The hell of finding a home to rent in the Netherlands

Attempting to rent a home in the Netherlands turned Julia Corbett into a paranoid spammer with stalker tendencies thrown in. She explains how the rot set in. After not one, two or three, but four properties slipped from my fingers I can safely say I have experienced the housing hell in the Netherlands. Our adventure began when my Dutch partner returned home after some years in England and I became a student in the Netherlands. It has been a more bumpy start than expected after experiencing a lack of suitable housing options. From Hilversum to Leerdam and Den Bosch to Busson, I have learnt that luck and timing has more to do with finding a place to rent than most people will feel comfortable with. My Dutch boyfriend of nearly five years took eagerly to the rental sections of housing websites and arranged a day crammed full of viewings of apartments, houses and loft conversions. Having donned a smart outfit and brushed my hair for the encounter with our future landlords, I found myself being scolded for turning up five minutes late to an appointment that lasted no longer than 30 seconds. We dashed in and out of the four rooms in a supermarket sweep-style daze, wondering where our furniture would fit, before we were ushered out and abandoned in the street as our suited agent sped off on his company moped. ‘Where is the carpet?!’ we cried at our next viewing only to be informed that carpets, paint and exposed piping were a luxury we must solve on our own. Dream evaporates Things seemed to be looking up when we met a new potential landlord, a 94-year-old retired businessman who rowed for 30 minutes every day and had a garden that was more perfectly manicured than the lawns of royalty. Would I like to live in the grounds of a mansion boasting nine deer, six chickens three dogs, a cat and six small caged birds? Yes, absolutely, sign me up! After my partner negotiated an agreement and I chatted to his wife in broken Dutch while being fed home-grown tomatoes, we skipped away from the viewing giddy with excitement.


A home, within our budget, complete with lovely landlord. Success! However, our property bubble was swiftly deflated when we tried to initiate the contract process, only for the estate agent to claim our new landlords no longer wanted us as tenants. Our upset turned to anger and paranoia: what was wrong with us? Why were we unworthy of their out-house? Deciding to carry out the somewhat stalkerish task of returning to the owners for answers, we learned that they had been told by the estate agents we were not interested and rented the property to someone else. Saturated market Though I try not to sound bitter about my experience, I have learned that our tale is not at all unusual for those who cannot yet afford to buy but must live independently. The average rental property in Amsterdam now costs €2,000 a month and businesses have claimed the city is unable to accept more growth because there is not enough suitable rented housing.


 For the first time the University of Amsterdam has been unable to match the demand for student accommodation and in other cities students are having similar experiences. ‘Just buy a house!’ has been a solution put forward by family, friends and colleagues, both who are expats themselves and those who were born and raised in the Netherlands. But that’s not the easiest thing to do either. The Dutch phrase Van ‘t kastje naar de muur – being sent from the closet to the wall – best sums up the experience of being forced to hunt down estate agents and demand answers and information, to discover only bad news. Meanwhile,

 our search for a home to rent and make our own, like many others in the same situation, continues.
Resource :  http://www.dutchnews.nl/features/2016/12/renting-in-the-netherlands-the-dutch-housing-hell/

Questions to Ask When Selecting Rental Furniture

Renting furniture is a great way to go when decorating and filling a new home. For students in particular, renting furniture is a great choice because they are often moving between homes between school years and do not have the budget to purchase all new furniture. It can also help students to afford the kind of furniture that they want so they are not forced to settle and only get the furniture they can afford, not furniture they like.

But there are questions that every student should ask in order to have the best rental experience possible. Read on to learn some important questions to ask when selecting rental furniture!

Environment

When you are choosing furniture to rent, you need to contemplate the environment you are bringing the furniture into. Is your home a quiet place? Are you barely home? Is your house the party house where everyone brings their own beers? Do you have pets like cats and dogs that run loose around your apartment?

These are all questions that will help you to determine the environment of your home and thus the environment that you will be bringing your rental furniture into. You have to remember that this is rental furniture and thus you will need to be able to return it in the same condition that you rented it in or you might have to pay some extra fees.

If you know you eat a lot on your couch, it might be best to get one from a material that does not stain easily. If your roommate never remembers to use a coaster, it might be best to get a dining table that will not get water stains. You know your own life best so remember the effects your life will have on the furniture that you rent.

Number of People in Home

Another question to address when choosing furniture to rent is how many people you have living in your home. You want to get furniture that can accommodate everyone that has to live there. Or perhaps you have a lot of guests that come over and you want to accommodate them as well. There is nothing less welcoming than not having enough seating for everyone you have invited over.

Perhaps that little yellow couch is adorable and would look great with the coffee table you already have. But if it is really only a loveseat that holds two or three people and you have guests over all of the time, you might need a bigger couch that can seat a lot more people.

Maybe you think that the 12-person dining room table is fabulous but if it is only you and your roommate living in your house, you might want to focus your attentions on a smaller table that will be more suited for your actual needs. Renting gives you the ability to get the kind of furniture to suit your own lifestyle that also fits within your budget. a

Length of Rental

Renting furniture can be great for students because your ownership of the furniture is only temporary. Once you graduate and leave your college town, you do not have to worry about what to do with the furniture in your apartment because it already has a place to go back to!

In order to make renting furniture really worth your while, you want to make sure that the length of renting meets your needs. If you are going to stay in one place the entire time you are in college without moving around or subletting, then you can rent the furniture for all four years. If you are going to be leaving to study abroad in the middle of your time in college or leaving during summers or staying in a home for only one semester at a time before hopping, you need to plan your rental lengths accordingly.

You need the furniture available for the whole time you will be in town and not to pay extra for the furniture when you will not be able to keep it for as long as you are paying to do so. Be sure to get a rental length that fits your college experience.

Payment Plans

As college students, one of the best benefits of renting furniture is the affordability factor. However, money is tight for most college students all around so you need to check and see what the payment plans are like when you are renting furniture to make sure that you can afford it.

You might not be able to afford paying the whole amount upfront so check to see if the company offers monthly or bi-monthly payment plans and that the payment amount is something you can afford.


Resource : http://www.uloop.com/news/view.php/220865/Questions-to-Ask-When-Selecting-Rental-Furniture

7 Reasons Why You Should Start Renting Furniture Of Your Choice Rather Than Buying It

Great. You bought an expensive, exquisite furniture for your newly rented apartment. But just after few months, you had to shift your place because your job demands it. Then, you look at the same furniture with the feeling of guilt and ask yourself,  Why did I buy this? Will it fit well in my new apartment? Should I just sell it now?

And eventually, because of not being able to rearrange it in your new apartment, you had to sell it at a price less than its market price. Within a moment, both your dream furniture and money swept away. Bad luck!

Well, to escape such a defeated situation, you can rely on ‘Cityfurnish‘ which offers a wide range of stylish, elegant and modern furniture on rent online. Yes, you can rent the furniture and major appliances for the required time period and then return it when your tenure is over.

Sounds cool, right? Well, there are many more reasons why renting a furniture is useful:
 1. As millennials are constantly switching their places and jobs, so, why buy a furniture for a place where we ourselves are not sure about the duration of the stay?

2. Renting a furniture is cost-effective.

When we buy a fully-furnished furniture, we have to pay the entire purchase at once. In renting, we can pay in affordable installments as per our financial situation. 

3. With the wide variety of snazzy furniture designs, renting gives us the opportunity to experiment with all the choices that suit us.

In case you feel bored with your current interiors, you can experiment a new look for a month’s time or more.

You can select suitable designs from here.

4. Gracing your home with different suave furniture packages will make your home look more vibrant.

5. On special gatherings and festive occasions, who doesn’t want to light up the dining room with 

exclusive furnishing at a low price?

Then, why buy a brand-new furniture when renting can give us the same comfort? 

 6. Renting a furniture is so hassle-free because you need not find a buyer to sell it.

 7.  If the piece of furniture you’ve rented does not work for your lifestyle anymore, you can rent another design.

 

These good reasons would have motivated you to opt for renting a furniture online. If you are thinking where to do it, then, ‘City Furnish’ is your reliable stop. You can explore their packages and products right here. To order the furniture online, click here and follow the procedure.  

Resource : http://topyaps.com/renting-furniture-of-your-choice

How to Keep Your Rental Furniture Clean

When deciding to rent furniture, there are a few things we should be aware of, such as the actual pricing of the items, how comfortable they realistically are, and whether or not they require an easy cleanup. You know, the basics.

A major concern for many of us college students is keeping things semi-nice. Not just our GPA and bedroom when mom decides to FaceTime, but our belongings too. Keep in mind that renting entails returning something at some point. Which also means being in pretty good condition, hopefully.

To discover how to keep your rental furniture clean, continue reading below.

Develop a fast response time.

We tend to take things slow and easy. In other words, we try not to freak out about the small things and instead focus on how great life currently is and not the three research papers sitting on our desk due in less than 48 hours. No worries, I know you will get around to it.

As soon as we create a spill, stain, or utter mess, we should probably clean it up stat. If forgetful, just reminisce on growing up and accidentally spilling salsa on your couch when you know good and well that you should not even be eating in the living room. Then your mom grounds you for a month. Not the best memories.

You need to have a quick response time to not leave messes any room to destroy your rented furnishings. Run to your cleaning supplies cabinet, or that random drawer in the kitchen that houses weird necessities, and grab that stain removing spray.

Then apply as necessary and make it look as brand new as you can. And if you can’t, then at least you tried, and attempt to not spill any more vodka cranberry on the couch that your friends sleep on. They will surely thank you later. And if you do not own any type of cleaning spray, I would maybe get around to that sooner rather than later.

Test it out first.

Before you apply a specific cleaning spray, you should 100 percent test it out on a smaller area. Just in case there is a bad reaction of some sorts. Just like if you buy a new face cream, you should only apply a little at first. See, these methods work for all sorts of things. You are welcome.

If you are unsure about what to specifically use for your fabric, then I would definitely do some research and maybe even make a few calls to grandma. They always know these answers, plus I’m sure she would love to hear your voice. Google should also offer you some answers, as well as the furniture’s website if all else fails.

Since this is rental furniture we are talking about here, you should make sure to take before pictures when you first receive the items. This way, you can compare the appearance whenever you feel like it. And you will have an up-to-date idea of the damage currently done.

Random effects can possibly take place, including tearing, an odd feel to it, and especially discoloration. These are obviously changes that you did not intentionally sign up for, so just make sure to test as you go. And if worse comes to worst, use a pillow or throw to cover up the stain.

Designate cleaning days.

Everyone loves to clean, right? Okay well no, but it is sort of necessary if attempting to keep things sort of decent. At least we can say you tried and that has got to be worth something. If living with roommates, then this will probably not be too hard on you, but then again, sometimes roomies aren’t the best/nicest people.

Assign a certain day to clean your furniture or house in general. When you decide to do a load of laundry, maybe just vacuum some and wash your sheets. Of course you can turn up the jams and have a concert in your living room as well. No judgement.

The point of cleaning days is to not force you to do something just because, but to help you stay on top of doing the things that you normally would not go out of your way to do. Like cleaning the fans. So boring, I get it. Yet, completely necessary in order to not breathe in grossness.

Since you are renting your furniture pieces, you are sort of paying for them on a monthly basis. So every time rent is due, maybe that is when you can all collectively clean. And if not that day, then somewhere around it. Once again, the point is to keep on top of it so that it does not get away from you and you end up having to pay way more money at the end because of a few minor stains that were easy fixes in the moment. Got it?

There are various ways to try and keep your rental furniture clean. However, only a few methods actually work. This means cleaning up spills ASAP, testing out the cleaning products first and foremost, and of course actually cleaning.

This will not only save you time and money in the long run, but also a lecture from your parents. See, cleaning doesn’t have to be that bad.

Looking for an easy way to furnish your off-campus apartment? Renting furniture from CORT saves you time and money. See how easy it is to get great looking furniture without breaking the bank.

Resource :http://www.uloop.com/news/view.php/220506/How-to-Keep-Your-Rental-Furniture-Clean

Editorial: ‘Moral’ Shopping in New Canaan

One lesson I learned in seven years of studying Latin in the New Canaan Public Schools involves the word ‘mos.’ It’s a noun and in the singular it means habit or custom. In the plural, ‘mores,’ it translates as character because, taken together, a person’s habits and customs form his or her character. It’s where we get our word ‘morals.’

***

At the time I launched NewCanaanite.com, nearly three years ago, convenience and cost alone guided my own spending habits. I only asked ‘Can I find it here in New Canaan?’ if I were downtown already and needed something straightaway.

Yet today, before purchasing or signing up for anything, I consciously seek out a local retailer or service provider—a habit so ingrained that it’s become second nature, part of my character.

The change took hold over time. Here’s how.

First, the New Canaanite exists and endures because local people, representing a couple dozen businesses here, pay to advertise on it. You can see their banners up above this editorial and down the right-hand rail of the website. They had chosen to spend advertising dollars with me, so I started buying from them. As I frequented these advertising businesses, I found that they had singularly high levels of expertise, quality and customer service. As a result, my roster of favorite local merchants expanded to include others, whether we were doing business together or not.

Here’s an example of customer service: In the middle of a bad day recently, I popped into Walter Stewart’s for a few items—milk, sugar and a lunch of homemade soup (one of New Canaan’s best-kept secrets) and a chicken salad wrap. Approaching the registers with arms full, I saw a cashier quite literally run from bagging in one aisle in order to open another one. For me.

A thing like that can make your day. (Not to mention that the ring-up came to $19 and I got $5 off with my loyalty card.)

The owners-on-site—the people who pay rent or taxes on their commercial spaces, greet you inside the door and man the register—know their own products in ways that hired hands rarely do. If you’re not getting Rick Franco’s reviews of newly acquired and featured wines and liquors from the Franco’s Wine Merchants newsletter already, sign up. Geoff and Kelly Sigg of Pennyweights attend gem shows throughout the nation to pick out stones, then design jewelry and travel twice a year to Thailand and Bali to work with the artisans who create it. Eugene Chun studied at the French Culinary Institute in Manhattan, then worked at a sandwich shop in Washington D.C. with a rapidly changing menu of fresh ingredients before deciding to open his own version here, Connecticut Sandwich Co. on Pine Street.

I also found that New Canaan features fabulous and nimble shops, a grab bag of new retailers and service providers among more familiar storefronts that are constantly changing their offerings and layouts inside. In her cozy space at the “50-yard-line” of Elm Street, opposite the Playhouse, New Canaan Olive Oil owner Heidi Burrows rearranges her shelves and tables incessantly, spotlighting newly acquired products. Many of them are featured in a wide-ranging collection of recipes printed on index cards that customers are invited to take. Phil Williams, owner of New Canaan Music, regularly acquires new instruments for purchase or rent—responding to customers’ needs as they arise, including for the kids in school bands and orchestras—and hires instructors to teach students of all ages how to play them.

Here’s something I had known, though not to the degree it exists: Local businesses sponsor or otherwise support many of the community’s most cherished events and traditions—wreaths on the lampposts downtown, for example, exhibitions at the Carriage Barn Arts Center, outdoor summer concerts at Waveny, youth sports and New Canaan Dog Days. True to the New Canaan Chamber’s mission of “connecting community with commerce,” they host special sales whose proceeds benefit nonprofit agencies, cut deals with those same groups to help them raise funds, partner with service organizations and employ local people. Press releases for these efforts often include a list of sponsors at the bottom and those lists often do not survive to a published version.

The face of ‘Shop Local’ in New Canaan is not a business owner, storefront or product. It’s your son fielding a ground ball at Mead Park, your daughter accepting the Award for Achievements in Arts at the annual New Canaan High School assembly. It’s huddling around a lyric sheet on God’s Acre during Christmas Eve caroling.

And it is something far more nuanced.

Realtors say the two things that sell prospective homeowners on New Canaan are its public schools and the downtown.

As New Englanders, we sense that downtown New Canaan is as it should be: Small shops line brick sidewalks with granite curbing, occupying short old buildings that form interesting rooflines.

The effect of downtown New Canaan is to lift visitors’ spirits in ways that may not register, much the same as the efforts of the Department of Public Works, Garden Club and Beautification League—the wildflower meadow that blooms along Route 123, for example, the flower pots outside of Town Hall or plantings at traffic triangles.

Those who own businesses in New Canaan are deeply invested in it, and their contributions often are more subtle than, say, the way Baskin Robbins owner Anna Valente each morning hand-washes the pedestrian plaza out front of her store, scraping gum from the sidewalk.

Two summers ago, news broke on a Thursday afternoon that New Canaan High School graduate Curt Casali had been called up to the major leagues. A Tampa Bay Rays catcher, he became New Canaan’s first big leaguer. It was two days before the Sidewalk Sales downtown, and Casali’s ascent came up during a meeting with Steve Karl of Karl Chevrolet, the 1927-established dealership that sponsors countless community activities, including New Canaan Baseball.

I told Karl that I had an idea of shooting a video at my Sidewalk Sales tent of locals congratulating Casali. A busy guy who also serves as vice chairman of the Town Council, Karl gave me the idea of having people give a Derek Jeter-style tip of the cap to Casali in the video, then drove with me to Mead Park to help remove a New Canaan Baseball outfield fence banner to use as a backdrop for the video. On the day itself, he took time away from Karl Chevy’s own busy Sidewalk Sales area to bring town resident and sports personality Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo to my tent to participate in the video, and also dropped off a handful of NC Baseball caps for interviewees to use.

Everything Karl did elevated the experience of visitors to our tent during the Sidewalk Sales, as well as the Casali story and video itself, which subsequently was viewed by thousands.

A call for locals to ask ‘Can I find it here in New Canaan?’ is not a push for charity, and this editorial is not written wearing rose-colored glasses. Supporting New Canaan is not exclusive to locally owned small businesses, and merchants here do not elevate the town in equal measure.

It also is true that items purchased locally may cost a bit more, and for good reason—at design solutions, for example, 95 percent of the furniture sold is made in the United States, rather than overseas. At a meeting this month of the Park & Recreation Commission, members of the Garden Club asked for permission to install a wood bench and plaque in honor and memory of deceased New Canaanite George B. Moore, a past president of the New Canaan Community Foundation involved in a number of local causes. Planned to face the main house from the Weed Street side of the park, overlooking the thousands of daffodils in front of the main house that Moore himself enjoyed, the bench will be identical to the one located outside design solutions. It is to be purchased by the Friends of George Moore and the local shop gave the group a good price to facilitate the transaction.

If residents of New Canaan, who rightly enjoy this town so much, do not at least give local businesses the chance to compete for their patronage by trying to find what they need here, then all that business owners do to benefit the town is in jeopardy.

***

The Oxford English Dictionary notes that one prominent early use of the word ‘moral’ appeared in the English poet Edward Young’s “Night-Thoughts.” Published in the 1740s and divided into nine sections that correspond to nights during which the writer muses on life and loss, the blank verse poem regained fame in the 1920s following one critic’s observation that it comforted soldiers in the trenches during World War I. The final section includes this passage: “No fancy’d god … descends To solve all knots; to strike the moral home.”
Resource :http://newcanaanite.com/editorial-moral-shopping-in-new-canaan-45280

Light, water and heat become a luxury for millions in Spain

Pedro and Mohamed await every utility bill with much angst.

    Outrage in Spain over 'energy poverty' death of grandmother (16 Nov 16)
    Man rescued from bin after climbing in to find old clothes (24 Oct 16)
    Spain ranks among worst for kids at risk of poverty (15 Apr 16)

To reduce the money they have to pay, they live in the dark, without heating, or shower just once a week -- victims like millions in Spain of energy poverty.

Welfare associations have for years warned against this situation, but the death earlier this month of 81-year-old Rosa in a fire caused by a candle she used for light has brought the issue firmly to the fore.

Socialist lawmaker Pilar Lucio asked the ruling conservative government to immediately implement a "winter truce" on companies cutting power to those who cannot pay - a measure with majority support in parliament and encouraged in a 2009 EU directive.

Last year, according to Spain's National Statistics Institute, 10.6 percent of Spaniards were unable to properly heat their homes - or more than four million people - compared to just 5.9 percent in 2008, when an economic crisis kicked off.

At fault are the economic crisis and widespread loss of jobs it caused, as well as a 30- to 50-percent rise in utility prices since 2006.

'Luxury items'

 Pedro Martinez, 48, has been in this situation for several years.

Unemployed since 2013, when the furniture company he was working for closed, he survives on a pension of 426 euros ($450) a month, and what remains of the compensation he received for being fired.

Divorced, he lives with his 20-year-old son and 23-year-old mentally impaired daughter in a working-class district of Barcelona, without heating and using electric light only when absolutely necessary.

"It's tough in winter. We just have an electric heater, which we rarely switch on for fear of the bill," he says.

"The cold chills you to the bone. We wear coats and at night we use all the blankets we have."  

Tere Bermudez, spokeswoman for the Roman Catholic charity Caritas, says that "for many families, water, light and gas are luxury items."   

She says that from 2007 to 2015, the organisation multiplied by 30 the number of utility bills it helped pay. One of its beneficiaries is Mohamed Chairi, a 37-year-old Moroccan.   

 Unemployed, his family lives off the monthly 250 euros from his wife's cleaning work as well as help from charities.

"We shower once a week, on Fridays, so that the kids are clean at the weekend," the father-of-three says.

In the corner of the living room of his small flat in Badalona near Barcelona, his youngest son plays with a broken electric radiator. 

Chairi has just received his electricity bill - €24 for the month, a small sum for Spain but huge for him.

"The rent alone is €440," he says.    "If I have to suffer from hunger or go without light or water, I don't care, but the kids...".

 Burning canvas shoes

According to the European Commission, Spain's gas and electricity prices were the third and fourth highest respectively in the European Union last year.   

"We are above the European average (in terms of fuel poverty) despite having much better weather," says Jose Luis Lopez, spokesman for the Association of Environmental Science.
 There is no nationwide law on the issue, but several regions have implemented measures to try and address it. 

In the northeastern region of Catalonia, for instance, a law stipulates that utility companies must notify social services before cutting electricity or gas, and if the family or person struggling to pay is classified as vulnerable, they are banned from doing so.

But the law is not always respected, as was the case for Rosa, with utility firm Gas Natural acknowledging it had not contacted social services. 

Lopez estimates that some 7,100 people die every year due to fuel poverty.   

Firefighters in Catalonia have also warned of the security risks involved. 

"We have come across people heating themselves with small fires made from newspapers or even canvas shoes," said union spokesman Antonio del Rio. Spain may be emerging from the crisis, but at least 600,000 households saw their electricity supply cut off last year, according to the Facua consumers association.

"There's a lot of talk about recovery, but on the street you don't see it anywhere," said Pedro Martinez.

By Daniel Bosque / AFP
Resource :http://www.thelocal.es/20161128/light-water-and-heat-a-luxury-for-millions-in-spain

To protect your home, choose the right policy

A home is often an once-in-a-lifetime investment, emotionally and financially. Creating an abode, however, does not end with the purchase. An insurance to protect this asset is just as important.

But as per ICICI Lombard 2016 survey, only 7 per cent Indians have home insurance.

India has a risk rating index of 6.64 as per the World Risk Report 2016, which measures the susceptibility of nations to natural disasters and consequently, economic stability. The rating is higher than China and other emerging nations such as Brazil, Russia, and South Africa, under the BRICS cluster. These alarming numbers in light of the recent natural disasters emphasise the need for a comprehensive home insurance cover.

Factors such as geographic location, climate, built-up area, market value, among others, determine the type of home insurance coverage to be chosen. Broadly, there are two basic types of home insurance plans available – content and structural.

Homeowners can add extensions to their base policy and enhance the coverage of these plans. One such extension is against earthquake perils and it is recommended for residential properties in locations with high seismic activity.

Burglary and theft are the alternatives if not already included in the base policy, and are particularly useful for city dwellers who want to protect their valuables and devices from a break-in. It is to be kept in mind that burglary will be covered only under circumstances where the insured has taken reasonable care to keep their valuables safe.

Under the base policy, structural or building insurance complements the content and provides a cover for losses against structural damages. It only protects the structure and not the contents. Hence, when purchased with a content cover, the structural policy lends a comprehensive coverage to your home. Losses due to natural calamities such as fire, lightning, aircraft damage, storm, cyclone, flood and inundation are covered under the policy. Wilful destruction and losses due to wear and tear etc. are excluded.

Content insurance, as the name suggests, protects the contents inside your home. It includes furniture, durables, clothes, utensils, devices, etc. In case any of these items are destroyed due to an untoward natural or manmade disaster, as defined under the policy, the insured can make a claim to get a reimbursement up to the amount specified. The amount received by the insured is the market value of

those items on the present day minus depreciation.

The sum insured on the structural insurance is calculated by multiplying the built-up area with the construction area of per square foot.

While homeowners should opt for structure insurance, tenants should buy content insurance. Tenants should, in addition, research relevant insurance options for their rented property. However, it is advisable to opt only for content insurance to protect belongings. It is also a common practice today for landlords to request their tenants to opt for content insurance when choosing a rental living arrangement.

The other side of renters’ insurance is landlords’ Insurance. In addition to structural coverage, it offers loss of rent and public liability coverage. This cover is offered only to non-manufacturing premises and is often tailor-made. Apart from these basic home policies, the market is ripe with specialised policies for valuables and special perils.

A collector of valuables should invest in a policy that offers coverage for art collectables, antiques, paintings, jewellery and other high-value items. Loss, theft or damage of such valuable items would create a huge dent in personal investment, which makes insurance indispensable. It is recommended that the insured study the policy wordings carefully to know the definitions of valuables, as not all high-value items are insurable.

Another aspect of home insurance to look into is the liability coverage that safeguards the insured in case any visitor or trespasser meets with an accident within the property of the insured. In such an event, the homeowner is liable for any such damage and medical expenses arriving due to the incident. Liability coverage prevents the insured paying out of pocket at a short notice. It, however, doesn’t cover intentionally inflicted injury. Every coverage comes with its own specific exclusions and scope. Policy wordings are the best guide to know the exact scope and quantity of coverage. Read it carefully before purchasing your home insurance.

In sum, there are various types of insurance policies that cover your home. They range from a basic policy, which simply covers the cost of the structure of your home, to those that will provide a much broader range of protection, including contents as specified above. Some products will also provide coverage for additional living expenses, if you are temporarily unable to live in your home because of a disaster. In fact, your home insurance policy can also cover your home against burglary or theft even when you are travelling outstation for a brief

period of time. There are many more covers depending on the plan one

opts for.
As far as the premium is concerned, it will be approximately Rs 4,000 for a basic quote of the home insurance policy. This premium will cover the reinstatement cost (for dwelling/structure) up to Rs 20 lakh and a content cover of Rs 7 lakh. Jewellery will also be covered up to Rs 2 lakh, but within the sum insured of contents. This premium is for one year however discount is available for higher

tenure policies.
The author is Chief - underwriting, claims & reinsurance, ICICI Lombard. The views expressed in this article are his own.
Resource :http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/business/to-protect-your-home-choose-the-right-policy/329175.html

Why Nigeria’s legislature should be part-time

Against the emerging consensus that lawmakers and their executive counterparts take so much from public coffers, with no such corresponding policy outcomes as could justify the squander, which to say the least, borders on criminality, President Buhari and his APC party cannot continue to be oblivious of the wishes and aspirations of Nigerians who elected them into office. They should know by now that one change that will begin a revolution that transforms every structure, arm and organ of government, nay every aspect of Nigeria’s life is to make the Federal law-making process a part-time venture. A part-time legislature will usher in a new order that will detoxicate the system; and institutionalize a culture of service and discipline now lacking in Nigerian politics. This may well rattle some, but the truth is that the business of law making has always been done part-time by legislators. Therefore lawmakers will not find it difficult to adjust to such an arrangement. By this singular act of political courage, the President will be sending a strong signal that he feels the pulse of the nation. This is the kind of change Nigerians have been waiting for!

The cost of governance in Nigeria is too high, with the legislative arm, being a major drain pipe on the country. While the majority of Nigerians wallow in abject poverty, their elected representatives treat themselves so sumptuously that it rankles. This waste in government and the extravagant lifestyle of state actors, especially legislators, constitute such a drain on the treasury that it is impossible for any country carrying such a burden to make progress.

Nigeria’s economy has been groaning under the weight of the cost of governance which consumes over 70% of the budget to the detriment of capital projects. Infrastructure has been neglected while other indices of development are de-emphasized in order to foot the cost of governance. To make matters worse, the legislators have continued to demonstrate insensitivity, self-centeredness and greed in the way they add to the cost of governance by insisting on sumptuous and mouth-watering perquisites for doing so little, at a time when moderation is required. The only reason these lawmakers seek elective offices is the material gain therein; the gluttony and insensitivity illustrated by the sumptuous benefits to which legislators treat themselves at the citizens’ expense is an unbelievable shame. This is not part of the attributes of statesmen; rather it is a huge disservice to the nation.

The National Conference spoke for many Nigerians with its recommendation that legislators at both national and state levels should be part-time. This is evident from the sitting of the legislative houses. Attendance at sittings is noticeably poor as most members go about their personal businesses when they are supposed to be sitting and find time to attend only when it is convenient. Besides, both houses of the National Assembly sit only between Tuesday and Thursday every week. In essence, what is currently referred to as a full-time legislature, is in reality a part-time one, where members merely struggle to beat the minimum attendance prescribed by the law. Sadly enough, the number of times they attend or do not attend does not reflect in their remuneration.

It is unacceptable that Nigerians don’t know the remuneration package of their lawmakers, but even from the little information available, there is nowhere in the world where people who do so little get so much pay. At the beginning of the current legislature, Senate President, Bukola Saraki made bold to publicly announce that the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) would begin a downward review of salaries and allowances of federal lawmakers. Over a year later, Nigerians laboring for breath under bureaucratic overweight, corruption, an economic recession and renewed militancy in the Niger Delta are still waiting for the outcome of the review promised by Saraki.

Although by virtue of Section 32(d) of the 3rd schedule to the 1999 Constitution, it is the responsibility of RMAFC to determine the remuneration appropriate for political office holders, including legislators, what obtains in reality is a situation where lawmakers decree for themselves what suits their ego and appetite, such that four per cent of the annual recurrent expenditure for the nation goes to the National Assembly alone, making its members the highest paid legislators in the whole world. They would not even follow constitutional means of determining their entitlements. In their own cause, they are always the judge, particularly where perks of office is involved, in defiance of the principle of natural justice.

In no other nation on earth, has the power of oversight – an adjunct of the principle of checks and balances been transformed into a sword of Damocles in the hands of the legislators, over ministers and heads of parastatals who are harassed to force patronage out of them. Their oversight functions – a crucial part of their legislative duties – has been transformed into avenues for rent-seeking as lawmakers “shake-down” Ministers and Heads of parastatals for bribes during budget and committee hearings. The 7th legislature took this obnoxious practice to asinine levels, and went the distance to settle scores with officials who “refused to play ball.” Nigerian lawmakers have abused their power of oversight that, it has lost integrity and become an object of ridicule and opprobrium in the eyes of Nigerians. Ministers and public officials, their own corruptive tendencies notwithstanding, hardly take the legislative oversight powers seriously or as anything more than cheap blackmail, a reason they are ever so reluctant to honor the invitation of the legislators.

A part-time legislature cannot consume a fraction of what is at present allocated to the legislature under the present arrangement. In the first instance, its members will not be entitled to full-time remuneration and other perks. What will be payable is only the sitting allowance for the hours actually spent doing the peoples’ business. All other bogus and questionable allowances like wardrobe, constituency, furniture and vehicle allowance taken home today by the legislators will become a thing of the past. In addition, the allowance is not obtainable for the mere asking in that it does not attach by virtue of office simpliciter; it must be earned. A member qualifies for allowance only when he or she attends sitting. No longer shall the legislature be seen as an instant source of wealth that it is today, with the result that only serious-minded and patriotic citizens endowed with the spirit of service will find it attractive.

And that will be the beginning of a revolution that will change the nation. Nigerian laws will have focus, depth, substance and rich in content, giving the government and the people a new lease of life. Democracy will acquire a new identity and live up to its billing as government of the people by the people and for the people. Amidst the abject poverty in the land, Nigerians can no longer tolerate a situation where a “turn-by-turn” legislative clique feeds fat on the commonwealth. The matter has today gone past the tolerance threshold. The National Assembly has itself become part of the problem of Nigeria’s democracy and needs total restructuring. And the time is now.

Resource :http://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2016/11/28/why-nigerias-legislature-should-be-part-time/

Rent Home Furniture

If you have just moved to a new city, you may be interested in furniture rental. Ahuja Rentals offers living room and bedroom furniture package for rent and also gives you a possibility to buy a package and pay for it on a monthly basis. Ahuja Rentals will help you furnish your living room, kitchen and bedroom.
Ahuja Rentals focuses on offering high quality home furniture rental and sales. You can rent everything you may need for your new apartment, like tables, chairs, sofas, linen packs, beds and even bookshelves.
Why rent home furniture??
You save time:

• We offer complete home packages with different style.
• You have plenty of time and the privilege to choose the exact item you want from the comfort of your own home.
• You can change or update your furniture at will, whenever you want.
• Start to imagine your house furnished, without lifting a finger.

It's cheaper

• You pay reasonable monthly installments for all the furniture rather than at once.
• We offer complete rent home furniture packages.
• Your price for leasing decreases over time with a long-term plan (+ 6 months)

It's flexible

• We offer a vast choice of items to choose from, customized lease terms payment.
• You can change or update your furniture at will, whenever you want.
• You will be not worry about transporting all your newly acquired furniture back to your home country if you are here temporarily

Ahuja Rentals main strength is making the process of furniture rental as simple as possible.
We meet with our client in their apartment to understand their requirements. We discuss the furniture package according to our client’s tastes and preferences. Then we deliver a comprehensive proposal to the customer where every item has an associated rental value.
This allows our client to increase or reduce their rental expanse. Once everything is approved and the contract is signed, our team will deliver and install the furniture at any time.

Resource: https://furniturerentalnews.wordpress.com/2016/11/28/rent-home-furniture/
 

Rental hacks for the frustrated landlord

by Ryan Ong

GIVEN that we live on a tiny island, and rely heavily on foreign workers, you’d think renting out a property is easy. Well you’d be wrong. Singapore’s rental market, particularly for high-end properties, have been declining despite the influx of foreigners. Now, landlords will have to engage in vicious, no-holds-barred fights over tenants, and at least a handful will be offloading their property in shameful defeat. There are some ways to make sure you’re not one of them:



1. Make imitation furniture

If you are renting out a furnished unit, there are ways to make it seem like a higher rent is justified. The hard way is to invest way too much money, by buying designer furniture and Persian rugs. Have you seen Eames chairs? They look really cool, can go for upward of $5,000 a piece, and constitute an investment that you will recoup when the sun burns out.

But you’ve seen people with top end furniture, who claim they only spent $30,000* on everything right? That’s because it’s not always stated, but interior designers and contractors can make their own furniture. That includes when you point at something in a magazine, and tell them to “make something that looks like that, but at 1/10th of the price, thanks“.

Alternatively, go to custom made furniture websites and get them to create designs inspired from elsewhere. You don’t actually need to buy the high-end furnishings.



2. Fight for two year leases, avoid the shorter ones

Pop quiz: When the rental market is soft, do the number of rental contracts signed go up or down?

Answer: Up, which you answered because you know it’s a trick question so the answer will be counter-intuitive. But yes, rental volumes have gone up, even as rental rates have gone down. That’s because some tenants (especially those with cunning agents to represent them) often push for shorter leases in a weak rental market. That way, in six months or nine months or a year, they can attempt to renegotiate with you and get lower rates (they are betting that rental rates are likely to be just as depressed, or even worse, in that time).

So rather than just be grateful for any tenant, and just jump on a short-term contract, at least try to negotiate for a longer lease. Make your rental income consistent and fixed in a declining market.



3. Empty space? Store things for a fee

Singaporeans buy a lot of stuff, and we’re all running out of space. A less known, unofficial perk of rental properties is that they’re also giant cupboards (If you’ve had a landlord, you’ll know many of us like to keep spare stuff in our other properties). A landlord can monetise this function.

Find someone who needs space to store something, and who would otherwise need to pay a storage company (like a warehouse) for it. Writers with 1,000 copies of self-published manuscripts, blogshop owners who need inventory space, musicians who need a place to stash the old drum kit, etc. Get them to sign a contract that absolves you responsibility should their stuff burn down (improbable), and then charge them to store their items.

It may just come to a few hundred dollars a month (don’t store so much it actually affects a prospective tenant), but take what you can get in this economy.



4. Learn to stage your place for viewings

If you’ve skipped using a property agent, you’ll have to stage the property yourself. You can create significant improvements just by making some basic changes. Some of the tips given to me by property agents include:

– Repaint, preferably using white. You can get the paint company (like Dulux) to do this for you these days, and you’ll get a professional team.

– Shut off the downlights during the viewing, and use uplights. Downlights are the regular lights that shine down from the ceiling. Uplights point up at the ceiling. Examples are these floor lamps that can be pointed at the ceiling, or track lighting angled upward (like the sort used for pictures in art galleries).

You know how rooms in design magazines look nicer than they do in real life? That’s because they’re using uplights.

– Hang big mirrors on the walls, which will bounce the light around. This makes your place look more spacious, and also brighter.

– Scent the room, with a generous number of aromatherapy candles (or at least air fresheners). Do this especially for older units, which may be musty in areas.

– Remove any sagging cabinets in the kitchen, or storage units with missing knobs. Also replace old faucets or mouldy mirrors. While these are actually trivial issues, they make an inordinate impact on the tenant’s perspective.


5. Cherry pick extras to nab tenants

If the tenant is hesitating on the price, ask them what they’d want if the budget was no concern. They might mention things like more space for their children. You can then offer small extras that are tangentially related (e.g. I don’t have a backyard, but I will do up one room as a play space with some toys at no charge to you). Cherry pick the “extras” that you are willing to do for free (they should be things that don’t actually cost much).

Sometimes, the little extra gesture will be all you need to secure the tenant.


6. Partially furnished is cost-effective

In general, unfurnished properties are harder to rent out (and obviously bring in less rental income). One way to save on costs, while still attracting tenants, is to partially furnish your unit. That means putting in only essentials like the tables, beds, chairs, and so on. But leave out other amenities like the feature walls, kitchen island, or television (especially leave out the television; few people need it anymore thanks to Netflix). This will help you save on costs.

Next, try and rent it out to a family first. They will usually buy their own stuff to round out the apartment, and when they leave you can offer to buy their stuff off them at a discount (thus saving money again).


Above all, keep the unit tenanted

In a worst case scenario, you may not be able to get the rental rate you want. Bear in mind that in desperate straits, low rent is better than no rent. They key is to avoid having to offload your property, in the current weak market.


Featured image by Natassya Siregar.

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Resource :http://themiddleground.sg/2016/11/07/rental-hacks-frustrated-landlord/

Does A New City Mean New Furniture And Home Appliances?

In the age that we’re living, the phrase that “Change is the only constant,” rings so true. Lifestyles are changing, our habits are changing and especially our whims.

Relocating to a new city for a job seeker is a very real possibility these days. Most of us don’t have a choice, if our employer wants us to shift to a new city for the new job, we have to. Either you take your furniture and appliances in tow and risk getting it damaged for a temporary yet long term posting. Of course you won’t decide to buy a house in the posted city but rather just rent, then why not also rent home furniture and home appliances. If you’re in a temporary living situation, where you need furniture and home appliances for a medium term before you move out, but don’t want to shell out a considerable amount of money on a purchase, then again renting might be a good option for you. By renting your appliance, you can avoid the hassle of saving for an expensive outright purchase of a model that may soon become outdated.

Renting makes relocation hassle free 

A lot of people have begun to rent furniture and home appliances after relocating to a new city. With a growing need to control household budgets, increased geographical mobility and new habits, the cause for renting home appliances make a valid points against investing long term in equipment for the home. In addition to saving on the cost of installation and any necessary repairs, renting a home appliance can enable the consumer to obtain a tailored service.

The Ahuja Rentals Advantage

Ahuja Rentals offers complete solutions when it comes to furniture and appliance furnishings and maintenance for people in transit or relocating, for any length of time. They help you relocate and settle down as smoothly and comfortably as is possible. The rental packages are personalized to suit your needs, tastes and budget. They deliver and set up your furniture for you. No lifting, assembling, hiring a truck or organizing manpower.

Ahuja Rental Services

1. Assessment of proper, adequate furniture and appliances required for the house
2. Repair, maintenance services of furniture and appliances – free of cost
3. Transportation services
4. Flexibility for customers in selecting the furniture and changing it in rental period
5. Shifting services available in rental period – on chargeable basis

Resource:  https://furniturerentalnews.wordpress.com/2016/11/25/does-a-new-city-mean-new-furniture-and-home-appliances/

Homelessness collaborative progresses as it fights self-imposed deadline

Landlords who may be skittish about renting apartments to homeless veterans and others who may have fallen on hard times need not worry, according to a couple who provides such rentals.

The hassles are few, and the rewards, many, said Jason and Pam Melby, who own rental properties in La Crosse and own or manage others in Tomah, where they rent to more than 20 veterans.

“Our experience has been tremendous,” said Jason, a La Crosse police captain who also is on the design committee of the La Crosse Collaborative to End Homelessness. “Renting to vets and people who have served our country is the right thing to do.”

It also vaults over the typical landlord-tenant relationship, Pam said, explaining, “They view me as a friend. I like working with them. I always say be kind because you don’t know what battles people may be having.”

The collaborative is operating on a 100-day deadline, having intended to identify 15 rental units by Veterans Day in its quest to help 12 homeless veterans move in by Christmas Day.

With that first deadline looming Friday and appearing elusive, the collaborative remains undeterred in its overall goals, said Kim Cable, who chairs the group.

The optimism springs from success so far, from having located apartments for eight, helping gather furnishings and other supplies and helping them move in since the collaborative launched its effort on Sept. 15, she said.

“It’s a live document. We get some house and become aware of new veterans,” Cable said. “What we really need are one-bedroom units inside and outside of La Crosse.”

The reason some quarters are needed outside of the city is that some of the veterans have housing vouchers with that stipulation, she said.

Most of those chits are called HUD/VASH vouchers, with “VASH” standing for the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program, which includes a variety of support services and caseworkers for the vets.

“The experience we’ve had with the HUD/VASH program has been really good,” Jason Melby said. “I would say the wrap-around services and case workers make all of the difference in the world.”

Landlords often have to address issues with tenants, he said.

“In managing the properties appropriately, the case workers provide an extra security blanket,” Jason said.

“Some haven’t had the social experience of renting, and getting them back requires just a little patience, because it might take a little more effort to manage,” he said.

“The risk with veterans isn’t any different than anybody else. I’ve rented some to people for seven years, and something happens in their life and everything goes south,” said the 44-year-old Jason, who said he bought his first duplex at the age of 19.

“My wife deals with most of this because she manages the properties,” he said. “Some just need someone to talk to sometimes. A lot come in and sit down and talk to her for 10 or 15 minutes. She likes it.

“Some stories are funny, and others are tragic,” he said. “Once they are moved in, you develop a rapport. That’s part of it.”

Pam echoed the sentiment, saying the chats range from everyday topics to deeper issues about their lives and families, as well as checking how things are going with her.

“The apartments are nice, but sometimes, they are just thankful that somebody believed in them,” Pam said. “For some, I’m the only person they have to talk to.”

Such was the case with a veteran who had health issues to the extent that he eventually wasn’t able to make it out much, so she told him to call her when he had the rent payment, and she drove to his apartment to pick it up.

“He’d also call every week to talk,” she said, adding that she became concerned one week when he didn’t call.

She went to his apartment and found that he had died, an unsettling experience for her. Because he had no family, he was buried in Madison in a cemetery with an area for veterans who have no next of kin, Pam said.

Setting his landlord hat aside and donning his police captain cap, Jason said, “From the aspect of law enforcement, it’s not just veterans but generally with homeless people.”

When issues arise with homeless people sleeping in parking ramps or parks or, perhaps urinating in public areas, “the first people called are law enforcement,” he said.

“We could chase them and write tickets, but the issue isn’t behavior. It’s that homeless people don’t have housing. It doesn’t solve anything to write tickets,” Jason said.

“We at the La Crosse Police Department take an active interest” to help homeless people,” he said, noting that Neighborhood Resource Officer Joel Miller recently carried furniture into an apartment to help a veteran get settled.

“It’s better than chasing them around,” he said. “We can do more good by helping them than chasing them around.”

Collaborative members have hosted two sessions for landlords who might be interested in joining its effort and will host a training session Nov. 17, Cable said.

During collaborative team meetings last week, “We found we’re really doing well, and most teams are meeting or exceeding their goals,” she said.

The group’s collections of furniture and household supplies at a warehouse every Saturday of October were so successful that the group has suspended those efforts for now.

“The warehouse is full,” Cable said. “The generosity and outpouring from the community are so amazing, so wonderful. Everybody is pulling together, and it keeps us going.”

Resource :   http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/homelessness-collaborative-progresses-as-it-fights-self-imposed-deadline/article_cfe23551-93d9-5c01-b74d-501a6c0f3da5.html

Latest Analyst Ratings For Rent-A-Center Inc. (NASDAQ:RCII)

Recently analysts working for a variety of stock market brokerages have changed their consensus ratings and price targets on shares of Rent-A-Center Inc. (NASDAQ:RCII).


 10/13/2016 – Jefferies began new coverage on Rent-A-Center Inc. giving the company a “hold” rating. They now have a USD 10 price target on the stock.

05/24/2016 – Topeka Capital Markets began new coverage on Rent-A-Center Inc. giving the company a “buy” rating. They now have a USD 27 price target on the stock.

03/15/2016 – Rent-A-Center Inc. was upgraded to “strong buy” by analysts at Raymond James. They now have a USD 21 price target on the stock.

01/12/2016 – Rent-A-Center Inc. was downgraded to “hold” by analysts at BB&T Capital Markets.

12/22/2015 – Rent-A-Center Inc. had its “buy” rating reiterated by analysts at Cantor Fitzgerald. They now have a USD 18 price target on the stock.

10/29/2015 – Rent-A-Center Inc. was downgraded to “sector weight” by analysts at KeyBanc.

10/19/2015 – Sidoti began new coverage on Rent-A-Center Inc. giving the company a “buy” rating. They now have a USD 40 price target on the stock.

07/29/2015 – Rent-A-Center Inc. had its “buy” rating reiterated by analysts at Benchmark. They now have a USD 45 price target on the stock.

07/29/2015 – Rent-A-Center Inc. had its “buy” rating reiterated by analysts at Canaccord Genuity. They now have a USD 45 price target on the stock.

03/27/2015 – Rent-A-Center Inc. had its “hold” rating reiterated by analysts at Zacks. They now have a USD 26 price target on the stock.

03/10/2015 – Stephens began new coverage on Rent-A-Center Inc. giving the company a “equal weight” rating.

10/08/2014 – Rent-A-Center Inc. was upgraded to “buy” by analysts at Northcoast Research. They now have a USD 38 price target on the stock.

05/14/2014 – Rent-A-Center Inc. was upgraded to “buy” by analysts at TheStreet.

04/24/2014 – Rent-A-Center Inc. was upgraded to “buy” by analysts at Gilford Securities.

12/24/2013 – Rent-A-Center Inc. was upgraded to “hold” by analysts at Thomson Reuters/Verus.

Rent-A-Center Inc. has a 50 day moving average of 10.95 and a 200 day moving average of 12.27. The stock’s market capitalization is 562.85M, it has a 52-week low of 8.00 and a 52-week high of 18.54.

The share price of the company (NASDAQ:RCII) was down -0.09%, with a high of 0.00 during the day and the volume of Rent-A-Center Inc. shares traded was 0.

Rent-A-Center, Inc. is a rent-to-own operator in North America. The Company provides an opportunity to obtain ownership of products, such as consumer electronics, appliances, computers (including tablets), smartphones and furniture (including accessories), under rental purchase agreements. The Company operates in four segments: Core U.S., Acceptance Now, Mexico and Franchising. Its Core U.S. and Mexico stores generally offer merchandise from over five basic product categories: consumer electronics, appliances, computers (including tablets), smartphones and furniture (including accessories). The Acceptance Now segment provides an on-site rent-to-own option at a third-party retailer’s location. Its Franchising segment engages in the sale of rental merchandise to its franchisees who, in turn, offer the merchandise to the general public for rent or purchase under a rent-to-own transaction. It offers brands, such as LG, Frigidaire, Acer, Apple, Asus, Samsung, Ashley, Powell and Standard.

Resource :  http://www.desotoedge.com/stocks/latest-analyst-ratings-for-rent-a-center-inc-nasdaqrcii-3/120966