What is Your Worst Property Management Nightmare?

All of us who manage property have dealt with unimaginable circumstances: tenants can drive us crazy and vendors can test our patience. What are some of the craziest, weirdest or most shocking experiences that you have had in the management of your properties? :roll:

Bill Gulley

Real Estate Investor · Springfield, Missouri

5,642 posts
13 awards
100 influence

Dec 01 '11, 09:13 AM

Someone needs to invent a crack detector! Not cracks in the wall but the drug that contaminates the sheet rock and interior to an environmental cleanup or rehab being required. Do that and you'll make a fortune!!!!

Jackie Pyle

Real Estate Investor · Rockaway Beach, MO

16 posts
50 influence

Dec 09 '11, 02:38 PM

Bill, They do have a kit you can buy to test a house you are looking at buying or a rental after you suspect drug activity. I found them online.

Drew Friestedt

Developer · Chicago, Illinois

25 posts
50 influence

Dec 09 '11, 04:15 PM

The following:

- we had 2 skunks die under a building.
- we had to evict a tenant who spoke no english, smoked about 4 packs a day, and could not make decisions for himself
- had the former owner of a building claim to own it after I was the legal owner at auction and stole about 4 months of rent.
- bed bugs
- I could go on and on... The stories are endless. we video and audio record most. they are really funny!

Drew Friestedt

Developer · Chicago, Illinois

25 posts
50 influence

Dec 09 '11, 05:07 PM

Skunk gear picture...

[UPDATE] image not coming in for some reason. Might be too large....

Brandon Kamm

Commercial Real Estate Broker · Memphis, Tennessee

138 posts
3 awards
50 influence

Dec 09 '11, 09:38 PM

Oh god where do I start....
You may have seen me on The First 48 following a murder
In one unit of a building we have had 3 tenants die in 15 months
Various offers of sex for rent to maintenance staff
The Feds took over property we managed as owner turned Out to be a drug trafficker
More fires due o stove left on than I can count
Employee/ resident shot coming home late night from guy hiding in bushes
Tenant mad because apartment broken into and her cake she baked was stolen....not concerned about the rest of her stuff
Countless tenant stole the kitchen and left water running

I could go on for days from stuff over the last 10 years
I will challenge any pm to a trade off of great management stories.....property management nothing to it

Brad Z.

Real Estate Investor · Cincinnati, Ohio

100 posts
5 awards
50 influence

Dec 10 '11, 05:07 AM

Hands down my worst situation was a high speed chase that started at one of my buildings and ended with the suspect running into another house. He had a AK47 on him. It was tenant that I inherited from the previous owners boyfriend. Not a proud moment when you working out at the gym at 6am and see your property on the news....

Not a terrible situation but some of my best tenants just lost there jobs and cant pay this month. I hate evicting in December. Tenants was a mailman and was just laid off. He is still waiting for unemployment to kick in. They have been excellent for years and he calls me daily with an update (communicaiton is critical and the only reason I am working with them). I am giving them a little extra time and had them sign a right of revision but wont hesitate to evict around hte holidays if things turn south.

Stephen Moore

Real Estate Investor · america

200 posts
4 awards
50 influence

Dec 10 '11, 02:06 PM

lol wow you guys have had some pretty crazy things happen! Brandon man thats like insane! Brad im sure you hurried up outta that gym!!

Marc Freislinger

Real Estate Investor

916 posts
11 awards
57 influence

Dec 10 '11, 06:07 PM

I got to see our managed properties on the news twice, and my own on the news once.

First: http://www.fox59.com/news/wxin-east-side-home-invasion-093010,0,7840270.story Tenant broke his leg jumping out a window trying to escape from who he apparently thought were the police. Got a call from section 8 shortly afterword explained that we had some window screens to replace.

Second was not our tenants, but I caught a clip on the news where they were filming directly in front of one of our managed duplexes because some middle schooler had been propositioned while waiting for the bus.

My own duplex was on the news when a drunk driver hit it with a truck.

I've also been through fires, floors, and the usual. The worst part about being in property management to me has always been with dealing with liars and people who are looking to scam you any way they can. Any excuse to not pay rent, or breaking things just to "justify" their rent. Most of these people get screened out, but every once in a while...