Owning residential property can be a great investment especially if you are renting you’re the property on a monthly basis and thus realizing a nice residential architects in Palm Springs monthly income for yourself, but just because you own the property doesn’t necessarily mean that you want to be a landlord and this is where a residential property management company can come in. It may not even be a matter of you wanting to be involved with the day to day of the residential property or not, but you may live out of state and thus have no other viable option than to seek help managing your property.
Because there are a number of residential property management companies to choose from it is important to know the answers to a few questions before you hire a company to manage your residential property for you. Here are some good things to know before you give a company your hard earned money:
• How Involved Will They Be: Before you decide whether or not to give the residential property management company that you are considering any money, be sure that they will cover everything you will want done. This can include but is not limit to negotiating the lease, signing the lease, being sure general maintenance is done to the property, accepting rent, dealing with tenants concerns, and basically aided you in whatever way necessary.
• How Will They Charge You: Some residential property management companies will charge you a flat rate per month and others will charge you a certain percentage of the rent. You will want to find this out before hand as one way may offer you a savings over the other.
• Do They Require a Contract: Another question to ask is about the length of a contract. Many residential property management companies will require that you sign a year’s contract and this can be fine unless you find that you are not happy with their services. Ask first if they have a contract that they require to have signed and if there is a clause in the contract that will allow you to void the remainder of the contract if you are not satisfied with the service.
• Are They Licensed and Experienced: While many residential property management companies are run out of a real estate office some are run as a standalone service. This is not to say that one is better that the other, but you need to know the extent of their experience and you also need to be sure that they have any necessary licenses in order to stay legal. The licensing may vary from state to state so you will need to check with the state that your property is located in order to determine what kind of licensing you should be asking the company about.
• How Will They Communicate: You want to work with a residential property management company that will be easily accessible to address any concerns you have quickly and to be sure that you are brought up to speed with any possible problems with the property quickly as well. Therefore you will want a company that offers you phone numbers, e-mails, and any other form of communication that you will require to stay in constant contact with them.
Remember, the residential property management company that you hire will be a representation of you. In order to be sure that the rental process goes along as smoothly as possible you will need to be sure that you do your homework and go with the best qualified and most experienced residential that you can find.
Are You Considering Residential Solar Panels For Your Home?
Residential solar panels are a great investment that not only save you money and can increase the value of your property, but they also help the environment. Solar power is becoming very price competitive with conventional energy sources and there are many federal and state rebates and incentives in place to compensate you for the power you produce and also help offset your initial investment cost. The cost of residential solar panels for your home have decreased significantly, dropping over 40% in just the last few years. There has never been a better time to make the move to renewable clean energy for your home or business.
The Basics of Residential Panels
Residential panels convert the sun’s light energy into electricity using an arrays of solar photovoltaic cells to convert photons into usable electricity. Solar cells, or photovoltaic cells, are arranged in a grid-like pattern on the surface of the panel to produce a specific wattage of electricity. Then multiple panels are arranged in an array and installed on a roof or in a field, which produce energy that can power a home or business.
Residential panels typically are constructed with crystalline silicon and the more expensive gallium arsenide, which is produced exclusively for use in photovoltaic cells. More efficient panels are assembled by depositing amorphous silicon alloy in a continuous roll-to-roll process. Cells created from this process are called Amorphous Silicon Cells, or A-si. Panels constructed using amorphous silicon technology are more durable, efficient, and thinner than their crystalline counterparts.
The newest panels function on the molecular or quantum level. These panels are created by implanting carbon nanotubes or quantum dots into a treated plastic. Unlike silicon-based panels, these panels do not have to be constructed in a clean room, and therefore production costs are somewhat lower.
Residential panels work by collecting radiation from the sun and actively converting that energy into electricity. Solar panels are comprised of several individual solar cells. These cells function similarly to large semiconductors and utilize a large-area p-n junction diode. When the cells are exposed to sunlight, the p-n junction diodes convert the energy from sunlight into usable electrical energy. The energy generated from photons striking the surface of the solar panel allows electrons to be knocked out of their orbits and released, and electric fields in the cells pull these free electrons in a directional current, from which metal contacts in the cell can generate electricity. The more cells in a solar panel and the higher the quality of the cells, the more total electrical output the solar panel can produce.
How Much Power Can Be Produced?
The amount of energy that is produced by solar panels is influenced by the quality of the panel, the materials and technology that are used in making the panel, and the amount of time the panel has been in use. When purchasing solar panels, it is best to look beyond the size of the panels and to look at the dollars/watt ratio.
Residential solar panels of the same size may produce variable amounts of electricity, this discrepancy is caused from variations in the functioning age of the solar cells, the quality of the solar cells, and with what technology was used to produce them. Early cells are not quite as efficient as modern cells. Panels have an effective lifespan of about 20 to 25 years, and their value and wattage output decrease steadily over time.
Get More Out Of Your Residential Panels
The best way to get the most out of your residential solar panels is to take simple steps like switching to CFL or LED light bulbs, invest in energy star appliances, use smart power strips that turn off electronics when not in use, and making sure your windows, doors, and insulation are energy efficient.
