Akron / Cleveland area Landlord shot his tenant today.

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Akron / Cleveland area Landlord shot his tenant today.

James Wise
Real Estate Broker 路 Cleveland Dayton Cincinnati Toledo Columbus & Akron, OH 路 Member since 2013 路 31k+ posts 路 20k+ votes

We all get pretty mad at our tenants from time to time. Hopefully not as mad as the landlord in this Article

  • Whats the most mad you have ever been at a tenant?
  • How did you resolve the situation? (Hopefully you didn't shoot them like the dude today.)
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David K.
Rental Property Investor 路 Chagrin Falls, OH 路 Member since 2014 路 25 posts 路 18 votes
8y

Is it bad that my first thought was, "ooo, motivated seller for a decent looking duplex as he gets his legal defense funds ready"?

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  • David K.
    Rental Property Investor 路 Chagrin Falls, OH 路 Member since 2014 路 25 posts 路 18 votes
    8y

    Is it bad that my first thought was, "ooo, motivated seller for a decent looking duplex as he gets his legal defense funds ready"?

    10Reply
  • Marc Winter
    Real Estate Broker 路 Northeast PA 路 Member since 2017 路 2k+ posts 路 2k+ votes
    8y

    Ah, the wonderful world of land lording/managing!  Over the last 30+ years, I've gotten pretty wound up at times over the actions (or sometimes lack of action) taken by tenants.

    We all have to remember, it's a business.  Like any business, it must be run properly, according to the rules and guidelines you, the business owner, set up.

    If the out-of-line tenant creates a problem or distresses you, go through the correct legal channels.  If that doesn't work, DO NOT SHOOT them.  Too easy to get caught...  slow-acting toxins can be just as effective over the long term, and more satisfying to assuaging the hate you feel towards those awful people.

    Disclaimer:  The 'slow acting toxins' part of this post was ONLY IN JEST.  Just meant to be dark humor.  

    We all must learn how to deal creatively with the stresses we all face in this business. Keep your sense of humor. If you can't do that, maybe it's time to get into another aspect of REI. No amount of money (lost or gained) is worth hurting another person. (Even if you think for a hot second they really deserve it!)

    Easy to say, not so simple to do.  Good luck!

    1Reply
  • Vinay H.
    Cambridge, MA 路 Member since 2017 路 268 posts 路 247 votes
    8y
    Originally posted by @David K.:

    Is it bad that my first thought was, "ooo, motivated seller for a decent looking duplex as he gets his legal defense funds ready"?

     Yeah it's bad - it should only be your second thought after a moment of silence over the depravity of humankind and self-reflection on how never to let a dispute escalate.....

    0Reply
  • David K.
    Rental Property Investor 路 Chagrin Falls, OH 路 Member since 2014 路 25 posts 路 18 votes
    8y

    @Vinay H., followed by the third thought of "even if the landlord let it escalate improperly, does this sound like a tenant I want to inherit?"

    0Reply
  • Alexander FelicePro Member
    Guy with Great Hair 路 Austin, TX 路 Member since 2013 路 2k+ posts 路 4k+ votes
    8y

    victim was only 21, brutal

    Never been mad at a tenant personally. I see this as an extremely unproductive way to manage my business. It's important to take radical responsibility in these stressful moments because it's the only way to see a pathway forward.

    what was the tenant doing, that I allowed to manifest, that lead to me being so angry? Were they just a lousy match for my property? = my fault

    Have I given them too much leeway and now it's causing excess stress on my part = my fault

    did I buy a property in a warzone that attracts tenants with little to no redeeming qualities and I'm not willing to put up with the pain? = MY FAULT

    shooting someone seems like the result of taking responsibility to emotionally fix a problem the person wasn't mature enough to fix in a socially viable manner.

    Did I go too far on this topic? LOL maybe! @James Wise just has a way of posting the most zany landlord threads of all time and it stirs me up!

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    2Reply
  • James Wise
    OP
    Real Estate Broker 路 Cleveland Dayton Cincinnati Toledo Columbus & Akron, OH 路 Member since 2013 路 31k+ posts 路 20k+ votes
    8y
    Originally posted by @David K.:

    @Vinay H., followed by the third thought of "even if the landlord let it escalate improperly, does this sound like a tenant I want to inherit?"

     Bruh, pretty good chance nobody is inheriting that guy. ; )

    1Reply
  • James Wise
    OP
    Real Estate Broker 路 Cleveland Dayton Cincinnati Toledo Columbus & Akron, OH 路 Member since 2013 路 31k+ posts 路 20k+ votes
    8y
    Originally posted by @Alexander Felice:

    victim was only 21, brutal

    Never been mad at a tenant personally. I see this as an extremely unproductive way to manage my business. It's important to take radical responsibility in these stressful moments because it's the only way to see a pathway forward.

    what was the tenant doing, that I allowed to manifest, that lead to me being so angry? Were they just a lousy match for my property? = my fault

    Have I given them too much leeway and now it's causing excess stress on my part = my fault

    did I buy a property in a warzone that attracts tenants with little to no redeeming qualities and I'm not willing to put up with the pain? = MY FAULT

    shooting someone seems like the result of taking responsibility to emotionally fix a problem the person wasn't mature enough to fix in a socially viable manner.

    Did I go too far on this topic? LOL maybe! @James Wise just has a way of posting the most zany landlord threads of all time and it stirs me up!

     What can I say, I like to party.

    0Reply
  • Thomas S.
    Member since 2016 路 13k+ posts 路 12k+ votes
    8y

    Tenants are not worth wasting the energy negative emotions require.

    0Reply
  • Jim K.
    Handyman 路 Pittsburgh, PA 路 Member since 2018 路 5k+ posts 路 13k+ votes
    8y

    @James Wise

    Landlording is a brutal business, and anyone who tells you it isn't is lying or trying to make money off you. If you invest in D properties, it is sadly always wise to go into the hood with pepper spray and a gun. Younger men lacking in sense occasionally think they can physically intimidate older men, especially the very few older men they personally know who have some money. Usually when they try it, they're not alone. Thugs rarely come at you one at a time -- it's not in their jackal nature.

    I hope I don't have to shoot anyone in self-defense for as long as I rent apartments in ugly neighborhoods, but if I have to, it's much better than being a victim.

    BTW: updated reporting indicates it wasn't one of his tenants. I doubt this is an anger-management issue in any way.

    1Reply
  • Amit P.
    Las Vegas, NV 路 Member since 2018 路 49 posts 路 40 votes
    8y
    Lebron leaving already hurting Cleveland.
    2Reply
  • Jill F.
    Investor 路 Akron, OH 路 Member since 2016 路 2k+ posts 路 4k+ votes
    8y

    Oakdale isn't  in a really terrible area (I mean it's not great but not all that bad). It's on the edge of Highland park. There are some great old turn of the century houses over there. If the guy was from Dawes ave, he must not have been a tenant in the building.

    In any event, no matter who did what, I hope the young man makes it...

    0Reply
  • James Wise
    OP
    Real Estate Broker 路 Cleveland Dayton Cincinnati Toledo Columbus & Akron, OH 路 Member since 2013 路 31k+ posts 路 20k+ votes
    8y
    Originally posted by @Jim K.:

    @James Wise

    Landlording is a brutal business, and anyone who tells you it isn't is lying or trying to make money off you. If you invest in D properties, it is sadly always wise to go into the hood with pepper spray and a gun. Younger men lacking in sense occasionally think they can physically intimidate older men, especially the very few older men they personally know who have some money. Usually when they try it, they're not alone. Thugs rarely come at you one at a time -- it's not in their jackal nature.

    I hope I don't have to shoot anyone in self-defense for as long as I rent apartments in ugly neighborhoods, but if I have to, it's much better than being a victim.

    BTW: updated reporting indicates it wasn't one of his tenants. I doubt this is an anger-management issue in any way.

     Couldn't agree more. I tell investors this all the time. This is a savage business.

    1Reply
  • James Wise
    OP
    Real Estate Broker 路 Cleveland Dayton Cincinnati Toledo Columbus & Akron, OH 路 Member since 2013 路 31k+ posts 路 20k+ votes
    8y
    Originally posted by @Amit P.:

    Lebron leaving already hurting Cleveland.

     馃敟

    0Reply
  • Anthony Wick
    Rental Property Investor 路 Ankeny, IA 路 Member since 2017 路 2k+ posts 路 3k+ votes
    8y
    Buy the property, And you won鈥檛 have to worry about inheriting the tenant.
    0Reply
  • Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker 路 Cody, WY 路 Member since 2010 路 28k+ posts 路 41k+ votes
    8y

    I have a cooler head than most...and not just from the lack of hair. However, there was one tenant that was literally insane and they probably pushed me farther than anyone else ever did.

    I had to visit the property in the middle of a contentious fight to evict and fully expected a fight. They were trying so hard to keep me off the property that they called my local MLS Board, the state commission, the Governor, the Secretary of State, the Mayor's office, the Sheriff, and even my church (I never did figure out how they knew what church I attend but I am happy to report my pastor hung up on them!). The husband was a hot-head that had been arrested one year prior for pulling a gun on someone so I hoped he would try something with me so I could justify shooting him. He stayed inside, sent his wife out to do the harassing, and we eventually evicted them.

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    0Reply
  • Kristopher HanksPro Member
    Rental Property Investor 路 Davenport, FL 路 Member since 2016 路 593 posts 路 382 votes
    8y

    @James Wise

    Savage tenants need a savage landlord / property manager. 

    0Reply
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