All Forum Posts by: Matt Ryan

Thanks @Travis Lloyd for the input! I agree that communication is key, and I probably go overboard with it, as is, setting tenant expectations. I think that communication is part of the "problem" with the trouble tenants since it opens the "dialogue". Move out condition and even specific charges are very clearly articulated to the tenant and are not open for negotiation in my mind, but that doesn't keep them from trying. Most tenants are no problem at all, but I just wanted to see what alternatives there are in dealing with the troublesome few.

Greetings-

I was hoping for some opinions on whether or not most landlords are conducting a final walk through with their tenants when they move out of a unit.

I provide my tenants with a detailed checklist, including common charges, when they sign the lease and again before they get ready to move out. I also have been scheduling a walkthrough on their move out day, clearly stating that it is a preliminary walkthrough and that not all security deposit charges will/can be identified at that time. I, of course, mail them their refund within the required time frame and document all charges from it.

I am considering changing my practice of holding a move-out walkthrough. I have found that some tenants use this opportunity to attempt to dispute damages (with no proof) or expect to leave the walkthrough with a comprehensive, itemized list of all charges (which I don't have the time to complete then, nor exact charges on some items yet). In short, it ends up being a somewhat uncomfortable last meeting, especially if the tenant is responsible for quite a few damages.

How are others handling key turn-in/move out? Is a walkthrough with the tenant generally common practice?

Thanks in advance for any input!

Matt

Raj Gandhi Great way of looking at it...thank you! I've considered renting the garages out separately, unfortunately I don't have space to make the garage any larger, but modernizing the garage might be the way to go. I assume that since my current tenants have the use of the garages under their current leases, if I were to rent them out separately, I'm best to wait until new tenants are moved in?

@Royce Talbo @Kyle Hipp Thanks for the suggestions! Good stuff...I'm going to begin exploring options of ways I can rehab the garage to make it a little more functional and less of an eye sore.

@Royce Talbo  Thanks for the reply and the great insight. I think there are two reasons why my tenants aren't using the garages 1.) they are too small for most cars and 2.) they are very inconvenient to use since they have the old sliding barn doors instead of the the more modern overhead doors. The structure (all brick) of the garage itself is perfectly fine, as there's not much to it. 

I am having a contractor come out this week to give me a quote on replacing the roof, the garage doors with overheads, and updating the windows on the garage. I just can't see how demolition won't be substantially cheaper than all that, but if it's a better decision long term to spend the money, that's what I'll do.

Greetings!

First time poster here, but have been lurking for a while! Thanks for all the great information here! I own a 4-unit building with a detached garage (one garage for each apartment) behind the building that is accessed from an alley. The garages, constructed with the building in 1942, are small and not really utilized by my tenants. Most park on the main street or squeeze along the alley, sometimes several places down if they can't find a spot. 

My garage needs a new roof, windows, and garage doors. Rather than spend the money on doing all that, I'm considering removing the garage altogether and replacing it with dedicated off-street parking, one spot for each apartment. There are one or two other buildings in the area that have done this (the entire street consists of buildings almost identical to mine). I think I save quite a bit of money in the long run and it appears as though it might better utilize the land for my tenants.

Will this be an issue for me on resale or on the rentability of my units for top dollar?

Thanks in advance for any input! - Matt