All Forum Posts by: Mike D.

I've inherited a few rentals with chronic late payers. They are all 10-20 days late. I always post the notice to pay or quit about 5 days in just in case they don't pay, but they always have.

I'm sick of posting notices every single month and then certified mailing paper copies. They are on month to month agreements so just kicking them out is an option. But on the other hand why kick out people with a track record of paying? Each unit will need $1500+ in paint/carpet/etc. when they leave.

I'm thinking I will just raise their rent $40/month permanently. I could care less if they decide to leave because of the rent increase.

Would appreciate hearing what others do with chronic late payers? Kick them out? Late Fees? Huge rent increase?

I would keep giving them the late notice and collecting the late fee forever. Isn't that what the late fee is for? Push out the wear and tear on the paint, carpet and everything else for as long as possible. And with their bad payment history their options are really limited as finding a new place.

Has anybody had success setting up a virtual assistant or answering service to field calls of people calling about your advertised rental properties?

I get most of my calls while I'm at work during the day and for some reason nobody likes to leave a voicemail. 

Curious if anyone has had success with that?

You should serve them a notice to pay the rent immediately. You can't evict for the 30 day until 30 days is up. Follow your states laws on how to evict for non payment.

Any estimates on this? I'm looking for a ballpark figure so I can make an offer on the site. It's in the city of Cedar Rapids.

I contacted a seller off market and am going to make an offer directly to him for all 3 duplexes. He was originally planning to sell this spring with realtors but I approached him before he had them listed. I calculated my offer of X dollars for all 3. Could I get away with a lower price for buying all 3 with no realtor commissions? Thoughts?

Instead of fighting these laws my approach is to keep the screening requirements high and hold them accountable for their animals if they make a mess or bother other tenants. If I don't loose money and they aren't bothering anyone I don't care if they have a service animal.

For those of you who make your tenants mow, do you provide mowers?

The current manager says they make the tenants do it. Seems like this could be a challenge getting $550/months tenants to mow regularly.

Most of the people I've rented to who have emotional support animals are dirt poor and are using it to get around paying a deposit and/or pet rent. So I make sure to have rigorous screening that keeps out the people with low income and criminal and eviction histories. When someone does get in make sure to tell them that