All Forum Posts by: Nathan Gesner

You may get lucky, but the odds are greatly against you.

If your numbers are correct, they are asking for $6000 in reduced rent. Are they offering $6000 in improvements? It sounds as if a licensed, insured contractor could do all this work for less than $6000. They are trying to pull one over on you!

If your home is worth $2200 as is, rent it for what it is worth and don't compromise. When Landlords start letting Tenants wheel-and-deal, they most often lose.

I'm commenting just to follow.

I use photos or video to record condition before occupancy and after vacancy. If a Tenant moves out and I suspect they will try to fight my charges, I take photos and video. I upload it to my YouTube channel but keep it private. Once I finish cleaning and maintenance, I send them a form showing the charges and I include a link to the private video which demonstrates I have proof to support my charges. Since starting this process, I have not had one single person fight the charges.

Video is not as easy as it sounds. If you want to do it right, get some decent equipment and train yourself. Videos do not have to be an hour long! There is a Property Manager named Todd Breen that has been using video for about 20 years and he's truly an expert. He has a very simple, FREE training course that will really help you get the right equipment and avoid making rookie mistakes. This is 100% with no strings attached. You don't even have to sign up for a mailing list! 

Select "Free Training" on the right side of the menu. The first series is for marketing videos. The second series is for inspection videos. I highly recommend watching both sets.

Virtually Incredible video training: CLICK HERE

Finishing the basement will not increase the temperature of the home. I would not renovate unless the tenant signed an extension with a rent increase high enough to compensate for the cost of renovation. It is unlikely they will do that so you should politely decline.

Guys, I'm quitting the thread because I've failed to express myself clearly even though I made it clear I was operating on limited information. I tried playing Devil's advocate and got too many people wound up.

As I originally posted, I did not know the full story or your local laws. If the tenants were told in advance that the house would be listed - or may be listed - then they are wrong to fight it.

I agree our primary responsibility is to the Owner, but we can't violate a legal contract or the law, which is why I bring up the right to quiet enjoyment. I don't know how every state or contract deals with this but I don't recall seeing any that say an owner can bring visitors through the house at any time, even if they are buyers. I don't personally find that to be ethical or a good business practice, but if it is legal in your area then go for it.

Now that you've provided more information, I look forward to hearing how court goes for you.

You say it doesn't bother the Tenant but that's because you were the buyer, not the tenant. Not knowing his particular market and personal M.O. I have to assume there will be many showings, inspections, and other interruptions before closing a sale. Then there is the threat of a new Landlord that doesn't abide by the law or terms of the agreement. Or a Landlord that fails to transfer the deposit to the buyer. There are a thousand things that could go wrong and as a Tenant I would not be happy.

If it was disclosed in advance that the Owner may sell at any time during the lease, then there is no problem. If they did not disclose this in advance, then I would argue it is a change in the terms of the agreement and a violation of the tenant's right to quiet enjoyment.

Your Tenants signed a one-year lease but you listed the house for sale just three months into their lease?

Do you know the existing contract will transfer with the sale? How do you justify interfering with the tenant's right to quiet enjoyment when you are scheduling showings to potential buyers nine months before the lease expires?

I don't know both sides or your local laws but this doesn't sound good for either party.