All Forum Posts by: Craig Sloan

Welcome @Tennessee Williams.  Congrats on making the decision to be an investor.  I'm a MF investor in the Midwest.  Mainly northeast Indiana but Indy isn't too far away.  Let me know if I can help.  Good luck!  

@Rick Ortiz preliminary background check is free and is done through state public court records search.  Full background check is done through Rentprep and is more extensive.

@David Bowles you're more than welcome. Happy to help. No worries on the autocorrect. If I can be of service in the future please reach out. I'd be happy to help.

@Mauricio Quintana I use a free court record site in my state for the preliminary background check.  For the full background check I use Rentprep. 

@David Bowles yes an eviction would be easier with a lease in place.  Try to go month to month if you anticipate problems.  Usually in court only things that are in the contract are enforceable.  Without an agreement in writing it would be hard to prove what your initial arrangement was. 

@Nicholas Smith I live near Ft. Wayne, Indiana now.  Good luck.  Feel free to reach out if I can be of assistance in the future.  

@Nicholas Smith congrats on looking for your first property.  I grew up in St. Thomas ON so I know your market a little.  Good for you if you can afford a multi-family in the area.  @Joe P. is right, try to find out everything you can about the tenants before you purchase the property.  We screen our people more than most so inherited tenants are almost always our worst tenants.  I would try to find out when their lease expires and include in the purchase agreement that the seller not renew any leases once the property is under contract.  Once you buy the property I would meet them asap and issue them a notice that you are the new owner of the property and what you will require of them.  

@Lynne Demond where are you located in Indiana?  I'm in the Ft. Wayne area.  My understanding is that there is no moratorium on evictions in Indiana at this point.  The bigger problem is that most courts are shut down or scheduling things several months out.  I would go to the property to try to speak with the tenant.  If they are not there post a 10 day notice and start moving toward eviction.  @Account Closed gave some good advice as well regarding abandoned property.  What does your lease say about abandonment?  Reclaiming the property would be easier, cheaper and faster than eviction. 

@Jason C. this may just be an expensive lesson to learn.  For something relatively simple like that could you use a handyman service instead of a plumber.  A good relationship with a local handyman can save you a lot of money in situations like that. 

I'm with @Account Closed I like M2M as a landlord.  I think there are a lot of perks.  Charge them a little more, go to M2M and hopefully they will stay.