All Forum Posts by: Henry T.

I find it frightening that you're asking such novice questions when you're in what may

be the most anti-landlord area of the country.  I would up that credit score to 750.

If you get a lousy tenant in Tacoma you will really be sorry, because you can't get rid of him.

4x income to rent ratio, each applicant. If it takes you forever to get a tenant so be it.

Join a landlord association and fully educate yourself to the horror of WA state and its cities. Or set up shop in a more friendly state. Idaho, Montana, etc.

You can make it in Tacoma, but beware my friend.

To answer your question, look at Zillow, they are pretty close on sale values,

and their rental values I would up 25% for your area.

Read up what "Fair Housing" has to say about emotional support animals.

https://fairhousinginstitute.c...

Be careful, you can't evict someone just because he USED to be a murderer or drug dealer.

Focus on the lease violations. Or if they lied on their application.

Find one that offers a flat fee, or in stages. File $200, Court $500, Serve papers $200, etc.

Ask the tenants below to send you a written complaint. Document the upstairs behaviour in every way you can. Phone messages. Police reports. Go get 'em! Get moving fast.  Attorneys suck, they're often in a  day dream stupor.. Find an attorney and tell him to serve a vacate notice immediately.  Make sure you know your local laws about evicting. Can you evict just for ONE lease violation? Or does your city require 20 violations within a year? I don't know, but you'd better know.

I love it and enjoyed providing a place for people.

Politicians however, are doing their very best to kill the rental biz. Feel good legislation just to get re-elected, and couldn't care less what that legislation is REALLY doing to tenants.  California has made the risk and costs too high. I quit. 23 houses sold.

Craigslist and Zillow. To this day I don't think I've ever signed anyone from Zillow. My credit requirement is 750.  Probably the smartest is to use every site you can. I don't know why but it seems many craigslist applicants use the email to send an an essay about what they're looking for. I like that when I see it. I'm wary when applicants say nothing. Craigslist can be weird, but I think I'm pretty good at filtering the BS.   I think Craigslist should charge a small fee, it would get rid of the scam listings.

I am not a fan of the Zillow app, nor would I ever let Zelle be attached to any of my accounts. Zelle is a bank robbery waiting to happen. No protection.

I have a list of what I expect to be tended to. If those things are not done, a cleaner will be hired at $50/hr to do it.  Personally, If the tenant made good efforts, and I can finish cleaning to my standard in one day, and damage is minimal, I will give a full refund.  If the person is a slob and made no effort to clean,  I call in a cleaner and tell them to go for it and be ready for a white glove test, I dont care how long it takes. 

Never do a final inspection until YOU have the keys and the tenant is out. You can do a preliminary inspection if the tenant requests one, bring your item sheet with you make suggestions about things you'll be looking for. I bring a white towel and drag it across the floor. There was no dirt when you moved in, there can't be when you move out, etc. But make very clear final inspection is done when the tenant is out and you also verify ALL utilities are paid. You can't allow a disgruntled  tenant to trash the place at the last minute.

  I usually mail them a very detailed check list in the final month and tell them "this is what I'm looking for, this was all done before you moved in."  Otherwise a cleaner will be hired at $50/hr.  I usually take about 400 pictures of everything I can think of.