Big Words start conversations and open doors to new places.
Author: anwaryusef
Anwar Y. Dunbar is a Regulatory Scientist. Being a naturally curious person, he is also a student of all things. He earned his Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of Michigan and his Bachelor’s Degree in General Biology from Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU). Prior to starting the Big Words Blog Site, Anwar published and contributed to numerous research articles in competitive scientific journals reporting on his research from graduate school and postdoctoral years. After falling in love with writing, he contributed to the now defunct Examiner.com, and the Edvocate where he regularly wrote about: Education-related stories/topics, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Financial Literacy; as well as conducted interviews with notable individuals such as actor and author Hill Harper. Having many influences, one of his most notable heroes is author, intellectual and speaker, Malcolm Gladwell, author of books including Outliers and David and Goliath.
Anwar has his hands in many, many activities. In addition to writing, Anwar actively mentors youth, works to spread awareness of STEM careers, serves on the Board of Directors of the Friends of the David M. Brown Arlington Planetarium, serves as Treasurer for the JCSU Washington, DC Alumni Chapter, and is active in the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace Ministry at the Alfred Street Baptist Church. He also tutors in the subjects of biology, chemistry and physics.
Along with his multi-talented older brother Amahl Dunbar (designer of the Big Words logos, inventor and a plethora of other things), Anwar is a “Fanboy” and really enjoys Science-Fiction and Superhero movies including but not restricted to Captain America Civil War, Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Prometheus. He is a proud native of Buffalo, NY.
My blog focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. The agricultural sector is a cornerstone of our economy and societies. Land management is an important part of this sector. The following contributed post is entitled, How to Make the Most of Your Land.
If you are somebody who has a lot of land to manage, then you may start to wonder exactly what you should be doing with it. You may have bought a property that came with a lot of land, or you may have inherited it. Either way, you may be wondering how you can make the most of it. After all, it is quite a blessing to have a lot of land to work with, but you still need to be able to use it in the right way.
1. Keep it Well-Maintained
The first thing that you need to do here when you are keen on making the most out of the land that you have, is to ensure that it is well kept. One thing about land is that it can very much continue to grow even if we aren’t watching it. Before you know it, it may be overgrown and unusable. So, regardless of what your intentions are, it’s really important that you can look after it well.
2. Clear it Out
However, it may be the case that the sheer size of the land makes it quite hard for you to manage yourself, or it may have become overgrown. When this is the case, you may benefit from procuring brush clearing services to help you. That way, you can clear out the land and ensure that it is then ready to use.
3. Use It
Once your land is clear, or if it is in good shape from the beginning, you can then think about using it. It may be the case that you want to start your own garden and landscape it. Maybe you want to use it as a working farm or to grow your own crops and vegetables. Either way, using the land that you have can be one of the best ways to make the most out of it.
4. Build on It
However, if you are not keen on the idea of using the land and turning it into some kind of garden or working farm, you may also like the idea of building on it. Of course, for this, it is really important that you get the right permits and authorisation from the local authorities. However, it may be the case that you want to add an additional dwelling on your property for family members or add things like a barn or commercial outbuildings. Of course, you could also build a property on the land to sell to another buyer.
5. Sell Section of It
Finally, you could also look to sell some of your land, too. If you know that you have such a vast amount of land, you may be a little bit overwhelmed by it. It could be the case that there’s just too much for you to keep on top of, particularly if you don’t have a working farm. You may find that you’re actually spending more money to maintain it and keep it in good shape, or that some of it is getting damaged. When that’s the case, looking to sell it off to your local town council or even to any interested developers could be more suitable for you.
My blog focuses on General Education and Black History. Many ethnic groups have made contributions to society. Black History has been a key component of the world as we know it. The following contributed post is entitled, How Black History Has Shaped Our World.
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Black history is not a side note in the story of society. It is woven into the foundations of law, culture, politics, business, and everyday life. Too often, though, it gets reduced to a handful of famous names or a single month on the calendar. The truth is far richer and far more complex. It is a history shaped by struggle, courage, innovation, leadership, and an ongoing push for fairness and equality.
When you look at history through a legal lens, you begin to see just how much has changed over time. Laws that once excluded and discriminated have been challenged and overturned. Courtrooms that once denied opportunity have slowly opened their doors wider. None of that progress happened by accident. It happened because individuals and communities demanded justice, stood firm in the face of resistance, and worked tirelessly to reshape the systems around them.
Milestones in Black history are not just symbolic moments. They represent real shifts in power, access, and representation. Each breakthrough builds on the ones that came before it, creating momentum that carries forward into future generations.
This infographic highlights key moments and achievements that reflect that journey. By laying them out clearly and visually, it helps connect the dots between past and present. Take a moment to explore it below and see how these defining moments continue to shape the world we live in today.
My blog focuses on Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. No matter what your product or sector is, potential customers and leads have to know about it. Thus it in large part always goes back to marketing. The following contributed post is entitled, Is Your Business Still Not Visible Enough?
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Is your business still not visible enough on the market? Do you feel as though you have tried pretty much everything that you can, but you’re still not seeing the results that you need? We know that this is annoying, and we know that there are going to be times where you want to give up because it’s just not going your way, but you need to keep pushing forward.
In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the things that you should try if this is the case because we know it’s hard, but we also know it’s doable. So, let’s look into it.
The first thing that we’re going to be looking at is signage for your company. If you don’t have the right signage for your company, this is going to be a huge issue because nobody is going to know who you are, or if they do, they’re not going to like what they see. For example, if your signs look like they are super old, not taken care of, and generally run down, this isn’t going to work out well for you. It gives a poor first impression, which is not what you need.
So, ideally, you need to be looking into finding a sign company that can create the perfect sign for outside of your business building, to attract people. It needs to be on brand with the rest of your company, and it needs to stand out.
SEO
For some reason, there are people out there who don’t think that SEO is important for business, and that’s exactly why they are not as visible as they would like to be. The SERPs are hugely important to visibility, so you need to take this seriously.
Working with a professional is probably the best way to go about this, but you can also take the time to learn about the different types of SEO yourself. The more that you learn, the easier it will be for you to understand what is going on, but working with a professional will give you that extra edge.
Improved Website
The final thing that we’re going to recommend is that you work on improving your website. Your website is one of the most important elements of your business, and you need to make sure that it’s up to standard. If it isn’t, you will have a massive bounce rate and a low conversion rate.
As such, hiring a web design professional will ensure that you have a functional, and aesthetically pleasing at the same time. This is what you need, and if this is not the case for your site right now, your professional will help you make sure that it is going forward.
Hopefully you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the things that you should be trying if your business isn’t visible enough. It’s not always going to be an easy process, but one that you can get through.
Who is black and who isn’t? Who decides? And what can you tell about a person by the way they communicate and conduct themselves? “Why do you use those big words all the time Anwar?” I wanted to revisit my concept of ‘Big Words’ for Black History Month 2026. My initial offerings for The Examiner and The Big Words Blog Site were an essay highlighting a question I got in middle school regarding my verbal usage of the English language. It is a true story, and it was a foundational experience in my life. It was one of the first lessons in social class and understanding that there are different tribes in what we call Black America. In this instance, the lesson was there were homes where education and intellectual curiosity were encouraged and there were homes where they weren’t. This form of nurturing also dictated the manner in which many of our ‘kinfolk’ related to one another and which doors opened and closed for us later in life, personally and professionally.
How We Sound to Others Matters
“Your father sounds like he’s from BOSTON, not New York City!” My father and his second wife had an interesting relationship. They weren’t equally yoked in terms of education and that manifested in certain ways that surprised me. Her writing skills, or lack thereof, was off-putting to him as they had different levels of education. He had his master’s degree and she didn’t finish college. My stepmother likewise joked often that Dad talked like he was from Boston and not his native New York City. She always laughed hard when she told this joke which tickled me as well when she told it. I likewise enjoyed imitating my father’s deliberate, methodical and particular speech with his signature mannerisms. It always made my brother laugh as well.
There are, in fact, Boston and New York accents for most of the residents of those urban areas. There is also a Washington DC-Maryland accent which is most notably spoken by the native black residents. There is also a Canadian accent if you ever get to meet people from southern Ontario like I have. I’m saying this to say that I think that my stepmother wasn’t referring to the Boston accent per se, but instead, my father’s very specific diction and proper usage of words. Again, I laugh too when she tells the story because I know exactly to what she’s referring.
Reflections on Big Words, Black History and Social Class
Going back to the concept of Big Words and Black History Month, again being asked why I used big words in elementary school was a foundational experience for me. It is also one that has impacted my entire life as it is a common experience in Black America, one depicted in movies like Glory where Denzel Washington’s character, Trip, mocked the late Andre Braugher’s character, Thomas, because he could read and speak the ‘King’s English’. It was an early experience demonstrating that we form opinions of one another by how we talk, which is another part of the legacy of Black History.
My mother’s family were jokingly considered to be like the Kennedy family in the Jasper Parrish Projects in Buffalo where they grew up because my grandmother encouraged education, and they all exuded a certain amount of class. Throughout my life, I’ve been told that I’m proper, bougie and, in some instances, I’ve been told that I seem like the type of guy who likes to live around white people. Similar things have been said to me regarding liking white women. The comments surprised me at the time, but now I get it and am at peace with it. Regarding the last two assumptions, I think I like being and going where I’m accepted and celebrated regardless of color.
Those of us who pursued higher education also note how lesser educated people speak, and thus, it’s a door that swings both ways. The same goes for how we write. As with many parts of life, you can’t judge a book by looking at the cover as they say, and sometimes how a person communicates and carries themselves tells you some things about them, but it doesn’t tell you everything about them.
Closing Thoughts
I did not want to make this essay too long. I’m in awe sometimes though at how that conversation from middle school has continued and translated into my adult world. How about you? Have you experienced something like this in your own life regardless of your level of education or if you’re from a different ethnic group? Let me know in the comments section of this blog post and thank you for reading this.
The Engineers: A Western New York Basketball Story Part One is available in the eBook, Hardcover and Paperback Editions
Writing a book was the genesis of my blogging and becoming a video content creator. I have published part one of my book project entitled, The Engineers: A Western New York Basketball Story. It is currently available on Amazon in eBook, hardcover, and paperback formats. The paperback format is available on IngramSpark, and signed hardcover and paperback copies on my online store entitled Big Words Authors via credit payment. Payment using Cash App, PayPal, Venmo and Zelle is also available. Reach out to me for further details. Finally visit the page discussing the book. Please consider visiting it to learn more about the project and see promotional content I’ve created surrounding the project.
My blog focuses on Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. The key to succeeding in many sectors is communication. As such it’s important to understand how to master this timeless art. The following contributed post is entitled, The Art of Communication: Why The Format Shapes What You Say.
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A really strong idea is important, but it’s usually not enough on its own. Ideas are shaped by how they’re communicated. The same concept can be compelling, confusing, or forgettable, depending on how you choose to share it.
In the workplace, communication is rarely a one-size-fits-all affair. Different approaches are needed. What works in one format might actually work against you in another. Understanding how to adapt your message to suit the medium is a real advantage.
Pitching is a space where ideas are under pressure. You’re trying to win someone’s attention, make sure they understand what you’re saying, and actually believe in you, all in a short time. In this format, clarity and engagement matter just as much as the idea itself.
A strong pitch tells a story that makes sense to the people in front of you. It highlights the problem that needs to be addressed, explains why it matters, and positions your solution as a credible and relevant option. Then, visuals should support the story.
The most common mistakes include slides crammed with text, outdated visuals, and too many different ideas crammed into each slide.
Working with specialists like a pitch deck design agency can really help transform complicated ideas into clear, engaging narratives that are worth listening to without being overwhelming.
Keeping Clients Informed About Industry Trends
Format: Emailing
Email is one of the most direct ways to stay in touch with clients, but it’s also one of the easiest things to get wrong. Inbox fatigue is a real thing. Effective emails are informative, concise, and worth reading. Clear layout matters a lot, especially on mobiles, and a visible call to action that tells the reader what to do next is essential.
The most common mistakes all come down to sending emails too often or sharing content that has no value or relevance. Technical issues, such as receiving the wrong email addresses or messages being flagged as spam, can undo even well-written content.
To avoid this, many organisations rely on professional email tools that make it easy to segment, test, and create clean designs. These tools help ensure messages reach the right people and drive the right action.
Remaining SEO Relevant
Format: blog posts
Blog content is less about getting things out there fast and more about being seen, being credible, and adding real value over time. Well-written blog posts can attract new audiences, answer questions, and position your brand as knowledgeable and trustworthy.
What really counts is usefulness. Content should answer real audience needs, reflect current trends, and be easy to digest. Logical structure, clear headings, and sensible keyword use support your SEO performance.
But mistakes often happen. Relying too heavily on AI content can lead to a robotic tone and factual inaccuracies. Publishing late on trending topics or failing to optimise posts properly all limit impact.
High-quality SEO content usually combines research, planning, and actual editorial judgement. Professional content creation services can help keep things consistent, accurate, and on brand while still making sure posts are optimised and timely.
Sharing Information
Format: Infographics
Infographics are designed to convey a lot of information quickly, and they work best when they distil complex information into something visually engaging and easy to understand.
Clear layout and strong hierarchy are key. The information must be accurate and supported by credible data. And, crucially, it has to be shareable. In other words, if the content feels too niche or confusing, it’s unlikely to spread beyond its original audience.
Common mistakes include overcrowded designs, unverified statistics, and poor visual quality. When design or data is weak, credibility suffers.
Avoiding this usually means starting with a clear message, researching current trends in your sector, and double-checking facts. Working with professional infographic designers can ensure the final result is both visually appealing and strategically effective.
Establishing Yourself as an Expert
Format: Podcast & Video
Podcasts and video content offer a real chance to connect with your audience on a deeper level. They give them access to your thinking, your experience, and your perspective. In this format, trust and consistency are the keys to success.
High-quality production supports credibility, but content remains the real king. Episodes should be well-researched, focussed and designed to answer questions or explore ideas that will genuinely interest your audience.
Mistakes often stem from a lack of preparation, poor video and audio quality. Successful creators plan topics carefully, invest in basic production standards, and prioritise value over volume.
Short-form video is a game where you have only seconds to capture someone’s attention and even less time to make a real impression.
The thing that’s gonna make or break you is a solid hook, paired with an understanding of platform trends and quality production. Your content must deliver value either by educating or entertaining your viewers, and you’ve got to use visuals and pacing that actually make sense for the platform you’re on.
Some of the most common mistakes people make include coming across with a weak opening, not doing enough research on hashtags, being clueless about the trends on the platform, and producing a low-quality video.
The key to avoiding this is to be willing to study how the platform works and keep up with trends. You want to put in the effort to create relevant and relatable messaging, but at the same time, you need to invest in professional tools that will help you get your sound and visuals together. Learning from your mistakes and testing what works is just part of the journey.
Ideas only really get to shine when you tailor them to the way they’re going to be consumed. Effective communication is not just about what you want to say, but also when, where, and to whom you’re saying it.
Every format has its own set of expectations, its own limitations, and its own advantages. When you start to understand those, your ideas become clearer, more persuasive, and also more memorable for your audience.
The secret to good communication is being able to adapt to the format you’re using and let it guide your message so your idea actually lands with the person you’re trying to reach.
My blog focuses on Career Discussions and General Education. The Healthcare sector is one that will likely never go away. Once you’re in though, you want to continue advancing. The following contributed post is entitled, Progressing your Career within the Healthcare Sector.
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Do you feel as though your career has stagnated over the years? Maybe you feel as though you aren’t getting anywhere, but you want to find out the reason why, so you can make a positive change. Either way, this guide will show you what steps you can take to try to make sure that you are getting the result you want out of your job.
The first thing you need to do is try to find a mentor who can talk you through the process. Finding a mentor in any sector might not be an easy task, but at the end of the day, if you can shadow them, then you will be able to go through their daily tasks as well as find out what the job entails. You can also find out if you believe you are a good fit for the role, which is essential. It can also help you to answer several questions about yourself and what you might be looking for in a role. Mentors are there to support you and all of your career endeavors, so relying on them is one of the best things you can do.
Get Yourself Out There
Getting yourself out there is so important. Whether you want to try and get an internal promotion or whether you want to try and get an offer from another facility, you need to work to try and get yourself out there so you can make the situation you are in. Getting yourself out there can be hard, but if you can take the time to go through everything, this will make it easier for you to get the result you need.
Undertake Training
Another thing you need to do is try to undertake training, if you can. Getting a ms public health online is one of the best things you can do if you want to get somewhere. This will open up a lot of doors for you, and it will also allow you to carry on working the job you have now, so you don’t have to stop earning, and you can attend university. Things like this can help you progress, and you would be surprised at how much it could help you to not only move forward, but also do so at a pace that reflects higher earnings at a later date. If you are unsure as to which qualification you should undertake, then one thing you can do is go through all of the roles you would love to work in, and then assess the career requirements for those roles. If you can do this, then you will see a notable improvement in your career potential, and you will also find it much easier to feel comfortable and content in the roles you are pursuing.
So as you can see, progressing within the healthcare sector is relatively easy to do, and if you follow this guide, you will find it easier to move forward with confidence.
My blog focuses on Financial Literacy/Money. Your financial health is like your personal health which can go both up and down. It usually takes small tweaks for fix it. The following contributed post is entitled, Fallen Off Track With Your Finances? We’ve Got You Covered.
Have you lost your way a little when it comes to your finances? If you have, don’t worry because this is pretty normal. A lot of people find themselves in this position at one point or another, and while it isn’t pleasant, that doesn’t mean that it isn’t fixable either.
The thing is, you need to start making active moves to get yourself back on the right track, which means that you need to dedicate yourself to changing your financial behavior. If you can do this, you will manage to get yourself sorted, and we’re going to help. Check out what we have to say about this down below.
Start With Your Taxes
We strongly recommend that you start with your taxes if you know that you have dropped the ball somewhat on them. It’s common for people to do this, but it’s a hole that you absolutely do not want to find yourself in. But, if you’re already there then you just need to do what you can to pull yourself out.
It’s advisable to work with a tax specialist here, as they will be able to show you ways to get your tax sorted you may not have considered, so that’s a good place to start. They will also have knowledge of the documentation needed for Streamlined Filing, as well as other areas of tax law that you may need to know if you’re living abroad.
Catch Up With Debts
Debts are not just something that you can ignore, no matter how much you wish you could. We understand that this is the easiest option, but it’s only going to grow, and the letters you receive are only going to become more frequent. So, you should be working to catch up with your debts, pay them off, and then live a debt free life. While you’re doing this, it’s imperative that you don’t get yourself into more debt.
Ideally, you can pay it all off in one go, but this is not a situation you’re likely in. Instead, you will probably find that speaking to your lenders and setting up a payment plan is the best way forward.
Create A Budget For Yourself
Last but by no means least, you should be creating a budget for yourself to stick to. This needs to include all of the money that you’re going to get in, and all of the money that you need to pay out. It needs to be accurate, it needs to be updated whenever there is even the smallest of changes, and you need to make sure you’re sticking to it. It’s hard, but it’s worth it to get your finances back on track after you fell off a little.
Hopefully, you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the different ways that you can get back on track if you’ve taken a tumble with your finances. We know that it can be tough, but we promise you that it will all be okay in the end.
My blog focuses on Health/Wellness. Rest is a critical part to our personal health. In some instances taking extended time off is good to do. In other instances it’s not necessary. The following contributed post is entitled, How to Feel Rested Again without Taking a Whole Week Off.
Sure, a proper stress-free trip with the family sounds lovely in theory. Well, a trip in general sounds great; everyone could use one. But in reality, it’s expensive, it takes planning, it requires booking months in advance, and it usually demands annual leave that might already be rationed, because that’s just how it is sometimes. And that’s before factoring in the part where burnout has made decision-making feel impossible, because even choosing what to eat for dinner starts to feel like too much.
Just sometimes, when you’re actually burnt out but have no choice but to keep going (and that’s often what’s happening because not everyone can take a sabbatical or whatever). So yeah, when someone’s burnt out, the whole “just book a holiday” suggestion isn’t all that helpful. Thankfully, you at least got the weekend, and the weekend can sometimes offer a mini escape that might not fix your burnout, but it can at least help a little. But how can you actually feel rested after a weekend getaway?
Don’t Overcomplicate the Plan
Yes, it’s that simple: pick one thing, and don’t do anything whatsoever to complicate it. Why? Well, this is the trick that makes a weekend away feel intentional without turning it into another exhausting project. Sure, when it comes to vacations, do whatever, complicate it as much as you want, but not this weekend trip.
So, just pick one thing to do, just one. A live show, comedy night, a film screening, a talk, something that gives the day shape. Like if you’re going to St Annes for a three-day weekend, for example, then you check in advance whats on Saint Annes so you can then choose early what you want to see. That way, outside of that time of a show or performance or whatever else, you can have the rest of the day or even that weekend open to just go with the flow.
Make the Rest of the Day Low-Effort on Purpose
So, once the one plan is locked in, the rest of the day should be built out of easy things, so easy that it helps if there is absolutely zero planning at all. Of course, it depends on where you’re going to be, be it a rural area or a city, you name it, but it should still be things that are easy enough that nothing has to be planned. Honestly, the less planning, the better.
It can be a slow walk, a long coffee, browsing shops without rushing or looking at your clock, sitting somewhere warm doing absolutely nothing productive, which is, honestly, the dream. That’s the key here: it’s not planning out much if anything, maybe one or two things at best, and just going with the flow for everything else.
And yes, an early night absolutely counts if you want to just stay in the hotel the second sundown hits. Burnt-out people don’t need to “make the most of it” by forcing a late night when the body is clearly begging for sleep.
Please, No Social Media Level Expectations
Yes, this is where people ruin their own weekend. Well, any trip, for that matter, no matter where in the world it is. Like, there’s this pressure that creeps in to make it perfect, to do loads, to see everything, to come home with stories that sound impressive, or to share on social media. But don’t do that, don’t have these expectations, you’re there for a reset, you’re there because you’re burnt out, you’re there because you don’t have much or any vacation days left, you’re there to heal, and social media-like expectations won’t help.
My blog focuses on Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Successfully running a business requires several elements to account for. The following contributed post is entitled, The Most Important Elements to be Mindful of in Business.
When you’re running a company, it’s often like you’re spinning plates. There is almost always so much for you to focus on and think about at any one time. Because of this, it can be hard to prioritise. However, there are always going to be certain elements of the business that are vital for you to be on top of. In this blog post, we’re going to take a look at exactly what you need to focus on.
1. Operating Ethically
The number one thing that you need to concentrate on here is making sure that you’re operating ethically. When you’re a business that has integrity, and you communicate that to the world, people will take notice. Consumers are tired of buying from business owners who don’t care about their impact. Instead, when you are somebody who operates within the law, and you don’t blur lines, consumers will thank you for it.
2. Sourcing the Right Supplie
Next, you need to make sure that you are sourcing the right supplies for your company. Not only do you need the right products, but you also need to get them at the right price. If you go with unreliable suppliers, you may find that this impacts the way you run the business overall. Instead, you need to find specialists who supply exactly what you need, such as Genuine 3 Way Coolant Valve, to keep the business running. If not, this can limit the success of your company overall.
3. Take Care of Your People
This is a topic that is quite simple, but it can make a huge difference. Taking care of your people will help you go the distance. This doesn’t just mean your customers, but of course, you need to make sure that they are well cared for too. It’s all about looking after your employees and ensuring that they are happy. Because when they are, they will do a good job for your company.
4. Being Financially Viable
One of the most important things of all is ensuring that your company is always financially viable. Of course, in the beginning, you may take a little while to break even, and that can be normal. Yet so many companies fail within the first few years. This is why it’s important to keep an eye on the financial health of your business to ensure that you’re not only viable, but that you have the potential to grow in the future.
Minimizing Your Impact
Lastly, we also have the idea of your impact on the environment. When it comes to being a successful company, you can no longer get away with building a profit that harms the planet in the process. Consumers are more conscious than ever, and they are reluctant to buy from or work with companies that don’t care about their impact on the environment. So, making sure that you’re working to build a sustainable future, not only for your company but for the planet as well, can make a huge difference. This can also help you to operate the business in a more environmentally friendly and sustainable way, as well as contribute to a better future.
My blog focuses on Home/Living and Home/Property Discussions. The landlord-tenant relationship can be a complex one where both sides have rules. Contrary to belief, landlords can be regulated as well. The following contributed post is entitled, How To Check Up On Your Landlord.
If you’re thinking about renting out an apartment, it’s a good idea to check up on your landlord. You want to know that they’re doing everything they can to ensure that your rental is satisfactory. But how and what should you be doing? Let’s take a look.
Confirm they’re a real person
A good place to start is to confirm that they’re a real person. You want to check that the person you think is the owner of the property is actually the owner. The good news is that you can do this relatively easily using public records. Most cities and counties keep these as an office or a land registry somewhere. You should also have the owner’s name appear on the lease. If there is no explicit statement of who the owner is, try to find out. Make sure there’s no one mysterious lurking in the background.
Check their record
Once you know the identity of the landlord, the next step is to check their record. Using a StreetSmart apartment background check or similar service is a good idea. You want to make sure that they’ve been treating tenants well.
Verify the ownership, not just the management
At the same time, you want to verify the actual ownership of the property beyond the management company. Remember, most landlords these days are using managers to deal with their properties for them so that they don’t have to get directly involved. However, legally speaking, they are still the owners and therefore they are ultimately responsible for the upkeep of the property and the maintenance.
Search court archives
If you’re really feeling keen, you could also search court archives. Following a paper trail of records and small claims can tell you more about your landlord than pretty much anything else. Ideally, you want a landlord that hasn’t been involved in any of these activities. But if they have been, then it can be a good way to check up on them and make sure that you’re getting involved in a property where you’re going to be treated with respect. If there are repeated eviction sprees or tenant disputes, that’s when you know you’re in trouble.
Scan business registrations
Many landlords these days work through LLCs because it allows them to deduct depreciation from their taxable profits. Ultimately, this makes them more money from any rentals they make available to you. It also means that they have to maintain a public record of their affairs. If you notice that a particular landlord entity isn’t filing its paperwork or following compliance standards, then it’s usually a bad sign. Legitimate businesses always do their paperwork on time.
Read tenant reviews
Finally, if you can find them, it’s a good idea to read tenant reviews about your particular landlord. These can provide you with a lot of helpful and useful information. Don’t take them as gospel, but do use them as notes to inform whether you should be getting involved with a particular landlord. One or two angry reviews is normal, but if the feedback is overwhelmingly negative in general, then it’s a sign that maybe you should look elsewhere.
