All Forum Posts by: Richard F.

Aloha,

Poorly maintained tanks, and especially tanks in an environment that creates excessive condensation on the exterior of the tank, often drip onto the floor, damaging floorcoverings and underlying typical subfloors or hardwood flooring. Also some types of fish are very active and splash significantly. We don't allow anything more than a small goldfish bowl. There is a big difference between a kid's goldfish, and a multiple Oscars thrashing about.

Aloha,

Usually you can not have a Buyer or Tenant sign away rights. I would imagine that at a minimum you need an "all clear" report and/or invoices from a professional remediation to establish it is even safe to enter. Anything less would just be negligent, in my opinion. Check with local air quality testing companies, or biohazard/chemical clean up specialists that could steer you in the right direction. 

Aloha,

You definitely write it into the purchase offer that these documents, as well as the Condo Docs, be provided and that you have adequate time to review and confirm the information. Specifically also require "all security deposits or pre-paid rent" be transferred at closing.

Since you are (potentially) buying a Condo, be sure you also understand the Condo Docs, including monthly financial reports AND Annual Operating Budget and Reserve Funding Plan. The Reserve Funding Plan is critical to understand the likelihood of future Special Assessment or significant monthly fee increases that will destroy your cash flow.

If you are not familiar, check for a local chapter of the Community Association Institute. They will have all the resources you need to understand the documents and how the Board should be handling the Association.

Aloha,

If only one or two convictions, this is pretty minor. Over the years, I have forgotten to send off an insurance payment, or did not receive my renewal notice for registration, or missed a safety check on occasion. If, however, they have numerous convictions over just recent past years, it is highly likely they have other Bad Habits to look for. DUI's are far more serious, and if fairly recent it is likely the person has lost their license and should not be driving...but usually they disregard that fact. Then they get caught up again, and jail or lost income becomes the next crisis.

I always look at all the background info and reports, to look for that pattern of Bad Habits. I don't let outlying, relatively insignificant issues cause me to reject someone that has either clearly changed their life (as facts illustrate), or simply had a couple incidents of poor judgment. Of course, dealing drugs, or being an axe murderer are not "insignificant", and will disqualify you in a heartbeat.

Aloha,

With all due respect, on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the absolute worst, I would rate yours a 2 at best, compared to turnovers I have had over the years (even without unattended death involved), and new purchases by existing Clients. Heck, I've inspected occupied units that were far worse, RECENTLY I am sorry to say! (That guy got a quick "Non-Renewal" notice, and left everything in the unit but the clothes on his back, which included some 50 contractor bags full (Tenant didn't fill the bags, our guys did!) of bottles/cans with stale beer residue/stench, which of course attracted 1000's of roaches that were in/on everything in the place.

@Bruce Woodruff had a dog house, I had a cat house...27 cats, the owner walked away to another house up the street, leaving dishes on the kitchen table and all furniture. She went down their daily to feed the cats. You could smell it from the street...

Then there was the very large woman that was a hoarder in a basement apartment. She had covered the "window" where the water company had to read the meter, so they notified us. On inspection I found newspapers and stuff stacked over my head; an overpowering but vaguely familiar odor; and a thick grey dust on everything. On entering the bathroom, I discovered the powder, and the odor, were INCHES of talcum powder on the floor where this person apparently "bathed" with the talcum powder, then carried/spread it throughout the apartment. This actually was kind of a "bad luck" apartment...after I got that person out and reno'ed the unit, my next tenant in there  seemed to be racking up huge electrical usage. After not getting responses to schedule an inspection, I smelled smoke outside the door and went in to investigate. The entire apartment was a grow zone. I called the cops and they cleared it out. At least it was left in good condition! Then, that winter, the steam heat system froze, and we got a call from a neighbor about a giant icicle hanging off the back of the house. On investigation, I  found a mass of ice the width of the kitchen wall, and about 18 inches thick at the second floor level where the water had fed it for quite some time. It reached all the way to the ground... at least that was clean ice!

Aloha,

As with any type of multi-family or rent by room situation, you need to clearly label elements that are for specific use of a particular unit/room. You then specify that element in the Rental Agreement or in an addendum that relevant parties acknowledge by signing. Parking stalls, storage lockers, pantry and refer shelves, whatever you don't want to have to argue about. You add consequences for unauthorized use, and enforce those consequences promptly and consistently. Alternatively, enclose and secure the area for one set of laundry equipment or the other. 

Aloha,

Generally speaking, any current, valid Rental Agreement remains in effect for the stated terms. You can give written notice of the change in Management- contact info, where to send/deliver rent; your office hours; procedures for requesting maintenance, but term, rate, late charges, all remain the same until properly terminated at the end of the current term. You also need to be sure to have the Security Deposit transferred, and verify with the Tenants, either by Estoppel letter, or interview, what they have been paying and what they believe they have as SD. You may also want to confirm who OWNS the various major appliances, and other aspects specific to the property such as parking spots, utility responsibility, etc. This should all be requested in your original purchase offer, along with current financials and rent roll.

Once you DO give proper notice to terminate the current agreement, you absolutely want every adult to complete a new application and perform your standard screening to see if they meet your requirements. Then have them sign a new Rental Agreement, with your terms and conditions if you decide to keep them. Provide a deadline for return of the application and for signing new agreement. Do not hesitate to initiate eviction once your deadline has passed if they balk at vacating.

@Noah Bacon Mahalo! All good now...

Aloha,

It does not sound like you have notified your insurance company of a possible claim yet. This should have been done as soon as the word "compensation" came out of the Tenant's mouth.

You state that you have photos and documentation of this Tenant's move in conditions, hopefully these will include images of the specific transition strip. Provide this to the insurance company also, along with photos your PM should have taken on initial response to the 9/5 work order, and copies of any associated emails/work orders and repair invoices. The repair person should have included a statement of their findings as well.

I am assuming rent is due on the first, so by 9/5 it would already be "late", and has nothing to do with the fall incident. She would have also already been paid through the end of the prior month, typically.

Sorry, no.

The odds of ANY person in the particular groups are 24.1 to 1 of going delinquent within 24 months; or 9.3 to 1 of going delinquent within 24 months. In other words, with a 650 score, expect at least one late month in 24; with a 590, expect between 2 to 3 late payments (or complete failure) over 2 years. With a 710 score, you should not expect a late payment in over 7 years.

Of course, Life Happens, usually unexpectedly, and you need to prepare for that. Also, for these reasons, I pay less attention to the score itself, and more to the details within the report that have created that score. Bad Habits will usually extend across all aspects of a thorough screening- court records, employment history, prior addresses, financial resources, online presence and more.