Do's and Dont's with tenants

[Anita Muhammad]

I just brought my first property, a two family home,I live in one of the units. and i'm just curious if anyone had any words of wisdom from there on experience. I also have questions: should I allow access to the basement, the yard, the attic? Should I let them know that I am the owner and or have someone else handle the whole transaction? Is it too much to ask them not to smoke inside the home? 

[Dennis M.]

To me pretending to be a manager and not the owner is not only dishonest it’s kinda pointless because in less than ten minutes they can find out online or by calling the county courthouse who owns the property they live in . This is not 1987 anymore . Information moves at the speed of light .this kind of trickery is not going to help you when it’s revealed you lied to them .they’ll hate you even more and may even take your property for granted less than they do now once they feel slighted . Just tell them you own the place and be firm . When you  Rent to someone your entering into a deal a contract an agreement with another party . A contract based on falsehoods is not good I wouldn’t want to partner up with a liar on a contract anymore than they would .