Traits of a Mortal Kombat Tenant?

Question

First off I call units where doors & walls destroyed mortal combat units.

We purchased a property where the tenant in one of the units shot the whole place up with a bb gun. Walls, ceilings, doors (you could hear the bbs rolling around in doors), windows, fridge, etc. I had looked at this same place in '04 but it was way too much but did look perfect. Well the previous owners bought it and now it was destroyed and wanted out for 30 cents on the dollar.

I have had kombat tenants in other units (punch
ing things, slamming cupboard doors so hard they snap in half, slamming doors so hard it slides the casing, slamming fridge doors so all the door holder tabs snap, etc.)

I try to avoid them but sometimes something causes them to go off and turn the place into a war house.

Other peoples experiences? Advice to avoid?

Joe Bertolino · Answer

I only have 12 units and they are in desirable areas... but I do background checks, call references and I visit their current home before I rent to them. If their current place is not kept up to my standards they don't get to rent from me.  There are a lot of people that can appear good on paper and seem normal but being in their homes gives you a glimpse into what you are really dealing with.  If they won't agree to meet me at their home (usually to get the deposit) then the deal is off.

Ibrahim Hughes · Answer

7 VOTES JOE!!! This is a VERY powerful tenant screening tool. I did this with one of my current and best tenants to date (12 years in the biz).  Seeing how a person lives tells you everything you need to know about them and how they will treat your unit. EVERYTHING.

Dave M. · Answer

Ryan M. where is the link for that story?  Look forward to reading...

Ryan M. · Answer

Steve - the shot up unit was vacant when we bought, not sure.

For mine: one was a older person with 2 kids going to school to be a attorney (which is a whole other topic) that person came off good and I knew the person's family distantly. Anger/hoarder was the problem, that was the worst unit yet. I remember it clearly because I was coming off 4 other vacant moderate rehabs. This was #5 within a two month period and it just about made me reconsider. This was 4 years ago.

Steve Babiak · Answer

Joe got my vote - see what their place looks like before renting to them (if at all possible - hard to do if they are moving from out of state).

I agree with Ryan that the present landlord can lie for either good or bad, so the one prior is the most important; with that, you can better tell if the present landlord is being truthful.

Ryan M. - are the tenants that cause the mortal kombat type damage single? college students? gainfully employed? own a car?  I can't say that I've had any as extreme as you described (I've had holes punched in doors and walls, doors kicked in, graffiti on interior walls, deliberately broken fixtures - but not all of those all in one place from one tenant).

That damage is sort of like the "going postal" stuff in the workplace.

Ryan M. · Answer

Joe - 12 units is nothing to sneeze at. Agreed, checking up on their current place is a good way to see how things are going to go. I try to but sometimes it doesn't happen (I would say to busy but that should be no excuse).

I watch calling current ll as they can either say there great (want them out) or bad (want them stay). I will offer good residents cash to stay if I get a call. The ll 2 back is a great person to talk to if you can get a hold of them.

Ryan M. · Answer

Its part of the game, we buy mortal kombat multi families. With enough units and enough time it will happen. I've only had a couple but by far have some great residents.

I've been in some that were bad enough not even to throw a number at it.

Nathan Emmert · Answer

What sort of background checks are you doing?

Anger (rage really) like that wouldn't seem to be a 1 time thing.  You'd expect to find something on their criminal background check.  Did you speak to the former two landlords?  How often do you do inspections (can't stop damage altogether but could catch and remedy sooner potentially)?

I haven't had that issue to date.  You may want to read the thread from a few weeks back about damage becoming a criminal act (versus civil).  Though if they have rage problems, that may not be the best idea!!

Traits of a Mortal Kombat Tenant?

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