Even if you get a lease form from a reputable legal document company, it still may include provisions that don't comport with local ordinances.  Some illegal provisions can serve to invalidate the entire lease agreement. Make sure your lease is ironclad, so you can legally enforce it in the event you have problems and need to evict a tenant. You also want to research the market in the area you are renting to make sure the rent you're charging is reasonable. Keep in mind that some cities have rent-control ordinances that apply to certain types of property. An experienced landlord-tenant attorney can help you with this. Background and credit checks help protect you from potentially unreliable or otherwise troublesome tenants. Set clear standards tenants must meet and communicate those standards before they fill out an application.  Keep in mind that typically there are anti-discrimination laws that forbid you from discriminating against applicants on the basis of their race, gender, or other factors. However, these laws typically don't require you to rent your property to someone with an extensive criminal history, or whose credit score is so low that you don't trust them to pay rent regularly. Be consistent and run background and credit checks on all applicants, even if you know them personally. Keeping these records can protect you in the event you are accused of discrimination, because it shows that you treat all applicants the same. Even if you're able to resolve a problem with a tenant over the phone, or through a personal conversation, write up a letter confirming the agreement and send it to them, keeping a copy for yourself.  Written documentation of any communication with your tenants, no matter how minor, gives you legal proof of the agreement in the event you end up in court. It isn't necessary to confirm conversations unrelated to the tenancy, but anything that concerns the rental unit should be written up. For example, if a tenant who previously did not have a pet tells you that they are going to adopt a puppy, send them a letter confirming that they are going to adopt a puppy and letting them know your pet policy. Repeat this information even if it is included in the lease, although you may want to reference the provision in the lease. Your tenants will appreciate it if you send statements at least a week in advance before rent is due, particularly if utilities or other costs are included in the payment they make to you each month.  When other payments, such as for trash, water, or other utilities, are included in the rent, provide itemized statements that detail the exact portion of the total that is covering these other services. Keep in mind that your tenants will be more likely to pay rent early or on time if they have a statement before their rent is due. Often, people pay their bills when they get the statement, so this also can be a way to incentivize your tenants to pay rent early. Any time you communicate with your tenants in any way regarding the tenancy, make sure a copy of that communication goes into the tenant's file. You can use these as reminders, even if you never end up in court.  For example, suppose you have a tenant who has a problem with a leaky faucet. Perhaps it's a minor problem that's easily fixed, but they've provided a maintenance request for this faucet three times. Keeping those notices allows you to specify the dates the problem was addressed when you talk to a plumber about it. You also can use copies of old letters and notifications to remind tenants of past agreements if they fail to follow through. For example, suppose a tenant agrees to make a minor repair themselves if you reimburse them for the parts needed, but they have not sent you a receipt for reimbursement. You might send them a copy of the original letter and inquire whether the repair has been completed and ask for the receipt if it has. There are a number of online services for landlords that can make it relatively easy for you to accept rent payments online as well as manage all the documents related to the tenancy.  Most of these services require you to pay a monthly subscription fee. Do an internet search and compare and contrast several to find the service that will best meet your needs with costs that are within your budget. You also want to look for reviews of these services before you subscribe. Make sure the website is easy for both you and the tenant to navigate, and that the service has a healthy track record and positive reviews from other landlords.
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One-sentence summary -- Get a lawyer to review your lease. Do background checks and credit checks on all tenants. Get everything in writing. Send statements promptly. Save copies of all letters and notifications. Use online services.


Networking is an invaluable part of getting any kind of job, but it is especially important in the film industry. Before you start networking with people in the industry, first practice getting out there and socializing with strangers.   Go to dinner parties, social events, gallery openings, or any other kind of event that involves mingling with people you don’t know.  Keep going to these events until you feel comfortable and used to talking with people you don’t know. If you know anyone within the film industry, reach out and tell them that you are interested in starting in the business. Ask them if you could meet with them or call them to have an informational interview. Even if they don’t live in the same city as you, they can still be a great resource.  An informational interview is an informal interview in which you can ask a professional in a field that interests you about their job and their experience in the industry. Ask your contact about their path through the industry, and what advice they have for someone just starting out. Informational interviews are a great way of both learning more about the industry, and making a connection that could come in useful later. Ask your contact at the end of the interview if there are any openings at their company. They will be impressed by your interest and your initiative, and may tell you about any opportunities at their company. A vital part of networking is branching out from your initial contact to others in the industry who could help you get a job. Ask your contact if they can put you in touch with others in the industry who can give you advice or tell you about upcoming opportunities. Even if your contacts don’t know of any openings now, it doesn’t mean that they won’t in the future. Stay in touch with them so that they remember you and will have you in mind if a colleague tells them about an opening they are trying to fill. Go to any industry conferences, openings or festivals in your area. You will meet a wide variety of people in the industry, and some of them may be looking for employees for their projects or their companies..  Bring a stack of your business cards to these events. If you are in conversation with someone who seems interested in you and your skills, give them a card.
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One-sentence summary --
Improve your social skills. Reach out to any contacts you have. Ask contacts if they can put you in touch with anyone else. Stay in touch with your contacts. Go to industry events.