Hamilton & District Apartment Association

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220 Steeles Avenue West

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^From$2,549

Ad: 4434741
Apartment

220 Steeles Avenue West
Brampton, Ontario

Bedrooms2 Bathrooms1 Square Feet905^sqft

No Smoking No Disability Accessible No Pets

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Details

Distance To School:
0 mi

Features

Fridge

Amenities

Jacuzzi/Sauna
Elevator
Gym
Balcony
GamesRoom
PartyRoom
LaundryInBuilding
AirConditioning

Description

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About Hamilton & District Apartment Association

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Apartments, houses & condos for rent in 220-Steeles-Avenue-West-4434741 - say hello to your next 220-Steeles-Avenue-West-4434741 apartment or condo from Hamilton & District Apartment Association .

Off-Campus Housing 101 (OCH101) is a network of rental websites or an Internet Listing Service (I.L.S.) the U.S. and now the Caribbean which showcases rental properties of various types such as apartments, houses, condos, basement suites, executive, shared /roommates, furnished, mobile home & townhouses. We were the first in Canada to bring a better way to post and find rental property than expensive newspapers and magazines. In addition, we were the first in the U.S. to offer a complete online off-campus housing solution utilizing our Off Campus Housing 101 engine for helping landlords reach college & university students and for students to 'find a home away from home'.

Since our humble beginnings back in 1998, we have always provided our first 30 day listing free* or 'first ad on-the-house' option for landlords to try-before-they-buy - allowing them to realize value BEFORE they are asked for a fee. We now have thousands of long-term landlord customers over 15 years of loyalty. Although many of our services are automated, we have always maintained a toll-free customer hotline for landlords requiring additional help with their ads or accounts and custom services for our larger property management companies.

Off-Campus Housing 101 provides the most up-to-date database of rental properties. All listings are added and maintained by the landlord / property owners themselves, ensuring the listing are as current as possible.

For a nominal fee, Off-Campus Housing 101 Rentals provides enormous exposure through many partners working together for maximum exposure. Since all the sites are connected based on geography, it doesn't matter which site you visit. Our Network is even partnered with over 80 North American colleges / universities, expanding your overall exposure.

ECOM Media Group Inc. is dedicated to promoting and maintaining the highest ethical standards in the software industry while exhibiting an unmatched commitment to providing superior service and quality to our customers, partners, employees, and shareholders.

Founded in 1998, ECOM Media Group Inc (ECOM) is an established and reputable leader in the online vacancy rental advertising market. Since day one, our core vision and guiding principle has remained constant: finding, developing, and implementing programs and products that make it possible for landlords and renters to find each other in the most efficient manner possible. In striving to fulfill our vision and goals, we have consistently pursued relationships with industry pioneers and established market-makers and enlisted them as strategic partners.

ECOM developed the technology that powered its inaugural service, Rent BC in 1998. The founders of the company used extensive research & software development to develop the basis of what is arguably one of the strongest technology platforms in North America serving the online vacancy rental market. Today, ECOM supports over 250 rental listing websites ranging from schools, associations, and regional listings services to sites developed in conjunction with our strategic partners. The primary source of our success, however, is a direct result of the growing number of property management and colleges & universities utilizing our off-campus housing solutions.

By investing heavily in our own intellectual property over the years - the major result of which is our hierarchy-based, proprietary software -- , we have been able to work with a wide range of participants in our target market. This market ranges from large apartment owners at one end to roommates and shared accommodations on the other. This model allows for a better cross-section of data, increased traffic flows and more search capability, all of which results in better success in filling vacancies and finding homes for students. Our off-campus housing website provides a turn-key solution to many schools across the United States and Canada. In addition, this solution also benefits the landlord, the school, and most of all, the student. We provide our off-campus housing solution absolutely free to colleges & universities - not surprisingly, a highly attractive arrangement - which, enables them to provide safe and suitable housing for their student population. Additionally, our network model allows us to enlist many partners in the generation of ad content by market makers within the industry as well helping to brand them in the process.

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In order to be able to post on ECOM Websites, you may be required to register. Should you choose to register, you agree to provide accurate and current information about yourself as required by the registration process, and to promptly update such information as necessary to ensure that it is kept accurate and complete. You agree to be responsible for: (a) maintaining the confidentiality of any passwords or other account identifiers which you choose or are assigned as a result of any registration on ECOM Websites, and (b) all activities that occur under such password or account. Further, you agree to notify ECOM Media Group of any unauthorized use of your password or account. If you provide any information that is untrue or inaccurate, we have the right to suspend or terminate your account.

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hdaa.myidealhome.com, its partners and affiliates do not warrant the completeness, timeliness or accuracy of any of the listings and/or other information and data contained in this web site and may make changes thereto at anytime in their sole discretion without notice. Further, all listings and other information conveyed hereby is provided to users "AS IS" and should be verified independently with the respective listers or property managers. In no event shall hdaa.myidealhome.com or its partners and affiliates be liable for any damages of any kind related to the use or misuse of information provided hereby.

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Listings created by users on any part of ECOM Websites, ("Listings") are the responsibility of the user creating the Listings. ECOM MEDIA GROUP HAS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR LISTINGS. However, ECOM Media Group retains the right, which it may or may not exercise, in its sole discretion, to review, edit, refuse or delete any Listings for any reason whatsoever. ECOM Media Group will not be liable to you or any third-party for any modification or discontinuance of your Listings.

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Users may, through hypertext or other computer "links," gain access to other sites on the Internet which are not part of ECOM Websites and which are not controlled by ECOM Media Group. ECOM is providing these links to you only as a convenience, and the inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement by ECOM Media Group of the site. ECOM MEDIA GROUP ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY MATERIAL OUTSIDE OF ECOM WEBSITES WHICH MAY BE ACCESSED THROUGH ANY SUCH LINK.

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Except for information, products or services clearly identified as being supplied by hdaa.myidealhome.com, hdaa.myidealhome.com does not operate, control or endorse any information, products or services on the Internet in any way. Except for identified information, products or services from hdaa.myidealhome.com and its afiliates and partners, all information, products and services offered through the site or on the Internet generally are offered by third parties that are not affiliated with hdaa.myidealhome.com,its afiliates or partners. Except for information, products or services clearly identified as being supplied by hdaa.myidealhome.com or its afiliates and partners, hdaa.myidealhome.com does not operate, control or endorse any information, products or services on the Internet in any way. hdaa.myidealhome.com, its afiliates and partners cannot and do not guarantee or warrant that files available for downloading through any particular site will be free of infection or viruses, worms, Trojan horses or other code that manifest contaminating or destructive properties. You are responsible for implementing sufficient procedures and checkpoints to satisfy your particular requirements for accuracy of data input and output, and for maintaining a means external to the site for the reconstruction of any lost data.

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Non-Confidentiality

Information provided to hdaa.myidealhome.com's, its affiliates and partners concerning this web site will be received on a non-confidential basis. hdaa.myidealhome.com's and its affiliates and partners reserve the right to use such information in its sole discretion.

Non-Discrimination Policy

All real estate located in the United States of America and advertised herein is subject to the US Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise "any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination." While all listings are submitted by third parties, we will not knowingly accept any advertising which is in violation of the law.

All real estate located in Canada and advertised herein is subject to the Human Rights Code, which prohibits discrimination based on race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, family status and disability. While all listings are submitted by third parties, we will not knowingly accept any advertising which is in violation of the law.

All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are on an equal opportunity basis. If you believe that any ad or listing contains information indicating an unlawful preference, limitation or discrimination, please let us know immediately and we will take any appropriate actions.

Release Notes

New updated interface
Changed menu top-menu for quick access to Tenant and Landlord pages
Moved less common menu items to the footer
Added pop-up interface for Login and Favorites screens
New dialog interface for viewing About and FAQ pages so you do not have to leave your listings
Improved Contact forms in listings
Landlord page now lists Partners
Image gallery interface within listings
Refine Search will now remember your choices for Price and Bedroom, also includes text inputs

FAQ

Landlord FAQ

How do I create an account?

To create an account, select Landlords in the top menu and click on the Let's Get Started button. This will take you to a registration form. Please fill out all of the information accurately and then click the Submit button.

If you select to receive promotional emails and newsletters you will be sent out Promotional Codes and special pricing offers that we run throughout the year.

After you submit the form you will be sent an email, to the email address you provided, asking you to verify your account. If you do not see this email in your inbox please be sure to check your junk mail folder as this email may get caught by your filters. Open up the email and click on the Verify My Account button. This will open up a page thanking you for verifying your account. You may now log in to your account to create your listing.

This information is for private landlords only. If you are a Real Estate agent or Property Management company, please email us to [email protected] to create an account and learn more about pricing for companies.

How is my account information used?

Your account information is used for our records only. Your account information is seperate from any information required on your rental listing. We respect your privacy and do not sell or share your information.

How do I log into my account?

To access your account, click on the Login icon on the right hand side of the top menu bar. Your username is the email address that you signed up with.

If you have forgotten your password you can click on Forgot Password? to start the process of re-setting your password.

The website says I have a duplicate account. Why?

If you have listed with any of our networked sites previously you are already in the database. Please login with your previous username and password.

How do I create a listing?

To create a new listing you need to log into your account. Once you have logged in to your account select Add Listing from the Listing Tools menu.

Step 1: Verify your contact information. This is one of the most important steps. If this information is not correct no one can get in touch with you to rent your property. The default contact information takes the information you provided when you created your account. If you would like to have different information shown here you can set up an alternate contact by clicking on the Add New Contact button.

Step 2: Select your property type. This is where you select what type of property you have available. Once you have selected a housing style a description of that property type will show up, please ensure it is a close match so people searching on the system know what they are looking at.

Step 3: Fill in your property address. Start by selecting the Country, State/Province, and City that your property is in. When filling in your street address please provide the building/house number to ensure the most accurate mapping.

Step 4: Fill in your property details. The mandatory fields are the Building Name or Headline, Bedrooms, Bathrooms, and Rent. While the other fields are not mandatory the more information you provide to perspective tenants the better results you will get.

Step 5: Create a property description. In the space provided you can use an unlimited amount of text to best describe the listing. In our experience, the more information you provide a potential renter in this space that answers the more common questions they may have the more real leads you will receive instead of people phoning to get more information.

Step 6: Select the Features and Amenities that are included with your property. To select what features your property has included or nearby click the empty checkbox next to the item. Renters are becoming increasingly interested not only in what is included in the property they will be renting, but also what is in the surrounding neighborhood.

Step 7: Click on the Go to Step 2 button when you are happy with the information you have input for your listing.

Step 8: Add Pictures to your listing. Having even a couple of photos greatly improves the results of your advertising. To select the photos you would like to add to your listing, click on the Choose Files button. This will open a browser that will allow you to find the images on your computer.
You can upload a maximum of 40MB or 10 images at a time, whichever is the lesser amount. The maximum file size per photo is 10MB.
After selecting the files you wish to upload click on the orange Upload button. When the images are done uploading you will get a pop up that confirms the files have finished uploading and your photos will appear on the screen. You can enter in captions for each photo if you would like to provide a description of what they photo is showing.

Step 9: Scroll to the bottom of the screen and click on the Go To Step 3 button.

Step 10: Select the length of time you would like to advertise your property for. You can select from 1 month, 2 months, or a 12 month or until it rents option. The most economical is the 12 month or until it rents for $44.95. This allows you to leave your property online for up to 12 months for one low price. If you rent it out and do not want to continue to receive inquiries you can notify us to take it down, or keep it online and build a waiting list of interested parties.
Also you can select here if you would like to purchase a feature position (pending availability). In each market there are 10 feature positions that will ensure your property comes up as one of the top 10 search results as long as your property fits the search criteria. These positions are available on a first come first serve basis.

Step 11: Enter in a Promo code, if you have one, and click on the Update Total button. Throughout the year we will send out various promotional codes to our users that have elected to receive promotional emails from us in your account settings. You can change your setting for this anytime under Account Setting in the dashboard menu.

Step 12: Click on the Save and Finish button to proceed to the payment process.

What do I do if my city isn't found in the database?

Please contact us with the desired state/province, and region and we will promptly add your city to our database. You can also contact us if you believe your city is listed in the incorrect region.

How do I add pictures to my listings?

Having even a couple of photos greatly improves the results of your advertising.

Step 1: After logging into your account click on the My Listings button on the dashboard menu.

Step 2: Find the listing in your account you would like to add photos to and click on the Modify/Relist button on that listing.

Step 3: Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the Go to Step 2 button.

Step 4: This will bring up the page where you can add photos. Click on the Choose Files button to open up a browser that will allow you to find the photos that you want to use from your computer. You can select up to 10 photos or 40mb worth of photos to upload at one time, whichever limit is hit first.

Step 5: Once you have selected which photos you want to use, click on the Upload button. The progress bar will move showing the progress of your upload. Once the photos have completed the upload process you will get a pop up confirming how many photos have been added to your listing.
You should now see the pictures that you have added. If you need to add more photos repeat steps 4 and 5. To adjust the order of the photos use the Move up, Move Down, and Delete buttons.

Step 6: Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on Go to Step 3.

Step 7: From this screen you can choose to either extend the time you have your ad online or select the Do not extend listing time option if you are not looking to extend your advertising time. After this scroll to the bottom of the screen and click on the Save and Finish button to save the photos to your listing.

How do I modify/make changes to my listing?

You can update or make changes to your listing at anytime. After logging into your account, click on the My Listings button in your dashboard.

Step 1: Click on the Modify/Relist button on the ad you would like to make changes to.

Step 2: Scroll down the page and make the desired changes to the information in your listing details. The more information you can provide to a potential tenant the better quality lead you will get as they will have all the information they need and will want to set up a visit when they first call you instead of having to ask for all the information about the property.

Step 3: Scroll to the bottom of the screen after verifying all of the information is correct and click on the Go to Step 2 button. From this screen you can update any photos you would like to add or subtract.

Step 4: Scroll to the bottom of the screen and click on the Go to Step 3 button. Once you have reached the next screen you can choose to extend the length of time you are advertising for or select the Do not extend listing time option then scroll to the bottom of the screen and click on the Save and Finish button to save the changes to your listing.

How do I change my listing category?

To change the category of your listing you must contact us.
Email: [email protected]

How do I change the address on my listing?

To change the address of your listing you must contact us.
Email: [email protected]

How do I re-list a property that I advertised before?

Any listing you create will always remain in your account for future use. We are all busy people, so why have to spend the time re-creating an ad each year when you are looking for new tenants? You can easily re-list any ad you have used in the past with a few simple steps.

After logging into your account click on the My Listings button in your dashboard. This will bring you to a screen where you can see all of the listings in your account.

Step 1: Scroll down the page until you see your offline listings then click on the Modify/Relist button on the listing you are looking to re-list. This will open up the listing for your review.

Step 2: Review all of the information on the listing to ensure that it is up to date and accurate with any price changes, new features, or renovations that have been done since the last time you listed the property. Scroll to the bottom of the screen and click the Go to Step 2 button to view all the pictures on the listing to ensure they are accurate. After reviewing the photos scroll down and click the Go to Step 3 button.

Step 3: When you reach Step 3 of the re-list process this is where you can select how long you would like to advertise your property for. Select from the 1, 2, or 12 month options. This is also where you can select if you would like a feature position. The feature positions ensure you the most visibility for your listing by placing them at the top of any search that your listing matches with. If you purchase feature position 6 your listing will always be search result number 6 or higher which gets you more eyeballs on your listing. After selecting how long you would like to advertise for, scroll to the bottom of the screen and click on the Save and Finish button.

Step 4: Fill out your payment information. After submitting payment your listing will be reviewed by our staff and online within 24 hours.

How do I de-list a property that has been rented?

Congratulations on renting your property! After your property has been successfully rented you may no longer wish to receive inquiries about your property.

Log into your account and click on the My Listings button in your dashboard. This will bring up all the listings in your account.

Find the property that has been rented and click on the De-List button. This will bring up a confirmation screen to ensure that this is what you want to do. Click on the De-List Now button that comes up and it will mark your property as rented. Your listing will remain online for 4 days with a RENTED banner to let anyone that was interested in it know it has been rented and they will need to look at other options.

Now sit back and relax as your property is full and you can go back to enjoying life.

How do I view the stats for my listings?

For any listing you have listed on our site we track how many times it has shown up as a search result as well as how many times someone has looked at the full version of your listings.

In your dashboard there is a subsection titled Stats. By clicking on the Listings button in this area of your dashboard it will take you to a page with all of your listings on it. From this page you can choose which of your listings you want to view the stats for and click on the View Stats button for that listing. This will open up a page that shows you a summary of the list views(how many times it was seen as a search results) and Single/Detail Views(how many times someone clicked on the ad to view it in full detail).

Our system also saves any emails that are sent to you directly from the website so you can pull them up if you accidentally delete one before you can respond to it. To look up any emails that have come in through the system, go to the same Stats subsection of your dashboard and click on the Email Totals button. This will open up a page that shows you all of the listings in your account as well as the number of emails that each listing has received while it has been active in your account. To view the emails in detail click on the View Emails button on the listing. This will open up a page that gives you a summary of when the emails came in and who they were from. To see the actual email, click on the View button and it will open up a page that shows the text of the email as well as the contact information of the person that was inquiring about your listing.

Renters FAQ

Is Off-Campus Housing 101 free to search?

Yes, Off-Campus Housing 101 is always free to search.

Do I need an account to search?

No, you do not need an account to search our database.

How do I search?

There are a number of ways you can search for a property. At any time you are able to click on the listing icons on the map and it will take you to the full details for that listing.

You can jump to a particular city's listings but entering the city name into the search bar.

If there are too many results you can use the Refine Search tool, found in the upper right of the top menu bar. If you need more results try broadening your search again.

Scam & Fraud Information

We here at the OCH101 Network value our customers. We greatly appreciate the trust you give us in helping you with your rental needs. We have had many success stories of both students and landlords using our service, but occasionally we hear reports of people attempting to defraud our users.

There are many known scams, and new ones are invented every day. Below is a list of common scams (or "pitches"), click the links for a detailed description plus some tips on how to avoid being caught in one!

Remember, it is always easier to stay out of trouble than to get out of trouble. Using common-sense is your best defense; never send money to anyone that you haven't first verified the legitimacy of any transaction or party.

We have created these Rental Listing Fraud Awareness webpages to help educate our customers so that they are able to achieve their goals - which are renting their property, finding a property to rent or finding a roommate - and do so in confidence and without fear.

OCH101 and our Network of rental websites, is an online classified style (but better) advertising system. We will pull any ad that looks suspicious off of our websites immediately. If you suspect an ad is not legitimate on one of our sites, please contact us by email (please include the Ad listing number) at [email protected] seven days a week.

Please Note: We are not involved in transactions between you and any of the individuals you communicate with outside of our Network. We do not guarantee any transaction, certify any landlords OR renters, nor do we provide protection for payments transacted between our customers and outside parties.

Contrary to popular belief that "scammers only use the free sites", they occasionally target premium paid sites.

Customers have asked us, "can someone steal my ad, personal information or pictures on this site?" Unfortunately, YES. Copying and pasting ads, or parts of an ad, is NOT a crime. Scammers "steal" their ad material from various classified ad sites - and even more surprising, they take material from independent real estate sites and the real estate Multiple Listing Service! So should you stop using pictures on our site? No! Pictures are what is going to get your home rented!

To help prevent this, we suggest to our customers that they do NOT use the actual house number on their listings (use "Apple Drive" instead of "123 Apple Drive" or use cross-streets, like "Apple Drive and Peach Road" so prospective renters can still Google Map your location). This makes your ad less desirable for scammers to use since they need an actual physical address to send people to.

Please Note: On our "Add a Listing" form (where you originally created your ad) in the bottom of the "Current Contact Info" section, you will find the following statement regarding the possibility of your information being made public on the internet. You can easily "modify" your listing (by creating an Alternate Contact) to follow these guidelines:

This contact information may be indexed by Google and other search engines. If you are concerned, please utilize the 'Alternate Contact' feature to display only the information you wish to be made public. We recommend not using your last name for example. If it is on the Internet, then it is going to be indexed without notice by the search engines.

It is always easier to stay out of trouble, than to get out of trouble

900 Numbers

The 900 scams are a variation on a prize scheme. The consumer is encouraged, usually through an offer in the mail, to call a 1 900 number in order to find out how much money he or she has won. The implication is that you have won a large prize - cash, cars, boats etc., and your brief phone call will confirm which prize is yours.

The offer usually states the cost of the call per minute - around $4.99 - and the average length of the call, which is usually 7 or 8 minutes. Most of these numbers are linked to a voice response system (a computer), which prevents you from speeding up the call. More often than not, the prize available is minimal (one or two dollars), and you will lose $35.00 for every call you make.

You must take the time to read the offer carefully and understand your odds of winning.

The federal government advises that some telephone companies offer free services that will block access to all 900/976 numbers.

For example blocking services for residential customers are usually free, but customers who change their mind may have to pay a $10.00 fee to remove the block and reactivate 900/976 services.

Some companies charge a fee to block 900/976 services. Offers vary and customers should check with their telephone provider for details.

False Charities

In the Untited States and Canada, we have a long and honorable tradition of voluntary giving to those in need, often through charity organizations.

But if an unfamiliar charity organization contacts you - by mail, phone, or Internet - be careful.

Bogus charities often use names that are very close to the names of legitimate and respected charities. The end of the year is the peak season for charity appeals. It also is the peak season for the bogus charity appeals.

Warning signs:

High pressure or threatening telemarketers who want you to contribute immediately.
Someone calls and thanks you for a pledge you don't remember making.
Copycat names. Names that might be misleading or deceiving.

What you can do:

If you receive a telephone call, ask for the information to be sent to you in writing. Ask how much of your gift will be used directly for the charity. Ask how much will go toward administrative costs. Legitimate charities have no problem giving you this information.
Remember on an incoming call a person could be misrepresenting a legitimate charity.
Never give out your personal / financial information out over the phone, or at the door. You may wish to make out a cheque payable to the charity. You can mail the cheque later.
Call the charity. Find out if they know about the appeal and have authorized it and what percentage of your donation they will receive from your donation. Perhaps there is a better way to give, where 100% of your donation will reach the charity.
Ask if the charity is registered.
Ask them to give you the charitable tax number of the charity. Question any discrepancies.
At the beginning of each year decide which charities you can afford to donate to - send your checks directly to their head office, and feel good about giving. When approached you can say that you have already given and leave it at that. Perhaps you will consider their appeal next year when you decide on the charities you can afford to give to.
To file a complaint call your local police.

Overseas Tenant

An overseas individual (usually from Africa or the UK) contacts you via email saying they are moving to your area in the next few weeks due to a job transfer and needs a place to rent. Their email is full of rambling detailed personal information, assurances of their trustworthiness and honesty, usually overtly friendly and religious in nature. Even though they are highly educated professional individuals (engineers, doctors, scientists or ministers), their use of the English language, grammar and spelling is terrible. You are asked to please email the rental terms as well as the property details and pictures (even though it's on your Ad listing) to them ASAP. Generally, these individuals want to rent your property sight-unseen, ask you to take your Ad offline (offering to pay you to do so) and sometimes even ask you to oversee the arrival of their furnishings. A third party will be issuing you a check on their behalf.

Soon an authentic-looking check complete with watermarks arrives in the mail. These fake checks look so real that they even fool the bank tellers. However, the amount on the check is for way more than you agreed upon (sometimes they pre-warn you it's going to be more) explaining the extra funds are to cover travel or moving expenses. Usually it creates a financial shortage for the tenant. They engage you emotionally, imploring you to deposit the check quickly (assuring you that the funds are indeed there) and ask you to immediately wire-transfer the difference to a foreign account, of course, inviting you to keep a generous amount for your trouble.

The money is transferred as asked. The "tenant" never shows but has your money. The check that was sent to you bounces and you are left to cover the insufficient funds and overdraft fees.

Recovery Pitch

If you buy into any of the Prize Pitch schemes, you are likely to be called again by someone promising to get your money back for you. Be careful not to lose more money to this common practice.

Here are two examples of the stories you may be given over the phone:

A caller claiming to be a law enforcement officer tells you that money has been seized, and that their records indicate that you have lost money to the company or companies. They will help you recover the money you have lost for a small fee. DO NOT BELIEVE THEM. If money is seized, you will be advised by a police agency but they will never request money in advance for any reason.
The caller may claim that they have bought out a particular company that promised you prizes that were never sent to you. They are an honest company, and they are eager to get those prizes right out to you if you can pay some related costs - DO NOT BELIEVE THEM! HANG UP!

Advanced Fee Letter | (419 / Nigerian Letters)

Throughout Canada and the United States letters concerning the request for urgent business transaction, usually the transfer of millions of dollars, are being sent out to consumers and business' via mail, email and fax transmission. These letters are commonly referred to as Nigerian Letter Scams or West African Fraud Letters.

The scheme begins once a consumer receives a letter. Letters are sent by mail, fax transmission and email, while email transmission being the preferred method of delivery for the letters. PhoneBusters have seen an increase in email delivery. In addition to stressing the urgency and confidentiality of a transaction, these letters will also stress the importance of trust and honesty in order to make the reader believe that there is a validity to the letter. For instance , the writers of these letters will commonly claim to be a Doctor and/or a corporate entity with a major corporation of Nigeria. There will also be some mention of government involvement.

Typically, after receiving a letter a consumer would respond either by phone, fax, or email. the response would be a request for further information on the requirements and procedure for the transaction. Once contact is established, the writer of the letter will normally ask for an up front processing fee and in some cases arrange for a meeting to discuss the transfer of funds. Most letters come with a breakdown of the percentage of money each party involved will receive once the transaction is final.

For instance, many letters received at PhoneBusters offer the following breakdown:

- 30% for the account holder.
- 60% for me and my partners.
- 10% to be used in offsetting taxes and all local & foreign expenses.

PhoneBusters advises consumers not to open unsolicited emails. Spam usually means scam and the message may contain a virus that can damage your computer.

Copies of the letters (regardless of country origin) can be directly forwarded to PhoneBusters via fax at 1-888-654-9426 or by email at [email protected]

Identity Theft

Identity Theft: Could it Happen to You?

Maybe you never opened that account, or ordered an additional card, but someone else did....someone who used your name and personal information to commit fraud. When an imposter co-opts your name, your Social Security Number (SSN) or your Social Insurance Number (SIN), your credit card number, or some other piece of your personal information for their use - short when someone appropriates your personal information without your knowledge - it's a crime, pure and simple.

Are you a Victim? The signs can be many, but typical indicators that your identity is being used include:

- A creditor informs you that an application for credit was received with your name and address, which you did not apply for.
- Telephone calls or letters state that you have been approved or denied by a creditor that you never applied to.
- You receive credit card statements or other bills in your name, which you did not apply for.
- You no longer receive credit card statements or you notice that not all of your mail is delivered.
- A collection agency informs you they are collecting for a defaulted account established with your identity and you never opened the account.

Identity Theft Statement - What is it?

If you have been a victim of identity theft, the Identity Theft Statement helps you notify financial institutions, credit card issuers and other companies that the entity theft occurred, tell them that you did not create the debt or charges, and give them information they need to begin an investigation. Make as many copies of the Statement as you will need to notify all affected companies. You will need Acrobat Reader to view the statement.

To print a copy of the Identity Theft Statement click here. You will need Acrobat Reader to view the statement, click the following link to dowload the free software - Acrobat Reader download.

Remember: There is no reason to be paranoid; there's just reason to be careful. If someone wants desperately to target you, they can probably get a lot of information about you -- so you just need to minimize the criminal's opportunities to get that information. You canm ake yourself a harder target and that the best defense. If you are a victim, do not panic, you will not be out any money. The losses will be attributed to the banks and or companies associated with the fraud.

Minimize the Risk: While you probably can't prevent identity theft entirely, you can minimize your risk. Identity theft is on the rise and it can happen to anyone. It can happen to you. By managing your personal information wisely, cautiously and with an awareness of the issue, you can help guard against identity theft.

Phishing

The word phishing comes from the analogy that Internet scammers are using email lures to 'fish' for passwords and financial data from the sea of Internet users.

Phishing, also called "brand spoofing" is the creation of email messages and Web pages that are replicas of existing, legitimate sites and businesses. These Web sites and emails are used to trick users into submitting personal, financial, or password data. These emails often ask for information such as credit card numbers, bank account information, social insurance numbers, and passwords that will be used to commit fraud.

The go al of criminals using brand spoofing is to lead consumers to believe that a request for information is coming from a legitimate company. In reality it is a malicious attempt to collect customer information for the purpose of committing fraud.

Tips on how to spot and avoid phishing scams:

Protect your computer with anti-virus software, spyware filters, email filters and firewall programs.
Contact the financial institution immediately and report your suspicions.
Do not reply to any email that requests your personal information.
Look for misspelled words.

Always report phishing or 'spoofed' emails.

Travel Ballot

By simply filling out a ballot to win a vacation at a home, boat or auto show, you may be set up for "suckers lists". Shortly after filling out this ballot, you may be contacted over the phone by someone claiming to offer you a "free" or "low cost" vacation. They will ask for your credit card number and personal information in order to hold the vacation for you, or they may request money in advance.

Don't give out your credit card information over the phone. If you want to check out the value of these promises, seek out the advice of a legitimate travel agency in your area. If you have provided credit card information to the telemarketers, be aware that most companies have policies that allow you to cancel your reservation within 30 days. Do not let anyone pressure you into committing to any agreement over the phone.

Advanced Fee Loans

Ads that promise loans generally appear in classified sections of local and national newspapers, magazines and tabloids.

Remember - Simply advertising through recognized media outlets does not ensure the legitimacy of the company behind the ad.

Some companies claim they can guarantee you a loan even if you have bad credit or no credit. They usually request an up front fee, which may range from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Once you send your money to these companies, you never get your promised loan and you cannot get your money back. If you cannot get a loan through traditional lending institutions, it is unlikely that you'll get one in response to a classified ad. Ask the loan company to take the amount of their fee off of the total amount of the loan that was promised you. In most jurisdictions, it is illegal for a company to request an up front fee prior to obtaining a loan.

Inheritance Scheme

Overview:

A very wealthy stranger has died and you are asked to assist with banking and to share the wealth.

The Pitch:

You receive a wordy letter, or email message, from a stranger, seeking your assistance in moving large amounts of money, often millions of dollars, to your bank account. You are promised a very significant percentage for little or no effort on your part, perhaps as high as 20%, for simply providing your bank account details. You may be asked to be a trustee or to stand in as a long lost heir of a deceased's fortune.

A web site may even be provided so you can confirm the tragic death of some wealthy individual. The fortune may be said to be in cash in a safety deposit box, evidenced by a Certificate of Deposit. The message may have political overtones or refer to a Diplomat in another country who will broker the transfer of the money, often through some 'back door' arrangement. You may be provided an overseas phone number and asked to indicate whether or not you are interested so that alternative plans can be made should you decide not to participate.

The Facts:

Beware of tragic deaths and persons looking for your assistance in moving large amounts of money and to fulfill the role of trustee or heir. Legitimate estates do not solicit trustees or heirs in this manner and do not promise to carry out the exercise 'through the back door'. If someone promises you 20% of a fortune for doing little else than provide banking details, it is too good to be true, and if it is too good to be true, it probably is not true.

This inheritance scheme could end here with the takeover of your bank account and depletion of your funds by a number of fraudulent means. A second phase of the scheme could be invoked, in which you are asked to pay an up front fee in order to collect your so-called inheritance. You do not normally pay money to collect money. this is also known as an advance fee scam.

Prize Pitch Scheme

One of the most common scams is the "prize pitch". Consumers are told they have been specially selected to win a prize, or have been awarded one of three or two of five prizes. These prizes usually include cash or a vehicle. You must purchase a product and pay in advance to receive your prize. These products may include "coin collections", personalized pen sets, etc. The products are generally cheap or overpriced, but may sound valuable over the phone.

Remember, in a legitimate contest you do not have to purchase a product to qualify for a prize.

You may also encounter the "sweepstakes scam". After entering a fake sweepstakes contest in the mail, you will receive a call within two to four weeks from a fraudulent telemarketer. This person will usually identify themselves as a lawyer, judge, customs agent or other official. They will represent themselves as an agent for a particular company. You will be told that you have won a large cash award, but money must be sent up front for taxes, etc.

Vishing Schemes

Vishing Joins Phishing as a Security Threat

Just as Internet surfers have gotten wise to the fine art of phishing, along comes a new scam utilizing a new technology. Creative thieves are now switching their efforts to "vishing," which uses Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phones instead of a misdirected Web link to steal user information.

Phishing is the sneaky art of sending an e-mail to people pretending to be from a bank or major online merchant, such as Amazon or eBay, asking them to click on a link and verify their account information. The user is then directed to a fake site that collects the login and password information. Repeated efforts on the part of security firms have educated users to be cautious about clicking on links from unknown senders.

But now, the criminal element has shifted from asking people to click on links to placing a phone call instead. Only the number isn't to a bank or credit card, it's to a VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) phone that can recognize telephone keystrokes. The thieves don't even use an e-mail blast, they use a war dial over a VOIP system to blanket an area. A recorded message tells the person receiving the call that their credit card has been breached and to "call the following (regional) phone number immediately." When the user calls the number, another message is played stating "this is account verification please enter your 16 digit account number." The rest is academic.

Secure Computing, which specializes in secure connections over networks, sent up the red flag over this new method. Secure Computing engineers have been tracking news group sites and open disclosure discussion groups discussing vishing. "This is just a natural evolution of phishing itself," said Paul Henry, vice president of strategic accounts for Secure Computing. "Simply put, people are becoming more aware of the fact that an e-mail containing a URL could be malicious in nature. So hackers are moving away from the URL and using something victims are more familiar with like calling a number." Henry said Secure Computing raised the issue over a year ago, but the first recorded incident took place last month, involving a Santa Barbara bank, then a second incident in early July involving Paypal. Henry said there is no real preventative technology solution. Caller ID spoofing is very simple, and VoIP providers like Skype allow customers to pick not only their area code but the prefix as well, so it's possible to pick a phone number in the same area code and prefix of a major bank. To that end, Henry thinks the VOIP companies could help with the issue by being a little stricter in their signup process, but doesn't think they will. "These VOIP companies are in the business of producing value for their shareholders, so they are trying to drive down transaction costs. They want establishment of a new account to be as fast and painless as possible," Henry said.

At this point, common sense is your best defense, said Henry. "If you receive an e-mail that would direct you to a telephone number, don't use that number. Contact your credit card provider or whoever with a known number that's good." Daniel Hong, senior voice business analyst for Datamonitor, concurred that users need to be educated all over again. "There's definitely vulnerability, because this is a completely new approach, especially in terms of customer behavior and customer psyche," Hong said. There's been a lot of education on Internet scams, but there hasn't been a lot of awareness concerning the phone. So if there's an automated phone prompting you, it seems more credible than getting an e-mail blast from hackers out there." More stringent measures for VoIP account activation could help, but in the end, education might be the best solution. "If the hacker is able to get to the consumer," said Hong, "then education will make the difference."

Check Overpayment

Fraudulent check/cheques are used in a variety of scams such as advance fee letter fraud, overpayment and prize pitch to name a few.

Overpayment scams is the type of fraud where the person receiving the check/cheque is actually owed money for goods sold. The seller receives a counterfeit cashier's check/cheque, personal check/cheque or corporate check/cheque from the "purchaser" in an amount in excess of the amount owed; is asked to deposit the check/cheque and wire the excess funds immediately back to the sender/purchaser or the purchaser's agent or shipper; and, the deposited cashier's check/cheque is subsequently returned as counterfeit and charged back to the seller's account.

Anyone selling goods should be suspicious of any check/cheque, especially if it is for more than the agreed selling price. Consider an alternative method of payment, such as an escrow service or online payment service. Talk to your bank about the safest way to receive funds from overseas.

To protect yourself against this sort of scam, never agree to a deal in which the payer wishes to issue an amount for more than the agreed price and expects you to reimburse the balance. The scammers use a variety of excuses to explain the overpayment, but any such excuse should be treated with the utmost suspicion.

In order to avoid overpayment scams, remember the following general words of advice:

- Know whom you are dealing with - independently confirm your buyer's name, street address, and telephone number.
- Never agree to wire back funds to a buyer - a legitimate buyer will not pressure you to do so, and you have limited recourse if there is a problem with a wire transfer.
- Resist pressure to "act now." If the buyer's offer is good now, it should be good when the check/cheque clears; if you accept payment by check/cheque, ask for a check/cheque drawn on a local bank or a bank with a local branch. You can visit that bank branch to determine if the check/cheque is legitimate;
- If the buyer wants to use a service you have not heard of, be sure to check it out to be sure it is reliable - check its Web site, call its customer service hotline, and read its terms of agreement and privacy policy. If you do not feel comfortable with the service, do not use it.

Office Supply Scheme

Every year, thousands of companies get fooled into buying "bargain" photocopier/fax toner, office supplies or directories over the phone. The sales person claims it's a "special offer", or "prices will be going up soon" and you have to buy today.

But if you check the bill when it arrives, it's not a bargain at all. The price may be 50% - 300% higher than usual. And worst of all, you may have bought substandard product.

Does your office staff know these warning signs? Here are some common approaches used by telemarketers to trick people over the phone.

Be sure all your staff is aware of these schemes and that they know how to respond to them:

- Someone calls from a "Market Research Company" and asks for the make and model of your office equipment. Don't give out this information over the phone. Your authorized dealer already has this on record. This is a typical "set up call" for the sales pitch which typically follows.
- Someone calls and offers an incredible deal on toner, cartridges, paper or other office supplies, but you must act now to take advantage of the special prices.Don't buy anything over the phone. Ask for their company name, the person's name, and the phone number, so you can call them back to confirm that they are a legitimate office supply dealer.
- Resist pressure to "act now." If the buyer's offer is good now, it should be good when the check/cheque clears; if you accept payment by check/cheque, ask for a check/cheque drawn on a local bank or a bank with a local branch. You can visit that bank branch to determine if the check/cheque is legitimate;
- You unexpectedly receive supplies or a directory that you didn't order. Immediately contact the distributor. Advise them that you are not accepting the goods, you will not pay for them, and want them removed at their expense.

The Overseas Landlord

These landlords want to only communicate via email (again, the language, grammar and spelling in their emails is terrible.) Usually the price on their listing is extremely low for the market - or sometimes free! The story they tell you is that they were suddenly transferred (again, usually to the UK or Africa) and they want someone to care for their home until they return. The catch? The keys to the property are still in their possession (overseas) and there is no one locally who can show you the property in their absence.

They encourage you to drive by and if you are interested, they have you fill out a rental agreement via email, sending a deposit (express mail a money order or cashier's check, or wire transfer money via Western Union or MoneyGram). Once the funds have been received, they will then send you the keys. Once that has been done, the Overseas Landlord has your money - but the keys to the property never arrive.

Wire a Friend Scheme

Helpful Info and Resources

Ad Pricing

Advertising on the OCH101 Rental Network and Off-Campus Housing 101 distributes your rental ad over 200 plus website portals such as national, regional, state/province, college & university and various stretegic partners' websites attracting an international audience. Unlike many of our competitors, we accept all property types such as houses, townhouses, condos, basement units, mobile homes, shared accommodations, roommates, dorms/frat, homestay, room & board etc.

Distribution is automatic, so you do not have to re-submit manually to the network site. Your ad will be posted on the network sites within four hours of posting.

Basic Pricing

Our standard network pricing for private or small landlords/property managers is $24.95 / month.

First-time members enjoy a one-time 30 days listing 'on the house' to 'try before you buy'.

Save more the longer you advertise. Best Deal - 'Until it Rents' for $44.95 for up to a year - private ads (no apartment buildings) only please.

Ad Length	Your Price*	Regualar Price	Cost per Day	Savings
First Listing	Always Complimentary*	$24.95	---	$24.95
1 month listing	$24.95	$24.95	84 cents per day	---
2 month listing	$34.95	$49.90	$149.70	$14.95
List Until it Rents!^†	$44.95	$299.40	12 cents per day	$254.45
*special rates are for consecutive-month ads. † "List Until it Rents" special maximum 12 months same ad - call to purchase.

Bundle Packs

Repeat Customer? - Consider purchasing a bundle pack and save time and money by buying in bulk ahead of time.

# of Listings	Regular Price	Discount	Savings	Savings / Ad	Bundle Price
6 Listings:	$149.70	10% Off	$14.97	$2.49	$134.73
12 Listings:	$299.40	20% Off	$59.88	$4.99	$239.52
20 Listings:	$499.00	30% Off	$149.70	$7.49	$349.70
50 Listings:	$1,247.50	40% Off	$499.00	$9.98	$748.50
100 Listings:	$2,495.00	50% Off	$1,247.50	$12.48	$1,247.50
100+ Listings:	$2,495.00	60% Off	$1,495.00	$14.95	$1,000.00
Bundle Packs save you from having to pay each time you list - and they never expire. Bundle Pack listing are added to your account and pre-purchasing saves time and money; no need to pay each time. Login to purchase.

Feature Properties

Network rental listings are sorted first by ads with photos, then by price from lowest to highest. Feature Property ads bump your ad up to the top positions in any given city or region. This ensures your ad that has to be rented quickly will rank in the top ten positions before the standard ad ranking resumes.

Position	Private Listing Price*	Regualar Price*
Position #1	$79.90	$104.90 per unit
Position #2	$74.90	$99.90 per unit
Position #3	$69.90	$94.90 per unit
Position #4	$64.90	$89.90 per unit
Position #5	$59.90	$84.90 per unit
Position #6	$54.90	$79.90 per unit
Position #7	$49.90	$74.90 per unit
Position #8	$44.90	$69.90 per unit
Position #9	$39.90	$64.90 per unit
Position #10	$34.90	$59.90 per unit
*Prices include the initial cost of the listing and are based on a 1 month rental listing. NOTE: Feature Property listings are on a first-come-first-served basis and expire when your rental ad expires. This is great news for landlords who list longer than a one-month ad as the feature will stay active for as long as your ad was purchased. For example, if positions #1 through #9 are NOT filled, and you purchase the #10 position for $9.95, your listing will show first in Search Results (until someone purchases a position higher than you) for the entire duration of your ad. This feature allows you to receive a higher ranking than you pay for if spots above are available; this saves you money, however, only guarantees the position you actually purchased.

We accept payment via secure e-commerce or check:

Please send check or photos to upload to your listing to:

eCOM Media Group Inc.

Unit 1 - 495 Banks Rd.
Kelowna, BC Canada
V1X 6A2

[email protected]

Moving Tips

Planning for a successful move to your new apartment involves many things, one of which is arranging for help. Most people hate moving their own belongings let alone helping other people move. However, if you've helped someone else with their move recently, they owe you. If you haven't, you'll owe them! Once you find your next apartment or house for rent on a rental site such as hdaa.myidealhome.com or www.och101.com, you can begin to plan your move.

Tips:

Don't leave asking people until the last minute. It's much easier for people to give excuses if you ask them less than one week prior to the move. Give people at least 2 -3 weeks notice so they can keep that day open for you.
Call in favours! Did you help someone build a fence, finish a basement or some other major task recently? Ask these people first since they are likely expecting your call.
Offer to help someone with another project in the future if they help you with your move.
Try to get at least one person with a pick up truck. Even though you may have a moving truck, pick ups are great for those last few items that just won't quite fit in the moving truck, saving you an extra trip (plus gas costs and mileage).

To keep everyone happy on move day, keep the following in mind:

Have coffee and donuts ready for when everyone arrives in the morning.
Be prepared to serve lunch to everyone. Pizza and wings are always a good choice. It is however, a good idea to ask people what they like if you don't mind giving people a choice.
Have bottled water available at all times. Moving is hard work and people get thirsty.
Have cold drinks on hand for the when the job is done. It's an easy way to say, "thank you!"

The biggest concern most people have on moving day is damage. Since most often its friends and family helping out, when items get damaged, the situation can be a bit awkward. Go into your move knowing accidents can happen and be prepared to let it go. Unless you're paying professional movers, it's not fair to hold people responsible. With a little planning however, you can decrease your risk of damage significantly.

Here are some tips:

Be super organized. Use good quality moving boxes that stack properly. Plastic bins are also great for moving items. Also, don't make your boxes too heavy.
Have a game plan in place before your helpers arrive.
Have all your big items wrapped or covered with protective material.
Use space in the truck wisely. Make sure there is sufficient padding between items where necessary.
Don't rush the people doing the heavy lifting. A few extra minutes will help decrease accidents.
Have people inside ready to take over for people taking stuff off the moving truck. This allows for your movers to carry heavy items for a shorter period of time which keeps people from becoming tired too quickly.

Remember, no one likes to move. It's going to be a stressful day and things may go wrong. But if you do everything you can to keep your help happy, it'll be over before you know it.

Hidden Moving Costs

So you've found a new apartment and your getting ready for the big move. No problem, right. Wrong!

Moving is often described as one of the most stressful things we do in life. Part of the reason is because our lives are being turned upside down. The other part is all the little costs that tend to add up during the move process.

Let take a look at some common expenses people often over-look when moving to a new apartment.

Moving Supplies - boxes, tape, bubble wrap, markers, etc. it all adds up - fast! A typical 2 bedroom apartment can easily use more than $150 worth of supplies. Good moving boxes however are worth it. They save room in the truck (because they stack nicely) and are often sturdier which helps protect your valuables.
Moving Truck - you may want to get insurance on the truck if your home or auto insurance policy doesn't cover rentals. This can easily cost $40 or more per day on top of the $75 - $200 rental fee.
Gas Costs - moving trucks are not exactly fuel efficient. Prepare to spend about $30 - $40 per 100kms traveled.
Food - If you have friends helping you, it's customary to have pizza and beer on hand. Remember, hungry helpers break things! For you and 6 friends you should budget $50 - $75. Save money by buying the cheap beer!
Special Items - if you need to have professionals move a piano or certain valuables, be prepared to pay some big bucks.
Tips - If you decide to use a moving company, you should consider giving the movers a tip. $20 - $25 per person should do it. If you're serving food during the move, you should also feed the movers!

All told, the little extras can easily cost you $300 or more so be prepared. Knowing these expenses ahead of time will reduce your stress and lead to a smooth move.

Moving boxes and supplies

Good moving boxes are an absolute must. While getting boxes from the grocery store will save you money, they may add to your aggravation and make for a more difficult move. Here's why.

When you use boxes of all different shapes and sizes, it's difficult to maximize the space in the moving truck. They simply don't stack nicely and gaps and spaces are common. They are also prone to tipping over and can collapse under the weight of other boxes...

Boxes made specifically for moving are sturdy and meant to be stacked. You want to have a variety of sizes on hand and stack all boxes of the same size in truck. Keep in mind the weight of the boxes as well. The heavy boxes make for a strong foundation while the lighter boxes won't crush the boxes below them.

As mentioned, you will need a variety of box sizes. Dishes for example go in smaller boxes as they tend to get heavy quickly. Tupperware however can go in a larger box. Regardless of the contents, it's always a good idea to double tape the bottom of the box for maximum strength.

To help keep your move organized, mark all boxes on the front, back and top with a black marker. If a box is heavy, make a note of it on the box. Keep all boxes for each room in the same area of the truck (where possible) and make sure the markings are face forward. This will help speed things up when uploading as people will know quickly where to take each box.

As for packing supplies, it is a good idea to save newsprint to wrap items such as dishes. You may also want to use cardboard inserts for certain dishes such as wine glasses. Bubble wrap and/or foam chips are also good packing material used to help protect your items. You can purchase most of these items, including newspaper that has not been printed on from most moving supply stores.

When you are finished with your boxes and packing material, you can either recycle them or pass them on to someone else you know is moving. You can also try placing an ad on classified websites offering them for a small fee or even free.

Where to Rent Moving Trucks

Each company tends to set their rates a little differently. One may give you a low base rate of say $19.95 but then tell you that you also have to pay $0.69 per km! This can be a good deal if you can get from the rental depot, to your current apartment, over to your new apartment and back to the rental depot in about 40kms or less. Other companies will quote you a straight rate with a cap on mileage while others yet will offer unlimited mileage...

Then there's the different size trucks to factor in. Typical moving trucks are 16 cubic feet or 24 cubic feet. Here's something to consider that may save you money: if you can't do your move in one trip with the big truck, it may be cheaper to use the small truck and do 2 trips. Keep extra mileage and gas costs in mind though when figuring out your costs.

So how do you find a rental truck? Try the yellow pages or online. I would strongly suggest calling at least 3 different companies to ensure you get the best deal. Also, don't be afraid to play off one company against the other. It's a competitive world out there and companies will often drop their price to get your business.

Good luck with your move!

Ad Writing Tips

Over the past decade, the migration from print to online advertising of rental properties has brought about fierce competition. Online advertising has provided multiple media options that weren't previously available, such as creating picture-rich listings with multiple photos, video, and maps, along with rich detailed ad copy and social media links.

Since owners of rental properties have begun to look at their rental portfolios as real businesses, with themselves as CEO, competition can be fierce. How can you ensure that your property stands out? Strategic marketing! Businesses need marketing to retain and grow market share, so that competition from across the street with trendy name, logo, and picture-rich website won't lure tenants to where the grass appears greener.

How do we stave off this exodus and fill empty units before the competition? By producing descriptive, picture-rich, and eye-catching advertisements that are tailored to your target audience.

Here are some suggestions:

Utilize an Optimized Website. These days it is a must to have a quality, professionally built, website that has been optimized (SEO) for search engines. Otherwise, your website may show up on page #7 of a Google search, while a competitor's site shows up on page #1.
Include High-Quality Photos. In our business as an Internet Listing Service (ILS), our staff field many calls from landlords asking for help building or re-writing their ad to make it more effective. If you are not receiving as many calls about your property, the first order of business is to ensure there are quality photos in your ad. Many good tenants will skip over ads without photos, because they assume the landlord either doesn't care or has something to hide-neither of which will help you rent your unit.
First Impressions Count! In the online world, the first thing prospective tenants see are the photos. No matter how fantastic your ad copy is, your photos do most of the talking. Use photos to showcase how great it will be to live in your unit. You may even consider hiring a photographer to shoot your building(s) as the photos will be useful for years, and can make a significant difference in a tenant's decision.
Determine Your Audience. When writing a rental ad, ask yourself: 'What type of tenant do I want to attract?' Once you determine your target audience, you can tailor the ad listing to that crowd. When you focus your ad on attracting the type of tenants you want, the ad itself will do some of the screening for you.
Provide Specific Details. If you want to skip straight to interested tenants and avoid taking lots of calls from people who are simply looking for more information, be specific with your ad and provide all of the details up front.

Unlike rental ads in the classified section of local newspapers, which often charge by the letter, most online sites offer plenty of space for you to provide details. Take advantage of this space and provide information tenants are looking for up front. Along with great photos, the most important details to include are location and price. Be sure to fill out all of the fields when posting your ads, list all amenities, and be clear on the terms. If you require a 1-year lease or utilities are extra, state this upfront.

Several Things to Avoid when Posting Online Rental Listings:

Avoid All CAPS - Writing ads in ALL CAPS may have been a clever marketing tactic at one point, but is now avoided by the younger generation. It can make you seem either angry or desperate.
Avoid empty phrases - In real estate ads there are many overused words such as 'nice, great, and beautiful' which have become 'empty' words. Look for alternatives which really describe what your unit has to offer. Consider using one of the many 'Thesaurus' sites on the Internet to find descriptive words.
Avoid abbreviations - Most sites give you plenty of space for your ad copy, so there is no need to use abbreviations. In your online ads opt for terms like 'dishwasher' over 'd/w' and 'finished basement' over 'fin bsmt.'
The bottom line for producing a great rental ad is to include high-quality photos and/or video, as well as clean and concise ad copy, targeted to your ideal target audience.

Additional Resources

The following are links to additional resources that you may find useful:

Verified

What does this mean to you, the tenant or student?

You can have some piece-of-mind that when you contact the landlord or property manager posted on the Verified Landlord ad, they are actually a trusted customer of ours. Why trust our opinion? Our reputation is very important to us as you may expect. We separate ourselves from classified style rental websites in that we are a premium service. All our ads are screened before they go live to ensure, as best we can, that the content on our partnered sites is high-quality. We only accept data from trusted, vetted sources - the content is supplied and updated by the landlord themselves in real-time. This should help you make a decision about who you rent from as much as what you rent.

What does it mean to be verified?

The Internet is a fantastic way to market your rental property(s) online. There are many benefits over the traditional print type advertising, however there are some negatives that can make doing business on the Internet a bit concerning. In our business, as an Internet Listing Service or ILS, there are several scams & frauds we see somewhat frequently. One is someone posing as a legitimate landlord and posting a great rental that is too good to be true. It is typically an ad made up of great photos (usually stolen from another online ad) and a no-brainer rent price. In a competitive rental market, these can be too juicy to pass up. These fake landlords can collect many security deposits from many tenants and even the first month's rent and more.

So again, what is a Verified Landlord? These are trusted landlords that have been with us for some time and we trust they are actually bona fide landlords. Since 1998 when we started in the online rental business, we have garnered thousands of great landlords posting great rental properties on our network (over 250 and growing) of rental portals in the US, Canada and the Caribbean whom have posted an ad, paid us, called and emailed us and we have never had a complaint or suspect they aren't who they say they are. We are not claiming they are nice or great landlords. We are only claiming that, to the best of our knowledge and based on the information we have, they are a real landlord with at least one real rental property.

How do I become verified?

Like they say, "It's who you know..."! Do we know you? Are you a regular customer? Can our partners vouch for you? Have you posted with us before, paid us (usually helps to prove you aren't a fraudster), called our customer service department and know our staff etc? There is no one thing but if you feel you are a trusted landlord or property manager then let us know, it's free!

You have worked hard to be a good landlord and in todays world, you should have something that acknowledges that.

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