So you want to be a landlord? There's an app for that, a very successful app, Apple's 2011 iPhone Game of the Year to be exact.

Those of you not familiar with Tiny Tower must not be one of the eight million iPhone users who have downloaded it. The app was developed by a company called Nimblebit. This is their second foray into the app world, their first being the very successful Pocket Frog.

The object of Tiny Tower is to build a tower and then successfully manage the tower and its residents, known as "bitizens." To be successful, you must attract the right tenants, give them the correct occupations, deal with conflicts and manage the tower's cash flow. It is addicting, frustrating and rewarding, very much like the real life of a landlord.

If you neglect your tower, it will quickly deteriorate. However, in the cyber world of landlording, when the going gets tough, deleting the app makes it all go away.

If only there was a delete button in the real world.

See Also: What Are the Responsibilities of a Landlord?
Fair Housing-List of Protected Classes by State

If you are remodeling a property, replacing a door, or even repainting a hallway, you should consider buying your supplies at a ReUse or ReStore center.

What are these centers? They are large warehouses that contain surplus materials from home renovation projects. They carry everything from doors, tiles, paint, fireplace mantles, tubs, sinks, kitchen cabinets, toilets, windows and lumber, just to name a few.

Since the materials are used, they are offered at a steep discount from what you would pay at a retail store. Many ReUse or ReStore centers are nonprofits who use the materials, or the money collected from selling the materials, to help build affordable housing.

The Loading Dock in Baltimore, Maryland is a well known ReUse center, as are ReStores by Habitat for Humanity. You can find a Habitat for Humanity ReStore in your state by clicking on this link. You can also do an online search for ReUse or ReStore centers in your area.

It's a win-win situation. You save money on your building materials, you help those in need and you help reduce waste be reusing materials.

See Also: 5 Things You Should Know Before Becoming a Landlord
6 Property Maintenance Tips That Can Save Landlords Money

Karen Kelly, a Georgia landlord, was met with two unpleasant surprises. First, the home she was renting out was broken into. The burglar was shot in the head and one of her tenants was shot in the hand. As if a home invasion on her property wasn't enough, it seems as though her tenant wasn't such an innocent victim.

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Winter has officially begun. The cold weather can wreak havoc on your property, causing everything from window drafts to busted water pipes. However, you don't have to sit there and take the wrath of Mother Nature. There are some things you can do to protect your property from these harsh conditions.

Here are two great articles, both with 10 tips on how to get your property ready for winter.

MSN.com's article, 10 Ways to Winterize Your Home Now, offers tips such as cleaning out your gutters, checking your furnace, and insulating your attic.

About.com's HomeBuying Guide has an article called, Winterizing Your Home-Preparing Your Home for Winter. She offers tips like preparing an emergency kit, servicing weather-specific equipment and checking property foundations.

For year round property maintenance tips take a look at, 6 Property Maintenance Tips That Can Save Landlords Money.