All Forum Posts by: Nancy P.

We built a house in Houston (clay soil) on a acre of land.  The guy next to us had flooding.  He put in a pool,  took all that dirt plus dirt from two other pools,  and built up his yard...and then WE had flooding.  We sued but they said it was our builder's fault,  we had no photographic evidence because it didn't occur to us that someone would screw us over like that.  In the end the builder put in three French drains connecting to the sewer system for $1000.  That was 20 years ago.  We got our revenge,  though.  The owners were super lazy and would never treat for fire ants.  My husband would treat and leave an escape path for the ants...right into that guy's yard.

You definitely want that pest control clause...if a tenant ever gets bedbugs you do NOT want that hefty price tag for getting rid of them.

That said,  I live outside of Chicago and the years like this when we get winter into summer without really any spring...the bugs DO seem to turn up overnight.  So she probably is irritated that you say they weren't there then.  They weren't,  but they are now!  

I am married to a chemical engineer and he absolutely says the stuff Home Depot or Ace hardware recommends is as good as what Orkin is going to spray.  Just read your labels for safety.

Personally I think fastidious tenants who pay a high rent are worth a little extra hassle.

Right.  If Chicago had won the Olympics,  maybe that would have been a draw for a few weeks.  Nothing else big enough to overwhelm Chicago's draw and capacity.  Naperville has a small college (I think Aurora does as well),  but mostly local kids so those games and graduations don't pull out of towners either.

 Although they are considering it,  (like almost every city),  so far there have been no rules about it AFAIK.  However,  there also is very little demand.  An article in the Tribune a year or two ago said that there were only 12 in Aurora,  which is the second largest city in Illinois after Chicago,  and that some of them didn't appear to have ever been rented.  Trains run to Chicago but it if it's not rush hour,  they run only once per hour.    Buses to the trains run only at rush hour.  Until 2016 Naperville didn't have a hotel in its downtown.  The hotels along the I-88 Interstate seem to satisfy the demand.  Good luck!

Hi Brendan:

Just be aware that Aurora does inspections of all rental properties,  charges you for it ($75 a year per property),  and then fines you for tiny things like a non-working outlet or animals not being registered with the city.  Not a deal breaker but important to know.  Naperville is considering adopting the same program.  I know two Naperville houses (not MF,  SF) where the owner was living in one br and renting the others.  Violated zoning and Naperville shut them down.  

My favorite-we own a couple of very small units,  500 s.f.  LR open to kitchen,  but separate bedroom with bath off the bedroom.  Couple came in and said they wouldn't want guests going though their bedroom to use the bathroom,  and could I move the bathroom?  I choked down the laughter and said "well,  no,  that would be thousands of dollars and the rent is only $875."  Then I said "If it really bothered you,  I suppose you could sleep out here and have that room (bedroom) be your living room.  They looked at each other and said in unison "THAT'S RIDICULOUS".   I just cracked up.  At least they had each other!

Personally,  we change the furnace filters twice a year.  Ourselves.  And it's in the lease that they have to let us in.  I find tenants DON'T change them themselves,  even when filters are provided,  and it's harder on the HVAC,  and also gives us a chance to look around.  Things I DO make sure the tenant knows:  Where the breakers are.  How to turn off the water at the toilet and under the sink.  (2/3 of tenants under 30 have no idea about this.)   How to change the water filter in the fridge. What can and CANNOT go down a disposal or toilet.   I'm going to add the garage door..thanks for the suggestion!   I've started putting in leases that light bulbs are their responsibility.  I cannot believe tenants expect that.....

We did own a condo in Park City Utah...our first investment although we did it more for fun...paid for with inherited money.  We never skied over Christmas or during the Sundance Film Festival...which I sort of regret!  Condo management was horrible and we sold.  But I agree with everyone who says better to just vacation where you like, invest where it makes sense!

So many tenants have expected me to buy and install LIGHT BULBS that I had to put in the lease that light bulbs are their responsibility.  Astounding to me that I had to do it...to me it's like toilet paper,  buy your own!

I DO replace furnace filters twice a year,  and walk through the property at the time,  and it's in the lease.  Furnaces will last far longer with filters kept clean,  and I trust no tenant to do it on their own.

I'm in the Chicago area but Guaranteed Rate offers 20% with higher interest rate.  I know that GR is in Indy.  Give them a call.