All Forum Posts by: Mindy Jensen

Hi @Tim S.

I'm sorry you're having this issue. I've alerted our developers and hope to be able to share a solution soon.

I love that you're recognizing the red flags. I see a lot of them as well.

I would sit down with your husband and write out criteria for who you will rent to.
Minimum credit score (650is a number I see frequently)
Minimum income (3X rent, verifiable by check stubs and a call to HR) 
Maximum number of tenants in the unit (most places state 2 per person, plus one additional person)
Pets (yes or no. Deposit or fee? A deposit is refundable, a fee is not)
Past Evictions? (some states do not allow you to screen for past evictions, learn your landlord tenant laws)
Criminal History? (Again, some states do not allow you to screen for criminal history.)
Landlord Referral (not the current landlord, the one before that. If they won't answer, that's an answer itself.)

Please note that you cannot discriminate against any number of reasons that are found in fair housing, including familial status, race, gender, sexual orientation among many others.

Write out your criteria and do not deviate from it. So many new landlords will let their criteria down a little for someone. Don't be tempted. It never ends well. I've heard countless stories of landlords who say "My worst experience with a tenant was when I made an exception.

Screen over the phone before giving the address and setting up a showing. If they don't meet your criteria, then they don't get the information. 

If you catch them in ANY lies, they are out. 

Get yourself a rock solid lease. 

Never accept partial rent payments or partial deposits. You want tenants who can easily afford the property, not excuses for why their rent is late.

Hi @Roger Kelley. We're working on updating our search function. I hear you. 

Yep. She'll be the BEST tenant you ever have. 

*They can pay for YOUR electrician to install it and must agree to leave it with the home when they move.

I would be very clear with my wording to any tenant who wanted to have something installed in my home that I did not plan to install. They have to pay for it and leave it when they move out. 

I had a charger in my last rental, because it was my primary residence first. No tenant ever used it.

I'm up in Longmont. I just checked the MLS. There are 17 Single Family homes on the market below $750,000 list price that are either Active or Coming Soon. We'll probably get up to 25 by EOD Friday. By Monday, there will be less than 15 and probably less than 10.

Longmont used to be affordable, but now it's just like everywhere else. Outside the manufactured home for $104, the 2 income restricted homes at $225 and the 3 houses listed at $350 but will sell for much more, prices start at $415,000 and rapidly rise.

I have hives from just thinking about all your CE. I can barely get my annual Agent update coursework done before 12/31 every year...

Can you install a locking cover on this outlet so that maintenance has access to the outlet but the tenant does not?

@Anthony Jones, ultimately, it is on you to read the contract. While the agent DID make a huge mistake here, you should have read the legal document you signed and are obligated to abide by.

I would reach out to the agent's employing broker. In almost every state, an agent is required to "hang their license" beneath a more experienced agent. Reach out to that more experienced agent, share your frustrations and concerns, and your solution. See what they say.

1978 is the cut off for lead paint. 1979 is the cutoff for asbestos, but you were allowed to finish up your supplies so you're seeing asbestos into late 80's builds. Popcorn should always be tested before scraping.

After pulling down the wallpaper in my daughter's room, I want to murder the person who invented it.