Eviction Costs

[Nghi Le]

I received this e-mail from my property manager and I was wondering if the costs sound reasonable.  This is in Seattle, Washington.

"The total amount that will be owed to the attorney is $737.98. This is going to include everything to the attorney including the sheriff.

I went out there this morning before the attorney scheduled the sheriff to see whether or not there were still items inside the home. It would have saved a little money if she would have moved out and I could have just taken possession of the property but I saw a lot of stuff inside, so I am waiting on a call from the sheriff and we will have to do a physical eviction. The only other costs that there will be is a locksmith to come out and change the locks ($99) and I will need to hire a couple people from Labor Ready to come move all of the items out of the house. I believe they run $15 an hour with a 4 hour minimum, so that will be appx $120. We don't charge anything for being there with the sheriff or handling the process."

[Aly W.]

I pay my NJ eviction attorney $300, unless they have to go back to court again if a tenant appeals. That's another $100. The sheriff's costs are separate, probably another $100. In FL, my contractor and I do all the paperwork ourselves, as those properties aren't in an LLC. We pay the court fees and sheriff, and the total ends up about $300 when it's all said and done.