All Forum Posts by: Mags S.

@jason hirko.  If you have the no smoking in the lease and the unscrupulous ones smoke, you have reason to post a quit notice.  (Being a former smoker, I wouldn't consider renting a place where, as a smoker, a lease said I couldn't smoke.)  My rental is in a C neighborhood as well and I have no smoking in the lease.  Never had a prospect denied for smoking as the only reason they were denied. I make mention, during the showing, of no smokers/smoking just like no animals are permitted. 

try ASID.org, an interior design national organization.  They can meet your needs.

I think it will depend on the price point.  Wood flooring is extremely popular now. I just removed a 3br house of carpet and refinished the wood floors.  The finished product clearly brought the prospective tenants out to look at the property.

Personally, I don't like a lot of ceramic/porcelain type tile throughout.  I fall in the senior citizen category and ceramic-porcelain tile is really tough on the lower back.  I put a cork tile floor in at my own house and it is pretty comfortable.  My feet can really feel/tell the difference between between the ceramic tile and cork tiles as soon as my foot touches the surface.

Whatever you go with, think long term.

We don't typically use attorneys in philly.  Property insurance. Title company should be able to provide you final money figures.

@Account Closed  thanks. oops forgot the loss of use rider, didn't know it was a rider.  Oh well, next lease terms. I did remember to have tenant add me on as an add'l insured.  I'll have to close that loss-of-use loophole next time.

Yes, it gives you the right to deny if that is part of your criteria. Forty+ year smoker here...been there, done that.  when the cold weather hits, we'd hide in a corner of the basement...in our own house!  I wouldn't believe them for a minute...the good intentions thing.  We have a no smoking on the premises in our lease/addendum. 

First, @Wendy Forbes - big congrats on your first purchase! It is a big step and wanted to acknowledge. So there are prolly things you could have thought thru better; don't know anyone who could say they didn't make any mistakes on their first. Bet you'll never forget to consider parking on any future deals! Lesson learned.

I'm not very familiar with section 8, do they require parking?  If not, attempt to rent it before implementing big ticket solutions. IMHO, stop feeding the entitlement mentality. There are several streets in my area that do not allow parking during winter months.  These homeowners don't get to park their cars in front of their house and must walk around the corner or whatever to get their cars during this time. It really IS okay.

 Include something in the building/unit that many local section 8 properties don't normally offer. 

Contact the police each time and practice your innocent and surprised facial expressions, in the event the neighbors complain to you that the cops were called

@Austin Jones  hi, if you could include me in the dig in manayunk info, would appreciate it.  Thanks

all great ideas! My new tenant is knowledgeable of the neighborhood. Although totally self-serving, I put a binder of information together for the tenant.  It includes house maintenance info such as when is trash day and the rules on when you can put it out, ditto on rules for snow/ice shoveling. What not to stuff down the garbage disposal or over-stuffing the laundry washer.  Includes all the appliance user guides.