All Forum Posts by: Shaun C.

You put them all on one lease and make sure it holds them jointly and severably liable.

I'm an architect and work in the tech department of a giant construction management firm, think 1M sq ft industrial/commercial projects and the only thing I can guess that you are referring to is a 3d laser scan, which is way to cost prohibitive to do for flipping/remodeling. Find an architecture student who needs money and can generate as built floor plans for you for probably $250. 3D for maybe $400 for a 2k sq ft house. I would have jumped for that in design school.

Make sure to flush the water heater before someone drinks from it.

I learned this during my last turnover in May. I've never had to show my property more than 3 times without finding a qualified tenant, and I showed this unit to over 20 people over the course of a month without a single bite. The outside of my property showed well, but his unit was not well kept; despite being asked several times to clean it. It wasn't even that dirty, he was just a slob and wouldn't tidy up and keep it that way.

In a panic I ended up lowering my rent from $950 to $900 despite knowing I could get that and when he moved out, sure enough I got it rented within 2 showings. At a cost of $600 in annual rent revenue or 2/3 of a month of vacancy. 

Next time I have a dirty tenant I will just wait; it wasn't worth me showing the unit 20 times.

I am all about property improvement and gaining feedback from anyone I do business with in order to improve. However, I would not send out a survey for the reasons you've already indicated. If they end up giving feedback and you don't act on it; they'll think that you didn't agree or didn't think it was important enough, and that would leave an underlying feeling of resentment.

You should be able to see what your competitors offer and match/beat their product on your own without input from tenants that don't understand the business. 

A higher end flip/remodel master bath we are currently working on. Not cheap but gives you an idea of what you can do just by changing your pattern. Euro style glass door and glass panel above the knee wall.

Nice blinds (not mini blinds), ceiling fans, Wifi thermostat, electronic deadbolts, hardwood/vinyl floors. 

If I see things done half assed, I assume you're a half *** landlord. Clean paint lines, no paint on neighboring surfaces, all projects the way they should be.

I think it comes down to a moral compass issue. If you feel enough tenants are morally persuaded to pay a little higher in order to forego typical energy production; go for it. If not, I would pass. I for one realize the underlying benefits of solar beyond just cost saving, so I know I would be persuaded by it. It also lets me know that you are a landlord that cares about your property, the environment, and your tenants.

I put them everywhere I can too. Tenants like to see them, and I like them to save energy.

I have it in my lease that one unit gets the driveway, the other is in the street. In my top/down unit, the bottom unit fetches 30% more in rent so they get access to it.