All Forum Posts by: Cory Lucas

Finally got my problem tenant out, learned a ton in the process, he drug it out a couple extra days until I got firm again and threatened to double rent and file for eviction. Thought I'd update on that and say thank you to everyone that offered up advice

Curious everyone's thoughts on trying to recover costs for damages? He kindly put 2 holes in a couple walls before exiting, which wasn't that big of a deal, however my lawyer has suggested I go after him to recover that cost and I could potentially recover costs for the trash he left as well, in all toll I'm thinking I'll be around $2,000 once it's all said and done. Should I forget it and chalk it up to lessons learned or continue to learn and seek recovery?

All of that said, if suggest recovery, anyone have good tips on tracking down an address as of course he didn't leave one. I can get an invoice to them via text and email, but when it would come time to serve them if I have to go to small claims would I just need to hire someone to serve them at that point? Thanks in advance for any and all help

Have you tried to call them versus email or text? Definitely a tight spot to be in given your other situation, but if they're doing a good job on the other 48 units hopefully it's just a communication issue as it sounds like they're capable of doing a good job

The LLC provides you an extra layer of protection, my personal choice is to have things in an LLC for that reason. No tax benefits one way or the other, plenty will probably say in your personal name is fine too and it may be, but for myself I prefer the LLC

@Colleen F. Great points, definitely not appetizing the way you put that to give him the option of higher rent, I'm well past done dealing with him

@Matt Devincenzo good points, much appreciated. Thanks for the feedback, this is the route I'm leaning toward, off work tomorrow and plan to deliver notice then

@Drew Sygit yeah good points, I’m not opposed to getting him out, it’s the tactful way of doing so to where I don’t have a situation like you described that I’m having a hard time coming up with

@Scott Johnson careful what ya wish for ;) might take ya up on that

@Scott Johnson I’m certainly not in disagreement, just that fear of the unknown I guess. First time around for me, so unsure of the best way to handle it and trying to figure out “a best way”

Thanks for the feedback

@Nathan Gesner I just use them to help place tenants as I don't have the time to do that and they charge 80% of the first months rent for tenant placement and then I take over after that. So they handle applications, showings, lease signing, deposit and first months rent, etc then I take over 

@Nathan Gesner I always appreciate you chiming in and certainly respect your expertise. I'd say for me in respect to not understanding the why on landlords being worried about a lawsuit and/or having a tenant trash a property at least for my perspective it may help to know where I'm coming from at least. I tried to flip properties back in '08/'09 and it ended in bankruptcy for me and I never want to have to go through that again. So, while a trashed unit wouldn't bankrupt me it would definitely put a hurt on my small real estate business I've built up to this point and I have had to work my *** off to get back to where I am. I have a family to support and I'm the bread winner there, so to take the risk of putting them through financial ruin again is not something that's very appetizing to me as well. So, I'm purely trying to mitigate my risks and damages by trying to come up with the best solution to provide the best outcome. 

When you say just provide the 30 day and if he doesn't move out then hire an attorney and that cash for keys is a last resort, I understand that as well, but if I could avoid the pitfall of a however many thousand of dollar cost (from what I've heard it could reach $5,000 pretty easy) that an eviction would be versus giving him a few hundred dollars to move out wouldn't that be the better scenario? Because going after him for monetary damages seems futile to me given what his financial situation looks like, which is consistently job hopping and not having any money to pay rent, so essentially I'd be trying to get blood from a turnip or however that saying goes. Just seems like a possible quicker, more inexpensive fix to a potentially complicated situation. Not to mention my inexperience versus your experience, to know that damage to a property is pretty rare would be helpful, so if I had the experience in knowing that I may feel more comfortable presenting your solution versus thinking out the ones I have. Look forward to hearing back from you