All Forum Posts by: Mindy Jensen

I don't ask for a referral fee. It isn't going to change my life to get a nominal check in the mail. They get to keep all the commission, I get to use their local expertise, and when it comes to them sending ME a deal vs sending it to someone who only gives them a portion of the commission, who do you think they'll offer it to first? 

@Raymond Locker, reach out to the son and ask him when he would like to come clean out the property. Assuming the tenant paid for November, I would give him through the end of the month to clear it out. Frame it as though you will be able to return his security deposit if he returns it to you in clean condition by the end of the month. See what he says.

BiggerPockets!

https://www.youtube.com/biggerpockets

@Kayla Marek, it sounds like there is a difference of expectations in this relationship. 

1. I agree with not providing a snowblower. So easy to lose fingers in that. However, by telling them you would consider providing one, they heard it as "we will absolutely provide you with a snowblower." It probably did not occur to them that they'd potentially have to do this by hand. 

2. You mentioned a rent discount for them to do this. If you only discounted the rent by $100 to have this done, I would think that's all you can raise it back to.

3. These people will be a problem in your unit for as long as they are in the unit. They've already broken things that they should have been responsible for repairing. It sounds like you've already paid for said repairs out of your pocket. The every next time they complain, I'd offer to let them out of the lease. Something along the lines of "It sounds like this house just isn't what you were expecting. Would you like to find a new place to live? If you allow me to show the home to potential tenants and leave it in great condition, I will let you out of your lease and return your security deposit in full."

Latasha, I can appreciate your passion for this subject, but this discussion is about continuing to pursue a property with a known issue. You said yourself that "...only people who don't own them have these strong, negative opinions..."

This is PRECISELY who will be applying to live in the home - people who don't own them. The fact that they live next door and this was discovered BEFORE he closed on the property is actually good for him, because he can choose to walk away from an issue that will affect his ability to rent the property.

I'm not saying this is fair to the animals. I'm stating a fact that many potential tenants will be turned off by the neighbor dogs. He should keep this information in mind when he is making his investing choices.

@Mitchlyn D. when I was looking at houses to live in, I found a gorgeous house in the perfect neighborhood at an incredible price. Of course I had my agent show it to me, and as we walked up to the front door the neighbor's dogs started barking at us so loudly and viciously, I was terrified that they would come through the fence and attack.

We got the door open and viewed the inside - perfect of course. But I didn't make an offer specifically because of those dogs next door and made sure my agent told the listing agent precisely why we didn't make an offer.

They weren't even pit bulls! They were just regular dogs that were very loud, kind of big, and frightening.

I imagine most of your potential tenants will react similarly to me. Doesn't matter if those dogs next door are nice or not. Tenants don't want to take the chance, so they just find another house without 'dangerous breed' dogs next door.

You DO have a written lease. It's the one from five years ago, but the terms in that lease are still in force unless the laws of your state have changed. The Oral, Month-to-Month agreement is for continuing with the lease after it ended, but you still have a lease. 

I stand by my comments that my life experiences with regards to this situation are very different than yours.

However, since the update from @William Coet, I don't even know what to say. Why, if she is feeling stalked, would she ask to stay longer? William, to cover yourself, I would document this entire exchange and anything that she tells you in the future. 

Moderator Note: Deal Making and offers of funding are NOT allowed in the Forums.

@Laurence Obi, to tag someone in the forums, they either have to be colleagues with you, or have already posted in that forum.

If they are colleagues, type the @ symbol plus their name to bring them into the conversation.

If they have already posted in the forums, type @? and you will get a scrollable list of everyone who has already commented in the thread.