Today we talked with Joan Kaplan of the Chuck and Marshall Group, Re/Max Metro Atlanta. She's been a Realtor since 2005.

Q: If I'm considering renting my home while waiting for it to sell, how do I know how much rent to charge?

A: Calculate your rent based on your current mortgage plus insurance and taxes and add a reserve of 10 percent to 15 percent for maintenance. You may want to add an umbrella insurance policy at approximately $250 a year and possibly hire a property manager.

Q: What services would a property manager provide?

A: A property manager will typically charge between half and a full month's rent to find the tenant and then an additional 5 percent to 10 percent a month to manage the property. If the manager hires a contractor to repair items in the home, there may be a surcharge of 20 percent for work that is done on the property.

Q: What are the tax implications of renting?

A: There are many tax advantages and potentially some disadvantages to renting out your home. For example, if you own and live in the home for two of the last five years (which means it qualifies as your primary residence) you may be eligible for the IRS home-sale tax exclusion to avoid paying capital gains. You don't even have to live in the house at the date of sale. You could live in your house for a year, rent it for two, move back in for another year and rent it again the year before you sell. There are many other tax implications if you convert your home into a rental, so be sure and discuss all this with your tax adviser before making a decision.

— C.W. Cameron, for the Journal-Constitution