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We had just finished refurbishing an entire building. It had been gutted to the studs and been completely rebuilt: new floor joists, new floors, new electrical, new plumbing, new HVAC, new roof, new parking lot, new everything. Literally it had been gutted to the studs and framing and completely re-done.As each unit was completed, we would offer them for rent, and because of a dearth of quality housing in the area, units would usually rent within hours of being advertised. We currently enjoy a 100% occupancy rate on this 28 unit complex. It is located in a scenic area on a major river just before the river turns into a major lake. So, it’s a pretty nice area, and just a few minute walk from the County seat business and government districts.A woman in her mid-forties called about a new two bedroom for her and her developmentally disabled son. She gave us the information necessary for us to do our background checks and to approve her for a move in.We explained to her that she would be require to pay the deposit, any applicable pet deposit, and the first month’s rent. Then we would have her sign the lease and grant possession to her. We have done this many times, and there is no ambiguity as to what is said, and even more importantly, as to what is signed.I reiterate, that these units were going quickly. She was the third person to call within two hours of the unit being listed. She was the first on scene with credit card in hand. She passed the background check, and provided proof of sufficient income.We ran the credit card for her security deposit and the deposit we required for her cat. She didn’t have the money in hand for the rent, and her debit card had a daily limit. This happens frequently on move in, so it was nothing unduly concerning. We reprinted the possession page of the lease stating that she would be granted possession, and we would giver her the keys, later in the day when she returned with cash to pay the rent. She indicated she would be there before we closed the office at 5.I called the two other prospective tenants back and told them that, unfortunately, the unit was leased. Fortunately for both, we would have two more units available within ten days.Around 4:30 she called and said that she doesn’t have the money for the rent and won’t be able to move in for three weeks, but that she expected us to hold the unit, at our loss, until then. It was the usual, “My car broke down,” “I have medical issues,” “The dog ate my money,” “I had to buy new shoes…” excuses we hear literally daily. I explained to her that this was unacceptable. I then explained that if she wasn’t there by 9:00 A.M. we would lease the unit to another person.At this point she came unglued, and started screaming that we were gong to hold the unit or she was going to have her Marine boyfriend come down and “kick my ass.”I purposefully counted to five and then told her that offering physical threats against me had just earned her a no trespassing notice. I then referred her to a specific paragraph in her lease that clearly stated any deposit posted without the contemporaneous payment of rent was subject to surrender to landlord as liquidated damages.She started literally screaming at me, and so I hung up and blocked her number.As I was pulling out of the parking lot to go home for the evening, I saw a County Sheriff’s car pull into the other entrance and park in front of the office which was now locked and closed for the evening. Of course, I pulled back in, and asked the Deputy what he needed.He recited to me that they had received a call from an irate tenant that she had paid her money and was then not allowed into “her” apartment. I explained to the Deputy what had transpired, and related that she had threatened to have her boyfriend come and attack me unless I acquiesced to her demands. I made a copy of the lease she had signed and pointed out the specific paragraph about the surrender of the deposit for non payment of rent.The deputy used a highlighter to mark that paragraph, and asked me if I minded if he made a call. I indicated that I had no issue, and sat quietly at my desk while he called the woman. He asked her if she could take a picture of the receipt for the payment of rent and text it to him. It was quiet for a few moments while she apparently told him that she hadn’t, in fact, paid the rent. The Deputy nodded his head while she was telling her story. Then, he told her that he had contacted us, obtained a copy of the lease, and that she apparently had no right to possession. From the other side of the desk I could hear her screaming at him.Finally when she had stopped screaming, he quietly told her that any issues she had with us were civil, and that if she wished to do anything more she needed to have her attorney contact us. That elicited another round of screaming. While this was going on, I handed him a copy of the written No Trespassing Notice.When she stopped this time, he continued by telling her that he had just been placed in possession of a copy of a written No Trespassing Notice in her name and that if she entered onto the property she would be in violation of the law and subject to arrest. Of course, she started screaming again.This time he simply said, “Have a nice day,” and hung up.The Deputy then stood up, shook my hand and apologized for taking up my time.The next day she showed up on our property with the boyfriend in tow. As soon as we saw her pull onto the lot, my wife called 911 and reported her as a trespasser. I walked out to her car and told her to leave. Of course, the boyfriend had to get out of the car, puff himself up, and approach me yelling that I was going to give her back her deposit. I didn’t move, but looked at him, and told him to get off of our property.As he was leaning his face in to try to intimidate me, I spoke quietly in my best Gunnery Sergeant voice, “One inch closer Marine, and I’ll break your arm.”That apparently wasn’t what he anticipated, and he visibly stepped back.At that moment, a Sheriff’s car pulled into the lot and two deputies got out. After it was all sorted out, she was arrested, and he was ordered to leave the property.All of this because she wanted to force us to hold an apartment for three weeks for her, and we didn’t agree to it.Ahh, the wonderful world of being a landlord.

1. Make sure your passport and visa are up to dateMost countries require that your passport be valid for six months after your return date. The State Department recommends that you renew your passport no less than nine months before it’s set to expire.Check the expiration date of your passport now, and if you need to renew, check the U.S. Department of State’s website to find your nearest passport facility.Allow up to six weeks for the passport application to be processed. If you need the passport faster than that, use the expedited service for an extra fee and receive your passport in two to three weeks. Private expediting services can get it done more quickly, but they charge much higher fees.The State Department’s country information provides important facts about your destination, such as whether you need a visa and where to get it, as well as other important details on crime, special circumstances, medical information and more.If you plan to rent a car or drive at your destination, find out whether an International Driver’s License is required or if your U.S. license will suffice.Make a photocopy of the information page of your passport and the visa page(s) for your destination(s). Pack them separately from your passport.2. Check for travel warnings and advisoriesFind out whether the U.S. government has issued a travel warning, for countries where long-term issues create a risky environment for travelers, or a travel alert, for countries with short-term conditions that may pose a threat to travelers, for your destination. Many travel insurance policies will not cover travel to countries that are under travel warnings.3. Get vaccinations and fill prescriptionsGo to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website to find out health information and vaccination requirements for your destination. For maximum protection, you should get any required shots six weeks before departure. If you’re traveling to a country where disease is rampant, consult a travel medicine professional.The CDC website also is a good source of information on the health risks of consuming the water and food, nonprescription items to pack and other health tips.Be sure to check the “Confiscation of Prescription Drugs and Other Medicine” on the U.S. Department of State’s country information page to learn which prescription drugs are illegal in your destination country.Bring photocopies of your prescriptions, packed separately from your medicine, and note the generic drug name. Always pack your medicine, in its prescription bottles, in your carry-on bag. If you need to use syringes, make sure that you have a letter from your doctor. Always declare the syringes before you go through security.Pack more than enough medicine to last your trip, as it may be difficult to get your prescription filled abroad.4. Register your tripOne option, especially if you are traveling outside industrial countries or to remote areas, is register onlinewith the U.S. Department of State, and enter your itinerary. In case of an emergency, the U.S. government will know about your presence in the country and where to contact you. Also, if specified that your travel information can be shared with third parties, your family and friends can contact the Department of State to locate you if necessary. Registration is free.5. Stock your walletChoose one or two credit cards to take with you, and call the issuers shortly before you leave to inform them of which countries you will be visiting. Otherwise, your credit card could be denied, as the issuer may find the international activity suspicious.Traveler’s checks are no longer universally accepted, and you may have trouble using them in many countries, especially the less developed ones. Instead, use your bank card to withdraw money from ATMs, which can be found in even the most exotic destinations. Memorize your numeric PIN, as many ATM keypads will not display the numbers and letters we use, or they may be placed differently on the keypad. Generally, your most favorable exchange rate will be through the ATM, although most companies will charge a transaction fee.Write down your credit card numbers, but don’t keep the list in your wallet. Know how to contact your company from abroad. Toll-free numbers do not work from outside the U.S., but credit card companies will accept collect calls at a designated number.6. Buy travel insuranceIt is likely that your health insurance won’t cover you while you’re traveling abroad. Depending on where you’re going, consider buying medical evacuation and emergency medical insurance. Also, if your trip requires a large down payment or is booked many months in advance, trip interruption and cancellation insurance can provide valuable protection from the unexpected.7. Pack appropriatelyOther than the necessary electronics, don’t bring valuables with you. Expensive jewelry could attract thieves who are experts at targeting tourists. If you do bring valuables, always travel with them in your carry-on, and keep them locked up in the hotel safe.Before you leave, empty your wallet of unnecessary items, such as credit cards that you don’t plan to use on your trip.If you wear prescription glasses, pack an extra pair.Use closed baggage tags to label each bag. Put your name, address and phone number both inside and outside your luggage.Buy Transportation Security Administration approved locks, and always keep your luggage locked. Check to see if you can send your locked bags on in-country flights; TSA locks may not be recognized and could be cut to inspect your bags. Never put valuables in your checked luggage, and check carefully after going through security to ensure that all of your valuables are still in your carry-on.A little effort goes a long wayAs educators, you know that studying up is the best way to be prepared. The more you know about the history and customs of your destination countries, the more you will enjoy and benefit from your journey.Do not bring shorts, miniskirts and tank tops if you’re going to a conservative country.If you’re going to a place where you will have to take your shoes off frequently to enter tourist sites, pack slip-on shoes.Know whom to tip and how much.Learn how to say simple phrases in the language of your destination, such as “thank you” and “good morning.

Shaholine,Your post indicates that you've been trying to build your credit [score] for a long time but it doesn't describe what you've done. For instance, have you checked your credit score and credit history? To start, you should obtain a free copy of your credit report at Annual Credit Report.com - Home Page and study it carefully to ensure that there aren't any problems on it. If you find any problems such as a charged off account, you'll want to contact the lender to see what you can do to get that paid off and/or removed from your record. If you've recently applied for a credit card (and got declined), contact the bank and ask for a copy of all of the credit information it obtained to make that decision. Among other things should be your credit score, an important piece of information that won't be provided in your credit report.Assuming that you either don't have any problems on your credit report or have fixed those that are, you'll want to consider a few different courses of action. Please note that this is just a few examples and is NOT intended to be an exhaustive list. If your serious about improving your credit score, you'll need to dedicate some time for additional research and to stick with a long term plan (sorry, there aren't any quick fixes) to become a credit worthy customer in the eye of traditional lenders.If your credit report doesn't include your latest address and phone information, contact at least one of the credit bureaus and ask them to add (or correct) that information. This will help to ensure that any credit accounts you have are properly linked to your records.If you can, try staying at the same address for at least a couple of years (longer, if possible). Having a steady address is a sign of stability that will be reflected in a higher credit score over time.If you can afford it, apply for a secured credit card from your bank or credit union. This type of account will come with a requirement to deposit an amount of money equal to the credit line associated with the card and to leave that money untouched as long as the card account is open.If you have steady income (e.g. a paycheck) and paid off car, try applying for a loan using that car as collateral. Keep the amount low (so that the payments are very affordable and so that the amount you are borrowing is well below the wholesale value of the car) and deposit the money in a savings account that you don't need to touch for other reasons and, if necessary, use that money to make the payments.Make at least the minimum payment amount every month on your secured credit card and/or car loan at least one week before the due date. If you can afford to do so, pay double the minimum payment amount. Remember that missing a payment, paying it after the due date, and paying something less than the minimum will all have negative affects on your credit score.If and when you are approved for an unsecured credit card, try to keep the outstanding balance at 50% or less of your approved credit line. One important consideration for credit scoring is the ratio of outstanding balances to the available credit. Note, however, that its actually better for score building to make payments on credit accounts, especially at double or triple the minimum payment amount, rather than paying off the entire balance.Remember that many utility, telephone and mobile telephone companies also submit reports to the credit bureaus. Make your payments to them on time and be sure, if you switch providers, that you pay off the entire amount due before closing out the old account.