All Forum Posts by: Kathleen Leary

The insulation & drywall stink. Open a wall & you'll see (ask me how I know!) Regardless of how well you paint/seal, that smell is in the ductwork, wall cavities, studs, (after 30 years - ugh!), etc. 

I have heard good things about ozone generators (have not used one myself) - my tried & true method is time & open windows. Good luck!

Only a couple of things stand out to me: one, many folks looking to rent have relocated specifically to take a new job & need a place to live. That rules out your 2-month stipulation.

Two: a LOT of people simply don't have bank accounts. I realize that's your call, but I know many people who make a decent income & just prefer to skip the bank entirely. Case-by-case, obviously.

Yes, this is just my own experience, etc. But those items aren't deal-breakers in & of themselves for me. The rest of your list seems reasonable, although (again, based on my own local statutes) you may not be able to limit the number of tenants in a given property. Check beforehand!

Anything you can do to keep water away from your foundation (regardless of what the construction type is) will only benefit you in the long run. Compare the cost of re-grading vs. foundation repair! If & when you sell, the buyer will take bad drainage into consideration, too - less money in your pocket. 

I'm looking at putting in a pretty extensive hand-dug drainage solution at one of my properties. NOT something I want to do, but I certainly don't want the long-tern consequences, either.

Many times this is a job you can do yourself (or con some friends into helping with a case of beer!) with a little pre-planning & sweat equity. Definitely worth it - just my opinion.

Not to be a Scrooge (yes, I DO give gifts to tenants!), make sure your recipients drink if you're considering wine, etc. Some folks don't & that gift won't do much. Same with restaurants/coffee shops, believe it or not. Grocery gift cards are my personal favorite.

Gas cards can be handy, too. Depending on interests, etc. an iTunes card could be a good choice. These can be purchased in multiples at a discount at many retailers.

I do include a card wishing them a happy new year (no what-holiday-do-you-celebrate conflicts) & thank them for being good tenants. 

Simple stuff - it really goes a long way. One year, one of my tenants got ME a Home Depot gift card, since I had fixed a million things during their time there. I just busted out crying - NOBODY likes their landlord!

I also live in the sticks - auctions are GOLD! That's how folks around here clear out houses. Recently saw a rather nice bed frame, chest of drawers & two night stands go for $45.

Goodwill, Salvation Army (my personal fave!), Freecycle, ReStore, church/charity thrift stores.

Garage sales, school/church rummage sales, estate sales & auctions.

Don't pooh-pooh driving around the night before trash pick-up, either - you might be very surprised what people throw out!

Tell everybody you know you're looking for stuff - things just appear sometimes. If you have a friend that works for a trash service, you're set for life.

Also get on your local swap & shop web site - people get rid of furniture for very little money. Sometimes it's free if you go get it. Appliances, too. (A 2-yr.-old Samsung steam washer in perfect condition just went for $175 here.)

And above all, remember: spray paint is your best friend.

What does your lease/agreement say? You should have provisos in there addressing housekeeping, cleanliness, notification concerning broken or non-functioning items, etc. Any breach of the agreement is grounds for eviction. 

I would get him out ASAP & make sure your paperwork covers your . . . . "***"ets for next time around.

I've always used water & elbow grease. Slow, but effective. I also prefer to see exactly what I'm scraping off & try not to put more gouges in the drywall if I can avoid it!

All of the above! I have used TSP on sticky tar-covered walls - got a new sponge mop & mopped the walls, actually. Some states now regulate the sale of TSP - get it if you can!

You will also find the insulation in the walls stinks to high heaven, too. If you have the luxury of time (& a lot of it!), open windows will be your best option. Heating ducts will need to be cleaned to really get rid of the smell. Don't forget the insides of cabinets, closets, laundry chutes, decorative soffits, etc. because every surface will be contaminated.

I have been very disappointed with water-based primer/sealant - pony up the cash & get the old-school stuff (oil- or shellac-based). Totally worth it.

I have an entire section in my lease concerning window coverings. I provide coverings for each window, which, if the tenant wishes to replace them, must be installed by me. Not them. Any additional hardware, etc. must be purchased by them. This ensures my drywall stays intact. 

There is also a provision detailing what cannot be used as a window covering: foil, cardboard, towels, shower curtains, throws, sheets, etc.  So far, one tenant did swap out the existing curtains for room-darkening ones, but that's it. Perhaps it's nit-picking to include that kind of clause in the agreement, but I think it's best for the tenants to know exactly what's expected going in.