All Forum Posts by: Malkia Ra

This is such a sticky situation.  There's just no way of knowing what's really going on.

As unfortunate as this really may be, I believe it's best to proceed with the eviction process.  The tenant was already two months behind before the alleged event.  You've tried your best to maintain communication and get answers/confirmations, but you keep hitting a wall.  You've received no solid confirmation that your tenant is in a coma.

I don't think you're heartless; quite frankly, in my experience, having a heart gets you taken advantage of.  I would suggest meeting with a landlord-tenant attorney ASAP to determine the best way to handle this lawfully.

Question:  Has anyone been occupying the rental?  (and if so, are they on the lease?)  Are the utilities still being paid?

The after pic looks great... well done!

I chuckled when I got to, "...the list goes on and on.I can’t seem to put my hand on the issue;.." because you've actually identified the issue(s).

It sounds like your rental is chaotic and stressful for you.  The setbacks many landlords can "take on the chin," could drive some of us insane.  I personally feel that with anything in life, if it disrupts your peace, you have to let it go.

This business is not for everyone, and only you can determine if the pros outweigh (and are worth) the cons.  Good luck.

@Ronda R. a potential-renter who takes issue with a background check is a hard-pass for me.  I learned early-on in this business you never waver when it comes to your requirements.

And while we're on the subject of avoiding background checks... I've received tons of interest via AirBNB from people seeking mid/long-term rental situations.  One woman in particular asked if I would be open to renting to her for about 8 months, blocking my rental so that it could not be rented by anyone else, and allowing her to pay on a monthly basis so she wouldn't have to pay the total amount of her stay upfront.  I told her what she's looking for is a lease situation and that would require her to submit an application and undergo a background check.  Never heard from her again.

With regards to Traveler's Haven, they lived up to their horrible reviews.  The communication was awful from the outset, and this is a major red flag when attempting to establish a business relationship.  Not to mention, the traveling medical professional they were representing gave me "sketchy" vibes.  #DodgedAbullet

 Agreed.

@William Powell gave solid advice.

I personally am not a fan of using Zillow for anything other than marketing.  I use another platform for applications and background screening.

Prior to starting this process you should have an idea of what you'd like to know about your future tenant, thus creating a questions checklist in advance is ideal.  What's also very important is knowing what you can/cannot legally ask; therefore you should refer to your local housing authority for guidance.

Regarding your lease, I encourage everyone to have a lease template prepared prior to marketing their rental.  It often takes a bit of time to think about the "who, what, when, where and why" regarding the terms for your rental, which should be standard and not "tailored" per tenant.  If you create a lease after you've received interest/applicants, you'll increase the likelihood of rushing to put it together and perhaps miss important items that should be included.

Again, your local housing authority is a great resource, as well as tenant/landlord attorneys and even real estate agents.

While I commend your willingness to work things out, nothing should be "worked out" with a bad tenant.  Tenants know EXACTLY what they're doing. Pointing out what they've done, over explaining  yourself and attempting to come across as doing them a favor before flat out doing what's necessary, is just prolonging the inevitable.

Take your heart out of it.  Tenants take advantage of those with hearts.  EVICT now.

 THIS!  Every single word.

House-hacker here.

(1.) It's a great way for homeowners to supplement their mortgage payments/pay down their mortgages faster.

(2.) Because who doesn't love passive income?

(3.) Most market-rents are SO out of control, renting via a house-hack is often way more affordable for renters.

(4.) House-hacking allows you to use the income from renting to purchase more properties.