BiggerPockets

I have a girl living in one of my units. She is around 30 years old, single, has a good job, and a credit score over 800. This is a nice one bedroom apt. We just totally redid the building she lives in. The problem is she keeps calling me about stupid things. I want to know about plumbing problems, but she calls me about things like the temperature of the water during different cycles in the coin washing machine, or another tenant putting her garbage can infront of her garage door, or that her gas bill seems high and I had to explain to her that it is not just the gas stove, but also her water heater. How do I get her to call just when it is important, or is this a lost cause?

I don't think it gets any better. If a tenant moves from "new" to "old" they just go wild with wanting little things fixed. So aggravating. If it's reasonable I do it - but if not, I encourage them to move on so we both won't be miserable.

You could just marry her! That way, she wouldn't be lonely anymore and at least it would be your wife nagging you!

Good Luck, and is it too early to say congratulations?

Mike

There is a reason she is 30 something and never been married. The problem is compounded by my purchase of the building to the South of it and the two month rehab. She gets to see me every day and talk to me for an hour about some small thing like the type of tile I used in her kitchen or something else... She looked good on paper and I was excited to get the building fully rented within the first week so I took her. I prob should have known she was going to be a problem becuase she looked at 26 other units before she picked my building. I was thinking about having an FAQ part on my rental website for things that can go wrong and what action to take. Anyone done this?

you stop doing what your doing. you talk to her for an hour a day? no offense but you have a crush on her.

this is a business time to start running it like one. let her know what the rules are then follow them yourself.

Is she cute? I was thinking the same thing Mike. I have a mother and daughter that try to do the same thing to me. You really just need to sit her down and explain things to her and not be afraid of hurting her feelings.

is she hot? oh wait she's 30 and single. ouch.

yeah, do what steve said. make her put it in writing.

honestly, if she pays early I wouldn't raise her rent. so many landlords seem to have trouble with people paying, i would probably put up with her crap and just only fix what really NEEDS to be fixed

Welcome to being a landlord. I get these calls from time to time as well but I'm rather short on the phone. If someone has a utility problem, you might suggest they contact the utility company. I even had tenants call me about light bulbs being out. My suggestion to them came in the form of directions to their nearest hardware store. Unfortunately you need to explain the obvious to some. The water issue can simply be during the same time everyone else in the building is taking a shower or a bath. If it is a question you can answer and it pertains to your responsibility then I would simply answer the question. If she is asking you a number of questions that are out of your scope of responsibility you may want to direct her to the proper people to speak with, she will eventually get the drift that you can only handle issues pertaining to your responsibility as a landlord. Also, voice mail was created for people like your renter. Have her send you an email instead of a phone call on non emergency issues. Good luck!

I have a girl living in one of my units. She is around 30 years old, single, has a good job, and a credit score over 800.

My first reaction as I read these lines was that you were describing a really hot tenant, LOL.

And then you clarified there's nothing attractive about the situation, and it's so totally Un-Hot, to the extent that you would be willing to lose a paying tenant. Wow, it must be pretty bad!

Overall, I'd say Steve has great advice.

Other than that, my assumption is that you are not worried about hurting her feelings. In that case, I would tell her that she can find the answers to even the stupidest questions, including how to flush a toilet http://www.passionateamerica.com/idiot-proof-guide-how-to-flush-a-toilet/ by searching on Google.

At 30 years of age, she needs to start seeking her own answers instead of having you solve her problems. Unless you want to make a toilet-flushing guide for every factor in all of your tenant's lives, you need to let them know that you are their landlord, and not their mommy.

Make it clear that contacting you on your phone is for emergencies only, and that they can get in contact with you otherwise via mail/email.