All Forum Posts by: Nancy Curran

I always raise the rent every year. Even by a little but always raise unless something crazy happens either in the market or the apartment. Even $10 is nothing to most tenants but $120 pays someone to shovel the snow all winter.

I would tell her you were thinking about raising the rent but you will keep it the same if she keeps a two year lease. Or, I like the idea of having her do something for the money...she sweeps or does your laundry or feeds your cat, whatever....but I don't give things for free. Good tenants aren't THAT hard to find.

Often, there is a maximum in late fees you can charge legally. A friend of mine lost a daily late fee in court--the judge said it was too extreme. But whatever you are legally entitled to do, and is what you stated on the lease, is what you should continue doing. If you stop late fees, you could set a precedent. But truly check into your late fee status with a lawyer.

I would send a text..."no rent in account? Due on the first, late after the 4rth. Pls respond". I also give people a chance to pay their rent and don't impose late fees until after the fifth.

very cool Brie. Wondering how often you go back and forth between Milwaukee and Chicago?

Are you taking an application fee? That will weed out people right there. You'll get less applications if you charge $35 or $50 but more quality.

I wouldn't say better things = better renters.  I would never put something in now for you to use later. By the time later comes around, your tastes could change. However, if you can get more rent for upgrading your unit, why not? Some renters are terrible and leave the place a mess but I would rather have more rent coming in then less, all things being equal.

This is my first short sale. I put in my offer and it was accepted by the seller. Now, I have to wait until the bank approves the offer. So, here I thought my all cash offer with a 30 day close would be a quick turnaround but now it appears we are just getting started. I'm wondering why the seller and their realtor don't get bank approval first. And further, I'm told that the bank can reject my offer, although the seller accepted it. I put a 60 day answer on the contract as I'm not going to deal with this forever but I still don't know why the seller and bank don't get it together first before putting it on the market. Any insight would be appreciated.

If he is spending the night, why does he need the keys? All in all though, I would be most concerned about liability. If he leaves and gets some liquor, and falls down the stairs, that is on you.  Maybe if you knew him better but not if you don't know him.

Oh sure she can definitely blow you off. But you can blow her off too...nothing is set until a lease is signed. Section 8 is no picnic though. They have to come inspect your apartment and the inspectors call you out on EVERYTHING. Once, I had an inspector pull out the fridge, and saw the outlet had a little crack in the outlet over and wrote me up. And every single outlet has to work. Nothing they do is illegal but it's just a pain in the dupa. I don't mind fixing things, but they won't approve your apartment until everything is perfect. So while you are fixing things you didn't even know were wrong, your apartment sits empty. I'd rather just go to the market and let people move in and if they see something wrong, I fix it without having to go through this extreme inspection period. Oh and the inspectors think they are the cable company and come between 10-2 or 2-5. So you are sitting in an empty apartment waiting. No, thank you. Buh Bye Section 8.