All Forum Posts by: Linda S.

@Tony Spencer,

I'm an omni-vert, and my husband is a hardcore introvert. The best thing I think you can do, is go to the local REI meetings, and figure out who you want to talk to in advance-- check out their profiles, and maybe ask for their business card. Follow up with an email, asking them if you can take them out to lunch, so then it's a 1/1. Don't focus on a lot of relationships, but just maybe a few important ones. Be genuinely interested in them!

Being an introvert is kind of a like a superpower, because when it comes to showings,  I know I don't want to talk that much, so I do a full flyer with all the questions potential tenants may ask, but it allows me to really focus on body language.  I'm not focused on talking (of course I do, I have a script!), but I focus on watching, observing, listening, and analyzing the potential tenant's behaviors.    Not saying extroverts can't do it, but introverts do it way better because they prefer not talking and watching.    

The more comfortable you become in your own skin, the better.   

@Matthew Kirkwold,

Could it be the tenant's prior mortgage with their spouse, and the spouse took it over?

If they just went through a divorce, I'm guessing they need a few years to get back on their feet.      Also look at the history-- have they ever been late?  Do they know how to handle credit?  

@Howard H.,

Don't make this a bigger deal than it needs to be.   We see turnover as a blessing in disguise, as 99% of the time, that's when we increase the rent rate!   Check your lease-- and see what terms you guys have agreed to as far as terminating the lease, and go by that-- you can't make up rules as stuff comes along, you're locked into your lease terms.   

I'd tell her she will be charged a fee (if applicable in your lease), and then focus on having it rent ready for the next person!  We often do showings when the prior tenant still lives there,  I think of it as free staging.   Also, most good tenants will need at least 30-45 days to move, so it will minimize vacancy. 

@Eric Braxton,

We are heavy investors in Petersburg, and without a doubt-- it's the best place for cashflow in Richmond MSA!  

Feel free to message me if you have any questions
@Eric Braxton

@Kar Sun,

Drop off a window unit or 2, and explain you're getting it fixed ASAP.  Sounds like a decent tenant, don't make this a bigger deal than it is.   

 I guess you learn something new every day!! 

@Jim K.,

I always enjoy your posts and real life stories!    Being a landlord for 6 years now, nothing surprises me.   Nothing shocks me, I feel like that old lady meme a lot because I am numb to stuff. No ODs yet, and we do minimal evictions, although we have one coming up next week..

1)  Tenant saying house was possessed with demon spirits.   She left the house vacant for 3 weeks, with a chicken sitting out on the countertop.    We got a complaint from a neighbor about the smell/possible dead body--you could smell it from the outside, I literally thought I was walking into a homicide... but when we got inside, there was decaying chicken in the kitchen, maggots, bugs, everything on it.   Called her, and she said the house has spirits that called her at 3AM. Crazy is crazy.

2)   The amount of exposed genitalia we have seen is something people do NOT want you about.   Had my brother in law pickup rent, the guy was in a T-shirt, NO BOXERS/nothing... yeah..  I understand you're home and comfortable, but please... wear undergarmets. Bras are apparently a very optional thing as well.    I also got a X-17 pic sent to me phone after doing a showing, I'm guessing they wanted preferential treatment? I dunno.. you can't make this stuff up.

get  a statement from the plumber, show the tenants.. show them the lease stating you can't use those wipes, and pass on the bill to them.     Normally when they have consequences for actions, people change.

@Account Closed,

It all depends on what you're looking for in Richmond!   Where you invest for cash flow is different than appreciation, and if you want an A/B/C/D rental.   If you can specify more Richmonders can help you!

@Nathan Gesner,

I tried to stay at an AirbnB one time on a girls weekend in PA, and when we got there around 8PM-- the lockbox code didn't work.   The owners didn't answer any calls or texts for like 3 hours, so we just went to a local restaurant which btw I got food poisoning from, lol we ended up having to stay in a local hotel instead. From 1-10, it'd be a 1 experience level.    

I would try AirBnb again, but definitely not something I'd seek out unless hotel prices were ridiculous.