All Forum Posts by: Shelley F.

Im working it up in my head...stay tuned. To those who have seen PACIFIC HEIGHTS I can tell you I could guess his next move.

Hoarder properties seem to be my specialty...is the hoarder the tenant or the owner (ive dealt with both) and are they still in place?

I now have a few buzzwords that if I hear them from a prospective tenant I automatically think 'ummm..nope!!'... 

and I even hear them from handymen.

Guess who wont be getting to live in one of my places...or work on them?

and BTW...tell your friend to be ready at the end of the 30 days...will they actually move? What are your states requirements if they do not? How much is their deposit? Can you do a walk through when they move? I have learned to do the walk through , take a lot of pics, and then tell them you will 'let them know' about their deposit. Stuff doesnt show up immediately...my last vacancy was a tenant who paid her rent on time...always!  Great right? Cost me about 3k to clean up after her, and I visited the place regularly.

California is so tenant friendly that I have to jump through a few more hoops to explain why I will not refund her deposit.

This is a learning curve that goes straight up! After that experience in 1990 , the tenant who tried the same stuff a few years back seemed pathetic. I should start a new post to deetail some of the antics. Im sure she is not unique. How did I spot her? She passed all the background checks and had sufficient income...

I totally agree with Greg in the above post. In my early landlording days  my very first tenant was a 'professional' and her goal was to live rent free for as long as possible , and in the meantime, make me jump through many many hoops. (some of them on fire) She never gave notice to move...but did remove light fixtures and call authorities to complain about 'bare wires', had the water tested, had a yard sale...of my stuff! (light fixtures, vanity from bathroom, etc) and it went on and on. With the help from a lawyer I did get her out. To celebrate my husband and I went to see a movie that gives me nightmares to this day...PACIFIC HEIGHTS.

Fast forward to a few years ago (we are talking a 25 year span here) and I have another trying to pull this same stuff...but Im on to the game now. 

If they indeed gave their 30 day notice, anything you need to repair will be after the fact of their move.

Ill add to the list...In addition to the drug dealers and sex offenders I wont rent to anyone with any domestic violence on their record. If they don't mind beating up a spouse or children they wont have any issue with trashing a house.

I
 totally agree with the above post..read and study the landlord/tenant laws for your state..Be sure to know them better than your tenants do! Sooner or later you will be tested.

I have a similar one in one of my latest deals...its a late 60's house with a floor to ceiling rock fireplace. REAL rock. As my specialty is 'hoarder houses' and the ones nobody else would touch...this one was so full of trash the fireplace was mostly hidden. Where my places are rock is usually 'real' and considered quite an upgrade. I plan to keep the rock in place and clean it up. (and was glad to hear how others do this) never in a million years would I dream of painting it!

Interesting idea...count me in!