All Forum Posts by: Scott P.

@Dennis M. once again your post made me burst out laughing!  I had to carry my laptop around and share that one w/my family.  You need to write a book someday.

I'm sorry to hear  you're having these issues.  They are not too uncommon though.  (I remember posting a while back about basements and the potential for them to become storage for garbage the tenant doesn't want to spend time or money disposing.)

Go ahead and alter your lease for future use. Maybe they'll decide the place is not for them with some new clauses. They sound like a better fit for a SFR to me.

I'd talk to the good tenant and try to keep them happy.  Don't tell the trashy tenant that the good tenant complained though or anything like that.

I've had some similar situations and have tried teaching and "training" the tenant, always respectfully.  In my experience it did help but you're saying your tenants also do change for a while but the change doesn't stick.

I doubt that you can change the way they behave.  You'll probably need to tell them your concerns about insects, rodents, etc. and not renew unless they change just enough to get by and not run the cleaner tenants away.

That looks like 2 separate SFRs on the same lot to me, but i had a little trouble opening a couple of the photos.

You should make sure that its zoned and permitted appropriately.

It wouldn't be considered multifamily in my area, I believe.

Your lender would have final say on the financing choices I'd think.  I'm guessing a local lender has seen this sort of property before and would know exactly how it is handled.

I admit it sounds like your market is telling you to install a fence (and increase the rent).

The problem with the fence is that it will require upkeep and it's one more thing to mow / trim around.

Yes indeed it would be a good place for one!

(Seriously, I'd be sure all exterior receptacles are on GFCI's.)

What you list there is reasonable for my markets.

I'm sure you know that a pet can cause way more damage than these dollars would cover, but those dollars are reasonable for my areas.

I've lived in half of a duplex and rented the other more at more than one location in more than one city.

My tenants knew I was the landlord.  It caused me no problems.  If it matters to you, I think I was about 24 years old the first time I was in that situation.

I guess if you really don't want them to know, you could:

1. Communicate only by mail or text and have mail sent someone other than your address next door.

2. Tell them the landlord pays you to also be the PM.

If you have much contact with them at all, I'd think it might be hard to pull this off and it may cause you to appear to be "weird" to them if they learn the truth.  I suppose if you just give a friendly wave as you come and go and otherwise avoid them maybe you could pull it off.

I think self-managing for a while at least is good experience.

I guess if you do hire a PM then the tenant may not find out you're the owner but the PM would also have to be aware and not tell.  

Could you tell us more?  What caused you to suspect a leak?

I'm wondering if you can determine if the water meter is running when all the faucets are off, which would indicate needing a plumber.  Or if this is rainwater seeping in a roof vent boot, which would indicate needing a roofer.

There are a lot of possibilities that we may be able to point you in the right direction on if we could get a more clear picture.

It's possible you're on the right track though: plumber to fix leak then general contractor (GC) or handyman to fix drywall, or GC to do both.

In my area cabinets and counter tops would not require a permit.

I've pulled an industrial permit in Madison but that was back in 2005.  That process was "normal" and not overly difficult.  So i would think residential would also be reasonable.  I admit that website list is extensive though.

I agree with Keith Schulz that whether or not a permit is needed usually has nothing to do with whether an Owner or a Contractor does the work.  

I would think that replacing cabinets and countertops is not an alteration unless you're adding an island, or adding electrical outlets, or adding in a dishwasher where there is not one now.  I would think fixing a dishwashter that is existing but broken or even replacing one that is existing is not an "alteration."   Under electrical for example I see a permit is req'd for adding or moving light fixtures but not simply replacing a fixture because it is out of style.

I'm not qualified to say for sure if you need a permit or not and if  you're in doubt, go ahead and apply.  If they chuckle and send you away then you'll know none was req'd.  Reading over the documents though I don't see where replacing cabinets or counters alone would require one.

Hopefully you'll find this informative.  Feel free to put @Scott P in a Reply if you'd like more thoughts. I've pulled hundreds of permits but no one call really say if one is req'd other than the jurisdiction itself.

My lease says tenant has to provide window coverings with with backgrounds.  

My application letter says that if blinds are in the unit, they are not included in the rent and I don't replace them if they break.

In practice, I've always gone ahead and had new, or relatively new, mini blinds in every window when a new tenant arrives.  They used to cost $5.  They cost more now that they are a new design with now hanging string but I still supply them  - so far.