JHersh Realty, LLC in Southwest Montana
Serving Bozeman, Three Forks, Belgrade, Manhattan, Butte, Anaconda and nearby communities.
“Jenny has been much more helpful than anyone else I’ve worked with.”
— Cody P.
How Expense Tracking Can Save You Money on Your Rental Property
How Expense Tracking Can Save You Money on Your Property Rental
Managing a rental property can be a time-consuming and complicated process. It starts with finding the right property in the right location, and in Southwest Montana, you will be best served by Jenny Hershberger Bushman, so call (406) 570-5869 for a free consultation..
From there, business owners must be legally compliant, market their rentals, maintain the property, and manage finances. If you run a property rental business, keeping an eye on your revenue and expenditure by setting up a proper reporting system is vital.
Property maintenance expenses
You are legally required to keep your property in good condition. This means frequent inspections and prompt repairs to any issues that arise. Both exterior and interior spaces should be well maintained and health and safety regulations must be complied with.
Sole proprietors, business owners, and property rental managers can deduct some maintenance and repair costs from their tax bills. These can include the cost of materials, contractor labor, and property manager’s or caretaker’s salaries. Make sure to keep records of everything you spend, from receipts for materials bought to paystubs. There are a number of excellent mobile apps you can use to track expenses on the go.
It is important to remember, though, that not all repairs are tax-deductible. It’s important, therefore, to know what qualifies as such.
Insurance and property taxes
All rental properties must be insured. You need to have insurance on the physical building and, if you rent it furnished, you should also have contents insurance. If your property is mortgaged, it is a legal requirement to have building insurance.
Every U.S. resident who owns property pays property taxes. While rates vary by state, the average American pays $2,471 in property taxes each year. If you have several properties, your tax bill can then make a significant dent in your profit line. You can deduct up to $10,000 on property taxes annually, but your home insurance is not tax-deductible.
Marketing and advertising costs
Nothing puts a dent on your bottom line faster than a vacant property. The key to maintaining a healthy profit is to ensure maximum occupancy in all your properties. Marketing and advertising need not cost the earth, but if you do incur marketing expenses, again, track them for the tax deduction.
Marketing can be as simple as running a Facebook page, an Instagram profile, or even putting up a ‘for rent’ sign at the property. If you decide to elevate your marketing strategy, consider running ads on social media or in the local paper, placing posters on bulletin boards, or listing the property with rental agencies.
Manage finances and reporting
Property management is a business and it needs to turn a profit. The only way to make sure that your business is in good shape is to keep a keen eye on your income and expenses and run detailed reports that give you a clear picture of your profits and cash flow. Robust reporting software will streamline expenses, invoicing, estimates and more so you can better monitor your rental income and expenses, as well as manage tax payments. QuickBooks Online Advanced can easily connect to your financial accounts, as well as automatically sort expenses into categories so you are fully prepared when tax time rolls around.
Running a rental property business is expensive, but if you are smart, you can claim a lot of your expenses back. Your priority should be to keep an eye on what you are spending, as well as what’s coming in, and making sure it is all properly documented and reported on your tax returns.
Article courtesy of Claire Wentz / http://caringfromafar.com.
Time to Winterize Your Home
It’s still warm enough to work in the yard, but not for too much longer! Here is a helpful list of things you may want to do before winter arrives . . .
Test run your heating system, before you will need it. Take care of any maintenance, such as replacing the air filer. Consider hiring a professional to inspect your heating system. It is a good idea to check and clean vents and exhausts too.
Test or replace the batteries in your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors.
If you have a fireplace, it’s time to clear obstructions from the chimney. In case an animal has made a nest, be certain that the material is thoroughly removed. Check the damper and chimney draft. Have the chimney cleaned and repair any open mortar joints.
We have some pretty cold winters here in Montana. Insulate exposed water pipes. Turn off outdoor faucets from their main water supply inside the house and drain the excess at the exterior. Flush and winterize your sprinkler system.
I like to remove the screens to clean the outside (and inside) of my windows one more time, before the snow flies.
Once all of the leaves have fallen, clean out the gutters and downspouts to limit ice buildup.
While you are up there, sneak a peak at the roof and make sure there aren’t any loose or missing shingles, etc.
You may also need to tend your garden, flower bed, prune hedges and trees before they lay dormant for a long winter’s nap.
The cool dry days of autumn are a great time to seal or stain wooden decks.
Put away patio furniture.
Drain the gas from your lawn mower and prepare your snowplow / blower so that it is ready for operation.
Am I forgetting anything? Let me know what you do to prepare your home for winter.
I will be sharing tips on how to make your home more heat efficient next week, stay tuned.
#homeinmontana #winterizemyhome #realestateagent #bozemanrealestateexperts #jhersh
How to Buy a Home
The path to becoming a homeowner may seem confusing and overwhelming at first, but this guide should help ease the anxiety around the process!
1. Call your real estate agent, Jenny, 406-570-5869.
2. Get pre-approved. Many people overlook this, but you’ll want to do this first, so you are aware of how much you can borrow.
3. Set a budget. Now that you know how much money you can borrow, it’s time to narrow down what property you can look at with a realistic budget.
4. Save for a down payment. Though down payments are lower than in previous years, you should still save for a down payment to avoid financial obstacles.
5. Boost your credit score. A credit score is a critical player in the home-buying process. You can improve your score by avoiding large purchases and paying your bills on time.
Have more questions? Call Jenny today, 406-570-5869.
#bozemanrealestateexperts #jhersh #howtobuyahome #buyahomebozemanmt #realtorbozemanmt
Contingent
Definition time! Today’s lexicon is “contingent”.
A contingency describes the status of a transaction that was already approved, but there are still conditions of the Agreement of Sale that need to be agreed upon for the transaction to complete. Buyers may choose what to include in the contract. There are five common contingencies, according to Forbes:
Inspection contingencies – Inspections can show a buyer the condition of the house that they are interested in purchasing.
Financing contingencies – This gives the buyer time to apply and get approved for a loan to purchase a home. If the buyer is unable to get proper financing, they will be able to look towards other sources or just back out of the sale.
Appraisal contingencies – This ensures that the buyer is protected if the sale price of their home of interest doesn’t align with the fair market value.
Title contingencies – This includes a legal document that explains who has owned the home in the past and who owns the home now. A record of legality issues can also be included.
Home sale contingencies – This allows a certain amount of time to find a buyer for a home. If there is no buyer within the time frame, one has the right to walk away from the sale with their earnest money deposit.
Have more questions about contingencies? Give Jenny a call, 406-570-5869.
#bozemanrealestateexperts #jhersh #whatisacontingency #realtorbozemanmt #buyahomewithcontingencies #realestateagentbozemanmt
REALTOR® Nutritional “Facts”
What do you get when you collaborate with a #RealEstateAgent?
More than the recommended daily amount of drive, passion, determination, kindness, patience, and A LOT of caffeine.
What’s the end result? One amazing home that you love.
#bozemanrealestateexperts #buyahomeinmt #sellmyhousebozemanmt #bozemanmt #realtor #realestateagentbozemanmt
Happy Presidents’ Day
“The origin of Presidents’ Day lies in the 1880s, when the birthday of Washington—commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolution and the first president of the United States—was first celebrated as a federal holiday. In 1968 Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Bill, which moved a number of federal holidays to Mondays . . . “ https://www.britannica.com/topic/Presidents-Day
#bozemanrealestateexperts #presidentsdayhistory #jhersh #realtorbozemanmt
Happy Valentine’s Day
Love is in the air! Focus on your future and fall in love with a home. Who is purchasing a home this year?
#bozemanrealestateexperts #buyahomebozemanmt #sellmyhousebozemanmt #realtor #realestateagentbozemanmt
Recipe of the Month
Since it’s the month of love, nothing says “I love you” more than some sweet, delicious, and cute thumbprint cookies! Best of all, they don’t take a lot of effort but taste like you slaved away in the kitchen.
Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
½ tsp. Baking powder
2 tbs. Almond milk
½ tsp. Salt
¾ cup margarine, softened
½ cup sugar, or sweetener of your choice
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
⅓ cup assorted jams for the filling
Optional: Powdered sugar
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 F/177 C and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk flour and salt together. Set aside.
3. Add softened margarine, sugar, vanilla extract, and almond milk to another bowl and mix.
4. Slowly add in the flour/salt mix and combine until a dough is formed. Be careful not to over-mix.
5. Scoop out a half tablespoons worth of dough and roll into a smooth ball. Place all dough balls about 1 ½ inch apart.
6. Make the indent by using your finger (the “thumbprint” mark). Fill each indent with jam, but be careful not to overfill.
7. Bake for about 13-15 minutes or until barely lightly golden.
8. Remove from the oven and let them cool for 5-10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. Optional: Dust with powdered sugar.
(Recipe adapted from veganhuggs.com)
#bozemanrealestateexperts #valentinecookierecipe #jhersh #sellmyhousebozemanmt #buyahomebozemanmt #realestateagentbozemanmt
Home Inspection - Start to Finish
What is a home inspection? Do you need a home inspection? What happens in a home inspection? What do you do with a home inspection? What's an inspection notice? Jenny Hershberger, a REALTOR® with Bozeman Real Estate Experts in Southwest Montana takes the time to explain the home inspection process, from start to finish, when buying a home. #bozemanrealestateexperts #homeinspection #buyahome #homeinmontana #bozemanrealestate #jhersh #jennyhershberger
What is “Title”
Definition time! Today’s lexicon is “title.” According to FindLaw©, “title” describes the person who has legal ownership and the legal right to use a piece of property. If someone has a defective title, it can lead to obstacles, such as difficulty establishing ownership of a property or difficulty exercising the rights of said property. Have more questions about title? Give Jenny a call today, 406-570-5869.
#bozemanrealestateexperts #jhersh #titlecompany #hometitle #deed #realtorbozemanmt #titlequestions