All Forum Posts by: Dawn P.

Rents are up in my area in South Carolina, too. And any decent rental is snapped up shortly after listing, they're not staying on the market long.

I actually prefer my own kitchen to feel like a room and not be open to other living spaces (open to dining room is fine), but I know that's not what's popular right now. 

I have had tenants comment on my 1970 rental that they liked the fact that the kitchen wasn't open concept. I guess it depends on the house's overall layout and personal preference. 

I was finishing this house up, cleaning out the ducts on the floor before putting new vent covers on. I pulled out several little Hot Wheels (cool!), about $2.50 in change (yay), a bottle of nail polish (okay, color's not bad), a spoon (what the...), then the syringe (aw, hell no!) from one duct.

I also got about five pounds of fossilized dog turds from the vents in the kitchen and dining room. I don't even want to know what was going on in that house...

You could ask if he wants to split the cost with you - I did this on one rental that was partially fenced with a tenant that had a dog. He gladly paid half and now I have a fully fenced yard.

I've had cats my whole life and none of them have ever peed anywhere but their litter box. I've got tenants with cats and some with dogs - the dogs have caused more damage than anything. Digging holes in the yard, peeing, chewing...when I go into the rentals with cats, I can't even tell they're there unless they walk by. Good tenants usually take care of their animals.

I gladly accept cats with my usual fee (or pet rent, whatever's the norm in your area). 

I didn't know about the forced screening for every applicant - I don't like that at all. Cozy's set up has worked really well for me the past few years, if apartments.com is going to change it that drastically I'll have to find another service. 

I'd go ahead and connect to the city sewer line. I did it last year with one rental, the septic was over 50 yrs. old and finally failed on me. $600 permit and $1600 to the plumbers to connect was cheaper than $4,000 for a new septic tank and lines, plus no more maintenance/pump outs.

There was no change on my property taxes, either.

Five unrelated adults, none of whom meet the income qualifications? No way. I'd keep looking, there's someone else out there that's a better fit.

All insurance feels like a waste of money...until you really need it. Get insurance for all your rentals, too many things could go sideways and you don't want to be without it.

Get the 30 year and you can always pay it off early if you choose to go that route.