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Updated almost 10 years ago,
Small victories
This isn't as big as some of the other inspirational stories on here but I view it as a win.
I went through my first eviction late last year and lost a few months of rent on the unit while things were winding through the courts and before the sheriff could show up for the set out. Thankfully the tenant vacated before they showed up so I didn't have to hire any movers.
The place was a wreck. Turns out the boyfriend of the tenant had an anger issue and used to punch holes in the walls as well as beating her and their dog. He hid them from me by putting posters and pictures over them. It was during he holiday season that I had to do this make-ready and I couldn't find anyone available that I worked with before to help. So my brother who was on vacation and myself spent a couple weeks doing everything in that place. The tenants took the bathroom door when they left (who does that?) as well as destroyed the frame of the bedroom door so a new prehung door was needed. When we finished, the place looked amazing and everyone who saw it was impressed.
During this time, another tenant told me they had to leave as they were moving for their job. So now I have two places vacant. Their's was a lot better shape, but the previous owners were really hands off and let their property manager cut a lot of corners so I did have some work ahead of me.
My wife convinced me to list and show the unit myself instead of turning it over to my realtor as we usually do. I posted a sign on the window, craigslist, postlets and backpage and showed the place a few times. Flash forward to last Saturday, my wife told me 10 people called on Friday to view and I had them coming between 11-12. The first set of people who showed were awed by the place and took it immediately, pending my background checks. The second set wanted it badly but just missed out and we kept them as a backup. The same day, the other tenant vacated so it was a busy day in that building.
The first set of people showed up a few hours later with a u-haul and cash for the lease signing and walkthrough. My wife called the second set and they were very disappointed as they said they had been through over 50 places in that area and none were as clean or put together as mine. My wife told them that we had another unit just vacated that they could look at. They showed up immediately, walked in, and took it on the spot. I just spent the entire weekend making that unit ready.
I was bracing myself for a lean January with multiple vacancies when I haven't had one in year and now I got two units rented on the same day. Both are now renting for $50+ each more than what I got for them when I bought the place a year ago. I sign the second lease tomorrow and they are walking with cash.
I love this business. What else would have me writing this after 1am when I just spent a day painting and changing ceiling fans?