J.M. Monroe
Former newspaper journalist J.M. Monroe relies on her recent management experience in residential rental properties to write informative content for landlords, tenants and investors. She and her husband are foster parents with Midwest Boston Terrier Rescue and in her spare time, J.M. enjoys tackling home improvement projects.
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- Page Views
- 105,376
- Content
- 78
- Fans
- 19
- Contributor since
- 11/5/2009
Education/Experience
B.S. in JournalismInterests
pets, animal rescue, writing, home improvement, residential property management, renting, apartments, astronomy, music retail, frugal living, money management, relationships, marriageMotto
Watch the parkin' meters.
Displaying Results 1 - 78 (of 78) for All Content
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Double Your Rental Income With Luxury UpgradesRenovating your investment property and don't know where to start? Learn which upgrades will turn your property into a luxury rental and attract higher-paying tenants. -
Save Time on Grocery Shopping: 5 Do's and Don'tsSure, I like to save money, especially on my grocery bill. What I like to save even more, however, is time. So here are the Do's and Don'ts I've developed that help me cut down the amount of time I spend on grocery shopping each week. -
Should You Get a Second Job? Five Reasons I Chose Not ToShould you take a second job to earn more money? Read the reasons one person chose not to chase a second paycheck, in spite of advice to do just that.
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First Person: Beware the Pitfalls of Automatic Bill PayIt's convenient to spend less time worrying about paying bills by setting up recurring automatic bill payments. But if you're not careful, automatic payments can end up costing you more money in the long run. -
First Person: 4 Fast, Free Ways to Lower Your Heating BillsSpend no more than 30 minutes making four minor household changes to maximize your heating efficiency and save money on home heating. These quick changes won't cost you a dime and no special skills are required. -
First Person: How Landlords Can Retain Their Best TenantsA good tenant is hard to find, and even harder to keep. Here's a how-to guide for landlords and property managers.
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Five Tenant Types Unfit for Your Investment PropertyOwners of investment rental properties take heed: There are five types of rental applicants you or your property manager should decline. Learn the red flags that often mean a prospective tenant is trouble. -
First Person: Pros and Cons of Renting a Duplex ApartmentIs renting a duplex apartment better than renting in an apartment building? Before you begin your rental search, check out this list of the pros and cons of renting a duplex apartment to decide if one is right for you. -
First Person: Should You Stop Renting and Buy a Home in 2011?If you're a renter with first-time home buyer's stage fright, 2011 might be the year to finally put on a brave face and enter the real estate market. Read what market experts are predicting for home buyers in 2011. -
Top 10 Ways to Make Apartment Life More ComfortableWant to upgrade your apartment's comfort level? Tackle the most frequent inconveniences in apartment living with this list of ten purchases guaranteed to improve your home-sweet-rented-home. -
Should You Pay Rent With a Payday Loan?A payday loan or cash advance might be easy to borrow in your state, but is it the best way to pay rent when you're short on cash? Read this list of pros and cons and decide if a payday loan is right for you. -
Can't Pay Your Rent on Time? 3 Alternative Ways to PayRent's due today and you're short on cash. Is there anything you can do to get the rent paid on time? Here are three possible solutions to get you out of your financial jam. -
The Cheapskate's Guide to Drafty Apartment WindowsFreezing in your apartment and paying high heating bills? This Cheapskate's Guide to Drafty Apartment Windows will lead you through some of the traditional methods of insulating windows and give you some cheap do-it-yourself alternatives. -
Staging Your Home for a Winter SaleSelling your home during snowy season? Follow these simple tips for staging your home to entice wintertime home buyers. -
Should I Co-Sign an Apartment Lease for My Child?Your child has asked you to co-sign a lease so he or she can rent an apartment. Should you do it? Before you co-sign an apartment lease for your child, here are some things to think about. -
How to View an Apartment: A Guide for New Apartment HuntersIf you're new or out of practice at apartment-hunting, here are some tips on what to look for when you're looking for an apartment. Check out these room-by-room pointers written especially for first-time apartment seekers. -
Autumn Tree Care for a Beautiful YardAutumn tree maintenance boosts your home's curb appeal and will preserve your trees' health through harsh winters. Proper autumn planting, pruning and watering will reward you in the springtime when healthy trees will bloom with vigor. -
Top 10 Best Buys for Easier Home MaintenanceGet ready to go shopping for home maintenance tools that will make your do-it-yourself projects and everyday chores faster, easier and, in some cases, cheaper. Here's a Top 10 list of the very best buys in home maintenance tools and supplies.
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Leasing a Home to Buy: Good Idea or Scam?A guide for would-be home buyers who want to know the pros and cons of lease-to-buy contracts. Should you rent to own your home? Before you decide, learn how home leasing to buy can benefit you or burn you.
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How to Fill Out Your Apartment Inventory ChecklistWhen you move into a new apartment, your landlord will give you an apartment inventory checklist on which you'll be asked to document the condition of all the items in your apartment. Here's how to do it correctly and protect your security deposit.
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How Does a Landlord Decide Cleaning Charges at the End of a Lease?If you're moving or recently moved out of an apartment and left your apartment a little dirty, you'll want to know what security deposit deductions to expect and how landlords figure the cleaning charges.
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How to Dispute Outrageous Security Deposit Cleaning DeductionsShocked at how much your landlord deducted from your security deposit for cleaning after you moved out of your apartment? Here are some options for tenants who want to dispute outrageous cleaning charges and recoup money that was unfairly withheld.
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Are Bed Bugs Lurking in Your Apartment?Bed bugs are crawling all over the news thanks to a new survey that cites a huge jump in bed bug infestations across the U.S. over the past five years. But are these blood-sucking nocturnal pests crawling all over your apartment? Here's how to tell.
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What is "Normal Wear and Tear" in an Apartment?Your apartment lease allows your landlord to withhold security deposit money for any damages that exceed normal wear and tear. So what is normal and tear? Click here for helpful definitions and examples of ordinary wear and tear vs. actual damage.
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How to Clean Your Floors as You Move Out of an ApartmentCan dirty floors cause you to lose some of your security deposit when you move out of an apartment? Can you prevent the forfeiture of security deposit funds due to dirty floors? Yes and yes!
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Maumee, Ohio Golf Scramble to Benefit VFW Patriot's Pen, Voice of Democracy ProgramsMaumee, Ohio area golfers are invited to register for the Lawrence F. Monroe Memorial Golf Scramble, to be held Aug. 21, 2010. The entry fee is $75. All proceeds will go toward local Voice of Democracy and Patriot's Pen scholarship awards.
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Leaving Your Apartment This Dirty? Say Bye to Security Deposit MoneyYour lease allows your landlord to withhold security deposit funds if your apartment requires excessive cleaning after you move out. So how dirty is too dirty? See these photos of excessively dirty move-out conditions I encountered as a property manager.
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The Verdict on Cover Girl's New Pressed Powder Makeup Compact DesignCover Girl has redesigned its pressed powder makeup compact for all shades and formulas. Should you stand by your old standby or look for a new pressed powder?
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How to Make a Bird Bath from Recycled Materials: A DIY Slide ShowOn hot, dry summer days, your neighborhood birds may search desperately for a source of clean water to drink and bathe in. Here's how to make a bird bath from recycled household items, keep the water fresh and draw songbirds to your yard.
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Three Things to Bring to Your Apartment Viewing AppointmentWhat three items should you never forget to bring with you when viewing an apartment? Here are the essential tools of successful apartment hunting and how to use them to compare the different apartments you'll view when looking for your new rental home.
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Should My Landlord Exterminate My Apartment for Ants?Ants in your apartment? Find out how to battle ants and how to approach your landlord for help exterminating these common household pests from your rented apartment.
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Can I Afford My First Apartment? Self-AssessmentAre you financially ready to rent your first apartment? Ask yourself these questions and find out.
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Tips and Resources for Finding Pet-Friendly ApartmentsTired of having the door slammed in your face by landlords who won't accept Fido the dog or Fluffy the cat? Here are some tips and shortcuts for finding a pet-friendly apartment that will welcome your four-legged furry friend.
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Is Subletting a Good Alternative to Breaking Your Apartment Lease?Many tenants who attempt to break apartment leases are shocked to find out that a landlord can still charge them rent whether they're occupying an apartment or not. Is subletting, or subleasing, the answer to this expensive dilemma?
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Competitive Apartment Hunting: How to Impress the LandlordStrategies to impress the landlord and win the apartment you want in a competitive apartment search. Use these tips and techniques to stand out so someone else doesn't snag your dream apartment.
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Top 10 Best Apartment Unit Amenities for 2010A Top 10 list of today's most desirable apartment amenities, from free wifi to balconies to air conditioning. If you're apartment searching, are you looking for the best apartment amenities on the market? Check our countdown and see.
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Top 10 Best Apartment Community Amenities for 2010A top 10 list of today's most sought-after apartment community amenities, from rec centers to premium parking to on-site laundry. If you're overwhelmed by too many apartment choices, this list will help steer your apartment search in the right direction.
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Competitive Apartment Hunting: When to Search for an ApartmentIf you live in a city where apartment vacancy rates are low and competition for apartments is high, it's important that you time your apartment search right and gain an advantage over your fellow apartment seekers. How early should you start your search?
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Denied an Apartment Due to Poor Credit? Best Credit Fixes for RentersDenied an apartment due to your credit report? Learn which past money management mistakes you might be able to explain away and which ones you need to fix as soon as possible if you want a realistic second shot at renting your very own place.
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Apartment Managers: Live on Site? You Can Still Go Off DutyAdvice for on-site apartment managers who never feel able to go off duty: Reclaim your time off work and train your tenants to respect it.
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The Life and Times of Mojo the Boston TerrierIn honor of what would have been Mojo's 9th birthday, a memorial slide show depicting the life and times of the most charismatic dog ever.
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Spring Apartment Hunting Reveals an Apartment's SecretsSpring apartment hunters beware! Pay attention to the apartment secrets that landscaping, gutters, windows and more reveal about an apartment when you are apartment hunting in March, April and May.
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Renter's Repair Guide: Help! My Power Went Out!In this Renter's Repair Guide learn how to reset a tripped breaker when the power goes out in your apartment, as well as how to decide if you've done all you can do and it's time to call maintenance for help.
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Can't Sell Your Home? Think Twice Before Renting it OutAre you considering renting out your home to avoid foreclosure or selling at a loss? Here are three questions a home seller should ask before joining the ranks of reluctant landlords created by an extended housing slump.
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Renter's Repair Guide: My Garbage Disposal is BrokenIs your apartment's garbage disposal clanking, humming, buzzing or dead? Tenants often dread calling their landlords for maintenance issues, so follow these easy but detailed instructions and see if you can fix your broken garbage disposal yourself.
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Renewing Your Apartment Lease: Month-to-Month Vs. 12-Month LeasesShould you renew your apartment lease for 12 months or go month-to-month? Learn the pros and cons of both kinds of leases so you make the right choice before your current lease expires.
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Smoking Ban Backfires at Toledo's Lucas County ArenaOhio's total indoor smoking ban, approved by the state's voters in 2006, was supposed to extinguish all second-hand smoke inside public venues. But guess what happens at a classic rock concert when ticket holders are not allowed to step outside?
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Apartment Truths Revealed by Winter Apartment HuntingApartment hunting in the winter can yield important clues about an apartment's maintenance, condition and management. Viewing an apartment when it's cold outside will help you discover an apartment's secrets and decide if you really want to live there.Also published on:
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Landlords, Who is Managing Your Apartments' Online Reputation? Part TwoIn Part Two of this series, learn how to respond to anonymous negative feedback about your apartments and how to proactively manage your apartments' online reputation rather than relying on tenants to do it for you.
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Landlords: Who is Managing Your Apartments' Online Reputation? Part OneIn Part One of this series for landlords and property managers, discover what is being said online about your apartments and how anonymous Internet reviews can damage your rental company's reputation.
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No Pay Stubs? No Problem, You Can Still Rent an ApartmentFreelancers, independent contractors and the self-employed may have trouble furnishing an important apartment rental application requirement: recent pay stubs. There are alternate ways, though, to demonstrate income and qualify for an apartment.
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Is Property Management the Right Career for You?CNN Money recently ranked property management No. 3 in its Top 20 Jobs for the Young and Restless, but before you set your sights on a property management career read what a former rental property manager has to say about the job.
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Mishap at Blarney CastleThis St. Patrick's Day limerick contest submission recounts the tragic tale of young Barney, who suffered an unfortunate mishap when trying to kiss the Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle near Cork, Ireland.
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How Working at Home Can Lower Your Car Insurance CostsWork from home? Check your car insurance policy for one glaring inaccuracy. Correcting it could save you big money.
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Practical High School Graduation Gifts for the Future College StudentSuggestions for smart, practical graduation gifts you can give to your favorite college-bound graduating high school senior. These gift ideas are guaranteed to make a graduate's transition to college just a bit easier.
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What's the Best Time of Year to Find Good Apartment Deals?Negotiate the best apartment deals and lease terms by conducting your apartment search at the right time of year. Hint: It's when no one else is looking.
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Animal Relief Teams in Haiti to Provide Food, Water, VaccinationsThe Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH) reports on immediate relief efforts and long-term earthquake recovery plans, coordinated with Haitian government. Roaming livestock "far from healthy," "struggling to survive."
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Haiti Requests Aid for Animal Earthquake VictimsTen days into Haiti's earthquake recovery, its government has requested aid for its animals. An international animal welfare coalition and the U.S. Army are already en route to assist Haiti's livestock, strays and companion animals.
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Winter Dryness and Your Dog's Skin, Coat and NoseHere are four quick and easy strategies to help relieve and rehydrate your dog when winter's furnace heat dries out his skin, coat or nose.
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Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti Mounts Earthquake ResponseAs world aid organizations come together to help Haitians in the midst of a devastating human crisis following the country's destructive January 12 earthquake, a second coalition is beginning to mobilize to help Haiti's other victims: the animals.
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For Rent: A Guide to Rental Classified Ad Abbreviations and AcronymsIf you're an inexperienced tenant searching your local "For Rent" ads for a new apartment, all those abbreviations and acronyms can be a bit confusing. Here is a guide to help you navigate the "For Rent" classified ad landscape.
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Pros and Cons of First Floor ApartmentsConsidering renting a first-floor, ground-level or basement apartment? Before you sign a lease, be sure you've thought about the advantages and disadvantages of making your home at the bottom of your apartment building.
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Pros and Cons of Top Floor ApartmentsConsidering renting a top-floor apartment? Whether the apartment building you're prospecting is three stories in the suburbs or a high-rise downtown, there are several advantages and disadvantages to renting an apartment on the top floor.
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Most Relaxing Vacation Ever: Why You Should Rent a CabinIf your last vacation left you feeling anything but rested, consider a cabin rental. Cabins are plentiful throughout the U.S. and often are nestled in unspoiled wildlife habitats.
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Christmas Cheer from Rogue ReindeerIn this Christmas haiku contest entry, Santa's reindeer go rogue and leave me something useful under the tree for once. Hope Santa doesn't miss it!
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Top 10 Songs for Your New Year's Eve Party PlaylistTen good-time songs you absolutely must include on your New Year's Eve party playlist. List features Lady Gaga, Black Eyed Peas, Bill Haley and the Comets, and Michael Jackson.
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Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' Live Anthology Knocks One Out of the Amphitheatre"Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: The Live Anthology" is jam-packed with live hits, rare cuts, and covers previously only available to diehard bootleg traders. Petty and his Heartbreakers are the real deal in concert, and this collection proves it.
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David Letterman's Top 10 New Year's ResolutionsIn the spirit of the holiday season and with a nod to his recent revelations of infidelity, Associated Content offers David Letterman some possible New Year's Resolutions for 2010 -- in a format his fans, and the late night host himself, can appreciate.
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The Three-Sentence Resignation LetterIt doesn't have to be difficult to say, "I quit." You can write a resignation letter in only three sentences and still do it in a professional, respectful way.
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Salt and Baking Soda Home Remedy for a Runny or Stuffy NoseClear nasal congestion by flushing your sinuses with a home remedy solution of baking soda and salt water. No neti pot required!
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Salt and Baking Soda Remedy for a Sore ThroatSoothe a sore throat with this home remedy using baking soda, salt and hot water. It kills germs and minimizes pain. Easy, cheap and it works every time!
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How to Dispose of Autumn Yard WasteAutumn brings with it a new set of yard work tasks. Once you've raked all the leaves, gathered all the fallen branches, clipped your overgrown bushes and mowed one last time, what should you do with all that autumn yard waste?
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One Ghost, Two HauntingsA true ghost story in which a ghost haunts the author twice, and leaves evidence the second time. The story is set in Northwest Ohio and takes place in a restaurant in 1990 and a college dorm room in 1992.
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A Michigan Win Over Ohio State Won't Save Rich RodriguezWin or lose against the Ohio State Buckeyes, coach Rich Rodriguez's days at the University of Michigan are numbered as Wolverine fans suffer a total program collapse.
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Turkey Before and AfterIn this contest entry haiku, a turkey shares his regret.
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Brachycephalic Dogs: Short-Muzzled Breeds Need Extra TLCSnort, snort, snort! A flat-faced or brachycephalic dog makes the most adorable noises, but too much of a cute thing can be deadly. Learn about Brachycephalic Syndrome and other problems that can affect a flat-faced dog's quality of life.
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Christmas Gifts to Avoid Buying for Your Wife or GirlfriendDon't make a mistake when buying your wife or girlfriend a Christmas present. Here are five presents you absolutely should not buy, along with some better gift ideas she'll love and appreciate.
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The Three Sentence Thank-You NoteSending a hand-written thank-you note is one of the most thoughtful gestures you can make. Learn the fast, easy way to say thanks in only three sentences.