Being a landlord or real estate investor is tough. Not everyone is going to see things the same way you do. Things like evictions or rent increases are very sensitive subjects. Many people in our society want to vilify landlords for doing their jobs. • Have you considered this as you begin or continue to grow your investment portfolio? Below is a recent comment someone sent me on YouTube. Admittedly I operate in the public eye a lot more than your typical landlord or real estate investor so I'll receive a higher amount of this type of stuff then most but most if not all landlords or investors are going to face this type of stuff everyday. If they build a high profile business like I have it can get extreme like the comment you see below. • What are your thoughts on how society views landlords or real estate investors? • Have you experienced any hate like this because you choose to invest or manage real estate?

social media is a garbage dump for nameless cowards

Most tenants secretly resent landlords because they feel they are "paying the landlords mortgage" when they wish they were paying their own. They are envious of those that own properties. Some, those that are terrible people by nature, can be extremely venomous. Always consider the source. Hateful tenants are generally by nature outside the normal stream of society. They regrettably are also often of a lower class due primarily to level of intelligence. I have had more than a few hateful tenants but in every case they were all socially challenged to begin with. If you are in business for long you will run into them occasionally in operating your business. Every business does. The reality is that they are the bad tenants having attitude issues that no landlord would ever want. As a landlord you have to put these people in their place to protect other tenants and your business. In doing so I have been cursed at, referred to as a slumlord, physically threatened and assaulted. It is easy to brush off when you consider the source. The upside for me when these tenant's lose it and lash out is that I know I am in their head and I have the upper hand. As for how society views landlords and investors to me it is irrelevant. Does not matter who you are or what you do someone is going to resent you for it. If you take pride in what you have accomplished the opinions of other should be irrelevant. If their opinions bother you it is most likely because you either lack self confidence or do not have self pride. We are in it for the money. If you believe you are offering a valuable service to society and should receive acknowledgement for that service you better shake your head, you are wrong.

Hi @James Wise, first, no matter how much experience you have with it, having someone wish you ill sucks. I'm sorry you got a dose of it. I'm probably more prepared now that when I was young. One gets experience at not taking things personally, if you take it as a learning opportunity. I've been in management positions in my W2 employment, so I understand sometimes you have to give people news they don't want and enforce rules. I expect my relationship with my tenants to be warm within the bounds of professional.At the same time, I'm doing my best to minimize the likelihood of personal attacks. Women generally get more informal social training in this. And having a low profile business is fine with me. "Famous to the family" as Seth Godin says. If my local network is strong, and I build a reputation of respect and kindness, that's what I'm aiming for.

Most tenants do not hate their landlords. Most don't think about them and that's ok. It means the property is safe, sound and they are happy. The 10% that tend to take up most of the landlords energy and efforts are the 10% that test people's stomachs to see if they are cut out for this business. I always suggest knowing before you buy if you can handle being a landlord and if not find a really really good property management company. - Speaking from the experience of managing over 2000 properties.

It comes down to understanding how money works. If you are what some call the "We are the 99%" like the T- shirts and bumper stickers. Or the "Feel the Burn" stickers you see proudly displayed on many Portland bumpers, you resent people who buy rentals instead of Red Bulls. Not only do you resent them, you want others to know you are a victim of such investors. If you have more than a few doors you have heard this one before, "I can't work, I am retired on disability. but if you guys ever need anyone to help out with painting, cleaning or anything like that let me know." once you drive off, they curse your existence. If you want to befriend them you have to become one of them. drink red bulls, rent a big screen from Arron's, buy a new glass pipe from the corner store and suck hard. Shawn Coverdell Homes in the Hood

I admittedly was not prepared for the hate and was, initially, surprised by it. I've never been called names or had vicious things said to me, but I've been yelled at and had anger projected at me. Like any new endeavor, I learned from it. I adjusted the assumptions I had. Probably the worst, at least for her view on me, was an inherited tenant. I don't know if she'd had bad experiences in the past with LLs. Or something else negative in her past. She did seem like a person who lived in anger and misery all the time. But, in our communications, she seemed to always assume I meant the worst. Like accusing me of being patronizing and sarcastic (though in text conversations), when I was never anything of the sort. No matter what I said or how nicely and carefully I said it. I do find it interesting that the more someone is in the wrong, the angrier they will be at me. For people with a weak character, it is much easier to be angry at me for no reason than it is to face their own shortcomings. But, thankfully, those are the exceptions. Just like I think the majority of the human race are good people, most of my tenants are normal, reasonable, good people. In general, I don't think society thinks poorly of landlords and other REIs. Sure, some people do. And even that I think more comes from being clueless about the facts. Or saying something "off the cuff" without really thinking about it. In my personal experience, I've only had positive responses when I've told people about my REI business. I was a renter myself for most of my adult life. I never thought poorly of my LLs or PMs, unless I made numerous repair complaints that were never addressed. I only had an issue like that at one place. In fact, it was the last landlady I had who inspired me to get into REI.

New Landlords - Are you prepared for the hate?

Curt Smith

Rental Property Investor · Clarkston, GA · Member since 2012 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes

8y

Hi poster and readers, there is a way to largely (not entirely -- life happens even to great tenenats) avoid the above problems. It starts by running an INTENTIONAL business, not one by accident. IE you buy willy nilly chasing cheap houses and then try to filter out the best tenant who ever applies and often this process ends up with most of your rentls with problem tenants. IE a constant problem to YOU.

To start your change in business tactics then build a strategy; read my file I uploaded off my profile, 1st paragraph at the end: How To Buy A Bullet Proof Rental Portfolio. I give this talk to new folks around my area and REIA. Which I strongly suggeest you join all your local REIAs, rub shoulders with local landlords who can help you with what areas better tenants want to live in. Read my paper.

Also read this post I added to this thread: https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/61/topics/619...

I have never said I'm just the manager, I'm always the owner, the guy who gets stuff done and its me who fixes stuff, takes your rent, nags you when your rent is late. Landlording is a people business, I suggest you practice learning to be personable, be caring, be helpful. You will find that tenants will have a positive view of you, even when they run into trouble and you tell them you don't want to, you have to file eviction, I almost always get,,, "ya I know, I wish this wasn't happening, but I understand...". Then miraculously most folks find a better job, find the money and get on an arears repayment plan with us.

Sure bad stories abound and you to can have them. Please PLEASE study the info I offer above and improve your business. Add some if not ALL of the business rules I offer. If you do I have to believe you will start having a better time managing your own rentals.

Best of luck! But luck starts with hard work and improvement...

2 Reply

Will GastonPro Member

Rental Property Investor · Columbia, SC · Member since 2010 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes

8y

"To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing." - Elbert Hubbard

5 Reply

Doug P.

Investor · Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario · Member since 2008 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes

8y

@James Wise The youtube comment section isn't exactly the common opinion of the world at large. Youtube commentators say that kind of thing to people who mess up their favorite video game. Comments like this just mean you've achieved a small measure of success online.

1 Reply

Jordan Knoll

Real Estate Agent · Grand Rapids, MI · Member since 2016 · 23 posts · 11 votes

8y

@James I have found that by providing a high quality product and keeping lines of communication open with tenants and neighbors in the neighborhoods where we own rentals has eliminated any negativity around our rental business. We often have neighbors ask us if we have more properties because we just try to be friendly and fair and our tenants seem to appreciate our open communication and simple processes as well! As far as negativity from anywhere else, bring it! Anyone else's opinions on my business are either stemmed in jealousy of our success or because they have a lack of understanding. It is not my job to explain myself to anyone because I know I am providing quality housing to my neighborhood and it is not my job to educate people not involved in the industry. I hope people keep hating because that will keep them out of the competition.

4 Reply

Ron Gallagher

Investor · Washington, DC · Member since 2017 · 198 posts · 323 votes

8y

An interesting observation from a local meet up I attended recently, was that not one person introduced themselves as a "landlord", rather everyone that was a landlord was a "buy and hold real estate investor", the term land lord does sound a little holier than thou since you would be claiming you are the "lord of the land" which admittedly does sound a little pompous.

1 Reply

Bettina F.

Investor · Post Falls, ID · Member since 2016 · 606 posts · 699 votes

8y

I keep a low profile in general in matters of wealth. Worse than hate for me, are the envious, passive-aggressive comments from church members. This will occasionally come up if a church member has a family member without a place to live. This usually comes up in the context of "please pray for me-- my deadbeat brother has been living on my couch for 3 months -- he can't find a job". One pesky little church lady will pipe up "maybe he can rent one of Bettina's apartments?' and everyone turns to me expectantly. My reply is always "sorry, I'm full!" -- as though I want a deadbeat whose own family can't stand!

I have also told acquaintances who are looking for housing for a family member, that federal Fair Housing requires that I treat everyone the same in terms of application, screening and qualifications. That shuts them up, as they realize their deadbeat relative would not qualify.

My friends understand that my LLing is my retirement income, and would never try to foist a deadbeat relative off on me.

8 Reply

Jonathan Soto

Lender · Newark, NJ · Member since 2016 · 695 posts · 252 votes

8y

Don't pay any mind to their negativity. Misery looks company and that's all they try to find. People love trying to bring people down when someone is in a better position than them. Ignore the hate and keep striving.

0 Reply

James Wise

OP

Real Estate Broker · Cleveland Dayton Cincinnati Toledo Columbus & Akron, OH · Member since 2013 · 30k+ posts · 20k+ votes

8y

Originally posted by @James Wise:

Originally posted by @John Ravas:

That’s a harsh one, I’m sorry to see someone stoop to that level. My experience is in professional property management, at A+/luxury caliber apartment buildings where expectations are high. I find that it’s a pretty thankless job overall. Most tenants are good, but the critics are always the loudest. I think the view on landlords or managers can quickly shift based on the situation, particularly - as you mentioned - evictions and rent increased, or if we don’t bend the rules as much as one might like.

I’ve been called all sorts on names. If we're sharing public comments, here's a Yelp review about me. Not quite as harsh, but comes from a similar place. (Context: I wouldn't let him break his lease on his terms and then had to take him to court for holding over.)

On the other hand, the tenant in my personal duplex is as thankful and pleasant as could be. The positive engagements and compliments, as rare as they may be, are what keep me going in this business.

Lol that dudes comment is pretty hilarious. He must really hate you. Hahaha. I'll screen grab some more screenshots later I am sure I've got several similar to that one out there.

As for the compliments or lack thereof you don't need compliments to keep you going. This is definitely not a feel good industry so they will he few and far between. Focus on your goals. Building something worthwhile is much more rewarding than compliments.

I said i'd drop a few more screenshots from my "fans" online. Here is a cool little thread on Reddit. I am known to some as a "Douchnozzle" lol.

2 Reply

Amy Batten

Rental Property Investor · Member since 2018 · 9 posts · 4 votes

8y

@James Wise I’ve seen friends comment on local rental ads about how greedy the landlords are and how unfair it is for them to charge what they do. We have a very mixed market for our small community, there are people with very low incomes and then we have beautiful lakes that attract people with really high incomes. People feel that it’s unfair that a little tiny house on the lake can charge as much as it does When there are so many people in need of affordable housing. But landlords don’t have any trouble getting the rent they want.

1 Reply

Jim C.

Investor · Soldotna, AK · Member since 2015 · 103 posts · 64 votes

8y

Originally posted by @Amy Batten:

@James Wise I’ve seen friends comment on local rental ads about how greedy the landlords are and how unfair it is for them to charge what they do. We have a very mixed market for our small community, there are people with very low incomes and then we have beautiful lakes that attract people with really high incomes. People feel that it’s unfair that a little tiny house on the lake can charge as much as it does When there are so many people in need of affordable housing. But landlords don’t have any trouble getting the rent they want.

You hit on what my comment was going to be.

Buy and rent in "A" neighborhoods (higher income) and avoid many of the problems found in low income areas.

1 Reply

Mike V.

Rental Property Investor · Campbell, CA · Member since 2017 · 419 posts · 499 votes

8y

All this headache for a meager $100-200 a door....

3 Reply

Joe Arida

Rental Property Investor · Fitchburg, WI · Member since 2016 · 91 posts · 60 votes

8y

@James Wise I was called a slun lord THE DAY AFTER I purchased my property. In the end, I will be financially free to live my life to the fullest, and they'll still be at the office. I will take all the energy I can get, the positive and negative both will fuel me forward. No haters can stop me!

1 Reply

Lee L.

Member since 2018 · 55 posts · 14 votes

8y

I had an 85 year old woman try to physically assualt me when I showed up to put stakes in the driveway to keep her moving truck from running over the septic tank and line, which was a legitimate concern because they had driven over it when moving her in. I just kept backing up until she got tired of coming at me with her hands raised. She was always exploiting her age for her benefit, because that ***** knew that she could hit me and likely nothing would happen to her but if I hit her guaranteed trouble for me.

She was a piece of work, nut case from start to finish. So no, I was totally unprepared for the hate. She was my first and last long term lease, and I use that loosely because I had her out a little over a year later because she was absolutely not worth the aggravation. My life is too short for that crap. I am going to turn the house into a vacation rental, if someone is pill at least they are gone in a week.

0 Reply

Lalit R.

Rental Property Investor · Toronto, ON · Member since 2017 · 61 posts · 16 votes

8y

Wow!! I can understand how disturbing that must have been. I have been through some bad tenants but nothing so extreme and the experience taught me to keep out my emotions. Reminding yourself the end game helps big time. Either ways, you dont want such tenants. I wish it was easier to fire bad tenants in Ontario :-)

Besides the verbal abuses, a landlord has a choice on other hardships as well. Hire someone or do it yourself. Trade money for work or keep the little cash flow.

Last week, i was clearing out an overgrown bush in a rental property. Besides dealing with thorns, I stepped on dog waste left behind by their pet. The smell was overwhelming and so I left the place. Suddenly, i couldnt take it anymore but what keeps me going is the end game.

For me, the most fun part of REI is finding a deal and then closing on it. The worst part is land lording. Not everyone is cut out to be a happy landlord. Most are reluctant landlords (like me) but then I guess that's better than the absentee landlord :-)

Keep up your spirits and surround yourself with positive people because another the rent day is around the corner and you get to smile on your way to the bank.

0 Reply

Roshan K.Pro Member

Oklahoma City, OK · Member since 2017 · 258 posts · 215 votes

8y

Originally posted by @Michael Masters:

@James Wise

Does this mean you own and rent out the White House? Let me know when you have a vacancy.

If only he could evict the current tenant.... :D

3 Reply

Rick SteinPro Member

Investor · Austin, TX · Member since 2014 · 248 posts · 181 votes

8y

The idiot who wrote those profane comments said more about his own character that about yours. I own property in low-income areas and have many sec 8 tenants. Most of them are nice people who are glad to have a clean well-maintained place to live. I treat them with respect and most of them treat me in kind. Some people are low-lifes. Neither you nor I can control that. If we have worked hard to develop our rental portfolio, good for us. Personally, I owe apologies to nobody. I don't make my problems my tenant's problems and tell them not to make theirs, mine. Ie . I don't want to hear that sad stories. I run a legitimate business. I do not run a charity.

0 Reply

Linda WeygantPro Member

Investor and CPA · Arvada, CO · Member since 2015 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes

8y

Hah! Yes! Like the few days when one of my tenants came here on BP and started posting comments on many of my postings. She stayed up all night with various people here on BP, arguing that I was possibly the world's crappiest person. When she couldn't get any takers, her postings and messages just got more and more weird as the night went on.

Admins finally blocked her and removed her posts, but I got to see them later when she tried to admit them as evidence in the Discrimination case she later filed against me.

Podcast Guest on Show #244

2 Reply

Linda S.

Investor · Richmond, VA · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes

8y

Tenants hate landlords when they break rules, and are punished for their mistakes. We currently have one now I'm sure is saying the worst things about us, because we blatantly caught her smoking in a non-smoking place. You know who else I think hates us-- the people we evicted for squatting in a home. People who know they are guilty lash out with hate.

If you're a good landlord, I think most people are neutral-- I don't like you, I don't dislike you, and as long as you fix things then I'm okay with it.

I will say for any new landlord... they aren't your friends, don't get emotionally involved.. simple as that.

3 Reply

Jack Bobeck

Rental Property Investor · Jacksonville, FL · Member since 2008 · 784 posts · 528 votes

8y

@James Wise Anyone can go online at Google and rip any company for any reason. Our society has become very sensitive to their time, since they are the "Right Now" society. Make them wait 5 minutes in a line, they rip you a new one on social media. My wife is a top agent in Jacksonville, sells homes at top dollar for her clients, but some people have such low regard to the people who help them the most.

With every bad review, I tell people to get 10 good ones. They can get good ones from other clients. Real Estate does not always bring out the best in people. I tell people that Landlords have the BEST stories, and we do.

0 Reply

John Burtle

Real Estate Broker · IL · Member since 2016 · 284 posts · 178 votes

8y

I’m a police officer so I have the pleasure of hearing things like that almost daily. I’ve had people threaten to rape my family in front of me etc....you just have to over look it and move on in my opinion. One person I dealt with busted out one of my car windows and dumped gas all over my car next to the police department. Crazy people! The problem is no one wants to take responsibility for their mishaps. It’s always someone else’s fault. Majority of people are good people based off my experience though. You definitely can’t let these people get to you.

3 Reply

Craig Montesano

Investor · Northwest, PA · Member since 2013 · 107 posts · 24 votes

8y

@James Wise wow...thats crazy! I'm pretty sure 80% of my tenants view me as an *******. Not sure why and not sure that I care. Its a business I run...It puts food on the table for my family.

0 Reply

JD MartinBusiness Member

Moderator

Rock Star Extraordinaire · Northeast, TN · Member since 2015 · 10k+ posts · 16k+ votes

8y

Originally posted by @Linda Weygant:

Hah! Yes! Like the few days when one of my tenants came here on BP and started posting comments on many of my postings. She stayed up all night with various people here on BP, arguing that I was possibly the world's crappiest person. When she couldn't get any takers, her postings and messages just got more and more weird as the night went on.

Admins finally blocked her and removed her posts, but I got to see them later when she tried to admit them as evidence in the Discrimination case she later filed against me.

I remember that! Last year, right?

Podcast Guest on Show #243

Skyline Properties

View Page

0 Reply

Ryan Dossey

Real Estate Broker · Indianapolis, IN · Member since 2014 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes

8y

First off James. I'm super sorry that they said those things as well as some of the others that I've seen about you guys.

I do think it's a little bit like the pot calling the Kettle black when you run #tenantsfromhell, talk about garnishing their food stamps, and call them (wordbpwouldn'tapproveof) savages.

Don't get me wrong I get the venting. We just had a $57,000 flood by a resident we had to evict. I just don't think you can be super surprised when they vent back.

2 Reply

Linda WeygantPro Member

Investor and CPA · Arvada, CO · Member since 2015 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes

8y

Originally posted by @JD Martin:

Originally posted by @Linda Weygant:

Hah! Yes! Like the few days when one of my tenants came here on BP and started posting comments on many of my postings. She stayed up all night with various people here on BP, arguing that I was possibly the world's crappiest person. When she couldn't get any takers, her postings and messages just got more and more weird as the night went on.

Admins finally blocked her and removed her posts, but I got to see them later when she tried to admit them as evidence in the Discrimination case she later filed against me.

I remember that! Last year, right?

yes - May 2017 (although that is not when my issues with them started). Finally closed everything out with the courts and the Colorado Civil Rights Division in April 2018.

Podcast Guest on Show #244

2 Reply

James Wise

OP

Real Estate Broker · Cleveland Dayton Cincinnati Toledo Columbus & Akron, OH · Member since 2013 · 30k+ posts · 20k+ votes

8y

Originally posted by @Ryan Dossey:

First off James. I'm super sorry that they said those things as well as some of the others that I've seen about you guys.

I do think it's a little bit like the pot calling the Kettle black when you run #tenantsfromhell, talk about garnishing their food stamps, and call them (wordbpwouldn'tapproveof) savages.

Don't get me wrong I get the venting. We just had a $57,000 flood by a resident we had to evict. I just don't think you can be super surprised when they vent back.

Ahahha cool post. Glad you follow me. Thing is you may have missed the point of this thread. I never said I was surprised by the comments nor did I say they upset me. Quite the opposite actually. I get a kick out of most of it and let's be real some of this stuff is too funny not to share. What I am looking for here though are your experiences. Three questions from the original post are as follows.

Have you considered this as you begin or continue to grow your investment portfolio?
What are your thoughts on how society views landlords or real estate investors?
Have you experienced any hate like this because you choose to invest or manage real estate?

2 Reply

New Landlords - Are you prepared for the hate?

New Landlords - Are you prepared for the hate?

Most Popular Reply

77 Replies