Property Manager · West Palm Beach, FL · Member since 2025 · 18 posts · 13 votes
Recently took on a home that was raided by the police in a sting to clean up the area. I think there was over 140 people and counting arrested. Doors were knocked down, Windows were broken. We took them on with the expectation that it would not be an easy turn... Has anyone dealt with a situation like this and what are key things to have owners understand?
First Priority for us is getting the property secure. We do not want to deal with Squatters. That creates a whole different level of issues.
I bought a crack shack in Fort Worth that had the police surveilling it for 9 months before they busted in with the SWAT team. Apparently I had the most deadly gang in America living in my rental according to the police. My windows and front door were broken and lit up from multiple drive bys shootings. I had to evict them and the sheriff helped me get 14 people and a pit bull living in my little 3 bedroom 1,000 sq ft house I spent 50k on a nice rehab less than a year prior. lol. The next family has been great. They moved in after I repaired it and have been with me for almost 6 years with no issues!
The key thing to understand is to not buy a property in a terrible area with no appreciation, a terrible tenant pool and high maintenance, vacancy and evictions.
The key thing to understand is to not buy a property in a terrible area with no appreciation, a terrible tenant pool and high maintenance, vacancy and evictions.
Eric, I should clarify, I am with a management company. I did not purchase the home. Might be one that turns out to be not a good fit for our company before we even get things fixed. The owner is a first time landlord and took someone on a month to month lease. The area, although not the best right now, is getting flooded with new apartment buildings in the attempt to clean the area up.
I bought a crack shack in Fort Worth that had the police surveilling it for 9 months before they busted in with the SWAT team. Apparently I had the most deadly gang in America living in my rental according to the police. My windows and front door were broken and lit up from multiple drive bys shootings. I had to evict them and the sheriff helped me get 14 people and a pit bull living in my little 3 bedroom 1,000 sq ft house I spent 50k on a nice rehab less than a year prior. lol. The next family has been great. They moved in after I repaired it and have been with me for almost 6 years with no issues!
I bought a crack shack in Fort Worth that had the police surveilling it for 9 months before they busted in with the SWAT team. Apparently I had the most deadly gang in America living in my rental according to the police. My windows and front door were broken and lit up from multiple drive bys shootings. I had to evict them and the sheriff helped me get 14 people and a pit bull living in my little 3 bedroom 1,000 sq ft house I spent 50k on a nice rehab less than a year prior. lol. The next family has been great. They moved in after I repaired it and have been with me for almost 6 years with no issues!
Wow! That is a wild situation John. Did that change how you screened tenants or were they living in the house when you bought it? For your sake, I am glad the next family was a good one!
I bought a crack shack in Fort Worth that had the police surveilling it for 9 months before they busted in with the SWAT team. Apparently I had the most deadly gang in America living in my rental according to the police. My windows and front door were broken and lit up from multiple drive bys shootings. I had to evict them and the sheriff helped me get 14 people and a pit bull living in my little 3 bedroom 1,000 sq ft house I spent 50k on a nice rehab less than a year prior. lol. The next family has been great. They moved in after I repaired it and have been with me for almost 6 years with no issues!
Wow! That is a wild situation John. Did that change how you screened tenants or were they living in the house when you bought it? For your sake, I am glad the next family was a good one!
I always screen my tenants except for this family. I had great family I screened before these people ready to move in. The night before they were to move in, someone kicked in a door and stole all the copper in the attic. The family bailed thinking it was a dangerous area after that, so I took another family right away that wanted to move in that day. I just wanted someone in there so it wouldn’t get broken into again. Lesson learned. lol
All you can do is get the unit/building vacant and well secured, then work your rent prep as usual based on what is needed after clearing out all the rubbish and damaged elements. It sounds like you probably need some security lighting around the property, possibly cameras if the neighborhood is that bad. Just be sure every camera is "watched" by another camera, or they will steal those next time too!
In the meantime, seriously re-work and improve your screening process, which should include every adult that will be staying in the unit. Don't give in to the almighty dollar or the first person with a pulse that waves a stack of Benjamin's. Determine your criteria, and stick to it.
Collect all funds due prior to turning over keys or granting any type of possession.
Review the terms and conditions of your Rental Agreement and any "house rules" to make sure you have your bases covered. Then sit down with all of the adults you approve and review those terms and conditions to ensure they are aware, and have all of them sign it. Finally, take copious photos of every room, every fixture, every appliance that you are providing, every door/door jamb and any special or unusual features to document the move in condition. Also complete a checklist with written documentation of those conditions, and have all of the Tenants review and sign that as well. Provide them copies of the condition form and Rental Agreement, along with any supplementary documents you provide such as Lead Based Paint, Mold Facts, Move out Cleaning Guidelines, House Rules, etc.