MBO's Quick Tip List for Marketing your Home for Rent 

1. Price competitively. How is the home comparable to other rentals in the area?
2. Update pictures and text frequently to keep the ad looking new.
3. Offer different leasing terms (3 mos, 6 mos, 1yr).
4. Give as much information on the property as you can.
5. Offer deal with first/last months rent.
6. Make each picture count.
7. Give clear simple contact information.
8. What, if any utilities covered in the rental price.
9. Include whether pets are ok or not.
10. Offer a floor plan.
11. Do not use all CAPS.
12. Always say house is smoke free for those non smokers.
13. Distance to schools
14. Make sure to exploit properties best features.
15. Include landscaping - who is responsible for maintenance.
16. Requirements for security deposit.
17. If renewal of lease is possible.

Our new site upgrade will allow you to implement many of these ideas into your advertising package. Be sure to utilize all of our great new features!

Stefanie Kivelin

Energy Manager

With the delivery of the December energy bill came some degree of sticker shock as low

temperatures brought a high cost. We all expect our winter utility bill to increase when

we begin turning up our thermostat, but oftentimes the actual cost is higher than we expect.

After receiving a high heat bill, we may decide to keep the thermostat set to 68 degrees Fahrenheit. However, when it gets cold, we turn the thermostat setting up and accept the fact that comfort incurs a cost. The comfort of your home and the cost of your utility bill do not need to be a tradeoff though.

By knowing where heat is lost and how to stop it, we can make our homes more comfortable and less costly to operate.

But heat loss isn't the only energy waster in a home. Consider the number of lights that are left on every day when rooms are unoccupied and the age and condition of your air conditioning/heating system. Don't forget the "energy vampires" like cell phones, laptops and printers that consume energy 24 hours a day when they are plugged in. Finally, consider air leakage. Can you see out your front door through cracks around the door and the frame? Can you feel airflow when standing next to a window?

The average house wastes 30 percent of the energy it consumes from the inefficiencies

identified above. In other words, for every $100 spent on a utility bill, $30 is wasted.

In the winter, approximately 50 percent of this energy is wasted through heat loss through the floors, walls, ceilings, windows, doors and other penetrations (see illustration below). To put this in context, if you have a $400 energy bill, you are paying $60 a month to heat outside. In this case, it's not a clich� to say you are throwing money out the window.

Reducing heat loss requires insulation and sealing. Insulating reduces heat loss through  the building materials. Sealing reduces unwanted air flow into and out of cracks in a  home.

To identify energy waste, walk around your home searching for places where you can see through the door frame and the door. Run your hand around window frames and feel for airflow. Check attics, crawlspaces, and basements for insulation. Write down areas where you identify heat loss then use the list below to help reduce that heat loss.

No cost measures

In the winter remove window-style air conditioner(s) and insert the fitted window(s). Leaving the air condition in place will allow heat loss to occur through the air conditioner louvers and/or around the air conditioner case.

Close your curtains/drapes at night to reduce heat loss through the window.

Mount curtains/drapes close to the window to create a better air barrier.

Keep warm air vents/registers clean and free of obstructions, such as furniture, carpets and drapes, to optimize heat distribution throughout the home.

Keep outside heating/cooling units free from leaves or debris that may clog vents.

Low cost measures

Fill gaps around doors with weather stripping.

Fill gaps around drafty windows with expanding foam insulation and/or caulk.

Add insulation to the attic, basement and/or crawl space. Ask your local home improvement store what type of insulation will work best for your home.

Clean or replace filters on furnaces and heat pumps regularly.

Make or buy a door sweep that covers the gap between the door and the bottom of  the frame. Most door sweeps are made out of rubber or vinyl, but you can make your own using foam, felt or even old towels. To test your sweep, put your hand by the bottom of the door and feel for airflow. If there is airflow, adjust the sweep until you can no longer feel air moving.

Use a programmable thermostat for automatic energy savings. Set the thermostat to a lower temperature (55-60 degrees Fahrenheit) at night while you sleep and during the day while you are at work. By setting your thermostat back 10-15 degrees Fahrenheit for eight hours a day, you can save 5-15 percent a year on your heat bill. Programmable thermostats cost $40 to $100 and can pay for themselves within a year if used correctly.

Capital intensive measures

Replace old, drafty windows with new, high efficiency windows. Seek windows that are certified by ENERGY STAR, have warranties against the loss of the air seal, are the correct dimensions for the window opening, and have a low heat loss factor. Typical heat loss factors, or U-factors, range from 0.2 - 1.2. The lower the value, the better the insulating value of the window. Your local window salesman will know these characteristics and can help you select an efficient window for your home.

Replace existing doors with energy efficient, ENERGY STAR certified doors.

Replace an old, inefficient furnace with a new, high-efficiency furnace. Don't automatically have the same size (capacity) as the old unit installed; units used to be considerably oversized and you may have made improvements to insulation or windows since it was installed. Instead, call a heating company and/or a home energy auditor to have a heat loss analysis of your house performed to size the heating system properly ($200 - $600/home energy audit). Home energy auditors also can help you identify other measures that will help reduce your consumption further. Audits and the identified energy projects can have payback periods ranging from six months to five years. By implementing the measures identified above, you'll see benefits beyond a reduction in your winter energy bill. These measures also will help reduce outside noise, minimize dust/pollen infiltration into your home, and reduce the summer energy bill by reducing heat gain during hot summer days.

stefanie.kivelin@usmc.mil

Quantico Sentry

27 January 2011 

Courtesy of USAA

Imagine having to replace everything you own if a fire or other disaster strikes. Furniture, clothes, television, stereo, computer - the value of your belongings can add up pretty quickly. In fact, the average rented two-bedroom residence contains more than $20,000 in personal possessions.

The financial loss was devastating for an Airman, whose rented house was destroyed by fire. He and his wife estimated close to $32,000 in property losses - without renters insurance to help.

Subject to certain conditions, renters insurance policies pay to repair or replace personal property that is stolen, damaged or destroyed due to fire, severe weather events and other causes. It can also protect your financial assets if you are found liable for property damage or personal injury.

Protecting Your Property

Many people don't purchase renters insurance because they mistakenly assume they're protected by their landlord's insurance. Most often the landlord's policy covers the structure itself, not the renter's belongings.

Levels of coverage may vary - from as low as $10 per month for $2,500 of coverage to more comprehensive policies offering $100,000 of coverage for around $30 per month. Rates may vary due to location.

If you have fine jewelry, art or other valuables, consider an extra policy for valuable property , which provides additional coverage for things specifically not covered by a primary policy.

Protecting Yourself

The benefits of renters insurance go much farther to help protect your financial well-being through liability coverage.

If a visitor to your apartment slips on a wet floor and is injured, you could be held responsible for thousands of dollars in medical bills. In this situation, a renters insurance policy with liability coverage would likely cover the costs up to a specified limit.

Taking it with You

When moving, most renters policies cover your personal possessions during shipment or while in storage. And when you travel, your luggage and other personal items may be covered up to the limits of your policy.

Before You Buy

It is important to understand the value of your possessions to determine exactly how much coverage you need.

We all face financial challenges without having to overcome disaster alone. The next time you look around your home, remember the Airman's fate and consider taking action now to protect your financial future.

Questions to Ask Before Renting   

1. How long is the lease? What is the penalty for breaking the lease?

2. What is the deposit?

3. Are any utilities included in the rent? If so, which ones - gas, electric, water, cable?

4. Are pets allowed? How much is the pet deposit?

5. What sort of security does the complex have?

6. Does it have laundry facilities?

7. How are repairs handled?

8. Will you need special permission to make cosmetic changes, such as painting or putting nails in the walls to hang pictures?

9. Can roommates co-sign the lease or will they need separate leases? If a roommate defaults on the lease, what are the consequences for you?

By Elaine Wilson
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18, 2011 - Two signs stand at the entryway to Farmington, Minn. One displays the city's population and, just underneath, another sign states "YellowRibbonCity," a message to all who that pass by that this city stands for military family support.

Farmington was the first community in Minnesota to earn the Yellow Ribbon network designation through the Minnesota National Guard's Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program. The designation is given to communities or groups that create a sustainable action plan to support troops and their families. Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Army National Guard   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

These signs are cropping up on city borders and on company walls across the state, thanks to a Minnesota National Guard program that's bolstering community support of troops and their families.

The Guard's Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program aims to raise community awareness of the unique wartime challenges military families face and to ensure troops and their families are surrounded by support throughout the deployment process and long after, explained Army Lt. Col. Barbara O'Reilly, the program's chief.

"They're very excited to support service members and families," O'Reilly said of the communities and support organizations in her home state. "They see this is as doing their part and their way to serve and be involved in what we're doing as a nation."

The program is an extension of the Defense Department's Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program, which offers training events and support to Guard and Reserve service members and their families before, after and during deployment. Beyond the Yellow Ribbon encompasses that training, while also embedding community support and awareness into the process to better serve local troops and their families, explained Army Sgt. 1st Class Melanie Nelson, the program's chief of communications and marketing.

This support is vital in a state that lacks the resources and extensive support of a major active-duty installation, she said. Yet Minnesota is home to more than 13,000 Guard members, including 11,000 soldiers, about 2,000 airmen, and thousands of other reservists in the Marines, Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard.

Communities are eager to help, Nelson said, and the Guard program can help them understand what the needs are and how they can join forces on behalf of military families.

Communities, such as Farmington, that express a desire to help over the long haul can earn a Yellow Ribbon designation through the Guard program. But this designation doesn't signify a simple declaration of support by a city official. Instead, Guard officials ask communities or groups to come up with a sustainable action plan on how they'll support military families throughout the deployment process, Nelson explained.

This plan involves a synchronized effort within the community, including churches, public safety offices, schools, parks and recreation centers and other community resources. A church may host a wonderful event in support of military families, Nelson explained, but could have a much greater impact if it connects with other agencies on behalf of military families.

"The program is about synchronizing the efforts of the community to support service members," she said. "And it looks different in every community, because every community is different."

To date, 45 entities -- including counties, companies and cities -- have earned the Yellow Ribbon designation. This number includes 27 cities, 14 companies and four counties, Nelson said.
The first city to sign with a Yellow Ribbon network was Farmington in 2008. The city has become a model for others in the program, O'Reilly said.

"This support to military families gave everyone a common thing to work on," she said.

Within the city, 13 faith-based organizations take turns hosting a military-support effort each month. And, rather than sparsely attended picnics sponsored by each military organization, the city now organizes a communitywide picnic. Last year, the picnic served meals to more than 600 military families, O'Reilly said. "It's an amazing display of what can happen when you work together," she said.

The town of Lakeville, another Yellow Ribbon community, united efforts on behalf of families whose loved ones died in combat. Within months, an Army staff sergeant was killed in Iraq and an Air Force major was killed in Afghanistan.

"Lakeville came together as a whole to support the families through the crisis," Nelson said. The community raised money all summer so it could place a memorial bench in the town's park in honor of the service members. The community again came together on behalf of a military family when a soldier returned from Afghanistan as a double amputee, Nelson said.

"We ask them to make whatever commitment they can make," she said of the Yellow Ribbon communities. "We're not telling them they have to do 'X, Y and Z,' but to identify to what they can do and commit to doing it."

An added bonus of this network, she said, is that it's there for whatever is needed. Nelson cited Hugo, another Yellow Ribbon city, as an example. Just months before it was proclaimed a Yellow Ribbon city, a tornado hit and caused substantial loss within the community. The budding network of community agencies helped the city spring to action quicker in the wake of the natural disaster, she said.

"This idea of a synchronized community makes you better able to react to any type of community-related crisis or event," Nelson said.

The Guard will be calling on the communities again soon. This spring, the state may see its largest deployment yet, Nelson said. The last time the state faced a large-scale deployment was in 2004, initiating the start of Beyond the Yellow Ribbon.

In 2005, retired Maj. Gen. Larry Shellito, then Minnesota's adjutant general, tasked the state chaplain to create a program that would ease the homecoming process for returning soldiers. He wanted their homecomings to be far different from the one he received as a second lieutenant after he returned from Vietnam and hid his uniform before he got to the airport, concerned about the reception he'd receive wearing it.

When the soldiers returned in 2006, they did so to a comprehensive reintegration program that helped to ensure a successful transition back to their everyday lives.

To step up support for troops and families during this next deployment, O'Reilly said, they're calling on unit commanders to administer an assessment so they can take stock of what the actual needs are. Guard officials then will be able to provide communities with a by-region list of actual needs. Families in a farming community, for example, may have different needs than those in a city, she explained.

"We're excited to see how this moves forward," O'Reilly said. "We'll have a clear picture of what the needs are and how communities can help."

The Guard also has 14 family assistance centers located in communities across the state to assist troops and their families, particularly those who are impacted by deployment. These centers aren't there to fix the problem, Nelson explained, but to ensure families are directed to the resource or person who can.

Military people are very proud, and typically are hesitant to accept help unless they're in crisis mode, O'Reilly noted. "It takes time to build the trust of military members and their families," she said. "We're hoping to build relationships now, so families know who to turn to for help when needed," whether it's with shoveling snow, bringing in crops or helping with home maintenance or child care issues.

Residents of Watonwan County, Minn., develop a Yellow Ribbon community campaign. Communities that create a sustainable action plan to support troops and their families can earn a Yellow Ribbon network designation through the Minnesota National Guard's Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program. Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Army National Guard  
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By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service 

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14, 2011 - To ensure military families don't get left out as the new national health care reform law extends parent's health insurance to their children up to age 26, TRICARE plans to roll out its new Young Adult Program by spring and to provide an option to make coverage retroactive to Jan. 1.

The new program will allow qualified, unmarried military children up to age 26 to buy health care coverage under their parents' TRICARE plans through age 26, defense officials announced yesterday. That's up from the current maximum age of 21, or 23 for full-time college students whose parents provide more than half their financial support.

The fiscal 2011 National Defense Authorization Act President Barack Obama signed Jan. 7 gave the Defense Department the authority it needed to extend TRICARE coverage to young adults, TRICARE spokesman Austin Camacho explained. This ensures benefits extended under TRICARE are in line with those all American families receive under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that took effect in March.

"We've been working hard to make sure we could put TRICARE Young Adult on a fast track," said Navy Rear Adm. (Dr.) Christine Hunter, who heads the TRICARE Management Activity. "Fortunately for our beneficiaries concerned about health care coverage for their adult children, the law signed by the president includes opportunities for military families to elect this new premium-based plan retroactive to Jan. 1."

Qualified young adults who don't have access to employer-sponsored health care coverage will be eligible to purchase it through TRICARE on a month-to-month basis, Camacho said.

Details about how much those premiums will cost under the new program still are being finalized. But because the 2011 defense authorization specifies that the rates must cover all program costs, Camacho said, premiums will be based on commercial insurance data about the costs of providing care.

Once the new program is in place, Hunter estimated that it could extend TRICARE coverage to several hundred thousand additional beneficiaries.

"The premium allows us to provide the excellent benefit to our military families while responsibly addressing the impact of health care costs on the DOD budget," she said.

Meanwhile, the TRICARE staff has moved into overdrive to iron out the program details: determining eligibility and coverage criteria and costs; designing, testing and implementing the required software and systems changes; updating eligibility databases; and crafting education efforts, Camacho said.

Officials plan to roll out the new program in two phases, first offering a premium-based TRICARE Standard/Extra benefit, Camacho said. Then, later this year, they plan to introduce the TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Prime Remote plan, including overseas options, and the Uniformed Services Family Health Plan.

Once the program is in place, eligible young adults may submit an application and premium payment to the appropriate regional or overseas contractor for processing, Camacho said. Cost shares, deductibles and catastrophic caps will vary, based on the plan selected and the sponsor's status.

Young adult beneficiaries will receive an enrollment card after they buy coverage, and their payment is reflected in the Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System, Camacho said.

The new beneficiaries may choose to pay premiums back to Jan. 1, which will entitle them to file claims for any health care costs they have accrued since that date. To do so, officials advise that they save all receipts to ease claims processing.

For adults who need health insurance coverage but no longer qualify for TRICARE coverage, officials advise exploring the Continued Heath Care Benefit Program. This premium-based program offers temporary, transitional health coverage for 18 to 36 months. Coverage must be purchased within 60 days of losing TRICARE eligibility. Information about the program is posted on the TRICARE website.

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21, 2011 - Additions to the TRICARE military health plan's website are giving beneficiaries easier access to their personal health data, more convenient appointment scheduling and better communication with their health care providers, the top TRICARE official reported.

TRICARE Online, the military health system's patient portal, already enables users who get care at a military treatment facility to schedule appointments, track their medications, order prescription refills and view and even download their personal health records, Navy Rear Adm. (Dr.) Christine S. Hunter told American Forces Press Service.

Later this year, patients also will be able to get their laboratory and X-ray results through the portal, along with secure messaging from their health care providers, Hunter said.

"You will be able to go there and it will say you have two messages from your doctor," she explained. "You will click on it, and it may be the nurse telling you that you are overdue for something, and maybe a lab result and an explanation of the findings."

The next goal will be to expand these capabilities so beneficiaries can track what immunizations they received and when, and get a "heads up" from their health care provider when they're due for their next one, she said.

Meanwhile, TRICARE plans to increase the number of clinics that offer online appointment scheduling and tailor the process to offer the broadest selection of openings so beneficiaries can select what's most convenient for them.

In addition, health care providers will begin using the portal to get patients to fill out forms and questionnaires at their convenience before they arrive for their appointments.

TRICARE Online offers the best of both worlds, Hunter said. It helps to build a closer relationship between beneficiaries and their health care providers while taking advantage of technology and health care tools to make that relationship more convenient and accessible 24/7.

Beneficiaries increasingly are taking advantage of the new capability. Almost 311,500 active users have logged into the system over the past year, officials reported, with an average of 2,800 new user registrations each week.

Since January 2010, beneficiaries have scheduled almost 200,000 medical appointments and requested more than 61,500 prescription refills through the system. During the week of Jan. 9 to 16 alone, they scheduled almost 3,000 appointments and refilled more than 1,000 prescriptions.

TRICARE officials also report increased use of the "blue button" feature that enables beneficiaries to access their personal health data and, if they choose, save it to a file on their computer. Since Sept. 25, 2010, officials reported more than 4,000 downloads in .pdf format and more than 1,700 downloads in .txt format. Last week's figures show 486 .pdf downloads and 187 .txt downloads.

Hunter said this feature is particularly helpful because it enables beneficiaries to download their records when they need to seek medical care away from their regular health care facility, and empowers them to better partner with providers about the treatment they receive.

Biographies:
Navy Rear Adm. (Dr.) Christine S. Hunter

Related Sites:
TRICARE

Price: $1,395.00/month

Las Vegas, NV - Beach House Avenue
 

3 Bed, 2.5 Bath (Single Family)

Description:

Perfect for individuals working at Creech AFB or the Nevada Test Site. 2035 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2 car garage. Open layout includes formal living and dining rooms, granite tile countertops in kitchen, travertine tile floors on first floor, and a large bonus room on the second story. Upgraded appliances in kitchen, washer/ dryer included in upstairs laundry room, and separate tub and shower in master bath. Lovely neighborhood within the Providence community and wonderful neighbors make this a great place for families. Huckleberry park (to be completed in 2011) is just a short walk away. 20 minutes to the Las Vegas Strip. Convenient access to US-95 and the 215 beltway. 20 minutes to Mt. Charleston - hiking, rock climbing, camping, biking! Available February 1, 2011. $1395 security deposit required (refundable) Pets okay (with homeowner approval and $300 refundable pet deposit). Water, sewer, trash and recycling included in rent as well as all HOA fees. Home is available due to military relocation - long-term leases available (1 yr minimum lease, please). NO SMOKING!

MBO131843

For more information on this home, Click Here

To see more Nellis AFB homes, please visit: MilitaryByOwner.com