All Forum Posts by: Andrew Miller

Hello all,

I just purchased and renting out my first single family home at the beginning of the month. The new tenants are a family and I've gotten several texts about different items in the unit within the first two days. I'm looking for advice on how to manage these requests and keep a tenant happy but also avoid a "give a mouse a cookie" scenario. It's in a relatively low cost of living area, I purchased the home for just under $100k in the Midwest. 

Requests:
Bottom have of gutter  downspouts are missing and they would like them replaced
Black substance in the fridge that does not come off with their scrubbing
broken shelf in the fridge
outlet missing a faceplate - already replaced.

I don't mind making the gutter repairs but I'm not sure how to handle the fridge issues. 

Thank you for the advice!

I have a question from the perspective of a tenant and want the opinion of landlords out there and their advise. I was renting a single family home and had a 12 month lease. I was 8 months into the lease and a better job opportunity came up in my home town a few states over. I informed the landlord as soon as the process began moving forward so he could list the property and get a tenant in there with the least amount of vacancy as possible. I paid month 9 in full and told the landlord I was forfeiting my security deposit (a full months rent) as payment for month 10. He stated that I am liable for the lease until a new tenant is placed and that rent is to be due as before. Is this standard? Am I legally bond by the lease for the full 12 months or by breaking the lease do I simply forfeit the security deposit? In addition, after leaving, the property manager contacted him saying I did not leave it rent ready and the landlord asked if I had planned on having professional cleaning services come to clean the house. Some "issues" stated where the oven, fridge, and counters were not wiped down and the floors were not moped. Am I truly responsible for this or is this part of the turnover process? Thank you for the advice in advance.