First Time Eviction- Austin Texas

[Jim Robertson]

I may be going through my first eviction. My tenant called me a month in advance to let me know that they would be late on the rent for this month. I agreed to extend rent for one month only, and then the deadline passed with no rent payment. I have delivered a notice to vacate and am now waiting for the next deadline to pass. Is it worth it to hire an eviction specialist or Real Estate Attorney? 

Tenants do not seem willing to work out an agreement to leave or take cash for keys. 

[Virginia H.]

Is Texas a landlord friendly state?  That, for me, is the determining factor.

On my first eviction, I would probably hire an attorney, if for no other reason than to obtain a copy of all legal notices he provides the tenant (and use those later as my own template) and I would attend the court proceedings so I would know what to expect when it's my time to present my argument to the judge.

Dotting the "I" and crossing the "T" is everything.

And by all means, document EVERYTHING! If it's not written on paper then it did not happen.