Problem: Article: Rental income is taxable, but many of the expenses you will incur as you prepare your rental are tax deductible.  Keep detailed records of the money and time you spend getting your home ready to rent so that you can maximize your deductions at tax time. It might be helpful to purchase one of the many software programs available that are specifically designed to help manage rental properties. Permits are not necessary in all areas, especially for short-term rentals, but many cities are responding to the growth of new rental trends by creating new forms of regulation. If a permit is required in your area, give yourself plenty of time to get through the application process before your first guests arrive.  The kind of permits you will need and the process for getting them varies widely from location to location.  Once you have determined the kind of rental you want to offer, contact your city or county government for specific instructions for getting the permits you need. Be aware that in some locations, getting a rental permit can be a fairly extensive process that requires an inspection by the city, a notification letter to go out to your neighbors, and the payment of a permitting fee. Remember that permitting and inspection fees, like all other expenses you incur while preparing your rental property, are tax deductible so be sure to keep careful records. Call your insurance agent and ask if your current homeowner's policy will cover the kind of rental situation you are planning. Many policies will cover the occasional short-term rental, but for more long-term arrangements, you will need special coverage. Make sure that all appliances work, that furniture is comfortable and in good repair, and that everything is clean and neat.  Ensure that safety equipment like smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers are in good working order and are clearly accessible.  Remove all precious personal belongings to a secure location, such as a storage unit or primary home.  Do the same with all toiletries and anything else you wouldn't want a stranger snooping through.  Put clean linens on all of the beds, and make sure that bathrooms are stocked with clean towels, soap dispensers a full, etc.  The requirements for safety equipment in rental properties vary widely by region. Smoke detectors are the bare minimum in most places. You will be informed of further requirements through the permitting process.  Unless you are going for a very high-end rental, do not furnish your rental with extremely expensive furniture, linens, towels, etc. These items are likely to get damaged or disappear.  Look for items of decent quality that are not too expensive. Some property managers are able to minimize costs by performing rental clean-outs on their own, but this can be a very time-consuming and difficult process, so it might be better worth your time to hire a professional service.  If you do, be sure to do some research first and hire a reputable company that is licensed and insured.  Get personal recommendations from other property owners, or look for a service with excellent online recommendations. As with cleaning, some property owners take on landscaping chores themselves, but for a long term rental situation, you may be better off hiring a landscaping service to take care of routine lawn maintenance and care.  Landscaping services, like cleaning services and other maintenance costs are all tax deductible, and a well-maintained is more likely to get good reviews and repeat renters.  Look for a landscaper that is licensed and bonded, with a good reputation. If you are local, you may choose to meet the renter at the property and let them in.  Some property owners also install lock boxes on site, or keyless locks that require a code.  Some renters even snail mail keys to their guests, but this is a risky and potentially messy protocol and should be avoided..  Send your guests detailed information on how to gain entry to your property before they arrive. There is nothing more frustrating than arriving at a rental home, only to discover you have no idea how to enter the parking garage or don't know what floor your rental is one. If your condo requires an entry code to get into the lobby or parking area, be sure to give that to guests before they arrive. Include information about the home and your rental and checkout policies. Also give information on local attractions and dining options, and emergency contact information.  Leaving a welcome gift like a fruit basket or bottle of wine is another great way to welcome guests and improve your online reviews.
Summary: Keep careful records. Apply for a rental permit. Acquire landlord insurance. Prepare your home to rent, inside and out. Hire a reputable cleaning service. Hire a landscaping service. Create a system for providing a key or entry instructions to your guests. Create a welcome book or informational packet to give to renters when they arrive.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Your doctor can determine if you have a herniated disc and prescribe treatment. Describe your pain to the doctor, including where you feel it. In most cases, your doctor can make a diagnosis of a herniated disk in their office, without invasive diagnostic tests. Even if other tests need to be done, they will not be painful. Make a list of the other conditions you have so that your doctor can rule them out as the cause of your symptoms. For example, osteoporosis can cause similar symptoms. Your doctor will also need to know your family history, as having a family member with a herniated disc increases your risk of having one. Your doctor will feel along your spine to look for painful areas. They will likely ask you to change positions or move around your legs so that they can get a better idea about where your pain is located and how it’s impacting you. While it sounds scary, this is a non-invasive, painless office exam. Your doctor will check how well your reflexes work, as well as your muscle development. They will then check your balance and posture. Finally, they will check to see how well you feel sensations like pinpricks, touch, or vibration. The results will help the doctor determine if you may have a disc putting pressure on your nerves. A herniated disc can make it harder for your nerves to communicate with the rest of your body, so your body may have trouble registering pain or may get too many pain signals. The doctor will ask you to bend and move side to side at your joints. This will allow the doctor to see how limber you are and if you are able to move freely and without pain. If you have a herniated disc, it may affect your range of motion. Your doctor will have you lie back on the table. They will slowly raise your leg until you start to feel pain. If you have pain while your leg is at a 30 to 70 degree angle, then you may have a herniated disc. Additionally, if you feel pain in the other leg, it could mean you have sciatica caused by a herniated disc. This test may not be accurate if you are over the age of 60. If your doctor is not sure that your symptoms are caused by a herniated disc, they may do an X-ray to rule out other health issues, such as a broken bone or a tumor. Herniated discs will not show up on an X-ray.  The doctor can use an X-ray to look for pressure on your nerves and spine by injecting a dye into your body. This is called a myelogram. While the pressure on your nerves and spine could be caused by other conditions, it will help your doctor determine if you have compression on your nerves. Your doctor may also take a computerized tomography (CT scan), which takes a series of X-rays to create a more thorough image for the doctor to assess. An MRI lets your doctor get a closer look at your spine so that they can treat your herniated disc. Not only can they confirm the location, they can also determine how severe it is. While you will need to be still, the MRI will not be painful. Usually, you will not have to undergo nerve tests. Your doctor may do these outpatient tests if they suspect you already have nerve damage, based on your reported levels of pain. Although the tests are not painful, they may make you a little uncomfortable. An electromyogram and a nerve conduction test will send electrical impulses to your nerves to see how well they respond. This lets your doctor look for damage to the nerves.
Summary:
Make an appointment with your healthcare provider. Bring a thorough medical history. Expect your doctor to check your back for tender spots. Allow your doctor to do a neurological exam. Do range of motion tests. Perform a leg raise test. Get an X-ray to rule out other issues. Undergo an MRI to locate the herniated disc and the nerves it’s pressing. Expect nerve tests if your doctor suspects nerve damage.