The 12 Most Popular Articles from 2014
Written on December 29, 2014 by Lucas Hall, updated on January 5, 2015
Landlordology and Cozy had an incredible year of service, innovation, and growth in 2014.
Cozy announced that it’s premium landlord services are now free, while Landlordology continued to crank out a plethora of free educational articles, tips, and guides.
The following list only includes the most popular articles and tips, other than state law summaries, that were published in 2014.
Let’s get started:
12. How to Handle Rogue Tenants and Long-Term Guests
I require that any adult living in my rental property, to be listed on & sign the lease. It’s a simple rule that I always follow, and it has never steered me wrong. Learn how to handle long-term “guests” and rogue tenants who moved-in under the radar. Read More »
11. The Difference Between Hard and Soft Credit Checks
In many US cities, a tenant applies to 10+ rentals before securing his/her next home. Many landlords still unknowingly perform “Hard” credit checks, which damages the applicants credit. Pulling a “Soft” report, you’ll get the same information, without hurting the applicant. Read More »
10. Do I Have to Accept Applicants in the Order they Applied?
As a landlord, you have the freedom to choose the “most qualified applicant”, but it can create the appearance of illegal discrimination and can be very costly to defend in court. Read More »
9. 20 Memorable Quotes from Past Tenants and How I Responded
I am often asked the same questions year after year from tenants, some of which, I find incredibly humorous. Here are my top 20 favorite quotes from actual past tenants. Read More »
8. The Landlord Lifecycle
A detailed list of all of the phases you’ll encounter as a landlord, and the resources to deal with them. If you’re just starting out as a landlord, and want to know what is involved, the Landlord Lifecycle is a great place to start! Read More »
7. Do Landlords Need to Collect Social Security Numbers?
Social Security Numbers (SSN) are traditionally used by landlords and property managers to run credit reports and screen tenants. Although, collecting them often causes more issues than they are worth. With the presence of new technology, we ask the question, are SSNs really needed? Read More »
6. Remove Self-Locking Door Knobs to Prevent Lockouts
Your tenants WILL eventually get locked out. They will call while crying, and expect you to rescue them. Learn how to configure your locks so your tenants will never be locked out again. Read More »
5. How to Handle Security Deposits Properly
It’s not only wise to keep separate bank accounts for each property’s security deposits, but in most states, it’s required by law. Learn how to structure and organize your bank accounts to effectively manage security deposits and abide by state laws. Read More »
4. The Landlord Guides
Though not necessarily and “article”, these ebooks are so much more. They are the definitive step-by-step guides for independent landlords. Read More »
3. How to Calculate Prorated Rent
There will be many times when a landlord needs to prorate rent for a tenant. Learn how to calculate prorated rent using two different methods. Read More »
2. Top 15 Tax Deductions for Landlords
A in-depth review of the best tax deductions for landlords and rental property owners. Learn how pay less taxes by claiming expenses and depreciation. Read More »
1. Repairs vs. Improvements – What Can I Deduct from my Taxes?
This article compares the differences between rental property repairs vs. improvements. Learn about IRS regulations regarding your ability to deduct repairs and improvements from your tax liability. Read More »
Topics: General, Property Management
About Lucas Hall
Lucas is the Chief Landlordologist at Cozy. He has been a successful landlord for over 10 years, with dozens of happy tenants and a profitable income property portfolio.
Read more about Lucas's story.
