Article: Along with keeping your windshield clean, you can also improve your visibility in wet conditions by ensuring that your wipers are up to the job, and by using the right washer fluid. Replace your wipers every year to prevent them from cracking, breaking, or not sealing properly when you need them most. Try a hydrophobic washer fluid that will cause water to bead up and drip off your windshield, rather than sticking to it and blocking your view. During any inclement weather or unfavorable driving conditions, your first reaction should always be to adjust your speed accordingly. Wet roads reduce your traction, and slowing down reduces the chances of you skidding out, and will give you more time to react to emergencies. Wet roads can reduce your traction by about a third, so you should also reduce your speed by a third. Even small amounts of water can make the road more slippery, because the water mixes with oils on the road, and this creates a greasy layer. Driving too quickly on wet roads can lead to hydroplaning, which means that your tires lose contact with the road. When a car hydroplanes, you have very little control in terms of steering or braking. When you're behind the wheel, it's important to always pay attention to the road, other cars, and pedestrians. This is especially true in the rain, when you cannot see as well, and your ability to stop may be hindered by the slickness of the road. Stay focused by: Keeping your eyes on the road at all times Paying attention to what drivers and pedestrians are doing around you. Turning off the radio, and ignoring your cell phone and other electronic devices. Ceasing any conversations you were having with passengers. Not eating, reading, or putting on makeup while driving. When it starts to rain, turn on your headlights immediately, regardless of whether it's day or night. In some states, it's actually illegal to drive without headlights when it's raining. There are two reasons why you should drive with your lights on in the rain: First of all, your headlights will make it easier for other drivers to see your car. Second, rain typically means cloudy skies, and turning your lights on will help you see the road better. You should always drive with your hands at 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock on the steering wheel, because this gives you maximum control if you have to turn, swerve, or react quickly. It's especially important to have both hands on the wheel when driving conditions are subpar. While traditional wisdom said to drive with your hands at 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock on the steering wheel, this increases the chances of injury from airbags in case of a collision. You should always leave a three- to four-second gap between your car and the car in front of you, and you should increase this to at least five seconds when it's raining. Not only does this give you more time to stop or adjust if necessary, but it also prevents reduced visibility caused by the spray from other cars. To determine how many seconds you are behind another car, make note of when that car passes a landmark (like a street sign) and then count how many seconds it takes before your car passes that same landmark. Leaving space includes leaving an opening where you can escape quickly if necessary. To do this, make sure you always leave at least one open space beside or in front of you that you can move into. Slamming on the brakes can cause you to slide forward, and you won't be able to control the car. Hitting the brakes too hard can also force water into your brakes, making them less effective. Instead of braking, you can also slow yourself down by easing off the accelerator, and downshifting if you have a manual transmission. Not being able to stop as quickly in the rain is another reason why it's so important to leave extra space between your car and the one in front of you. Turning too quickly on a wet road can cause your tires to hydroplane, and this means you won't be able to control the car, and could skid out. Whenever you have a turn coming up, signal early and start slowing down sooner than you would in good conditions. Just like with driving, you should reduce the speed of your turns by about a third when it's raining. Cruise control is another factor that can lead to hydroplaning. The weight of the car shifts slightly when you ease on or off the accelerator, and this helps the tires maintain traction with the road. But with cruise control, because the speed of the car is constant, there is no weight shift, and the car can lose traction. Never be afraid to pull over to the side of the road if you don't feel comfortable driving. If you can't see the sides of the road, the cars in front of you, or your surroundings at a safe distance, pull over. Other things that can reduce your visibility include the glare from other car lights and lightning. You may also need to pull over if there's too much water on the road, the road is too slick, or you simply don't feel safe. To pull over safely, turn on your signal, check your mirror and blind spots, pull over as far as possible to the side of the road, and turn on your four-way lights.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Turn on your windshield wipers. Slow down. Stay focused. Turn your lights on. Drive with both hands on the wheel. Stay five seconds behind the car in front of you. Avoid slamming on the brakes. Take turns slowly. Don't use cruise control. Pull over if necessary.
Article: Just as when working out gross rental yield, you'll need the total rent you collect from the property in a year. Multiply weekly rent by 52 and monthly rent by 12 to find the annual amount. For example, if you rented a condominium for $2,000 a month, your annual rental income would be $24,000. For net rental yield, you'll also take into account the other costs of owning the property. Include all fees, mortgage payments, interest, taxes, insurance premiums, and other costs associated with the property for the year. Typically these will be monthly expenses, so don't forget to multiply them by 12 to get the annual total. For example, suppose your annual rental income was $24,000 and the condominium unit cost you $900 a month to maintain. Your annual cost to own the property would be $10,800. When you subtract $10,800 from $24,000, you get $13,200. The current value of the property is not your mortgage payment, which likely includes interest, taxes, and other fees. Instead, look at the value of the most recent appraisal of the property. That's the amount you could likely sell the property for. For example, suppose the condominium you own is worth $250,000. You have an annual rental income of $24,000 for the property, which decreased to $13,200 by the costs of owning the property. When you divide $13,200 by $250,000, you get 0.0528. Net rental yield, like gross rental yield, is expressed as a percentage of the value of the property. To get that percentage, take the decimal you got when you divided the annual rental income less costs by the current value of the property and multiply it by 100. To continue the example, if you had annual rental income less costs of $13,200 divided by $250,000, you would have a net rental yield of 5.28%. This is considered a relatively low rental yield, but might still be sustainable depending on the location of the property or your reasons for owning it.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Start with your total yearly rental income. Subtract your annual expenses from the rental income. Divide the result by the current value of the property. Multiply by 100 to find your net rental yield.