First Time House Hack: Advice

[Jonathan Buie]

Greetings Bigger Pockets Community!

I'm a first-time homebuyer and starting my first house hack with a duplex here in the SF Bay Area.  In my building I'm inheriting a long-term tenant who is currently on a month-to-month lease and I'm looking for guidance on how to manage the relationship.  I've heard very different things.  Anything from "Don't tell them you are the owner of the building just the 'manager' " or "Set up processes to not require money to exchange hands every month".  I was hoping to learn from the experiences of others on how they've handled these situations to optimize success!

Thanks in advance,

- Jonathan

[Brian Garlington]

Welcome to the club sir!     In the first duplex that I house hacked I made it so the tenant had to pay electronically through erentpayment even though I lived 100 feet away from them. That way they would not be in the habit of "dropping money off in the mailbox". When I scaled I did NOT want to be in the position of driving back to the duplex to collect rent.   As for disclosure you do what's best. I have found that if you say you are NOT the owner, then they find out later you are it can get a little weird. I simply say that i have an ownership stake, but I still ultimately have to report to silent partners and they are the ones who call the shots :-)