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5 Ways of Protecting Yourself From Rental Scams
Finding an apartment that suits your needs is challenging; considering many real estate agents
in the real estate industry. Some may give you false information, which eventually leads you to
make the wrong choice. Here are five easy ways to ensure you get a great deal.
The Difference Between a Fake Listing and a Genuine One
1. Examine the Floor Closely
Ask your trusted agent for a video tour to get the full picture of the whole apartment or property
you’re interested in. If you’ve got pictures only, examine the floor carefully and closely.
Apartment floors have the same finishes and patterns. Any sign of multiple tints and designs
may indicate the listing is fake.
2. Know the Agent’s Representative
The agent or broker may represent the landlord or the tenant ( you). If they’re standing for the
property owner, they’re likely to charge a higher rental price or arrange a more extended
contract to benefit their client, the landlord. However, if they’re acting on your behalf, they
should aim at getting the best rental arrangement for you. So, find out who the agent is
representing.
Some states require the real estate agent to offer every customer a DOS form, revealing the
tenant’s and the agent’s relationship. Because of this, you must insist on getting a DOS form to
protect yourself. If you’re going to deal with more than one real estate agent, DOS forms must
equal that number.
3. Don’t Pay Cash
Any real agent who requests a cash deposit upfront is suspicious. Typically, a trustworthy
company will ask the client to make direct check payments to it. The advantage is that it
protects you from fraud and an eventual loss of money. After making your check, make a follow
up to the company to confirm payment by requesting a receipt.
4. Look for Testimonials
Testimonials and customer reviews indicate whether or not a real estate agent is reliable and
trustworthy. Ask the agent to provide you with their past client’s reviews to get an idea of their
performance and customer service.
Should an agent feel offended by your request, it’s a good sign that you must part ways with
them. A credible real estate agent must have authentic testimonials and customer reviews.
5. Get a Second Opinion
It’s easy to believe that all the listings you see on a big company’s website are genuine. Real
estate agents have a clever and misleading way of enhancing pictures as bait to attract more
clients. It’s called bait-and-switch; you call an agent because you’ve seen a bargain listing, but
instead of the agent giving more information, they tell you that it’s been rented. They then offer
you a similar option near you but more expensive.
It’s possible to protect yourself from the bait-and-switch approach by reading online market
reports. Stay informed about the current market conditions; you’ll know the difference between a
listing and its price.LA Real Estate can help in this regard.
Another critical issue you need to remember is that real estate agents mustn’t keep a listing that
is no longer available. As soon as it’s taken, they must bring it down to avoid misrepresenting
facts.
You can protect yourself from rental scams if you ask for unedited videos, floor plans,
testimonials, and information that is hard to alter. Be smart and do your due diligence to avoid
being a fraud victim.
Need more information about real estate and investment? Steven Taylor, LA, is ready to help.
What You Need To Know About Comprehensive Car
Insurance
Some people may have a misunderstanding of what comprehensive auto insurance is. The
word comprehensive, meaning “ complete” or “full,” may suggest that the policy is all-inclusive;
it offers full coverage for everything. Of course, it covers certain events, but they must be out of
your control. You cannot control these incidents because they’re unpredictable, and so they just
happen.
Our comprehensive car insurance at Benefit Insurance Services will cover damages to your car
due to external incidents out of your control. We’re here to protect your vehicle from unforeseen
things like car theft. Other unexpected occurrences that can damage your vehicle include:
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Earthquakes
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Collision with animals
Falling objects
Hurricanes or tornadoes, hail, floods, or lighting from thunderstorms
Vandalism or civil unrest, violent demonstrations
Earthquakes
Earthquakes can cause massive damage to your car. For this reason, comprehensive auto
insurance is ideal for providing cover for injuries.
Theft
If your car is stolen, comprehensive coverage will foot the bill to replace the vehicle.
Collision with animals
As you’re driving in the countryside in Myrtle Beach, SC, you may hit a deer, or it may strike you,
or your car may be damaged extensively due to collision with animals. When this occurs, we’ll
ensure that our comprehensive insurance provides cover for the injuries.
Violent demonstrations
During a violent demonstration, someone may smash your car windows or cause heavy damage. If
you’ve got comprehensive insurance, you can get coverage for the incident.
Natural disasters
Hurricanes and tornadoes are common in South Carolina, and so it’s a good idea to have
comprehensive auto insurance.
While comprehensive insurance covers external events out of your control that damage your vehicle,
there are certain situations, you’ll need extra coverage. It’s because full coverage car insurance is
also known as other-than-collision coverage. It means that if you ram into a traffic light because you
wanted to avoid hitting a deer, for example, a comprehensive policy won’t cover you. You’ll need
collision insurance.
Interested in knowing more about comprehensive car insurance and other policies? Contact Benefit
Insurance Services in Myrtle Beach, SC.
What Business Insurance Do I Need?
Many businesses play a significant role in North Augusta, SC, such as creating wealth and
employment. And yet, there are risks that they face, which can affect their return on investment. For
this reason, Hunt Insurance Consultants exists to offer businesses a wide array of insurance cover
against these risks. Here are some policies that your enterprise may need.
Professional Liability Insurance
Mistakes owing to negligence can occur at the workplace and can cause injuries or financial loss. It’s
the reason the policy is also called errors and omissions ( E & O) insurance. It’ll cover your business
operation against negligence claims.
Property Insurance
Anything can happen to your business property that can cause damage. For example, a fire may
break out and destroy your inventory, equipment, etc. Property insurance covers your enterprise
against such losses.
Worker’s Compensation Insurance
While your workers are carrying out their duties on-site, injuries may take place. You’ll need worker’s
compensation to protect them.
Product Liability Insurance
As a manufacturing business, you probably follow strict production processes to ensure that your
clients are safe. But slip-ups can happen during manufacturing and can lead to substandard goods,
which can cause injuries. Product liability insurance will come in handy to cover claims from your
customers.
Vehicle Insurance
Road accidents are a common feature in the transport industry. Not only will your vehicle be
damaged, but third parties sue you for injuries caused by your car. In these situations, you’ll need
vehicle insurance.
Cyber Liability Insurance
Your marketing department collects data from your company’s clients to understand consumer’s
needs and align its marketing strategy to these trends. The information must remain private and
confidential. But if your business shares this information with other third parties without customers’
consent, they may sue you. In this case, you’ll need cyber liability insurance.
Want to find out more about how these policies can help your business? Call Hunt Insurance
Consultants in North Augusta, SC.
Does Home Insurance Cover Rental Property?
When you decide to earn extra money from renting out some space on your property, you’re
becoming a landlord in Matthews, NC. As a result, you’ll face some risks associated with a rental
property, such as loss of income. While you may have a homeowner policy to cover your personal
belongings and other valuable assets, it may not serve your needs as a landlord.
Home insurance can adequately provide coverage for your whole property and your private assets.
But when it comes to landlord insurance to offer protection from other risks, it’d be advisable to have
a separate cover. It’s because you’re now running a business, and as such, the risks you’ll cover
cannot be the same as those of a homeowner's policy. It’s essential to treat them differently.
A rental dwelling policy will kick in if a tenant or a guest on your property is injured. For this reason,
standard home insurance may not be useful in this situation.
Another issue to consider is the length of time you’ll rent out part of your property. The longer it’ll be
on rental, the more important you should have a landlord policy. Although you may have rental
dwelling insurance, your tenant’s private possessions may not be covered. In this case, it’d be a
good idea for them to have renter's insurance though it may not be state mandatory.
The last consideration is that a landlord policy would be suitable if you rent out a permanent
property. You may not use the standard homeowners’ policy.
But if you’re unsure whether your space can be considered rental, JC Demo Insurance Group can
help you in this regard.
Still, have more questions in connection with homeowners insurance? Contact JC Demo Insurance
Group in Matthews, NC.
AnnieMac Insurance Policies
As an insurance company located in Colorado, we understand that people own many things ranging
from homes, automobiles, motorcycles, boats, and more. We also know that Colorado residents
want to minimize their property risks, such as damage while enjoying its benefits. For this reason,
AnnieMac Insurance exists to ensure that you’ve got the right insurance policy to meet your needs.
Our wide range of policies will ensure that you’ve got cover in these essential areas:
● Home Insurance
● Condo Insurance
● Motor Vehicle Insurance
● RV Insurance
● Boat or Watercraft insurance
● Umbrella Insurance
Home Insurance
You’ve worked and sweated out to buy your home, and because of this, it deserves special attention
and care. Our home insurance provides you with financial protection if you experience a loss to your
property or any private possession owing to a covered event like theft.
Condo Insurance
If you own a building, furniture, movable property, etc., you’ll need condo insurance. It’ll cover
personal liability owing to claims or lawsuits.
Motor vehicle
As an owner of a motor vehicle, a truck, or a motorcycle, you need protection against physical
damage or bodily injuries resulting from accidents or claims from third parties.
RV Insurance
Whether you own a travel trailer, a camper van or a luxury coach, a converted bus, or any
recreational vehicle, we’ll find the most suitable policy for your peace of mind.
Boat/Watercraft Insurance
AnnieMac watercraft Insurance will ensure that you’re covered financially when someone steals
your boat or when you damage it yourself. It's also possible to injure others with your watercraft,
and in this case, you’ll need a boat insurance policy.
Umbrella Insurance
Having umbrella insurance is an excellent idea as it’ll offer you protection when someone may
sue you after an incident that happened on your property. I
Whatever your insurance needs are, AnnieMac insurance in Colorado is on hand to serve your
needs and offer you a personalized insurance product.
Interested in finding out which insurance policy is right for you? Contact AnnieMac Insurance
today.