Baltimore, MD · Member since 2018 · 432 posts · 281 votes
Really. Can't make this up. I had to coach him through changing it over the phone because the closets have linear fluorescents, and he didn't know what to do.
I'm focusing on the day job now, but I had to share. (Keep in mind that I rent to college students. They're babies, even though they're all in STEM....)
Yes, my lease agreement specifically states they are responsible for certain "maintenance" tasks like changing light bulbs, batteries in remotes, etc. I once had a guy call because his garbage disposal stopped working. I told him to try pushing the reset button on the bottom of the disposal and he said, "Are you kidding me? I pay rent so I don't have to do stuff like that!" We've gotten to the point where pushing a button is too much work for some people.
There's a youtube page "Dad Advice" or something similar where you can watch videos on these things. I laugh because i grew up doing everything, but if no one taught them its the last generations fault, not theirs.
I've seen the amount for repairs that the tenant is responsible for handling increase over the years I'm sure for just this reason. I remember $50...then $100 and now I see many property owners have increased that to $200 to help reduce the number of calls from tenants who can't change a lightbulb, replace the flapper on the toilet etc.
I got tenants from two ends of the competence spectrum.
One tenant, a young fella move just moved out of his mom's place. Called to complain his bedroom doorknob is loose, about to fall off. I said, "no big problem, there's two screws you have to tighten". Some hesitation, he said "I don't own any screwdrivers, is there a certain kind I have to get?". I said, "doesn't sound like an emergency, I'll get you guys a screwdriver set, but there's different screw heads that I'll have to show you if you never done it before".
On the other extreme, I got a middle age tenant who used to be a home improvement contractor, belonged to the sheet metal workers union working for a municipality, was furloughed at one point. I had the SFH rental for a few years, and noticed the gutters were starting to look crooked, which my tenant pointed out to me. I was going to obtain estimates to get it fixed, but before I got to it, passed by the property and noticed the gutters are all straightened out. They were home, went in and asked if he fixed it. He said "yes, the gutters got loose, so I took them off and nailed them back with longer nails, and it took him two days work". He re-nailed all the gutters with longer nails, and showed me the nails he bought. Before I asked why he did it, his wife spoke up "I got tired of him sitting on the sofa complaining about being bored, so I told him instead of complaining about the gutters, get off your butt and straighten it out". I offered to at least pay for the nails, but he waved me off saying, "it's OK, no big deal". So I told his wife, I'll make a list for you guys to work on in case he gets bored again.
Since then, I give preference to older blue collar guys, with families, rather than young MBA types, just finished collage, has impressive job titles in investment banking, but can't figure out how to tighten door knobs, or know shower curtain go inside the tub, not outside, so water won't leak downstairs.
Pat Hancock at Thomas Lynne 527 Reviews