All Forum Posts by: John A.

I don't trust the tenants to change the filter.  I change them myself.  As others have stated, it also gives me a chance to see the condition of the property.  I also ask the tenants if there are any maintenance issues while I'm there.

I also renew by drawing up a new lease.  There's always something in the lease that is changed or updated from year to year as I become more experienced as a landlord.

@Art Scott is right on the money. Arizona allows municipalities/cities to impose a rent tax (sales tax?) on rental units. Only a few cities in AZ actually collect a rent tax. Each city sets their own tax rate. In my city (Sierra Vista), the tax rate is 1%. My city only collects it from landlords who have 3 or more SFR rentals in the state or 1 or more multi-family rentals. Sierra Vista also requires the landlord to obtain a business license and a permit to operate a business from home. (I don't think the landlord requires either of these if using a Property Management company.)

The AZ state legislature is attempting to pass a bill to do away with the rent tax state wide.  But many cities are fighting this because they don't want to admit the cost gets passed on to the tenants.

@Eric Black, Thanks for the reply.  You're right, digital copies will save file space.  I guess my concern is storing their PII (personally identifiable information) like SSN and DoB for long periods of time after they've moved.  In my day job, working for Uncle Sam, we are very careful about handling PII and very leery of storing it longer than needed. 

But, I think I'm of the same mindset as you - better to keep it.

I think I'll scan them in and then encrypt the files.

Thanks,

John

Once a tenant moves out and you rent the property to a new tenant, how long do you keep your file on the former tenant?  By file, I mean the former tenant's application, correspondence, payment history, and disposition of deposit.  Is one year long enough?

I'm in AZ if the state matters.

Thanks,

John

I have a Toyota Tacoma.  What helped me to choose a Tacoma is the 6 foot, "plastic" bed that won't rust or dent.  It's got plenty of power out of a V6 and the dependability of a Toyota.  Prior to the Toyota, I owned a Dodge.  I'll never go back to a Dodge.  It had too many defects the dealer said was "normal,"  like the window regulators breaking every 6 months.

@Ryan Harthan , thanks.  That'll give me something to start with.

@Ryan Harthan, I like your idea of using a spreadsheet to track listings.  Do you have an example of one you'd share?

Thanks,

John

@Bryan Rodriguez,  I'm in Sierra Vista and do my own management for my properties.  Is this Soldier looking for someone to manage his/her property or are they looking to rent?  

John

@Bryan N., @Beth L. and @Lee L. ,

If these things really are no more harmful than a humidifier, I'd probably take a chance and let a tenant use.  But I would make sure to add extra wording about smoke residue (tobacco or otherwise) and clean up fees.

I guess our culture hasn't really figured out how to deal with vaping.  A lot of businesses treat vapers as smokers.  But if it's only water vapor, it seems to be the perception that is disliked more than the actual effect.  So, is vaping just too politically incorrect for most people?  It'll be interesting to see where vaping goes in the next year or two.