All Forum Posts by: Colleen F.

@Jared Smith  do they have pets and are they treating them for fleas?  Have they taken up area carpets and sprayed furniture?  You cant just bomb for fleas.  It can be in furniture they got from somewhere if you dont have carpet I suspect they brought it with them.  A lot to me would depend on who had pets, the previous tenant ? them? both?

@Karen Closkey Make sure they own the home by checking tax records,  check with previous tenants who have lived there to see how they are to live with. Look around, the condition now is what you can expect when you live there, clean, too clean, too dirty? Do you get along when you meet them?    Get a written agreement and read any agreement before you sign in, make sure the terms work for you.  Read your landlord tenant laws and know your rights. If moving is an issue try a furnished room, less to move. If you are really nervous on living with someone keep looking for a solo arrangement. 

@Nadir M.  Fridge filter is like a lightbulb it is a consumable that they can get or not get, makes the water better or I suppose the fridge smell less but it is not essential.   Furnace filters you really have to change. We pay for furnace maintenance but not fridge filters. I guess for me the dividing line is does it damage the function or cause a safety hazard if I leave it on the tenant.  

@Mark Ugarte Off and on we have lived next to tenants and depending on the tenant it can be fine or disturbing to your quiet time. Set boundaries and don't treat them any different than if you weren't living there. Request repair requests in written form even though they may mention in passing and you are next door just so you don't lose track of things. (e.g.I can't do that now but can you send me an email so I don't forget). To be honest we have fixed some things on the spot without a written request when we had time but other times just said, send a request.   A word of advice, if a tenant seems really needy/chummy in the application process that is how they will be as a neighbor. I try to avoid those people. You have to consider upfront when you want to state you live next door. I would share with a good potential tenant but I wouldn't while showing, just my preference.

@Justin,  No you don't need to provide notice however make sure to notify if you will be disturbing common areas, shutting off water to washing machines, having alot of workmen on site.  You can avoid alot of issues by sending out an email for example if you have a materials delivered and the guy is temporarily blocking the driveway or taking up a space. Also if someone will be hammering all day that is a good to know item. 

@Karen Closkey   Not usually and rooms for rent are normally month to month because hey who knows how you will get along.  Realistically most people don't raise rent multiple times a year. As for putting money in escrow for repairs read your state landlord tenant laws on that, it would be for major things and for me in a room lease if the heat goes out and they won't fix it, I am leaving. 

@Brett Deas  They are not forced to fill in facility and sometimes location is where they are not where they are going. Often there is no facility and no notes so you have no idea why they are in the area or where they will work everyday which in the Boston area can make a big difference. Occasionally you will get no occupation which if they fill in an agency or other info is fine but you have to have minimal data. It would be good if traveling with pets required number and type but that is just nice to have. 

@Adam Bartomeo yes you can zelle with business accounts but ask upfront specifically about business accounts.  Even if zelle is available through a bank or credit union does not mean they will offer it for business accounts.  Some time ago a local bank did start to refuse zelle payments on business accounts for me even though they did it for personal accounts. I had to find another bank.

@Mike Sather I haven't used them but the issue would be still having to have a hold deposit in case they commit and then bail.  The waiver is only good for damages not lack of notice or not showing up. In principal it sounds good but I am not sure how it is better unless it eliminates a large deposit.

@Kristi K.   You have 17 refrigerators, all with ice makers and none have broken, in 24 years, what brand?   I have had 7 breaks with small and large fixes, various brands. Could be the water, don't know.  I prefer no ice makers and when the last fridge with the broken icemaker (lease signed with it that way) dies they will get one without an ice maker. Personally, it's not my goal that tenants experience the same quality of life I have (and have worked for). My tenants expect what they pay for. I think the absence of an ice maker is a far cry from a slumlord.