All Forum Posts by: James DeRoest

Many plumbers are master plumbers, not just some guy with a wrench, and to keep on top of most state certifications requires continuous education and testing. The GC certification in FL is so bad, a lot of people stopped being certified and just became jobbers or handymen. 

But here's the thing, it's the wrong person for the wrong job. What you need to find is a local handyman, and in this economy - there are plenty of them.

The other problem with making the tenant liable next time - they won't call next time if they know or think they'll get smacked with a bill. They'll push the toilet back over the hole, but a towel round the bottom, and in 2-3 years you're replacing a floor. If you push stuff like this onto a tenant, you are causing yourself far more aggravation and cost in the long run, than just sucking up $200 occasionally.

We're going the other way. The last house with window units goes central this year hopefully.

The tenant spends less money, central air is cheaper to run, and a lot less in maintenance and far more effective. No good saying that tenants abuse central air systems by not changing filters - because they don't change the filters on window units either.

When the tenant spends less money on electric, they have more money to afford their rent. Less headache for me.

As for making a closet by removing the ac unit - you are seriously starting to kill the value of your investment in the future. We buy ex landlord houses, and no central air is a major mark down on price. Not only does it affect value, it instantly shows the landlord has penny pinched on that property for his entire ownership.

Here's the problem.

In 99% of these cases it's because the tenant is trying to be a bar steward. Vast majority of our problems as a landlord isn't the house, it's the tenant. The house is easy, we send someone to fix it, they fix it. When the tenant starts estimating the bill and telling the landlord about the law - this is what we call a Red Flag.

When we get a Red Flag, we don't think nice thoughts at that moment. You see, we're a suspicious bunch, because usually this stuff starts costing us money. And when the state gets involved for no reason, it's gonna cost time and money. So when someone says "are you in compliance with the law?" we don't suddenly think they are an interested party, any more than we think a shark is about to give lessons on swimming.

My personal feeling is that if a tenant can move a toilet, the it wasn't screwed down properly. The only time I've seen movement in a toilet is when it's coming loose.

As for why you're all paying $200 for a plumber - don't any of you have a handyman on speed dial? 20-30 minute job max and a $3 wax ring.

Move. If you've deemed it a fire hazard, then your only course of action is to move. Follow whatever procedure is laid out in your state law to break a lease. 

You really can't use something that is a hazard as a reason to leverage, "I'll pay less rent because the electric is unsafe and may burn down the house with me in it".

What does it matter? Why would you want to cause trouble for the landlord? Are you that evil and have nothing better to do?

As a landlord, if someone pulled that stunt, I'd have you out. California may have a 6 month rule to stop retaliatory action from a landlord, and I would wait 6 months and 1 day. You can be sure it'll be in my diary.

If you pull that stunt, what else are you going to do to me?

The wife was showing a property on Friday, the house needs to be pressure washed, but you have the problem of getting the water turned on etc, and in these circumstances we are upfront with the tenant, if you take the house, get the water turned on before you move in and then we'll jet wash it, no problem and give you $5 for the water we use.

It's just easier to do that. And it's also a good test of how the tenant responds. If they work with you, great, if they have any delay in replying, it ain't happening.

So a woman starts looking at the house, and instantly comments "well the house will be jet washed, won't it?" There is that tone of voice, and the application is slowly put back in my wife's bag. NEXT!

 I hate email. Tenants can use text. I like the fact it's fast and comes straight to me. If they are annoying me I'll ignore them for a bit,

And for the record, I've never had a tenant use text speak at me. If they did, they'd get a stern warning as I don't have the patience for txt spk. (And yes, friends who try it have got a dressing down from me about it).

I'm not entirely sure what the problem is.

You brought her into compliance with the request for pets forms which is great. The whole "vicious to humans", well, it's a dog in it's home - it ain't ever gonna be pleased to see a stranger in the house. Let yourself in my house - see how pleased my bulldog will be to see you. (Hint, he won't be).

And the one problem is the fridge, which as Sue says, put one in that doesn't have an ice maker. Problem solved. (I think you can remove the ice maker in some fridges).

If a tenant refuses to allow you to make a repair, eg they want to be there, then book a time. I'm really not seeing what the fuss is about. There isn't much more you can do.

Once fridge is fixed, see how you feel.

Everyone on BP gets so evicty evicty at the slightest problem.

Wow, that is staggeringly awful. Are you color blind?