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As an investor, it is important to be prepared for the unexpected.

Now more than ever we are seeing the grave importance of protecting the future of your investment by building a reserve fund. Your reserve fund is your “emergency” cash fund. A reserve fund should be large enough to cover unexpected situations, not only maintenance that comes up. The amount you want to set aside can vary and depend on property type, size, age, and size of the portfolio, however, a good starting point is 2-4 months’ rent. Remember, a reserve fund for rental properties is an investment itself.

An easy way to calculate a reserve fund for a portfolio with 1-10 properties, add up the following e...

HOW CAN YOU AVOID MAKING THEM?

1. LOOK AT COST ONLY: DON'T JUST LOOK AT THE COST OF THE INSURANCE POLICY. IN MOST CASES YOU "GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR". YET MANY REAL ESTATE INVESTORS ONLY CONSIDER THE PRICE. THE POLICY MAY HAVE EXCLUSIONS AND ONLY COVER VERY FEW THINGS.

2. CHECKING THE A.M. BEST RATING: THE A.M. BEST COMPANY IS THE PREMIER COMPANY THAT COLLECTS DATA AND EVALUATES THE FINANCIAL AND OPERATING STRENGTH OF ALL INSURANCE COMPANIES IN AMERICA. HOWEVER, ONE THING YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF: A.M. BEST OPERATES WITH REVENUES RECEIVED FROM THOSE VERY SAME INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT THEY ARE EVALUATING. THEREFORE NEARLY 91% OF ALL INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE SOME KIND OF "A" RATING.

3. LOCATION OF THE AGENC...

Upgrading the kitchen at your rental property can be much easier than you think. Here are some simple upgrades you can do without having to do a complete remodel, but make a huge difference.

Cabinets: Whether you resurface them, change out the fronts, or just update the paint/stain, this will make a major difference in the overall appearance of your kitchen.

Backsplash: Simple backsplashes can make an amazing difference. Just adding a bit of texture, color or even something simple add to the character of the kitchen.

Countertop: From complete replacement to simply resurfacing, there are many options for countertop upgrades to do. Making countertops easy to clean, neutral and s...

Keep up on Repairs

The longer you wait on repairs, the more expensive and extensive they become. Physical issues at a property tend to just worsen over time and then need to be done quickly.

If repairs are taken care of in a timely fashion and before they are too extensive, this will ultimately save you money in the long run.

Inspect Property Annually

This not only keeps tenants on their toes and keeps them accountable; it shows them that you actually care about the property. This also allows you to see how the property looks and encourage the tenants to let you know if there are any issues they haven’t brought up. This will not only help you keep the property in good condition but al...

Keep up on Repairs

The longer you wait on repairs, the more expensive and extensive they become. Physical issues at a property tend to just worsen over time and then need to be done quickly.

If repairs are taken care of in a timely fashion and before they are too extensive, this will ultimately save you money in the long run.

Inspect Property Annually

This not only keeps tenants on their toes and keeps them accountable; it shows them that you actually care about the property. This also allows you to see how the property looks and encourage the tenants to let you know if there are any issues they haven’t brought up. This will not only help you keep the property in good condition but al...

Rental properties are a big investment, so making sure you are protecting your investment is a must! Here is a breakdown of what your landlord insurance can cover:

Property damage: This covers damage to the home itself and personal property due to fire, storm damage, theft, vandalism and tenant damage. Ideally, your landlord insurance will cover the replacement costs for your entire rental property in the event of a total loss.

Liability insurance: This coverage protects you against liability claims and lawsuits. Whether a tenant, visitor or even a trespasser is injured on your rental property, you could find yourself in a legal headache. Your liability insurance will help you ...

Although they’re more common in suburban settings, single-family rentals have been abundant in most of the nation’s biggest urban centers. When RENTCafe looked at increases in the number of renter-occupied households by type, they found that in 22 of the 30 largest U.S. cities single-family rentals expanded faster than apartments between 2007 and 2016.

With some of the largest numbers of foreclosures and sharpest drops in home values during the housing bust, the city of Phoenix tops the list of cities with the biggest percentage increase in single-family rentals. According to U.S. Census estimates, the number of houses for rent in Phoenix increased by a whopping 7...