Investor · Granite City, IL · Member since 2014 · 658 posts · 301 votes
OK, alleged felon.
I bought a nine-unit complex a few months back and it came with some interesting residents. Many of them are good people who put up with an inattentive owner. The previous owner was in her eighties and just didn't have it in her to keep the place going.
Anyway, her idea of screening got the same amount of attention. She just "knew" if someone was a good fit. Unfortunately, she got it wrong with a few of them. I have had to threaten evictions three times in two months. Eventually, I convinced one of my residents that they were better off seeking a different place to call home.
They did a midnight move, leaving couches, chairs, bedding, uneaten food, etc all over the place. Turns out, I probably did a good thing for my own safety. Read the link below to see why.
This guy was a real Eddie Haskell in person. He knew what to say and when to say it. He was very innocent looking and used it to his advantage with the previous owner. She was even "helping them out" before I showed up.
Look, I don't want to be mean. But you cannot jeopardize your safety, the safety of your other residents, and your investment. People, do your screening!
WOOD RIVER, IL (KTVI) – The Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office charged an 18-year-old East Alton man Thursday for allegedly robbing a local pharmacy at knifepoint.
According to Wood River Deputy Police Chief Dan Bunt, the robbery occurred Wednesday around 8:50 p.m. at the CVS Pharmacy on W. Edwardsville Road.
Witnesses said the suspect walked up to the counter, displayed a knife, and demanded money from the clerk. He ran off on foot after receiving an undisclosed sum of money.
Bunt said East Alton, Roxana, and Hartford police joined Wood River authorities in the search for the suspect. At about 9 p.m., a witness contacted officers after seeing the suspect running in the area of Wood River Avenue and 2nd Street, and later hearing what sounded like tree branches snapping.
An East Alton police officer found the suspect, identified as David Hoffman, attempting to hide in the tree. Hoffman eventually came down and was apprehended. He was charged with one count of armed robbery.
Hoffmann remains in custody at Madison County Jail on $200,000 bond.
Interesting post.... Yes, landlording, in our age of specialization, rewards the jack of all trades generalist, and a part of the job is detective work (along with handy person, cleaner, accountant, etc)... Channel your inner Monk or Columbo....
I have been amazed at the way the sincere applicant can turn out to be on probation (even found one with a legitimate jail escape on his record)...
You deal with the public, all the public, so use your spider senses and every screening tool possible.
Even then you may find your experience debunks some conventional wisdom (like the highest income professionals leaving rentals in worse shape than pay check to paycheck service sector workers)... and also the occasional good surprise, too, like a neat as pin tenant who is never a day late..... Every tenant teaches a lesson...
If you think you've ever made a mistake in screening someone ... just remember that someone once rented an apartment to Jeffrey Dahmer. Because of the stigma, the whole building was razed in 1992 and the city forbids anyone from building on it.
@Dawn Anastasi, that's a really good point. I bought these apartments without doing a check on the residents. The only reason they are gone is because they were having issues with their rent payments and we decided, amicably, that it was best for them to move on.
But if he had paid on time, they would still be living there. At least until it was time for a new lease agreement. I have to honor the existing leases.
So I guess this is a new type of risk I need to consider going forward - the residents you inherit might have more than just payment problems.
Thanks for the enlightening post @Ronald Perich. I've never had to inherit a tenant yet. But as your situation shows, taking on existing tenants is another level of screening that should be undetaken, so you know who you are inheriting and can formulate a plan to get them out as soon as possible.
One thing I've come across about 3 times is the prospective tenant who has a stable job, good income, vountarily sends you additioal information including pay stubs, has the money for the deposit available immediately and always hsa to move "right away"....really needs to be in the house by "this weekend". They are trying to get in without a background check. After I run the background check I am 3-for-3 in positive hits for the sexual predator list with crimes against minors. Like your tenant they have the Eddie Haskell appearance on paper.
Great example with the Jeffrey Dahmer reference. I always have in the back of my mind the Michael Keaton character from Pacific Heights.
Good words to live by. Sometimes you just never know. Most times, I can get a whole lot more information from the previous landlords than the current one. Thanks for sharing!