All Forum Posts by: Dylan Katz

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for rock star real estate tax experts (cpa or tax attorney) in the greater philly area (montco and chester county specifically) that are used to working with investors and can answer tax questions, along with filing help come tax season. Any recommendations?

@Luciano A.

Is there a specific brand of lock or cameras that you recommend? The type of locks youre describing are exactly what I was thinking.

@Matt M.

Yes this is was my gut reaction as well, what kinds of things do you look for that give you that gut feeing for a tenant?

@Joe Martella

What kinds of things do you look for when you meet and talk with potential tenants?

Hi BP community, 

I just finished listening to Mike Butler's "Landlording on Autopilot" audiobook, and I found his chapter on showing vacant units very interesting. For those that haven't read or listened, he recommends a lock box system where interested potential tenants can call the landlord and give some ID information, then get the code or sign out a key to access the vacant unit. This lets the potential tenants see it on their own without the landlord having to make the trip over to the property. I am new to rental property management and trying to come up with systems for self-managing with a full time W-2, so I was very intrigued by the potential time savings this could bring. I'm curious to hear if there are other investors out there who have tried this and have any thoughts, advice, or things I need to consider before implementing this sort of system? 

@Joe Martella the potential to unintentionally keep unhappy tenants there financially is not something that I had thought of but great insight, thanks for sharing your experience

@Bill Brandt thanks thats a great point

Hello BP Community, 

I am new to landlording...just closed on my first property about a month ago, I'm in the southeastern PA market, it is a side by side duplex with a detached barn I rent out for storage. I inherited tenants on both sides of the duplex, the young couple on one side are about 3 months into a 1 year lease, and just sent me an email asking if they can break the lease and move out without paying a fee because they broke up (lease states that 50% of remaining term rent is the penalty). In my limited time knowing them, they appear to be good tenants that wouldn't give me problems. I'm sure there are plenty of more experienced investors on here who have received requests like this, do you always charge the full penalty the lease states? Are there any other factors I should consider as I decide how I want to respond/handle this? 

P.S. I'm pretty confident that I'll be able to find a new tenant fairly quickly as the rent is around 10% below the median for comparable apartments in the area.