All Forum Posts by: CJ Ashton

I charge both.  My move-in fee is usually fairly small.  Refundable deposit is at least the amount of one month's rent, if not a couple hundred dollars more.

In my nearly 10 years of landlording, I think I've had a grand total of one tenant that had a credit score above 700.  Consequently, my expectations on the "score" are pretty low.  But it's not necessarily the score that's important, it's the other details on the credit report - what other kind of debt they have, how consistently they pay, etc.

So, my $0.02 is to always run the credit report.

My $0.02:

I keep my current good tenants at slightly below market at renewal so they have incentive to stay.  I give them more warning than is required in the lease if the increase is going to be significant.

I've switch all my doors over to Kwikset's SmartKey system.  It takes me about 5 minutes between the tenants to "rekey" the locks.

https://www.build.com/kwikset-smartkey/c109526?source=msn_!c61103915!a1305565080!kkwikset%20smartkey!me!p%7badposition%7d!dc!no!f&msclkid=b892b680a20b1ba22a4fea1a610f389b&gclid=CIWHy9KHoeECFdLsDQodBpMM5w&gclsrc=ds

Venmo or Zelle.

Interesting dichotomy in some of the responses above:

"To hell with turnover.  Raise the rent immediately to market.  Never negotiate."

vs

"Why lose a tenant over a measly $50 a month.  Turnover is the grim reaper to your profits.  Keep good tenants at all costs."

How much say does the housing authority have on where you set your rent?

Let's say I buy what you're selling above and decide to market and rent to Sec8 tenants.  Market rate for my property is around $1000.  However, I'm concerned about damage to the unit and want to set the rent at $1500.  As long as I set the rent at $1500 for both Sec8 and non-Sec8, will the housing authority kick me out of the program for charging above market rents?

As a most of the time cranky libertarian, I LOATHE rent controls.  It's my property.

If I want to raise the rent to a bazillion dollars and I can find a tenant willing to pay a bazillion dollars, what business is that of the government?

This law also effectively takes away lease terms... If I have to give a 90 day notice on a month-to-month lease, it's NOT a month-to-month lease.  And what is this "qualifying landlor reason" crap?  Every lease is effectively a lease in perpetuity.  If I'm a Ford guy and my tenant bought a Chevy that he parks in the driveway, I should have to freedom not to renew his lease.  Why?  Because it's my property!

Friggin' bureaucrats.