All Forum Posts by: Renee Potoczny

If you can't/do not want to evict currently, maybe offer him a payment plan to help get the rent paid.  That would be a good time to reclarify your expectations as the property owner...no smoking, parties, guests, when rent is due, etc.  The texts are pretty casual between you and the tenant, so he's not treating you as a business owner which makes it more difficult for you to enforce the rules.   

I'm a female, unmarried property owner.  (For reference I didn't even know how to change a drill bit when I started 4 years ago.  The only sections  of Home Depot that I would go to was the garden and grilling sections)  I'm sorry you're struggling right now, but look at it as a learning opportunity.  I don't think it's a male/female thing.

Vendors can tell if you know what you're talking about, it's like going to the doctor/gym/getting your car repaired.  You can't know everything, but you can question the bids or ask more about the procedure.  It's okay to question the labor dollar amount.  I lost a contractor who was supposed to renovate 4 apartments for me.  He gave me the bid and I questioned and asked for more clarity, and he ghosted me after that.

Do some research and ask more questions.  I've stayed and watched repairs being make, I've asked for them to teach me what they're doing so I can continue to learn.  When you get frustrated, just think, if it was easy everyone would do it.

Keep your head up and keep growing.  You can get through this!

We use waterproof DuraLux, 6.5mm with cork backing from Floor and Decor, it was $2.89/sf.  If you're handy, it's possible to install yourself.  We had pricing to install about $3.00/sf.  

@Reggie Maggard, I currently use the USPS, however, after I rented my PO Box I saw it cheaper at a UPS store (I think they allow you to set it up as a mailing address rather than having PO Box in the address line.)

Thank you @Marcia Maynard.  That is a great letter!  Thank you for sharing it.

@Keleisha Carter.  Congrats on looking for your first property!   In the state of Florida, you need your real estate license in order to do property management for others, however,  no license is needed when managing self owned properties.  I think it's important to keep in mind when self-managing, you're managing the property but people as well.

We don't allow any dangerous breeds, the County where the property has a list that we refer to.

We have a list of pre screening questions that we ask before setting up a showing.  This was the first time we tried this method, and found it very helpful in eliminating people that would not qualify as tenants for us.  (In the past we would schedule one showing time for any interested people to come by, then we'd ask all of the questions, then application, background).   We do not charge application fee, the tenant pays for background check.

@Scott Smith Thank you so much for the additional information.  I really enjoyed your podcast!  Thank you for taking the time to send the older article.

I'd update the pictures if the new appliances are installed.  Also, not sure of your market, 1,100 sf is pretty big for a 2BR/1Ba in my area, most are 800sf or so, maybe add something in the written description about how big the apartment is.