All Forum Posts by: Vic French

Personally, I would want to meet both prospects and have them sign in my presence.  You can always see if their bank will do a signature guarantee or notarize their signature but I prefer to meet the people in person and  and have a legally binding contract with both signatures, signed in my presence.   

Raised beds or aluminum cattle troughs, yes.  Water is expensive in our area and gardens take a lot of water. Is your tenant paying their own water bills? 

Yes, I agree.  I believe the police get kickbacks from the growers; corruption is rampant.  Of course this has been going on for a long time; at least in Mendocino and Sonoma Counties. Now the opioids are becoming a problem around these parts. Off the subject but you may want to go see the film The Infiltrator; shows how the drug business works.

Ha, I had to chuckle at this one. I have a low profile grow house next door to me. If your neighbors work for nurseries, have yappy or mean dogs, erect two fences around their property, are livid when PGE goes in and places Smart meters on their electrical box, have motion detector lights on their house and locked access on all parameter gates you can bet its a grow house.  

The police do nothing. I wrote a letter to the Police Department and informed them if my house burned down because of negligence on the grower's part I was going sue them. Some time ago I heard if you sold your property in CA. you had to disclose a grow house next door thus making it harder to sell your property; I do not know if that law has changed? 

Do they have any family or personal friends living in the States that could provide references? Any employment verification that the old employer and new employer can provide?  Letters of reference from previous landlord in English? 

Personally, I would have a contingency to meet them first before handing over your property however many landlords are probably not as cautious as I am.  My ratio is one bad one in 35 years of doing business but if you can afford the risk, go for it. 

Previously, I have gone with a one year lease for tenants with choices after the first year. However, the more I read about risk, the more it makes sense to have a month to month arrangement. I always try to make my leases come due March 1.  That way if I have a vacancy and need  to do clean up, maintenance or improvements I have the entire Spring to find new tenants. Spring is the best time for real estate in my opinion and the time most tenants motivate to consider relocation.

Definitely avoid having them near the property while its being tented. You are opening yourself up to all kinds of issues if you do not manage the tenting process correctly, especially since they already appear to be a nuisance. I'd be a bit worried about this situation; especially the security system, getting the dog and their reluctance to let you into the property. Are they growing pot or dealing drugs? 

Is the gate kept in good repair or is it a entrapment hazard to children? Does it have a motion detector?  I would check with an insurance company on this one to deflect liability. Maybe you need an umbrella insurance policy if it is appropriate to your situation.  

Are you local or moving from out of the area/ or do you have family friends in this area? Where did you find out about the property? Is there anything I should know prior to accepting your paperwork?  

Take your time in finding a good tenant and don't be greedy.  Do all your due diligence and develop an intuitive sense about people and how they will perform.  Check their performance with previous landlords; not just the last place they resided. Require tax returns or financials on the self-employed. Ask lots of questions! By being a person of few words people will tell you more than you ever want to know. Establish accountability and your expectations from the beginning and stick to your guns.