All Forum Posts by: Justin Case

I had two people who wanted to hand in an app until they found out there was a $35 app fee for the checks. I told them if they cant pay this I worry about them paying rent.

All the tenants who have rented from me fill out and pay when they first see the unit.

Everyone has been asking to take an application. I am going to start to say no since 100% of the time they have not gotten back.

Thanks for the responses and support. It is just getting old with all the flakes and time spent driving back and forth. I never experienced this before I believe it is this economy.
Even if I was a renter I have better things to do than spend ALL that time looking at places.

I have a real estate agent calling me interested in the place for her relative moving from out of state and I am showing it to her tomorrow or the weekend. Only thing is the place has carpet and he has 2 older labs.

Since posted about 30% of the responses are people looking for August & September. They don't get it. Surprising they are well educated people. People are so ignorant.

I have it posted on 5 different free websites and a weekly newspaper.
All the responses come from CraigsL

I don't want to pay $60 for a day in the main Seattle paper.

My best unit is up for rent. And it usually has low vacancy.
It has been empty the past 1.5 months.

It has just been redone and when I first listed it I dropped the rent $300/month. If I lowered the rent $800 less I do not think it matters because people out there just want to see ALL the props available in this market.

Inside is new and way cleaner, nicer, better location and $300+w/s/g less than the competition.

I have spent tons of time showing it with only three interested parties. When it comes time to hand over deposit money they always flake. Some landlords in the area are asking for deposit at the same time the application is turned in.

The area is the most high demand area in the city.

I do not think many people are moving and they are looking just to look. I ask everyone who comes by if they been looking much and they ALL say they have looked at 30-40 props and that is all they been doing. I ask what they are looking for and they do not know..

I have reached out to property managers and other landlords in the area and they are experiencing the same things and say mine is a great deal.

What do I do? Lower my price even more?

I see it that the price is very low now compared to the competition.

I am getting frustrated.. any suggestions?

With my Sec 8 office the landlord can add additional (monthly) extras on top of the rent. Like Storage, Parking, Washer/dryer charge, those type of things.

So I add those on and the tenant agrees to have the "extra" amenities and pays them on top of the rent.

Section 8 will try to negotiate you down from the rent price no matter what it is set at.

I just found out there is another section 8 program in my area. I have been working with the City Section 8 but I learned there is a whole other Country Section 8 also. Wish I knew this sooner!

Paint Tip:

I go to the best paint store and ask for mistints. They will take you to the back room where they have cans and cans of paint that is toxic waste and will usually be happy to give it to you for free.

You can mix different colors for a color you want.

I have painted 3 units with mistint top of the line paint for free.

Awesome Tim!

Thanks for the pictures.

You should start an importing supply chain from Europe for that flooring!

Haha Awesome!

Do you mind posting a picture of the finished "European Style Wood Floors"?

Not the tenant or property I started the thread on but a different one just moved out. I charged them only for a cleaning.
It was not move in ready clean. There was dust everywhere along with cobwebs. I told them this but they are demanding the $120 back.

They called demanding the cleaning crews name and phone number so they can call and know exactly what was cleaned. I gave them the receipt but it does not have a phone # and I cant find one for them.

I do not have the # since I found them on Craigslist and their company name on the receipt is not coming up in an internet search.

Do I have to give them this information?
I provided them a receipt.

The only reason I am concerned is because they became friends with my best tenants in the back unit and they will probably make this sob story how I ripped them off for cleaning..

I have a section 8 applicant and section 8 pays the full rent.

They are in a witness protection program. Should I be concerned with this?

Should I still do a full background check for my documentation even though Section 8 does this to approve them?

WOW This tenant just left a 3min voice mail yelling at me why I am by their place and I am threating them by being around their home. I am there 2x a week to show the other unit and her unit is on the main street with garbage always scattered everywhere.
I go and sweep and pick up the trash.

I have not mentioned I know other people are living there with her yet.
I recently billed her for the $200 overages and she is complaining why two months later and if I can take it out her deposit. I billed her two months later because that is when I get the bill from the city.
When I delivered the bill i knocked on the door and her 4yr old opened the door. I did not go in. She is saying I barged in.

She said she is reporting me to her case worker and to the section 8 office since I am threating her.

So interesting!

Why does everything happen at once? lol