All Forum Posts by: Sam Leon

Interesting, so your listing actually have a full list of charges you consider show stoppers?

I do have a process in place, the process hasn't even started yet.  My quick Google search does not replace the background screening that comes later.  It only compliment it sometimes.

For example, one applicant passed all the screening I had in place, but on my quick search I found out he was a private chef.  In my conversations this was brought up and I realized he was planning on moving in 4 commercial refrigerators (one for fish, one for meat, two for something else) and a large freezer into the apartment, he was thinking of lining them all along one wall, they draw at least 10amps each, there is no way the two 15A circuits along those walls can work, he needs multiple dedicated circuits.

No criminals are not a protected class YET. But HUD has stated that because those with criminal records are dis-proportionally African Americans, to reject someone based on having criminal records alone is a problem. I don't know what the latest interpretation is, may be someone can point me to the threads with the latest on this topic.

I am sorry if I wasn't more clear.

I have a background check and screening process AFTER they viewed the property and want to apply.

I am not screening applicants by Google.

This is right at the first point of contact.  They want to take a look at the property, I just do a quick Google of their names and inmate records show up.  I probably should have worded the title as "pre-screening".

On my end I don't want to waste any more time, on the other hand I don't want to get into trouble using criminal records as the only basis.

I don't know about other landlords, but I do a quick Google of those who requested a viewing, and I ask them to fill out a quick questionairre before I even schedule a viewing, things like how many parking spaces do you need, do you intend to smoke or vape on the premises, your move in date etc...

When I do Google their names sometimes I see criminal records listed.  For example recently I had two and these are their charges:

PERSON A

• AGG ASSAULTW/ DEADLY WEAPON WITHOUT INTENT TO KILL
• TOUCH OR STRIKE/BATTERY/DATING VIOL

PERSON B

• CORRUPT BY THREAT PUBLIC SERVANT OR FAMILY
• DUI ALCOHOL OR DRUGS 1ST OFFENSE
• RESIST OFFICER-OBSTRUCT WITHOUT VIOLENCE

This is before viewing the apartment, before actual application.  I feel like not wasting my time and just say no, because these are recent (less than 2 years) and these are not jaywalking or parking at expired meters.  These look pretty serious to me.

But can I just say no, not even showing the place, and move on?  I understand we can no longer just reject someone based on having criminal records, will I get into trouble by doing this?

I am about to repaint the exterior of a 4 unit apartment building.  Single story, concrete block stucco exterior.

Trying to decide what color to use.

Being in south Florida, we get lots of sun, rain and wind.  Once a coat of paint goes on, within 2-3 years the color changes.  The higher walls shaded by the eaves remain the same color, while the lower walls that gets the sun gets lighter and lighter.  The north side fades differently then the south side, so in a few years you can no longer match the color because you end up with eight different shades of colors.

I am not sure if this can be avoided by using a very light color like white or almond, but it is one consideration.

What color will wear the best, and the most abuse resistant?  If there is such a thing.

I wonder what caused the toilet seat cover to have scars like this.  Heat?  Tenant said it's bad quality plastic.

I find the new subcategories make things difficult to navigate, and most times contexts of each overlap with others, forcing me to just ignore all subcategories except the "general" one.

If you want more subcategories, then set up the subs in such a way that they are mutually exclusive. For example, one could argue that SFH rentals and multifamily rentals are different, and if there are topics that fit both, go to general. The way it is now, it is very confusing for the users. I get why it's done this way, it's done this way for marketing to show others that BP covers a lot of areas with depths, at the expenses of it being really not too useful.

Furthermore, on desktops, the menu drop down and submenu navigation doesn't really work when it's nested too deeply and long, because the menu expands beyond the screen and there is no way to get to the bottom portion that's off the screen.  The solution for me is to change my screen resolution to 200% of original, then while I can see all the menus in that resolution, I navigate to it then bookmark them to create my own browser menu.  That way I bypass BP's menu bugs.

Not isolating elsewhere because I did see his car in and out at times.

Actually he posted a picture of him paddle boarding on his FB this weekend.  Of course I have no idea if this was taken two weeks ago and just posted...but two weeks ago south Florida was raining cats and dogs continuously.  Hmmm...

I am in the same boat.

A 4 plex tenant told me he just tested positive.  The reason of the notification is because I was scheduled to enter for maintenance the next day.

He said he feels fine, no symptoms just something similar to a mild cold.  I do not believe he is isolating, as I went there two days in a row (one time to do some landscape debris cleanup, another time I had to service an adjacent apartment with a bad window operator) and both times his vehicle was not in the parking lot.

I am also not sure about informing others.  I don't think I am allowed to disclose.  However, if I just let everyone know "someone" has tested positive it will have the same effective, as two of the apartments are friends, and one apartment is currently rented but not occupied (living with a girlfriend out of town for months), so to say someone has tested positive is identifying that tenant, effectively.

Common area is only the laundry area, but I don't know if it's practical to go there daily to spray down the entire area.  Put hand sanitizer stations?

I have receipts.  They were not looking for receipts.  They wanted the UPC code of the fan itself (that's not on the receipt) which is a sticker on top of the actual fan body, which you cannot see unless you get on a ladder with a down facing mirror, I had the model number, model name etc...which should be sufficient.  Then they asked me where I bought the fan from, which is laughable, because the fan is a Home Depot label, it's not sold anywhere else.

As for the humming, it's not normal.  I have had fans from Hunter, Monte Carlo, and even other Hampton Bay fans of the same model without any issue.  Sometimes if you use a "universal" dual wall control, and the motor load control can be incompatible with the speed control you can have a humming on the actual dimmer itself.  This happens a lot with four speed fans such as those made by A Modern Fan Company, and if you use a cheap 3 speed control on the wall you get issues but if you get the compatible $90 AMFC 4 speed control, no problem.

WOW, this thread is still going after 5 years.  I was the OP and it seems like the discussions has evolved to wondering why big box store employees are not more knowledgeable in the specific trades.

Let me clarify, my original question asked of an employee was very simple, is item #XXXXXX in stock?  As it's NOT on the shelf where it's supposed to be.  That's really all I need help with.  I need a specific item, and I can't find them where they are supposed to be.  Of course you check store inventory online and it says it has 50 of them, the question is where.  In the staging area in the back?  Up high on the shelves?  Incorrectly placed somewhere else on the shelves?  No I don't ask a HD employee how to do this or that.  No reason to.  But then again, they should VOLUNTEER incorrect information or knowledge to customers.  If they don't know, they don't know, don't misdirect or misinform customers.