All Forum Posts by: Jane S.

I love to watch stand up comedy but so far no one has done a routine about "games tenants play" and what happens when landlords uphold their rules. I also love it when they tell me the price of the rental doesn't matter "we have plenty money". Then when its time to pay cash for the background report, boy do they run! The most recent joker wants to move in with her dad, daughter, autistic grandson (i have no problem with him, just pity), granddaughter, son in law, & 2 chiwawas, and the son in law is the ONLY one with a job. How about a reality series on Netflix, contestants have 3 days to get a lease signed by tenants that conform to a list of requirements? Any "angels" out there?

Today was a Hispanic rush. They persist even when I explain that if they can't speak English they can't sign the lease. Michael King you are spot on. 

OK please from now on don't teach me the basics of tenant due diligence, I've got that.

It has 5 beds so occupancy 10. However, there may be a limit in my town no matter the count of bedrms.=

Smoking on the porch will still stink up the house due to air movement & frequency. Hope you can raise the rent to cover costly de-stinking. He's obviously smoking inside.

THANKS everyone for your helpful posts. Proving I am on the right track with my policies and not wasting time any more. I am on my way to get carpal tunnel surgery. Rather do that than listen to some of these freaks' lies.

Of course i have policies AND of course they are in the ads, BUT prequal is a requirement and if they cant answer truthfully and I find out they lied, its automatic NO. Their phone behavior is a clue as well. Many calls are in the midst of a lot of noise. So if they cant find a quiet spot i tell them to call back when its quiet on their end. Theresa, my first Q is "do you have a pet". My next one is "do you smoke". My policy is no smoking anywhere on premises. It's in the ads but you're right they don't read. Just expect me to jump to their schedule. #5--Spaying prevents male dogs from hanging around (possible aggression), and puppies are destructive as h-ll! If they are too lazy to spay or neuter, they won't properly care for the pet. Dogs NEED to be walked, its a health concern. I'm not seeing that happening with my tenants because they are too busy/lazy so are their kids.

Sue K, i like your answer the best. I am asking about a dollar per sq ft which is average for the location but I am playing around with $50/month here & there. #5--They signed a contract agreeing to forfeit the deposit which was NOT a security deposit, it was to hold the property till they could move in. Their landlord wouldn't refund their rent for Jan.

Very few landlords tell the whole story when I call them. We should visit their apt to see how they live. But I dont think I could stand that. Some owners clean rugs after every move out anyway, so the dog damage is moot.

Would you rent to ...

#1 asked her if she has a pet. She said yes, I asked what is the gender, she said it's a puppy! She also smokes.

#2 He asked if there is a bathroom on both floors I said yes, why do you ask? He says he takes care of his parents and they can't do stairs. I asked if he smokes, he said his dad smokes, the doctor is ordering him to quit, but he won't. That's all I need, a death from smoking in my new clean lovely house. Or a fire from smoking in bed.

#3 I asked if they smoke, she says yes and she promises to smoke "outside" (read "garage"). It still stinks up the house. Plus they have 4 kids. AND a "very small dog" (probably a pit bull, they are short).

#4 I told her to call me an hour before we were planning to meet to tour the house but she didn't call. Some people use their foreign language ability to talk fast gibberish when I ask a touchy question.

#5 They were at the lease-signing stage and backed out because they couldn't produce a veterinarian's confirmation that the dog was spayed. Cost them $850 deposit.

#6 Have a dog they (falsely) said is a service dog, also not spayed and has no license or paperwork. Just trying to avoid paying pet fee. I believe spaying/neutering is required to get a dog a service license.

So am I nuts? The lovely house is sitting empty. It's in a very popular neighborhood, all new, but renters need to wise up about how much stress they can cause the landlord.

NEVER try to manage 6 units yourself. the tenants will eat you alive. but be careful who you hire as a PM. also never buy for appreciation, only for cash flow. Congrats on your success so far. what are you doing about legacy tenants, are they paying 3-year-old rents? Don't go meet the tenants in person, put a note under their door about whom to call with problems (NOT YOU!) And about raising the rent. Be careful, if you don't want to continue their lease, yuor state has a rule about how much notice to give them. Don't tell them your address. 

As someone already observed, it may be pointless to help tenants if they cant make their rent payment. The tenant who wanted to fix the tile in the bathrm (SO GLAD I didnt fall for that thanks for the advice) asked me to split his reduced rent (36% discount) for January. He signed that he would pay. I haven't received the 2nd half ($550) or a phone call so I am getting ready to evict. Dont know how that will work, never did it. I posted the ad on CL even tho I agreed not to show it till they moved out, but if he doesn't pay all bets are off..! I'm wondering how all this will end, the property is easy to rent but also easy to destroy. I have an experienced attorney but I have a sinking feeling I will never get the tenant to pay legal costs or for any damage. Wish me luck! Now at least I know how much they hate me. I will proceed as if all tenants hate me so I wont be surprised by their lack of ethics.

As someone already observed, it may be pointless to help tenants if they cant make their rent payment. The tenant who wanted to fix the tile in the bathrm (SO GLAD I didnt fall for that thanks for the advice) asked me to split his reduced rent (36% discount) for January. He signed that he would pay. I haven't received the 2nd half ($550) or a phone call so I am getting ready to evict. Dont know how that will work, never did it. I posted the ad on CL even tho I agreed not to show it till they moved out, but if he doesn't pay all bets are off..! I'm wondering how all this will end, the property is easy to rent but also easy to destroy. I have an experienced attorney but I have a sinking feeling I will never get the tenant to pay legal costs or for any damage. Wish me luck! Now at least I know how much they hate me. I will proceed as if all tenants hate me so I wont be surprised by their lack of ethics.

local housing office gave me the rent rates determined by number of bedrms. they dont count bedrms with no legal egress.

zelle sucks