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The federal government and the state of California have strong laws in place to help ensure accessibility for everyone to public and certain private buildings for those who use wheelchairs and other mobility aids. This is in addition to accommodations for those who are blind and hearing impaired. Whether you’re investing in a new construction or a commercial building that’s already in place, it’s crucial to ensure that it complies with all construction-related accessibility standards. In California, you can benefit by bringing in a Certified Access Specialist (CASp). You can find these professionals through the Division of the State Architect (DSA). WHY HAVE A CASP INSPECTION INSTEAD OF ANOTHER PROFESSIONAL INSPECTION? A CASp can advise you of what accessibility standards are necessary for a particular property based on its age and other factors. While experienced engineers, architects and others may be able to provide the same guidance, a CASp can be beneficial if you were ever to face litigation regarding construction-related non-compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other requirements. In fact, having a CASp inspection early on can reduce your chances of facing litigation in the future. Once the property has been inspected by a CASp, you’ll receive two documents: CASp Inspection Report Disability Access Inspection Certificate Note that the certificate doesn’t mean that you’ve passed the inspection. However, the report will detail any violations and changes you need to make to fix them, if any. Further, by having a CASp inspection done, you receive something called “qualified defendant” status if you were to be sued. That can help you get a “court stay to postpone legal proceedings and an early evaluation conference.” It can also get you lower fines if any are assessed. This just touches the surface of what a CASp inspection is and how it can help you. You may want to seek legal guidance to learn more about it. You certainly need to do so if you’re facing accessibility-related litigation regarding your property.

The federal government and the state of California have strong laws in place to help ensure accessibility for everyone to public and certain private buildings for those who use wheelchairs and other mobility aids. This is in addition to accommodations for those who are blind and hearing impaired. Whether you’re investing in a new construction or a commercial building that’s already in place, it’s crucial to ensure that it complies with all construction-related accessibility standards. In California, you can benefit by bringing in a Certified Access Specialist (CASp). You can find these professionals through the Division of the State Architect (DSA). WHY HAVE A CASP INSPECTION INSTEAD OF ANOTHER PROFESSIONAL INSPECTION? A CASp can advise you of what accessibility standards are necessary for a particular property based on its age and other factors. While experienced engineers, architects and others may be able to provide the same guidance, a CASp can be beneficial if you were ever to face litigation regarding construction-related non-compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other requirements. In fact, having a CASp inspection early on can reduce your chances of facing litigation in the future. Once the property has been inspected by a CASp, you’ll receive two documents: CASp Inspection Report Disability Access Inspection Certificate Note that the certificate doesn’t mean that you’ve passed the inspection. However, the report will detail any violations and changes you need to make to fix them, if any. Further, by having a CASp inspection done, you receive something called “qualified defendant” status if you were to be sued. That can help you get a “court stay to postpone legal proceedings and an early evaluation conference.” It can also get you lower fines if any are assessed. This just touches the surface of what a CASp inspection is and how it can help you. You may want to seek legal guidance to learn more about it. You certainly need to do so if you’re facing accessibility-related litigation regarding your property.

As a California landlord, you have certain obligations to keep your tenants safe and advise them when certain conditions in the building you rent might become compromised. When these issues arise, the question of landlord and tenant responsibility may come into question. One common problem that might affect you and your tenants is a bedbug infestation, and according to the California Legislature, Assembly Bill 551 now outlines your responsibilities if an infestation should occur. Landlord responsibilities According to the bill, you must ensure that any building you rent out to tenants is suitably safe and clean and that if you had the building treated for bedbugs, you must supply any prospective tenant with a copy of the pest control report. This may assist a tenant when making rental decisions and protect you as the owner of the building. In accordance with the bill, if you know a unit or building has a bed bug issue, you may not show or rent that space until you have it treated and inspected by a qualified pest control company. Fostering tenant cooperation As a landlord, much of the responsibility of bed bug control falls upon you. However, you can foster cooperation with each of your tenants so you can work together to lower the risk of future infestations. Provide your tenants with information about how to prevent bedbugs and how to identify signs of an infestation, including: Small brown fecal marks on sheets Itchy bites on the legs and ankles Visible molted shells in bedding You can encourage tenants to report these signs to you as soon as possible so you can treat the area. A bed bug infestation can be difficult to treat, but early detection can help you fulfill your responsibilities as a California landlord before the problem spins out of control.

As a California landlord, you have certain obligations to keep your tenants safe and advise them when certain conditions in the building you rent might become compromised. When these issues arise, the question of landlord and tenant responsibility may come into question. One common problem that might affect you and your tenants is a bedbug infestation, and according to the California Legislature, Assembly Bill 551 now outlines your responsibilities if an infestation should occur. Landlord responsibilities According to the bill, you must ensure that any building you rent out to tenants is suitably safe and clean and that if you had the building treated for bedbugs, you must supply any prospective tenant with a copy of the pest control report. This may assist a tenant when making rental decisions and protect you as the owner of the building. In accordance with the bill, if you know a unit or building has a bed bug issue, you may not show or rent that space until you have it treated and inspected by a qualified pest control company. Fostering tenant cooperation As a landlord, much of the responsibility of bed bug control falls upon you. However, you can foster cooperation with each of your tenants so you can work together to lower the risk of future infestations. Provide your tenants with information about how to prevent bedbugs and how to identify signs of an infestation, including: Small brown fecal marks on sheets Itchy bites on the legs and ankles Visible molted shells in bedding You can encourage tenants to report these signs to you as soon as possible so you can treat the area. A bed bug infestation can be difficult to treat, but early detection can help you fulfill your responsibilities as a California landlord before the problem spins out of control.

Due diligence is the process of doing your homework before buying real estate. It includes investigations that help you to ensure this is a good purchase and to check for any potential legal issues with the sale. With commercial real estate, RealWealth explains you need to ensure your due diligence uncovers whether the property matches your goals. Match your needs Doing due diligence with your end goal in mind will help you to know that this is a property you can use and that will work. It will help you to make sure you do not invest in something that you cannot move forward with. Avoid issues Due diligence will also help you uncover any potential title issues or other legal issues surrounding the property. This is especially important if you plan to resell the property. You need to know it will be yours free and clear with no boundary problems or anything else that could diminish the value for a future buyer. It will also allow you to discover anything that could be a potential hazard, such as a history of waste on the land. Identify potential Due diligence can also enable you to look further into the viability of this as an investment. For example, if you want to buy an apartment unit, proper due diligence will allow you to ensure you will be able to find renters. It will also let you look into any problems that could cost you money or prevent you from renting units. Due diligence protects you from a bad investment, which is essential in commercial real estate dealings.

Due diligence is the process of doing your homework before buying real estate. It includes investigations that help you to ensure this is a good purchase and to check for any potential legal issues with the sale. With commercial real estate, RealWealth explains you need to ensure your due diligence uncovers whether the property matches your goals. Match your needs Doing due diligence with your end goal in mind will help you to know that this is a property you can use and that will work. It will help you to make sure you do not invest in something that you cannot move forward with. Avoid issues Due diligence will also help you uncover any potential title issues or other legal issues surrounding the property. This is especially important if you plan to resell the property. You need to know it will be yours free and clear with no boundary problems or anything else that could diminish the value for a future buyer. It will also allow you to discover anything that could be a potential hazard, such as a history of waste on the land. Identify potential Due diligence can also enable you to look further into the viability of this as an investment. For example, if you want to buy an apartment unit, proper due diligence will allow you to ensure you will be able to find renters. It will also let you look into any problems that could cost you money or prevent you from renting units. Due diligence protects you from a bad investment, which is essential in commercial real estate dealings.

A contract is a legal document that creates obligations between the parties who enter the agreement. A breach of contract occurs when one party fails to fulfill any part of its contractual obligation. There are four main types of breach of contract. 1. Minor breach A minor breach of contract occurs when one party fails to fulfill one part of a contract, but the breach is so minor that it does not affect the fulfillment of the rest of the contract. This is also called an immaterial or partial breach. It is difficult to show harm in a minor breach unless the wronged party can prove how the missed part of the contract caused a significant loss. 2. Material breach A material breach of contract is when a key element of the contract is not fulfilled as agreed. It is a failure to perform the contract to such a degree that the heart or purpose of the agreement is fundamentally broken. This is the most severe type of breach of contract. 3. Anticipatory breach When one party to a contract acknowledges to the other that they will not be able to fulfill their contractual obligation by the agreed-upon time it is an anticipatory breach. The non-breaching party may also realize that a breach will occur through the actions of the breaching party without being formally notified. 4. Actual breach An actual breach of contract occurs when one party improperly or incompletely fulfills the duties obligated in the contract. It is a breach that has already occurred, it is not anticipated. When a breach of contract occurs, the wronged party can either seek to have the contract enforced or seek damages or restitution to recover from the financial harm of the breach. The remedy or recovery available depends on the type of breach and the severity of harm it caused.

A contract is a legal document that creates obligations between the parties who enter the agreement. A breach of contract occurs when one party fails to fulfill any part of its contractual obligation. There are four main types of breach of contract. 1. Minor breach A minor breach of contract occurs when one party fails to fulfill one part of a contract, but the breach is so minor that it does not affect the fulfillment of the rest of the contract. This is also called an immaterial or partial breach. It is difficult to show harm in a minor breach unless the wronged party can prove how the missed part of the contract caused a significant loss. 2. Material breach A material breach of contract is when a key element of the contract is not fulfilled as agreed. It is a failure to perform the contract to such a degree that the heart or purpose of the agreement is fundamentally broken. This is the most severe type of breach of contract. 3. Anticipatory breach When one party to a contract acknowledges to the other that they will not be able to fulfill their contractual obligation by the agreed-upon time it is an anticipatory breach. The non-breaching party may also realize that a breach will occur through the actions of the breaching party without being formally notified. 4. Actual breach An actual breach of contract occurs when one party improperly or incompletely fulfills the duties obligated in the contract. It is a breach that has already occurred, it is not anticipated. When a breach of contract occurs, the wronged party can either seek to have the contract enforced or seek damages or restitution to recover from the financial harm of the breach. The remedy or recovery available depends on the type of breach and the severity of harm it caused.

As the new landlord of a California residential property, you still have a lot to learn. For instance, when does a tenant bear financial responsibility for repairs? Apartments.com differentiates landlord and tenant maintenance responsibilities. Understand how to resolve this aspect of common landlord-tenant disputes. When tenants pay for repairs When a tenant bears responsibility for damaging a rental unit, she or he also bears responsibility for paying for necessary repairs. Examples include smoke stains and smells, pet damage, blown-out lightbulbs and worsening issues the tenant failed to bring to your attention within a reasonable time. Besides cultivating leases that protect you from irresponsible tenants and defining what repairs tenants pay for, you may take additional steps to safeguard your investment in your rental property. For instance, let tenants know they should come to you immediately about repairs, damage and other inconveniences. Taking swift action may keep an issue from worsening. When landlords pay for repairs You must also understand when you bear responsibility for repairs. Essentially, landlords take care of maintenance and repairs resulting from standard wear and tear, age and safety hazards. Examples include visible mold, plumbing problems, electrical issues, broken locks when the tenant does not bear fault and heating repairs. If you do not take action on the above repairs, tenants have the right to withhold rent or hit you with a lawsuit. Look into state regulations to determine how long you have to make repairs. Taking prompt action may reassure tenants and turn them into long-term residents. Proper knowledge helps avoid landlord-tenant disagreements. Bear the above information in mind during your time as a property owner.

As the new landlord of a California residential property, you still have a lot to learn. For instance, when does a tenant bear financial responsibility for repairs? Apartments.com differentiates landlord and tenant maintenance responsibilities. Understand how to resolve this aspect of common landlord-tenant disputes. When tenants pay for repairs When a tenant bears responsibility for damaging a rental unit, she or he also bears responsibility for paying for necessary repairs. Examples include smoke stains and smells, pet damage, blown-out lightbulbs and worsening issues the tenant failed to bring to your attention within a reasonable time. Besides cultivating leases that protect you from irresponsible tenants and defining what repairs tenants pay for, you may take additional steps to safeguard your investment in your rental property. For instance, let tenants know they should come to you immediately about repairs, damage and other inconveniences. Taking swift action may keep an issue from worsening. When landlords pay for repairs You must also understand when you bear responsibility for repairs. Essentially, landlords take care of maintenance and repairs resulting from standard wear and tear, age and safety hazards. Examples include visible mold, plumbing problems, electrical issues, broken locks when the tenant does not bear fault and heating repairs. If you do not take action on the above repairs, tenants have the right to withhold rent or hit you with a lawsuit. Look into state regulations to determine how long you have to make repairs. Taking prompt action may reassure tenants and turn them into long-term residents. Proper knowledge helps avoid landlord-tenant disagreements. Bear the above information in mind during your time as a property owner.

The excitement builds as you make plans for starting your own business, but there are so many things to do and decisions to make. Be sure to avoid basic mistakes, such as forgetting to protect your intellectual property and failing to secure your interests with written agreements. Taking a short-sighted approach Avoid taking a short-sighted approach to the future of your business. You should have a long-term plan in mind from the very beginning. Think about what you want your business to be in one year, five years or ten in terms of financial goals, future products or personnel. Underpricing products or services As with overpricing your products or services, underpricing can cause serious problems. Keep an eye on competitors. Make comparisons with the pricing of similar products and claim your space in the marketplace. Failing to protect intellectual property Remember the importance of your company name, logo, sensitive documents or photos. You may need to file for a copyright, trademark or other legal protections for your intellectual property. Avoiding the use of written agreements In large part, the days of securing an agreement with a handshake are over. Do not depend on casual business relationships always panning out. Drawing up written agreements with employees, partners, suppliers and anyone who provides services will protect your business interests, ensure accurate record-keeping and help you prevent legal missteps. Relying on professional help From bookkeeping tips to reviewing documents such as non-compete agreements and employment contracts, you will need professional guidance as you launch your business. Having timely professional assistance will help you avoid business startup mistakes and confidently clear any hurdles that arise.

The excitement builds as you make plans for starting your own business, but there are so many things to do and decisions to make. Be sure to avoid basic mistakes, such as forgetting to protect your intellectual property and failing to secure your interests with written agreements. Taking a short-sighted approach Avoid taking a short-sighted approach to the future of your business. You should have a long-term plan in mind from the very beginning. Think about what you want your business to be in one year, five years or ten in terms of financial goals, future products or personnel. Underpricing products or services As with overpricing your products or services, underpricing can cause serious problems. Keep an eye on competitors. Make comparisons with the pricing of similar products and claim your space in the marketplace. Failing to protect intellectual property Remember the importance of your company name, logo, sensitive documents or photos. You may need to file for a copyright, trademark or other legal protections for your intellectual property. Avoiding the use of written agreements In large part, the days of securing an agreement with a handshake are over. Do not depend on casual business relationships always panning out. Drawing up written agreements with employees, partners, suppliers and anyone who provides services will protect your business interests, ensure accurate record-keeping and help you prevent legal missteps. Relying on professional help From bookkeeping tips to reviewing documents such as non-compete agreements and employment contracts, you will need professional guidance as you launch your business. Having timely professional assistance will help you avoid business startup mistakes and confidently clear any hurdles that arise.