Closed on my 1st duplex

[Mohammed Al]

Hello! I hope everyone is having a great week!

I’m new to the app and have been reading different posts to gain as much knowledge as possible so thank you to everyone for sharing!

This is my 1st post now that I closed on my first duplex in Lakewood, OH. I am absolutely new to this process & was hoping to get some general guidance.

The home is pretty much turnkey and I plan to live in one unit for a little while & rent out the other one; then possibly next year we’ll rent out both.

The home has 2 tenants already occupying both units on month to month leases.

They’re only paying around $750/mo which is well below market and there’s room to increase the rent to at least $1250/mo.

what is the best way to handle my first interaction with the current tenants and how to properly ask them to move out?

Also, I would like to know if anyone has any suggestions/tips/do’s&don’ts for someone in my situation.

Thank you!

[Scott M.]

Congrats on closing your first deal.  Big step, be sure to take a moment and celebrate everything it took to get to this point.  

As for next steps, you have two questions here.

1. How to handle the intro.  Simply knock on the doors and say hi.  Introduce yourself and tell them how to reach you, how to pay you, how to submit work orders etc....If not one is home leave a package of information that says the same thing.  Then call/text/email - any means of communication you have, use.  Don't let this go weeks if you can help it.  You need to be proactive in communicating with them, be a bit "squeaky wheel" so hopefully they respond.

2.  How to ask them to leave.  First, are they on a month to month?  If so, you would tell them you are not going to renew as of X date (at least 30 days out or what your state requires).  if they are month to month and not communicating you may want to tape a notice to the front door saying the same thing you are not going to renew in X days.  Even if you tell them in person you need to let them know in writing.  

If they are not month to month then when do the leases expire?