All Forum Posts by: Jill F.

I view gold more as insurance than as an investment (though I've done okay with a few gold coins that are now collectible) and I like the idea of hiding gold in limited access locations better than using a visible safe.

I did read a memorable comment on gold as insurance once. It said,  "gold is for optimists, I'm investing in canned goods".

Hi @Greg H.,

Notice is not required in Ohio, but I plan to disclose anyway. There are 8 units in the two buildings and the other tenants know what happened-- plus anyone can search the Akron police report database by address. I'd hate to start out with a new tenant feeling like they had been mislead. In any event, if some superstitious people choose to pass on it, I really don't believe I'll have trouble filling the apartment; I have a short waiting list now. I did decide to go with a professional "trauma" cleaner in spite of the expense so I will be able to tell potential tenants (and their parents since these are primarily student apartments) that the apartment has been professionally cleaned and disinfected. I really hope that being honest works out; guess I'll find out soon. -J

@Andrew Hughes Hi Andrew, we are neighbors, I'm from Wadsworth too. Thank you and the other officers. What a difficult job. I'm still kind of distraught. I really liked that kid; he's the same age as my son. I was so shocked when I first talked to officer D. that everything he said didn't register. Today I remembered that he said that he had already been out a couple of weeks ago and revived my tenant once before. He said he had to dig to find my phone number he actually reached my son first. I'm going to have a sign made with my management company name and number posted on my buildings so if that ever happens I'll be more likely to be notified. I know in Ohio I'm required to evict if a officer tells me drug use/sale/anything is going on. I so wish I had had a sign; I would have tried to reach his father (emergency contact) and tell him what was happening when he was revived. 

As a side note, do you happen to know if the basement was searched? I'm worried he might have hidden drugs down there. All the tenants have access for storage and circuit breaker boxes. I talked to the detective that answered the phone and she said I could call the non-emergency number and the police would come and search the basement for drugs just in case- but I hate to be a bother especially if y'all already looked.

@Nolan M. Hi Nolan, Thank you for responding, my husband went in the kitchen door. He said there is about a 2'x2' 'puddle' of fluids on the vinyl plank flooring in the living room near the front door. There is a futon type mattress near by folded up half on the front door and half on the floor. I got a call on smell we believe he had been there 2-4 days. I've talked to one regular cleaning service and they don't do that. The special 'trauma' cleaners charge A LOT. I actually am looking for a regular turnover cleaning service. We have 21 units all recently purchased and we have had three apartments turnover, all of which we renovated ourselves.

@James Wise

Hi James, thank you. Do you have a clean up company name that you would recommend? These are inexpensive apartments but they are near the university and most of our tenants are students. This kid was not a student but he was a licensed tradesman working for good money in a local factory. He was a nice kid from a nice family. I am truly dreading having to contact them (after the police notify) about his things. I'm sure they will be heartbroken. He was a military kid; I think he was an only son. I swear I am frustrated with insurance right now. I spend over a $1000/month on premiums and last week they would not cover a tree that fell on a tenants car because the tree did not look dead so I was not 'negligent.' And I just talked to the company about this and they may or may not cover this depending on whether he was involved in illegal activities. I guess an accidental overdose could go either way. They don't seem to pay anything; If you can't even file a claim without risk of getting dropped what good is it?

@Ryan Murdock @Anthony Gayden @Lynn McGeein @Jason Hawsey

Thank you for your comments. $1500 was the lowest price it can go up to $12,000. The insurance adjusters won't even do an on site visit because it could be hazardous. There was a recent Akron cop that was hospitalized after brushing some 'powder' off his shirt after a vehicle search. In Akron, the heroin is being cut with carfentenal sp? (elephant tranquilier) and can be very dangerous or so says the news. With body fluids I'm pretty squeemish but also I worry about HepC or HIV.

@Ryan Murdock Hi Ryan, Do you use a specialty company for this? I told them there is a 2x2 'puddle' and they were talking about having to cut up subfloor to decontaminate. He had been there a couple of days, I was heading over to the apartment to check out a 'smell' complaint from the neighbor when the police called. Honestly,  the only person I ever new to die at home was my Mother and hospice was there to take care of everything right away. 

@Kim Meredith Hampton The police talked to the 'friend' that found him.  The friend claimed to live there "on and off". They told him to get his stuff and leave and  lock the door?! When they called me the police said they did not know if he had locked the door. My husband and I went over as soon as the police called and rekeyed both "smartkey" locks (those things are great). I gave the police the emergency contact information from the rental application.

Thank you both for responding, I'll try a different cleaning company. 

Can anyone give me a realistic price range or a company name?

I can't imagine calling his poor parents... he was found by a friend that told police he was staying with tenant (without my knowledge). The police/coroner had taken his body out before they called me.

I feel just terrible to have to move on to practical matters right away but I called a company that cleans up death sites... I sure hope my insurance covers it they said prices start at around $1500 and go much much higher.

Has anyone dealt with this type of clean up before? Who did you use?

I think I would wait it out rather than force it as long as she stays current on rent. It's only seven months and you're planning on renovating when she leaves. Nothing good is likely to come out of getting building inspectors involved. Stinks that she won't take cash for keys though.

What a great thread! Thanks to all who have contributed! My husband and I are both former software developers; we retired and went sailing south but after several unexpected health issues, we found that we were blowing through our retirement funds a little too quickly comfort. Last August we began purchasing small multi-family properties as buy and hold investments. We now have 21 doors. We also own a couple of vapor stores-- our son bought my husband an ecig for father's day four years ago and he managed to quit smoking!