All Forum Posts by: Christine Swaidan

We've been putting LVT in our one bedroom units as they become vacant. These are long strips that are glued down. Recently had to do an eviction and the move out results are not pretty. This is the first turnover since we have installed the tiles. The s**t-head drug his furniture around leaving scratch marks and some areas even look like they are cut. I got a stain marker like one would use on wood floors and it helps. Are there any products that would minimize the scratches?

I just completed an eviction in California. My thoughts on the process is that as long as you hire a competent attorney and follow all the rules you're good. For non payment of rent for month of March we went to court April 6. The idiot demanded a trial and what it came down to was since he didn't pay rent he had to leave. Sheriff came two weeks later. I did pay extra to include any people he might have living with him not on the lease. 

Thanks all for the input. In California there are two legal ways to serve notice. One is by ordinary first class mail. That's what I did. The second way is to hand the notice to the tenant. My "perma-guilt" personality thought it would be easier to just mail them. For the next round that goes out in the fall I will put my big girl pants on and knock on doors.

@Marcia Maynard I believe we have similar clients--seniors who are mostly on fixed incomes. Do you have any issues with raising rents on these tenants?

In late February I sent out a number of 60 days notices for rent increases to begin May 1. Now two of the many say they did not receive their notices. They were not returned to me but I have no proof that they actually did receive the notice. So what is your procedure for giving out rent increases to make sure the tenant actually receives the notice?  

The longest I've gone is about a month. This was a long term tenant who was communicating with me, had kids in school and was injured on the job. The issue went on for a year. I didn't think he would ever catch up but he did.  Surprisingly he is still our tenant and now pays on time. I wouldn't do it again. I worked with him because he was long term and I hated putting the kids out. I'm not that patient or nice any longer. 

Our onsite managers, a husband and wife, take care of a 70 unit property. All one bedroom, seniors. They collect rent checks which I pick up, take messages about repairs needed and call the handyman. They show apartments to perspective tenants and write out lease agreements.  Their one bedroom apartment is part of their payment. I pay the husband extra to clean hallways, lobbies and laundry rooms and he is also paid extra for cleaning empty units. They are wonderful people and very hard workers. I believe they would like a raise. I have given them raises the last two years and they probably expect it. I believe they are well paid but honestly I don't know for sure.  Would anyone be willing to share what a fair salary is, how it is determined or where I could find out what the going rate is for this type of work?  

I belong to the Apartment Owners Assoc. in California. It has a monthly publication filled with information.

You also might want to just get rid of the units that give you the most headaches and keep the ones that are problem free. 

This discussion is making me feel good about my numbers. I'm spending more than 50% but I am doing rehabs of 6-7K as each unit is vacated. 

@Xin L. we had a long term family leave in the middle of the night. Turns out he was a "chemist". Fortunately he did his work off site.  

@Kim Meredith Hampton what professional does your inspecting?  I'm asking because I have not been able to establish a successful practice of inspecting tenant occupied units.