is the way to go in this business that attracts out-of-towners and may require any where from one to 12 different renters per year. Also remember that corporate housing landlords should treat their property like a hotel. Hotels don’t just advertise when they have vacancy, rather they advertise their property year-round.

Understand Craigslist: While Craigslist is a great place to market your property for free, it doesn’t come with out great risk of attracting the wrong type of renter or wasting you time with the need to repost or speak with all the wrong tenants. At CorporateHousingbyOwner.com, we found that most property owners advertising on our site won’t post their property to Craigslist because they prefer to market their properties to quality corporate executives, which they continually find on CHBO. And, most of our corporate clients will not look on Craigslist because they don’t have time to inspect the properties to make sure the property is indeed a fit for their needs or a legitimate rental. Remember, corporate housing appeals to a different kind of renter who appreciates a more sophisticated marketing effort.

Overall, it’s important to remember that marketing your property is part of your investment as a corporate housing investor. Stick to a long-term strategy that targets individuals inside and outside of your local area and you’ll more likely than not attract quality renters to your property year-round.

Sharing Hotel Rooms with Business Colleagues on the Rise

A May 2009 HR Magazine article reported that more employees are being forced to share hotel rooms with their colleagues when traveling for business. In fact, the article cites a Business Traveler survey that found 14% of employees said they now share a room with a colleague and overall, 24% of business travelers have had to share a room with a colleague at some point in their career. This forced room-sharing is another way companies are trying to cut back on hefty travel expenses, particularly in our flailing economy.


But room-sharing often creates undo stress for someone who is away from home. Things like snoring, bathroom sharing and differences in bedtime schedules can create ill-will and stress between professional colleagues.

Instead of bunking two business associates in the same small hotel space, a company could, oftentimes for less cost, put up their traveling employees in a corporate housing rental. Corporate housing units have shared living space, but separate bedrooms and bathrooms, giving each employee their own personal space. Corporate housing can be a way companies cut back without sacrificing their employee's well-being in the process.

Here's a breakdown of how travel costs stack up when comparing hotel stays with corporate housing:

Lodging: A company could pay $75-$300 per day for a single employee to stay in a studio-sized hotel depending on location. Double that cost for two employees and a company could spend more than $9,000 per month per employee. On the other hand, the average corporate housing rental for a one-month in 2008 across the United States and averaged between all unit sizes is $3,500. Two business associates could share a two-bedroom corporate rental - and each would get their own private space and only sharing common spaces like the kitchen and TV area.

Food: Breakfast for one employee in the average hotel can cost $20-$30 per person per day. Dinner can cost $25-$50 if the employee dines out. These expenses can quickly add up over the course of three meals per day for an entire month - double for two employees. Corporate rentals include a full-sized kitchen with dishes, pots and pans and appliances. This enables traveling employees to eat-in often rather than dish out tons of cash for expensive room service and restaurants.

Hidden Fees: Many hotels charge $10-$25 per day just for Internet usage alone. Plus you have to tip the busboy, the room service attendant, and many others as well – tons of hidden costs. Standard corporate housing fees already include Internet charges and complimentary long distance and there are no tips required when an employee stays in a private home.

Companies should always look to other alternatives to save money before sacrificing an employee's personal space in the name of cost-cutting. Corporate housing is an underutilized option that should be considered - and can be a long-term solution for HR departments looking to cut corners in both good and difficult financial times.

Assessing a Property: Is It Fit to be a Corporate Housing Rental?

Our article about investing in corporate housing discussed the financial aspects of investing in a corporate housing rental property. Now I’d like to address some important considerations to make when purchasing a property specifically for use as a corporate housing rental.

Price per bed not price per square footage. While some people think more space or a bonus room are great perks for a home they are going to live in, keep in mind that it’s just added liability for a home you plan to rent. Purchase the smallest square footage with the most number of bedrooms, because, like a hotel, when you rent out a corporate rental, it’s priced per bed, not by square footage.

Avoid first floor units. If you’re purchasing a condo as a rental property, it’s probably best to avoid first floor units. People who don’t know the city may not feel as safe in a first floor unit, and oftentimes people will use a first floor rental to advertise a business, like a fortune teller. It’s just best to avoid first floor units altogether.

Don’t rule out functionally obsolete. Sometimes a property makes a poor long-term home, but a perfect rental home. Homes with tiny closets or kitchens, which some consider functionally obsolete, make wonderful rental properties because they are usually really cheap to buy and cash-flow well. So don’t rule out those functionally obsolete properties if the objective is cash-flow and the price is right.

Location. Location. Location. Location can singly-handedly ensure your property is rented continuously. Look for homes in urban areas, near train stations and airports, and close to universities and hospitals. Those locations typically rent the best and have the best resale value too.

Views and amenities matter. When people are visiting a new city for business or pleasure, they want to enjoy all the city has to office. Corporate renters like city views, covered parking and free gym access. Keep these things in mind when creating a desirable corporate rental property.

This list should help you successful seek out a solid investment property that is specifically tailored as a corporate housing rental. Good luck!

Rental Vacancies Up. Time to Reassess Marketing Strategy

The Denver Post reports today that apartment vacancies are at a 4-year high in the Denver metro area. With many people out of a job or worried about their finances , apparently more and more people are choosing to live with roommates or move in with their parents to save money.

But rest assured that demand for rental homes will always exist. Finding a loan will be forever more difficult. And people will think twice about buying so quickly in the future. The rental market may recover much more quickly than some think...

But if you're a real estate investor and are having trouble finding a quality renter, be sure to explore your options. Perhaps the home could be a good corporate rental? Or maybe you need to examine how competitive your rental rate is? We are operating in a different era and a different housing market, yet so many people are still pricing their homes and setting their rental rates using a 2006 mentality. Think objectively and outside of the box and you may just be able to turn things around more easily than you think.

A Bed Bug State of Mind Webinar April 30th

Join us for a Corporate Housing Providers Association Webinar on April 30

With more than 500 stories in the news in less than a week, you cannot afford to miss this webinar. Bed Bugs are back and you need to be prepared!


Join expert Entomologist Dr. Michael Potter for a webinar presentation hosted by CHPA and sponsored by Protect-A-Bed.

Bed bugs are back – big time. In recent years, hospitality, housing and relocation industries went from never having seen a bed bug to them now being a rather common occurrence. This presentation will transport you into bed bug-infested units and show why this is such a formidable foe, not to be taken lightly. Inspection, prevention, and management tips will be provided, along with suggestions for dealing with incidents and staying out of trouble.

1. Introduction & historical perspective on bed bugs
2. Current status of bed bugs in the US
3. Reasons for the resurgence
4. The problem with bed bugs and why it’s not just another ‘bug’
5. Recognition, biology and habits of bed bugs
6. Health aspects of bed bugs
7. How do infestations begin?
8. Role of your pest control provider
9. What can be done to lessen the chance of incidents?
10. Responding to incidents
11. Questions and Answers

Speaker Biography
Dr. Michael Potter, Professor of Entomology at the University of Kentucky, specializes in pests infesting buildings, people and property. His extension and research program provides cutting-edge information and advice about pests to companies and their clients worldwide. Prior to joining the University in 1991, Dr. Potter was the National Technical Director for the world’s largest pest control company.

Dr. Potter has been recognized as one of the ‘25 Most Influential People in the Pest Control Industry’ by Pest Control Technology magazine and was a recipient of the Industry Leadership Award. In recent years, Dr. Potter is among the most sought-after speakers on the subject of bed bugs in the United States, providing in-depth training for the hospitality, housing, health, and pest control industries.

CEU: One (1) credit for CCHP designations.
Cost:
Members - $50
Non-Members - $75

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista
Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer
Reserve your Webinar seat now at: (copy and paste to new browser)
https://ssl17.pair.com/chpa/cgi-bin/chpa_webinar_reg.pl?goto=webreg

New York Times Article - Not Home, but Not a Hotel

By CONRAD DE AENLLE

Published: April 6, 2009

It is ever so humble, but the usual dwelling for road warriors on long stints out of town is no place like home. Now, though, there are more options than expensive and charmless hotel rooms or large corporate apartments.

Kevin Moloney for The New York Times

Jesse Wood, foreground, and Chet Rodell stay in a Denver loft as they work for Human Channel Marketing.

One way around both shortcomings is to use one of the Web sites that have sprung up to play matchmaker between employers and property owners. Sites like CorporateHousingByOwner.com, RentalSpaceNetwork.com and Tchnetwork.com list midrange to upscale apartments to rent for weeks or months.

Those upscale apartments, in better economic times, would have sold quickly at high prices. But now, instead of trying to sell them at a fraction of what they were worth a few years ago — if they could be sold — the owners are buying time and making some money through the corporate rentals.

“Landlords right now are in a troublesome situation with everyone pinching pennies,� said Wesley Zlotoff, chief executive of RentalSpaceNetwork.com in Scottsdale, Ariz. “They can’t sell their property because no one’s buying, so this way they can get as much for it as possible.�

The properties are often less expensive than the old options as well, making them especially attractive as companies look for ways to cut travel costs.

“If it’s done right, it can be a win-win for everybody,� said John Challenger, chief executive of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, a recruiting and outplacement firm in Chicago. “The landlord can make space usable, the employee is happy to have a place that’s more private and have some of his or her things there, and the company saves money.�

At the same time, some lodging chains, notably Hilton, Marriott and InterContinental, have expanded their lines of extended-stay hotels, which feature kitchens and rent by the week or month.

The number of extended-stay rooms rose 9.2 percent in the first 11 months of 2008, compared with 2.6 percent growth for all hotel rooms, according to the research firm STR Global. Demand for extended-stay rooms increased by 3.5 percent in that period, while the broad industry experienced a 1.5 percent decline.

Extended-stay hotels and corporate housing sites appear to be thriving because so much else in the economy is not. The main customers for the apartment rental Web sites are property owners who pay a listing fee. Some have cultivated relationships with employers.

CorporateHousingByOwner.com, based in Highlands Ranch, Colo., has about 2,000 registered companies, said Kimberly Smith, its chief executive.

The site helps line up apartments for companies moving large numbers of employees, as often happens in industries like defense and energy, Ms. Smith said. The companies pay no fee for the assistance or to register. The site benefits from the demand for properties created by their presence.

To lure a corporate clientele, most units are furnished and wired for technology — cable or satellite television, high-speed Internet access, telephone — and stocked with cutlery, dishes, kitchen appliances and linen. Even with these items, renters often find the apartments cheaper than alternatives like hotel rooms or apartments.

That was the case for Go To Team, a Charleston, S.C., company that makes sports video footage for television networks. The availability of a cheaper place — a condominium listed on CorporateHousingByOwner.com — allowed the company to bid low enough to win a contract this year to cover an event in Miami.

“I wasn’t going to be able to afford a hotel room for two guys for two weeks,� said Skip Clark, Go To Team’s director of photography, who shot the assignment with a sound engineer. He and his colleague spent as much for the condo and the home-cooked meals as hotel rooms alone would have cost.

“It was nice having a fridge and a kitchen,� Mr. Clark said. “We didn’t have to go out to eat every night. This is when a corporate condo comes into play.�

A kitchen and other homey accoutrements also appealed to Chet Rodell, who is renting a loft in Denver for several weeks with a colleague as he opens an office for Human Channel Marketing, a company in Utah that generates business for cable television operators.

“We work very hard, and coming home to a quiet, comfortable place makes a huge difference,� said Mr. Rodell, who found the loft through CorporateHousingByOwner.com. “The cost is comparable to short stays at hotels and motels, but the experience is so much better.�

Still, anyone using a housing site should not expect a palace or the Ritz at the cost of a basic, down-market flat. The listed accommodations are likely to have many of the comforts of home and also some of the discomforts.

“There were goofy little things� in the condo in Miami that he rented, Mr. Clark recalled. “It was in an older building, and it had a small TV on an odd wall mounting. It wasn’t a swank place on the beach.�

Still, it was his first experience using a corporate housing site, and he found it pleasant enough to consider making similar arrangements on future road trips.

“Absolutely,� he said. “It was an experiment, but it’s probably something we’ll do more often.�

Mr. Clark highlighted one other feature of the condo, something seldom available in a hotel, that made it feel somewhat like home.

“I was able to bring my dog,� he said. “It was awesome.�

A version of this article appeared in print on April 7, 2009, on page B6 of the New York edition.

NY Tax laws info - IMPORTANT

Many changes have occurred in NYC with respect to tax laws for furnished apartments. The New York City Department of Finance has increased the Hotel Tax from 5% to 5.875%. This new tax rate will be applicable to all existing and new reservations effective March 1st.

The Hotel Room Occupancy Tax will not be affected by this change. It will remain as follows: $4.00 per day for a Studio, $6.00 per day for a 1 Bedroom, and $8.00 per day for a 2 Bedroom.

CHBO Attending the 2008 REALTORS® Conference & Expo Nov. 7-10 in Orlando

Be sure to visit our booth #2062 Nov. 7-10 in Orlando, FL.

For details visit - http://www.realtor.org/meetings_and_expo

We look forward to seeing you there.

CHBO on The Today Show...

Turn your home into a revenue source


Oct. 18: The Washington Post recently reported that the emotional and financial strain of the housing market has become so rough, it's on par with divorce, and even death. TODAY's Barbara Corcoran and psychologist Jeff Gardere explain how to lessen the burden and turn your house into a source of revenue.
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/27250745#27250745